Archive of Our Own

Han loves Lee Know. Loves everything, loves each molecule of stardust within him, loves every trait that Minho inhibits, loves his sharp eyes, loves his slightly upturned nose, loves his small hands, loves, loves, loves.

He has enough love to drown in, to fill the deepest part of the ocean, to sink into, say goodbye to the lights of the surface and sink into the blacks of the deep. He wants to sometimes, just to say it all and drown within it. It’s not overwhelming down there, it’s peaceful. Like sleeping in a meadow. Like sitting under tall sunflower stalks, hiding in its shade.

Jisung doesn't need to tell Minho, he’s happy to never peep a word just to be able to stay by Minho's side forever, to be his first fan, to be his cuddle buddy, to be his ‘soulmate’ as Minho claims, albeit platonically. It’s not bad at all because Jisung loves just being around Minho.

In fact, he thinks he might love Minho in every universe. It’s a nice thought. Maybe in one of those universes who loves him back. That's an even nicer thought. It makes him smile.

Jisung keeps the smile, he keeps it throughout his last lines of recording in the studio with his hyungs, he keeps it throughout the latest episode of the anime he’s watching with Felix, he keeps it as he cuddles up in Minho's bed, he keeps it as they both drift off to sleep. It’s not as bad as the dramas make it seem, falling for your friend.

*

Jissung doesn't dream often. That night he did. He’s falling, Jissung thinks. No, that can't be right. Falling would mean going down. There's no down right now. Their only space. He's going somewhere though. This way, then that, then this way again. On and on and on. Until it all stops. And then he's sitting in a chair.

*

South Pole Telescope, South Pole, 20XX

Han Jisung sitting in a chair. It's his chair. Well not really, it’s not his chair precisely, it’s another Jisung's chair. Technically they're the same person. But not really. That Jisung isn't an idol, that Jisung has different memories, that Jisung's last name is Haan not Han. To Jisung it doesn't really matter. Han Jisung knows that this is a different universe, just like he knows how to hit a C5.

Or at least how he knew how to hit it in his own universe. This Jisung doesn't know how, but this universe Jisung has graduated top of his year in college for astronomy. It balances out.

The brown-haired boy smiles and spins around in his chair for a little while. Hey, he might be in a weird place right now but at least he's exponentially smarter AND is at the south pole, cool. Just as he’s thinking he should get back to work on whatever it is he’s doing, he hears footsteps.

“Hah. Jisung, how many times have I told you to stop working so late into the night? You know you need to sleep too.” Minho’s voice says, right behind him. Said boy spins around in his chair again flashing his brightest smile.

“Hi hyung, I know, I’m almost done, I just need to … uhh, do that one thingy” Mentally the Jisung gives himself points for eloquent speaking. Just because this universe's Jisung knows what he’s doing doesn't mean that Jisung knows what he’s doing ok?

“Thats what you say every time and then you end up crawling into my bed at six am the next day and passing out from exhaustion” Minho squint his cat like eyes at Jisung, grabbing the back of his chair and pushing him away from the rows of displays and the big ass telescope, towards the sleeping quarters. “C’mon you big baby the stars will be here tomorrow and so will you.”

The brunette jumps up from the chair, half tripping because of his clumsiness and turns to face the other giving his best military salute.
“Yes sir!” He grins brightly, keeping his body as still as he can.

Minho grabs him by the hand and tugs him along. Maneuvering through the hallways of the building quickly. His hand is warm and soft around Jisung's own. Their hands fit together nicely, just like they do in Jisung's universe.

They get to where they're sleeping, a small cramped room with only two beds. Despite living in a literal observatory for the time being (two months Haan Jisung's memories helpfully supply) and being around so many planets and stars that any regular person would get sick, the room is still covered in pictures of planets.

Minho plops them down on the bed cuddling them up together under a pile of blankets.

“You know today through the telescope I could see the J1407b , I took a picture” Minho mutters from under the covers pulling up a chat on his phone.

The other boy accepts the phone, looking at the open chat.

Me:
I took a picture just for you

Best puppy 💕💕(mong mong):
Hyung, Its so pretty, just like you

The planet itself is magnificent, with massive earthy tone rings circling the planet, making it look tiny. Really, the planet isn't tiny. Not at all, somehow this Jisung knows, 20 times bigger than Saturn.

“Wow, thank you so much hyung, it's beautiful” Jisung whispered, putting the phone back down and directing his full attention to his love. Minho blinks lopsidedly at him, a sleepy smile overtaking his features.

“You deserve that many rings Ji-ah, never forget that, ok?” He mumbles, before wrapping his arms around the other and drifting off to sleep. A small kiss goodnight on the lips is pressed.

*

Oh. That was nice. A kiss from his love. A promise of a future together. That's what it feels like. Jisung smiles. And he's falling again. But it's different now. Now he's sinking, the fabric around him feels more heavy and cool. Down, down, down. Until it all stops. And Jisung is laying in a pool

*

Olympic Swimming Pool, Seoul South Korea, 20XX

Han Jisung was lying in a pool. The water gently rocked him back and forth as he stared at the ventilation system on the ceiling. Heart beating right in his ears, like it did after a particular hard dance practice. Like it did when Minho got close to him, to demonstrate the correct movement.

This wasn't from either of those things. His bones felt heavy, his muscles dripping in the liquid, he had an urge to cuss out god, and a small urge to throw up.

Wearily he got out of the pool, dripping water everywhere, a couple good jobs exchanged as he went to shower and dry off.

Vaguely it strikes Jisung that he's once again not himself, he can't swim. Different again, at least his last name is the same this time.

The locker rooms are noisy. And wet. Duh, he thinks, he’s in a pool. Of course it's all wet. It would be weirder if it was all dry.

A hand appears on his shoulder, a light tap bringing Jisung back to where he was staring at his bag.

“Han-ah aren't you so glad practice is over? I swear if it ran a minute longer I would have burst into tears right then and there,” the owner of the hand speaks. The person gently lifted up Jisung's chin, focusing his eyes on theirs.

Jisung instinctively smiles. Here Minho has bigger hands, here he has dyed his hair blond with hot pink on the tips, let it grow long like he always talked about doing but couldn't because he was an idol. Damn company controlling how they looked.

“Yes, that was so the exhausting coach fucking better go easy on us next practice or we're all going to die.” Jisung doesn't know what they did for this practice, it's blurry, too many numbers that he doesn't correlate to anything, to many things his coach said that he doesn't understand, he’s just happy he got here after practice was over.

Minho smiles at him and punches his cheek. Both boys start moving around, packing up, getting dressed. A nice tandem of activity, something to keep their hands busy and their minds. Jisung digs through his bag and finds two apples, perfect, he thinks, one for him, one for Miho.

“Minho? Do you want an apple? I packed an extra one,” The blond looks up at him and curiously eyes the apple jisung is holding up.

“Damn, it’s so big… did noona go to the nice store again?” Minho reaches for the apple and takes a bite out of it, crunching happily. “Thanks honey, it’s really good.” He takes a bite out of his own apple, it is sweet, and juicy, which makes him think of the one time he went to the apple orchard with Jeoning during a break in their schedule. But still, Jisung thinks Minho's smile is sweeter than any apple could ever be.

“Seungmin is so lucky he had another thing going on and got to skip today,” Minho says with a goofy little smile. “Don't tell the mutt I said this but practice is so boring without him. How am I supposed to be happy if I can look at his nice grabble butt?”

“Poor Seungminie, being tortured like that.”
In response to that, Minho gives Jisung's butt two hard pats, before walking away toward the hair dryers.

They hold hands while they walk out of the locker rooms, down the hallway, past the front lobby, where a nice worker waves goodbye to them with a tired smile.

“Minho, could you drive me home today? My mom can't pick me up,” Jisung vaguely remembers the conversation he had with his mom in this universe. The memory isn't crisp, like it should have been for a conversation that happened less than six hours ago, no, it’s buried deep under layers of snow that Jisung has to dig through to find it.

“No, I can’t,” Minho says as he turns around, keeps walking hand in hand with Jisung, now to where his car is usually parked.

“Thank you, hyung.”

The two boys get in, and Minho turns on the radio.
“You did well today, keep working hard, yeah?” The blond comments petting Jisung's thigh, before they drive off. Past the busy streets of Seoul, into a more quiet area, high rise apartments everywhere. Jisung sets out, Minho follows. Up into the elevator, to the eighth floor, to his door. There is a brief kiss to his cheek, a small love, and Minho is walking away.
Jisung opens the door, where food is cooking, music is playing. Through dinner, then into bed, even as his bones ache, he is happy, here Minho loves him too.

*

Two Universes. It’s incredible really. Jisung loves Minho in every universe, and Minho loves him back in two. The blackness is around him once again, and this time he’s sure he's falling. But not free falling, snagging onto things, a slight tug at his wrist every now and again. This way and that, tug, tug, tug. Until it all stops. And he’s sitting in a tree.

*

Central Park, New York USA, 20XX

Han Jisung is sitting in a tree. It's pretty high up, too, with no easy way to climb up it. The sky is dark above how stars winking at him mischievously, a cool wind blowing around. He feels it through the fabric of his spandex suit.

Pause. Spandex? Who made that horrid fashion decision? It's a horrid color of bright red too, paired with a not quite black grey that would make anybody look like a bland and flavorless chicken.

Oh, and also, why is the flip his name Peter? Jisung knows it’s his english name but quite frankly it’s absurd. Just because he lives in America in this universe doesn't mean that he can't use his actual name? It’s all still a little bit fuzzy, but he’s sure of it. And he's sure that this Universe's Jisung is Spiderman. Great. Jisung doesn't even know how to fight, he’s not sure how far muscle memory will get him if he needs to do something.

“Peter, there's something going on at fifth street, I'll bet anything it’s another one of those gangs of pickpocketers” His suit says. Or, well, not his suit, it’s Seungmin's voice, Jisung has been the victim of his roasting one too many times to not immediately have a physical reaction to his voice. Anyways, Seungmin's voice is speaking to him from inside the suit, so then Seungmin must be his ‘man in the chair’. Yeah, that lines up with his fuzzy ten foot deep snow memories.

“Yo, Peter can I get a reply at least? I kinda need to know what you're doing,” Whoops, Jisung must have been zoned out for a tad too long.

“Yeah, Yeah Seungmin, I’ll go check it out.” He Swung done from his position in the tree, muscle memory guiding him how to do it mostly. Hopefully It’ss stays like that because Jisung has no idea what he's doing.

“The fuck? Who let you use my government name like that?”

“Sorry… uhhh Sky?” That was Seungmin’s English name right? Like that pink dog from Paw Patrol? Honestly, why did Bang Chan and Felix let them name themselves these ridiculous names? They sounded ok when Jisung was mainly speaking Korean, but with Peter's expanded vocabulary they just sounded… whacky.

“Whatever man, just take a right here,” Seun- Sky’s voice crackled through the mask.

Jisung did as he was told and ended up in an alleyway between a late night burger joint and a brick apartment building. He perched on one of the windowsills of it and looked down below.

Their a group of guys were surrounding some kid, hollering for him to give up his possessions. They were quite loud, Jisung absently wondered if the surrounded guy had a headache. Well, time to save some ass, he thought, cracking his neck and then sliding down the water tube before jumping in front of the loud ass dudes.

“Hey everyone, was happening? You guys are awfully noisy, You're not letting any of the children sleep.” Jisung quipped cheerily to the surrounders. They didn't give a shit. In fact not a single one of them turned around. They just closed in on the kid in the middle.

“Hey? What am I invisible?” Jisung attached a web onto the wall opposite to him and swung into the middle of the circle. This finally made the robbers have some sort of reaction. Three of them clearly tensed up, probably recognizing Spiderman, the other two looked at each other, confused what a rando in a spandex suit was doing.

“Yo, man, look, we don't want to get into a fight with a bunch of children, so just hand over the cash and we'll be on our way.”

“Wait, this can't be profitable like five of you, robbing me, a highschool student; that can't be worth it.” Han nearly jumped out of his skin, the person in the middle of this mess had finally spoken. The boy had been too focused on the surroundings to actually focus on the surround-ee. And, actually, what the fuck, first of all this dude is actually right? Like why are these fuckers robbing a person probably as broke as them, and second of all, WHY IS LEE MINHO THE PERSON GETTING ROBBED?

Jisung froze up. The robbers luckily, were also different levels of thoughtful, about the statement that is. They couldn't give less of a damn that the person they were robbing was Jiusung’s love through time and space. Minho gently took Spiderman's shoulders and moved him to the side so that he could speak with the robbers without talking around the boy.

“I understand that your financial circumstances are probably are rough, people don't turn to hurting others as their first option, It’s against the very same things that make us humans,” Minho said to the group, looking with them all with a slight smile that reminded Jisung of a cat that just got a treat. “I don't fully understand your situation, because I've never been put in a position where I have to choose between eating dinner at the expense of another, or possibly not eating for several more days, but I do know that the same system is screwing you over, is actively working to bring me down too, were not part of the one percent of billionaires who the system actually benefits.” The cat-like boy paused for a breath, taking the opportunity to make eye contact with each of the people in the group.

“It’s not beneficial for anybody right now, you're reinforcing the system while harming the people trapped in the same endless cycle, who are on the same team.” The robbers(?), Jisung honest to goodness doesn't know whether this term was accurate anymore, they seem to be pretty pacified by this point, no matter- the robbers were deep in thought, one even scratching his head.

One of them opened and closed his mouth about five times before finally saying something,
“Are you saying we should rob the one percent instead?”

“Mhhm, what's that one saying again,” Minho snapped his fingers, “Ah, right, eat the rich, fuck the police.” He excitedly nodded up and down. The robbers still seemed to be in a small state of confusion from all that Minho just said so Jisung took the opportunity to drag him the actual fuck out of there.

Was this universe's Minho a dumbass? Who the actual fuck tries to do that, and why did that work?

Jisung dragged his newly acquired dumbass through the streets of New York until they reached a well lit but empty neighborhood area. He spun on him and was ready to crash out right then and there, except Minho was looking at him like he just realized his secret identity or some shit.

“Hey, you look awfully familiar, I think I know who you are…” Jisung's heart sped up, his first day being Spiderman and his secret identity was already discovered, “you’re spiderman!” You know what, that's somehow worse then being discovered,

“Hey dummbass, what tipped you off to that conclusion, is it mabey because, I don't know, the fact that I shot webs from my wrists multiple times, or the fact that I saved you, kinda, possibly it was the giant FUCKING SPIDER ON MY SUIT?” The end of the sentence was tipped dangerously high, and he could feel himself growing hot under his suit. Jisung usually didn't speak to his love like that, or to anyone else really but he was in crisis. He needed somebody smart. He needed Seungmin, Sky, whatever.

Which, speaking off, where has Sky been? He hasn't said anything after he told jisung he was at the scene of the ‘robbery’. Jisung quickly checked his watch that was built into his web blaster, and oh, wouldn't you know it’s 11:07. Thirty seven minutes past 10:30. Apparently the only two constants in the universe is Jisungs love for Minho, and Seungmin’s fucking bedtime. Jisung nearly starts crying.

He nearly forgot about the fact that Minho was standing right there. Sadly nearly isn't near enough.
“So, um hey can you swing me home or something, I don't feel like walking,” Minho points in a direction which the other assumes is his home.

“No, what am I?”

“Pleaseee, I just survived a traumatic experience of nearly getting robbed. I was so scared my legs almost gave out, I can't even walk to the curb right now to call a taxi.”

“Not scared enough that you could start talking out of your ass like that.” Jisung whispers under his breath.

“So can you?” Lee Minho is nothing if not persistent. He shoot Jisung his best puppy eyes and makes little grabby hands in his direction. Jisung nearly passes out from disgust (thinly veiled lust).

He wraps his arms around Minho's waist and makes sure the other is holding him securely before swinging both of them in the direction that Minho directs them. It’s another one of those highrise apartments, and they're already pretty high off the ground so Jisung, being the absolute gentleman he is, boosts them to Minhos windowsill.

Damn, carrying people is hard. Jisung hopes that Peter doesn't get a carpal tunnel.

Once Minho is safely inside his apartment he turns back to Jisung, a wicked grin on his face. Cute. Jisung thinks evil suits Minho’s handsome face.

Then suddenly Minho is leaning in way too close, placing his soft lips onto the latex of spiderman's suit, right where his cheek is.

“Thank you Spiderman, you really saved my but back there,” Minho smiles one last time before closing his window. Inside he hears a muffled shout of
“Minnie you'll never guess what just happened” followed by a rustling of bed sheets and a little bit of giggling.

Jisung just sits there, brain buffering for a solid second before swinging back to his house, collapsing on his bed.

Sleep takes him soon enough, it’s been a long day for Peter, and an even longer day for Jisung.

*

Well, that was surprising. And headache inducing. At least Jisung got another kiss. It makes up for some of the stuff. The blackness around him is nearly impenetrable now, except for the sparks flying through it. A grating sawing noise is going on in the background making Jisung want to duel up into a ball. Screeching, screaming. Then everything stops. And Jisung is on a boom lift.

*

The Louver, Paris France, 2025

Jisung is standing on a boom lift. That's… Something. What's more is he's outside this really fancy building. In the distance between the narrow streets of Paris he can see the side of the… Eiffel Tower? Jisug looks down onto his wrist and is very pleased to find an electronic watch on it. He is significantly less pleased to discover that the date is says is the 19 teenth of October, 2025.

Fuck. It’s like a really shitty riddle. What does Paris, October of 2025 and a fancy ass building have in common? A robbery. That's what.

Jisung would like a quick second to unearth his memories and figure out literally anything about this universe's Jisung. But no. Because right at that moment two men barrel through the window, jumping into the lift. One of the men is built like a tank, his biceps showing even under his pinstripe shirt, the other towers above the first, he also has a bit of muscle but it’s not as significant as the first man.

“Yo, dude lower the lift” the taller man says between pants of breath. Quite frankly Jisung doesn't want to do that. He wants to go back home. Into bed, and out of whatever the fuck this mess delusion his brain had constructed. Still, there are two men who are significantly buffer then him telling him what to do so he follows.

The boom lift has a mess of buttons and controls all different colors, none of them having any labels. Surprisingly enough Jisung still has some will to live left, he starts pressing random buttons hoping the lift will lower. It does. It also starts beeping really loudly and the whole frame starts shuddering. Welp.

The other two dudes hop out of the cart once it (shakily) reaches the bottom, one of them going forth and offering the other his hand. Damn. Even criminals get to experience princess treatment then. Jisung wishes Minho was here, that one motion made him feel extremely single.

“Hey, man come on," the buff dude calls to him. Jisung, because he has now assisted a robbery and in as much trouble as the other two, hops of the lift and scrambles after the other two.

They all run through the winding streets of Paris for a good five minutes before the dudes come to a stop before a white Subaru explorer. Jisung almost crashes into the dudes before they all get into the car. Inside the car sits another man, this time with no mask on, a sly little smile curling on his fox-like features. Jisung hesitates for a second before doing a double take on the man. Why is Jeoning the getaway driver? His precious little Makne, forever innocent in his eyes, is a part of this vile, absurd, incomprehensible scheme? The world is truly evil, there is no hope for good anymore.

“So, I took it so the shopping spree went well?” Jeoning asks cheerfully, starting the engine.

“Yep, the thingy was kinda beepy on the way down but other than that it was ok. Oh and we dropped one of the wachamacalits on our way out, it’s not damaged though.” The taller man rambled while attempting to take off his mask.

“Changbin please translate. I don't speak dumbass.” Jeoning sighed, and waited. Pause. Changbin? Jisung turned to his left. And yep. Changbin was apparently the really buff man who he was kinda afraid of. Was the whole gang involved in this? At this pont he wouldent be surprised if the third man turned out to be Hyunjin or some fucking shit.

“What Hyunjin-”

“FUCK”

Three pairs of eyes turned to look at Jisung’s sudden outburst, even Jeoning turned around from where he was driving to level him with a brief stare.

“Anyways, what Hyunjin was saying was that we had some problems with the boom lift and we dropped a crown, ” Changbin turned to Jisung, “Do you need help tacking your balaclava off like Hyunjin, or you good?”

Jisung ripped his balaclava off at the speed of light, avoiding further comparison with Hyunjin who was still struggling with his. Was his universe Hyunjin this dumb too?

The rest of the ride was spent in a comfortable ambience. Hyunjin and Jeoning tacking turns talking everyone's ears off, and Changbin making an occasional comment. Jisung was thankful for this time as it allowed him to sort through his memories.

It took a while for him to navigate to the correct memories, a couple things he definitely didn't want to remember popping up. Hey, at least this universe Chan got his shit together and is no longer pinning like a lovesick fool over Hyunjin, even if it means that Jisung has walked in on them making out about five times too many. Finally Jisung digs up the correct memory, Felix explaining to them how the whole thing will go down, Hyunjin smartly filling in the gaps while a disapproving Minho watches the whole thing unfold.

It seemed not everyone was on the ‘shopping spree’ as Jeoning called it. Chan didn't know at all, and Minho was only in on it because he had accidentally walked in Seungmin printing out the blueprints for part of the Louvre. Naturally he had questions for Seungmin, who didn't have the heart to lie to Minho and spilled.

They had planned to steal several of the French crown jewels and sell them on th black market, using the money to buy themselves a nice house where they won't have to worry about a mortgage. It was a nice plan, and it was executed nicely too. They had taken several months to plan the whole thing out, learning more about security camera models than any one person wishes to learn within a lifetime.

And, well, it worked? While Jisung supports the idea of stealing random old dusty jewels that nobody has any wants or needs for, he doesn't want to be involved in it. Mainly because he’s too pretty for jail, but that's neither here nor their. The main point is, Jisung really wants to go home. This is the fifth universe he’s ever been in and that's four too many.

After about a three hour drive, the car pulls up alongside a nice little house on the outskirts of Paris, right in the area where the city blends out into fields and forests. They all tumble out of the car, Changbin running toward the house yelling way too loudly that he needs to piss. Hyunjin meanwhile collects their artifacts, and Jeoning goes to hide the car away.

Jisung trudged toward the house, dragging his feet behind him. The car ride and constant thinking had tired him out, all he wanted to do was collapse on his bed and sleep it off.

As soon as he opened the door, a figure came barreling toward him. He quickly found himself being pulled into a hug by Seungmin, Felix hovering right behind him, picking at the edges of his (Jeoning’s) frayed hoodie.

“Where’s ‘yeni?” He said looking behind Jisung.

“He’s putting the car away, didn't he text you that he picked us up and it was fine?” They had agreed to use Jening's phone to text when he picked them up and at the halfway point in the drive, just to let each other know the other party wasn't in jail yet.

“He did, but that was, like,” Felix checks his phone, “98 minutes ago, you guys could have gotten chased down by the police in that time span easily.” He continues as he puts his shoes on and goes to look for Jeoning, Seungmin letting go of Jisung and announcing that he’ll go check on the others now.

Trully Jisung is tired. He has spent approximately 24 hours awake straight throughout all the universes, even though he doesn't really feel the effects of tiredness physically. Every time he wakes up feeling well enough, physically full of energy. Still he wants to eat a short break from all of this just to be warm and comfy in his bed.

He lets his feet take him to ‘his’ and Minhos' shared bedroom. Immediately collapsing on the bed and waiting for sleep to take him. It doesn't. He tosses and turns trying to get comfortable in his bed for a good 30 minutes before getting impatient and getting up. He walks out of his room, and hears several voices coming from the kitchen. He wanders over there, truly the house is supper cramped. His bedroom is in the very back of the hallway but he only has to take twentyish steps to make it to the front of the house and the kitchen. It’s truly impressive that they are able to fit eight whole grownass men into this house.

In the kitchen five of them were sitting around the table. On the table the jewels are sitting, and oh, Chan looks so disappointed. Jisung knows that it isn't the Chan he knows but still feels absolutely terrible for making him even slightly sad. He ruins his own mental health enough without anybody else stressing him out.

Jisung wants to walk out and back to his room, to pretend he didn't see this. Instead he walked over to Minho. He has Seungmin in his lap and is quietly stroking his hair so Jisung elects to stand behind him quietly.

Chans is still looking at the jewels on the table with big sad eyes, Seungmin, Hyunjin, and Felix all looking at him as if trying to read his mind and repent for all wrongdoing with their eyes.
Slowly Chan lifts his head and looks each of the other five men in the eyes.

“What you did was dangerous. You’re all so lucky to be sitting here and not behind bars. Especially the three that went into the actual building,” Chan sighed, “Not only did you steal priceless artifacts but you also did it for the stupidest reason ever, I know this house is cramped, I know you guys still have debts from school, was this really necessary though? Did I fail yall somehow? If you guys want something I’ll work hard to provide you, I love all of you, I don't want you to resort to things like this.” He seemed on the verge of tear, the rims of his eyes growing red.

“Channie hyung you already work hard enough-”

“Hyung, were sorry, it was stupid of us-”

“Please don't blame yourself, it’s all on us-”

They all started talking at once, the ruckus attracting a sleepy Changbin to wander into the room, still with a bed head.

Chan held one hand up, and the room instantly fell silent.

“We'll talk about this tomorrow. Jeoning’s still sleeping, and I think the rest of you are tired too. I need to process some things and then we will talk. Ok?” Chan brushed some hair out of his eyes and stood up. There were nods all across the room as they all stood up, Minho letting Seungmin off his lap and grabbing Jusung's hamd.

“Jisungie lets go to bed,” Minho whispered as everyone silently left the room. Jisung nodded in response, standing up so they could both get up.

Minho took his hand and led them to their room, settling them both into his bed. He pressed a kiss to the other temple whispering a soft ‘I’m glad you're ok’ as both boys drifted off to sleep.

*

Wel fuck. That went about as good as Jisung expected. He desperately hopes that robbery-universe Jisung didn't go to jail. How would he pine after Minho then. Mentally Jisung marked off another universe here Mino loved him back. Four. Damn. For some reason this time the darkness around him as he floated was tinted slightly green. Jisung thought he had totally gone crazy because he kept hearing the first notes of stickers playing over and over. Toting and tooting, driving him crazy. Then everything stopped. And Jisung was on a stage.

*

Marvel Stadium, Docklands Australia, 20XX

Jisung was standing on a huge stage. Behind him big screens flashed neon green, the opening notes of a song barring. People were cheering all around him, screaming. Jisung was so happy to be back in his element that he nearly passed out. And then a fan chant started. And he nearly passed out again, but this time from the sheer absurdness of the situation,

“NCT, NCT, S! K! Z!”

What the actual fuck universe? Jisung has never had a specific problem with NCT, he doesn't like their music that much, but he can admit they do have a killer beat to it. BUT, to go as far as making him a member of the group? That was simply absurd, abhorrent, atrocious.

Before he could come up with any more words beginning with an ‘a’ to describe the situation the choreo to the song started again. For some strange reason the universe decided to pity him just then, he knew this song! In fact the newly-turned NCT member had practised this song countless times, THUNDEROUS! Fuck yeah!

He let his muscle memory guide him through the performance, grinning through the whole entire thing. Some things here and there were different, the beat slightly off from what he remembered, He also nearly tripped over Felix, apparently the choreo there changed too.

From Thunderous the set list went to Megaverse (now called Megaphone, some of the lyrics changed), then Domino, and finally Blind Spot before they stopped for a break to talk to the audience.

Jisung found himself standing between Changbin and Minho, all standing in a straight line, facing inward where Bang Chan was speaking.

“Thank you all so much for coming, your support really means a lot to us. Before we move with the rest of the set list, our favorite little Quokka made a song on the most recent album, J.ONE. Do you want to talk about it?” Ah. When was the last time Jisung was referred to as J.ONE? Maybe when he was sixteen?

“Uh yeah, sure,” What was his supposed new song about? “I wrote about my experiences.. Yeah, it kinda symbolizes things, for me personally, yep.” Jisung managed to stutter out.

For some reason Changbin was snickering from next to him, and the tips of Minho's ears were bright red. Seungmin, standing right next to Minho, was the shade of a tomato all around. Was it something he said? Jisung’s favorite types of songs were the type to describe the hardships he had overcome through various stages in his life. Maybe his wording wasn't the most eloquent thing out there. Sue him. He didn't know what the fuck the song was about.

Chan, ever the benevolent leader, decided to move on from this song introduction and started talking about the rest of the album.

“Yo,Changbin, dude, why are you laughing?” A bewildered Jisung turned to a still snickering Changbin.

“Jisung-ah, I didn't expect you to just say that out loud on stage, wouldn't want to embarrass Minho, yeah?” Changbin whispered back to him. What the everloving fuck could that mean? Jisung turned to Changbin to ask him again, only to find him on the other side of the stage fussing over Felix. Seriously, that dude has no control when it comes to the sunshine.

The concert went on, Jisung keeping up pretty well, and successfully concluding with the rest of the band. Backstage, Jisung nearly collapsed into a spot on the stained brown couch, people running around, cleaning up the backstage area, collecting all the outfits from the members, packing up the sound equipment and what not.

Still the previous interaction on stage bugged the idol’s mind. He pulled out his phone, deciding to google the lyrics, maybe he had written a song like domestic banana. He types out ‘J.Ones newest song’ into naver, and Wow, ok.

He had written a sex song. Not even that deeply concealed between lyrics about trains or something. No. Just straight up, talking about ‘late nights in bed’, ‘everybody can hear you moan’, and not only that but some kinky things like ‘barking for a master’. No wonder Changbin had laughed. Not only had he written a song vividly describing their sex life, but also admitted to it on stage. Han Jisung, member of the hit boy group NCT SKZ wanted to die. Maybe he can go back to the universe where he swims and drown himself, or, or he can go back to where he’s an astronomer and froze on the south pole.

While Jisung is contemplating his existence Jeoning waltzes in, cackling like the absolute maniac he is. He skips over to where Jisung can see Minho and Seungmin are sitting, scrolling on their phones, and flops over the back of their chairs.

“Hyung, I didn't think Jisung would actually follow through. I thought he was just being menace when he said he’d write about y'all's sex life but nopeeee,” the man whined loudly into Minho's ear. The other, in turn, just gave him a shove off his chair, ears turning bright red. This only caused Jeoning to cackle louder, throwing out a ‘good luck with dispatch, hyungs’ before skipping away.

After a while of lazing around Jisung gathers up what remains of his sanity and energy, getting up off the couch. He drags his feet to the stylist noonas, giving them his outfit, saying bye to some of the staff and practically crawling to the van.

Inside the van sits none other than the love of his life, Lee Minho. Maybe he’s just tired, maybe Minho is just that beautiful, maybe he's just whipped, but Jisung swears Minho is glowing. His hair is fanned out in a gentle halo above him, illuminated by the shitty car lighting. His almond eyes shining through the tiredness.

Jisung collapses straight on top of him. Burring his head into the others thighs, feeling him stroking his back. Minho presses a kiss to the back of his head just as Jisung falls asleep.

*

For fucks sake Jisung is done. He keeps getting kisses from Minho, but none of them is his Minho. He just wants his hyung. And maybe a decent eight hours of sleep. But alas, he keeps ending up in the endless blackness. This time it’s swaying side to side, sending ripples through the space. It floats in Jisung. Up and down, up and down, up and down. And then everything stops. And Jisung is on the ocean floor.

*

The Ocean Floor, Off the coast of Madagascar, XXXX

Jisung was on the bottom of the ocean floor. Granted it wasn't the deepest part of the ocean floor, but this had to count for something.

His body felt wrong, it was too big, his hands too flat. They didn't really feel like hands… more like fins? Also, what was that weird feeling on his back? Jisung's mouth tasted oddly of something like fish, shrimp, and a grotesque amount of salt.

He spun around trying to see the whole of his body, made harder by his head less simple than usual, but he managed to see enough to come to a conclusion. He was a whale.

“WHY ME UNIVERSE!!!” He thrashed around briefly, making the Relicanthus Daphneae bend away from him in the water. After a moment of screaming his heart out Jisung calmed down. It stands to reason that if there are infinite universes, there are infinite possibilities, out of all the organisms he could be a great number of them won't be human. Hell, he won't exist in most universes, and be dead in many more.

Reasoning this Jisung decided to take advantage and swim around. He swam toward slightly shallower waters, here it was only about 300 meters deep, the water a lovely blue color. All his surroundings were vaguely blurry and monochromatic. It was still better than what Jisung would see if he opened his eyes underwater as a human.

In the distance he heard a call, it seemed to puls through the water, mixing with little clicks and whistles, calling to him. They were calling his name! For some reason to Jisung the way the voice of the singer sounded to him sounded oddly familiar, like he had heard it a thousand times before, he just couldn't place where he heard them.

Jisung swam toward where the sound was coming from, his great big tail swinging in the water, propelling him faster than he ever thought he could go on his own. Jisung responded with his own clicks and songs,the singer also moving closer to him.

Suddenly, like a flash of lighting Jisung recognized the voice, Minho, he thought. And there, 30 meters away, was another whale. Miraculously, the whale even managed to look like Minho in human form. His eyes displayed a curious act like mischief, he even had a birthmark where the human Minho does.

“Yah, what were you screaming about? I swear the whole entire ocean heard you,” Minho called to him.

“Sorry, I was questioning all my life choices for a second there,” The whale replied. Minho nodded at that. Or did what Jisung recognized as the equivalent of a nod, a twist of his fin.

“C’mon we still have to get to Ice-land before the summer solstice, do you want all the krill to be gone by the time we get there?”

“No, I want good krill…. I don't want the mangy little fucks.”

“That’s what I thought, c'mon baby, only 30 more kilometers and then we can take a break.”

Swimming through the ocean was quite relaxing, the warm sunlight filtering through the layers of water, casting intricate light shows onto the back of the two whales. Their tails moving in tandem as they swam calmly through the depth. Sometimes they would see another animal, a seal here, a little fish there, but otherwise their journey was limited to the two of them.

As darkness fell through the water and they completed their 30 kilometers, Minho decided that they could take a short break to rest before they continued. It wouldn't be long, the pace they were going at was slow and easy to maintain, and whales often traveled for 24 hours at a time.

Jisung took this opportunity to close his eyes and drift a little.

“Sungie” Minho suddenly called, “Theirs a couple a little bit away, they're coming towards us.”

“Okay..” the other replied. Whales weren't usually aggressive toward each other, so Jisung wasn't too worried. Still he owned his eyes and watched as two whales swam closer to them. One of them is doing slow spins in the water for some reason.

The whale doing spins stopped when the other nudged them with their fin, both stopping slightly in front of them.

“Hi, “ The whale previously spinning said, “Ummm, this is kind of embarrassing so ad mit but me and my brother got lost on the way to the feeding grounds…” they trailed off. The other whale rolled their eyes at them.

Minho and Jisung looked dumbfounded at the pair for a moment. Getting lost… was kind of hard to do. You know with whales using magnetic fields as a kind of internal GPS, oh and not to mention the fact that they do this every year. The other two weren't children anymore, they looked fully grown so they had already done this route at least twelve times.

Sensing their astonishment the other whale answered,
“My brother, Lix, had heard from one of his stupid-ass friends that there was a shortcut. I told him it wasn't true but he didn't listen." The whale huffed out.

“Okay? I guess? Do you guys want to come with us?” Minho, motioned toward where they were swimming.

“Ohhh yes please. By the way I’m Felix, although Seungmin already told you that, isn't he?”

“I’m Jisung and this is Minho.” Jisung told them, isn't that crazy, even in whale form he got to meet his beloved members.

Minho, deciding that it was enough of a break, urged them forward to continue swimming to the rounds. Jisun and Felix swam slightly ahead of the other two, quickly bolting and talking about all sorts of things. Seungmin and Minho swimming behind them as well. Jisung was kind of concerned about leaving Minho to socialize with someone they just met as he had a habit of being snarky with everyone. But just like the Seungmin Jisung knew, whale Seungmin didn't seem to mind, instead laughing and throwing snark back at Minho.

Eventually they came to another break, and they all huddled up next to each other to close their eyes for a bit. Jisung swam gently up to Minho, who head busted him gently before putting one of his fins over Seungmin's back. A whale form of kiss is guessed, and the closed eyes to briefly drift off to sleep.

*

The first thought that comes to his mind as he starts flailing this tie is, ‘even as whales?’. It’s like the universe is trying to show them that they belong together forever and ever. Jisung sighed in content as he one again floats through the everlasting blackness. Wait. Blackness is wrong. This time it;s not blackness that meets his eyes but blinding white. It takes over all his vision, as his body feels like it's being torn apart. Every molecule of his being feels like it’ s being pulled in every direction all at once. Pulled and pulled and pulled and pulled. And then everything stops. And Jisung is standing in a bedroom.

*

Something, Somewhere, Sometime

Jisung is standing in a bedroom. It’s a nicely decorated bedroom, the ceiling painted with warm orange and yellow hues. A book shelf teks up one of the walls, the books on it keep shifting titles, colors, and shapes, he watches as ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’, becomes ‘Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook’, becomes what looks like a cookbook in Arabic. On the other walls of the room posters are splattered overlapping each other. They too are constantly changing, bands, places on earth, detailed diagrams of rockets. On the side there is a bed, and in the center of the room, behind a heavy oakwood desk sits a …girl?

No, not a girl. They are very feminine presenting, but somehow giving them one gender feels wrong and absurd.

“You are right to think that I am not any particular gender Jisung,” The person speaks, a twinkle in their eyes. “I’m not even human, I just appear so because that's what you want me to appear as” he said.

Jisung is sure he hasn't said anything aloud. Can they read my mind?

Another chuckle escaped the person,
“I wouldn't call it reading minds, technically I am your mind,” She purred.

“What?”

“I’m one of the keepers of the space time continuum, I am everything and nothing all at the same time.” Damn. That was absolutely crazy. More importantly than this situation though, was Jiang's desire to collapse into a bed at home. Let a man sleep!

“You can go home whenever you decide, just press his button,” the person tossed a big red button at Jisung. “ You could go home now or I could tell you why you're here.” They continued.
As much as Jisung desperately wanted to go to bed and cocoon himself into a little ball, his curiosity far outweighed the call of sleep. He nodded toward the keeper, signaling for them to go on. Their eyes slightly twitched at that and they sighed.

“You know I really hate it when people just say ‘yes’, or nod to an ‘or’ question. You're supposed to pick one!” Xer huffed out. “Anyways, that's irrelevant. So, you see, Jisung, I’m quite fond of humans' invention of music. I've spent all of my existence listening to music, every single song on this planet I've listened to, from Queen to lullabies that parents make up to comfort their children. It’s become sort of my connection to humans, something that keeps me present in a limbo between time and space. Due to this I have developed a special sort of connection between musicians and myself.

“Anywho, when you said that in every universe you love Minho; I heard it, later I got bored, and maybe a little high, so I decided to throw you into some other universes just to see what happened-”

“You're literally everything. How could you possibly get bored?” Jisung cut off, genuinely curious.

“I exist outside of time and space jisung, I’m infinitely old and infinitely young, and every age in between. And while my younger part still finds this whole business of every universe extremely exciting, the rest of it has long since gotten over it. I crave excitement in my life, you know?” They flopped back against the back of their desk chair with a sigh.

After being a whale, an astronomer, and even a part of NCT this reasoning made perfect sense to Jisung. He slowly mulled over all the universes he had visited again, painstakingly slowly trying to remember all parts of them. In every universe Jisung had visited he had loved Minho, and in every universe Jisung had visited, Minho had kissed him. Had shown a form of affection typically only reserved for lovers. Does that mean that in every universe…

“MInho loves me? In every universe, Minho loves me?” Jisung softly whispers. Are they truly meant to be together?

“No? Why would you think that? It’s statistically impossible. Hell, you don't even exist in most universes. “ The keeper snorts at Jisung.

“Fine, but does Minho love me in the universes we meet?”

“Yes, in most of them, but-”

“So, he loves me in my universe?”

“Yes, but-”

Jisung doesn't wait for the keeper to finish, rapidly pressing the red button to go home. He feels his body start to trach again, white once again filling his vision.

“Wait! No, Jisung, you’re missunde–” The keeper shouts at him, but Jisung can't hear the rest.

*

Jisung is falling through the white space again. Hurtling though it in fact. He has never moved this fast before. Faster then the speed of light. He’s so excited. MInho loves him back! Truly, fully, and romantically, even the keeper said so. Jisung cells are being tugged in all directions. Tugged, and tugged, and tugged. And then everything stops. And Jisung is asleep.

*

Minsung Dorm, Seoul, South Korea, 20XX

The alarm blares in Jisung's ear. Rapidly he smacks it to make it stop. Quickly he checks his memories, making sure that it’s truly his own body that he is in now, and that he hasn't hijacked somebody else's. 

Nope. It’s his. For the first time since his multiverse travels Jisung feels truly rested, he’s still buzzing with excitement from what the keeper told him, it’s better than any kind of coffee he could have drank. 

Quickly Jisung jumps out of bed and runs to the bathroom to fix himself up a little bit. He wants to confess to Minho as soon as possible, to make up for the lost time they have wasted. After brushing his teeth, washing his face and putting on a clean hoodie and jeans Jisung quietly crept toward the kitchen. He wants to make Minho some coffee before he wakes up, to make sure he’s fully awake for Jisung's confession. Plus, even if he knows that Minho loves him back he’s still a little bit nervous, doing something with his hands would calm him down. 

As he gets closer to the kitchen, he can hear someone quietly moving about, the hiss of the coffee machine going off. That gives him a pause. Seungmin had bought a coffee machine for Lee Know when they changed dorms, since he couldn't make coffee for him every morning now. While the intention was pure, Minho refused to use the coffee machine claiming that it had too many buttons and was ‘too complicated’. Most of the time Minho had resigned to buying coffee from the quaint cafe across the street. 

Jisung lingered around the doorway, trying to figure out if one of the members had come in. They did all have spare keys after all. Maybe it was the manager, coming to pick them up for a surprise appointment and deciding to use the machine while they were here.

Jisung didn't have to wait long for his answer as he heard a cup slide across the counter, Seungmin's voice muttering “For you hyung," in the background.

Jisung took a deep breath, whatever, even if Seungmin was in the room he could find a way to catch Minho on his own and tell him. He started walking again, prepared to enter the kitchen, when he heard Seungman take a deep breath.

“Hyung, I like you.” That maid Jisung instantly stopped in his path again. He hears Minho choke a little bit, the sound of Seungmin quietly patting him on the back.

“You know, you're one of the most meaningful people in my life. You're like the sun to me, so kind and gentle with your affections. You're beautiful and kind hyung. When I spend time around you it feels like all my problems have disappeared. When you smile, I think I forget how to feel sadness. I’ve had a crush on you for so long, ever since I first saw you I thought you were beautiful, but now getting to know you more throughout these years it feels like so much more.I want to spend a long time with you, whether romantically or just as your friend.”

Jisung froze, Seungmin had feelings for Minho? He never knew. Not that he blamed him, Minho was an amazing person, but they always did have that more ‘divorced couple’ concept. There was quite the silence after Seungmin's confession, which Jisng didn't dare interrupt. He wasn't an asshole after all.

After a couple more seconds Minho gently coughed, moving slightly causing the chair to screech on the floor.

“I like you Minnie,” He said simply. “I… have also liked you for quite a while. You're beautiful, and kind. I think we fit together like puzzle pieces when we interact.” 

“I would very much like to be with you, romantically, Seungminnie, if you'll have me.”

Jisung peeked around the doorframe, into the warm glow of the kitchen lights. Seungmin and Minho were holding hands timidly, blushing all the way up to their ears.

He felt tears perk up behind his eyes, as he quietly went back to his room, wondering why the keeper lied to him. Wondering why he went through all of this just for nothing. And then, once again lying on his covers, snuggled up in his bed it hit him.

Oh.

Minho did love him.  

The keeper hadn't lied to him. 

Han loves Lee Know in every universe he can. And Lee Know loves him back in each one of those universes. Just in a different way

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

“FUCK, WHY DO THOSE HUMANS NEVER LISTEN TO ME”

“Hey, stop yelling, I have a killer headache.” “I send him on this whole path to gently let him down and make him come to his own realization. I am about to tie the bow off of him, and let him cry on my shoulder if he needs to, but he just presses that GOD FORSAKEN button before it’s time. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Im going to fucking kill someone!!!”

“I’m gong to kill you if you don't shut the fuck up.”