The Deal * Seokmin x Joshua

Six

Joshua smiled at Seokmin as they sat in the corner of the coffee shop. He'd fallen into a pile of luck meeting the adorable youngster on his first day at the University. Seungkwan seemed nice enough and Hansol did too but he didn't know if he could handle them any more than what he already had. Seokmin was a breath of fresh air.

His ear itched where his new piercings were irritated. He wasn't supposed to change the jewellery for six weeks but he couldn't resist. What was the good of the new piercings, part of his new image, if he had to stick to the boring silver studs the woman had used in the piercing gun? No one had to know they were new. No one had to know the piercings were new, the hairstyle was new, the clothes were new. He was taking full advantage of this new life to remake himself anew. The old Joshua was gone, buried in a pit of romantic angst and artistic failure, abandoned as soon as he stepped foot on the plane.

His parents had been supportive and sympathetic. When Jeffrey broke his heart into a million pieces and his deal with the, admittedly very small, record label fell through at the last minute they'd suggested the move. It would give him time to refresh himself and find his inner strength again. And what better way than with a new image and a new romance to take his mind off things. His eyes flicked over to the blond haired barista who was practically smirking at him from behind the counter. Jeonghan looked like a world of trouble and it was just what Joshua needed to mend his broken heart.

He was done with sweet boys, cute nice boys that tricked you with their earnest feelings, leaving you wanting to die when they just can't face the reality of real life. He was done with it all. He wanted wild, he wanted trouble and it was written all over Jeonghan's face. He'd come to this country to break free from his nice church boy persona and live on the side of danger.

"Ready to order?" he said as he snapped his attention back to the situation at hand. "Sure, tell me what you want, I'll go to the counter hyung," Seokmin said with a small smile. Joshua couldn't help but smile back. The boy was so cute and so endearing, bright as a little button, and innocent as a lamb. Exactly the kind of guy Joshua used to go for. Exactly the kind of guy he had forsaken forever. He frowned at the menu and moved from across the table to the seat right next to Seokmin. He still had a little trouble with his reading and writing and he wanted the younger to help him. He also wanted to lean in close to him and make him flustered and hopefully catch the eye of the blond barista.

"Honey, can you help me read this?" Joshua smiled sweetly and leaned over the younger boy. He put his hand on his arm and watched the slow creep of pink blush fill Seokmin's cheeks. He looked up and saw they were being watched and smirked a bit before turning his full attention back to Seokmin. After Seokmin helped him choose, he watched the younger get up and walk over to the counter to order.

Joshua didn't understand why Seokmin was so insecure. The boy had literally no self esteem whatsoever. When he'd dressed him up for the party the other night he seemed so embarrassed, almost apologetic, for looking so good. It was a shame, Joshua thought to himself as he eyed the boy's figure barely visible through his shapeless jeans, he didn't know what he was hiding. He decided right then he would do everything he could to help him get his man. Starting with some new clothes, followed by some self confidence.

Jeonghan didn't like him. Seokmin could tell. He was about as rude as he could get away with, considering he was working, and practically sneered at him when he slid two frappes across the counter. "Enjoy," he said with no conviction whatsoever as he smiled sickly sweet at the younger. "Joshua hyung, I think it's working," Seokmin said as he made it back to the table. He passed Joshua a drink and when their hands brushed his stomach flipped a little. It was hard to remember this was all pretend. Joshua was so affectionate and doting. He would make an amazing boyfriend.

He sat down and, to his surprise, Joshua put his drink down and took his hand. "Is he looking?" Joshua whispered and Seokmin nodded. His eyes turned from Jeonghan, scowling behind the bar, back to Joshua who lifted Seokmin's fingers to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss on them. "Hyung," Seokmin blushed bright pink and began giggling to the delight of Joshua and the angry scowl of Jeonghan who turned and walked into the kitchen.

"Gotta be convincing," Joshua smirked a little at the blushing boy across from him. He stroked Seokmin's hand and kept it tighter within his. As they sipped their drinks and conversations returned to fill the space around them Joshua felt content. The boy across from him, smiling at him with a radiant joy, would have made the old Joshua weak. But, as he let go to itch the annoying feeling in his earlobes, he remembered the old Joshua was gone. Left behind on the other side of the world, sad and heartbroken, vulnerable and afraid. The new Joshua wasn't going to do it all over again. The new Joshua came to play and win.