Work Text:
“Are you literally shitting me right now, Jaemin?” Renjun asked.
“Shut up.” Jaemin whined.
“No. You do realise just how pathetic this is, right?” Of course Jaemin knew how pathetic it was. It had been pathetic from the start, and Renjun knew then, too. Jaemin didn’t respond. “Dude, you know what? Nevermind. Continue. I’ll talk to you later.” Renjun said. He hung up the phone before Jaemin could get a word in. He knew not to be hurt by the cold shoulder of his best friend, used to it after years of dealing with it. That doesn’t mean he didn’t want to justify himself.
Jaemin whined again and rolled over. Maybe if he stared at the ceiling for long enough, his brain would be able to block out the phantom bumps of his bed against the wall and the increasingly loud moans from the room next to him.
Jeno had disappeared into his room earlier with a girl, and he had- very smugly- informed him that he might want to do his leftover work at the office or library. Jaemin had scoffed, and stubbornly brought his things into his room. He should have gone to the library, but he had his pride to lose, and he would be fucked before he left Jeno to claim that victory.
If Jaemin were being completely honest, he couldn’t remember when this started. Probably some time back in their senior year, both of them going for the same internship. They both got it, and that should be where it stops, but they quickly turned every little task they got assigned, into a competition to who could complete it faster. Jaemin was proud to admit that he had kept up pretty equal to Jeno.
But one night, Jaemin had, admittedly, gone out of his way to make sure Jeno couldn’t get his work done, going as far as bringing Jeno’s partner home and doing the dirty right next to his room. Jeno had, of course, responded with the same tactic, and it was lost from there. Trade offs on who was bringing someone home, be it a coworker from the office, or someone from the bar that their friends went to that night. Either way, it has been a constant thing since about two years ago.
Maybe it was petty, but they never let it interfere with their friendship and interaction with the rest of them, so none of their friends could really say anything against it. Jaemin also felt like he did a good job acting like he didn’t jack off thinking about what he sounded like on the other side of the wall, but that was for him to know.
Jaemin groaned and rolled over. This chick was only getting louder, and Jaemin really needed to catch up on sleep, if he couldn’t focus on work.
~~~~~
Jaemin woke up to his alarm being snoozed. Not by him. He opened his eyes , and was met with Jeno looking back at him, equally as haggard.
“Shit’s too fuckin loud.” Jeno said, rubbing his eyes and trying to comb down his bed head with his hand. Jaemin resisted the urge to call him cute.
“It ain’t my fault you stayed up all night.” Jaemin said, trying to sit up, even though his legs were horribly tangled in his blankets. Jeno heaved him forward to help him stand, and immediately steadied him so he didn’t fall.
“I know. Come on. I wanna be ready in time for us to stop for breakfast on the way in.” Jeno said, walking out of his room. Jaemin grunted, but didn’t argue.
Under the circumstances, their friendship was honestly great. Jeno was his closest friend, even before Renjun. Jaemin left his room after getting dressed, and Jeno was quick to toss him his shoes and his keys. Apparently Jeno was too tired to drive today.
~~~~~
They didn’t have a chance to stop for breakfast. Traffic had piled up so badly that they were almost late as is, and stopping simply wasn’t an option. The pile up had been because of the rain. Not the rain specifically, but the fact that dumbasses don’t know how to drive in it.
“Goddamn, Jaemin. You took your sweet time getting here today.” Donghyuck said, leaning over the wall towards his cubicle.
“I swear to god, the fact that people still can’t figure out how to drive in the fucking rain.” Jaemin said, and left it at that. He groaned as he unstuck his jacket from his shirt, and his shirt was sticking to his skin grossly. He crumpled his jacket up into a ball and tossed it into the corner of his office, despite the fact that it wouldn’t dry.
After trying (and failing) to get work done, shirt still just as soggy as before, he made his way to the bathroom. Sticking one of his cufflinks around the hand drier, he completely avoided eye contact with the other man in the room, who was washing his hands.
As soon as the man was out of the bathroom, he unbuttoned his shirt and started drying it completely. He didn’t hear the bathroom door open over the sound of the blow drier.
“Wow, Jaemin. Had the same plan I did?” Jaemin jumped, and looked over to the door. Jeno was leaning up against the doorframe and smiling. Jaemin laughed and mumbled something that sounded like ‘I guess so.’
Should Jaemin have used his brain, then maybe he wouldn’t have panicked when Jeno started to unbutton his shirt. It was only logical, especially if he was doing the same thing. That did not stop Jaemin from having literal heart palpitations when he saw how much that shirt was sticking to this man’s pecs.
Obviously, Jaemin had seen Jeno without a shirt on before, product of being friends for almost 20 years, and living with him for 5 of them. And, obviously, Jaemin has stared before. But here they were in close quarters, and Jaemin couldn’t run away to his room, or blame it on the booze. So yes, Jaemin was panicking. Though he was confident to report that he looked away, and kept his breathing under reasonable control.
But if he rushed to get his shirt on, despite it still being kind of damp, that was only for Donghyuck to know. Which he will, as soon as Jaemin remembered how buttons worked. Deciding that his last button could wait until he was back at his desk, he bid Jeno goodbye- who thankfully ignored his voice crack- and rushed out of the bathroom.
“Did you see a ghost, Jaemin?” Donghyuck asked, laughing.
“My roommate is really hot.”
~~~~~
So, maybe Jaemin was a little bit more horny today, but he was going to blame it on the rain. Hopefully, Donghyuck would too.
“Jaemin. Babe, chill. I don’t mind being a part of y’alls little game.” Donghyuck said, and he really didn’t. His lips rested comfortably on his neck, and his hand was making its way up his shirt.
“Are you sure?” Jaemin asked. He was trying to lead them to his room without completely falling over.
Usually, Jaemin wouldn’t go for someone he knew so well. Not someone part of their close friend group. But Jeno fucked Renjun a few years back, so Jaemin wasn’t going to think too hard on it.
“Of course, baby.” Donghyuck said. Jaemin moaned as his hand tugged on the hair at the base of his neck, and he didn’t scold Donghyuck when he smirked against his neck. Jaemin kicked the door behind him shut, and he hoped Jeno wasn’t going to need anything when he got home, -he had told Jaemin he would get a cab home because he wanted to get more work done- because he wasn’t in the mood to deal with that situation.
Donghyuck rushed at getting the buttons of his shirt undone, and Jaemin allowed himself to be pushed to the bed and have his slacks tugged off. Maybe Jaemin was horny, but obviously Donghyuck was too, considering he didn’t laugh when Jaemin tossed the bottle of lube towards him, without him even asking for it.
Thunder cracked outside, and Jaemin gasped at the short lived lightup of Donghyuck’s face. His eyes were dark and his hair was messed up and he had red splotches along his neck. Jaemin doubted he looked much better. But with Donghyuck between his legs, stretching him out slowly, kissing along the insides of his legs.
“Fuck, Hyuck. Another, please. Please?” Jaemin moaned out, clutching onto the pillow by his head.
“Yeah, Baby? Want another one? So good, asking so nicely.” Donghyuck praised, and Jaemin’s cheeks heated up. He didn’t expect Donghyuck to be so… hot.
Above Jaemin’s whining, and Donghyuck’s praises, Jaemin doesn’t know how he didn’t miss the telltale sound of Jeno rushedly shutting his door, and pushing someone onto his bed.
“Stop for a sec, Hyu-ah! Stop. For jus a second.” Jaemin said. Donghyuck didn’t necessarily stop, but his fingers stilled inside of him, and he looked up at him in worry.
“You good?” Donghyuck asked.
“Yeah, yeah. I just need to listen real quick.” Jaemin said. Donghyuck gave him a weird look, but complied. Jaemin’s eyes widened, and his head quickly turned to his wall in shock.
Jeno, on Jaemin’s night, had brought someone home. He doesn’t know where the sick idea comes from, but he doesn’t stop it from evolving into an entire evil plan. He signalled Donghyuck to continue. He smiled and nodded, and went back to what he was doing.
This time, however, Jaemin didn’t cover his mouth when Donghyuck hit his prostate dead on. He didn’t try to muffle the sounds of his whining whenever Donghyuck would scissor his fingers and run them against his walls. He heard silence next to them. Internally, he rejoiced. Externally, he asked Donghyuck to get his cock inside of him, louder than necessary.
If Donghyuck knew what Jaemin was doing, he didn’t say anything, reaching for a condom and rolling it on. Jaemin rolled over to his hands and knees while Donghyuck was slicking his dick up. Jaemin arched his back, and made sure he was facing his wall when he reached back and spread his ass cheeks apart.
He let out a very satisfied moan as Donghyuck entered him, quick and smooth. He heard the couple next to them pick it up again, and Jaemin couldn’t stop himself from imagining what was going on on the other side of the wall. Each time Jaemin would moan, Jeno would moan louder. Each time Donghyuck thrusted particularly hard and rocked the bed, Jeno did it back.
And that is how it went, until Jaemin was coming into his sheets, and Donghyuck was moaning on top of him. They were silent for a moment. Hard breaths filling in the air. And then Donghyuck spoke.
“So how long have you wanted Jeno to fuck you?” Donghyuck said. Jaemin stayed quiet for a minute longer, and then sighed.
“Freshman year of uni.” Jaemin said quietly.
“Are you serious? I mean how long have you wanted him to fuck you, not how long have you liked him.” Donghyuck said. Jaemin looked at him in shock.
“I don’t like him, I want him to fuck me.” Jaemin said, confused.
“Tell that to every guy who never asked you out ‘cuz they thought you two were together.” Donghyuck said, laughing. Jaemin didn’t laugh.
“Literally what are you talking about?” Jaemin asked. Donghyuck laughed again, but stopped when he realised that Jaemin was genuinely confused. He raised an eyebrow.
“Like actually?” Jaemin didn’t say anything. “Shit, man. Literally, everyone thinks you are hot as shit. Like, legit relationship goals. But nobody is willing to ask you out because they think you and Jeno are a thing. I mean, our friend group obviously doesn’t, ‘cuz we know y’alls. But you come to work together and everything” Donghyuck said.
“Well, duh. We live together. Might as well save gas, and money.” Jaemin said.
“Say that, and see if it helps your case.” Donghyuck said. Jaemin stayed quiet.
“If it is anything to go by, I think Jeno wants to fuck you, too.” Donghyuck said again. “Anyways. I’m gonna go. Not really in the mood to stay for breakfast.” Donghyuck said while climbing off the bed and reaching for his shirt.
Jaemin watched him get dressed quietly, and he allowed Donghyuck to kiss him one last time, and tell him that he would see him at work tomorrow. Jaemin doesn’t know how long he stared at the ceiling until he fell asleep, thinking about Donghyuck’s words.
~~~~~
Jaemin woke up on his own this morning, but he did have to wake Jeno up after he slept through both of his alarms. Jaemin didn’t know how to interact with him, and he didn’t know why. They have been mistaken for a couple before, but Jaemin had no idea that so many people were under the impression that they were actually together.
Jaemin didn’t jump when he felt a pat on his ass, used to Jeno using that as a form of greeting in the morning when words were too much work.
“Morning.” Jaemin said. “Breakfast should be done in five, go fix your tie.” Jaemin said. Jeno grunted, and walked over to the mirror they had set up in the hallway.
“Donghyuck?” Jeno asked, but it wasn’t much of a question. Jaemin flushed.
“Yeah.” Jaemin said. No reason to try and lie about it.
“I thought he was a bottom.” Jeno said.
“So did I. Apparently not. Who did you bring home?” Jaemin asked.
“Honestly, I don’t remember their name. Some guy from finance.” Jeno said. It wasn’t the first time that one of them had forgotten who they brought home.
“Okay.” Jaemin said simply. Jeno seemed moody this morning, and Jaemin wasn’t really in the mood to talk to moody.
~~~~~
If Jaemin was being honest, that night hadn't crossed his mind again. But now here they are, weeks later, out with friends, and Donghyuck has the audacity to bring it up.
“Did y’alls know that Jaemin didn’t know that people think he and Jeno are together?” Donghyuck asked loudly, gaining the attention of all of their friends, and a few of the other customers in the closest booths.
“People think we are together?” Jeno asked.
“Oh my god, Jeno, you oblivious boy.” Renjun said. Jeno glared at him.
“Yes, people think you are together. You act like you are married. People don’t even want to try and ask either of you out.” Renjun said.
“Who wants to ask us out?” Jeno asked, again.
“Well I’m pretty sure Jaehyun from upstairs was trying to flirt with Jaemin last week, but when Jaemin said he would have to ask you if you had any plans, he gave up.” Chenle said.
“I did have to ask. I needed to make sure Jeno had a way to get home.” Jaemin said. It made sense.
“All I am saying is that people get the wrong idea from you guys sometimes.” Donghyuck said. The two were silent. He could tell that Jeno was having the same thoughts that he was having.
The night continued, and Chenle and Jisung played the role of mood setting, while the older ones watched them in semi-awkward silence. Chenle paid, claiming that now he had a job, and he needed to show it off. Jisung watched him pay in amazement.
The car ride home was even more awkward with the lack of people to be a buffer between the two. Jaemin did his best to keep his heart rate under control, and to keep him from seeming as panicked as he felt.
“Min.” Jeno said, quietly.
“Hm?” Jaemin asked.
“Do people really think we are together?” Jeno asked. Jaemin stayed quiet, and then sighed.
“According to our friends, yeah.” Jaemin said. He really didn’t know where this conversion was going, but he wasn’t really enjoying it. They hadn’t even turn their lights on, and they could hear the cars on the road outside because of how silent they were.
“Yeah, but did you know before then?” Jeno asked, He didn’t have a lot of emotion in his voice, and it was making Jaemin really nervous.
“Hyuck told me the night we...he spent the night.” Jaemin said. He heard Jeno sigh and run a hand through his hair.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Jeno asked.
“Why would I? What would it change?” Jaemin asked. He really didn’t know what would change.
“I don’t know. We could fix it?” Jeno said.
“What is there to fix?” Jaemin asked. He held in the watery gasp he wanted to let out.
“People think we are dating, Jaemin. You are my best friend.” Jeno said. Ouch, that hurt.
“Obviously. But we know that we aren’t dating. Our friends know that we aren’t dating. It is fine.” Jaemin said. He started walking to the bathroom to do his nightly routine. He flinched when he turned on the lights and his eyes were shiny.
“People think we are dating!” Jeno said again, voice rising.
“And what is so wrong with that?!” Jaemin responded, turning to him. Jeno froze when he saw Jaemin’s tears as they started flowing down his cheeks.
“Because you are my friend. Not my boyfriend.” Jeno said softly. Jaemin shut the door.
~~~~~
Jeno stopped spending time at the apartment after that. He would go to work, go to the gym, and then pick someone up from a bar and come back home in a taxi. And then he would leave for work before Jaemin was even awake, going to work on the motorcycle that hadn’t been used since college.
Jaemin couldn’t remember the last time they had dinner together, or the last time they got to work together, or the last time they went home together, but people at work did. Jaehyun invited Jaemin out to dinner, and Jaemin politely declined.
After the third time Jeno declined the offer to go drinking with their friends, Jaemin mourned the loss of his friendship. Renjun and Donghyuck noticed, and decided to load him up on enough alcohol to last him a lifetime, and Jaemin quickly went to find someone on the dance floor who looked as drunk as he was to dance and grind on.
Calling a taxi to take them home for the night, and stumbling up the stairs to his apartment. He didn’t usually go to someone else's house for a hookup, trust issues taking over that part of his brain. But he didn’t think he could be home tonight, listening to Jeno as he railed someone against the wall.
****
He winced as he was pushed up against the wall, and that should have been his first red flag. The guy started roughly attempting at unbuttoning his shirt and doing some sort of weird slobbery kiss onto his mouth. Jaemin winced when the guy bit his lip too hard.
He tried to push against him subtly, to warn him to ease off a little bit, but when the guy pinned his arms above his head, he roughly pushed him off of him with his knee.
“What the fuck?” Asked the guy.
“Literally stop. You are being too rough.” Jaemin said. He tried to keep the drunkenness out of his voice.
“You aren’t a princess. You won’t break.” The guy said. Jaemin raised an eyebrow, and scoffed.
“Let me out.” Jaemin said.
“Ugh. You are too sensitive. Just relax.”
“No. Let me out, now.” Jaemin said, more seriously. The guy groaned, but backed off. Not before shoving him a little on the way out.
****
Jaemin made it down the stairs before he realised that he had no way home now. So he called Donghyuck. No answer. He called Renjun. No answer. He even considered calling Chenle or Jisung, but he opted against that. And so he called Jeno. He picked up on the first ring.
“Jaemin? Where are you? Are you okay?” Jeno asked.
“Can you come pick me up?” Jaemin asked. His voice was thick and watery, and Jeno didn’t even question it before asking where he was.
“I’ll be there soon. Do you want me to stay on the phone?” Jeno asked. Jaemin almost cried harder at hearing his voice again, so soft, but he told him that it was fine, and he can focus on driving.
Realistically, Jaemin didn’t know how long it took for Jeno to get there, because he had found a spot on the sidewalk, and was sitting there lost in watching the traffic pass by. He knows that Jeno got out of the car when he got there, and he remembers being carried into the car.
“Why did you drink so much?” Jeno asked. His voice was a little tense.
“Stress.” Jaemin mumbled. Jeno didn’t say anything, just sighed and shut Jaemin’s car door.
The drive home was quiet, but not even half as quiet as these past weeks. Jeno would look over to him every once in a while, but Jaemin never looked back. He was trying too hard not to cry for it all to be thrown down the drain if they made eye contact.
Jeno helped him to the elevator of the apartment, and kept him steady against the wall. Jaemin jumped when there was a person sitting on their couch.
“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t know you had someone over.” Jaemin slurred, trying to right himself in front of the girl. She smiled.
“Don’t worry about it. I was just about to head out.” She said. Jaemin raised an eyebrow.
“You sure?” Jeno asked. She smiled again, and nodded. Grabbing her bag and gliding past them and out the door.
The air was still for a minute, but Jeno sighed and told him to go sit down while he made him some tea. Instead of sitting down, Jaemin followed Jeno into the kitchen. Jeno didn’t stop him, and even allowed Jaemin to hug him while he worked, though he did jump when Jaemin’s hands wound around his waist.
He looks pretty, Jaemin realised. In the moonlight filtering in through the kitchen, eyes round behind his glasses.
“Here. Drink slowly.” Jeno said, turning slightly to hand Jaemin his tea. His eyes widened when he noticed how close Jaemin’s face was. Jaemin doesn’t know what possessed him to do so, but he took the tea from Jeno’s hand and set it on the counter. Jeno made a confused sound and went to pick it up and give it back, but Jaemin’s hand grabbed his and brought it back.
Their faces were close, and Jaemin tracked Jeno’s tongue as it slid out and across his lower lip. He knew it was probably crazy, but Jeno didn’t stop him when he pressed their lips together, so he knew he must have read something right.
Jeno turned around in his hold so he could properly loop his arms around Jaemin’s hips. Jeno gently pressed him against the counter, and one of Jaemin’s hands hooked itself into Jeno’s hair. Jaemin gasped when Jeno licked along the seam of his lips, and opened easily to Jeno’s tongue.
And here they were. Weeks after radio silence, making out against the kitchen counter at 2 AM on a work night. What a night. Jaemin moaned as Jeno hiked him up onto the counter top, and he was quick to wrap his legs around Jeno’s waist. Jeno pulled back, just enough to speak.
“Min, Babe, stop.” Jeno said against his lips.
“Sorry. Did I? Sorry. I’ll go to bed now.” Jaemin said, aiming to hop off of the counter.
“No. But you are drunk.” Jeno said, holding him in place.
“And you are horny. Good! So am I.” Jaemin said, resting his arms on Jeno’s shoulders.
“I am not gonna do this while you are drunk.” Jeno said, stepping back.
“I would do it sober, why not drunk?” Jaemin asked.
“If you would do it sober, then go to sleep and show me in the morning.” Jeno said. Jaemin huffed. “I will carry you to bed, c’mon.” Jeno said, ushering Jaemin to slide off of the counter and into his arms. Jaemin complied and squealed when Jeno flipped him to the side, in bridal carry.
Jaemin clung to Jeno’s neck as he took him to his room.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Jaeminnie.” Jeno said, and kissed his temple.
~~~~~
Now, Jaemin might have been sloshed last night, but one of his biggest flexes was that he never forgets what he did when he was drunk. Maybe, he could pretend that this was a rare occasion, and he would never have to look Jeno in the eye again. Logically, he knew that could not happen. So he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating whether or not he wants to get out of bed today.
He sighed and rolled over, bracing himself as the world spun dangerously behind his eyelids. After he deemed himself capable of standing (without vomiting), he left his room, still a little wobbly. He braced himself on the kitchen counter while he slowly sipped a glass of water, and desperately tried to stop his brain from supplying the fact that he and Jeno made out on this last night.
He doesn’t know how he manages to do it, but he doesn’t flinch when he hears Jeno walk into the kitchen, and he doesn’t flinch when Jeno pats his ass ‘good morning’. He does, however, turn around and kiss him square on the mouth. Nothing dirty, a simple and sweet peck on the lips, but it had Jeno freezing in place.
“There. I did it sober.” Jaemin said, blushing profusely. He hid his face just in time for Jeno to wrap him up in a hug.
“Thanks.” Jeno said into his neck.