From Trainees to Lovers

"The Eve" of True Feelings

"We're on in 30 minutes!" Suho began gesturing for the boys to start making their way to the backstage waiting room.
"Yehet!!" The young maknae smiled mischievously as he eagerly bolted up so he could be the first one there.
"Ahhhh let's go!!!!" Chen yelled excitedly, as he was "incapable of using his inside voice" as his other members so often teased.
This was always when Kai felt so in his element. To him, there was no greater feeling than being on a stage and immersing himself into his art of dance. This is what he lived for, and the only other person who felt the same way about performing had no idea how crazy he drove him.
As the intro to "The Eve" began to play, Kai took a deep breath and close his eyes. All he could think of was the first time the Shinee members had snuck into his group's dance practice for the song.....
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"You guys are actually killing it, I'm impressed!" Minho cheered as he leaned against the wall while the EXO members were halfway through the choreography. "Don't you agree Key?"
Key half-heartedly looked up from his cell phone and sarcastically raised his fist to say "fighting". While all the shinee members were leaning on the wall next to the speaker, one member was watching intensely near the door directly in front of Kai's main spot for most of the dance. Lee Taemin.

Most idol dancers felt the immense pressure when a senior member critiqued and watched their every move, but not Kim Jongin. He was different, a rare breed of idol. He loved the attention of having someone watch what he had put so much thought into. Even though many of his members let the nervousness show a bit on their faces whenever Taemin watched so critically, Kai relished in the idea. And it was only natural as to why he felt this way. Taemin was one of the few idols who understood his journey, from his proudest accomplishments to his greatest struggles. Taemin was his person. A fellow trainee who practiced many years with him, before EXO was formed and even before Shinee got its start. 

"Earth to Kai? I swear, sometimes it's like you don't even listen to your handsome hyung."

Snapping out of is daydream of when him and Taemin met, Kai shook his head and laughed. "Sorry, what's up?"

"I was just saying that your right foot pivot is a little heavier on your turns. It's good, but I know it's not your best. Want me to show you what I mean?"

Kai loved when Taemin demonstrated a  move for him Kai knew exactly what he needed to fix, but something about the thought of Taemin showing him personally made him eager.

After hours and hours of choreography work and feedback from Taemin and the other Shinee members, Suho decided as leader that they had practiced enough for the day. "See you all 7:00am sharp, don't be late." he said this to the group, but specifically death glared Chanyeol in particular.

As they all exited the studio, Kai realized he had left his bag next to the speaker. As he turned back, he ran smack into Taemin.

"Thought you might be looking for this. I guess it's just the two of us alone in here, just like old times."

Kai tried to swallow inconspicuously, but he knew that Taemin knew how crazy those kind of words made him feel.