[FIC] Place Your Bets

Title: Place Your Bets
Pairing: Yehsung/Ryeowook
Rating: PG
Summary: "Have you seen the way they look at each other?" Sungmin says. "They're going to snap and start making out any day now. Personally, my money's on Tuesday."



The jar shows up in the kitchen one morning. Plain, unlabeled, and empty, Ryeowook barely gives it more than a second's glance.

"What's that?" Yehsung asks from behind him, chin propped on his shoulder and arms winding around his waist.

Ryeowook shakes his head. "I don't know." He leans back, tilts his face towards Yehsung's and smiles. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Depends. Are you cooking?"

As he really wants to eat something more substantial than toast or instant noodles, Ryeowook nods. "Sure."

Yehsung grins. "Then, everything, please." He ducks away with a teasing laugh before Ryeowook can hit him.



The next day, there is a handful of coins and bills in the jar. Ryeowook looks curiously at it, lifts it up for inspection, but aside from the money, doesn't see anything different from yesterday.

"Are we taking up a donation?" he asks Sungmin sitting nearby with a pink clipboard and matching pen in hand. A riot of fluff and feathers is attached to the top of the pen. It reminds Ryeowook of a cat toy.

"No, this is for a project I'm working on."

"Project?"

"Mm-hm. But I can't tell you about it. It's a secret." Sungmin winks at him and taps the pen against his lips, then sneezes as one of the feathers brushes his nose. Ryeowook hides his smile behind his hand. Sometimes, he wants to tell Sungmin he is more adorable when he isn't trying so hard to be cute but he doesn't think Sungmin will believe him.

He bumps into Yehsung in the hallway and they spend several seconds getting in each other's way while trying not to get in each other's way.

"Here, here, stop," Yehsung says, taking him by the elbows and steering him to one side. His hands are very warm, and Ryeowook smiles as he apologizes.

"Silly. What are you apologizing for?" Yehsung taps him on the nose and Ryeowook ducks his head, wondering if he appears half as cute as Sungmin would. He doubts it; Sungmin has being cute down to an art form.

He moves to go and hesitates when he realizes Yehsung is still holding on to him. Ryeowook doesn’t mind but when he glances down at the hand circling his arm, Yehsung lets go and steps back with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry," he says and Ryeowook opens his mouth to tease him about who is the one apologizing now when the sound of coins hitting glass distracts him. He looks over his shoulder. Sungmin drops another coin into the jar, pouting to himself and scratching something out on his clipboard.

"Sungmin's working on a project," he tells Yehsung. "He says it's a secret."

Yehsung nods. "Thanks. I'll make sure to stay out of his way."

Sungmin's projects have a way of backfiring spectacularly.



On one of their rare days off, Yehsung suggests watching a movie at home instead of going out and making the most of their free time. Eeteuk smiles, says, "That sounds nice," and slips out a few minutes later with Kangin in tow. Most of the household follow him out.

Yehsung turns to Ryeowook with a sly smile. "That worked better than I expected."

Ryeowook laughs and goes to raid his absent friends' rooms for hidden snacks. They are all on strict diets but today is a free day and therefore doesn't count. There is not much he likes about himself and even fewer aspects he loves but Ryeowook truly loves his ability to rationalize practically anything. This way, he gets to eat free snacks, and, it saves him from having to ask embarrassing questions when he spots Kyuhyun surreptitiously recording him and Yehsung with his camera phone.

A blinding pink notebook rests in Kyuhyun's lap, and, periodically, when he thinks Ryeowook is watching the movie and not him, he jots down notes. The pen he uses is also pink.

"I think Sungmin recruited Kyuhyun for his project," he whispers to Yehsung, who shifts slightly and tugs him closer to hear better.

Yehsung's mouth almost brushes his skin when he answers, "More like gang pressed him. Poor kid."

Giggling, Ryeowook turns his attention back to the movie. He hasn't seen this one before and it is interesting but he is exhausted and falls asleep less than halfway through.

The sound of an explosion wakes him. The first thing he sees is a racecar going up in flames and Kangin shouting at the television, video game controller clutched in his hands. The sky outside the window is dark.

Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he realizes he is stretched out on the couch, head pillowed on Yehsung's thigh. "Sorry," he says, sitting up. "I fell asleep."

"I noticed." Yehsung rubs his thigh with a wry smile. "I think my leg fell asleep, too."

"Sorry," he says again and reaches out, unthinking, to massage the life back to Yehsung's leg. Yehsung goes very still.

"Um," Ryeowook says and takes his hand back. "Sorry."

Yehsung sighs. "It's okay."

"I, um, I need to use the bathroom," Ryeowook lies and makes his escape.

Behind him, Kangin says, frustrated and annoyed, "Damnit, so close!" and Ryeowook thinks he must really want to beat that game.



There is enough money in the jar now to pay for dinner for all thirteen of them. If they went to McDonald's, that is. Ryeowook frowns at the jar and takes his wallet out of his pocket. He has seen almost everyone else make a deposit, even Kibum and Kibum never donates or pays for anything if he can help it. He still doesn't know what the money in the jar is for—orphan's fund? Starving third world children? Hair dye for Sungmin and Heechul?—but he feels vaguely guilty so he takes out a bill and drops it into the jar.

Instantly, he feels much better.

"What did you just do?"

And now he feels guilty again, but, at least this time he has a reason.

"I was making a donation?" he says, smiling in what he hopes is an innocent fashion.

Shindong looks from the jar to him and fishes out his bill. "Did you put this in here?"

"It's for the starving children." Ryeowook nods.

Shindong stares at him for a long moment and then breaks into a loud laughing fit. "Oh my god," he gasps between laughs. He presses the bill to Ryeowook's hand and says, "It's not for starving children. It's… well, never mind what it's for, just take the money back."

"But—"

"No, no, take it." He tosses in a bill from his own wallet. "There. I had to, uh, make my own donation for today anyway. You're covered."

It still doesn't feel right and Ryeowook says so.

"All right, fine," Shindong says and puts an arm around his shoulders with the beginnings of a crafty smile. "You can do a favor for me to make up for it, okay?"

Ryeowook nods and readily agrees but that is before he hears what the favor is.



They are taking a ten-minute break from vocal practice and Ryeowook has a deal made with himself. It involves Shindong's favor and Yehsung, and Ryeowook is nervous and fidgety but a deal is a deal. Yehsung slips his hand between the ones Ryeowook twists in his lap and squeezes gently.

"What's the matter?"

And that is the deal. If Yehsung asks, Ryeowook will tell him. It is a simple one because Ryeowook saves the elaborate deals for getting out of waking up early or when he wants to have the dessert he is under no circumstances allowed to eat—basically, the important things in life.

He glances around to make sure no one is listening and then leans in to whisper, "Shindong wants us to kiss."

"Now?"

"I think so? He just said anytime today. And that there had to be witnesses."

Yehsung makes a considering noise. "Okay," he says and cups Ryeowook's cheek.

Kyuhyun stands with a noisy clatter of dropped notebook and pink pen although he manages to catch his phone before it hits the floor. "No, you can't! That's against the rules."

"You're blocking the picture," Ryeowook points out and Kyuhyun hastily shoves his phone into his pocket.

He winces. "You knew I was recording?" he asks at the same time Yehsung says, "What rules?"

"Uh, the rules… of society?" Kyuhyun wets his lips and makes an impressive attempt to collect himself. "I think our break is over," he says and flees.

Ryeowook picks up the fallen notebook and pen. "I think Sungmin is messing with his head."

"Probably." Yehsung smiles sweetly at him. "Can I see that notebook, please?"



They return home and Shindong pats Ryeowook on the shoulder on his way out. "That was a good effort, even if it got me disqualified," he says and Ryeowook just nods in confusion. To Yehsung, he says, "Hey, no harm meant, okay?"

Yehsung smiles. "We'll see."

He passes the jar on his way to get a glass of water and once again, curiosity makes him stop. "Really," he asks, raising his voice so the others in the living room can hear him, "what is this jar for?"

"It's a secret," Sungmin shouts back and Ryeowook gives up.

He goes to his room and pauses when he sees Yehsung lounging on his bed, reading Kyuhyun's notebook. Yehsung looks at him over the cover and says, "I want to test something."

It is unfortunate Yehsung says that while wearing his 'sneaky' smile because otherwise Ryeowook would agree.

"Eeteuk says you're not allowed to conduct experiments anymore."

"I'll buy you ice cream."

Ryeowook makes a face. "I'm not twelve. Besides, my diet doesn't allow it."

"Chips, then. Or chocolate." Yehsung slides off the bed and steps closer, smiling and cajoling, "Ice cream and chips and chocolate. No? Really? Okay, then… a new mp3 player? An entire bag of free make-up samples?" He bends his mouth to Ryeowook's ear. "Sexual favors?"

Ryeowook laughs and pushes him away, grinning. "I actually would have done it just for the ice cream alone."

Sighing, Yehsung says, "You’re the only guy I know who would pick ice cream over sex."

"Ice cream has never disappointed me," Ryeowook says and shrieks as Yehsung tackles him to the ground with an astonished laugh.

"You little brat," he says, worming a hand under Ryeowook's shirt and tickling him mercilessly.

Ryeowook squirms and kicks and flails. "Stop, stop!" He wheezes for air, unable to stop laughing.

Using the weight of his body to hold him down, Yehsung pins his wrists above his head. "Say please," he says, grinning victoriously.

"Never!" Ryeowook tries to buck him off but manages only to knock their foreheads together. "Oww," he moans and Yehsung falls forward with a hiss of pain. By some strange accident of timing, their lips briefly meet.

"Yes! I win!" someone yells.

Startled, Ryeowook jerks out of Yehsung's suddenly loose grip and turns to the doorway. Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Sungmin stand there, Eunhyuk with his arms raised over his head in triumph.

Sungmin rolls his eyes and points to something on his clipboard. "Accidents don't count."

Completely confused, Ryeowook scrambles to his feet, fighting down his embarrassed blush. He looks to Yehsung for help.

But Yehsung only says, "That's what I thought," and shuts the door in the trio's faces.



Another day and multiple additions to the money jar later, Heechul shows up.

"I'm in." He tugs a lock of Sungmin's hair to get his attention. "Geez, this is dry."

Sungmin swats his hand away. "I condition every day."

"Obviously not enough." Heechul swings himself over the back of the couch and lands next to Sungmin, nodding at the ever-present pink clipboard. "I'm in. Put my name down."

"This is supposed to be a secret," Sungmin says, emphasizing the last word, and Heechul scoffs.

"Ryeowook, close your eyes," he orders and Ryeowook obeys because this is Heechul and you listen to Heechul or else bad things happen to you. The television show he is watching isn't very interesting, anyway.

"What happened to 'this is so juvenile, I'm not participating'?"

"Changed my mind. Now add me already. I've got better things to do than hang around here with you."

Sungmin laughs. "Sure you do."

There is the unmistakable sound of a scuffle and Ryeowook opens his eyes, trusting that neither of them will notice him amidst their wrestling. It only occurs to him after Heechul wins by nearly smothering Sungmin with a seat cushion that he maybe should have helped instead of continuing to watch his show. But, then again, maybe Sungmin should have let him in on the secret.



They are casually making out on the couch when everyone comes home an hour early and walks in on them.

"Oh my god," Eeteuk says and slaps a hand over Kyuhyun's eyes.

"Um, I'm nineteen," Kyuhyun says.

Kibum grimaces. "Get a room. This is a communal area."

"Wait, wait, what day is it?" Eunhyuk asks as Sungmin frantically flips through his clipboard.

Heechul emerges from the kitchen with a smirk on his face and the almost full jar cradled in one arm. "It's pay day," he answers and waltzes out the door.

Everyone watches him leave and then, as one, turns back to the couch and its occupants.

Ryeowook pastes on a smile. "Hi."

The room explodes in an avalanche of questions and demands. The sheer volume is overwhelming, and Ryeowook scoots off Yehsung and into the armrest to have something at his back. No one is specifically yelling at him but no one looks especially pleased either and that makes him uncomfortable. Even though, from what he can decipher from the chaos, it seems his friends really were placing bets on his and Yehsung's personal business. He's not sure how he feels about that because he knows they don't mean any harm but he is also hurt and angry and he thinks maybe he does not want to rationalize this away.

He bites his lip, wanting badly to leave as the shouting increases, but he can't abandon Yehsung who clutches Ryeowook's hand in his and does all the talking for him. He can be brave for Yehsung, in body if not in voice. Ryeowook threads his fingers with Yehsung's and holds on tight.

Rising loudly above the rest, Kangin asks in exasperation, "You couldn't have done this two days ago? I was going to use that money for—"

"You couldn't have acted like our friends and minded your own business?" Yehsung interrupts and everyone finally, finally shuts up.

In the dead silence, Ryeowook finds his voice, and turning to Yehsung, he says, very clearly, "I love you."



An envelope arrives the next day. Inside is a stack of bills, perhaps roughly half of what would fit in an empty glass jar, and a note which reads, pleasure doing business with you.

"I don’t know," Ryeowook says, fingering the cash. "Shouldn't we tell them the truth? They've apologized and it's not their fault they didn't notice we've been together for three months already."

Yehsung looks evenly at him. "We could. But, don't you want to have a secret of our own?"

Ryeowook thinks about it. For perhaps two seconds. "Well, I guess what they don't know won’t hurt them," he rationalizes, meeting Yehsung's eyes.

Yehsung matches him grin for grin.