warmth - part 5
Title: Warmth
Pairings: Junsu/Yoochun, Changmin/Jaejoong/Yunho
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Somewhat vulgar language, weak graphic images
Genre: Romance, angst, science-fiction-ish
A/N: Sorry for the lateness! I had hockey tournaments and exams to study for, so I was busy.
Summary: One trip to the Old Forest sends Junsu and Changmin into another world full of mistakened myths and new realizations. A vampire's goal in life is to live for eternity and feed from the warmth of a human. If that is so, what is a werewolf's goal?
Previous: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
. : : . : : . : : .
Junsu was still unsure of how he was going to get away from Yunho, so the redhead settled with walking the park along with the taller man. There was this odd feeling though as they traveled through the park. Junsu didn’t feel as casual and comfortable as he would’ve liked. The entire time it felt like he was being watched and Yunho was practically a steel cage. There was a hard, firm expression on his face that didn’t seem to be disappearing anytime soon.
Junsu wanted to lighten up the atmosphere, but failed to do so. He felt so watched and nerves shook his body.
“Junsu-ah, are you cold?” asked Yunho, noticing that his companion was shivering.
Junsu shook his head, giving Yunho a half smile. “I’m fine. Is there anything we can do in this park? Last time I was here the festival was too and I didn’t really look around.”
“There’s not much,” said Yunho. “It is your usual park.”
Junsu nodded and they lost conversation. The redhead knew then and there that it would be impossible to escape from Yunho’s sight and go looking for that man. Junsu desperately wanted to see him though…
“Yunho-hyung, do you know if there are restrooms nearby?”
Yunho stopped walking. “We’ve passed them already.”
“Oh, w-well could you show me where they are?” Now Junsu’s nerves were doubling.
The handsome man beside him pointed to a small building back near the playground. “That brick building there. I’ll walk with you.”
“O-okay,” Junsu stuttered as they turned around and retraced their steps. When they reached the building three minutes later, Yunho stopped near a bench and said he would wait for the redhead here. Junsu nodded and entered the restroom.
Now that he was inside, he began to formulate a plan. The nerves were literally biting at him. Something in his mind was screaming at him to not go through with whatever plan he made up, but determination got the better of him. Junsu began to look around for another entrance in the small bathroom. Luckily, it didn’t take him long, for there was an old red door on the other side of the room. Junsu hoped it was unlocked. He stepped up and pulled the handle.
It opened. Junsu grinned with glee and slipped outside. The wind chilled his face immediately, but he ignored it. After taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, he began to walk towards the east side of the park, scouting for that tall, old tree which he had seen the man standing under. Those dark, cold eyes were ever-piercing his mind. Junsu inwardly shivered and walked on. His eyes looked behind him to see if Yunho was anywhere; he wasn’t. The redhead broke into a run up and over a hill until the brick building was no longer in sight.
He let out a sigh of relief. Step 1 was complete so now Junsu began Step 2: find that man.
Junsu doubted he would find him since it was already hours after he happened to see the intriguing person in the park on the way to Yunho and Jaejoong’s house. Still, that wouldn’t stop Junsu. Changmin would call his never-ending determination his stubbornness, but Junsu thought of it as his strength. He didn’t like to give up, even if it was on the smallest of things.
The redhead walked along a path that led near the road. There was a wooden fence which outlined the entire front of the park before the sidewalk and black pavement. The path Junsu was on paralled the fence. He passed by trees and other park visitors, dogs and even a cat on a leash. Junsu watched as the little girl walking the cat also held another cat in her arms. The white animal was bundled behind the inside of the girl’s jacket. The sight was cute and Junsu couldn’t help but smile.
Then his eyes looked behind the girl and there, to his utter shock and surprise, was the man from two weeks ago, leaning against that same old tree and staring at Junsu with those dark, piercing cold eyes.
Junsu gulped. His body didn’t explode with relief like he thought it would. Instead, his body filled with fear and awkwardness. He was still somewhat shocked that he had so easily found this person, but now that he has found the other, he didn’t know how to approach him, nonetheless talk to him. What would he say? Why was he looking for the guy in the first place? Why was he so damn curious?
But the man was staring at him, no, glaring at him. Junsu shivered because of the look. It was as if the man was daring Junsu to come closer.
Junsu had his stubborn determination though. He thought of one question he could ask this person and with one answer the redhead would probably feel more relieved than he has in years. All he wanted was a name. With eyes and body facing his target, Junsu took one step forward-
“Junsu!”
-and stopped the moment his foot touched the ground. Fear and surprise gripped his once-again racing heart, and he turned around to see the ever-handsome Yunho standing before him, arms crossed over his chest and black eyes fixed on the shorter man. Though as handsome as he was, Junsu could only feel the icy gaze which Yunho locked his soul with and unconscious shivers rippled throughout his body. He has shivered so much the past few days he was surprised he hasn’t shattered yet.
“What’re you doing here?” came the clear, smooth question from those tight lips.
Junsu didn’t even know if he could formulate a lie in five seconds. He watched Yunho’s gaze piercing into him and felt all his strength dissolve into nothing. What would he say? What was he going to do? What did Yunho think he was doing? Hell, what the heck was he thinking in the first place, ditching Yunho like that?!
Yunho’s patience was surprisingly firm. Junsu knew that Changmin would’ve exploded by now with accusations and questions, and so the redhead silently thanked whatever god for this person before him. Patience was truly a gift.
“I…” Junsu began, his voice a mere squeak. “I…I was l-look-looking for you!”
A single, thin brown eyebrow tilted upwards on that handsome face. “Looking for me?” he repeated carefully.
Junsu nodded, suddenly overjoyed that Yunho might actually believe this blunt lie. “Y-yeah! When I walked out of the restrooms back there, I couldn’t find you! A-and so I went looking for you but now I don’t have to anymore cause you found me!”
There was a seven second pause in which Yunho seemed to calculate Junsu’s response as the redhead fidgeted where he stood. Silently, he wondered if that man could see the both of them. Oddly, the thought scared him to death.
“You went out the backdoor,” Yunho finally spoke up after the short silence. Junsu stared at him with fake curiosity. “In the restrooms there are two doors and you went out the wrong one-the backdoor. That’s why you couldn’t find me and I couldn’t find you.”
“O-oh!” Junsu exclaimed, his eyes wide with fake surprise. “I guess I’m really forgetful, huh? I didn’t even realize there were two doors…”
Yunho’s piercing gaze didn’t ease up. When Junsu glanced back up to meet those clear, dark eyes, their gaze had shifted to behind the redhead. Junsu suddenly noticed how those black eyes became even darker, almost as dark as coal, and narrowed to thin slits. Yunho’s face tightened with an expression of hate and distaste that sent an icy chill throughout Junsu’s body. His heart clenched when he realized what Yunho could possibly be looking at. Slowly, he turned to look back towards that old tree.
There stood that man. His long arm rested against the trunk of the tree and above his head. As he leaned against the support, his head tilted down and gave his dark eyes a fierce shadow from above. Junsu could not look away. The man just stared at him as if he was the most threatening piece of flesh within the entire world. It was a stare that Junsu could not get enough of.
Suddenly, there was a firm hand on his shoulder and Yunho’s voice whispered behind him, “Let’s get back home. It’s almost sunset. The others will be worried.”
Though Junsu recalled Yunho writing a note to Jaejoong and Changmin not to worry, the redhead still agreed. With a sudden sadness, he wretched his eyes away from those dark orbs, away from that tree, and away from that person. Yunho took back his hand, but as Junsu began to walk towards the park entrance, his toned, steely body shielded the shorter man the entire way.
. : : . : : . : : .
There were snarls ripping around him. The light was gone from the world and all he could see under the dull glow of the moon were shadows of trees. He heard the heavy padding upon the earth, the crunching of dead leaves, the snapping of scattered twigs. He could sense hungry eyes upon his body, watching his every move or shiver or tremble. Loud, crackling sounds came from the back of the creatures’ throats.
Changmin was afraid.
No, he was terrified. He could only stand and feel the entire situation develop around him. He could see, hear, even smell, but could not move. He was paralyzed.
The creatures were creeping closer to him. Their huge, hunched backs of spiked fur glowed under the fading moonlight, and long teeth glistened with vast amounts of their saliva. Some of the bubbling moist dripped to the black earth below.
One stepped closer than the others. Changmin cringed, but did not move back; there were creatures behind him now as well. He was immured in a circle of starving creatures and there was no way out.
The final straw was when a large, demonic beast lunged forward, jaws wide with razor sharp teeth shining under the moonlight and large paws outstretched to grip its prey. The scream didn’t leave Changmin’s mouth until he was suddenly sitting up in the dull light of a familiar room. His eyes scanned the area as his lungs tried to breathe properly and heart attempted to stop racing behind the cage of his ribs.
“Changmin?”
The young man turned so fast that he fell backwards and onto the floor. His eye locked onto those of Jaejoong’s who was staring at him with alarming worry. Changmin’s body shook unconsciously as he sat up once again. “Jaejoong…” his voice was hoarse and that seemed to worry Jaejoong even more, but still the latter didn’t move from his seat on the couch. His dark eyes stared at Changmin hesitantly while he kept his body immensely still.
“It’s okay,” Jaejoong finally said, in a hushed whisper of a purr. “You only had a bad dream, I won’t hurt you. Please don’t be afraid of me.”
‘I’m not!’ Changmin wanted to say but nothing came from his mouth. He looked away from Jaejoong and stared at the wooden floor. The snarls were still echoing in his ears, the smell of their rotten flesh filled his noise, the deadly claws glistening beneath heavy paws…everything seemed so real.
“Changmin?” Jaejoong finally moved as he slid from the couch and onto the floor in front of Changmin, crouching down to the youngest’s level. Carefully, the angel reached out with his arms and pulled the other into his strong embrace. “Please don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you,” he repeated soothingly.
“I know…” Changmin forced out between his clenched teeth. He already felt safe in Jaejoong’s arms, but the dream was so vivid and real that the younger man was practically clutching at the angel holding him. “I-I’m fine, just give me a second.”
“All the time you need,” Jaejoong whispered with a comforting smile. Changmin let out shaky breaths until he slowly regained his composure. He pulled away from Jaejoong and ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair, glancing at the angel hesitantly. Heat flushed his cheeks. He shouldn’t be letting this nightmare embarrass him in front of someone so perfect like Jaejoong. "I must look like an idiot, huh?” Changmin mumbled. “Getting scared over such stupid dreams…”
Jaejoong shook his head firmly. “No. You look like someone who had a bad dream and still feels like it was real. That’s normal.”
“Well,” Changmin huffed lightly. “I’m not exactly normal.”
“In the food department maybe, but I have yet to learn more about you.”
The smile sent those familiar shivers and tendrils of warmth throughout Changmin’s body. He wondered idly if he could just fall back into those arms and sleep there forever; Jaejoong never seemed to mind holding him.
Changmin noticed Jaejoong glancing around the room. “What’s up?” the younger of the two asked, hoping to change the subject.
A frown crossed that beautiful face. “Yunho and Junsu aren’t here.”
Changmin tilted his head in confusion before he too looked around for any sign of his friend or that unbelievably handsome man. Jaejoong got to his feet beside him and Changmin followed suit. He followed the angel into the kitchen.
“There’s a note,” Jaejoong whispered before lifting up the frail piece of paper from the wooden table. Changmin watched as those dark eyes flew from side to side, reading the perfectly printed words within five seconds. “They went out,” he stated plainly.
“Out?” Changmin questioned.
“The park.”
“In East Gate?”
“Where else?”
Changmin stared at Jaejoong oddly. “The one we passed on the way here?”
The angel nodded, looking at Changmin with a curious expression.
‘Junsu went there?’ Changmin thought. ‘After what happened in the forest…why would he go-it doesn’t make sense!’
“Is something wrong Changmin?” Jaejoong asked tentatively.
“Eh?” the youngest blurted out before he could think. “Oh, no, but does the note say when they’ll be back?”
“I’d say less than an hour. Yunho is not really an outsy person, but he’ll never admit that to anyone. In the mean time, what do you want to do?”
Changmin shrugged somewhat. “It doesn’t matter.” At the moment, his mind was racking with questions and theories about why Junsu would go to the park. Did Yunho drag him there? No, Jaejoong just said he wasn’t like that. That meant it was Junsu’s idea.
The youngest jumped when he felt a warm hand upon his cheek. His eyes locked with those familiar dark ones as Jaejoong continue to gaze at him with curiosity. “What are you thinking?” he asked in that velvety, sweet voice. It was downright sinful.
Changmin was terribly weak under that gaze, but he surprised himself when he asked, “What do you know about vampires?”
The question seemed to shoot right through Jaejoong’s soul. Changmin felt the angel’s body go inhumanly stiff and eyes harden with an icy glow. For some reason, Changmin felt guilty for saying anything in the first place. He didn’t mean for the question to be so direct. He didn’t even know why he asked in the first place.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jaejoong asked in a cautious whisper, “Why do you want to know about vampires?”
“…I, uh…” Changmin felt like an idiot. Maybe he should just go drown himself in the sink or get eaten by the dishwasher. “I-I was researching about old myths for a school project,” he slowly explained. “There was this book I read that made it seem like vampires actually exist. I learned about their ways of survival, how they hide, what they eat-”
“But why ask me, Changmin?” Jaejoong interrupted in a dangerously sweet voice.
Changmin shivered, but continued nervously. “I-I’m not sure, I just thought you’d be interested in this kind of stuff. You live in such an old house and it felt so…I don’t know…full of secrets? Gah, I must really sound like an idiot now…”
“Don’t say that,” Jaejoong surprisingly chuckled. “You’re curiosity is not your stupidity. I find your interests very cute.”
Heat flushed the youngest's cheeks again. “Cute?” he squeaked. “I’ve never been called cute before…”
Jaejoong smiled. Changmin kept his knees straight as warm tendrils racked his body. “Are you embarrassed?” asked the angel.
“Kind-of-”
“Then I’ll gladly keep calling you cute, Minnie.”
“Why would yo-did you just call me Minnie?”
Jaejoong nodded happily. “May I call you that?”
The heat was practically burning Changmin’s cheeks. “S-sure, I guess…”
“Great!” Jaejoong exclaimed. “My first nickname for you!”
Changmin turned his head as he watched Jaejoong practically skip out of the kitchen. “But hyung already gave that nickname to me when I was seven…” he whispered to himself. He let out a short breath. “Oh well. It’s better when Jaejoong says it.”
“Minnie, let’s play cards!” came the angel’s voice from the living room.
Changmin’s cheeks continued to flush with heat. That sounded too cute! “Okay!” he called back before making his way into the living room. He was about to enter when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Stopping, Changmin pulled the device out and answered, “Hello?”
The man on the other end seemed to give a sigh of relief. “Changmin-ah, thank goodness you answered. I was beginning to lose hope!”
“Hyung,” Changmin recognized his boss’ voice. “What is it?”
“Jungmin-ah who was supposed to work tonight has called in sick as did our new worker, Takuya. Can you and Junsu take over the nightshift?”
“Eh?” Changmin wasn’t prepared for that question. “Tonight?”
“Of course Changmin-ah, tonight!”
Changmin turned his head to peer down the hallway that led to the room where Jaejoong resided. He suddenly felt torn between this undeniable longing and never-ending stubbornness to help others. The stubbornness rarely comes, but today, Changmin felt it. He bit his lip in irritation and sighed heavily, “Are you sure there is no one else, hyung?”
The boss confirmed there were none.
Changmin rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling tired but told his boss that he would cover the nightshift. He explained that Junsu was out for the day and wouldn’t be back until the morning. His boss eagerly agreed and then hung up, leaving Changmin with a new schedule for the night.
“Geez,” the youngest murmured, annoyed with himself for accepting the last-minute job. “And I thought Junsu was more gullible than me…”
“Minnie, aren’t we going to play cards?” asked Jaejoong as he drifted elegantly into the kitchen. He noticed the change in Changmin’s composure and stopped near the youngest. “What’s wrong?” he inquired.
Changmin met Jaejoong’s dark eyes and attempted an apologetic smile. “Last-minute emergency. My boss just called and apparently the shop needs a rescue.”
Jaejoong appeared oddly clueless; Changmin found it cute. “I meant to say that my boss called and desperately begged me to work the nightshift. No one else can come, so I agreed.”
“Does that mean…?”
Changmin nodded sadly. “Yeah, I have to go. I’m sorry hyung.”
Jaejoong quickly smiled to reassure the other but ended up blinding Changmin’s eyes with that gorgeous expression yet again. Changmin wondered if he could ever grow used to seeing Jaejoong’s beautiful smile without feeling like melted goo seconds afterward.
“That’s alright Minnie,” the angel purred in that delicate voice. “You don’t need to worry about apologizing since there is nothing to apologize for.”
Changmin felt his cheeks flush slightly. “I still feel like I should…we had plans for today and I’ve ruined them.”
“We never agreed on the entire day to be together,” Jaejoong corrected kindly. “How are you planning to get back in town though?”
Changmin gestured to the phone he was holding. “I can call someone to pick me up.”
“You know someone who will come this far?”
Changmin nodded. “I have a few connections.”
Jaejoong somehow didn’t seem pleased to hear that. Changmin ignored the different expression on that pale face and dialed a new number. He placed the phone to his ear and listened to the rings. After three buzzes, a familiar voice answered, “Hello?”
“Hey, Tablo,” Changmin greeted.
“Shim.”
The youngest couldn’t help the corner of his lips from twitching. “Don’t call me that Tablo, you know I hate it.”
“I know. It makes you sound old.”
“Then why call me that?”
“Because I can.”
Changmin hated his friend’s logic.
“What’s up Min?”
Grateful for the name change, Changmin answered, “I need a favor. More-so, a pick up and delivery.”
“I am not getting you any food, so don’t even think about asking.”
“It is not food,” Changmin growled though his stomach suddenly decide to emit a dull murmur. “It’s me you’d be picking up.”
“And delivering to the nearest restaurant? I don’t think so.”
“Tablo, I need a ride to the record shop. I need to work, so help me because I love you so much.”
“Oh the love, I can feel it pulsing through the waves coming through this receiver right now Min.”
Changmin’s lips twitched again.
“Alright, where are you?”
“East Gate.”
“All the way over there?”
“I’ll explain on the way.”
“No you won’t.”
“Exactly.”
There was a short pause in which Changmin heard Tablo releasing a breath. The guy was probably smoking. “What about Junsu? Is he there too?”
“No, Su is out with some friends today. It’s just me.”
“Address?”
Changmin gave it to him after asking Jaejoong.
“Be there in ten.”
And that was the end of that conversation. Changmin closed his phone and dropped it in his back pocket, glancing up to meet Jaejoong’s curious eyes. He was surprised when Jaejoong asked nothing about the ordeal. Instead, the angel smiled that blinding smile and asked, “Can I show you one magic trick before you go?”
Changmin couldn’t deny hearing the deep sadness in Jaejoong’s voice. He suddenly felt guilty for deciding to leave this perfect creature. “Sure…” he whispered.
Jaejoong happily led his soon-to-be gone guest back into the living room.
. : : . : : . : : .
The drive home was as silent as Junsu expected it to be. The redhead feigned to be asleep as he leaned against the inside of the car window, keeping his eyes tightly closed and lips perfectly shut. He didn’t know if Yunho suspected him to be asleep or not, but for the moment, Junsu was glad for the no-conversation.
His head jerked a bit from a few bumps in the road. Junsu guessed that they probably had reached the dirt road which led out into the beautiful forest which surrounded Yunho and Jaejoong’s home. This road went on for about ten minutes before Junsu felt the car turning and then slowing to a stop. Feeling his heart racing, Junsu willed himself into a calm state as Yunho turned off the engine. Seconds passed before the redhead felt a gentle grip upon his shoulder. “Junsu-ah,” Yunho spoke softly. “We’re back. Junsu-ah.”
Junsu feigned a yawn and somewhat cracked open his eyes. “Already?” he asked in what he hoped to be a tired voice. He stretched his arms and gave Yunho a small smile. Yunho said nothing, but opened his door and got out of the car. Nerves crawled up Junsu’s skin as he too got of the car to follow his host back inside the ancient-like house. He shivered from the cold of the night.
“We’re back,” Yunho announced as he stepped through the threshold of his own home. He held the door open as Junsu entered and closed it once the redhead was redhead was safely inside. The handsome man than locked it before slipping off his coat and taking off his shoes.
By the time Junsu had both his shoes off, Jaejoong was walking gracefully towards them, but there was an odd sadness in the way the angel moved. Yunho seemed to notice this first, for he asked, “What’s wrong Jae?”
The raven-haired angel smiled softly at his companion. “Minnie had to leave us early tonight.”
Junsu stared at Jaejoong with a puzzled expression. “Leave?” he repeated. “Where did he go?”
“Back into town,” Jaejoong answered. “Apparently, no one showed up for work tonight at your workplace Junsu, so Changmin had to go fill in. His friend, Tablo, came and picked him up only an hour ago.”
“Tablo came here?” Junsu asked, sounding astonished. “Wow, I wonder what Min bribed him with this time…”
“Is Tablo a close friend?” asked the angel.
Junsu shrugged. “I wouldn’t say close friend, not really an accomplice either. He’s just a friend.”
“Then Changmin isn’t coming back tonight?” Yunho asked Jaejoong who was leaning his delicate figure against the nearby wall. Those dark eyes were practically glistening with sadness.
Jaejoong shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”
Yunho directed his next statement to Junsu who was still crouching upon the floor where he was taking off his shoes. “You don’t have to stay the night if you do not want to Junsu. Without Changmin here, we can understand why.”
The redhead stared up at the handsome man, shivering from the intense gaze which seemed to be burning into his soul. He was suddenly reminded of the encounter with that man only a half hour ago, and the way Yunho’s steely gaze seemed to harden completely when he was staring at that person by the tree. Junsu had never seen such a deadly look in a man’s eyes before. It was almost inhumane.
“I…will stay,” the redhead answered softly once he straightened out his thoughts. “But, I’d have to leave early in the morning. I want to make sure Changmin got home safely.”
“Your care for your friend will never fail to amaze me Junsu,” Jaejoong commented as he crouched beside the redhead. He wrapped a delicate arm around Junsu’s small frame. “We’ll make sure to take you home tomorrow morning. Not before you have breakfast though.”
“Eh?” Junsu muttered.
“Jae will not let anyone leave this house without a proper meal in their stomachs,” Yunho explained shortly.
“And breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” the angel pointed out with much delight.
Junsu couldn’t help the smile from splitting across his face. His body tingled with warmth and comfort from this person beside him, and even the one standing above him. He felt oddly safe yet not completely. There was the safety of his two new friends and their home, but Junsu couldn’t help but feel not complete.
It was as if there was another place, another house, and another person’s arms which he would only feel entirely protected within.
next: part 6
...................................comments are like valuable hockey pucks!
Pairings: Junsu/Yoochun, Changmin/Jaejoong/Yunho
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Somewhat vulgar language, weak graphic images
Genre: Romance, angst, science-fiction-ish
A/N: Sorry for the lateness! I had hockey tournaments and exams to study for, so I was busy.
Summary: One trip to the Old Forest sends Junsu and Changmin into another world full of mistakened myths and new realizations. A vampire's goal in life is to live for eternity and feed from the warmth of a human. If that is so, what is a werewolf's goal?
Previous: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
. : : . : : . : : .
Junsu was still unsure of how he was going to get away from Yunho, so the redhead settled with walking the park along with the taller man. There was this odd feeling though as they traveled through the park. Junsu didn’t feel as casual and comfortable as he would’ve liked. The entire time it felt like he was being watched and Yunho was practically a steel cage. There was a hard, firm expression on his face that didn’t seem to be disappearing anytime soon.
Junsu wanted to lighten up the atmosphere, but failed to do so. He felt so watched and nerves shook his body.
“Junsu-ah, are you cold?” asked Yunho, noticing that his companion was shivering.
Junsu shook his head, giving Yunho a half smile. “I’m fine. Is there anything we can do in this park? Last time I was here the festival was too and I didn’t really look around.”
“There’s not much,” said Yunho. “It is your usual park.”
Junsu nodded and they lost conversation. The redhead knew then and there that it would be impossible to escape from Yunho’s sight and go looking for that man. Junsu desperately wanted to see him though…
“Yunho-hyung, do you know if there are restrooms nearby?”
Yunho stopped walking. “We’ve passed them already.”
“Oh, w-well could you show me where they are?” Now Junsu’s nerves were doubling.
The handsome man beside him pointed to a small building back near the playground. “That brick building there. I’ll walk with you.”
“O-okay,” Junsu stuttered as they turned around and retraced their steps. When they reached the building three minutes later, Yunho stopped near a bench and said he would wait for the redhead here. Junsu nodded and entered the restroom.
Now that he was inside, he began to formulate a plan. The nerves were literally biting at him. Something in his mind was screaming at him to not go through with whatever plan he made up, but determination got the better of him. Junsu began to look around for another entrance in the small bathroom. Luckily, it didn’t take him long, for there was an old red door on the other side of the room. Junsu hoped it was unlocked. He stepped up and pulled the handle.
It opened. Junsu grinned with glee and slipped outside. The wind chilled his face immediately, but he ignored it. After taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, he began to walk towards the east side of the park, scouting for that tall, old tree which he had seen the man standing under. Those dark, cold eyes were ever-piercing his mind. Junsu inwardly shivered and walked on. His eyes looked behind him to see if Yunho was anywhere; he wasn’t. The redhead broke into a run up and over a hill until the brick building was no longer in sight.
He let out a sigh of relief. Step 1 was complete so now Junsu began Step 2: find that man.
Junsu doubted he would find him since it was already hours after he happened to see the intriguing person in the park on the way to Yunho and Jaejoong’s house. Still, that wouldn’t stop Junsu. Changmin would call his never-ending determination his stubbornness, but Junsu thought of it as his strength. He didn’t like to give up, even if it was on the smallest of things.
The redhead walked along a path that led near the road. There was a wooden fence which outlined the entire front of the park before the sidewalk and black pavement. The path Junsu was on paralled the fence. He passed by trees and other park visitors, dogs and even a cat on a leash. Junsu watched as the little girl walking the cat also held another cat in her arms. The white animal was bundled behind the inside of the girl’s jacket. The sight was cute and Junsu couldn’t help but smile.
Then his eyes looked behind the girl and there, to his utter shock and surprise, was the man from two weeks ago, leaning against that same old tree and staring at Junsu with those dark, piercing cold eyes.
Junsu gulped. His body didn’t explode with relief like he thought it would. Instead, his body filled with fear and awkwardness. He was still somewhat shocked that he had so easily found this person, but now that he has found the other, he didn’t know how to approach him, nonetheless talk to him. What would he say? Why was he looking for the guy in the first place? Why was he so damn curious?
But the man was staring at him, no, glaring at him. Junsu shivered because of the look. It was as if the man was daring Junsu to come closer.
Junsu had his stubborn determination though. He thought of one question he could ask this person and with one answer the redhead would probably feel more relieved than he has in years. All he wanted was a name. With eyes and body facing his target, Junsu took one step forward-
“Junsu!”
-and stopped the moment his foot touched the ground. Fear and surprise gripped his once-again racing heart, and he turned around to see the ever-handsome Yunho standing before him, arms crossed over his chest and black eyes fixed on the shorter man. Though as handsome as he was, Junsu could only feel the icy gaze which Yunho locked his soul with and unconscious shivers rippled throughout his body. He has shivered so much the past few days he was surprised he hasn’t shattered yet.
“What’re you doing here?” came the clear, smooth question from those tight lips.
Junsu didn’t even know if he could formulate a lie in five seconds. He watched Yunho’s gaze piercing into him and felt all his strength dissolve into nothing. What would he say? What was he going to do? What did Yunho think he was doing? Hell, what the heck was he thinking in the first place, ditching Yunho like that?!
Yunho’s patience was surprisingly firm. Junsu knew that Changmin would’ve exploded by now with accusations and questions, and so the redhead silently thanked whatever god for this person before him. Patience was truly a gift.
“I…” Junsu began, his voice a mere squeak. “I…I was l-look-looking for you!”
A single, thin brown eyebrow tilted upwards on that handsome face. “Looking for me?” he repeated carefully.
Junsu nodded, suddenly overjoyed that Yunho might actually believe this blunt lie. “Y-yeah! When I walked out of the restrooms back there, I couldn’t find you! A-and so I went looking for you but now I don’t have to anymore cause you found me!”
There was a seven second pause in which Yunho seemed to calculate Junsu’s response as the redhead fidgeted where he stood. Silently, he wondered if that man could see the both of them. Oddly, the thought scared him to death.
“You went out the backdoor,” Yunho finally spoke up after the short silence. Junsu stared at him with fake curiosity. “In the restrooms there are two doors and you went out the wrong one-the backdoor. That’s why you couldn’t find me and I couldn’t find you.”
“O-oh!” Junsu exclaimed, his eyes wide with fake surprise. “I guess I’m really forgetful, huh? I didn’t even realize there were two doors…”
Yunho’s piercing gaze didn’t ease up. When Junsu glanced back up to meet those clear, dark eyes, their gaze had shifted to behind the redhead. Junsu suddenly noticed how those black eyes became even darker, almost as dark as coal, and narrowed to thin slits. Yunho’s face tightened with an expression of hate and distaste that sent an icy chill throughout Junsu’s body. His heart clenched when he realized what Yunho could possibly be looking at. Slowly, he turned to look back towards that old tree.
There stood that man. His long arm rested against the trunk of the tree and above his head. As he leaned against the support, his head tilted down and gave his dark eyes a fierce shadow from above. Junsu could not look away. The man just stared at him as if he was the most threatening piece of flesh within the entire world. It was a stare that Junsu could not get enough of.
Suddenly, there was a firm hand on his shoulder and Yunho’s voice whispered behind him, “Let’s get back home. It’s almost sunset. The others will be worried.”
Though Junsu recalled Yunho writing a note to Jaejoong and Changmin not to worry, the redhead still agreed. With a sudden sadness, he wretched his eyes away from those dark orbs, away from that tree, and away from that person. Yunho took back his hand, but as Junsu began to walk towards the park entrance, his toned, steely body shielded the shorter man the entire way.
. : : . : : . : : .
There were snarls ripping around him. The light was gone from the world and all he could see under the dull glow of the moon were shadows of trees. He heard the heavy padding upon the earth, the crunching of dead leaves, the snapping of scattered twigs. He could sense hungry eyes upon his body, watching his every move or shiver or tremble. Loud, crackling sounds came from the back of the creatures’ throats.
Changmin was afraid.
No, he was terrified. He could only stand and feel the entire situation develop around him. He could see, hear, even smell, but could not move. He was paralyzed.
The creatures were creeping closer to him. Their huge, hunched backs of spiked fur glowed under the fading moonlight, and long teeth glistened with vast amounts of their saliva. Some of the bubbling moist dripped to the black earth below.
One stepped closer than the others. Changmin cringed, but did not move back; there were creatures behind him now as well. He was immured in a circle of starving creatures and there was no way out.
The final straw was when a large, demonic beast lunged forward, jaws wide with razor sharp teeth shining under the moonlight and large paws outstretched to grip its prey. The scream didn’t leave Changmin’s mouth until he was suddenly sitting up in the dull light of a familiar room. His eyes scanned the area as his lungs tried to breathe properly and heart attempted to stop racing behind the cage of his ribs.
“Changmin?”
The young man turned so fast that he fell backwards and onto the floor. His eye locked onto those of Jaejoong’s who was staring at him with alarming worry. Changmin’s body shook unconsciously as he sat up once again. “Jaejoong…” his voice was hoarse and that seemed to worry Jaejoong even more, but still the latter didn’t move from his seat on the couch. His dark eyes stared at Changmin hesitantly while he kept his body immensely still.
“It’s okay,” Jaejoong finally said, in a hushed whisper of a purr. “You only had a bad dream, I won’t hurt you. Please don’t be afraid of me.”
‘I’m not!’ Changmin wanted to say but nothing came from his mouth. He looked away from Jaejoong and stared at the wooden floor. The snarls were still echoing in his ears, the smell of their rotten flesh filled his noise, the deadly claws glistening beneath heavy paws…everything seemed so real.
“Changmin?” Jaejoong finally moved as he slid from the couch and onto the floor in front of Changmin, crouching down to the youngest’s level. Carefully, the angel reached out with his arms and pulled the other into his strong embrace. “Please don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you,” he repeated soothingly.
“I know…” Changmin forced out between his clenched teeth. He already felt safe in Jaejoong’s arms, but the dream was so vivid and real that the younger man was practically clutching at the angel holding him. “I-I’m fine, just give me a second.”
“All the time you need,” Jaejoong whispered with a comforting smile. Changmin let out shaky breaths until he slowly regained his composure. He pulled away from Jaejoong and ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair, glancing at the angel hesitantly. Heat flushed his cheeks. He shouldn’t be letting this nightmare embarrass him in front of someone so perfect like Jaejoong. "I must look like an idiot, huh?” Changmin mumbled. “Getting scared over such stupid dreams…”
Jaejoong shook his head firmly. “No. You look like someone who had a bad dream and still feels like it was real. That’s normal.”
“Well,” Changmin huffed lightly. “I’m not exactly normal.”
“In the food department maybe, but I have yet to learn more about you.”
The smile sent those familiar shivers and tendrils of warmth throughout Changmin’s body. He wondered idly if he could just fall back into those arms and sleep there forever; Jaejoong never seemed to mind holding him.
Changmin noticed Jaejoong glancing around the room. “What’s up?” the younger of the two asked, hoping to change the subject.
A frown crossed that beautiful face. “Yunho and Junsu aren’t here.”
Changmin tilted his head in confusion before he too looked around for any sign of his friend or that unbelievably handsome man. Jaejoong got to his feet beside him and Changmin followed suit. He followed the angel into the kitchen.
“There’s a note,” Jaejoong whispered before lifting up the frail piece of paper from the wooden table. Changmin watched as those dark eyes flew from side to side, reading the perfectly printed words within five seconds. “They went out,” he stated plainly.
“Out?” Changmin questioned.
“The park.”
“In East Gate?”
“Where else?”
Changmin stared at Jaejoong oddly. “The one we passed on the way here?”
The angel nodded, looking at Changmin with a curious expression.
‘Junsu went there?’ Changmin thought. ‘After what happened in the forest…why would he go-it doesn’t make sense!’
“Is something wrong Changmin?” Jaejoong asked tentatively.
“Eh?” the youngest blurted out before he could think. “Oh, no, but does the note say when they’ll be back?”
“I’d say less than an hour. Yunho is not really an outsy person, but he’ll never admit that to anyone. In the mean time, what do you want to do?”
Changmin shrugged somewhat. “It doesn’t matter.” At the moment, his mind was racking with questions and theories about why Junsu would go to the park. Did Yunho drag him there? No, Jaejoong just said he wasn’t like that. That meant it was Junsu’s idea.
The youngest jumped when he felt a warm hand upon his cheek. His eyes locked with those familiar dark ones as Jaejoong continue to gaze at him with curiosity. “What are you thinking?” he asked in that velvety, sweet voice. It was downright sinful.
Changmin was terribly weak under that gaze, but he surprised himself when he asked, “What do you know about vampires?”
The question seemed to shoot right through Jaejoong’s soul. Changmin felt the angel’s body go inhumanly stiff and eyes harden with an icy glow. For some reason, Changmin felt guilty for saying anything in the first place. He didn’t mean for the question to be so direct. He didn’t even know why he asked in the first place.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jaejoong asked in a cautious whisper, “Why do you want to know about vampires?”
“…I, uh…” Changmin felt like an idiot. Maybe he should just go drown himself in the sink or get eaten by the dishwasher. “I-I was researching about old myths for a school project,” he slowly explained. “There was this book I read that made it seem like vampires actually exist. I learned about their ways of survival, how they hide, what they eat-”
“But why ask me, Changmin?” Jaejoong interrupted in a dangerously sweet voice.
Changmin shivered, but continued nervously. “I-I’m not sure, I just thought you’d be interested in this kind of stuff. You live in such an old house and it felt so…I don’t know…full of secrets? Gah, I must really sound like an idiot now…”
“Don’t say that,” Jaejoong surprisingly chuckled. “You’re curiosity is not your stupidity. I find your interests very cute.”
Heat flushed the youngest's cheeks again. “Cute?” he squeaked. “I’ve never been called cute before…”
Jaejoong smiled. Changmin kept his knees straight as warm tendrils racked his body. “Are you embarrassed?” asked the angel.
“Kind-of-”
“Then I’ll gladly keep calling you cute, Minnie.”
“Why would yo-did you just call me Minnie?”
Jaejoong nodded happily. “May I call you that?”
The heat was practically burning Changmin’s cheeks. “S-sure, I guess…”
“Great!” Jaejoong exclaimed. “My first nickname for you!”
Changmin turned his head as he watched Jaejoong practically skip out of the kitchen. “But hyung already gave that nickname to me when I was seven…” he whispered to himself. He let out a short breath. “Oh well. It’s better when Jaejoong says it.”
“Minnie, let’s play cards!” came the angel’s voice from the living room.
Changmin’s cheeks continued to flush with heat. That sounded too cute! “Okay!” he called back before making his way into the living room. He was about to enter when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Stopping, Changmin pulled the device out and answered, “Hello?”
The man on the other end seemed to give a sigh of relief. “Changmin-ah, thank goodness you answered. I was beginning to lose hope!”
“Hyung,” Changmin recognized his boss’ voice. “What is it?”
“Jungmin-ah who was supposed to work tonight has called in sick as did our new worker, Takuya. Can you and Junsu take over the nightshift?”
“Eh?” Changmin wasn’t prepared for that question. “Tonight?”
“Of course Changmin-ah, tonight!”
Changmin turned his head to peer down the hallway that led to the room where Jaejoong resided. He suddenly felt torn between this undeniable longing and never-ending stubbornness to help others. The stubbornness rarely comes, but today, Changmin felt it. He bit his lip in irritation and sighed heavily, “Are you sure there is no one else, hyung?”
The boss confirmed there were none.
Changmin rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling tired but told his boss that he would cover the nightshift. He explained that Junsu was out for the day and wouldn’t be back until the morning. His boss eagerly agreed and then hung up, leaving Changmin with a new schedule for the night.
“Geez,” the youngest murmured, annoyed with himself for accepting the last-minute job. “And I thought Junsu was more gullible than me…”
“Minnie, aren’t we going to play cards?” asked Jaejoong as he drifted elegantly into the kitchen. He noticed the change in Changmin’s composure and stopped near the youngest. “What’s wrong?” he inquired.
Changmin met Jaejoong’s dark eyes and attempted an apologetic smile. “Last-minute emergency. My boss just called and apparently the shop needs a rescue.”
Jaejoong appeared oddly clueless; Changmin found it cute. “I meant to say that my boss called and desperately begged me to work the nightshift. No one else can come, so I agreed.”
“Does that mean…?”
Changmin nodded sadly. “Yeah, I have to go. I’m sorry hyung.”
Jaejoong quickly smiled to reassure the other but ended up blinding Changmin’s eyes with that gorgeous expression yet again. Changmin wondered if he could ever grow used to seeing Jaejoong’s beautiful smile without feeling like melted goo seconds afterward.
“That’s alright Minnie,” the angel purred in that delicate voice. “You don’t need to worry about apologizing since there is nothing to apologize for.”
Changmin felt his cheeks flush slightly. “I still feel like I should…we had plans for today and I’ve ruined them.”
“We never agreed on the entire day to be together,” Jaejoong corrected kindly. “How are you planning to get back in town though?”
Changmin gestured to the phone he was holding. “I can call someone to pick me up.”
“You know someone who will come this far?”
Changmin nodded. “I have a few connections.”
Jaejoong somehow didn’t seem pleased to hear that. Changmin ignored the different expression on that pale face and dialed a new number. He placed the phone to his ear and listened to the rings. After three buzzes, a familiar voice answered, “Hello?”
“Hey, Tablo,” Changmin greeted.
“Shim.”
The youngest couldn’t help the corner of his lips from twitching. “Don’t call me that Tablo, you know I hate it.”
“I know. It makes you sound old.”
“Then why call me that?”
“Because I can.”
Changmin hated his friend’s logic.
“What’s up Min?”
Grateful for the name change, Changmin answered, “I need a favor. More-so, a pick up and delivery.”
“I am not getting you any food, so don’t even think about asking.”
“It is not food,” Changmin growled though his stomach suddenly decide to emit a dull murmur. “It’s me you’d be picking up.”
“And delivering to the nearest restaurant? I don’t think so.”
“Tablo, I need a ride to the record shop. I need to work, so help me because I love you so much.”
“Oh the love, I can feel it pulsing through the waves coming through this receiver right now Min.”
Changmin’s lips twitched again.
“Alright, where are you?”
“East Gate.”
“All the way over there?”
“I’ll explain on the way.”
“No you won’t.”
“Exactly.”
There was a short pause in which Changmin heard Tablo releasing a breath. The guy was probably smoking. “What about Junsu? Is he there too?”
“No, Su is out with some friends today. It’s just me.”
“Address?”
Changmin gave it to him after asking Jaejoong.
“Be there in ten.”
And that was the end of that conversation. Changmin closed his phone and dropped it in his back pocket, glancing up to meet Jaejoong’s curious eyes. He was surprised when Jaejoong asked nothing about the ordeal. Instead, the angel smiled that blinding smile and asked, “Can I show you one magic trick before you go?”
Changmin couldn’t deny hearing the deep sadness in Jaejoong’s voice. He suddenly felt guilty for deciding to leave this perfect creature. “Sure…” he whispered.
Jaejoong happily led his soon-to-be gone guest back into the living room.
. : : . : : . : : .
The drive home was as silent as Junsu expected it to be. The redhead feigned to be asleep as he leaned against the inside of the car window, keeping his eyes tightly closed and lips perfectly shut. He didn’t know if Yunho suspected him to be asleep or not, but for the moment, Junsu was glad for the no-conversation.
His head jerked a bit from a few bumps in the road. Junsu guessed that they probably had reached the dirt road which led out into the beautiful forest which surrounded Yunho and Jaejoong’s home. This road went on for about ten minutes before Junsu felt the car turning and then slowing to a stop. Feeling his heart racing, Junsu willed himself into a calm state as Yunho turned off the engine. Seconds passed before the redhead felt a gentle grip upon his shoulder. “Junsu-ah,” Yunho spoke softly. “We’re back. Junsu-ah.”
Junsu feigned a yawn and somewhat cracked open his eyes. “Already?” he asked in what he hoped to be a tired voice. He stretched his arms and gave Yunho a small smile. Yunho said nothing, but opened his door and got out of the car. Nerves crawled up Junsu’s skin as he too got of the car to follow his host back inside the ancient-like house. He shivered from the cold of the night.
“We’re back,” Yunho announced as he stepped through the threshold of his own home. He held the door open as Junsu entered and closed it once the redhead was redhead was safely inside. The handsome man than locked it before slipping off his coat and taking off his shoes.
By the time Junsu had both his shoes off, Jaejoong was walking gracefully towards them, but there was an odd sadness in the way the angel moved. Yunho seemed to notice this first, for he asked, “What’s wrong Jae?”
The raven-haired angel smiled softly at his companion. “Minnie had to leave us early tonight.”
Junsu stared at Jaejoong with a puzzled expression. “Leave?” he repeated. “Where did he go?”
“Back into town,” Jaejoong answered. “Apparently, no one showed up for work tonight at your workplace Junsu, so Changmin had to go fill in. His friend, Tablo, came and picked him up only an hour ago.”
“Tablo came here?” Junsu asked, sounding astonished. “Wow, I wonder what Min bribed him with this time…”
“Is Tablo a close friend?” asked the angel.
Junsu shrugged. “I wouldn’t say close friend, not really an accomplice either. He’s just a friend.”
“Then Changmin isn’t coming back tonight?” Yunho asked Jaejoong who was leaning his delicate figure against the nearby wall. Those dark eyes were practically glistening with sadness.
Jaejoong shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”
Yunho directed his next statement to Junsu who was still crouching upon the floor where he was taking off his shoes. “You don’t have to stay the night if you do not want to Junsu. Without Changmin here, we can understand why.”
The redhead stared up at the handsome man, shivering from the intense gaze which seemed to be burning into his soul. He was suddenly reminded of the encounter with that man only a half hour ago, and the way Yunho’s steely gaze seemed to harden completely when he was staring at that person by the tree. Junsu had never seen such a deadly look in a man’s eyes before. It was almost inhumane.
“I…will stay,” the redhead answered softly once he straightened out his thoughts. “But, I’d have to leave early in the morning. I want to make sure Changmin got home safely.”
“Your care for your friend will never fail to amaze me Junsu,” Jaejoong commented as he crouched beside the redhead. He wrapped a delicate arm around Junsu’s small frame. “We’ll make sure to take you home tomorrow morning. Not before you have breakfast though.”
“Eh?” Junsu muttered.
“Jae will not let anyone leave this house without a proper meal in their stomachs,” Yunho explained shortly.
“And breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” the angel pointed out with much delight.
Junsu couldn’t help the smile from splitting across his face. His body tingled with warmth and comfort from this person beside him, and even the one standing above him. He felt oddly safe yet not completely. There was the safety of his two new friends and their home, but Junsu couldn’t help but feel not complete.
It was as if there was another place, another house, and another person’s arms which he would only feel entirely protected within.
next: part 6
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