All In

Blue Soda

Minhyuk shut the book, rolling his eyes at the Government's unconcealed hatred of the LGBT population, which - even with the institutionalized witch hunt for it - was alive and thriving. His search for instructions for Blue Soda was obviously not going to end at that catalogue. He sighed, sitting back against the wooden wall of his bedroom, staring up at the peeling paint of his ceiling. Well, he supposed, he'd just have to find someone who knows how.

He chuckled lowly, hanging his head to watch his fiddling fingers. He did realize how stupid it was that he thought there might be a recipe for Blue Soda in his mom's Government issued plants catalogue, but it was worth the shot. He flopped over onto his side, checking the clock and debating on what to do. Huffing, he got up and headed out his bedroom door, skirting around the living room so as not to let his parents see him, and heading out the door.

Minhyuk pulled up his hood, tightening the gray drawstrings and glancing up at the bleak, gray sky as he walked. Of course, he knew not to expect any different. It wasn't even July yet, and the only day you could see the sky was the summer solstice, when the air would get warm and the winds would pick up, and the sun would be out for the longest. The sky was beautiful. He'd often wondered wether it was like this in the Old World, or maybe if you could see the beautiful blue expanse surrounding you every day.

Ah, looking up was dizzying.

As he approached the faded army green door of Hyungwon's house, his mind was tugged back to earth by the wary look the patrolling Official was shooting him. When he locked eyes with the man through the gray UV visor they all wore, he tried his best not to look uncomfortable, and pushed open the creaking door.

"Hello?" he called, glancing around warily. He heard a trail of footsteps getting louder and louder from the opposite side of the first floor, then Shownu's head popped in from the kitchen. His nervous expression melted away as soon as he saw the white hair and hoodie.

"Oh, hey," he smiled, waving slightly. "Hyungwon's upstairs."

Minhyuk nodded, smiling back. "Thanks." He started up the stairs, then paused. "Hey, do you..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you know what Blue Soda is?"

Shownu cocked an eyebrow, then laughed. "Yeah, of course. Why?"

Minhyuk shrugged, biting the inside of his cheek. "I wanna try it." He hoped it came across as nonchalant as he wanted it to.

There was a long pause, and Minhyuk's heart began to race. What if Shownu was against that? He couldn't be... right?

Shownu shrugged a subdued smile gracing his face, then went back to cooking dinner.

"I'll come and get you guys when dinner's ready, okay?"

Minhyuk nodded, realized he couldn't be seen, then murmured a short "okay." He headed up the stairs and slipped through the door to Hyungwon's room. He plopped down on the creaky bed beside his best friend.

"Hey." Hyungwon set down the Old World pistol he'd been working on restoring for weeks now.

"Hey, how's the gun coming?"

Hyungwon sighed. "It's alright. I'm just not quite sure how to get the screws in right for the magazine, since it's always too— Lost you there, didn't I?"

Minhyuk laughed, nodding and pursing his lips. Hyungwon huffed.

"So was there a recipe? Any instructions?" he asked, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth.

Minhyuk smiled. He's pretty. He blinked, shaking his head and heaving a sigh. "Nothing. It just told me what they taught in middle school, except excluded all the lies about overdose and addiction."

Hyungwon rolled his head to the side. "Well damn. Then I guess it's plan C?"

Minhyuk nodded. "I asked Shownu."

Hyungwon snapped upright, staring intently at his friend. "You fucking what?"

"Chill, chill, I just asked him if he knew what it was," he explained, and Hyungwon slumped back against the headboard. "And I told him I wanted to try it."

"I mean..."

A knock sounded at the door, then it swung open with a whispering creak. "Hey. Dinner's ready, and I made a bit more this time, because... well, I'll tell you when we eat. Come on down," he gestured toward the stairs, then left with the door open. Minhyuk stood up with a groan, then reached out to grab Hyungwon's outstretched hand and pull him up.

"Grab a plate and serve yourselves," Shownu offered, sitting down with his own serving and digging in. Once they were all seated and shoving rice and chicken into their mouths, Shownu put down his fork and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"So, I was thinking," he began.

"Uh-oh," Hyungwon replied as he shovelled a bite of rice into his mouth.

Shownu chuckled, shaking his head, then began again. "So I was thinking, about what you asked me earlier... you guys should come with me to the... well, uh, the Greenhouse," he mumbled.

There was a pause.

"The what?" Minhyuk asked.

"Well, um, there are more gay people in this town than you might think."

Hyungwon coughed, nearly spitting out his chicken, and Minhyuk just stared at the oldest.

"It's just a little get-together," Shownu finished,

"You're joking right?" Minhyuck whispered, eyes glimmering with excitement. Shownu shook his head, picking a grain of rice out of his teeth with his tongue.

"Only good Blue Soda there is," he said with a shrug, stabbing a piece of chicken.

Hyungwon, after collecting himself, swallowed his chicken and looked between the two. "I had no idea you.. were part of that," he said wonderingly.

Shownu just glanced at him, a subtle smile gracing his features. "Anyways, after we drop off the leftovers with grandpa, we'll go. Sound alright?"

Hyungwon nodded, looking over at Minhyuk who was eating his serving as quickly as possible. Shownu smiled warmly, leaving to clean off his plate in the kitchen.

The visit to the hospital, as usual, was not unpleasant; Hyungwon's grandfather's condition wasn't too bad yet, and the way he spoke always seemed so heartfelt.

"Well," he murmured, finishing off the container of chicken and rice, "I won't hold you any longer, I guess. Goodnight all," he said, smiling kindly. It wasn't a mystery where Shownu learned his nature.

"Goodnight, grampa," Hyungwon replied.

"Goodnight, sir," Minhyuk nodded politely.

"I can take the container," Shownu offered. "Thank you," he hummed. "Goodnight, sleep well."

As they passed the Government official outside the door and headed out through the town to the Greenhouse, Minhyuk's excitement only grew.

He was scared.

But he was excited.