Shattered

[his_angel16]

Title: Shattered (1/?)
Author: his_angel16
Pairing: BangLo, DaeJae, HimUp
Genre: Angst, Comedy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What happens when you run out of hope; out of things to wish for? Where do you go when the world turns its back on you and you can't stand on your own? For six strangers, all they have left is each other.



Bang Yongguk arrived at his destination, bag slung over his shoulder as he pulled the suitcase behind him. He looked up at the house, groaning at the appearance. When he heard of the place, he assumed it would look bad, but he wasn't expecting this. Half of the siding was warped and hanging off of the house; the railing by the stairs was pulled off and lying in the yard; and a few of the windows had been busted out, leaving insects and other vermin to come and go as they pleased. He looked over at the other houses, frowning at seeing the closest ones were a couple lots away on all sides. The only standing parts of the fence lined the lots around this house, making for a decent yard.
“What yard?” Yongguk scoffed, rolling his eyes at all the dirt spots littering what would have been grass if it was taken care of. He walked up the stairs, floorboards of the porch creaking under his weight. He pushed open the door, coughing as dust floated through the air. “When was this last lived in?” He cautiously stepped inside, a note taped on the far wall catching his eye. He walked a little closer, scoffing again.

Dear residents,
You six will be living here from now on. Since society thinks you're not much more than trash, I figured it would suit you well. Clean it up or burn it down, this house is yours. There's only four rooms, so choose who has to share and play nice. ^^
-Judge Choi

Shaking his head, Yongguk went to locate which room he'd claim to himself. He headed upstairs, finding a spiderweb clinging to the wall and railing. Instead of walking through it, he turned around, searching for a room on the ground floor. He smirked, entering the room. Brushing the dust off the old desk, he placed his bag on it, letting his suitcase lean against the wall. “This room is mine.” He looked over the walls, wondering what would look good hanging on it's walls. He was definitely going to repaint it. And the carpet, he would rip up since it was torn and burned in several spots. Hearing the front door creak, he exited his room, finding two more people right inside the door.
  The one looked about his age, the other was a few years younger. They both looked appalled at the appearance of the house, both looking around with shocked eyes. Hearing Yongguk chuckle, they both looked over at him. They exchanged a look between the two of them before the elder of the two opened his mouth to speak. After nothing was voiced, he closed his mouth, frowning at himself. The younger of the two took a shy step forward, hands trembling from being nervous.
  “H-hi,” he stuttered, a light blush creeping across his face. “I'm Moon Jongup.”
  Smirking, Yongguk walked closer to them, the elder of the two freezing up completely. He paid him no attention as he looked Jongup over, smiling widely at the way the younger fidgeted. “Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked, chuckling. “Good. It would be wise to keep your distance. No one knows when I might snap again.” He laughed before turning to go back into his room, leaving the two newcomers to process his words.
  Jongup looked over, tears making his eyes shine. “Himchan, hyung, he wouldn't really do anything to us, would he?” When he was met with silence, he felt a tear slip down his cheek. “I shouldn't have come here. I should have just taken jail time.”
  Himchan patted his shoulder. “It'll be okay, Jongup. People claim that he wasn't even the one who killed the guy.” He offered the younger a small smile. “Why don't we go find our rooms?” Jongup nodded, taking Himchan's hand as they walked upstairs.
  Outside, Daehyun walked up to the house, staring at the front door for a moment before starting for it. Hearing someone scream, he stopped, heart hammering in his chest before he rushed up the stairs and into the house. He stopped, panting a little at seeing two people on the stairs. The younger of the two was sitting on the landing, tears running down his face. The older of the two stood still, staring up to the second floor. Taking a few cautious steps forward, Daehyun let his bag slide to the floor. He walked up the stairs, following the elder's eyes. There was someone on the floor, unconscious and barely breathing. Eyes widening, Daehyun ran forward, dropping beside the body and checking for a pulse.
  “Hey,” he said, shaking the person lightly. Their head rolled to the side. Staring down at a boy younger than him, Daehyun tried shaking him again. “Hey, can you hear me?” When he still gained no response, he looked over his shoulder. “Call for an ambulance.”
  Himchan nodded, running downstairs. He swallowed before walking to Yongguk's room. Knocking on the open door, Himchan waited for the other to look up from his things. “Do you have a phone? Mine has been dead for a while and there's a kid unconscious upstairs. I think he's someone we're supposed to live with.”
  Yongguk stood up, flinging his phone at Himchan before leaving his room. He went upstairs, eyebrows pulled together as he saw Jongup sitting there like a statue. Rolling his eyes, he turned, halting instantly at seeing who was lying there unresponsive. He felt his heart thudding dully in his chest. Himchan returned, shoving his phone back into his hand before moving to be with the new kid who was still trying to get a response. Tearing his eyes away from the boy lying unconscious on the floor, he hurried back downstairs, going out the open door to find another kid standing there, unsure of what to do. The kid bowed politely, his nerves obviously getting the better of him, too.
  “Hello! I’m Yoo Youngjae. Are you one of the residents here?” he asked.
  Nodding, Yongguk pointed over his shoulder to the house. “All of the others are inside. They found a kid passed out upstairs. They phoned for an ambulance,” he replied. As if on cue, sirens approached, growing loud as they turned onto the street. The paramedics stopped in front of the house, jumping out and hurrying inside. Yongguk stood to follow them in, curiosity getting the better of him. Youngjae followed silently after him, biting his lip the entire way.
  Himchan pulled Daehyun aside to let the paramedics through, Jongup having disappeared from the stairs long ago to linger somewhere downstairs. Daehyun watched the paramedics work, uncertainty written all over his face. He straightened up when one of the paramedics turned to speak with him.
  “He's really dehydrated,” the man stated. “We're giving him fluids, but make sure he keeps up with them.” He peered around their house, the situation dawning on him. “You're that group of kids Judge Choi was talking about in his interview, aren’t you? The ones that need another chance?” Daehyun simply nodded, shock rolling through him when the paramedic smiled at him. “I wish you all the best of luck.”
  Daehyun returned the smile. “Thanks.” He waited patiently for the boy to become responsive again, amiably chatting with the paramedics as Himchan slipped downstairs to check on Jongup.
  “Jongup?” Himchan called, frowning when he didn’t receive and answer. “Jongup, where are you?”
  “He went out back,” Yongguk answered. He snickered when Himchan jumped at how close he was standing. “The new kid, Youngjae, went out to keep him company.”
  Himchan backed up, trying not to show how intimidated he was by this man. He regained his composure after a second and he cleared his throat. “Thanks. I’m going out there, too.”
  Himchan waited until he was in the kitchen before he freaked out. It was a rather silent breakdown, but it was a breakdown nonetheless. He shook his head, collecting himself before he exited through the back door. He found Jongup sitting against the solitary tree in the yard with who he assumed was Youngjae rubbing his back. Approaching the two, he frowned at seeing Jongup trembling. He waved a silent greeting to Youngjae before sitting down next to Jongup, the younger practically diving into his arms.
  “Hyung, that kid,” Jongup began, a small sob choking off his words. He buried his face against the elder's chest, clinging tightly to his shirt.
  “He's going to be okay,” Himchan assured him, hugging him. “The paramedics say he was really dehydrated, but he should be fine.” He looked at Youngjae, smiling a little. “I'm Himchan. Nice to meet you.”
  Youngjae returned the smile, nodding his head. “I'm Youngjae.” He nodded to the house, expression turning sour. “Is that really who I think it is? That Bang Yongguk?”
  Frowning, Himchan nodded. “Yeah, that's him. He was recently released from prison. I don't feel too comfortable sharing a house with him, but we don't have a choice. Everyone in this house has made a deal of some sort with Judge Choi.”
  Inside, Yongguk leaned against the wall as he waited for the paramedics to leave. They had gotten the kid upstairs to respond although he was rather embarrassed to find out he had passed out due to dehydration. He had gotten to the house the night before and with it being the middle of summer, he dehydrated quickly. He was sitting upstairs, talking with Daehyun. Pushing off the wall, he ascended the stairs, arms crossed over his chest. When he reached the top step, the boy looked up at him, recognition dawning instantly.
  “Jepp? Jepp Blackman?” the kid asked, eyes as wide as saucers. “W-what are you doing here?”
  “First, don't call me that,” Yongguk stated. “Second, I live here now. Third, what the hell are you doing passed out in my house, Zelo?”
  Smiling, the kid shook his head. “My name isn't Zelo. It's Junhong. Just Junhong.” He smiled again, looking up at Yongguk. “And from now on, I’m supposed to live here, too.”
  Yongguk stared at him, arms falling to his sides. “You're shitting me, right?” When Junhong shook his head, Yongguk turned, pulling his arm back before snapping it forward. His fist went through the wall, plaster raining down from inside the wall. “Fuck!” He turned cold eyes toward Junhong as he removed his hand, voice low, menacing. “Don't expect me to treat you like I used to. As far as I’m concerned, Jepp Blackman is dead.”
  He turned away, stomping down the stairs. He entered the kitchen, walking over to the sink and turning on the faucet. He was relieved to find that they had water in their dump of a home. Shoving his hand under the spray, he hissed under his breath as it made contact. The water turned a little red, the blood running from his knuckles. Himchan walked through the back door, Youngjae and Jongup following him. He gave Yongguk one look before he rolled his eyes.
  “Boys, go upstairs and figure out which rooms you want. I don't mind sharing with anyone, but go choose. I need to talk to him for a second.” Himchan waited for them to leave before he went to Yongguk's side, clucking at him in disapproval. “What'd you punch?”
  Yongguk wasn't paying much attention, eyebrows pulled together as he inspected his hand. “The wall upstairs. When I go to the department store, I'll get some drywall to fix it.” He looked over, startled to see it was Himchan he was speaking to. “Why are you asking me questions?”
  Rolling his eyes, Himchan leaned against the counter. “Because, Bang Yongguk, you and I were once friends. Believe it or not, I’m that traditional music dork from high school.”
  Yongguk frowned, turning away. “I don't know who you're talking about. Besides, I don't really remember anything before prison. I left all of it behind me when I pled guilty.” Turning off the water, Yongguk wiped his hand on his jeans. “I'm going to the store after I make a list. Walk around the house and see what you can find that needs fixed.”
  Leaving Himchan in the kitchen, Yongguk walked out front, making a mental note of the siding, the railing, the porch. These things could come later, he decided, heading back inside. The first thing they all needed to do was clean. He made a list on his hand of cleaning supplies, a broom, a mop, some toiletries for all of them. He looked up as Himchan came down with Jongup, the younger eyeing him carefully. He turned back to his hand, recounting everything he knew they needed.
  “We're going to need something to sleep on,” Himchan stated. “There aren’t any bed here. And a more important question is how are we going to get everything we need?”
  Yongguk looked at him, scribbling sleeping bags and pillows on his arm. “I got paid for that murder. My bank account is rolling with cash.” Seeing Himchan pale and Jongup tense up, he snorted. “Relax, guys. I didn’t really kill that man. I was covering for someone. He's the one who paid me. Not only for taking the heat for his screw-up, but as compensation. It destroyed my reputation, as you all know.” He turned to leave, stopping when he saw Junhong standing there.
  “I'm going with you,” Junhong stated, locking gazes with Yongguk. “I want to know who you really are. If you aren’t Jepp Blackman, then who are you? I want to know.”
  “No,” Yongguk spat. He turned just as Daehyun came downstairs and he pointed at him. “You, are you strong enough to lift really heavy things? I’m going shopping for our shit for tonight.”
  Daehyun shook his head. “Not really. I'm not an overly athletic person.” Yongguk walked over to him, grabbing his arm and gauging the size of his bicep. Daehyun jerked away, eyes sharp. “You don't need to put your hands on me. I like my personal space.”
  Yongguk smirked. “There's the Jung Daehyun I heard about while in prison.”
  Himchan frowned. “What do you mean by that, Yongguk?”
  “Little Busan boy here did some time, too. He didn’t confess to murder, but he definitely was in some hot water.”
  “Great. So we're living with not one, but two ex-cons?” Youngjae asked, frowning. “I can't believe Judge Choi is making us live with them.”
  Daehyun glared at Youngjae, making him back up a few paces. “I'm not an ex-convict. What I did was child's play to what Bang did.” He looked at Yongguk, eyes still fierce. “Let's go before I lose my head. Anger management isn't one of my strong suits.” He followed Yongguk outside, the elder barely matching his pace.
  “Hey, will you slow down? It's not like we're running or anything.” He placed a hand on Daehyun's shoulder, forcing him to stop. “Look, kid, we've both made our choices. I don't know what the hell you did, but it's the past. There isn't a reason to bring it up, so don't do it anymore. And don't let anyone treat you like shit just for having a record.”
  Daehyun looked up at him, tears in his eyes, threatening to spill over. “I was one of the best swindlers in Busan. Every cent I earned, it went straight to my hyung's medical bills. I just got caught and when I was in jail, he died.” Blinking, he turned away, brushing the tears away before looking back at Yongguk. “Come on. Let's get what we need and be done for the night. I just want to sleep.”
  Yongguk nodded, walking in silence with him to an ATM so he could withdraw some money. Pocketing the cash, they turned and headed for the store. Many passersby gawked at them, Yongguk grinding his teeth together to keep from saying anything. Once, a kid even threw a pebble at him and he frowned, looking at her with sad eyes. He bowed to her parents before going on his way, Daehyun keeping quiet beside him. Reaching the store, Yongguk walked in boldly, head held high as Daehyun walked a little ways back. He heard what people whispered about Yongguk, glaring at the tiles instead of snapping a response at them. He hurried his steps to catch up with Yongguk.
  “Hey, how are you not retaliating to what people are saying?” he whispered, his annoyance clear in his voice.
  Yongguk shrugged, pushing a cart to the aisle they needed before dumping cleaning supplies into it. “I don't pay attention to any of them. They've never known me for anything other than a convict. You get used to people talking about you when you've been in prison for murdering a judge's brother.”
  Daehyun stopped short, looking at him with wide eyes. “You killed a judge's brother?”
  “More or less.” He looked at his hand, pushing the cart to the next aisle they needed. He inwardly grimaced when the few customers fled. Sighing, he loaded six differently colored sleeping bags into the cart. He looked at Daehyun, the younger still eyeing him warily. “Look, I didn’t kill the man. Someone else did and I confessed to it.”
  “Why would you do that?” Daehyun followed behind him as they went to the grocery section, piling in random food. He placed three gallons of tea inside before placing several packets of ramen in it. “Who did you cover for?”
  “My boyfriend,” Yongguk deadpanned. He set a case of beer inside, turning to push the cart to another aisle when he suddenly stopped, entire body tensing. Daehyun followed his gaze, eyes falling upon a man with his girlfriend. Yongguk gripped the handle of the cart so tightly, his knuckles went white.
  Sensing the elder's distress, Daehyun pried one of his hands off the cart. Yongguk gave him a puzzled look, but Daehyun leaned in a littler closer, lowering his voice. “I'm guessing that's they guy.” Daehyun smiled, eyes dark. “Follow my lead.” He nudged Yongguk over with his hip, placing their joined hands on the center of the handle. He helped the elder steer it along the aisle, a bright smile plastered to his face as they walked by Yongguk's ex. After they turned the corner, they both erupted with laughter, neither one removing their hands. “Did you see his face? I thought he was going to implode!”
  Yongguk shook his head. “You definitely know how to make a person jealous. How did you know that was him?”
  Daehyun shrugged, steering the cart to the home-improvement aisles. “Body language. But I certainly didn’t think you were into that type of man when you said boyfriend.” He shook his head. “You seem like you'd like someone you could protect. That guy just seemed...” He shuddered, letting his sentence trail.
  “Yeah. I definitely won't make the same mistake twice. He's still paying me for what happened, so it's good. Let's get something to cover the windows and call it done for today. We need to get things done before it gets too late.”
  Daehyun agreed, the two of them chatting about which sleeping bags they were going to use and which ones they were going to give the others. Deciding Himchan was by far the most feminine, they were going to force the hot pink bag on him. Daehyun claimed the black one and Yongguk stated the red one was his. The others could fight over which ones they wanted. After checking out, they frowned at the multiple bags they had. Looking at each other, they both carried armfuls of bags. By the time they reached their house, they were struggling with them, Yongguk having taken a few from Daehyun to make things easier on him. Junhong and Himchan met them on sidewalk, grabbing a few bags themselves.
  “How was it?” Himchan asked, genuinely curious at how the shopping trip played out.
  Daehyun smiled, confusing Himchan. “We made hyung's ex-boyfriend seethe. It was funny since he was with some tramp.”
  Himchan rose a brow, looking at Yongguk. “One outing and you have him calling you hyung already? Not bad, Bang Yongguk. Not bad at all.”
  Rolling his eyes, Yongguk led everyone inside, going to the kitchen. He placed the bags on the floor, rummaging around in all of them for the broom. Once he found it he tossed it to Daehyun, the younger immediately began sweeping the floors. He pulled several rolls of paper towels and a couple bottles of surface cleaner out and set them on the counter. Going back to the bags, he pulled out the boards, a box of drywall nails, and a hammer.
  “I'm fixing the windows with this for now. We can get new panes for them tomorrow.” He walked to the front room, leaving Himchan and Junhong standing there.
  Junhong grabbed a roll of paper towels and a bottle of cleaner, moving to clean the counter tops first. After that was done, he moved to the fridge, scrubbing it clean so Himchan could put away the few refrigerator foods and drinks. Hopping up on the counter, he scrubbed out the cupboards. He whistled as he worked, the tune floating through the otherwise silent house. Soon, Yongguk had picked up the rhythm, hammer connecting with nails to add the sound. Himchan tapped against the door of the fridge, smiling at how silly it seemed. Smiling, Daehyun brushed the broom against the floor, adding a new beat to it. Jongup and Youngjae drifted from the second floor and into the kitchen. Youngjae took a pair of chopsticks from one of the bags, banging them on the faucet to add his own portion. Jongup grinned, stomping his feet and clapping, the dance coming to him from remembering his dance classes from middle school. Yongguk came back into the kitchen, banging a board up above the holes in the kitchen window. As they ended their song, they all looked at each other in silence.
  “It seems we all have a taste for similar music,” Himchan said, breaking the silence. “I think this might just work out for us.”
  Nodding, Jongup smiled again. “I'm going to go clean the bathroom upstairs.” He grabbed a pair of gloves, a bottle of cleaner, and the toilet brush before racing away. He thundered upstairs, going to work on their only bathroom.
  Yongguk stretched, placing the hammer down on the floor before shuffling through the bags again. He pulled out a pillow and sleeping bag, tossing it at Himchan. “Go claim your room. I've claimed the one down here.” He pulled a black pillow and red sleeping bag out, heading with a second broom to clean up his room. Frowning, Himchan stared at his bag and pillow.
  “Why are my things pink?” he whined, looking at Daehyun.
  The younger shrugged, sweeping the dirt out the back door before closing and locking it. “We sort of dubbed you as the mom of the house, I guess. We didn’t do it intentionally, hyung.”
  “What if I don't want to play mom?” Himchan pouted, looking at Daehyun.
  “But no one else comes remotely close to you in that aspect.” Daehyun smiled a sickly-sweet smile at him. “None of us are as feminine as you, hyung.” He cackled as he grabbed his black pillow and sleeping back, making his way to the stairs.
  Himchan turned to Junhong, pout still on his face. “Am I the most feminine out of all of us?”
  Looking over his shoulder, Junhong nodded. “Sorry, Himchan hyung. Even Youngjae hyung isn't as girly as you are.” He winked, smiling. “And I saw he had clear-coated fingernails.” Himchan stormed out, going upstairs to claim himself a room. Laughing, Junhong turned to finish the cupboards. His legs slipped out from underneath him and he closed his eyes, bracing for impact. He felt his arm scrape the floor, tearing his skin as his head smacked loudly against the floor. All he saw was black before his head throbbed painfully.
  “Ah, shit!” he yelled, rolling onto his side and covering his head with his arms. He didn’t dare move immediately, knowing it would hurt. He heard frantic footsteps as someone rushed to his side. They tried to pry his arms away, but he protested. “No, I don't want to move. If I move, it'll hurt. I can't even open my eyes because I know it'll make me dizzy.”
  “Junhong, I need to make sure you didn’t crack your head open,” Yongguk murmured. His voice made the younger tense before he let his arms fall limp in Yongguk's grasp. “Keep your eyes closed as I sit you up.” Junhong did as he was told, opening them when he was instructed to. His breath caught in his throat at seeing Yongguk so close to him.
  “I'm sure I’m fine,” he muttered, wincing as Yongguk's fingers grazed against the knot forming on the back of his head. “Okay, maybe not totally unscathed, but it'll heal.”
  “You probably have a concussion, so go sit somewhere and be still.” Himchan entered the room, worry flowing from him in waves. Yongguk looked up at him as he helped Junhong stand. “He fell off the counter. Make sure he doesn't do anything else for a while, please.”
  “Okay,” Himchan replied, worry still creasing his face. “Come on, Junhong. You can come to my room with me.”
  Yongguk shook his head. “He needs to stay on the ground level for today and tonight. He has a concussion and I don't want him going up and down the stairs.” He ignored the way Himchan looked at him, turning his attention to Junhong. “I'll finish cleaning up my room and you can stay there for tonight.”
  “I am not letting him sleep down here by himself,” Himchan said, crossing his arms over his chest.
  Yongguk glared at him, nudging him out of the way as he walked Junhong toward his room. “He won't be sleeping down here alone. He'll sleep in my room and I'll sleep in the living room.” He looked around, frowning. “We need to get some blinds or curtains tomorrow. I don't want people willingly looking in our house.”
  Himchan followed them to Yongguk's room, watching as he gently eased Junhong onto his sleeping bag. He moved to sit on the floor close by, looking around at the small space. “Is this room going to be big enough for you?” he asked, trying to make conversation.
  Shrugging, Yongguk swept the dirt pile into a dustpan. “I don't need much space. I guess it's from living in a cell, but this room will be fine for me.” He set the dustpan outside his bedroom door, turning to dust off the desk. He frowned at how wobbly it was. “We'll have to fix this, too.”
  Himchan nudged Junhong, the younger looking at him slowly. “When are you supposed to go back to school?” He waited for an answer, frowning when Junhong remained silent. “Hey, you have to go to school. It's required. You're what, fifteen?”
  “He's sixteen,” Yongguk answered for him, not turning away from his work. He went to the window next before deciding that it would be best to leave it untouched for the night. He looked at Himchan. “He's six years younger than we are.”
  Himchan crossed his arms again. “Uh-huh. And you know this how?”
  Yongguk threw the paper towel down, facing Himchan fully. “Because we used to hang out. That a good enough answer for you? Back when I was an underground rapper, back when I was still known as Jepp Blackman and not some murderer, we ran with the same crowd.” He left his room, going into the kitchen and cracking open a beer. He chugged it, hearing someone enter behind him. He turned, glaring at Himchan. “What do you want now?”
  “To apologize.” Himchan leaned against the wall. “I'm not trying to be an annoying ass, really. I just, I can't get over the fact that I have to live in the same house as you.”
  “Why? You think I’m going to slit your throat while you sleep?” He tossed the empty can into a trash bag, making to leave the kitchen. He paused next to Himchan, glaring over at him. “Trust me, killing you wouldn't be worth my time.” He left the room, going to clean up the living room. Sighing, Himchan slumped against the wall, running a hand over his face.
  Upstairs, Daehyun and Jongup had the bathroom cleaned, helping Youngjae finish cleaning up his room before they started on theirs. They were laughing at a joke Youngjae told them when Jongup screeched, pointing to the floor. He and Youngjae looked, seeing a spider crawling across the floor. Laughing, Daehyun reached his hand out, smacking it down against the insect. He looked at his hand before showing it to Jongup.
  “That better?” he asked, laughing at the way the color drained from the younger's face. “Okay, okay. I'll go wash my hands.” He stood up, heading to the bathroom. After a few minutes, he returned, showing his clean hands to the younger. “All clean. You're pretty queasy, aren’t you?”
  Nodding, Jongup walked across the hall into what would be his and Daehyun's room. “I have a bit of a woozy stomach. You should have seen me at school when my class was donating blood. I fainted before even seeing any. I just saw the needles and out I went.” He chuckled a little. “I'm a bit of a pansy, honestly.”
  “No, you're not,” Youngjae disagreed. He patted Jongup's head. “You just can't handle some things. I can't handle blood either.” He smiled reassuringly at the younger. “And I have a phobia of snakes.”
  Daehyun swept their floor, a small smile gracing his face. “I could never stand the sight of blood until hyung got sick,” he murmured, placing the dustpan by the pile before sweeping it into it. “After he got sick, I kind of got used to it.”
  Jongup frowned, dusting off the windowsill. “What was he sick with?”
  “He had cancer.” Daehyun swallowed around the lump forming in his throat. “He passed away six months ago. I was still in jail and couldn't even get out to see him. I was more than willing to spend my fair share behind bars, but that damn judge in Busan still wouldn't let me out to say goodbye.”
  Youngjae cleared his throat, making sure his voice wouldn't crack before he spoke. “Why'd you go to jail?”
  “I was a swindler. And a very good one. I got caught, though, when my patrons demanded that I give them another try. I didn’t want to, but I did. An officer was watching and he figured out what I was doing. He was shocked when I didn’t even try to run and then when I pled guilty to the charges, I thought he was going to go into shock. I became a snitch, which lightened my sentence. After finding out hyung was gone, Busan held nothing for me, so I moved up here.” He turned, smiling at the younger two. “I'm going to go get your pillows and sleeping bags. I'll be back.”
  Jongup turned to Youngjae after Daehyun left. “He still looks really upset about his hyung passing without him being there. We should try to keep his mind off of it.”
  Youngjae agreed as Daehyun returned, handing a green bag to Jongup and a yellow one to him. He frowned, looking at it as if it was going to bite him. “Why is it yellow?”
  “We didn’t want to get the same colors because we didn’t want them getting mixed up. Himchan hyung has a hot pink one.”
  Laughing, Youngjae unrolled it, flopping down on it. “Mind if I crash in here? I don't feel like moving back to my room.”
  “I don't mind,” Jongup said, unrolling his. He took his lime colored pillow from Daehyun and snuggled into his bag. “We need to invest in beds.”
  Daehyun snickered, tossing a bright pillow at Youngjae. He crawled into his black sleeping bag, pulling his pillow to his face. “We'll need to get a car to transport them.”
  Youngjae yawned, rolling over. “We can rent a truck. There's a place to do so about three blocks from here. Maybe tomorrow, all of us can go shopping.”
  Daehyun nodded, closing his eyes. “We can ask Yongguk hyung in the morning.” Soon, soft snores filtered from the room, all three of them asleep.
  Downstairs, Himchan helped Junhong get settled, frowning at seeing the red sleeping bag. “Why do you get a red one when mine is pink?”
  Junhong shook his head, wincing at the pain it caused. “It's hyung's sleeping bag. Mine must still be in the kitchen. I'll go get it.” He moved to stand, Yongguk appearing at the door with the blue bag and matching blue pillow.
  “Here.” He tossed them at Himchan, not looking at either before he left as quickly as he came. He settled on the floor, leaning against the wall as he closed his eyes. He wanted to be alert in case someone tried to enter their house. With it sitting empty for so long, he was uncertain if fugitives liked to hide out here. It would be best if he stayed in the living room until people knew the house was inhabited again. He swallowed, leaning his head back against the wall. Hearing the floor creak, he opened his eyes, zeroing in on Himchan.
  “Junhong didn’t want you to get cold,” he muttered, tossing a sleeping bag at him. He threw the pillow, too, frowning when Yongguk caught it. “How can you still have enough energy to be that alert?”
  “You get used it it after six years in prison. Instinct is really the only thing you don't get stripped of.” He settled down, falling onto his side, eyes closing the instant his head hit the pillow. “Go to sleep, Himchan. I'll make sure nothing happens to any of you tonight.”
  Yongguk had barely dozed off when he felt another presence in the room. Eyes snapping open, he bolted upright, fully alert again. His eyes took in everything, scanning for a threat. Spotting Junhong standing there, sleeping bag and pillow tucked under one arm, he sighed. Settling back down, he motioned for the younger to come into the living room. He closed his eyes, opening them again as Junhong curled up next to him, burying his face in Yongguk's pillow instead of his own.
  “I got lonely,” Junhong whispered, not having the confidence to look him in the eye. “Before I came here, I shared a room with my brother.”
  “Then why don't you go sleep with Himchan or someone else that isn't me?” Yongguk raised his hand, fully intending on pushing the younger away from him before he heard Junhong sniffle. He frowned, lowering his hand to his side. “Are you crying?”
  Junhong quickly shook his head, ignoring the dizziness that washed over him. “No. I don't cry like some stupid baby. I didn’t even cry when my dad died.” He wiped his eyes to get rid of the incriminating evidence before he inched closer to the elder. He pushed Yongguk's head up, slipping a pillow under it before letting go. He rolled over, giving Yongguk his space before he closed his eyes, covering his mouth with a hand to muffle his crying.
  Yongguk sighed, running a hand over his face. “Come here.” He waited as Junhong rolled back over, burying his face against the elder's chest as he cried. Yongguk rested his head back on his pillow, arm stretched out below Junhong's head. He was going to move it, but after hearing nothing but silence, he figured it was best to let the kid sleep. Closing his eyes, he threw his free arm over Junhong's body, feeling the younger relax unconsciously in his arms. “You shouldn't feel safe being this close to me,” he whispered, knowing the younger wouldn't hear him. “Things aren't the way you remember them, Zelo. Jepp Blackman doesn't exist anymore. I’m just an ex-con.” He fell asleep before he could say anything else that might cause him to want to relive the past.