14. Charm Interlude, pt. 2

FOURTEEN

Their Charms,predictably, go batshit insane for that particular photo.

> OH MY GOD

> Omg omg did anyone see that photo of our Wild Prince and Prince Charis??

> Screaming. Screaming!

> Strong boy, look at him, he looks like he could pick Charis-oppa up in one hand :333

> Xiao Yu has been working out lately for sure for sure. He only gets more and more buff with every comeback. So handsome

> For real!! Our boys are bringing the visuals this time around, I can't wait

> Who saw the teaser for the new album, tho?

> I did! I'm choking screaming throwing up vomiting blood. I can't wait, it's going to be so fire

> x2

> x3

> Thank GOD the Mingkyong shippers are finally getting some food out here. We're starving every day ;_;

> fr fr the MingKi ship really took over

> NOT that I'm complaining tho, mingki on god so cute

> x2

> x3

> Hey, I'm a baby Charm www I don't have a lot of experience. Can someone explain to me if Charis and Mingyu are close? I read some stuff on Q*ra but they don't seem to interact a lot? To be honest, Charis doesn't always seem very close with most of the members. Like he's kind of a loner. Sometimes he seems like he's kind of sad.

> Charis acts kind of different than the other members because he didn't go through Knight Quest with the rest of them. Most of them knew each other from when they were trainees, and Charis came later, but don't worry. Charis is still very close with all of the members. I know he doesn't seem it, but he's actually pretty shy. You can tell on some of their earlier behind-the-scenes where he doesn't talk too much, but he totally lights up if one of the other members talks to him.

He and Xiao Yu have a kind of special relationship because they're both outsiders. Charis because of the circumstances of him joining the group and Mingyu because he's a Chinese national. Haha, sorry I really could talk about Charis-hyung forever. I'm a huuuge Charis stan owo

> To add to what the big brother above said, I think it's pretty well-known that Charis had some emotional problems in the past. He used to be really down on himself, but he's doing much better these days.

> Our Ice Prince is so strong, getting stronger every day!

> To reply to the big brother above-- But what about Mouse?? Isn't our Dark Prince an international idol, too? I heard he's from the U.S.

> Mm, yeah, kind of? He lived there for a little while as a kid, but he still went to school in Korea and spent most of his life here. It's a little different for him. I wouldn't really consider him an outsider the same way Xiao Yu and Charis are.

> yeah, he only lived in America for like, 5 years. god, my boy's english is SO hot tho

> to the person above me, please calm down

> Plus we all know Mouse likes to dance to the beat of his own drum. Mingyu and Charis seem more sensitive. Mouse likes being different and wouldn't let it get him down.

> Neither would Xiao Yu!

> idk I think you're all discounting what Mouse and Charis went through at the beginning of their careers, just after they debuted. They were roommates until they moved into their new dorm. They don't show it the way Kiki and Xiao Yu do because of the way they are, but I think Mouse and Charis are actually really close.

> Ahhh, yeah I remember the one-year anniversary special. Didn't they fall asleep cuddling on camera? So cute

> don't be weird, let's stop with the speculation please

> Can the mods please turn down the timer for responses? it's so hard to have a conversation like this

> no, and I'll make it even longer if you keep complaining

> I'm not speculating, some of you people make everything sexual, I swear to god. I'm JUST saying they have a nice friendship and mouse is kind of like a big brother to charis. don't make it anything more than that.

It's not like Charis will ever see those messages. He actually doesn't like searching himself up on the internet. It makes him uncomfortable, and even if he was curious before he actually went looking, he always leaves off feeling worse than when he started.

But it's interesting to think about, isn't it, what he would think if he did happen to see.

He doesn't think Mouse is like an older brother to him, the sex stuff aside.

"Hey, pass it! Pass it to me!"

On the basketball court, Soohyun waves his hands, indicating that he's wide open. Miyong considers it for a second before feinting around Xiao Yu. He dribbles the ball twice, light and quick on his feet, and passes it to Kim Joon, who passes it back just as Kiki darts in to try to take it from him. The ball bounces once, quick and neat, and Mouse nearly has the chance to steal it before it's back in Miyong's hands.

He pokes his tongue between his teeth and jumps, taking the shot with his elbows stuck out like wings. He sinks it into the net with a resonant whoosh.

The sound of a referee's whistle plays out from Mouse's phone next to Charis. He shades his eyes to look at them.

"Time," he calls, as the rest of them drift back to where he's sitting on the sidelines, their game drifting to an abrupt stop.

Xiao Yu lifts his shirt up, exposing his rippling abs beneath a chest still billowing with effort, as he wipes the sweat dripping down his face. Soohyun chases down the ball in a few neat strides of his long legs, dribbling it up so he can catch and hold it in his hands.

"That was great," the shoot director says from the side. "Now if we can just get a quick interview from Miyong and Kim Joon, and then we'll do Xiao Yu and Bae Ki after that."

The pairs that have been singled out drift to the indicated spot in the gymnasium, and Mouse sits next to Charis, collapsing in a heavy heap beside him on the ground. Charis can smell the faint traces of sweat that waft from him. He's got that skin-warmed, clean smell of exertion, and his long hair is tied up haphazardly on his head. He still looks very good and clean in a messy bun.

"So, how was it?" Mouse asks.

"I don't think any of you know how to play basketball at all."

"Hey, Miyong was on his middle school's team." He squirts water from his water bottle directly into his mouth with his head thrown back. A tiny trickle of it escapes from the corner of his lips.

Charis didn't play, a result of his company being worried about his legs. Mouse doesn't scold him for sitting on the ground instead of the bleachers, but Charis can feel his mistake in the twinge his hips give him anyway.

Rather than trying to hide it, he immediately tries to remedy the situation, doing some casual hip-opener stretches to try to stretch out the part that twinges.

Mouse sets the water bottle down on the polished wooden gym floor, casually reaching out to touch the outside of Charis' upper thigh. He sinks his fingers in with firm pressure without asking or offering. Charis hisses as he digs into the muscle, his leg flexing and tensing under the basketball shorts he's wearing.

They'd been outfitted with team uniforms, the gold and purple teams, and although Charis had been benched the whole time on account of a cute story they'd made up that fit the theme of their skit, he had a uniform to wear as well. The Fairytale Princes, the back of their jerseys read.

"Sore?" Mouse asks as he continues to work at Charis' tense muscles.

"Mmhm," Charis says tightly. His face tightens in a feeling of pain that gradually modulates into something harder to look at—something more vulnerable and tender.

Pocky looks really good wearing that kind of pained pleasure so easily on his face.

Mouse hums, diligently setting about his work. His fingers are very strong, and he's not shy at all about really digging into Charis' thigh. It feels worse before it begins to feel better, but soon enough, relief follows. Pocky stops holding his body quite so rigid, and a new lassitude takes over his limbs as he lets go of the tension in his legs.

They sit in the quiet, and Mouse works on his leg for a while longer, until he's sure that the pain and tension aren't going to come back as soon as he stops. He works his way casually up Charis' thigh, no ulterior motive in it, up the outside of his IT band, into his hip rotator where it feels tight.

"Later I can get your glutes if you want."

Charis hisses at another particularly intense point in the massage. "Uh. Yeah, maybe," Charis pants.

When Mouse is done, he taps Charis' leg. "Other side."

They shuffle around each other so Mouse can get at Charis' other leg.

The others come back to Charis leaning somewhat boneless on Mouse.

Winter comes and goes. The Wasteland album is a huge success. When winter comes back around again, there's a new opportunity sitting on their door.