Work Text:
Flowers. Jisung is staring at flowers sitting on his desk. He glances around, looking for a culprit but at 8am the office is generally empty. Vivid red asters clash against the boring greys and beige of the reception desk. He picks up the very expensive looking vase and heads towards his boss's office.
"Minho-ssi?" he calls, knocking on the opaque glass door lightly. He doesn't wait on an answer and just heads on in. Mr Lee is typing away on his computer and doesn't even glance up at him as he heads over to the guest table and sets the vase down. "These flowers have been delivered for you."
The typing stops.
"What do they smell like?" comes the airy voice of Lee Minho as the typing resumes slowly after a moment.
Jisung hesitates. Smell doesn't come as naturally to him as it does others, but it's not like he can admit that. Not if he wants to keep his job. "Nice. They smell nice."
"And the note?" Mr Lee still hasn't raised his head.
"There isn't one."
"Hm." The silence hung for a moment, the clicking of the keyboard the only sound. A moment just long enough that Jisung starts to feel itchy. "Take them."
"What?"
"Take them out of this office." Mr Lee looks up at him. Jisung swallows as those coffee eyes lock onto him. "If there's no note, they're not of importance. Take them home for all I care."
As he picks up the flowers, he can't help blurting out, "Are you sure? They're so pretty." He brings them closer to his nose, to be easier to smell. He was right, they do smell nice.
"Pretty?" Mr Lee's eyes flick down then back up his body. Oh, Jisung has overstayed his welcome in the office. "That's subjective."
"Of course," Jisung replies, "If you need anything I'll just be out at reception."
When he's halfway out the door, Minho calls, "Oh, and Jisung?" He freezes automatically. "There's a meeting at 9, 7th floor, I expect you there with coffee."
He nods and hurries out. The reception desk always feels like safety. A barrier between him and the impersonal nature of this job. He sets up the gorgeous arrangement of greenery and asters on the side, easily viewable for both himself and any visitor.
Asters are his birth flower.
For some reason, he's starting to feel attached to the little piece of nature that's been abandoned. They're definitely coming home.
The meeting is boring. They're always boring. Part of Jisung's intern life goals is to learn from the big bosses at work, which he gets to regularly see at these boring meetings, thanks to Mr Lee always wanting him to attend. But he zones out every time. Why would marketing not just ask for the budget raise they so clearly want? Why does it need to be encoded in corporate jargon and some form of twisted pandering to the CFO?
He'll never belong in places like this.
He takes a sip of his Americano, devoid of flavour as usual, and desperately holds out for the caffeine to hit. He may not be able to taste but without the stimulant he'd for sure be sleepy. Mr Lee's voice joins the foray for the first time in the past twenty minutes and the whole room goes silent to listen. Back straight, Jisung shuffles to the page in his folder that's being analysed.
"…so would you prefer that the CFO took the budget for your silly little media project from the lunch allowance for staff or from staff end of year bonuses?"
Ah, Minho was always so blunt with the executives. It was obviously his job as CEO but Jisung wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of his disdain. His position at Minho's right gave him the opportunity to glance around and see the head of marketing stumble for a moment. There's nothing Minho hates more than incapability.
He reaches for his coffee again as the poor soul stutters an answer, and -
Vanilla.
He can taste vanilla.
His legs slam together as the taste runs straight to his dick. His eyes zero in on the coffee in his hand, the stark black Minho written on the side.
Minho, who always, always orders a plain Americano, exactly the same as Jisung.
He locks on Minho, who is stood now next to him, talking about something Jisung really, really does not care about, because Minho's lips are so soft and moist looking, perfect to kiss, his voice soft, so soft that Jisung bets he sounds incredible when he's begging, that Jisung? Jisung needs to taste that again, to lick at Minho's lips, to bite down on his neck until vanilla runs down his throat. That -
He needs out of here.
Gently, he places the Americano back on the table and forces his hands under his thighs. Focus. The only Cake he's ever met before is Felix, and they're so careful that he has never tasted him. They even have their mugs labelled.
He's worked here for a year. And never known. Well. he's always known Minho is hot. There's no missing that. His silver hair, the piercings, not to mention his sharp cheekbones and pout. Jisung's noticed so much about Minho. But that's his boss, and things have to stay professional. They have to.
They have to.
Even if Jisung is desperate to lick a path up Minho's body.
He digs his fingers into the fabric underneath his hands, grounding himself. Don't look, he tells himself. If he looks in Minho's direction again, there's no way he's staying in this chair.
When the hustle of everyone leaving starts, Jisung pulls his nails out of his skin and books it for his desk, back to his own little cocoon of safety. He has to avoid anyone finding out he's a Fork. He can't risk his job like that.
"Jisung?"
His head snaps up to see Minho standing on the other side of his temporary shield, arm resting on the upper ledge. he clears his throat, "How can I help you Minho-ssi?"
"You forgot the project folder." The black binder is placed between them. "And you stopped taking notes halfway through - "
"I'm sorry! I'll fill them out and double check with the other assistants. Really, I'm sorry, Minho-ssi. Thank you for - "
"Stop talking." Minho's voice is sharp.
Jisung swallows and avoids those striking eyes. Is Minho trying to murder him? Both literally and with the incessant need to be in his vicinity right now.
"Go home." What? "You've never performed like that in a meeting. You seem to be ill."
Hah. Yeah totally.
He grabs at the chance to escape purgatory, "I - I am!"
Minho's head tilts, eyes wandering over his face. Does he really look that bad? Is it the flustered panic or the burgeoning ravenous hunger showing on his features? There's an endless pit in his stomach that can only be filled with Minho.
Maybe Minho wouldn't notice if he just quickly licked at his inner elbow. Surely that would be inconspicuous. He would be able to savour the taste of vanilla this time. He would stop after that, if Minho asked. He would. But just once is all he needs, he needs -
"Jisung, are you paying attention?" The words are sharp but the tone is concerned.
He drags his eyes away from the blaring vein in Minho's neck. "Yes. Yep. I have to go." He starts grabbing his stuff. "Before - before I throw up, yeah. Sorry, Minho-ssi!"
And he runs out of there.
Jisung's face down in his bed when the front door slams shut behind his roommate, who comes bursting into his room.
"You will never believe what mystery boy did today!" Felix exclaims, launching himself onto the bed next to Jisung. His exuberance is so contagious, Jisung can't help but smile as he drags himself around to face his best friend.
"Yeah?"
Felix's hands link with his and squeeze. "He invited me to this big fancy work dinner tomorrow."
Jisung's eyebrow raises. "You've not even been on a date and he wants to drag you to a formal work event? Felix," He raises one hand to brush blonde hair back from Felix's face, "he should be wooing you."
The blonde sighs, "Yeah." He chews his lip, "but he's been so kind. and - and interested."
"Interested? You could have -"
"Not in sex. He doesn't just want to get laid, Sung." Felix snuggles closer. "He looks at me and thinks I'm pretty, sure, but he also asks about dance, and comes to visit me at work, and he even asked my favourite colour."
"That's basics, Lix." He whispers it, trying to soften the blow.
"Yeah, but I've never had the basics before."
Jisung squeezes him close and they lie in the silence for a a few minutes. They met back in college, fresh baby faces to the university at 18, with no one to call friend or family, and were paired together as dorm mates. They've been inseparable since really. Jisung had hidden his designation from the college and it turned out Felix was also hiding his. Because Felix is a Cake and Jisung is a Fork, they never would have been matched as a dorm pair.
The thing is, there's a stigma around people like them. The average person was a Plate - someone whose taste, smell and fluids were completely normal. People like Felix got labelled as either a slut or a trophy to parade. People like jisung? They got labelled as dangerous, violent, and even sometimes sexual deviants.
So, they've both always helped the other hide, and when that didn't work out, helped the other survive.
"He said I could bring someone."
"Hm?" Jisung forces himself back to the present.
"Will you come with me?"
"Always." He chews his cheek then says, "I tasted vanilla today."
"What?" Felix snaps up, looking down at him. "As in taste taste?"
"Yep."
"That's why you're home," he realises.
"Yep."
"Who!"
"You can't judge me." Their eyes meet
Felix starts laughing, falling to the side. "It's your hot boss, oh my god."
"It's not my fault he's carved like a god!" He ignores Felix laughing even louder, "and he tastes like heaven, and he's always around me. Felix," he gets up and starts pacing the room, "how am i going to survive this?"
"You could quit."
"We wouldn't be able to afford this place if i quit."
Felix shrugs a shoulder, smirking, "You could fuck him"
He groans, soul deep, "I can't, i can't, I can't. I need this job to go so well Felix, so we can live outside of our stupid jobs, and we can do that holiday we want."
"Okay so just ignore it."
He comes to a standstill. "I can't. I didn't think it would be like this. This need to not just taste him, but to - " He cuts himself off.
Felix grabs his hand and pulls him to a sit on the edge of the bed. "But what?" he asks
"To be owned by him. completely. I'm not sure I even want to eat. It feels like he's the only thing that will satisfy me." His brow furrows.
"Okay," Felix whispers, and positions him so his head sits in the blonde's lap. He starts gently playing with Jisung's long dark hair. "Okay. what do you need?"
"Minho not to exist" He grumbles.
"Well, we can't do that." Felix flicks his nose lightly. "Right now. What do you need right now?"
Jisung sighs. Really what does he need? Because truly, it feels like everything in his world right now is narrowed down to needing Minho.
"To remember it's a biological urge, and that we have more important things to worry about." He squeezes his eyes shut. "Like what you're going to wear for your date tomorrow."
Felix is gracious and understanding enough to allow the topic change, but he sleeps in Jisung's bed that night, snuggling him into dreamland.
The only reason Jisung survives the next day of work is because Minho doesn't show up. It's a relief on his aching stomach, and makes the day pass smoother than he really was expecting.
He's double checking his smudge of eyeliner in the mirror when Felix announces it's time to go. He has on tight black jeans, a black silk shirt and matching boots.
"Your ass looks great." Felix says, popping his head in. "The car is here, otherwise I would eat you out right now."
Jisung wiggles his eyebrows at him, and they rush downstairs.
It's a sleek black car that Jisung isn't going to pretend to know the brand of, with a driver sitting in front and everything.
"Ooft, Lix, just how rich is mystery boy?" He asks as they climb in the back and car smoothly starts moving.
Felix pulls a face. "I thought he was sending an uber."
They spend the car ride giggling about how bougie the it is and as they pull up the location catches Jisung's eye. Huh. His work rents this place for events too. At least he won't get lost on the way to the bathroom. The events room is set up for an extravagant dinner that Jisung doesn't feel he belongs at and a quick glance at Felix shows he feels the exact same hesitance running through him right now.
"Chan!" Felix exclaims, moving over to a dark haired man in a fitted navy suit, Jisung rushing behind to stay together.
As Felix introduces them, Jisung can't help getting distracted, looking around the long table, at the fresh flower decor, the fancy silverware. This is not a jeans event. Felix is dead. Though, at least Chan seems nice. And he gets a pass for the way his eyes go dreamy every time he looks at Felix.
Silver hair.
Is that -
"And this is our CEO Minho." Chan says as he pulls out Felix's seat, gesturing to the man sitting across from jisung.
Jisung and Minho's gaze clashes. Fuck.
They're definitely talking but - that one vein that always shows on Minho's neck. Would it taste rich? Or would his blood be a softer flavour? Calm and comforting maybe. Jisung could lick it up, he'd be so good, cleaning it up.
"Jisung."
He snaps back to the present, "Hi. Hello." Minho's head is tilted, staring at him. "I have to - uh - bathroom!"
He runs.
The bathroom at least feels like an escape. He splashes some cold water on the back of his neck. Please please please, he can't survive this dinner if Minho is sitting there, tasting so good. How dare he be so - so - delicious looking.
You can do this, Jisung, he chants again and again staring at himself in the mirror. He looks fine. Good even. The fight his heart - and libido - is raging against his head isn't shown at all. That's good. See, he can survive a measly dinner, especially if he's going to have to survive work with Minho.
The bathroom door opens, and Jisung's eyes move to see Minho in the reflection. This is so fine, he's so fine with this. He's an adult and can handle being in the same room as the most delicious Cake in the world without touching him.
"I wasn't aware you were going to be here," Minho says.
Jisung turns to face Minho, "Ah, Minho-ssi, if I'm honest I'm not really sure what this event is. I'm just here to support my friend." He scratches his neck, "I'm sorry if this is an inconvenience."
"Hyung."
"Huh?"
"Call me hyung outside of work." It's not a question or a request. It's an order.
"Hyung," Jisung breathes.
Minho steps forward and asks, "Aren't you hungry?"
What? "I - I guess?" God, he doesn't have any idea how hungry jisung is.
"You should eat." Minho's eyes don't leave his.
"Yeah. Yeah I'll be back out for the food. I just need to -"
"Jisungie." Another step towards him. They're only a foot apart now. "You can go out there, and we can be civil and enjoy our food, or," and here Minho's eyes flick down, "you can eat."
Oh. Oh no. "You're my boss." Jisung protests. He can't. He can't have this ruined, he will never go back to normal.
"Not here. As long as we're not in the office, I'm not." Minho steps to the side, "But if you really feel that way, then I'll see you out there," he nods at the door.
Jisung licks his lips. that vein is highlighted in the overhead fluorescent lighting. "This would change everything.
"It's biology. It will change nothing." The words are harsh, but the tone soft.
Fuck. If he does this his job, his home, his everything is at risk. But. But will he ever be able to go back and pretend that he doesn't need taste? Ever? Like vanilla won't haunt him for the rest of his life?
He lunges forward, teeth sinking into Minho's neck, licking at the vein. Vanilla blooms on his tongue. Minho grunts, pushed back against the bathroom door as Jisung ravages his neck. He bites down, but the skin doesn't break.
There's a high pitched whimper that Jisung takes a few moments to register is coming from his own throat. All that matters right now is the sweetness that is resonating through his body from Minho's neck.
"Jisungie, it's okay." Minho's hand lands in his hair, pulling just enough to cause a slight pain but not enough to move him. "It's okay," he breathes, "take it."
It's enough. Enough for Jisung to use every bit of his jaw strength and clamp down. The richness of Minho's blood flows down his throat. God, he's finally right where he should be.
Minho lets out a whine. "That's it, good boy."
The wetness of his eyes finally flow over and trail down his cheeks. He squeezes his eyes shut at the sting. Sucking harder, a small amount of blood continues leaking out of Minho's skin. Pulling back, Jisung licks at Minho's throat, cleaning up the remains of the cuts, the tiny dots of blood and sweat.
Jisung steps back, arm still tight around Minho's neck, to meet the other's eyes. "I'm sorry."
Minho looks a wreck, eyes dark and piercing, focused on Jisung's lips. His hands fall to Jisung's waist and grip there.
"Come home with me."
"I shouldn't." It hurts and goes against his very nature, but Jisung manages to fully pull away and put a bit of distance between them. "Thank you." He glances around, anywhere but at Minho, ignoring the sharp pain caused by his nails in his palm. "I have to go home. Away from here."
"It's biology." Minho heaves a breath, "It's okay."
It's getting harder to ignore the fact that they're both hard, and that Jisung is so desperately fighting the urge to fall to his knees and offer his mouth.
"Yeah." He avoids looking at Minho still.
"Okay." Minho steps to the side offering the way to the door, "If that's all."
Jisung doesn't even reply, biting down on his own lip, and opens the door, leaving Minho behind, as well as whatever the hell happened between them.
The Monday back at work is hell. The thing is, Jisung is highly aware of how hot Minho is, but that's not all there is to him. Sure, Minho is strict and demanding. But Jisung knows he carries snacks in his pocket for the stray cats in the nearby alley, and that he makes sure everyone in the office is fed and rested. He's not obvious about it, but Jisung's job is to know Minho. If that developed into a crush he was determined to suppress, that's no one's business but his own. And Felix's on days where Jisung is feeling particularly self pitying. He was sure nothing would ever happen, and he didn't want it to! but Minho just had to go and be a Cake. More than that, the most delicious Cake to ever exist.
Even if he's the only Cake Jisung has ever tasted.
Minho hasn't even looked at him today. Jisung went in for the morning schedule run through with him and he didn't look up once from his laptop. It's entirely fine. There is not a single issue with that. In fact, that's what Jisung wants. To forever forget the Bathroom Incident.
It was just biology to Minho. So even if Jisung did want to pursue something, it would just hurt in the end.
But the afternoon comes and he has to go into that oppressive office again. He's totally got this.
"Minho-ssi, Seungmin-ssi sent over -"
Minho looks up, and Jisung chokes on his words, freezing.
"Sent over what?"
He sounds dismissive, but his eyes are locked onto Jisung, and they look hungrier than Jisung is.
"I - um - its - files!" He burst out, moving forward to drop the folder on Minho's desk. "Files for the Park account."
"Hmm." Minho leans back in his seat. "My coffee."
"Oh sure! I can get you a fresh cup, I'll go -"
"No." Minho picks up the to go cup and moves it in front of Jisung. "Have some."
He's evil actually and this is Jisung's personal hell. "I'm fine. I had a cup this -"
"Stop talking." Minho comes around the desk, coffee in hand. "You'll drink out of this cup. The one I've been drinking out of."
Jisung swallows, and blinks really damn hard.
"It's an order. From your boss."
Minho brings the cup up to Jisung's lips, gently tilting his head back with the other hand, not giving him a choice.
Their gaze meets and hold, as he obeys. He lets the coffee be poured into his mouth and licks at the rim of the cup. Vanilla. Minho's saliva residue once again making him feel too much. So much that he's hard and aching immediately, like a hair trigger. Minho is right there, what if he tossed the cup aside and licked into Minho's mouth instead? Would it taste better or the same?
When Minho steps away, cup coming to rest on the desk, Jisung can't help licking at his own lips for leftover flavour.
They're still staring at each other.
"Well done." Minho smiles. He's never seen Minho genuinely smile before. It's beautiful.
"Can I go?" Jisung whispers. He has to get out of here before he does something he can't take back.
Minho's smile turns into a smirk. "You can."
Why is Jisung constantly running? It's embarrassing. He slowly but surely makes his way to the door, fighting his own body.
"Oh Jisung?"
Jisung pauses, hand raised above the door handle.
"The glasses were the right choice this morning. Wear them again." Minho orders.
The next few days make him feel like he's tearing apart at the seams. Minho has started acting like everything is back to the way it was before, with the exception of occasionally sharing his drinks, or even his food - directly off the same fork. Pretending as if Jisung doesn't turn into a starving mess every time he's in his vicinity.
He wears the glasses every day.
The next day when he showed up with them resting on his nose, Minho had stared for a good minute, then proceeded to not talk to him for 2 solid hours.
But today Jisung is finally catching a break. He stared into the mirror for a while, trying to decide between the black crop top or the green to wear, before Felix intervened and demanded he go for the pop of colour.
Felix is taking a curling wand to Jisung's hair when he says, "So, how's your appetite coming along?"
"Ugh, you're not subtle."
"I'm not trying to be," he laughs, "What you need is to get under someone tonight at Levanter. Find the hottest Plate in the club and offer up your ass."
Jisung smacks out at Felix's arm, "A good fucking is not going to cure this." He shakes his head, "Plus you know casual is hard for me."
"Hmmm, try though? It'll at least help you relax."
Jisung's past love life was never kind. Sometimes, he thinks that this bond with Felix is the closest he'll ever get to a partner. It wasn't always like that, he even used to believe in the silly concept of soulmates. One person out there that's just right for him. A Cake to his Fork, maybe, but no matter what, someone who would love him, and match him.
Then life showed him the truth.
Forks don't get happy endings.
Cakes do though, occasionally. So he's rooting for this Chan Felix is into to be a good person. To not look down on Felix for existing.
They meet Hyunjin, who they know because he's Felix's coworker, at the club. He's also brought his boyfriend, Jeongin along. It's not their first time meeting him. They're both Plates and Jisung watches as they refuse to let go of each other's hand, even when it's impractical, while they head inside. He envies their relationship. Simple, joyful, and full of love.
It's easy to fall into the swaying dance of the crowd, and let the drinks flow. Soon enough, Jisung is feeling loose and relaxed. He can grind up against this random hot man, who's hand is clenching his waist, directing him and cast all thoughts of Minho and vanilla far from his mind.
It'd be nice if he could just let go and go home with a stranger, if he could lose himself in the feel of nothing but bodies.
But Jisung has a history of being too much. His exes have never been - soft when it came to breaking up. Jaehyung in particular had been more than happy to point out why Jisung was the reason things were over. He's obsessive and overbearing and it's off putting.
But isn't sex supposed to be intimate? A bone deep connection that brings joy and the people involved closer?
So no, Jisung can't go home with this stranger.
But there's no harm in a little grinding and dancing, especially with someone who's neck he can lick and taste absolutely nothing.
Eventually the four of them head to the bar for shots. Felix is in the midst of ordering when a hand slips around Jisung's waist from behind. Hmm, not right now. Now is friend time.
He turns, pulling the hand off, holding it out between the bodies, to see none other than Minho.
Fuck, will life ever leave Jisung be?
"Minho-ssi?"
Minho's eyes catches on their joined hands. "Are you having fun?"
"What, Minho-ssi?"
"Hyung." He corrects. "With the guy on the dance floor. Are you having fun?"
Maybe it's the alcohol, or the setting, but Jisung can't help but say, "It'd be more fun with you."
Jisung's back hits the wall of the bathroom as Minho grips tightly at his waist, forcing him wherever he wants him. Their tongues meet as they kiss. A hungry, rough, and biting kiss, that makes every bone in his body relax with vanilla warmth flowing from his mouth to the very tip of his toes.
He's right where fate wants him, and he's rolling in the clouds of heavenly chaos. Maybe this is a mistake or maybe it's the best damn decision he's ever made. That's tomorrow's problem to figure out.
"Baby," Minho whispers, as his mouth moves to Jisung's neck. Jisung's fingers clench in Minho's shirt at the pet name. "My baby."
"Your baby." He whimpers, eyes closing at the possessive. "More please."
Minho bites down on his neck, and starts sucking. Something about the pain draws a high keen out of him. A hand comes up to his mouth, dragging over his body on the way, and Minho forces his lips open, pushing two fingers into his mouth.
Jisung's eyes roll back as he gets to taste and taste Minho's delicate flavour. He bites down a little. Minho hisses in response then pulls back, fingers still in Jisung's mouth, and other hand gripping tightly onto his hair.
Minho's eyes darkened as he slowly retracted his fingers, pushing down onto Jisung's tongue as they went. "You're being so good for me."
Jisung whimpered.
"Listen to me." Minho moved Jisung with the hand in his hair and Jisung felt his sanity slip a little. "I'm going to fuck you right here, where anyone could walk in. Then I'm going to take you home and devour you." He licked up Jisung's cheek. "Do you understand?"
Jisung nodded, with what little room he had to move while still feeling the prickly pain of the pull in his hair.
"No. Words. I need words, baby boy."
"Please." He whispered, eyes fluttering.
Minho's smirked. "Good boy."
Minho's lips crashed into his, pushing and taking, and utterly consuming. Jisung had never felt so completely dominated. They scrambled together to position Jisung over the sink counter and Minho unzipped them both, yanking so that Jisung's trousers so they dropped to his ankles, underwear alongside.
As Minho pushed his wet fingers into Jisung, Jisung moaning, he breathed into his ear, "Did you think you were the only one who was starving?"
He went slow and steady, causing the wetness in Jisung's eyes to break containment. When Jisung was finally ready, Minho pushed in fast and hard, the grip on his hips tight. The pace he set was designed to take and take, and Jisung let him.
"Hy - hyung," Jisung stuttered, "I'm close."
"You'll come when I tell you to," Minho snarled in his ear then bit down hard on his shoulder. Jisung scrambled and grabbed one of Minho's hands, he needed to taste right now. He bites into the meaty part of Minho's hand, groaning as vanilla blooms. He licks and sucks, while Minho continues to slam into him. He can be so good, he'll wait for hyung's permission.
Finally, Minho grunts, "Now. You can come now, you're such a good boy."
Jisung whites out as he hits his peak, feeling full as Minho follows him into the high. Jisung's jaw grips down even harder and rich vanilla blood flows onto his tongue.
The bed is too soft. It's gentle and cosy, and Jisung groans, stretching, feeling the burn of yesterday.
Oh no.
Oh no, he gave in. Stupid Jisung. Drunk Jisung. He gave in and lost his composure and now Minho is going to tell him this is it. This was a one time thing - biology - and bye bye vanilla. And job. Slowly, he turns to face the warmth that's oozing from behind him.
"Good morning." Minho's voice is deeper in the mornings, wow. Light and airy still, but the grit is - hot.
Jisung pulls the cover up to his nose. "Morning."
Minho's legs move over and grip his calf between them. "Don't run away this time."
Jisung stares. It was absolutely not his plan to make a quick exit at all. Damn it. How did he know?
"I want you to stay for breakfast. I'll cook."
Minho can cook? Why has the universe dropped a perfect man on Jisung when he can't have him?
"Okay." He croaks, and Minho smiles.
They wash up and move to the kitchen. God, this kitchen is the size of Jisung's apartment. Floor to ceiling windows too, but what else can be expected of a penthouse.
"Sit." Minho gestures to the breakfast counter as he puts out cat food. Of course he has cats. His attachment to the strays at the office makes so much more sense now.
Jisung sits, and watches in silence as Minho cooks their food, occasionally distracted by the three very cute cats that wander in and out.
He clears his throat and very quietly asks, "Do we have to report this to HR?"
Minho freezes and turns the heat off. "Would you like to?" He stands across from Jisung, leaning on the other side of the counter.
"I don't know."
"Okay." Minho's throat moves as he pauses to swallow. Jisung really wants to lick. "Okay, we only have to report to HR a relationship."
Oh. And they're not that. Because at the end of the day, Jisung is a Fork, and that will forever mean people don't want him.
"Okay." Jisung offers a small smile.
Minho frowns in response. "Jisung, I need you to understand something." He blinks a little. "I've been attempting to woo you since the day you started working for me."
"Woo?"
"It means -"
"I know what it means. But it doesn't make sense."
Minho smiles, "When I realised you were oblivious to, well, everything I said to you that wasn't to do with work, I sent the flowers."
"Those were for you. Someone sent them for you." Jisung says, because Minho can't be telling the truth. He can't be.
"They were -"
"My birth flower."
"Your birth flower."
They finish the sentence at the same time, leaving silence between them. Jisung chews his cheek for a moment. How? Minho can't have been - been romancing him.
"I don't do relationships," he blurts.
"Oh." Minho takes a breath, eyes shuttering. "I apologise then." He stares at the floor before looking back up and meeting Jisung's eyes with a strained smile. "I will arrange a car to take you -"
"No! I mean." How to explain? "It's not. I don't know." He shakes his head. "I'm a Fork, you know?"
Minho's head tilts. "I'm aware. I have been since we met."
"What?" No, Jisung works hard to make sure no one notices.
"You legally disclosed as part of your hiring process."
"For HR."
"Hmm, I pulled your file when you walked in with those big doe eyes and the tiniest waist I've ever seen. I memorised everything on that document." Minho walks around the counter and gently grabs Jisung's chin. "I know you don't live alone. What your address is. That you mentioned a passion for logistics in your cover letter, and yet I've never seen you be actually good at arranging my schedule." His other hand comes up and starts twisting a strand of Jisung's hair. "That you don't need those glasses you wear but god, do they make you an otherworldly beauty. That on Friday's you bring coffee for the whole office, no just me. That you're friends with Changbin from finance, but you don't know he's married to Seungmin. That the AC in the office used to be too cold for you, until I had it turned up, and now you never wear a jacket. That you prefer when I have silver hair over the brown."
He paused and Jisung took the opportunity to interject.
"How? How do you know -"
"I watch you. All the time. Because you're pretty, yes. But you're funny, and loud when comfortable. And you care more about music then you ever will care about bringing me coffee."
He feels seen. The only one who has ever come close to making him feel understood was Felix, but this is different.
"You -"
"I love you." Minho declares and brushes his thumb over Jisung's lip. "I love you and I want to keep you forever."
Jisung's tears start falling because how is any of this fair? He stands and steps away from Minho. "You'll get bored," he looks away, "or annoyed. Or whatever. But either way you'll forget me. I'll just be that one Fork you fucked. You can move on, you'll be okay." He swipes angrily at his cheeks. "I should go home."
"Jisung, what?"
He stares at the corner, refusing to look at Minho. "I don't do relationships because of this. Because you love me now, but you won't in two months. So I'm just going to cut this off here." He nods to himself. "I'll quit too, as soon as I find something else. That way you won't have to see me every day and -"
"Stop talking." Minho's voice is sharp.
He shuts up.
"Look at me."
Deep breaths. You can do this, Jisung. He meets Minho's eyes with a soft smile, tears gone. "It's okay really."
Minho looks devastated. "Who told you that?"
"No one. It's just true."
"It's not." Minho steps towards him and Jisung skitters back a bit. Minho's hands squeeze into fists. "Give me a chance to prove you wrong. Please. I want to show you that you're my everything."
Jisung can't take the heartbreak. Minho really is the perfect man for him. But then they'll date. And Jisung's clinginess will come out. He doesn't know how to love unless it's with his whole heart and soul. Minho will love holding his hand to start with then he'll realise Jisung loves to hold hands on every outing and he'll suddenly find reasons not to. He'll love the sex to start with too - last night and it's three rounds proves that - but then he'll realise that Jisung is needy in bed. That he begs and cries and is loud, and eventually Minho will get annoyed by that. He'll love watching anime together for the first few weeks then he'll get bored by it, and spending time with Jisung too.
"I thought - I thought I didn't want to be with you because it puts my job at risk. You could have fired me, hell, you could still fire me. But. But it's just that you'll leave too. You won't want to stay."
Minho drops to his knees, and Jisung steps back at the suddenness.
"If you walk out of that door today I know you won't come back. So please, let me take you on a date at least. I'm begging you. One chance. I will do -"
Jisung freaks. "Okay, yes, a date! Just get up, oh my god."
Minho breaks out in a grin, shoulders falling in relief and launches himself up to hug Jisung.
They agree to the meet the next day. Jisung lies in his bed that morning, staring at the ceiling. Would it be so harmful to actually try? Maybe Minho would be different. But what does Jisung even have to offer a man like Minho? What does he have that will keep him?
He knows what the future looks like if he takes either path. Eternal loneliness, or a brief reprieve and back to eternal loneliness after. It would hurt more, though.
He arrives at the address Minho gave him - he refused a car - to find that it's a park, full of gorgeous greenery.
"Hi." He smiles hesitantly at Minho.
"Hi." Minho smiles back. "I brought you coffee." He holds the cup out.
"For once." Jisung laughs, Minho chuckling too. They start walking.
"You know, I thought a restaurant, but I know you're uncomfortable in those types of atmosphere. Then cinema, but we wouldn't be able to talk that way. So coffee and park." Minho gestures at the landscape around them.
Jisung licks his lip. "It's good. The weather is nice."
"Yeah." Silence echoes between them for a moment then Minho continues, "Actually I was hoping to ease your worries, so that you'll walk away and agree to more dates. Something long term."
"You can try." Jisung shrugs, sipping.
"You said I would get bored, or annoyed. I won't."
"You will."
"I don't think I'll ever get bored of you, but I'll take up more hobbies. Maybe get back into dancing. Either way, I'll be too busy to be bored." He reaches out and grabs Jisung's hand to hold while walking. "And annoyed? You're too funny and kind to be annoying."
Jisung stares at their joined hands. "That's not a solution, hyung, sorry."
"Fine." Minho pulls them to a stop. "If I get annoyed at you? We'll fuck it out."
"Uh."
"But Jisung, all of this is how I might one day in the future feels about you. Right now, I love you, all of these potentials? They mean nothing if you don't love me back."
How to even explain that it feels like Minho completes him? That while so much of what he craves is the vanilla, it's also the care and kindness Minho is capable of that he needs and wants.
"I think I do."
"But you're scared?"
And there it is. Minho has spotted what truly haunts him. Because Minho sees him.
He lunges up, pressing into a kiss. As Minho kisses him back, he slows it down, eases the urgency. The vanilla flavour is secondary to how Minho makes him feel. This is what he could have.
It's also what he could lose.
He pulls away, leaving gentle pecks behind and says, "My ex said he loved me. I think he did. But he also thought I was a lot to handle. I don't want you to feel that way, and I don't ever want anyone to say those awful things to me again."
Minho's eye twitches. "Say what?"
"That I was clingy. Too much. Overbearing. Needy."
"I'll kill them."
Jisung brushes it off, "Hyung, it's in the past."
"Not for you." Minho's head shakes. "And Jisung? All of that? It sounds like heaven to me. I want you to cling to me and be needy. I like taking care of people."
Jisung's eyes widen. Is it possible?
"With me, you'll never pay for anything again, and you'll never cook your own meal either. I'll help you wake up in the mornings, I know you're a night owl. You'll never worry or stress about the majority of things ever again, because I will deal with it all. I know I'm quite older -"
"Hyung, that's not important."
"but I'll always be there for you."
He thinks for a moment, squeezing Minho's hand. Maybe.
"Okay."
"Okay?" Minho leans forward, eyes lighting up.
"Yeah, let's try."
"On your knees." Minho orders as Jisung enters his office. The fog of the glass obscures them but their shadows are clear.
He drops to his knees anyway.
"Are you hungry?"
"I am, hyung, so hungry."
"Beg for a taste. Beg me." Minho grabs Jisung's hair, forcing his head back.
"Please, hyung, I'm starving. I want you so bad, your flavour -" Jisung rambles, half hard already.
Minho unzips, and pulls himself out, "Is this what you want?"
Jisung leans forward. He needs it now. "Please," he breathes, eyes focused on Minho's cock, "I'll do anything, I'll be so good. You know I can do it. Whatever you want."
Sometimes Jisung thinks if he bites down hard enough into Minho's skin, he'll be able to keep a piece of him inside forever. His own little piece of vanilla.
"Prove it to me." Minho smirks, and uses one hand to force Jisung's mouth open and the other to move him.
Jisung goes slack and looks up at Minho. "Use me, hyung."
"Fuck." Minho mutters and shoves into Jisung's mouth.
He focuses on keeping his teeth out of the way and licking when he can, but Minho has gripped onto his head with both hands and is fucking his mouth, Jisung no control over it. Minho lets out a high pitched whine when Jisung hums, and tightens his hand to pull at his hair.
Jisung is so blessed to have vanilla in his life.
When Minho comes down his throat, keeping Jisung there to swallow it all, Jisung's eyes roll back and his body follows, soiling his trousers. After a few moments of heavy breathing, Minho kneels down too and gently kisses Jisung. Soft and tender.
They make their way over to the couch in the office, and settle, hands holding and content smiles on their faces.
Since being together, Jisung has been able to quit his job and pursue music. It's going much better than he thought. He might even sign soon as a songwriter! But more than that, Minho was right. Jisung is needy, but Minho is just the same. They gravitate around each other, in sync, and have never once had enough of the other.
Even when Jisung becomes desperate to taste again. Minho always indulges him, even encourages him.
"Are you cooking tonight or is Chan?" Jisung asks, suddenly remembering why he was there to start with.
"Chan is grilling, I'm cooking." Minho's eyes roll. "He's still trying to impress Felix."
"I think everyone is aware that Felix is in love, except Chan." He giggles, leaning his head on Minho's shoulder. "I'm going to go and stock up our cupboards then." He rubs his face into Minho's stupid suit. "But not yet."
"Not yet." Minho agrees, hand stroking Jisung's cheek.
"We have so many people coming tonight," he grumbles. "But worth it."
More than worth it, he thinks as Minho moves to rub his thumb over the ring on Jisung's finger.
They have some big news to break.