[089] His Many Woes

theme: o89. "I like your face".
pair: Kangin/Ryeowook
rate: PG
words: 1541
#: 32/100


“I like your face.”

It took four words to completely floor Kangin, supposedly the strongest of Super Junior. He stood there dumbfounded as Ryeowook smiled at him and walked off to take a shower. After the bathroom door shut behind him, Kangin blinked confusedly and then turned to look at Yesung who sat at the dining table near by,

“Did… Did I just hear what I think I heard?” Kangin stammered,

“YES,” Yesung stood up, slamming his palms onto the table, “Get over it! He didn’t mean it!” Yesung exclaimed bitterly before pushing past him and retreating to his bedroom, the door obviously slamming behind him.

Kangin, still startled from Ryeowook’s words to care about Yesung’s attitude, plopped down into a chair at the table. Eeteuk poked his head out from the kitchen,

“Is someone trying to bring the dorm down or something? Slamming doors and such,” he shook his head when he noticed Kangin’s blank stare, “You’re looking like Donghae there… is something wrong?”

In a trance-like manner, Kangin looked over his shoulder at him, “I think… I think Ryeowook likes me.”

“Of course he does, who doesn’t?” Eeteuk said, leaning a shoulder against the archway to the kitchen,

“NO - I mean LIKE-likes me…” Kangin repeated,

Eeteuk blinked a moment before narrowing his eyes and disappearing into his own bedroom, the door also slamming after him; leaving Kangin to dwell on his thoughts.

Later that morning, after promoting their latest single at a press conference, the members went out for an early lunch. When Kangin sat down at the table, he was quite aware of the fact that Ryeowook sat beside him. That alone was enough to startle him - so much, in fact, he didn’t notice Yesung glaring daggers at him from across from them.

“Ah, Ryeowook, move over,” Eeteuk insisted sweetly, trying to sit between them,

“But I want to sit beside Kangin hyung,” Ryeowook argued,

“Don’t be stubborn now,” Eeteuk grounded out while still smiling,

“But hyung,” Ryeowook began again, “There’s another -”

“Yes, Ryeowook, don’t be stubborn,” Yesung gritted from across the table, “Just move away from Kangin.”

Ryeowook blinked at them with confusion before getting up and letting Eeteuk have his seat, “I don’t understand what all the fuss is about,” Ryeowook said as he took the seat on the other side of Kangin, “There was another seat right here.”

After lunch they had to go to the recording studio for a few hours to work on one of their songs for their upcoming album. After finishing his part, Ryeowook plopped down on a couch next to Kangin. Eeteuk who had been playing a keyboard in the corner, saw and faltered in his fingering, but continued on anyway. Yesung, who had entered the recording room after Ryeowook left, was watching from the other side of the glass while the producer kept telling him he was singing too angry for a ballad.

“So, how are you today hyung?” Ryeowook asked brightly.

Kangin blinked a moment, just staring at his big smile before answering hesitantly, “I’m… I’m okay.” Hating himself for sounding so weak, Kangin forced a smile in an attempt to hide it,

“I like your smile,” Ryeowook said cheerfully, “it’s hard not to smile when you do.”

“Ah… I think Eeteuk-sshi called me,” Kangin stuttered, standing up,

“He did?” Ryeowook looked back and forth between them sceptically, “I didn’t hear him.”

“But… he, he did! Right Teukie? You called me?” Kangin looked imploringly at his hyung,

Eeteuk looked up while still playing, the sharpness in his gaze contrasting with the sweet melody he was producing, “Yes,” he said in almost a low growl,

“See, he called so… I’m going over… there now,” Kangin said before practically bolting to Eeteuk and standing behind him, as if using his hyung as a shield.

Later that evening while Kangin was having a shower, the door suddenly opened, the temperature suddenly decreasing from loss of steam in the room. He poked his head around the shower curtain,

“RYEOWOOK!” Kangin exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

Ryeowook looked at him innocently and blinked a moment before answering simply, “Brushing my teeth.”

“But- I.. I’M SHOWERING!” Kangin glared at him,

Ryeowook, as if realizing this, cocked his head, “So you are… sorry hyung,” then looked back at the mirror above the sink and continued brushing,

“… GET OUT!” Kangin ordered,

“But I want to brush before I sleep and I’m going to sleep,” Ryeowook muttered through the foam in his mouth,

“AISH - at least wait for me to finish!” Kangin yelled.

Ryeowook looked at him again, tilting his head to the side as if speculating something, “Aren’t you done yet?”

“What? I… NO! The water’s still running isn’t it?” Kangin questioned,

“So it is… sorry hyung,” Once again Ryeowook looked back at the mirror and brushed his teeth in silent complacency.

“RYEOWOOK - OUT!” Kangin exclaimed,

“Yes, Ryeowook, out!” Yesung said, busting the door open once more,

Kangin sighed exasperatedly, leaning his head against the wall a moment, “Anyone else want to join this party in the bathroom?”

“What? No parties in the bathroom while Kangin’s showering!” Eeteuk ordered as he appeared in the doorway,

“But I just want to brush my teeth!” Ryeowook cried as Yesung grabbed his arm and tried to pull him out the door.

“You can do it over the kitchen sink!” Yesung exclaimed as tugged at him harder,

“Both of you - out!” Eeteuk said, pushing them both out the door, “Kangin’s trying to shower!” After he got them into the hallway, he promptly closed the door shut.

Yesung and Ryeowook stared at the door a moment just as they heard Kangin yell, “EETEUK GET OUT!” Eeteuk scrambled out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him and collapsing back against it,

“He’s a little… temperamental at the moment,” Eeteuk stated, grinning sheepishly.

A few seconds later, Kangin appeared with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He glared at the three standing outside the bathroom door and padded over to his room to change,

“I like your towel,” Ryeowook stated.

Kangin froze at his door and looked over at Ryeowook, a horrified look on his scarlet face. Yesung practically shoved Ryeowook into the bathroom,

“Finish brushing,” Yesung ordered,

“Kangin, go put on clothes!” Eeteuk said, pushing Kangin into the room, closing the door behind him.

Moments later the door opened, Eeteuk was practically thrown out and the door slammed after him. After that, all anyone heard was a loud, “AISH!”

It was in the middle of the night when Kangin woke up to use the washroom. On his way back, he realized a faint light coming from the living room. He followed it to find Ryeowook alone, watching some television.

“Ryeowook? Why are you up? It’s almost three,” Kangin yawned as he leaned against the wall,

“Eh? Oh, hyung; I couldn’t sleep, so I thought watching some T.V. would help,” Ryeowook answered, “Want to join me?”

Kangin looked at him sceptically before nodding and taking a seat beside him on the couch, “What are you watching?”

“Just old episodes of Ultraman,” Ryeowook said, “So, hyung, is something wrong? You’ve been acting so weird all day.”

“I… No… it’s just that… Ryeowook… do you like me?” Kangin asked in a rush before the words choked him,

Ryeowook looked at him, tilting his head, “Of course I like you.”

“I mean… do you like-like me,” Kangin repeated, emphasizing his words,

Ryeowook blinked before exclaiming, “WHAT!? No! Where’d you get that idea from?”

“Well.. You said… you said you like my face,” Kangin stammered, pointing at his face as if Ryeowook didn’t know where it was,

“So? I say that to other people,” Ryeowook said,

“And … you said you like my smile,” Kangin reminded hotly,

“Mhmm? I’m not the first one to compliment you on it,” Ryeowook countered,

“But… my towel - you said you like my towel,” Kangin stated,

Ryeowook blinked, “That’s because I was trying to get you to pay attention - you were using my towel.”

Kangin reddened sheepishly, “Ah, is that all,” he chuckled softly,

“Hyung, besides the towel, I said those things because I do like you - as a friend. You’re my hyung and I respect you and admire you. The best way I can show this is by praising you once in awhile,” Ryeowook explained simply, “But… if it makes you uncomfortable, I can stop.”

“No, no,” Kangin shook his head, “I was being silly.” he slung an arm about Ryeowook’s shoulders as they continued watching the childhood favourite, “You’re right, you were just being a nice dongsaeng. So, thank you.” After a moment, he added, “And for what it’s worth: I like your face, too.”

“WHAT!?” Kangin and Ryeowook looked up to find Yesung and Eeteuk standing in the archway from the living room.

“What did you say?” Eeteuk demanded,

“Why do you have your arm around him?” Yesung questioned,

“See Ryeowook, they are examples of bad hyungs - don’t look up to them, you’ll end up on the wrong path,” Kangin laughed as he squeezed his arm about Ryeowook’s shoulders affectionately as Ryeowook grinned at the other two’s rejected expressions,

“That’s okay, I still have you, hyung.”