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Yuta just stared at him for a long moment, looking like he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to laugh. John frowned.
“What?” he asked, annoyed. He scowled when Yuta’s expression melted into one of very clear sympathy. “Quit looking at me like I just told you I joined a ponzi scheme.”
Yuta snorted, knocked momentarily out of his pity party. He gave John’s shoulder a light shove.
“Shut up, you old grump. I just can’t believe I have to be the one to tell you this. You really don’t know?”
“Know what?” John asked hotly, expression willfully blank. There was no one he’d yet met who could manage to rile him up like Yuta. He refused to play along.
“That kid? Your shadow? President of the Johnny Suh fanclub?” Yuta started, purposely baiting him by drawing out the suspense as he crossed his arms, leaning heavily on one hip. John didn’t bite. “He’s a celebrity. Like, he’s famous dude, and not just on the West Side.”
John squinted.
“Bullshit,” he said, turning to resume setting up. Yuta grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him back around. John allowed it, rolling his eyes heavily.
“Listen to me - Donghyuck Lee, musical theater actor and general pop culture rising star! Don’t ignore me, I did my research on this,” Yuta ordered, frowning as John only smiled soullessly, eyes glued to the ceiling.
“And what, pray tell, inspired you to do that?” John asked dully.
“I-” Yuta started. Then he stopped. John finally looked over at him curiously when Yuta carefully released him, retreating to lean heavily against the sink instead, creating some distance between them. Then he continued. “You were starting to get really into this guy so I thought I should find out all I could about him. You’ve been talking to him all this time, I figured you already knew.”
“He told me he’s an actor… but like every third twink who walks through the door is an actor, I never thought-” John trailed off, finally starting to panic just slightly. There was no way…
“Haven’t you ever wondered when he gets bombarded by fans?” Yuta asked, keeping his tone soothing and low, like maybe he was worried John would spook. “I’ve seen him cornered by seven college girls at a time before, and even on an average night he’ll get approached at least once or twice.”
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment, John chewing his lip viciously and Yuta waiting patiently for an answer.
“I thought. He’s. Pretty, you know?” John admitted finally. There was a pregnant pause before Yuta burst out in full on howls, clutching his stomach. John just watched him, stony faced, waiting for it to pass.
“God, you have really got it so, so bad, man,” Yuta announced finally, wiping a tear from his eye. “There’s really nothing you can do about it now.”
“Nothing I can do,” John repeated, tone hollow, resting his back against the bar. Yuta sobered somewhat, cocking an eyebrow,
“Why does that sound so ominous?”
“Are you- You’re really not fucking with me are you?” John asked, searching his friend’s face for any indication of jest. Yuta could lie as easy as he could breathe but he only used it for harmless jokes, and anyway John was the best at catching him out.
“Why would I do that?” Yuta deadpanned, looking about ready to get annoyed.
“You wouldn’t,” John affirmed miserably. Yuta’s expression softened again. “It’s just! What the hell, man? I thought I actually copped a good read this time… I thought Donghyuck was into me but I guess-”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What’s happening right now, what’s this?” Yuta interrupted, gesturing around John with a flick of his wrist. “I can tell this is going somewhere I won’t like. I missed some bizarre jump in logic.”
“Hello?” John said, gesturing down at himself. Yuta made a face, shrugging, clearly waiting for elaboration. “I’m… just. Me! Donghyuck is famous? He’s clearly desired, I’m. I thought I was shooting out of my league before, there’s no way in hell he's actually interested. This isn’t even about self confidence - I’m not delusional.”
“Beg to differ,” Yuta sang out. He was smiling but not a friendly, encouraging Yuta smile. A scary, murderous Yuta smile. John shivered. “Listen, I know you’re not one to require a lot of pep talks but if you’re suffering from a sudden, unprecedented lack of confidence then, baby, allow me to reassure you. That boy has practically lived here since the first time he laid eyes on you. He forces his up and coming industry friends to slum it at our goofy little bar. He messages and calls you constantly, and has continued to do so after y’all fucked-” John cleared his throat, tugging at his collar, embarrassed. “He is very. Very. Into you. Shut your whore mouth.”
“Uncalled for,” John chirped pleasantly, smiling until the angry fire in Yuta’s eyes cooled. What a drama queen.
“You know I have a low tolerance for bullshit,” Yuta said, mildly accusatory.
“Yeah, mine in particular,” John confirmed, as if he was complaining. He wasn’t really but if Yuta felt too appreciated, he’d get a big head. Yuta tried to scoff but he just ended up grinning instead,
“Somebody’s gotta put you in your place. The rest of our friends are too whipped for you.”
John rolled his eyes but didn’t bother to argue. If he started, they could go for hours. Then he blinked.
“What about that guy? The other actor?” John asked, leaning back against the counter.
“Ah. I can only assume you are referring to Doyoung Kim, fellow musical actor and leading man to Donghyuck’s antagonist in their upcoming project?”
“Yeah him,” John said, flatly. Yuta grinned harder. “Aren’t they something?”
Yuta paused, considering.
“Why would Donghyuck chase me when he already has him?” John pressed.
“You’ve got me there,” Yuta said unhelpfully. “So far that’s your first decent point. They seem pretty into each other, don’t they?”
“If the amount of times I've caught them making out in dark corners is anything to go by,” John replied glumly. It had certainly been a while since the last time he’d actually seen it but still. He and Donghyuck had only really been talking for a few months.
“Aw, no need to fret, little baby,” Yuta cooed obnoxiously. John let out a groan of disgust. “I do have it on good authority that they’re not exclusive.”
“Really?” John asked, surprised. He shouldn’t have been.
“Yeah. I mean, that's what Doyoung told me when I gave him my number… Oh and because of your thing with Hyuck or whatever.”
“Wow, a true friend,” John deadpanned. But he was admittedly encouraged by this info. “I didn’t know you were into Doyoung.” He perked up. “That’s cool, actually! There’s this place across town Donghyuck’s been telling me about but it’s like way too upscale for a regular date. Maybe we could all go together one-”
“Huh, what a quick jump from ‘Donghyuck must not like me’ to double date,” Yuta taunted cheerfully.
“Listen-”
“Johnny Suuuuuh!”
They both started as the front door burst open so hard it bounced off the wall, turning to find Donghyuck beaming brightly with excitement. John melted, smiling back affectionately. Speak of the devil.
“Easy on the merchandise, Muscles,” Yuta ordered, fonder than he usually was with Donghyuck. “Or I’ll take it out of your tab.”
“Sorry, sorry. I just get excited~”
“Try telling that to him,” Yuta replied sarcastically, thumbing in John’s direction. John tsked. “No but really. Please talk to your man. His deductive reasoning skills seem to inexplicably lapse when it comes to you.”
Donghyuck raised his eyebrows, surprised, glancing back and forth between the two of them. His concern quickly eased when John just rolled his eyes with a scoff.
“You got it, chief,” Donghyuck said, offering Yuta a salute.
“Good boy,” Yuta nodded, offering him a loving smack on the butt and sticking his tongue out at John before disappearing into the kitchen.
John let him go, though not without mockingly imitating Yuta in high pitched gibberish under his breath. Donghyuck watched him, happily bemused, until he was done.
“You’re here early,” John mused, mostly to avoid the start of the conversation his roommate so desperately wanted them to have. He picked up a bin of clean glasses, moving to set up the bar.
“I didn’t have rehearsals or anything today, so I just came after I met my agent for lunch and finished all my errands,” Donghyuck declared sunnily, ducking under the bar to join him.
“No, I mean.. we didn’t plan to meet until Thursday. You’re two days early,” John pointed out reasonably. Not that he minded in the slightest - it was a nice surprise. It was always nice seeing Donghyuck. Even when he was probably about to embarrass himself.
“Oh!” Donghyuck said thoughtfully. “I was all ready to wait until Thursday, all mentally prepared. But then I missed you! So…” He trailed off, feigning bashfulness as if he expected to be reprimanded. As if John would ever complain. John sighed, vaguely annoyed at Yuta for being right and maybe even the slightest bit irked at Donghyuck for showing up to prove it. He stopped what he was doing, turning to face Donghyuck fully, crossing his arms over his chest. Donghyuck cocked his head, worried. Just that was enough to deflate John entirely. Why was it impossible to project his misplaced frustration on Donghyuck? Where the hell was Yuta when he needed him?
“I’m mad at you,” John announced, accusingly. He expected Donghyuck to bluster and argue, like he usually did in their teasing. Instead he blinked rapidly, frowning.
“I’m sorry,” he replied immediately, all puppy eyes and regret. God, he didn’t even know what he did wrong! Which was nothing!
“I’m not mad at you,” John instantly seethed. “I’m mad at myself, you loser.”
“Oh...kay..?” Donghyuck said, unable to hide his mild amusement. John would love to be bothered by the fact that he wasn’t being taken seriously, except it’s what he deserved. “What did I do to make you mad at you?”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you’re a goddamn superstar?” John asked, lacking any real bite. This whole situation was ridiculous but he was committed now and dammit, he’d see it through to the end. Donghyuck wrinkled his nose.
“God, I’m pretentious enough without saying something like that, aren’t I?” he said, fighting a grin. “Like imagine if I’d walked in here that first night and instead of awkwardly bugging you with questions every time I managed to catch your eye, I’d just rolled up like ‘Don’t you know who I am???’.”
Donghyuck started laughing at the mere notion but John did not. He recrossed his arms, frowning as Donghyuck’s laughter died down. John could see the cogs starting to turn in his mind.
“Wait,” Donghyuck started.
“When you told me you were an actor, I thought you meant of the starving variety,” John said coolly, feeling the heat rise on his cheeks as Donghyuck looked at him with dawning understanding.
“Wait!”
“This is your fault,” John insisted.
“WAit!”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
“You don’t know who I am! You didn’t recognize me at all…” Donghyuck said, half delighted, half in awe. John let a huff of air out his nose, lips pursed.
“No but… I’m not making fun of you but I can’t believe my terrible pickup lines and obnoxious personality worked coming from a nobody,” Donghyuck continued in disbelief. “I assumed you only gave me a chance because you knew of me. Wait. Do you always just date random customers who keep coming back to flirt with you, or was I a special case?” John blustered.
“Oh shut up,” he ordered, attempting to cover his embarrassment with annoyance. “You know you’re pretty and charming. Quit acting like I was the one doing you a favor.”
John couldn’t help but laugh when he was met with instantaneous coochie eyes instead of argument.
“I’m not acting,” Donghyuck wailed, overwhelmed with affection. He captured John in a tight hug. “I can’t believe you really like me this much. I’m the luckiest boy in the world.”
“I loathe you. Can’t stand you,” John replied fondly, squeezing him back. He couldn’t even fake it.
“Wait!” Donghyuck cried suddenly, pulling John back by the shoulders to look him over skeptically.
“Quit saying that.”
“Wait, but I’m just- You really didn’t know?” Donghyuck asked, ignoring him. “I’ve brought half the cast here with me at one point or another - you really didn’t recognize anyone? Doyoung has been in everything lately. I dragged Eva Noblezada over here one time!”
John just shrugged. He didn’t know who that was,
“I’m not a musical theater gay. I’m a music production gay.”
Donghyuck looked completely stricken for all of two seconds before he perked up with interest,
“Wait really? That’s so cool! I mean, I knew you could sing but…”
John beamed at him, suddenly tickled by the sheer absurdity of their ‘fight’ (which wasn’t really a fight at all). He realized that, even though they didn’t know everything about each other, that actually none of the discoveries in their budding relationship had yet to be a problem. Every time they learned something new it either seemed to prove how compatible they were, or if not, how whipped they were for one another that they were willing to work through the thing together. He didn’t know why he was surprised by still another example. He didn’t know how he really thought he could ever be annoyed.
Then Donghyuck squinted at him. John nearly gulped. He was in for it now.
“Hold on… I told you I was in a big show coming up,” Donghyuck started.
“Yeah! And I was really happy for you. But I assumed like... as part of the ensemble.”
“But I treat you out on all those nice dates! You thought I was pulling money out of my ass?”
“I thought you were just trying to impress me,” John said with another shrug. “That’s why I won’t let you buy me gifts. That and I figured maybe your family was kinda rich or something.”
Donghyuck considered this,
“...okay fair. I definitely was trying to impress you, so valid. But like. Ugh. They’ve written articles about me for the newspaper and shit?”
“I only look at CNN on my phone. And like. Twitter.”
“I’m on a billboard on Atlantic Avenue! With Doyoung!”
“Really? I only ever go back and forth between here and home.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, Donghyuck still squinting and John blissfully blank. Then Donghyuck grinned.
“Wow, you really don’t know shit,” he declared playfully, laughing when John huffed at him.
"Ask him how he rationalized all your fans away! Go on! Ask him!" Yuta called out suddenly from the back. John shot his worst glare at the unseeing kitchen door. He could just picture Yuta sitting back there looking smug. He was met with a similar look when he finally turned his attention back to Donghyuck.
"What's that? Why did you think people were coming up to me then?" he asked curiously, wiggling his eyebrows. John groaned loudly.
"As if you need to be any more full of yourself…"
“True. I’d prefer to be full of you. Or would you rather be full of me instead?”
“I’d rather you go fill yourself.”
Donghyuck threw his head back, far too amused with himself for his own good. John couldn’t help but laugh along. They were ridiculous. Then he remembered the other thing he’d asked Yuta.
"One last thing," John started, feeling a bit sheepish at having to question but also needing to know. "I’m not denying that you like me but… Are you and Doyoung dating? And if not… why?"
Donghyuck blinked at him before offering an understanding smile.
"We're not dating," he said firmly. "Actually we've never technically dated. But we are fucking. Well not now. But we used to hook up a lot, especially back when we were just getting started and had to be a lot more hush-hush about all the queer. But uh, just so you know, we haven't slept together since I started pursuing you. I wanted to make sure you were cool before I got crazy. So that's something we should probably talk about when we get a chance."
"Yuta said he got Doyoung's number," John blurted out, processing. Donghyuck smiled,
"I heard! Doyoung is secretly thrilled but he's trying to play it cool," Donghyuck snorted. "As if he has the option."
“So you two have known each other a long time,” John mused, considering Doyoung and considering Donghyuck and considering both of them together. “You must be close.”
“The best of friends! With benefits~” Donghyuck crooned smugly. Then his smile turned earnest. “Just like you and Yuta!” John blanched,
“I don’t know what you’re talking about… Yuta and I aren’t-”
Donghyuck cut him off with a loud scoff, looking thoroughly unimpressed. John cleared his throat loudly.
“Alright fine,” he allowed quietly and Donghyuck’s sunny smile returned.
“We’ll have plenty of time to hash things out on our actual date Thursday,” Donghyuck said, nuzzling as much of his body as possible against John. “For now, do you need any help setting up?”
“That should be a job for my partner,” John called loudly toward the kitchen door. It did not reply. He turned and offered Donghyuck a wry grin, “but I’ll take whatever I can get.”
“And you’ll get whatever you want from me,” Donghyuck assured him happily, rolling up his sleeves. “Just tell me what to do boss.” John thought about it for a moment.
“Give me a kiss,” he decided and Donghyuck giggled in surprise. He obeyed, letting out a cry of alarm when John reached for the sink, slapping a (clean) wet rag over his shoulder. “Alright enough funny business. Go wipe down the booths.” Donghyuck grumbled, stomping around the end of the bar.
“Aye aye, Captain,” he said sarcastically. John chuckled to himself, watching him for a minute before turning to resume his tasks. Then he caught sight of Yuta leaning against the doorway to the kitchen, smirking at him knowingly. John frowned.
“Not a goddamn word,” he grumped. Yuta’s smile only grew. He mimed zipping his lips and locking it with a key. John sighed. He hoped for a slow night. He’d had more than enough excitement for a Tuesday.