National Anthem [Kai-centric]
Kai-centric, implied Luhan/Kai and Chanyeol/Kai
G, 463 words
Amazing how charming he can be when he puts the effort in.
a/n: Idk, I wasn't at Disney with exo because I live all the way on the other side of the country but in a lot of the pictures I saw, Jongin looked kind of bored/tired/lonely. so I wrote this~ kind of angsty but also not? because Chanyeol
Fatigue pulls Jongin’s eyebrows together and keeps his eyes from being fully open, hooded in his silence. He puts his earphones in and tries to drown it all out. He knows in the back of his aching mind that he should do better. They’re in public and now that they’re practically national treasures (well, not really), they need to put on smiles. Some of them do, some of them break. It’s hot and they’re all still sort of running on Korean time.
The passion is what drives him on through the heat of the day and the cameras in his face. The fact that they love him and that’s why they’re doing this reminds him too. He may be in it for the passion of performance and the way it feels after he steps off stages and sets, but the attention will always create a perfect mix. The clichéd cherry on top.
Amazing how charming he can be when he puts the effort in. Clocks in or puts in coins like a bubble gum dispenser. He knows how to be cute. He uses that knowledge to his advantage. They’ll just think he’s always like this, always strange and always dancing around. Kai, EXO-K’s dancer. He’s not the youngest, but he knows how to be adorable. Still a child.
He wants so badly to hold someone’s hand. Luhan is the easiest to attach to, but Luhan is like that with almost everyone, and Luhan has busied himself with Sehun today. They’ve gotten to the point where Jongin can’t tell if it’s fanservice or just the level their friendship is at anymore.
This is supposed to be a happy place, and Jongin does feel happy. Happy to be alive and happy to be famous, but he can’t shake the pain lingering in his mind. It’s too hot and there are too many people. The need for someone to hold onto is only another burden on top of it all.
Everyone is too far away. They know how to have fun. Jongin will only bring them down.
He lingers around Chanyeol, the one whose pheromones are made of happiness and summertime fun. Like beaches and roller coasters and the bubbles that they blow together later.
Chanyeol has always had a good smile. He won’t try to imitate it, but he’ll remember to be happy.
He’ll play with Tao’s hair later. He likes being close to him. He’ll pose for a picture with Luhan after his palm tree updo disappears and maybe he’ll lean a little close. Their heads will touch, and Jongin will drift to this comfort, halfway there pressing his weight into him. He doesn’t. He swallows this feeling down like a large lump in his throat; almost chokes, and smiles for yet another camera.
//
end inspired by this photo of Luhan and Jongin :)
also this is so cute omg. sorry if I'm ruining the mood but I just love seeing those smiles ;; also this was named "national anthem" because I was listening to the song by Lana Del Rey.
