Addicted (5/16)
Chapter rating: PG-13
Pairing: Onew-centric, eventual Onew/Minho.
Chapter word count: 2983
Genre: Angst, later romance.
Summary: "Jinki has a pathological need to have someone, or multiple people between his legs, and generally inside of him." Fill for this prompt in the OnHo fic meme.
Warnings: Language and just general fucked-up-ness.
It's Tuesday night and Jinki goes right home after work. He refuses to follow the signs to Itaewon, instead clenching his fingers tightly around the steering wheel until his knuckles turn white. He's going to go home, dammit, straight home, and... He doesn't even know what people do on Tuesday nights. Watch TV? Play board games? Drink?
The expression on Taemin's face when Jinki walks through the door at 6 o' clock clean and still in his works clothes is nothing short of pitiful. "Hyung?" His brother is stunned, afraid he's looking at a mirage created by his own wishful thinking.
"Hey."
Taemin's laugh ends in a peculiar choking noise and Jinki realizes the younger man is trying not to cry. He hugs his brother around the waist and presses a kiss against his head.
"I'm sorry."
"No, no, it's fine—it's more than fine, it's awesome—I'm just..." Surprised. Relieved. Jinki finishes the sentence with a variety of words, each one making his stomach sink a little more.
"I'm sorry," he repeats with more feeling. It's going to take more than just words to apologize for the countless nights that Taemin has spent praying for things to change, for Jinki to come home early and hang out on a weekday night like anyone else would, but he can start now. He can start by taking away this unnecessary burden that's been weighing on his younger brother's thin shoulders.
They stand there in the middle of the living room, Taemin's tears soaking into Jinki's shoulder, for a long time. He's been making his brother cry so much lately; or maybe Taemin's always cried and he just hasn't been around to see it and hold him. Both are unbearable, unacceptable prospects. I used to protect you. I used to be the one stopping your tears. What happened?
Finally, the snuffling sounds slow and stop. "Better?" Jinki asks softly as he rubs his brother's back.
"Yeah." Taemin lets out a self-deprecating laugh and wipes his nose with the edge of his sweater.
"So what do you usually do on weekday nights?"
"Wait for you to get home." There's no inflection to Taemin's words, his voice doesn't hold any blame or anger, but it still hits Jinki like a sucker punch to his gut. Taemin bites his lip, and looks away. "Sorry."
"No, I asked." He chews the inside of his cheek, thinking of a way to rephrase his question so it doesn't turn around and bite him in the ass again. "What would you like to do? Now that you don't have to wait?"
"I don't know... Oh, what about Monopoly? I bet I can still kick your ass."
"I don't even know if I remember how to play."
"Hyung, it's freaking Monopoly."
"So?"
"It's like riding a bike. You never forget."
"Okay. How much money do we start with then?"
"...That's what the instructions are for!" Taemin smacks him on the arm, but Jinki can see the big smile on his brother's face, for once completely carefree. "Don't be a dick."
"Whatever. I call banker."
"What?"
"Last time you snuck $100s the entire game, you little cheat! Never again! You can be in charge of the properties."
