Challenge
I really love the hookerverse created by sugarless_666 and out_of_words24 , so I'm trying my hand at it. I think I wanted it to be...sexier, or angstier, or something, because the originals are so good, but I think it turned out alright.

Challenge
pairings: Kibum/Sungmin, Kangin/Sungmin

Sungmin has been working the streets for months, maybe years—he no longer knows the date, chooses to forget his birthday, his hometown, the sound of his mother's screams and the creak of the door as his stepfather stumbles into his room in the middle of the night. He has been working long enough to know how to turn sleepless, bloodshot eyes enticing with a trick of the light; long enough to stop caring that his lips are still hot and sticky from the john before; long enough to give the sick fucks whatever they want, as long as the money is right, but never to go with the ones who smile. They only smile if they don't intend to pay.

This one doesn't smile, but Sungmin realizes when he's down on his knees in the alleyway, moaning ever so softly, pretending to gag ever so slightly, that there is something different about him. Different means dangerous, and Sungmin considers walking away but decides against it—not because the man is handsome and gentle, not even because of the money, but because he meets Sungmin's eyes and there is no pity or contempt in his gaze, just cool appraisal. It is a challenge, and Sungmin has not backed down from a challenge since he found his mother bleeding and his stepfather waiting and he ran and ran until he reached his new home on this corner. He draws on all his experience and feels a rush of triumph at the wobble in the man's knees, the rasp in his breath, is sure the man is close when he hears the voice rumble above his head.

"You'll do."

Then the man is zipping up his pants and slipping a card and a wad of cash into his shirt pocket, and by the time Sungmin has managed to stand he is gone. Sungmin's fingers stray automatically to smear the sex from his lips as he reads the card. Kim Kibum, it says. Manager, Pantheon Gentlemen's Club.

***

Sungmin likes Eeteuk immediately because Eeteuk cuts through the bullshit without being remotely businesslike.

"I like you boys who've worked on the street because I don't have to get someone to teach you how to fuck and suck. You have no idea how complicated that can be." The twinkle in Eeteuk's eye and the dimple in his cheek make Sungmin think that before Eeteuk became the house mama, he must've been the highest earner. "Some of you, though, don't seem to know how to kiss."

This is another challenge. Sungmin gives Eeteuk the kiss he gives men who think they can control him, hungry and defiant and completely devastating, and when he pulls away Eeteuk is laughing softly. "I think I know who your first client will be. Maybe you'll have better luck than all these other whores." Eeteuk says the word whores affectionately, and Sungmin can't help but smile. "I'll introduce you two tonight."

"Ah, you came."

Sungmin turns at the sound of the deep voice, sees Kibum already making his way away from them down the hall. "We'll expect you to work hard." The office door shuts brusquely on hard, and Sungmin thinks that Kibum will be his next challenge.

***

Kangin, on the other hand, will be no challenge at all. Sungmin almost laughs when Eeteuk introduces them, can read the entire situation from Kangin's stiff back and furrowed eyebrows and knows immediately how to break him.

Now they are alone in one of the rooms and Kangin is saying, "I'm here for him, not for this, but he won't let me stay unless I buy something, so I'm buying your time. Do whatever you want, take a nap, read a book." Kangin sits down rigidly in one of the chairs. Sungmin starts crying.

He cries softly enough that Kangin doesn't notice at first, and he has to let out a sniff before the other man realizes what's happening. Sungmin can see the battle to keep his eyes steely and voice severe when Kangin says, "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he almost whispers. "It's just that...I'm new here, and I thought maybe...maybe if someone nice like you were my first, things might not be so bad, but I guess..." He takes a shaky breath. "I'm sorry," he says, then turns away and lowers his head.

He counts three seconds and then feels Kangin's weight come down gingerly beside him on the bed and Kangin's arm wrap awkwardly around his shoulder. In one fluid movement he has folded himself into Kangin, is crying against his chest, and he knows he has won when he feels a hand running soothingly through his hair and a voice whispering, "I'll be alright," in his ear.

When Sungmin finally looks up, he makes sure that the tear streaks on his cheeks glint in the light, that his mouth is open just so, that his eyes are round and liquid. "Thank you," he says, and he sees Kangin's Adam's apple move as he swallows. "I..." he starts, then shakes his head and looks down at his hands.

"No, what?" Kangin asks gently.

"Well...I was just...I know you're here for him, but..." Sungmin blushes prettily. "He taught me how to—" Sungmin blushes more "—so I thought maybe...I could show you, to thank you?" He can see the agony in Kangin's eyes, but he is not surprised when the man nods his consent.

***

Later, when Kangin is fucking him—eyes scrunched shut, long smooth strokes—Sungmin thinks about the things that get him off. Money. Control. Winning. He is thinking about Kibum's eyes when he comes.