Life in Purgatory ch. 5
Title: Life in Purgatory
Chapter: 5/?
Rating: R
Crossover: Super Junior, DBSK
Genre: Angst, AU,
Summary: Society is crumbling; salvation walks the earth once more
A/N: rp with yeonah
HyungJoon stirred when he felt a tapping on his shoulder. Lifting his head up off the book he'd been 'studying', he blinked blearily at YoungSaeng who was standing beside him. They were in the library, YoungSaeng having tracked them down the following day.
"Hey, where's the professor?" YoungSaeng sat down next to him.
"Flirting with the librarian," HyungJoon yawned, putting his head back down and to all appearances going back to sleep. YoungSaeng rolled his eyes at the younger man.
When Zhou Mi returned with a small quirk of his lips, he blinked in surprise at YoungSaeng. "Oh, hello," he smiled brightly, sitting down across from them. "I thought you had class? Everything okay?"
"Teacher let us out early," YoungSaeng shrugged, folding his hands on the table and chewing on his lower lip. "Last night...I figured it out. Who I am."
That took a moment for Zhou Mi to process, and he closed his book he had started looking through to lean in. "You mean... HyungJoon, wake up," he hissed, shaking the man's shoulders.
"Mh?" HyungJoon sat up, rubbing at his eyes. "Wha?"
"I accidentally...made a bunch of people very, very jealous," YoungSaeng winced slightly, looking up Zhou Mi. "I'm envy."
"Envy..." Zhou Mi repeated, blinking widely and pulling out a notebook and a pen. "Tell me what happened, every detail that you can remember," he said, pen poised over the paper.
"...Why?" YoungSaeng didn't look very comfortable with that idea. "Is it really necessary?"
"...I just thought it would be good to keep a record," Zhou Mi said, eyes tightening in concern. "If you don't want to share, I guess I can understand."
"Not particularly," YoungSaeng muttered, looking away. "Though I can say that it seemed to happen that when I was upset, it influenced people around me much faster. Though I wasn't in contact with them like you said you were."
"That seems to be the case with HyungJoon as well," Zhou Mi nodded. "He can affect people around him, but I have to be directly in contact. It could be that way for the virtues, I'm not sure. We'll have to see when another virtue shows up."
"When would that be, do you think," YoungSaeng frowned. He was nervous about all this, but at the same time curious about finding others."
"Who knows, took us a year to find you and you were in the same school," HyungJoon yawned. "They're probably not."
"It'll help now that you're with us YoungSaeng, HyungJoon and I spend most of our time together when he's not in class," Zhou Mi said. "Just because no one else is willing to keep him focused. You'll be able to look for others as well, you know what it feels like when we meet one another. Have you felt anything like that?"
"Not that I can think of," YoungSaeng shook his head, frowning lightly. "Would we go look for them, then? Around the city?"
"We can, once HyungJoon's exams are over, and yours as well, we can look around," Zhou Mi nodded. "Your boyfriend though, does he know you've been spending so much time with us?"
"Not...exactly, I've been telling him I'm studying at the library," YoungSaeng shrugged. "If we start meeting up after exams to look, I'll just tell him I'm out with friends or something."
Frowning slightly, Zhou Mi looked at HyungJoon uncomfortably. "There's something you should know..." he started, looking at YoungSaeng again with a sympathetic smile. "You... aren't going to be staying with your boyfriend for very long. I don't think, I could be misinterpreting the text but, from what I can tell, the sin and their opposite virtue are meant to be... together."
YoungSaeng's eyes widened, before he scowled. "My boyfriend and I have a perfectly fine relationship, and I don't see any reason of that changing."
"I'm just relating what I read," Zhou Mi said quietly. "I could have misinterpreted."
Jaw clenching, YoungSaeng looked away. He loved HyunJoong, even when he'd cheated he'd still loved him, and that wasn't going to change.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, HyungJoon cleared his throat. "So, my exams finish next week, what about yours? We can plan outings after that, since I have a feeling I'm gonna be dragged along anyways."
"Next week too," YoungSaeng glanced back at him.
"Okay, then we can plan on going out the week after that then," Zhou Mi agreed, slowly gathering up his papers. "But if either of you feel anything before that, just let us know."
"Yes seonsaengnim," HyungJoon chimed in faithfully, before putting his head back down on the table.
"I have another class, see you both around then," YoungSaeng stood, shouldering his bag again.
"Please accept my apology YoungSaeng, I didn't mean to imply your relationship with your boyfriend wasn't... I'm sorry," Zhou Mi said, looking up at him with a small smile.
"It's fine," YoungSaeng shook his head. "But I'm not going to let a bunch of old books tell me how my relationships are going to go, no offense. Later." He walked away from them to leave the library.
"I hope for his sake you were wrong about those texts," HyungJoon cracked one eye open at Zhou Mi.
"I hope so too," Zhou Mi nodded, packing his things into his briefcase. "I don't think I am though Joon."
"Then I guess we just wait to see what happens," HyungJoon sighed. "You got a class?"
"Yes, and don't you?" Zhou Mi said, closing up his briefcase and standing up. "Don't be late, again."
"Ah, right," HyungJoon pouted, sitting up and gathering together his books. "I'll see you after school then."
"Yup, we can grab dinner on the way home," Zhou Mi nodded, already heading out. He gave a cheerful wave to the librarian before leaving the library. He could see YoungSaeng at the far end of the hall just before the other man turned a corner. He really did hope he was wrong.
***************************
Stepping back into the apartment, YoungSaeng closed the door behind him and slipped out of his shoes, heading into the main room. Exams had finally passed, and they'd started taking small trips downtown every now and then to search. No luck so far, but Zhou Mi was living up to his reputation as patience, hardly seeming discouraged. HyungJoon however, they'd nearly lost several times cause he'd go into a daze and head in an opposite direction.
"Hyun, I'm back," he called. Not seeing the older man in the living room, YoungSaeng shrugged lightly and turned to the kitchen to figure out something for dinner.
"Out "studying" again," HyunJoong said, coming out of the bedroom. His eyes were narrowed and a piece of paper clenched tightly in his fist. "Do you hate me that much Saeng? Did I hurt you that badly?" he said quietly, looking down at the paper. "Who is he? Some guy at school?"
"...Huh?" YoungSaeng blinked at him, absolutely confused. "What the hell are you talking about, speak Korean." Noticing the paper in HyunJoong's hand, he frowned lightly, stepping closer. "What's that?"
"Someone's phone number, it was in your things," HyunJoong said, throwing it at him. "I called it, and some chinese guy answered. Who the hell is it Saeng?"
Crouching to pick up the piece of paper when it fluttered to the ground, YoungSaeng saw Zhou Mi's number on it. Well, this was going to be fun to explain, but there were some parts he was of course going to have to leave out. "One of the professors at school," YoungSaeng frowned up at HyunJoong. "He helped me figure out a few problems. Why are you freaking out?"
"Because you've been lying to me," HyunJoong said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I went to the library today to see you, but you weren't there. Librarian said he hadn't seen you all day, where were you Saeng?"
Why did his boyfriend have to be so nosy all the time. YoungSaeng stood up again, one hand on his hip. "I went downtown after class today, with two friends. Didn't feel like studying today."
"So you lied to me? After all the shit you gave me about being honest?" HyunJoong bristled, shaking his head and turning away. "What else are you lying to me about then? Where's your bag."
"What are you going on about?" YoungSaeng scowled at him. "All I did was decide I wanted to take a day off from busting my ass studying, you're the one snooping through my stuff and then thinking I'm seeing a teacher behind your back. Was that what that was?"
"I don't know Saeng, you've been acting weird for the past month," HyunJoong said, glancing over his shoulder. "Just please, be honest with me...are you cheating on me?"
"No," YoungSaeng said firmly, eyes hurt that HyunJoong was even accusing him of that. "I gave you a second chance Hyun, not so I could run off with someone else, but because I wanted to believe you when you said you loved me. I might have my own life, and decide to go do my own thing every now and then, but I have never once thought about cheating on you!"
Turning around, HyunJoong leaned up against the counter and rubbed at his eyes. "I know you wouldn't.. I just... you've been so distant lately Saeng, I don't know what to do. Are you still mad at me?"
"No," YoungSaeng said quietly, approaching HyunJoong. He wrapped his arms loosely around the older man's waist, looking up at him. "I've just been...I guess you could say I've been battling my own demons, I've got a lot on my mind right now, I'm sorry if I'm being distant to you. I don't mean it."
Looking up into YoungSaeng's eyes, HyunJoong reached up to touch YoungSaeng's cheek lightly. "I want to be able to help, if you'd let me. I can't stand it when you shut me out."
YoungSaeng wanted to tell HyunJoong right then, but bit his tongue. He couldn't. As much as he didn't want to shut HyunJoong out either, he had no choice. "I'm sorry...this is something I need to do on my own. I can't rely on you all the time, as much as I want to." YoungSaeng smiled sadly up at him. "But no matter where I am, what I look forward to the most is always coming back home to you."
Eyes softening a little, HyunJoong pulled him in a little closer, resting their foreheads together. "You're the best part of my day too," he said softly. "From now on though... you don't have to lie to me about where you're going okay? If you want to hang out with friends, just tell me."
"Okay," YoungSaeng whispered, looking up into the older man's eyes. "I love you Hyun," he cupped HyunJoong's face lightly. "I mean it."
"I love you too," HyunJoong replied, smiling softly and leaning in to kiss him. "So when did you get so interested in Catholic dogma anyway?" he asked once he'd pulled back a little to look down at him.
"....What in the what?" YoungSaeng looked up at him in utter confusion.
"I saw the book in your desk, about the Seven Deadly Sins? I didn't think you were interested in all that.. is that for an assignment or something?" HyunJoong asked, blinking a little at the reaction.
"Oh, no, that's something the Chinese professor let me borrow, it's got some interesting ideas," YoungSaeng shrugged. He was going to have to give that back before HyunJoong started asking more questions about it.
"So you've been spending a lot of time with this professor, I'd like to meet him," HyunJoong said, pouting a little. "I want to make sure he's not trying to steal my boyfriend away or anything."
Oh dear, that was going to be...interesting. "Go ahead, but no threatening unnecessarily," YoungSaeng gave a long-suffering sigh, leaning against him. "You keep intimidating my friends."
"They're not good enough to be your friends," HyunJoong said, kissing the side of his boyfriend's head. "Next time you plan on seeing this professor of yours, I want to go with, okay?"
"Oh fine," YoungSaeng huffed. "Remember, no threatening, or no dinner," he tugged lightly on a lock of hair.
"Yes sir," HyunJoong chuckled, reaching down and picking YoungSaeng up bridal style. "You're mine for the night though right?" he grinned, kissing YoungSaeng's cheek as he slowly made his way out of the kitchen.
Shrieking when he was picked up, YoungSaeng wrapped his arms around HyunJoong's neck. "Not if you drop me I'm not!"
"I won't drop you," HyunJoong rolled his eyes, keeping a tight grip on YoungSaeng as he moved through the apartment to their room. "Except maybe on the bed," he teased, kicking the door closed behind him.
***********************************
The following day, YoungSaeng didn't even wait until when he was supposed to meet Zhou Mi and HyungJoon after school, tracking the two down during Zhou Mi's office hours.
"Professor?" he knocked lightly on the open door, poking his head in. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"
"Of course, come in YoungSaeng," Zhou Mi said, focusing on his computer right at that moment. "Is everything okay? I thought we were meeting later, and you don't have to keep calling me professor, I do have a name."
"I know, it's habit," YoungSaeng stepped into the room, closing the door lightly behind him. He could see HyungJoon in his usual corner, trying not to nod off over an assignment. "I...have a bit of a problem," he shifted uncomfortably. "My boyfriend...found your phone number, and thought I was cheating on him with you."
Zhou Mi looked up at him, a shocked expression on his face before his lips thinned a little. "And you told him that we're just friends right? You didn't tell him...about... who we are, did you?"
"No, I didn't," YoungSaeng reassured quickly. "I told him there was nothing going on, but he...wants to meet you next time we go somewhere," he winced. "I'm really sorry, he's just looking out for me."
"Well, that's... not bad I guess," Zhou Mi said, glancing at HyungJoon. "In the name of reassuring your boyfriend that nothing is going on, we'll meet him. I don't think we'll be doing much looking, so we can have dinner or something instead. Doesn't that sound nice?"
"Food always sounds nice," HyungJoon perked up with a smile.
"Thank you," YoungSaeng's shoulders slumped a little in relief. "And I apologize in advance if he appears a little blunt."
"I'm sure it will be fine, we can go to that family restaurant down the street from our apartment, I haven't been there yet and I would love to go," Zhou Mi said, flashing a bright smile. "When is the next time we are going somewhere anyway?"
"I thought we were going to look more tonight?" HyungJoon yawned, rubbing one eye. "We can go tonight if you want, get it out of the way."
"Yes, tonight would probably be the best," Zhou Mi nodded. "Let your boyfriend know we'll meet him tonight, how about you two meet us at the restaurant?"
"Okay," YoungSaeng nodded with a relieved smile. That had been weighing on his mind all morning. "Thank you for this."
"It's fine, if it makes your boyfriend happy, which in turn I'm sure makes you happy, then it's no problem," Zhou Mi said, writing down directions to the restaurant and the name. "It's called Babtol's, shouldn't be hard to find. We'll meet you two there at about seven?"
Taking the paper when Mi handed it over, YoungSaeng smiled and nodded again. "We'll be there. Have a good day and see you tonight," he bowed his head slightly before leaving.
"Guess we've been monopolizing his time a little," HyungJoon chuckled, settling back down in his seat.
"Maybe just a little," Zhou Mi admitted with a rueful smile. "It's just so exciting being around another, one that isn't you. It feels... more complete right? Like there's a part filled somewhere that you weren't aware was missing."
"I'll pretend not to be insulted and agree," HyungJoon pouted a little. "Wonder what'll happen when we meet our opposites, aren't you curious?"
"I'm very curious... I can't imagine how it will feel, even just meeting another is enough to knock me over," Zhou Mi said, leaning back in his chair. "Don't be insulted Joon, I'm just used to you."
"Yeah yeah," HyungJoon shook his head with a chuckle. "Well, looks like we have a dinner date tonight. Should I pretend to be dating you so he doesn't chew you out for monopolizing his boyfriend?" He teased the older man.
"...No," Zhou Mi wrinkled his nose. "I can say I'm straight... you think he'll believe that?"
"....Do you want the honest answer?" HyungJoon eyed the young teacher.
Zhou Mi sniffed lightly, turning back to his computer and hunching his shoulders. "I can most certainly pass for straight."
"Just save yourself the trouble and pretend you have a boyfriend in China," HyungJoon laughed, shaking his head at Mi before turning back to his work.
"Not talking to you!" Zhou Mi chimed lightly, tapping at the keys on his keyboard in an obvious show of ignoring HyungJoon.
Laughing at the older man, HyungJoon scribbled away at his papers, trying to get some work done while he was focusing. As much as Zhou Mi pretended to be insulted, he knew the man would be very, very bored if HyungJoon spent his entire time sleeping.
***********
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, until it was time to go to dinner, Zhou Mi making sure HyungJoon looked presentable. They walked down to the restaurant together just before seven, but there was no sign of YoungSaeng and his boyfriend.
"Should we wait out here or get a table?" Zhou Mi asked HyungJoon, frowning slightly.
"Let's get a table, it's a little chilly out," HyungJoon shivered, looking up at the restaurant. "They'll know to go inside." He pushed the door open and entered. They were greeted by a middle-aged woman with a friendly smile who showed them to a booth to one side. "This is a pretty nice place," he mused, looking around.
"It is, we should come here more often," Zhou Mi said, looking around with interest. "If the food is good at least, but from what I see it doesn't look too bad."
They were given menus and water, HyungJoon sipping at it as he looked through the menu. "Looks good to me, and the prices are pretty good too."
The door opened again, and HyungJoon's eyes went wide as saucers, one hand clutching at his chest as his heart tried to break through his ribs, ringing loud in his ears.
"There they are," YoungSaeng nodded towards HyungJoon and Zhou Mi before bowing to the woman who'd come to see them. Taking HyunJoong's hand, he led his boyfriend to the booth. "HyungJoon, Zhou Mi, this is my boyfriend HyunJoong."
HyunJoong blinked at the two at the table, glancing dubiously at YoungSaeng. "Are they okay?" he asked in a hushed whisper.
Zhou Mi was breathing heavily, looking between YoungSaeng and HyunJoong with wide eyes. "He... he's one of us," he whispered.
Chapter: 5/?
Rating: R
Crossover: Super Junior, DBSK
Genre: Angst, AU,
Summary: Society is crumbling; salvation walks the earth once more
A/N: rp with yeonah
HyungJoon stirred when he felt a tapping on his shoulder. Lifting his head up off the book he'd been 'studying', he blinked blearily at YoungSaeng who was standing beside him. They were in the library, YoungSaeng having tracked them down the following day.
"Hey, where's the professor?" YoungSaeng sat down next to him.
"Flirting with the librarian," HyungJoon yawned, putting his head back down and to all appearances going back to sleep. YoungSaeng rolled his eyes at the younger man.
When Zhou Mi returned with a small quirk of his lips, he blinked in surprise at YoungSaeng. "Oh, hello," he smiled brightly, sitting down across from them. "I thought you had class? Everything okay?"
"Teacher let us out early," YoungSaeng shrugged, folding his hands on the table and chewing on his lower lip. "Last night...I figured it out. Who I am."
That took a moment for Zhou Mi to process, and he closed his book he had started looking through to lean in. "You mean... HyungJoon, wake up," he hissed, shaking the man's shoulders.
"Mh?" HyungJoon sat up, rubbing at his eyes. "Wha?"
"I accidentally...made a bunch of people very, very jealous," YoungSaeng winced slightly, looking up Zhou Mi. "I'm envy."
"Envy..." Zhou Mi repeated, blinking widely and pulling out a notebook and a pen. "Tell me what happened, every detail that you can remember," he said, pen poised over the paper.
"...Why?" YoungSaeng didn't look very comfortable with that idea. "Is it really necessary?"
"...I just thought it would be good to keep a record," Zhou Mi said, eyes tightening in concern. "If you don't want to share, I guess I can understand."
"Not particularly," YoungSaeng muttered, looking away. "Though I can say that it seemed to happen that when I was upset, it influenced people around me much faster. Though I wasn't in contact with them like you said you were."
"That seems to be the case with HyungJoon as well," Zhou Mi nodded. "He can affect people around him, but I have to be directly in contact. It could be that way for the virtues, I'm not sure. We'll have to see when another virtue shows up."
"When would that be, do you think," YoungSaeng frowned. He was nervous about all this, but at the same time curious about finding others."
"Who knows, took us a year to find you and you were in the same school," HyungJoon yawned. "They're probably not."
"It'll help now that you're with us YoungSaeng, HyungJoon and I spend most of our time together when he's not in class," Zhou Mi said. "Just because no one else is willing to keep him focused. You'll be able to look for others as well, you know what it feels like when we meet one another. Have you felt anything like that?"
"Not that I can think of," YoungSaeng shook his head, frowning lightly. "Would we go look for them, then? Around the city?"
"We can, once HyungJoon's exams are over, and yours as well, we can look around," Zhou Mi nodded. "Your boyfriend though, does he know you've been spending so much time with us?"
"Not...exactly, I've been telling him I'm studying at the library," YoungSaeng shrugged. "If we start meeting up after exams to look, I'll just tell him I'm out with friends or something."
Frowning slightly, Zhou Mi looked at HyungJoon uncomfortably. "There's something you should know..." he started, looking at YoungSaeng again with a sympathetic smile. "You... aren't going to be staying with your boyfriend for very long. I don't think, I could be misinterpreting the text but, from what I can tell, the sin and their opposite virtue are meant to be... together."
YoungSaeng's eyes widened, before he scowled. "My boyfriend and I have a perfectly fine relationship, and I don't see any reason of that changing."
"I'm just relating what I read," Zhou Mi said quietly. "I could have misinterpreted."
Jaw clenching, YoungSaeng looked away. He loved HyunJoong, even when he'd cheated he'd still loved him, and that wasn't going to change.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, HyungJoon cleared his throat. "So, my exams finish next week, what about yours? We can plan outings after that, since I have a feeling I'm gonna be dragged along anyways."
"Next week too," YoungSaeng glanced back at him.
"Okay, then we can plan on going out the week after that then," Zhou Mi agreed, slowly gathering up his papers. "But if either of you feel anything before that, just let us know."
"Yes seonsaengnim," HyungJoon chimed in faithfully, before putting his head back down on the table.
"I have another class, see you both around then," YoungSaeng stood, shouldering his bag again.
"Please accept my apology YoungSaeng, I didn't mean to imply your relationship with your boyfriend wasn't... I'm sorry," Zhou Mi said, looking up at him with a small smile.
"It's fine," YoungSaeng shook his head. "But I'm not going to let a bunch of old books tell me how my relationships are going to go, no offense. Later." He walked away from them to leave the library.
"I hope for his sake you were wrong about those texts," HyungJoon cracked one eye open at Zhou Mi.
"I hope so too," Zhou Mi nodded, packing his things into his briefcase. "I don't think I am though Joon."
"Then I guess we just wait to see what happens," HyungJoon sighed. "You got a class?"
"Yes, and don't you?" Zhou Mi said, closing up his briefcase and standing up. "Don't be late, again."
"Ah, right," HyungJoon pouted, sitting up and gathering together his books. "I'll see you after school then."
"Yup, we can grab dinner on the way home," Zhou Mi nodded, already heading out. He gave a cheerful wave to the librarian before leaving the library. He could see YoungSaeng at the far end of the hall just before the other man turned a corner. He really did hope he was wrong.
***************************
Stepping back into the apartment, YoungSaeng closed the door behind him and slipped out of his shoes, heading into the main room. Exams had finally passed, and they'd started taking small trips downtown every now and then to search. No luck so far, but Zhou Mi was living up to his reputation as patience, hardly seeming discouraged. HyungJoon however, they'd nearly lost several times cause he'd go into a daze and head in an opposite direction.
"Hyun, I'm back," he called. Not seeing the older man in the living room, YoungSaeng shrugged lightly and turned to the kitchen to figure out something for dinner.
"Out "studying" again," HyunJoong said, coming out of the bedroom. His eyes were narrowed and a piece of paper clenched tightly in his fist. "Do you hate me that much Saeng? Did I hurt you that badly?" he said quietly, looking down at the paper. "Who is he? Some guy at school?"
"...Huh?" YoungSaeng blinked at him, absolutely confused. "What the hell are you talking about, speak Korean." Noticing the paper in HyunJoong's hand, he frowned lightly, stepping closer. "What's that?"
"Someone's phone number, it was in your things," HyunJoong said, throwing it at him. "I called it, and some chinese guy answered. Who the hell is it Saeng?"
Crouching to pick up the piece of paper when it fluttered to the ground, YoungSaeng saw Zhou Mi's number on it. Well, this was going to be fun to explain, but there were some parts he was of course going to have to leave out. "One of the professors at school," YoungSaeng frowned up at HyunJoong. "He helped me figure out a few problems. Why are you freaking out?"
"Because you've been lying to me," HyunJoong said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I went to the library today to see you, but you weren't there. Librarian said he hadn't seen you all day, where were you Saeng?"
Why did his boyfriend have to be so nosy all the time. YoungSaeng stood up again, one hand on his hip. "I went downtown after class today, with two friends. Didn't feel like studying today."
"So you lied to me? After all the shit you gave me about being honest?" HyunJoong bristled, shaking his head and turning away. "What else are you lying to me about then? Where's your bag."
"What are you going on about?" YoungSaeng scowled at him. "All I did was decide I wanted to take a day off from busting my ass studying, you're the one snooping through my stuff and then thinking I'm seeing a teacher behind your back. Was that what that was?"
"I don't know Saeng, you've been acting weird for the past month," HyunJoong said, glancing over his shoulder. "Just please, be honest with me...are you cheating on me?"
"No," YoungSaeng said firmly, eyes hurt that HyunJoong was even accusing him of that. "I gave you a second chance Hyun, not so I could run off with someone else, but because I wanted to believe you when you said you loved me. I might have my own life, and decide to go do my own thing every now and then, but I have never once thought about cheating on you!"
Turning around, HyunJoong leaned up against the counter and rubbed at his eyes. "I know you wouldn't.. I just... you've been so distant lately Saeng, I don't know what to do. Are you still mad at me?"
"No," YoungSaeng said quietly, approaching HyunJoong. He wrapped his arms loosely around the older man's waist, looking up at him. "I've just been...I guess you could say I've been battling my own demons, I've got a lot on my mind right now, I'm sorry if I'm being distant to you. I don't mean it."
Looking up into YoungSaeng's eyes, HyunJoong reached up to touch YoungSaeng's cheek lightly. "I want to be able to help, if you'd let me. I can't stand it when you shut me out."
YoungSaeng wanted to tell HyunJoong right then, but bit his tongue. He couldn't. As much as he didn't want to shut HyunJoong out either, he had no choice. "I'm sorry...this is something I need to do on my own. I can't rely on you all the time, as much as I want to." YoungSaeng smiled sadly up at him. "But no matter where I am, what I look forward to the most is always coming back home to you."
Eyes softening a little, HyunJoong pulled him in a little closer, resting their foreheads together. "You're the best part of my day too," he said softly. "From now on though... you don't have to lie to me about where you're going okay? If you want to hang out with friends, just tell me."
"Okay," YoungSaeng whispered, looking up into the older man's eyes. "I love you Hyun," he cupped HyunJoong's face lightly. "I mean it."
"I love you too," HyunJoong replied, smiling softly and leaning in to kiss him. "So when did you get so interested in Catholic dogma anyway?" he asked once he'd pulled back a little to look down at him.
"....What in the what?" YoungSaeng looked up at him in utter confusion.
"I saw the book in your desk, about the Seven Deadly Sins? I didn't think you were interested in all that.. is that for an assignment or something?" HyunJoong asked, blinking a little at the reaction.
"Oh, no, that's something the Chinese professor let me borrow, it's got some interesting ideas," YoungSaeng shrugged. He was going to have to give that back before HyunJoong started asking more questions about it.
"So you've been spending a lot of time with this professor, I'd like to meet him," HyunJoong said, pouting a little. "I want to make sure he's not trying to steal my boyfriend away or anything."
Oh dear, that was going to be...interesting. "Go ahead, but no threatening unnecessarily," YoungSaeng gave a long-suffering sigh, leaning against him. "You keep intimidating my friends."
"They're not good enough to be your friends," HyunJoong said, kissing the side of his boyfriend's head. "Next time you plan on seeing this professor of yours, I want to go with, okay?"
"Oh fine," YoungSaeng huffed. "Remember, no threatening, or no dinner," he tugged lightly on a lock of hair.
"Yes sir," HyunJoong chuckled, reaching down and picking YoungSaeng up bridal style. "You're mine for the night though right?" he grinned, kissing YoungSaeng's cheek as he slowly made his way out of the kitchen.
Shrieking when he was picked up, YoungSaeng wrapped his arms around HyunJoong's neck. "Not if you drop me I'm not!"
"I won't drop you," HyunJoong rolled his eyes, keeping a tight grip on YoungSaeng as he moved through the apartment to their room. "Except maybe on the bed," he teased, kicking the door closed behind him.
***********************************
The following day, YoungSaeng didn't even wait until when he was supposed to meet Zhou Mi and HyungJoon after school, tracking the two down during Zhou Mi's office hours.
"Professor?" he knocked lightly on the open door, poking his head in. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"
"Of course, come in YoungSaeng," Zhou Mi said, focusing on his computer right at that moment. "Is everything okay? I thought we were meeting later, and you don't have to keep calling me professor, I do have a name."
"I know, it's habit," YoungSaeng stepped into the room, closing the door lightly behind him. He could see HyungJoon in his usual corner, trying not to nod off over an assignment. "I...have a bit of a problem," he shifted uncomfortably. "My boyfriend...found your phone number, and thought I was cheating on him with you."
Zhou Mi looked up at him, a shocked expression on his face before his lips thinned a little. "And you told him that we're just friends right? You didn't tell him...about... who we are, did you?"
"No, I didn't," YoungSaeng reassured quickly. "I told him there was nothing going on, but he...wants to meet you next time we go somewhere," he winced. "I'm really sorry, he's just looking out for me."
"Well, that's... not bad I guess," Zhou Mi said, glancing at HyungJoon. "In the name of reassuring your boyfriend that nothing is going on, we'll meet him. I don't think we'll be doing much looking, so we can have dinner or something instead. Doesn't that sound nice?"
"Food always sounds nice," HyungJoon perked up with a smile.
"Thank you," YoungSaeng's shoulders slumped a little in relief. "And I apologize in advance if he appears a little blunt."
"I'm sure it will be fine, we can go to that family restaurant down the street from our apartment, I haven't been there yet and I would love to go," Zhou Mi said, flashing a bright smile. "When is the next time we are going somewhere anyway?"
"I thought we were going to look more tonight?" HyungJoon yawned, rubbing one eye. "We can go tonight if you want, get it out of the way."
"Yes, tonight would probably be the best," Zhou Mi nodded. "Let your boyfriend know we'll meet him tonight, how about you two meet us at the restaurant?"
"Okay," YoungSaeng nodded with a relieved smile. That had been weighing on his mind all morning. "Thank you for this."
"It's fine, if it makes your boyfriend happy, which in turn I'm sure makes you happy, then it's no problem," Zhou Mi said, writing down directions to the restaurant and the name. "It's called Babtol's, shouldn't be hard to find. We'll meet you two there at about seven?"
Taking the paper when Mi handed it over, YoungSaeng smiled and nodded again. "We'll be there. Have a good day and see you tonight," he bowed his head slightly before leaving.
"Guess we've been monopolizing his time a little," HyungJoon chuckled, settling back down in his seat.
"Maybe just a little," Zhou Mi admitted with a rueful smile. "It's just so exciting being around another, one that isn't you. It feels... more complete right? Like there's a part filled somewhere that you weren't aware was missing."
"I'll pretend not to be insulted and agree," HyungJoon pouted a little. "Wonder what'll happen when we meet our opposites, aren't you curious?"
"I'm very curious... I can't imagine how it will feel, even just meeting another is enough to knock me over," Zhou Mi said, leaning back in his chair. "Don't be insulted Joon, I'm just used to you."
"Yeah yeah," HyungJoon shook his head with a chuckle. "Well, looks like we have a dinner date tonight. Should I pretend to be dating you so he doesn't chew you out for monopolizing his boyfriend?" He teased the older man.
"...No," Zhou Mi wrinkled his nose. "I can say I'm straight... you think he'll believe that?"
"....Do you want the honest answer?" HyungJoon eyed the young teacher.
Zhou Mi sniffed lightly, turning back to his computer and hunching his shoulders. "I can most certainly pass for straight."
"Just save yourself the trouble and pretend you have a boyfriend in China," HyungJoon laughed, shaking his head at Mi before turning back to his work.
"Not talking to you!" Zhou Mi chimed lightly, tapping at the keys on his keyboard in an obvious show of ignoring HyungJoon.
Laughing at the older man, HyungJoon scribbled away at his papers, trying to get some work done while he was focusing. As much as Zhou Mi pretended to be insulted, he knew the man would be very, very bored if HyungJoon spent his entire time sleeping.
***********
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, until it was time to go to dinner, Zhou Mi making sure HyungJoon looked presentable. They walked down to the restaurant together just before seven, but there was no sign of YoungSaeng and his boyfriend.
"Should we wait out here or get a table?" Zhou Mi asked HyungJoon, frowning slightly.
"Let's get a table, it's a little chilly out," HyungJoon shivered, looking up at the restaurant. "They'll know to go inside." He pushed the door open and entered. They were greeted by a middle-aged woman with a friendly smile who showed them to a booth to one side. "This is a pretty nice place," he mused, looking around.
"It is, we should come here more often," Zhou Mi said, looking around with interest. "If the food is good at least, but from what I see it doesn't look too bad."
They were given menus and water, HyungJoon sipping at it as he looked through the menu. "Looks good to me, and the prices are pretty good too."
The door opened again, and HyungJoon's eyes went wide as saucers, one hand clutching at his chest as his heart tried to break through his ribs, ringing loud in his ears.
"There they are," YoungSaeng nodded towards HyungJoon and Zhou Mi before bowing to the woman who'd come to see them. Taking HyunJoong's hand, he led his boyfriend to the booth. "HyungJoon, Zhou Mi, this is my boyfriend HyunJoong."
HyunJoong blinked at the two at the table, glancing dubiously at YoungSaeng. "Are they okay?" he asked in a hushed whisper.
Zhou Mi was breathing heavily, looking between YoungSaeng and HyunJoong with wide eyes. "He... he's one of us," he whispered.