# 1 - For Thenewlondoner, From Your Mixup Partner!
Title: Black and White
For: thenewlondoner
Pairing: Sandeul/Baro
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~4,500
Summary: In a world where being born with amazing abilities is common place and these skills are marketable, Junghwan grows up in powerful family. He is expected to be a superhero no matter what.
Junghwan spent his life training to be a super hero, his father insisted on it. "Superheroes aren't just born, they're made." he would always say when Junghwan whined about the hard work. They would run mile upon mile, lift weights, swim, and study multiple martial arts.
Though to Junghwan it was all a futile case. He had no powers, well, besides one that wasn't very useful in practical application. Junghwan could see and communicate with the dead. Talk to ghosts as it were. Junghwan's father also did not see this as a limitation, "The world does not know you have no powers so you must continue on as if you do."
His family had been one of three major superhero firms in the Busan area for generations. It was expected of him to take over the superheroing once he graduated out of college. His father was undisputablely the best super hero in the city; he could fly, dodge bullets, see through walls, and so many other awesome skills. What really irked Junghwan was that his sister was a true blue superwoman who could do all of the above and more but still his parents got on his case constantly about his need to take over the family business.
The world needed superheroes though because in a world where people can be born with amazing abilities they can be selfish and evil with those abilities as well. Villains, the citizens called them, and it was an accurate description. They would cause trouble over and over again, leaving the super hero families to clean up.
Junghwan's father started taking him out on missions when he turned fifteen. His father thought it was good to get hands-on experience. It really just scared Junghwan witless. He would spend his time on missions cowering behind pillars and walls.
One time at a bank robbery where the perpetrator had apparently walked through the walls into the vault, Junghwan met him.
Everyone was so very focused on Junghwan's father and the effort he was making in opening the vault forcefully that they missed the shadow creeping along the wall. Junghwan saw him though, the image was comical really. The man looked like a comic book villain with his whole black outfit and burlap sack, bulging with money, slung over one shoulder.
The man had not yet seen Junghwan, who had been sitting in a shadow as well, but suddenly their eyes met and the man bolted. Somehow Junghwan's training booted up and he was sprinting after the man.
"Hey! You! STOP!" Junghwan yelled, causing several of the others to turn around and take notice of the shadow fleeing Junghwan. The shadow fled around a corner and Junghwan followed him at breakneck speed, which caused him to slam very painfully hard into a person who was standing there.
"Ow!" Junghwan groaned, rubbing his nose, "What the hell are you a wall?"
The shadow grinned at him. and said, "Well, I'm in the wall. But I am not the wall. Watch where you're going next time super hero boy."
Before Junghwan could say another word, the shadow boy raced off into the night. Junghwan didn't bother following him. He could tell by the voice the shadow person was actually probably close to his own age. It was funny but at that moment Junghwan could not stop thinking about how cute the boy's smile had been. But being called a super hero made Junghwan's stomach churn unpleasantly. He was no super hero, as proved by his failed attempt to catch the perp.
When his father rounded the corner and saw Jungwan's bleeding nose his face changed from one of concern to one of anger, "Where did he go?" his father yelled. But not even waiting for an answer he rushed off into the night in the direction the shadow had fled.
Junghwan felt even worse knowing his father had just read his mind to get the information. His father probably saw the boy's smile as well. And for the first time ever, Junghwan hoped his father would fail his mission.
A few weeks later Junghwan was wandering aimlessly through downtown, close to where the bank robbery had taken place when suddenly he felt someone watching him. He looked around but could see no one paying him any extra attention so he shook it off and continued on his walk.
The feeling persisted though, all the way home. He knew it wasn't because of a ghost, the ghosts always made themselves known. They would throw themselves down at his feet and ask for freedom, "Absolve us!" They would all beg him to do one last thing for them so they could pass on. Sometimes Junghwan would fetch them a picture or book or bring something to someone. And at the end of each little ghost mission Junghwan would feel compelled to say, " You may pass on now."
Ghosts were predictable but the feeling of being watched was not. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of movement, but when he whipped his head around to look there was nothing there. Frustrated with the feeling he yelled into the empty street. "I know you're there, come out!"
Then a shadow detached itself from a light pole and stepped out of the wall. What walked out was a boy Junghwan's age with black hair cut short, like a young boy's. He was wearing beat up looking converse, jeans, and a white and blue hoodie. And his smile was exactly as Junghwan remembered it, though this time with more color.
"Who are you?" Junghwan asked in awe.
The boy snapped into a salute, the grin still in place, and said, "Cha Sunwoo at your service!"
"And what service do you offer? And why would I want the services of a known criminal?" Junghwan hadn't meant to say those things but somehow his mind and body were reacting without his consent. The years of training were kicking in, he even found that he had switched into a defensive fighting stance.
Sunwoo looked unperturbed by Junghwan's stance or words, he merely shrugged and said, "I am at your service because you were at mine. I wanted to thank you for letting me go."
"I didn't let you do anything."
"But you also did not tell your father where I had gone and because of that I was able to get away. So thanks!" Sunwoo smiled, that smile again and stepped back as if to shift into the shadows once more.
"Wait!" Junghwan said, holding up his hand as if to reach out and grab the other boy. "Please don't go yet."
**
From then on Sunwoo would come hang out with Junghwan every day. They would play games, watch movies, run around, and just generally be kids. Stuff Junghwan was unused to and Sunwoo had to teach him.
"You seriously never played a video game before?" Sunwoo asked, his face a picture of incredulity.
Junghwan shook his head. "Yeah, my parents don't believe in such idle wastes of time. We don't even watch television."
"Then why do you have this TV?" Sunwoo asked, while finishing hooking up his game console. He grabbed the two controllers and plopped himself down on the sofa next to Junghwan.
"Actually, I have no idea why we have a TV. Maybe it was a gift?"
Sunwoo shrugged, it seemed to be a habit of his, and shoved a white controller into Junghwan's hands. The instructions Sunwoo gave as to how to control the on screen character made no sense, but Sunwoo was also in the hands-on experience club, like Junghwan's father, so they started playing a match right away.
But in no time Junghwan was screaming as he died to enemy bullets and laughing victoriously when he scored a point. They were yelling and laughing so hard that neither one of them heard Junghwan's father walk down the stairs into the room.
"What are you doing Junghwan?" his father said, stepping up in front of the TV and pressing the power button. "Who is this? You missed your practice."
Junghwan stood up quickly, and pushed Sunwoo towards the door. "I'm so sorry! I didn't notice the time."
In a blink of an eye Junghwan's father was standing the doorway, Sunwoo nearly bumped into him. "You're not leaving yet. Answer all my questions son, starting with who this scrawny boy is and what he is doing in my house."
"He's my friend, Sunwoo." Junghwan said, and pushed Sunwoo back behind him. He could see the other boy judging if the shadows in the room could hold him. Junghwan's father had that effect on people, they always wanted to get out of his notice as soon as possible. Junghwan held Sunwoo's hand behind him and gave it a quick squeeze. "I invited him over to hang out."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Lee!" Sunwoo said, stepping out of behind Junghwan. "I did not realize Junghwan had prior engagements this evening. I'll take my games home with me now so he can attend his duties."
Junghwan gulped and smiled at his dad, and looked back at Sunwoo who had quickly started gathering up the games. He tried not to think of Sunwoo or who he was or what he did but his mind seemed to be against him again. The more he tried to think of cute smiles and video games, the more the memory of their meeting came to mind. His father didn't always read minds but he could at any time and it was impossible to tell when he was.
But the way his father's eyes narrowed and his mouth came down into an even grimmer line than it had been previously, Junghwan knew his mind had been pilfered through.
"Junghwan we will talk about this later." The coldness in his father's voice scared him and he couldn't even get a shout of warning out to Sunwoo before his dad had the boy by the back of his neck. "Thought you could escape justice huh? You picked the wrong place to hide out."
Sunwoo kicked and screamed but Junghwan's father held him effortlessly off the floor. "We'll get you a nice bright room where there are no shadows to play in."
"Dad! Wait, please!" Junghwan grabbed onto his father's arm and tried to drag it down so Sunwoo could get back to the ground. "Please don't hurt him. It was a one-time thing! He won't do it again, he even said that to me."
The room got dimmer suddenly, and a coldness crept into the air. Junghwan looked around and could see ghosts coming from all sides, flitting through the walls, ceiling, and even up from the floor. They coalesced around him and his father. Sunwoo continued to flail, seemingly oblivious to the changes in the room. Junghwan's dad, however, was looking around suspiciously.
"This is a bad time for you to show new powers Junghwan."
"I.."
The ghosts started chanting, singing, and swaying. They spoke in a language that Junghwan didn't understand. The volume rose rapidly until Junghwan wanted to cover his ears for it hurt so bad. He had no idea what the ghosts were doing, if they were doing it in response to his fear for Sunwoo.
"Junghwan, stop it right this instance."
Junghwan shook his head, "I don't know how. I don't know what's happening."
The room was quickly turning into a deep freeze but still the ghosts chanted and swayed. The darkness in the room seemed to get deeper and deeper. The wall behind the TV split open with a crack that made them all jump. Junghwan's father dropped Sunwoo to the ground and turned to face the sound.
Out of the wall walked what could only be described as a demon. The creature was black as midnight with lines of searing red criss-crossing its body. Its head sported two curved horns, and the face was more that of dog's snout than that of a human's.
His father's face was white fear, something Junghwan had never seen before on him.
"You summoned a demon?"
"No! The ghosts did. I didn't do anything!" Junghwan cried and stepped behind his dad.
The ghosts had stopped their chanting and swaying. Now they only watched. One stepped towards Junghwan and said, "He's yours, claim him, name him."
The rest echoed the ghost's words. "Claim him, name him." became the new chant. He could feel the ghostly hands pressing into his back like cold icicles being stabbed through his body. Some ghosts were so enthusiastically pushing that their fingers poked out Junghwan's chest.
He looked around the room but could not see Sunwoo anywhere. He didn't blame him for blending into the shadows and running away when he had the chance. Junghwan would have done the same himself if he could.
The demon had just stood there the whole time. It didn't do anything or say anything. It stood staring at Junghwan, as if waiting for instruction.
"Claim him, name him! Claim him, name him! Claim him, name him!"
Junghwan swallowed his fear and stepped forward in front of his father. "Demon. You are mine, I am Junghwan."
The demon lowered itself to one knee, placing one fist over its heart, "I'm Demon of Junghwan. How many I serve you?"
"Demon, you may wait where you came from until I call upon you."
The demon nodded once and dematerialized into a flurry of black sparks. The ghosts left at the same time, the room became brighter and warmer instantly.
Junghwan was surprised to find his father smiling. He even clapped Junghwan on the shoulder. "I knew you weren't useless. I knew it!"
"You'll leave Sunwoo alone."
"Junghwan, he's a thief. He needs to pay for his crimes. You know this!"
Junghwan shook his head and stepped further back so he could look his father in the eyes. "He only stole that one time and it was to save his sister. He isn't a bad person."
"I can't do that Junghwan." His father looked sad, and continued, "But I won't pursue him. If I see him again, I will take him in."
**
Over the next few weeks Junghwan's father had a friend who could make force fields come over and they summoned Demon over and over in order to figure out his powers. It felt great to him that he was finally useful, his dad seemed to look at him with a brighter face, as if he too were proud finally to call Junghwan his son.
What Junghwan found out about Demon was that he wasn't really an evil creature, he was just a very strong spirit. He only looked like a demon because that is what Junghwan's mind had seen during the summoning. Junghwan didn't understand that because he hadn't seen or thought about demons while the ghosts were chanting, but he decided to just take Demon's word for it. Plus it was comforting to him to know that he wasn't the cause of bringing more evil into the world.
During the few weeks they trained with Demon, Junghwan never saw Sunwoo. Sometimes he would glimpse a shadow that seemed to move incorrectly, but when he looked again everything was normal.
Junghwan even snuck out of the house a few times to visit Sunwoo's place, but even there he could not find his friend. Sure Junghwan's dad was scary but he didn't think Sunwoo would be so completely scared off like that. Unless it was Demon, what if Sunwoo thought Junghwan was evil?
He tried not to worry too much about Sunwoo. He was sure the other boy was just laying low for awhile. That he would show up randomly one day with that smile on his face and a bag full of videogames hanging off his shoulder. Sunwoo was one of those kids who didn't believe in using both straps of his backpack, always had it hung precariously on one shoulder.
What was funny about Sunwoo and his backback was that Junghwan never remembered hearing Sunwoo talk about school. And the boy didn't attend his school, which wasn't surprising as Junghwan went to a prestigious superhero school that cost more than Sunwoo's entire family probably made in a year. That thought made Junghwan sick, but there was little he could do about what school he attended.
Junghwan started asking people around school if they knew anyone from the Cha family. He even went so far as to ask the weird kids who were only at his school due to being super smart and apparently super smartness led to super weirdness.
Jinyoung was the leader of the little gang of scholarship kids, he was a year older than Junghwan so it was a little intimidating approaching him despite their social status gap.
"Jinyoung, may I ask you a question?" Junghwan asked nervously. He shifted his feet back and forth while trying not to look into the eyes of the other two boys who flanked Jinyoung's left and right.
Jinyoung smirked, and it made Junghwan back up a step, if he didn't know any better he would assume Jinyoung was a villain, those tilted eyes seemed to hold hatred. Try as hard as he might, Junghwan could not remember the power Jung Jinyoung possessed. He was sure his father would scold him for such a thing. He was a heir to the leading super hero family, it was his duty to know the powers of all lesser heroes (and greater but there were less of those so it was much easier to memorize).
Most super hero families had the same or similar powers. The kids would almost always inherit the powers from either their mother or father. He doubted Jinyoung would give a demonstration of his powers at school, it was strictly forbidden outside of class, but still the older boy's eyes made him wary.
"Well, certainly Mr. Lee." Jinyoung said, while mocking a bow, and smirked again. "However may I be of service to you?"
If anything Jinyoung's words made Junghwan feel even worse and he almost turned tail and ran then and there. Instead he sucked in a deep breath and squared his shoulders; he decided he would treat Jinyoung as if he were an enemy. Weakness would do no good against a foe.
The change in his demeanor set the lackeys back on their heels, Junghwan recognized the two as Shin Dongwoo and Gong Chanshik. How Chanshik, a kid even younger than Junghwan, got to be in this little misfit gang was beyond him.
"The formalities are unnecessary, we are at school." Junghwan said, trying to project his voice like his father did when he was talking business. He wasn't sure if he was successful as the trio stood their ground. "I just came to ask if you happened to know of someone named Cha Sunwoo?"
Jinyoung laughed, and said, "As if I would associate myself with someone like that!"
"So you do know him then?"
Jinyoung's eyes darted to the taller boy, Dongwoo, before he brought them back to rest on Junghwan.
Dongwoo spoke instead. "We knew him. He went to our elementary school. The kid was no good, not hero material at all."
"Why do you say that? What'd he do?" Junghwan asked, accidentally letting his eagerness at news of Sunwoo leak into his voice. He noticed that Chanshik raised an eyebrow at him but the boy said nothing.
"He was a prankster, always getting in trouble for harassing the students and faculty." Jinyoung said with a grimace, as if he were remembering a prank Sunwoo had pulled on him.
"You see, his power was shadow merging. The kid could disappear into any shadow anywhere. He loved getting into places he wasn't supposed to be and popping out to scare the unsuspecting or worse yet, stealing things!"
The way Dongwoo said stealing led Junghwan to think that Dongwoo could imagine no worse crime. He briefly wondered what Dongwoo's parents did. How could Dongwoo think stealing the worst thing a person could do with their powers when so many villains would slay their victims or torture people for fun. Maybe his parent's were guards for a store or something, living relatively safe and cushy lives.
Junghwan had already seen so much death while out on the job with his father. And he somewhat envied these lesser heroes for their simpler views on life.
He shook his head of his thoughts and asked, "Do you know where I can find him? Or know someone who would know where to find him?"
Chanshik finally spoke up, "Sure, we can show you after school. Meet us in the parking lot, I know where his bolt hole is." He paused to laugh, "Or I knew where it was. No promises."
As Junghwan walked away from the trio heard Jinyoung snap at Chanshik, "What do you mean 'we'? If you're going to volunteer for something just volunteer yourself!"
**
Junghwan felt a little uneasy after he set off with the three. He still could not remember their powers and had no idea where they were going. His insides told him to be wary of a trap but he could not give up the chance to find Sunwoo finally.
Even though he had told himself over and over again that Sunwoo was fine and just laying low, he could not get over the need to see Sunwoo again. He wanted to make sure Sunwoo didn't think he was evil. And more so he wanted to know the other boy was okay.
The part of town they went to was even more ramshackle than the area Sunwoo's house was. It was exactly the type of environment the teachers always warned of. The "nest of villains" as many of them called it. But all Junghwan could see is the poverty that plagued the area.
Houses had boarded up windows where the glass had obviously been broken out. But even that had happened so long ago the boards in the windows were sagging and rotting off the walls. The streets were littered with trash, Junghwan even saw used needles and condoms floating in the sludge along the gutters.
"So," Jinyoung said suddenly, breaking the silence they had held since leaving the school. "You never did tell us why you need to find Sunwoo."
"I didn't. And I won't."
"Is he in trouble?" Chanshik singsonged, his voice frighteningly sweet, and completely different from just a few hours before.
"No, no trouble." He said. But as soon as he spoke the words a shadow raced pace them, running full out along the wall. And not a second later a blur that could only be Junghwan's father flew past, hot on the shadow's heels.
Jinyoung laughed, "No trouble you say?"
Junghwan didn't bother responding, instead turned around and raced after his father and the shadow. He knew it was Sunwoo, only Sunwoo would be so silly as to hold his bag on one shoulder still while running full tilt.
He wanted to believe his friend was innocent. That it was a mix up that his father would be chasing him through these seedy streets, but Junghwan knew that it was naive of him to think so.
Sunwoo stole once and he was likely to do it again. Getting away with it, as they said, was the biggest factor in repeat offences.
Junghwan rounded a corner and found his father staring down Sunwoo. Sunwoo was still a shadow in the wall but he had run himself into a predicament. There were no other shadows in the area close enough for him to merge too. The light was too close and lit up nearly the entire wall.
"Junghwan, good!" His father shouted once he realized who had come into the alley behind him. "Quickly, summon Demon so we may force this miscreant from his hiding spot."
Demon seemed to be waiting because he burst into reality so quickly that the air shook. And Junghwan had merely thought of the spirit.
"Demon, light this place up." Junghwan said with a heavy voice. The stare of his father, and to his horror, the stares of the three other boys were hot upon him. He did not realize the trio had followed him.
Demon took no notice of the hesitation in Junghwan's voice, and quickly went about creating two large fireballs in his hands. The alley grew brighter than a hot summer's day, the shadows melting into nothingness.
Sunwoo popped out of the wall with a squeal, and tumbled head over heels to land a few feet in front of Junghwan's father.
"I knew it was you!" Junghwan's father said triumphantly. He turned to Junghwan, a victorious smile upon his face that made Junghwan's heart fall even further. "I told you he was no good."
"Give him a chance to explain!" Junghwan shouted, and made to move towards Sunwoo.
His father's arm jutted out in front of him, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "No, don't get near that pathetic creature again."
Junghwan's blood boiled at his father's words. To think his dad would call another human being a creature, as if Sunwoo were somehow less than human.
"Demon, train your fire on my father please." he said quietly, as if he were asking Demon to simply warm his tea instead of the task of threatening his father. He pushed his dad's arm away forcefully and went to stand with Sunwoo, helping his friend up off the ground.
What was strange is Sunwoo's bag felt light, as if it held nothing, and certainly not a haul of stolen money. "Now Sunwoo, tell us what happened."
"He spotted me at the service station. I was there to wash windows for money." Sunwoo's voice shook while he spoke, "I had no idea that it was his car that I was working on until he jumped out and tried to grab me."
Sunwoo paused to look at Junghwan's face, as if to gauge whether his story was being taken in. When Junghwan smiled and nodded, Sunwoo continued. "I didn't think, I just dropped my squeegee and ran."
"How do you have your bag then?" Jinyoung's mocking voice cut in suddenly. "As if you had it on your person while working."
Sunwoo's eyes widened a little in shock at seeing and hearing Jinyoung. He countered flawlessly, however, "It was just two steps away. I snatched it as I ran by. Look." Sunwoo grabbed the bag and ripped it open, dumping the contents onto the dirty ground. The only things to fall out were a change of clothes, a toothbrush, and a headset. No money, no jewels, and certainly nothing worth stealing. "I don't even have anything in it."
"Dad, time for us to go home. There is no crime here." Junghwan waited until his father, who had a deep frown upon his face, nodded. Then Junghwan released Demon. "And Sunwoo is my friend, you will treat him as such!"
His father, and the trio of misfit boys left the alley, leaving Junghwan and Sunwoo alone. Junghwan turned to Sunwoo and threw his arms around him. "He didn't say no, so we're friends again!"
When Sunwoo didn't say anything, Junghwan disentangled himself from the other boy. "And no disappearing again, okay?"
Junghwan didn't think his heart could beat any faster, but when Sunwoo looked up and met his eyes, that smile upon his face, Junghwan's heart raced off into eternity.
For: thenewlondoner
Pairing: Sandeul/Baro
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~4,500
Summary: In a world where being born with amazing abilities is common place and these skills are marketable, Junghwan grows up in powerful family. He is expected to be a superhero no matter what.
Junghwan spent his life training to be a super hero, his father insisted on it. "Superheroes aren't just born, they're made." he would always say when Junghwan whined about the hard work. They would run mile upon mile, lift weights, swim, and study multiple martial arts.
Though to Junghwan it was all a futile case. He had no powers, well, besides one that wasn't very useful in practical application. Junghwan could see and communicate with the dead. Talk to ghosts as it were. Junghwan's father also did not see this as a limitation, "The world does not know you have no powers so you must continue on as if you do."
His family had been one of three major superhero firms in the Busan area for generations. It was expected of him to take over the superheroing once he graduated out of college. His father was undisputablely the best super hero in the city; he could fly, dodge bullets, see through walls, and so many other awesome skills. What really irked Junghwan was that his sister was a true blue superwoman who could do all of the above and more but still his parents got on his case constantly about his need to take over the family business.
The world needed superheroes though because in a world where people can be born with amazing abilities they can be selfish and evil with those abilities as well. Villains, the citizens called them, and it was an accurate description. They would cause trouble over and over again, leaving the super hero families to clean up.
Junghwan's father started taking him out on missions when he turned fifteen. His father thought it was good to get hands-on experience. It really just scared Junghwan witless. He would spend his time on missions cowering behind pillars and walls.
One time at a bank robbery where the perpetrator had apparently walked through the walls into the vault, Junghwan met him.
Everyone was so very focused on Junghwan's father and the effort he was making in opening the vault forcefully that they missed the shadow creeping along the wall. Junghwan saw him though, the image was comical really. The man looked like a comic book villain with his whole black outfit and burlap sack, bulging with money, slung over one shoulder.
The man had not yet seen Junghwan, who had been sitting in a shadow as well, but suddenly their eyes met and the man bolted. Somehow Junghwan's training booted up and he was sprinting after the man.
"Hey! You! STOP!" Junghwan yelled, causing several of the others to turn around and take notice of the shadow fleeing Junghwan. The shadow fled around a corner and Junghwan followed him at breakneck speed, which caused him to slam very painfully hard into a person who was standing there.
"Ow!" Junghwan groaned, rubbing his nose, "What the hell are you a wall?"
The shadow grinned at him. and said, "Well, I'm in the wall. But I am not the wall. Watch where you're going next time super hero boy."
Before Junghwan could say another word, the shadow boy raced off into the night. Junghwan didn't bother following him. He could tell by the voice the shadow person was actually probably close to his own age. It was funny but at that moment Junghwan could not stop thinking about how cute the boy's smile had been. But being called a super hero made Junghwan's stomach churn unpleasantly. He was no super hero, as proved by his failed attempt to catch the perp.
When his father rounded the corner and saw Jungwan's bleeding nose his face changed from one of concern to one of anger, "Where did he go?" his father yelled. But not even waiting for an answer he rushed off into the night in the direction the shadow had fled.
Junghwan felt even worse knowing his father had just read his mind to get the information. His father probably saw the boy's smile as well. And for the first time ever, Junghwan hoped his father would fail his mission.
A few weeks later Junghwan was wandering aimlessly through downtown, close to where the bank robbery had taken place when suddenly he felt someone watching him. He looked around but could see no one paying him any extra attention so he shook it off and continued on his walk.
The feeling persisted though, all the way home. He knew it wasn't because of a ghost, the ghosts always made themselves known. They would throw themselves down at his feet and ask for freedom, "Absolve us!" They would all beg him to do one last thing for them so they could pass on. Sometimes Junghwan would fetch them a picture or book or bring something to someone. And at the end of each little ghost mission Junghwan would feel compelled to say, " You may pass on now."
Ghosts were predictable but the feeling of being watched was not. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of movement, but when he whipped his head around to look there was nothing there. Frustrated with the feeling he yelled into the empty street. "I know you're there, come out!"
Then a shadow detached itself from a light pole and stepped out of the wall. What walked out was a boy Junghwan's age with black hair cut short, like a young boy's. He was wearing beat up looking converse, jeans, and a white and blue hoodie. And his smile was exactly as Junghwan remembered it, though this time with more color.
"Who are you?" Junghwan asked in awe.
The boy snapped into a salute, the grin still in place, and said, "Cha Sunwoo at your service!"
"And what service do you offer? And why would I want the services of a known criminal?" Junghwan hadn't meant to say those things but somehow his mind and body were reacting without his consent. The years of training were kicking in, he even found that he had switched into a defensive fighting stance.
Sunwoo looked unperturbed by Junghwan's stance or words, he merely shrugged and said, "I am at your service because you were at mine. I wanted to thank you for letting me go."
"I didn't let you do anything."
"But you also did not tell your father where I had gone and because of that I was able to get away. So thanks!" Sunwoo smiled, that smile again and stepped back as if to shift into the shadows once more.
"Wait!" Junghwan said, holding up his hand as if to reach out and grab the other boy. "Please don't go yet."
**
From then on Sunwoo would come hang out with Junghwan every day. They would play games, watch movies, run around, and just generally be kids. Stuff Junghwan was unused to and Sunwoo had to teach him.
"You seriously never played a video game before?" Sunwoo asked, his face a picture of incredulity.
Junghwan shook his head. "Yeah, my parents don't believe in such idle wastes of time. We don't even watch television."
"Then why do you have this TV?" Sunwoo asked, while finishing hooking up his game console. He grabbed the two controllers and plopped himself down on the sofa next to Junghwan.
"Actually, I have no idea why we have a TV. Maybe it was a gift?"
Sunwoo shrugged, it seemed to be a habit of his, and shoved a white controller into Junghwan's hands. The instructions Sunwoo gave as to how to control the on screen character made no sense, but Sunwoo was also in the hands-on experience club, like Junghwan's father, so they started playing a match right away.
But in no time Junghwan was screaming as he died to enemy bullets and laughing victoriously when he scored a point. They were yelling and laughing so hard that neither one of them heard Junghwan's father walk down the stairs into the room.
"What are you doing Junghwan?" his father said, stepping up in front of the TV and pressing the power button. "Who is this? You missed your practice."
Junghwan stood up quickly, and pushed Sunwoo towards the door. "I'm so sorry! I didn't notice the time."
In a blink of an eye Junghwan's father was standing the doorway, Sunwoo nearly bumped into him. "You're not leaving yet. Answer all my questions son, starting with who this scrawny boy is and what he is doing in my house."
"He's my friend, Sunwoo." Junghwan said, and pushed Sunwoo back behind him. He could see the other boy judging if the shadows in the room could hold him. Junghwan's father had that effect on people, they always wanted to get out of his notice as soon as possible. Junghwan held Sunwoo's hand behind him and gave it a quick squeeze. "I invited him over to hang out."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Lee!" Sunwoo said, stepping out of behind Junghwan. "I did not realize Junghwan had prior engagements this evening. I'll take my games home with me now so he can attend his duties."
Junghwan gulped and smiled at his dad, and looked back at Sunwoo who had quickly started gathering up the games. He tried not to think of Sunwoo or who he was or what he did but his mind seemed to be against him again. The more he tried to think of cute smiles and video games, the more the memory of their meeting came to mind. His father didn't always read minds but he could at any time and it was impossible to tell when he was.
But the way his father's eyes narrowed and his mouth came down into an even grimmer line than it had been previously, Junghwan knew his mind had been pilfered through.
"Junghwan we will talk about this later." The coldness in his father's voice scared him and he couldn't even get a shout of warning out to Sunwoo before his dad had the boy by the back of his neck. "Thought you could escape justice huh? You picked the wrong place to hide out."
Sunwoo kicked and screamed but Junghwan's father held him effortlessly off the floor. "We'll get you a nice bright room where there are no shadows to play in."
"Dad! Wait, please!" Junghwan grabbed onto his father's arm and tried to drag it down so Sunwoo could get back to the ground. "Please don't hurt him. It was a one-time thing! He won't do it again, he even said that to me."
The room got dimmer suddenly, and a coldness crept into the air. Junghwan looked around and could see ghosts coming from all sides, flitting through the walls, ceiling, and even up from the floor. They coalesced around him and his father. Sunwoo continued to flail, seemingly oblivious to the changes in the room. Junghwan's dad, however, was looking around suspiciously.
"This is a bad time for you to show new powers Junghwan."
"I.."
The ghosts started chanting, singing, and swaying. They spoke in a language that Junghwan didn't understand. The volume rose rapidly until Junghwan wanted to cover his ears for it hurt so bad. He had no idea what the ghosts were doing, if they were doing it in response to his fear for Sunwoo.
"Junghwan, stop it right this instance."
Junghwan shook his head, "I don't know how. I don't know what's happening."
The room was quickly turning into a deep freeze but still the ghosts chanted and swayed. The darkness in the room seemed to get deeper and deeper. The wall behind the TV split open with a crack that made them all jump. Junghwan's father dropped Sunwoo to the ground and turned to face the sound.
Out of the wall walked what could only be described as a demon. The creature was black as midnight with lines of searing red criss-crossing its body. Its head sported two curved horns, and the face was more that of dog's snout than that of a human's.
His father's face was white fear, something Junghwan had never seen before on him.
"You summoned a demon?"
"No! The ghosts did. I didn't do anything!" Junghwan cried and stepped behind his dad.
The ghosts had stopped their chanting and swaying. Now they only watched. One stepped towards Junghwan and said, "He's yours, claim him, name him."
The rest echoed the ghost's words. "Claim him, name him." became the new chant. He could feel the ghostly hands pressing into his back like cold icicles being stabbed through his body. Some ghosts were so enthusiastically pushing that their fingers poked out Junghwan's chest.
He looked around the room but could not see Sunwoo anywhere. He didn't blame him for blending into the shadows and running away when he had the chance. Junghwan would have done the same himself if he could.
The demon had just stood there the whole time. It didn't do anything or say anything. It stood staring at Junghwan, as if waiting for instruction.
"Claim him, name him! Claim him, name him! Claim him, name him!"
Junghwan swallowed his fear and stepped forward in front of his father. "Demon. You are mine, I am Junghwan."
The demon lowered itself to one knee, placing one fist over its heart, "I'm Demon of Junghwan. How many I serve you?"
"Demon, you may wait where you came from until I call upon you."
The demon nodded once and dematerialized into a flurry of black sparks. The ghosts left at the same time, the room became brighter and warmer instantly.
Junghwan was surprised to find his father smiling. He even clapped Junghwan on the shoulder. "I knew you weren't useless. I knew it!"
"You'll leave Sunwoo alone."
"Junghwan, he's a thief. He needs to pay for his crimes. You know this!"
Junghwan shook his head and stepped further back so he could look his father in the eyes. "He only stole that one time and it was to save his sister. He isn't a bad person."
"I can't do that Junghwan." His father looked sad, and continued, "But I won't pursue him. If I see him again, I will take him in."
**
Over the next few weeks Junghwan's father had a friend who could make force fields come over and they summoned Demon over and over in order to figure out his powers. It felt great to him that he was finally useful, his dad seemed to look at him with a brighter face, as if he too were proud finally to call Junghwan his son.
What Junghwan found out about Demon was that he wasn't really an evil creature, he was just a very strong spirit. He only looked like a demon because that is what Junghwan's mind had seen during the summoning. Junghwan didn't understand that because he hadn't seen or thought about demons while the ghosts were chanting, but he decided to just take Demon's word for it. Plus it was comforting to him to know that he wasn't the cause of bringing more evil into the world.
During the few weeks they trained with Demon, Junghwan never saw Sunwoo. Sometimes he would glimpse a shadow that seemed to move incorrectly, but when he looked again everything was normal.
Junghwan even snuck out of the house a few times to visit Sunwoo's place, but even there he could not find his friend. Sure Junghwan's dad was scary but he didn't think Sunwoo would be so completely scared off like that. Unless it was Demon, what if Sunwoo thought Junghwan was evil?
He tried not to worry too much about Sunwoo. He was sure the other boy was just laying low for awhile. That he would show up randomly one day with that smile on his face and a bag full of videogames hanging off his shoulder. Sunwoo was one of those kids who didn't believe in using both straps of his backpack, always had it hung precariously on one shoulder.
What was funny about Sunwoo and his backback was that Junghwan never remembered hearing Sunwoo talk about school. And the boy didn't attend his school, which wasn't surprising as Junghwan went to a prestigious superhero school that cost more than Sunwoo's entire family probably made in a year. That thought made Junghwan sick, but there was little he could do about what school he attended.
Junghwan started asking people around school if they knew anyone from the Cha family. He even went so far as to ask the weird kids who were only at his school due to being super smart and apparently super smartness led to super weirdness.
Jinyoung was the leader of the little gang of scholarship kids, he was a year older than Junghwan so it was a little intimidating approaching him despite their social status gap.
"Jinyoung, may I ask you a question?" Junghwan asked nervously. He shifted his feet back and forth while trying not to look into the eyes of the other two boys who flanked Jinyoung's left and right.
Jinyoung smirked, and it made Junghwan back up a step, if he didn't know any better he would assume Jinyoung was a villain, those tilted eyes seemed to hold hatred. Try as hard as he might, Junghwan could not remember the power Jung Jinyoung possessed. He was sure his father would scold him for such a thing. He was a heir to the leading super hero family, it was his duty to know the powers of all lesser heroes (and greater but there were less of those so it was much easier to memorize).
Most super hero families had the same or similar powers. The kids would almost always inherit the powers from either their mother or father. He doubted Jinyoung would give a demonstration of his powers at school, it was strictly forbidden outside of class, but still the older boy's eyes made him wary.
"Well, certainly Mr. Lee." Jinyoung said, while mocking a bow, and smirked again. "However may I be of service to you?"
If anything Jinyoung's words made Junghwan feel even worse and he almost turned tail and ran then and there. Instead he sucked in a deep breath and squared his shoulders; he decided he would treat Jinyoung as if he were an enemy. Weakness would do no good against a foe.
The change in his demeanor set the lackeys back on their heels, Junghwan recognized the two as Shin Dongwoo and Gong Chanshik. How Chanshik, a kid even younger than Junghwan, got to be in this little misfit gang was beyond him.
"The formalities are unnecessary, we are at school." Junghwan said, trying to project his voice like his father did when he was talking business. He wasn't sure if he was successful as the trio stood their ground. "I just came to ask if you happened to know of someone named Cha Sunwoo?"
Jinyoung laughed, and said, "As if I would associate myself with someone like that!"
"So you do know him then?"
Jinyoung's eyes darted to the taller boy, Dongwoo, before he brought them back to rest on Junghwan.
Dongwoo spoke instead. "We knew him. He went to our elementary school. The kid was no good, not hero material at all."
"Why do you say that? What'd he do?" Junghwan asked, accidentally letting his eagerness at news of Sunwoo leak into his voice. He noticed that Chanshik raised an eyebrow at him but the boy said nothing.
"He was a prankster, always getting in trouble for harassing the students and faculty." Jinyoung said with a grimace, as if he were remembering a prank Sunwoo had pulled on him.
"You see, his power was shadow merging. The kid could disappear into any shadow anywhere. He loved getting into places he wasn't supposed to be and popping out to scare the unsuspecting or worse yet, stealing things!"
The way Dongwoo said stealing led Junghwan to think that Dongwoo could imagine no worse crime. He briefly wondered what Dongwoo's parents did. How could Dongwoo think stealing the worst thing a person could do with their powers when so many villains would slay their victims or torture people for fun. Maybe his parent's were guards for a store or something, living relatively safe and cushy lives.
Junghwan had already seen so much death while out on the job with his father. And he somewhat envied these lesser heroes for their simpler views on life.
He shook his head of his thoughts and asked, "Do you know where I can find him? Or know someone who would know where to find him?"
Chanshik finally spoke up, "Sure, we can show you after school. Meet us in the parking lot, I know where his bolt hole is." He paused to laugh, "Or I knew where it was. No promises."
As Junghwan walked away from the trio heard Jinyoung snap at Chanshik, "What do you mean 'we'? If you're going to volunteer for something just volunteer yourself!"
**
Junghwan felt a little uneasy after he set off with the three. He still could not remember their powers and had no idea where they were going. His insides told him to be wary of a trap but he could not give up the chance to find Sunwoo finally.
Even though he had told himself over and over again that Sunwoo was fine and just laying low, he could not get over the need to see Sunwoo again. He wanted to make sure Sunwoo didn't think he was evil. And more so he wanted to know the other boy was okay.
The part of town they went to was even more ramshackle than the area Sunwoo's house was. It was exactly the type of environment the teachers always warned of. The "nest of villains" as many of them called it. But all Junghwan could see is the poverty that plagued the area.
Houses had boarded up windows where the glass had obviously been broken out. But even that had happened so long ago the boards in the windows were sagging and rotting off the walls. The streets were littered with trash, Junghwan even saw used needles and condoms floating in the sludge along the gutters.
"So," Jinyoung said suddenly, breaking the silence they had held since leaving the school. "You never did tell us why you need to find Sunwoo."
"I didn't. And I won't."
"Is he in trouble?" Chanshik singsonged, his voice frighteningly sweet, and completely different from just a few hours before.
"No, no trouble." He said. But as soon as he spoke the words a shadow raced pace them, running full out along the wall. And not a second later a blur that could only be Junghwan's father flew past, hot on the shadow's heels.
Jinyoung laughed, "No trouble you say?"
Junghwan didn't bother responding, instead turned around and raced after his father and the shadow. He knew it was Sunwoo, only Sunwoo would be so silly as to hold his bag on one shoulder still while running full tilt.
He wanted to believe his friend was innocent. That it was a mix up that his father would be chasing him through these seedy streets, but Junghwan knew that it was naive of him to think so.
Sunwoo stole once and he was likely to do it again. Getting away with it, as they said, was the biggest factor in repeat offences.
Junghwan rounded a corner and found his father staring down Sunwoo. Sunwoo was still a shadow in the wall but he had run himself into a predicament. There were no other shadows in the area close enough for him to merge too. The light was too close and lit up nearly the entire wall.
"Junghwan, good!" His father shouted once he realized who had come into the alley behind him. "Quickly, summon Demon so we may force this miscreant from his hiding spot."
Demon seemed to be waiting because he burst into reality so quickly that the air shook. And Junghwan had merely thought of the spirit.
"Demon, light this place up." Junghwan said with a heavy voice. The stare of his father, and to his horror, the stares of the three other boys were hot upon him. He did not realize the trio had followed him.
Demon took no notice of the hesitation in Junghwan's voice, and quickly went about creating two large fireballs in his hands. The alley grew brighter than a hot summer's day, the shadows melting into nothingness.
Sunwoo popped out of the wall with a squeal, and tumbled head over heels to land a few feet in front of Junghwan's father.
"I knew it was you!" Junghwan's father said triumphantly. He turned to Junghwan, a victorious smile upon his face that made Junghwan's heart fall even further. "I told you he was no good."
"Give him a chance to explain!" Junghwan shouted, and made to move towards Sunwoo.
His father's arm jutted out in front of him, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "No, don't get near that pathetic creature again."
Junghwan's blood boiled at his father's words. To think his dad would call another human being a creature, as if Sunwoo were somehow less than human.
"Demon, train your fire on my father please." he said quietly, as if he were asking Demon to simply warm his tea instead of the task of threatening his father. He pushed his dad's arm away forcefully and went to stand with Sunwoo, helping his friend up off the ground.
What was strange is Sunwoo's bag felt light, as if it held nothing, and certainly not a haul of stolen money. "Now Sunwoo, tell us what happened."
"He spotted me at the service station. I was there to wash windows for money." Sunwoo's voice shook while he spoke, "I had no idea that it was his car that I was working on until he jumped out and tried to grab me."
Sunwoo paused to look at Junghwan's face, as if to gauge whether his story was being taken in. When Junghwan smiled and nodded, Sunwoo continued. "I didn't think, I just dropped my squeegee and ran."
"How do you have your bag then?" Jinyoung's mocking voice cut in suddenly. "As if you had it on your person while working."
Sunwoo's eyes widened a little in shock at seeing and hearing Jinyoung. He countered flawlessly, however, "It was just two steps away. I snatched it as I ran by. Look." Sunwoo grabbed the bag and ripped it open, dumping the contents onto the dirty ground. The only things to fall out were a change of clothes, a toothbrush, and a headset. No money, no jewels, and certainly nothing worth stealing. "I don't even have anything in it."
"Dad, time for us to go home. There is no crime here." Junghwan waited until his father, who had a deep frown upon his face, nodded. Then Junghwan released Demon. "And Sunwoo is my friend, you will treat him as such!"
His father, and the trio of misfit boys left the alley, leaving Junghwan and Sunwoo alone. Junghwan turned to Sunwoo and threw his arms around him. "He didn't say no, so we're friends again!"
When Sunwoo didn't say anything, Junghwan disentangled himself from the other boy. "And no disappearing again, okay?"
Junghwan didn't think his heart could beat any faster, but when Sunwoo looked up and met his eyes, that smile upon his face, Junghwan's heart raced off into eternity.