[Never Still] Part 5
Title: Never Still in Darkness (Part 5/5)
Rating: R
Genre: AU, horror, (dark) fantasy, sci-fi
Notes: Crossover with Supernatural. This is it! The end~~! Thank you to anyone who has stuck with me and humored me on this journey. v^_^v Just a heads up, I am working on some pretty major revisions and editing for the WHOLE fic, so once that's all done I'll post it all and provide a .pdf link. Also, I do have an idea for a sequel, so if you're interested in seeing my take on how Jae and Min could possibly influence/change the current SPN 'verse/canon, keep an eye out for that. ^^
Word Count: 5,253
Summary: Changmin and Jaejoong are good hunters, and there aren't many things they can't kill one way or another. When they run into one of the rare exceptions to that rule, they're forced to seek help from an outside source. The Winchesters aren't sure how much help they'll be, but they're always up for an interesting challenge. And this case is nothing if not interesting.
Warnings: some scenes of torture, platonic!JaeMin
Previous: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Part 4
Part 5
"They made me watch," Sam states, voice hollow, as they wait in barely-cushioned, vinyl-covered chairs for word from the ER. "I tried to get away, to help him, but man... Those guys were made out of marble or something. Couldn't do anything when they put those nails in him."
Dean doesn't reply. Because, really, what can he say to something like that? It's okay? Clearly, it is very much not okay. You tried your best? Sam never has reacted well to that one. Always felt it was patronizing or something. Dean can't really blame him. It's not how he'd mean it; he knows Sam would have done everything he possibly could. The words, though, always seem to come off a little hollow.
So Dean chooses to say nothing, clapping a hand to Sam's shoulder when Sam lets his head thunk back against the wall. Jae pauses from his pacing on the other side of the waiting room to check on the noise before resuming his restless stride again. Bobby bursts into the waiting room then, outwardly calm except for the frantic way his eyes dart around the room to find them. Dean stands from his chair, meets Bobby halfway across the room to fill him in.
And then they all continue to wait, glancing at the door every time it opens to let someone new in. Hours pass. Other groups, other families, get news and updates. Jae finally wears himself out with his pacing and collapses into the chair next to Sam then eventually falls into a light sleep. Sam stares at him for a minute, a look that Dean fully intends to badger his brother about later.
The sun is barely starting to rise outside the windows when a seemingly familiar doctor enters the room. For a long second, Dean's not sure if it's because he's seen so many doctors come and go through the night. Then the doctor calls for the family of 'Max Kim', freakin' finally. Jae jolts awake, barely takes a moment to collect himself before rushing over to the doctor. Dean, Sam, and Bobby follow right behind him. The doctor hesitates when he sees them approach, but Jae simply waves him on.
"Yes, as I was saying," the doctor continues, "it was a miracle to start with that those nails managed to miss all major blood vessels and such on the way in. Well, either a miracle or someone really knew what they were doing. The procedure to remove them was quite delicate. We had a couple close calls, but we did manage to get them out without much additional damage, none of it serious. His vitals dropped a couple times while he was on the table, but you said he was shocked, right?" He pauses long enough for Jae to confirm the statement. "We're comfortable with saying his vitals were more from the electroshock treatment than any blood loss, since the nails did manage to keep him from bleeding out too much.
"We treated the burns from whatever they were using to shock him then went in and set the broken arm. We've got that arm in a cast to his elbow, though we had to cut holes in the wrists over the nail holes so we have to access to clean and treat those. A couple of the cuts on his torso required a few stitches each, but most of them were rather shallow. The rest was all fairly superficial, bruising and such. No signs of a concussion. He's not out of the woods by any means, but barring any serious complications, he should make a complete recovery."
Jae visibly sags at the words, and Sam barely manages to get an arm around his waist to support his weight. He pulls himself together quickly, though, muttering a soft "sorry" to Sam as he gets his legs under him again before turning to the doctor. "When can we see him?"
The doctor offers a small smile, gentle and practiced. "They're taking him to a room right now. A nurse will come and get you when they've got him settled. Shouldn't be too terribly long, maybe 15 minutes to half an hour." They thank him, and he gives each of them a brief yet firm handshake before walking away.
"You okay, Jae?" Sam asks as they sit down again for the hopefully short wait until they can see Max.
Perched on the edge of his chair, Jae bobs his head in a quick nod. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine now. It was just... I was preparing for bad news, y'know? And, I don't know, I guess it really hit me when he said Min was gonna be okay." Sam places a reassuring hand on Jae's knee, and Jae gives him a small smile. Another interaction Dean files away to pester Sam with.
True to the doctor's word, a nurse shows up maybe 20 minutes later to show them the way to Max's room. She finally stops in front of a door, a couple floors up and several twists and turns through maze-like hallways, opening it softly and ushering them through.
Max is staring at the ceiling when they enter, though he turns his head to give them a small smile as they approach the bed. "Hey, Min-ah," Jae says, and Dean's starting to recognize that tone he gets when he's slipping into Korean. "Gwenchana?"
"Neh, hyung, gwenchana," Max replies.
"Liar," Jae returns, though the word is softened by Jae's fond tone and the way he takes Max's unbroken hand between his.
Max rolls his eyes, and the gesture has as much affection behind it as Jae calling him a liar. "Really, Jae, I'm okay. I'm still coming off anesthesia, and they're giving me the good drugs. I'm fine. Ask me in a few hours and that answer may be different." His gaze finally slides past Jae to look at the rest of them, coming to rest on Sam. "Sam. They didn't hurt you, did they?"
He sounds so anxious, forehead creasing with guilt, that Sam rushes to reassure him. "I'm okay. They got a couple hits in when I tried to run one time, but they pretty much left me alone other than that." The lines on his brow smooth out as Max nods his relief, and his eyes close even as he obviously tries to fight them open again.
"Go to sleep, Minnie-ah," Jae gently commands. "We'll be here, promise."
~*~~*~
Dr. Streif - Jae had finally managed to memorize the guy's name halfway through the third day - is finishing a check-up on Max's wrists when Jae re-enters the room after lunch. "So I'm good to go home now?" Max asks with a small but excited smile.
"Whoa, wait a second," Jae interrupts before the doctor can reply. "He hasn't even been here a week."
Max rolls his eyes. "Half a day shy of a week, Jae. I'm not gonna stay here an extra 12-ish hours to satisfy some imaginary timeline in your head," he snarks, pausing to smile a greeting at Dean and Sam as they enter. "Dr. Streif says I'm healing really well, and I want to go home."
"We really only kept him this long to keep an eye out for infection and make sure those holes in his wrists started closing the way they should," the doctor adds in Max's favor. "Seems as though we managed to hold off any infection, though, and the wounds show the signs of healing just fine. There's really no other reason to keep Max here any longer. Any wound care we provide here can be done as easily at home."
"Min..." Jae trails off, not quite sure how to voice his thoughts. That they don't actually have a home to go back to. That cheap motels are not ideal places to be cleaning open wounds like the ones on/though Max's wrists. That he's not entirely sure where they're going to go from here.
As if sensing these thoughts, Dean steps forward to stand at the foot of Max's bed and sets a reassuring hand on the kid's lower leg. "We just finished getting the bathroom on the first floor scrubbed and bleached, and the living room is cleaner than I think I've ever seen it. Still only the pull-out couch bed in there, but it's gotta be better than the hospital."
Max absolutely beams at that, grinning at Dean and Jae in turn before including Sam in the moment as well then turning to Dr. Streif. "Release papers, please?" he asks.
As the doctor pulls out the papers and starts to explain care instructions and such with Max, Jae turns to Sam and Dean. "You guys really didn't have to do all that. We would've been- I would have figured something out. It was one thing to stay while we were working the case, but now..."
Sam shakes his head, holding up a hand to silence Jae's protests. "Bobby insisted, really. Don't tell him I said anything, but I think he's developed a bit of a soft spot for Max. He's had us working all week to make sure everything's clean enough."
"Give it a couple weeks," Dean offers when Jae still looks hesitant, "until he gets some scabs over those holes. You can leave after that if you want, but at least give Max that much time."
Jae raises his hands in defeat, conceding, "Okay, okay. Fine. As long as you guys promise to let me know if we start to wear out our welcome."
"I don't think that'll be a problem," Dean replies, lightly tapping at the leg still under his hand, "but you've got a deal."
~*~~*~
They've just finished dinner and settled in - Bobby, Sam, and Max with books and Jae and Dean in front of the TV with Dean in control of the remote - when the knock sounds on the door. It's unexpected, and they all exchange a look before drawing weapons or, in Max's case, simply setting himself on alert. Bobby moves to answer the door while the other three instinctively take defensive stances in front of Max. Though his wrists have healed a lot in the last two weeks, they're still mostly incapacitated, and he'll be an easy target if it comes down to a hand-to-hand fight.
"I am sorry to intrude," a heavily accented voice floats in from the now-open doorway, though Dean couldn't say where the accent originates. "I am looking for Jaejoong and Changmin. I wish to speak with them if they are available."
Bobby holds his shotgun down at his side, not yet quite suspicious enough to point it at this stranger. Judging by looks, the guy's Korean like the two boys inside, and he'd hate to run off a potential friend of theirs. "Whaddayou want with them?" he questions.
Moving right behind Bobby, Dean gets a look at their visitor over Bobby's shoulder. Asian, obviously. Maybe college-aged or slightly older. Straight, jet-black hair disappears behind his shoulders so Dean can't quite tell how long it actually is. The top section is tied back in a loose ponytail, and Dean can't tell whether the hairstyle is a statement or some kind of historical roleplay. Something about the guy's face tugs at the back of Dean's mind, but he can't quite place it.
"I have some... issues... to discuss with them," the man replies to Bobby's question. "I mean them no harm, I promise."
Dean shoots a look over his shoulder at Jae and Max. Their visitor, their call. They trade a look, and Dean gets a feeling - not for the first time - that they're having a conversation no one else can hear. Knowing Max's powers, it wouldn't surprise him in the least. They finally break the stare, Jae looking rather unhappy with whatever's been decided, and Max gives Dean a permissive nod. Dean taps Bobby's shoulder twice to give him the signal, and Bobby cautiously ushers the guy in with a blunt warning about having weapons and not being afraid to use them.
The man enters the living room, and Max's eyes widen almost immediately in surprise. Dean gets the feeling he missed something big - and judging by the others' reactions, he's not the only one - when Max half-snaps out, "What are you doing here?"
"I meant what I said at the door," the man replies, raising his hands in front of him. "I have not come here to hurt any of you anymore."
And when it hits him, Dean feels about as stupid as a human can get while still functioning in society. "This is its human form?" he bites out as he raises his gun. Max puts out a hand to stop him, though, and he reluctantly decides to trust that the kid knows what he's doing.
"Yeah," Max answers, though Dean's question was mostly rhetorical, "this is him. I don't... He doesn't... He feels different. I believe him. He really isn't here to do anything to us." He tells them all of this while maintaining eye contact with the perfectly-human-looking creature, and Dean can't help thinking how really freakin' weird his life has gotten when the monster in their living room seems to almost slump in relief.
"Please, allow me to introduce myself," the monster starts. "My name is Hyunshik. I was born 347 years ago in northern Korea near the Chinese border, and I have never, in all my years, killed before. Until that man came with his team, captured me, and completed the ritual to tie me to him." He turns to look at Dean then. "I thank you for killing him, for freeing me. I tried to fight the compulsion as much as possible, but I wasn't strong enough. Only his death broke his control over me."
Dean blinks at him, not entirely sure what he's supposed to do with that. "So... what? We're supposed to take your word for it that you were under some kind of spell or something? Let you walk like you didn't murder a dozen or so people?"
As Hyunshik's weighted gaze drops to the floor, Dean can suddenly see every one of the 300-plus years the guy's been alive. "I expect nothing," he replies, heavy sorrow lacing his tone. "I only wished to explain myself, to tell you that you have nothing to fear from me now. If you decide to kill me, I trust that it is no less than I deserve."
"And why should we believe you?" Jae jumps in.
Hyunshik shrugs, a gesture so modern and human in direct contrast to his oddly formal way of speaking. "You do not have to. I can see why you would not. I can only tell you that, yes, I am a yuryeong. It is the way I was born. But I am half human, as well. The full-bloods died out long ago, and there are few of us half-bloods left. For the most part, we prefer our human sides. We change only when feeding and do that only as absolutely necessary. We do not kill the humans we feed from. We take what we need, perhaps leave them slightly fatigued for a few days, but we do not kill."
"And if we hadn't gotten to you, someone else would have," Min concludes, as if he knew exactly where Hyunshik had been leading.
The man dips his head in acknowledgment. "There is a council that governs us. If any get out of hand, become careless, they are... taken care of."
"That would explain why we've never run into any of your kind before. Your council gets rid of any threats before any hunters even figure out there's a problem," Sam muses, and the man/monster nods again.
The group falls into momentary silence as they all process the situation. Finally, though, Bobby breaks the moment. "So? What's the verdict, boys?"
"Let him go," Max whispers, glancing once at Hyunshik then turning his gaze to the floor.
"What?!" Jae exclaims, eyes wide as he looks at Max's down-turned head. "You can't seriously... Min, he's killed people. He handed you over to Phillips and left you to be tortured. How can you possibly-"
"It's not his fault!" Max yells, the loudest any of them except Jae had ever heard him. "He couldn't help it, not anymore than any of those possessed people we've done exorcisms on could. Don't remember you ever suggesting we put them down like rabid dogs." His tone is filled with venom, and he stares at them with a hard glare. They all stare back at him, shocked at his sudden ferocity.
Dean shakes his head, gathering himself enough to attempt a response to Max's clear accusation. "Max, that wasn't..." He trails off, not sure how he was meaning to finish. That wasn't what they were suggesting? But, really, it kind of was. Is. "He feeds off people, Max. You heard him say that yourself."
"But he's never killed anyone," Max protests, a pleading note sneaking into his still-frantic voice. "Not under his own power. If it weren't for Phillips, we wouldn't even know he exists. His kind have never made problems before. He could have disappeared while I was in the hospital. Not like any of us were looking for him then. But he didn't. He's here, admitting what he did even though we already knew he wasn't in control and it's just... It's not..."
He's fighting back tears, unable to finish his thoughts, and Dean suddenly wants nothing more than to go back in time, never let the strange Asian man in the door so they wouldn't be dealing with this issue at all. Hyunshik speaks then, calm and placid, patience gained over three centuries. "It's okay, Changmin. I understand."
"It's not okay, and I don't understand!" Max explodes, tears finally escaping his eyes the same time the windows in the room shatter. It's such a blatant display of power, a reminder of exactly what Max could be capable of if he loses control, and they all go freeze-frame still. Max raises his hands to cover his mouth, the tears still slip-sliding down his face. "I'm sorry. Oh god, I didn't mean- I just-" And before any of them can really react, he bolts from the room and out the front door.
They all stare after him, Dean muttering something about kids who keep running away before he turns and shoots a pointed glare at the monster-man. "You. Leave. And know that if we hear even a hint of a rumor about you, we will hunt you down. Don't make me regret this."
Hyunshik nods his understanding, bows in Jae's direction, then quickly disappears out the front door also. The four of them stare after him in silence for a stretched-thin minute. "Sorry about the windows," Jae finally says in Bobby's direction after an awkward quiet. "I haven't seen him lose control of himself like that in... a while. A long while."
Bobby shrugs, not actually terribly concerned about the damage. "This house has seen weirder shit," he states, resigned, "and will probably see worse in the future. He gonna be okay?"
Jaejoong snorts. "Maybe. Someday. Depends on your definition of 'okay', I suppose." He sighs, and it suddenly hits Dean then, the realization of how young Jae really still is. They focus on Max as the youngest, and Jae usually carries himself - and Max, when he needs to - with such confidence. For all the responsibility he takes on, though, Jae is barely months older than Sam; he looks it in that moment, lost and worried and unsure. And then, with a roll of his shoulders, he pulls himself back together and raises his head again. "I'm gonna go talk to Min. He always beats himself up when he has these slips so I don't wanna leave him out there alone," he explains before walking out the door in Max's and Hyunshik's footsteps.
~*~~*~
Max hadn't gone far. Or, if he had, Jae had dragged him back closer to the house. As Bobby, Dean, and Sam start hanging plastic in the empty frames of the broken windows, Dean spots the two perched on the hood of one of the clunkers in front of the house. Max has his legs pulled up to his chest, arms crossed over the front of his legs though his right hand hangs down over his left leg, playing with a loose thread on his jeans. His lips press together in a flat line, and deep furrows crease his forehead where his brows draw together.
Jae sits cross-legged next to him, half-turned in Max's direction with his left hand resting on Max's arm. He speaks rapidly while Max seems to listen and nod his acceptance or understanding of whatever Jae is saying to him. Dean assumes that if he could get close enough to hear them that they'd be speaking in Korean. Before Dean can contemplate much more, though, Bobby snaps at him to "stop daydreamin' and make yourself useful. Idjit."
"Said with all the love in the world, right, Bobby?" Dean asks, overly sweet. Bobby simply scoffs, but if Dean had been expecting any reply, it would have been more a slap over the head than anything else. He staples the last corner of the plastic in place, obscuring his view of the two Koreans still deep in discussion outside.
~*~~*~
The two finally wander back in a while later, Max still looking rather subdued but not nearly as panicked and distressed as when he'd run out. "Sorry, Bobby," he apologizes as he gazes around at the damage. "Moments like this make me wish my powers worked in reverse, too."
"Don't worry about it, kid," Bobby dismisses with a wave of his hand. "Things happen."
Max offers him a small smile, and he and Jae settle back into the seats they'd been in before their unexpected visitor had interrupted the evening. "We were thinking, actually," Max starts, and Dean has a bad feeling he knows what's coming, "that it's about time we get back on the road. With Phillips gone and the yuryeong no longer a threat..." Trailing off, he worries at the same loose thread at his knee that he'd been messing with while talking with Jae outside.
"You're leaving? Are you sure your wrists are healed enough for that?" Sam questions, brow creased and lined.
Jae quirks an eyebrow at him, as if to say, 'You really think I'd consider this otherwise?' Dean has to agree, it is a rather stupid question. He understands Sam's deeper motivation in asking it, though, and he can't say he doesn't feel the same way. This is the furthest they've let anyone into their lives in a long time, and it'll certainly be strange when Jae and Max are gone.
Max notices the exchange but chooses not to comment on it. "It'll be fine, Sam," he replies instead, sparing a quick glance to his bandaged wrists. "We're gonna take it easy until they're completely healed, but it's not like I generally get too close to the real action anyway."
"You boys ain't plannin' to leave tonight, are you?" Bobby asks as he checks the time on his watch.
Shaking his head, Jae finally relaxes back into the couch. "Nah. We thought we'd give it a couple days maybe. Take the time to find a new hunt, have a solid destination when we do take off. Give Min a bit more time to heal up some more."
"Alright then. That... sounds like a plan to me," Dean states. He tries to keep his tone carefree, nonchalant, hoping to cover up the odd reluctance he couldn't explain even if he wanted to. He's not sure how well he succeeds.
~*~~*~
"Hey, Sam," Max says as he curls up in the armchair, leaning against the right arm with his legs tucked up underneath him.
Sam sets down the book he'd been browsing, stretching out along the couch to work out the kinks in his legs and back and shoulders. A quick glance at the clock tells him he'd lost track of time again, too many hours in one position as he lost himself in the book. "Hey, Max. How's the great hunt search going?"
Max gives him a one-shouldered shrug before answering. "Not great. Jae's got a couple leads he's looking into, but he's rejected a bunch already for being either too much of a risk for me or not being our thing. Two days ago, I figured he was only being cautious. Yesterday, I bumped him up to paranoid and a major worry-wart. Today, I'm starting to wonder if he really wants us going anywhere at all."
The words have a tinge of frustration behind them, but the soft half-smile on Max's lips offsets the tone. Sam smiles, only too familiar with how he's likely feeling. "Are you that anxious to get on the road again?"
"No," Max replies, no hesitation. "I don't necessarily miss life on the road. It's just... weird, I guess. We never really dared to stay in one place too long before, not wanting to give Phillips a chance to locate us. I guess it hasn't really hit me that that's not an issue any longer."
Sam wonders if that's how he'll feel when they finally kill the yellow-eyed demon, when the threat that's been hanging over their heads since he was six months old is finally eliminated. He used to think he would finally be able to have that "normal" life he'd always wanted then, but that was when the possibility was still a far-off fantasy. Now that everything seems to be coming to a head, that the reality will apparently be sooner rather than later, he's really not sure what to imagine anymore. "Did you... want to talk about something?" he finally asks.
"Hm?" Max hums in reply, slowly coming out of the thoughts he'd lost himself in. "Oh, no. Well, yes, but not about that. I actually wanted to throw this idea at you, give you some time to think it over before we have to leave."
Brow furrowing, Sam attempts to work out exactly what Max is leading up to. "What kind of idea?"
Max shifts a bit in his chair, a light flush coloring his cheeks as he avoids making eye contact. He's comfortable enough around them now to let down some of his walls, and moments like this make him look so much younger; it brings out ever older-brother protective instinct Sam never knew he had. "It's... a way for us to keep in touch once Jae and I are gone. Kind of an emergency contact, in case you don't have access to a phone or can't get us on ours or something."
"Okay..." Sam replies, dragging the word out. "You may have to explain that a little more, because I still have no idea what you're talking about."
"Ah, yeah." Max's blush deepens as he flashes Sam an embarrassed half-smile. "If you agree, I can set up a link between us so we can talk to each other telepathically. Like I said, it would mostly be for emergency situations and such, but I thought it might be a good fallback to have in place. Just in case."
Sam blinks as the idea settles into his mind. He'd known, intellectually, that Max is a telepath; he'd never considered being able to do it himself. "You can do that? Even though I've never shown any signs of telepathy?"
Max nods. "Yeah. It'll take a bit more effort than if you were a telepath yourself, but it still won't be too difficult. It requires some kind of psychic power as a basis, which is why I didn't suggest getting Jae and Dean in on it, too."
"That... makes sense, I suppose," Sam replies, starting to wrap his head around the idea. It's a good idea, really, to have some way of contacting Max that doesn't require a working/in-tact/accessible phone. "Okay, yeah, sounds good. What do we need to do?"
This time, it's Max's turn to blink at him. "You don't want to think about it some more? Talk it over with Dean or anything?"
It's a legitimate concern, and Sam's sure he's gonna hear it from Dean when his brother finds out he's done this without dicussing it first. But talking about it with Dean isn't likely to change his mind on this being a good idea, and he trusts Max more than almost anyone that isn't family. "It's fine," Sam replies, waving the questions away. "Better to ask forgiveness and all that, right? So, do I need to do anything?"
Max shakes his head, somewhat reassured by Sam's laidback manner, and stands from his seat. "No, just stay right there. It might feel a bit... strange... once the connection's in place, so most people find it easier to be sitting or lying down. I'll have to put my hands on the sides of your head to get it done. You just need to relax and let me in. Shouldn't take more than a minute or so." Reaching out, Max pauses long enough to get Sam's final permission. Sam draws a deep breath, settles back against the couch, and nods at Max to continue.
Sam isn't sure what he was expecting: some kind of spark or shock, something intrusive. Contrary to expectations, though, Max's hands are warm, barely on the right side of too warm. Soothing, almost, in a way. He can feel the warmth sinking in, searching. Some part of him thinks he should be panicking at the feeling, fighting it off, but he finds himself actually relaxing into it instead.
When Max pulls away, Sam's head feels heavy and weightless at the same time, and he can see why Max warned him to stay on the couch. It's not a particularly uncomfortable feeling as much as... strange. He's still adjusting when Max tests the connection. Can you hear me? And, yeah, there's no doubt that that's definitely Max's voice in Sam's head.
"Yeah," Sam breathes out, shell-shocked. "How do I...?"
Max shakes his head. Don't use your voice. Just, kinda... think at me. Psychic powers are really just intention concentrated. Focus on what you want to do then go for it.
And for as abstract as the statements really are, Sam thinks that's the best way he's ever heard powers like theirs summed up. He forms the words he wants Max to hear, gives them space in his head, then pushes them in Max's direction. This is... really weird. Did it work? He doesn't really need any words in return; Max's uneven-eyed grin gives him the answer.
~*~~*~
Three days later, they're watching Jae and Max pull away from the salvage yard, heading southeast to a fairly straightforward haunting in Georgia. "Jae's still obnoxious," Dean states as the car pulls out onto the main road, a teasing glint in his eye belying the edged tone, "but I might miss the kid a bit."
Sam grins, knowing that means the pair has Dean's official stamp of approval. He sends a message to Max, having to push a bit harder to get that now-familiar slide to indicate Max had received it. Dean says he hopes we see you guys again soon.
A small chuckle filters back, and while he still hasn't heard Max laugh outside of their heads, Sam will take what he can get. Liar.
Bloomingdales Coupon Code
Rating: R
Genre: AU, horror, (dark) fantasy, sci-fi
Notes: Crossover with Supernatural. This is it! The end~~! Thank you to anyone who has stuck with me and humored me on this journey. v^_^v Just a heads up, I am working on some pretty major revisions and editing for the WHOLE fic, so once that's all done I'll post it all and provide a .pdf link. Also, I do have an idea for a sequel, so if you're interested in seeing my take on how Jae and Min could possibly influence/change the current SPN 'verse/canon, keep an eye out for that. ^^
Word Count: 5,253
Summary: Changmin and Jaejoong are good hunters, and there aren't many things they can't kill one way or another. When they run into one of the rare exceptions to that rule, they're forced to seek help from an outside source. The Winchesters aren't sure how much help they'll be, but they're always up for an interesting challenge. And this case is nothing if not interesting.
Warnings: some scenes of torture, platonic!JaeMin
Previous: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Part 4
Part 5
"They made me watch," Sam states, voice hollow, as they wait in barely-cushioned, vinyl-covered chairs for word from the ER. "I tried to get away, to help him, but man... Those guys were made out of marble or something. Couldn't do anything when they put those nails in him."
Dean doesn't reply. Because, really, what can he say to something like that? It's okay? Clearly, it is very much not okay. You tried your best? Sam never has reacted well to that one. Always felt it was patronizing or something. Dean can't really blame him. It's not how he'd mean it; he knows Sam would have done everything he possibly could. The words, though, always seem to come off a little hollow.
So Dean chooses to say nothing, clapping a hand to Sam's shoulder when Sam lets his head thunk back against the wall. Jae pauses from his pacing on the other side of the waiting room to check on the noise before resuming his restless stride again. Bobby bursts into the waiting room then, outwardly calm except for the frantic way his eyes dart around the room to find them. Dean stands from his chair, meets Bobby halfway across the room to fill him in.
And then they all continue to wait, glancing at the door every time it opens to let someone new in. Hours pass. Other groups, other families, get news and updates. Jae finally wears himself out with his pacing and collapses into the chair next to Sam then eventually falls into a light sleep. Sam stares at him for a minute, a look that Dean fully intends to badger his brother about later.
The sun is barely starting to rise outside the windows when a seemingly familiar doctor enters the room. For a long second, Dean's not sure if it's because he's seen so many doctors come and go through the night. Then the doctor calls for the family of 'Max Kim', freakin' finally. Jae jolts awake, barely takes a moment to collect himself before rushing over to the doctor. Dean, Sam, and Bobby follow right behind him. The doctor hesitates when he sees them approach, but Jae simply waves him on.
"Yes, as I was saying," the doctor continues, "it was a miracle to start with that those nails managed to miss all major blood vessels and such on the way in. Well, either a miracle or someone really knew what they were doing. The procedure to remove them was quite delicate. We had a couple close calls, but we did manage to get them out without much additional damage, none of it serious. His vitals dropped a couple times while he was on the table, but you said he was shocked, right?" He pauses long enough for Jae to confirm the statement. "We're comfortable with saying his vitals were more from the electroshock treatment than any blood loss, since the nails did manage to keep him from bleeding out too much.
"We treated the burns from whatever they were using to shock him then went in and set the broken arm. We've got that arm in a cast to his elbow, though we had to cut holes in the wrists over the nail holes so we have to access to clean and treat those. A couple of the cuts on his torso required a few stitches each, but most of them were rather shallow. The rest was all fairly superficial, bruising and such. No signs of a concussion. He's not out of the woods by any means, but barring any serious complications, he should make a complete recovery."
Jae visibly sags at the words, and Sam barely manages to get an arm around his waist to support his weight. He pulls himself together quickly, though, muttering a soft "sorry" to Sam as he gets his legs under him again before turning to the doctor. "When can we see him?"
The doctor offers a small smile, gentle and practiced. "They're taking him to a room right now. A nurse will come and get you when they've got him settled. Shouldn't be too terribly long, maybe 15 minutes to half an hour." They thank him, and he gives each of them a brief yet firm handshake before walking away.
"You okay, Jae?" Sam asks as they sit down again for the hopefully short wait until they can see Max.
Perched on the edge of his chair, Jae bobs his head in a quick nod. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine now. It was just... I was preparing for bad news, y'know? And, I don't know, I guess it really hit me when he said Min was gonna be okay." Sam places a reassuring hand on Jae's knee, and Jae gives him a small smile. Another interaction Dean files away to pester Sam with.
True to the doctor's word, a nurse shows up maybe 20 minutes later to show them the way to Max's room. She finally stops in front of a door, a couple floors up and several twists and turns through maze-like hallways, opening it softly and ushering them through.
Max is staring at the ceiling when they enter, though he turns his head to give them a small smile as they approach the bed. "Hey, Min-ah," Jae says, and Dean's starting to recognize that tone he gets when he's slipping into Korean. "Gwenchana?"
"Neh, hyung, gwenchana," Max replies.
"Liar," Jae returns, though the word is softened by Jae's fond tone and the way he takes Max's unbroken hand between his.
Max rolls his eyes, and the gesture has as much affection behind it as Jae calling him a liar. "Really, Jae, I'm okay. I'm still coming off anesthesia, and they're giving me the good drugs. I'm fine. Ask me in a few hours and that answer may be different." His gaze finally slides past Jae to look at the rest of them, coming to rest on Sam. "Sam. They didn't hurt you, did they?"
He sounds so anxious, forehead creasing with guilt, that Sam rushes to reassure him. "I'm okay. They got a couple hits in when I tried to run one time, but they pretty much left me alone other than that." The lines on his brow smooth out as Max nods his relief, and his eyes close even as he obviously tries to fight them open again.
"Go to sleep, Minnie-ah," Jae gently commands. "We'll be here, promise."
~*~~*~
Dr. Streif - Jae had finally managed to memorize the guy's name halfway through the third day - is finishing a check-up on Max's wrists when Jae re-enters the room after lunch. "So I'm good to go home now?" Max asks with a small but excited smile.
"Whoa, wait a second," Jae interrupts before the doctor can reply. "He hasn't even been here a week."
Max rolls his eyes. "Half a day shy of a week, Jae. I'm not gonna stay here an extra 12-ish hours to satisfy some imaginary timeline in your head," he snarks, pausing to smile a greeting at Dean and Sam as they enter. "Dr. Streif says I'm healing really well, and I want to go home."
"We really only kept him this long to keep an eye out for infection and make sure those holes in his wrists started closing the way they should," the doctor adds in Max's favor. "Seems as though we managed to hold off any infection, though, and the wounds show the signs of healing just fine. There's really no other reason to keep Max here any longer. Any wound care we provide here can be done as easily at home."
"Min..." Jae trails off, not quite sure how to voice his thoughts. That they don't actually have a home to go back to. That cheap motels are not ideal places to be cleaning open wounds like the ones on/though Max's wrists. That he's not entirely sure where they're going to go from here.
As if sensing these thoughts, Dean steps forward to stand at the foot of Max's bed and sets a reassuring hand on the kid's lower leg. "We just finished getting the bathroom on the first floor scrubbed and bleached, and the living room is cleaner than I think I've ever seen it. Still only the pull-out couch bed in there, but it's gotta be better than the hospital."
Max absolutely beams at that, grinning at Dean and Jae in turn before including Sam in the moment as well then turning to Dr. Streif. "Release papers, please?" he asks.
As the doctor pulls out the papers and starts to explain care instructions and such with Max, Jae turns to Sam and Dean. "You guys really didn't have to do all that. We would've been- I would have figured something out. It was one thing to stay while we were working the case, but now..."
Sam shakes his head, holding up a hand to silence Jae's protests. "Bobby insisted, really. Don't tell him I said anything, but I think he's developed a bit of a soft spot for Max. He's had us working all week to make sure everything's clean enough."
"Give it a couple weeks," Dean offers when Jae still looks hesitant, "until he gets some scabs over those holes. You can leave after that if you want, but at least give Max that much time."
Jae raises his hands in defeat, conceding, "Okay, okay. Fine. As long as you guys promise to let me know if we start to wear out our welcome."
"I don't think that'll be a problem," Dean replies, lightly tapping at the leg still under his hand, "but you've got a deal."
~*~~*~
They've just finished dinner and settled in - Bobby, Sam, and Max with books and Jae and Dean in front of the TV with Dean in control of the remote - when the knock sounds on the door. It's unexpected, and they all exchange a look before drawing weapons or, in Max's case, simply setting himself on alert. Bobby moves to answer the door while the other three instinctively take defensive stances in front of Max. Though his wrists have healed a lot in the last two weeks, they're still mostly incapacitated, and he'll be an easy target if it comes down to a hand-to-hand fight.
"I am sorry to intrude," a heavily accented voice floats in from the now-open doorway, though Dean couldn't say where the accent originates. "I am looking for Jaejoong and Changmin. I wish to speak with them if they are available."
Bobby holds his shotgun down at his side, not yet quite suspicious enough to point it at this stranger. Judging by looks, the guy's Korean like the two boys inside, and he'd hate to run off a potential friend of theirs. "Whaddayou want with them?" he questions.
Moving right behind Bobby, Dean gets a look at their visitor over Bobby's shoulder. Asian, obviously. Maybe college-aged or slightly older. Straight, jet-black hair disappears behind his shoulders so Dean can't quite tell how long it actually is. The top section is tied back in a loose ponytail, and Dean can't tell whether the hairstyle is a statement or some kind of historical roleplay. Something about the guy's face tugs at the back of Dean's mind, but he can't quite place it.
"I have some... issues... to discuss with them," the man replies to Bobby's question. "I mean them no harm, I promise."
Dean shoots a look over his shoulder at Jae and Max. Their visitor, their call. They trade a look, and Dean gets a feeling - not for the first time - that they're having a conversation no one else can hear. Knowing Max's powers, it wouldn't surprise him in the least. They finally break the stare, Jae looking rather unhappy with whatever's been decided, and Max gives Dean a permissive nod. Dean taps Bobby's shoulder twice to give him the signal, and Bobby cautiously ushers the guy in with a blunt warning about having weapons and not being afraid to use them.
The man enters the living room, and Max's eyes widen almost immediately in surprise. Dean gets the feeling he missed something big - and judging by the others' reactions, he's not the only one - when Max half-snaps out, "What are you doing here?"
"I meant what I said at the door," the man replies, raising his hands in front of him. "I have not come here to hurt any of you anymore."
And when it hits him, Dean feels about as stupid as a human can get while still functioning in society. "This is its human form?" he bites out as he raises his gun. Max puts out a hand to stop him, though, and he reluctantly decides to trust that the kid knows what he's doing.
"Yeah," Max answers, though Dean's question was mostly rhetorical, "this is him. I don't... He doesn't... He feels different. I believe him. He really isn't here to do anything to us." He tells them all of this while maintaining eye contact with the perfectly-human-looking creature, and Dean can't help thinking how really freakin' weird his life has gotten when the monster in their living room seems to almost slump in relief.
"Please, allow me to introduce myself," the monster starts. "My name is Hyunshik. I was born 347 years ago in northern Korea near the Chinese border, and I have never, in all my years, killed before. Until that man came with his team, captured me, and completed the ritual to tie me to him." He turns to look at Dean then. "I thank you for killing him, for freeing me. I tried to fight the compulsion as much as possible, but I wasn't strong enough. Only his death broke his control over me."
Dean blinks at him, not entirely sure what he's supposed to do with that. "So... what? We're supposed to take your word for it that you were under some kind of spell or something? Let you walk like you didn't murder a dozen or so people?"
As Hyunshik's weighted gaze drops to the floor, Dean can suddenly see every one of the 300-plus years the guy's been alive. "I expect nothing," he replies, heavy sorrow lacing his tone. "I only wished to explain myself, to tell you that you have nothing to fear from me now. If you decide to kill me, I trust that it is no less than I deserve."
"And why should we believe you?" Jae jumps in.
Hyunshik shrugs, a gesture so modern and human in direct contrast to his oddly formal way of speaking. "You do not have to. I can see why you would not. I can only tell you that, yes, I am a yuryeong. It is the way I was born. But I am half human, as well. The full-bloods died out long ago, and there are few of us half-bloods left. For the most part, we prefer our human sides. We change only when feeding and do that only as absolutely necessary. We do not kill the humans we feed from. We take what we need, perhaps leave them slightly fatigued for a few days, but we do not kill."
"And if we hadn't gotten to you, someone else would have," Min concludes, as if he knew exactly where Hyunshik had been leading.
The man dips his head in acknowledgment. "There is a council that governs us. If any get out of hand, become careless, they are... taken care of."
"That would explain why we've never run into any of your kind before. Your council gets rid of any threats before any hunters even figure out there's a problem," Sam muses, and the man/monster nods again.
The group falls into momentary silence as they all process the situation. Finally, though, Bobby breaks the moment. "So? What's the verdict, boys?"
"Let him go," Max whispers, glancing once at Hyunshik then turning his gaze to the floor.
"What?!" Jae exclaims, eyes wide as he looks at Max's down-turned head. "You can't seriously... Min, he's killed people. He handed you over to Phillips and left you to be tortured. How can you possibly-"
"It's not his fault!" Max yells, the loudest any of them except Jae had ever heard him. "He couldn't help it, not anymore than any of those possessed people we've done exorcisms on could. Don't remember you ever suggesting we put them down like rabid dogs." His tone is filled with venom, and he stares at them with a hard glare. They all stare back at him, shocked at his sudden ferocity.
Dean shakes his head, gathering himself enough to attempt a response to Max's clear accusation. "Max, that wasn't..." He trails off, not sure how he was meaning to finish. That wasn't what they were suggesting? But, really, it kind of was. Is. "He feeds off people, Max. You heard him say that yourself."
"But he's never killed anyone," Max protests, a pleading note sneaking into his still-frantic voice. "Not under his own power. If it weren't for Phillips, we wouldn't even know he exists. His kind have never made problems before. He could have disappeared while I was in the hospital. Not like any of us were looking for him then. But he didn't. He's here, admitting what he did even though we already knew he wasn't in control and it's just... It's not..."
He's fighting back tears, unable to finish his thoughts, and Dean suddenly wants nothing more than to go back in time, never let the strange Asian man in the door so they wouldn't be dealing with this issue at all. Hyunshik speaks then, calm and placid, patience gained over three centuries. "It's okay, Changmin. I understand."
"It's not okay, and I don't understand!" Max explodes, tears finally escaping his eyes the same time the windows in the room shatter. It's such a blatant display of power, a reminder of exactly what Max could be capable of if he loses control, and they all go freeze-frame still. Max raises his hands to cover his mouth, the tears still slip-sliding down his face. "I'm sorry. Oh god, I didn't mean- I just-" And before any of them can really react, he bolts from the room and out the front door.
They all stare after him, Dean muttering something about kids who keep running away before he turns and shoots a pointed glare at the monster-man. "You. Leave. And know that if we hear even a hint of a rumor about you, we will hunt you down. Don't make me regret this."
Hyunshik nods his understanding, bows in Jae's direction, then quickly disappears out the front door also. The four of them stare after him in silence for a stretched-thin minute. "Sorry about the windows," Jae finally says in Bobby's direction after an awkward quiet. "I haven't seen him lose control of himself like that in... a while. A long while."
Bobby shrugs, not actually terribly concerned about the damage. "This house has seen weirder shit," he states, resigned, "and will probably see worse in the future. He gonna be okay?"
Jaejoong snorts. "Maybe. Someday. Depends on your definition of 'okay', I suppose." He sighs, and it suddenly hits Dean then, the realization of how young Jae really still is. They focus on Max as the youngest, and Jae usually carries himself - and Max, when he needs to - with such confidence. For all the responsibility he takes on, though, Jae is barely months older than Sam; he looks it in that moment, lost and worried and unsure. And then, with a roll of his shoulders, he pulls himself back together and raises his head again. "I'm gonna go talk to Min. He always beats himself up when he has these slips so I don't wanna leave him out there alone," he explains before walking out the door in Max's and Hyunshik's footsteps.
~*~~*~
Max hadn't gone far. Or, if he had, Jae had dragged him back closer to the house. As Bobby, Dean, and Sam start hanging plastic in the empty frames of the broken windows, Dean spots the two perched on the hood of one of the clunkers in front of the house. Max has his legs pulled up to his chest, arms crossed over the front of his legs though his right hand hangs down over his left leg, playing with a loose thread on his jeans. His lips press together in a flat line, and deep furrows crease his forehead where his brows draw together.
Jae sits cross-legged next to him, half-turned in Max's direction with his left hand resting on Max's arm. He speaks rapidly while Max seems to listen and nod his acceptance or understanding of whatever Jae is saying to him. Dean assumes that if he could get close enough to hear them that they'd be speaking in Korean. Before Dean can contemplate much more, though, Bobby snaps at him to "stop daydreamin' and make yourself useful. Idjit."
"Said with all the love in the world, right, Bobby?" Dean asks, overly sweet. Bobby simply scoffs, but if Dean had been expecting any reply, it would have been more a slap over the head than anything else. He staples the last corner of the plastic in place, obscuring his view of the two Koreans still deep in discussion outside.
~*~~*~
The two finally wander back in a while later, Max still looking rather subdued but not nearly as panicked and distressed as when he'd run out. "Sorry, Bobby," he apologizes as he gazes around at the damage. "Moments like this make me wish my powers worked in reverse, too."
"Don't worry about it, kid," Bobby dismisses with a wave of his hand. "Things happen."
Max offers him a small smile, and he and Jae settle back into the seats they'd been in before their unexpected visitor had interrupted the evening. "We were thinking, actually," Max starts, and Dean has a bad feeling he knows what's coming, "that it's about time we get back on the road. With Phillips gone and the yuryeong no longer a threat..." Trailing off, he worries at the same loose thread at his knee that he'd been messing with while talking with Jae outside.
"You're leaving? Are you sure your wrists are healed enough for that?" Sam questions, brow creased and lined.
Jae quirks an eyebrow at him, as if to say, 'You really think I'd consider this otherwise?' Dean has to agree, it is a rather stupid question. He understands Sam's deeper motivation in asking it, though, and he can't say he doesn't feel the same way. This is the furthest they've let anyone into their lives in a long time, and it'll certainly be strange when Jae and Max are gone.
Max notices the exchange but chooses not to comment on it. "It'll be fine, Sam," he replies instead, sparing a quick glance to his bandaged wrists. "We're gonna take it easy until they're completely healed, but it's not like I generally get too close to the real action anyway."
"You boys ain't plannin' to leave tonight, are you?" Bobby asks as he checks the time on his watch.
Shaking his head, Jae finally relaxes back into the couch. "Nah. We thought we'd give it a couple days maybe. Take the time to find a new hunt, have a solid destination when we do take off. Give Min a bit more time to heal up some more."
"Alright then. That... sounds like a plan to me," Dean states. He tries to keep his tone carefree, nonchalant, hoping to cover up the odd reluctance he couldn't explain even if he wanted to. He's not sure how well he succeeds.
~*~~*~
"Hey, Sam," Max says as he curls up in the armchair, leaning against the right arm with his legs tucked up underneath him.
Sam sets down the book he'd been browsing, stretching out along the couch to work out the kinks in his legs and back and shoulders. A quick glance at the clock tells him he'd lost track of time again, too many hours in one position as he lost himself in the book. "Hey, Max. How's the great hunt search going?"
Max gives him a one-shouldered shrug before answering. "Not great. Jae's got a couple leads he's looking into, but he's rejected a bunch already for being either too much of a risk for me or not being our thing. Two days ago, I figured he was only being cautious. Yesterday, I bumped him up to paranoid and a major worry-wart. Today, I'm starting to wonder if he really wants us going anywhere at all."
The words have a tinge of frustration behind them, but the soft half-smile on Max's lips offsets the tone. Sam smiles, only too familiar with how he's likely feeling. "Are you that anxious to get on the road again?"
"No," Max replies, no hesitation. "I don't necessarily miss life on the road. It's just... weird, I guess. We never really dared to stay in one place too long before, not wanting to give Phillips a chance to locate us. I guess it hasn't really hit me that that's not an issue any longer."
Sam wonders if that's how he'll feel when they finally kill the yellow-eyed demon, when the threat that's been hanging over their heads since he was six months old is finally eliminated. He used to think he would finally be able to have that "normal" life he'd always wanted then, but that was when the possibility was still a far-off fantasy. Now that everything seems to be coming to a head, that the reality will apparently be sooner rather than later, he's really not sure what to imagine anymore. "Did you... want to talk about something?" he finally asks.
"Hm?" Max hums in reply, slowly coming out of the thoughts he'd lost himself in. "Oh, no. Well, yes, but not about that. I actually wanted to throw this idea at you, give you some time to think it over before we have to leave."
Brow furrowing, Sam attempts to work out exactly what Max is leading up to. "What kind of idea?"
Max shifts a bit in his chair, a light flush coloring his cheeks as he avoids making eye contact. He's comfortable enough around them now to let down some of his walls, and moments like this make him look so much younger; it brings out ever older-brother protective instinct Sam never knew he had. "It's... a way for us to keep in touch once Jae and I are gone. Kind of an emergency contact, in case you don't have access to a phone or can't get us on ours or something."
"Okay..." Sam replies, dragging the word out. "You may have to explain that a little more, because I still have no idea what you're talking about."
"Ah, yeah." Max's blush deepens as he flashes Sam an embarrassed half-smile. "If you agree, I can set up a link between us so we can talk to each other telepathically. Like I said, it would mostly be for emergency situations and such, but I thought it might be a good fallback to have in place. Just in case."
Sam blinks as the idea settles into his mind. He'd known, intellectually, that Max is a telepath; he'd never considered being able to do it himself. "You can do that? Even though I've never shown any signs of telepathy?"
Max nods. "Yeah. It'll take a bit more effort than if you were a telepath yourself, but it still won't be too difficult. It requires some kind of psychic power as a basis, which is why I didn't suggest getting Jae and Dean in on it, too."
"That... makes sense, I suppose," Sam replies, starting to wrap his head around the idea. It's a good idea, really, to have some way of contacting Max that doesn't require a working/in-tact/accessible phone. "Okay, yeah, sounds good. What do we need to do?"
This time, it's Max's turn to blink at him. "You don't want to think about it some more? Talk it over with Dean or anything?"
It's a legitimate concern, and Sam's sure he's gonna hear it from Dean when his brother finds out he's done this without dicussing it first. But talking about it with Dean isn't likely to change his mind on this being a good idea, and he trusts Max more than almost anyone that isn't family. "It's fine," Sam replies, waving the questions away. "Better to ask forgiveness and all that, right? So, do I need to do anything?"
Max shakes his head, somewhat reassured by Sam's laidback manner, and stands from his seat. "No, just stay right there. It might feel a bit... strange... once the connection's in place, so most people find it easier to be sitting or lying down. I'll have to put my hands on the sides of your head to get it done. You just need to relax and let me in. Shouldn't take more than a minute or so." Reaching out, Max pauses long enough to get Sam's final permission. Sam draws a deep breath, settles back against the couch, and nods at Max to continue.
Sam isn't sure what he was expecting: some kind of spark or shock, something intrusive. Contrary to expectations, though, Max's hands are warm, barely on the right side of too warm. Soothing, almost, in a way. He can feel the warmth sinking in, searching. Some part of him thinks he should be panicking at the feeling, fighting it off, but he finds himself actually relaxing into it instead.
When Max pulls away, Sam's head feels heavy and weightless at the same time, and he can see why Max warned him to stay on the couch. It's not a particularly uncomfortable feeling as much as... strange. He's still adjusting when Max tests the connection. Can you hear me? And, yeah, there's no doubt that that's definitely Max's voice in Sam's head.
"Yeah," Sam breathes out, shell-shocked. "How do I...?"
Max shakes his head. Don't use your voice. Just, kinda... think at me. Psychic powers are really just intention concentrated. Focus on what you want to do then go for it.
And for as abstract as the statements really are, Sam thinks that's the best way he's ever heard powers like theirs summed up. He forms the words he wants Max to hear, gives them space in his head, then pushes them in Max's direction. This is... really weird. Did it work? He doesn't really need any words in return; Max's uneven-eyed grin gives him the answer.
~*~~*~
Three days later, they're watching Jae and Max pull away from the salvage yard, heading southeast to a fairly straightforward haunting in Georgia. "Jae's still obnoxious," Dean states as the car pulls out onto the main road, a teasing glint in his eye belying the edged tone, "but I might miss the kid a bit."
Sam grins, knowing that means the pair has Dean's official stamp of approval. He sends a message to Max, having to push a bit harder to get that now-familiar slide to indicate Max had received it. Dean says he hopes we see you guys again soon.
A small chuckle filters back, and while he still hasn't heard Max laugh outside of their heads, Sam will take what he can get. Liar.
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