Guide You Home *part four*
Pairing: DaeLo
Rated: PG13
Length: 5.9K
part three
SONG
If looks could kill then Jongup would have been ten feet under by the way Yongguk was glaring holes into him. His body was pulled tight over his bones, the only movement coming from the slight tic in his jaw every time he inhaled.
“You could really feel it?” He finally spoke up. “All of the things I did with Himchan?”
Jongup nodded slowly. “Every single second.”
“Good.” Yongguk cocked his head to the side and smirked. “I hope it kept you up at night. I hope you suffered.”
“No you don’t.” Jongup took a step forward, surprising Yongguk so that he stumbled backwards, landing against the wall with a thump and a sore elbow. “You wouldn’t have done all of those things if you didn’t care about me. You wanted me to be jealous.”
The truth turned Yongguk’s cheeks red and made him lose a lot of his bravado. “What makes you think I care at all that you were jealous? Maybe I just liked sleeping with Himchan. Maybe I love him.”
Another step had Yongguk pressed flat, his hands grabbing at the wall behind him. “Because I can feel everything, Yongguk. That you cry whenever you leave his house. How you scratch my name into your skin the second you’re alone.” He carefully started to unbutton Yongguk’s shirt, just barely using his fingertips so that they never touched. When he had gone far enough he pulled the shirt apart and could see the tiny prints of his name dotting Yongguk’s collarbones and down his sternum. “How you’re turned on every single day at one-fifteen which is the same time I’m in gym. You watch through the side door thinking I can’t feel your eyes on me.”
Finally, he took the last step that had him pressed against Yongguk’s trembling body. The first time in their lives that they had touched and it was enough to cause Yongguk to pant shamefully against Jongup’s hair.
“I’m not that white knight ten year old anymore.” Yongguk was trying so hard to keep his voice even but then Jongup’s lips were skimming his throat and he threw his head back to let him have more room. “You can’t expect me to do the right things.”
“I don’t want you to do the right thing.” Jongup’s eyes were closed as he inhaled deeply the scent he had never before experienced. Deep and intense and thick as it rolled inside of him, his body recognizing the feeling of mate so close to him. “I just want you to be you.”
Yongguk was jelly in his arms, soft and pliable as Jongup’s hands slowly slid around his back to hold him in place. He replaced his lips with sharp teeth that nipped and scraped down the pounding vein in his neck until Yongguk started to weakly push at his stomach.
“Stop, stop Jongup.” His fists squeezed into the thin material of Jongup’s t-shirt as he worked hard to slow his breathing down and regain control. “You can’t ask me to go from hating you one second to… this. Whatever this is.”
“You can’t hate your soulmate.” Jongup took a step back anyways because he had never purposely tried to upset Yongguk and he wasn’t about to start now. Even if he could see the drastic effects his touches had on the older boy he still didn’t want to push him. “That’s rule number one.”
“You told me that I was disgusting.” Yongguk’s lips thinned as he looked away from the smaller boy in front of him. “That two boys couldn’t be soulmates and to stay away from you.”
Jongup remembered the horrified words he had spat at him eight years before, but he had been so frightened and shocked over what had happened that they just poured out of his mouth and it wasn’t until he got home that he had thought twice about the crushed expression on Yongguk’s face.
“I shouldn’t have done that to you and I’m sorry.” He had felt the regret settle heavier and heavier in his bones with every year that had passed since then. Every time he felt Yongguk touching someone else’s skin and being so completely possessed by someone other than him it had ripped his soul into shreds. “Are you going to hate me forever? You’ll never forgive me? Wasn’t the things you did with Himchan enough to punish me?”
“Himchan never knew about us.” Yongguk told him, bringing a hand up to where Jongup’s name was still red and sore over his chest. His fingers traced the letters absentmindedly and Jongup could swear he could feel the same strokes across his own hot skin. “They fade before he sees them.”
With a growl, Jongup stormed towards Junhong’s desk and rummaged through it. He found what he was looking for and held it tight in his fist as he shoved Yongguk back against the wall, fingers tugging so hard at the last remaining buttons of his shirt that several popped off into the floor.
He uncapped the permanent marker in his hand and wrote his name wide and thick across Yongguk’s chest, the letters going so high that they would be visible even with a shirt on.
“That will take a week to wash off.” He told him smugly, throwing the marker behind him and pulling Yongguk back towards him by his belt loops. “If he touches you again then I’ll cut his fingers off. Or maybe I should sleep with someone else just so you know what it feels like.”
Yongguk leaned forward suddenly, surprising Jongup so much that he didn’t even move while their lips were pressed together for barely a moment.
“I’ll cut their fingers off.” Yongguk murmured under his breath.
The grin on both of their faces would probably never come off. Until Jongup pushed forward again and told Yongguk with something other than his words just how sorry he was for the last eight years.
--
Junhong liked that his brother was no longer the moody and brusque boy that he had grown up knowing. And he was absolutely ecstatic that Jongup was now finally getting appreciated and cared for by someone other than him.
But when he had to walk by Yongguk’s bedroom and hear things that a brother should never have to hear, well then it got a little uncomfortable. Jealousy would fill him alongside with the annoyance. Where was his soulmate? When was it his turn to press his lips to someone’s and feel it all the way down in his core?
“You okay, Junhonggie?” Jongup came into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and blinked awkwardly when he could see the storm clouds brewing on his best friend’s face. “Do you want us to watch a movie with you or something?”
“Your hair’s a mess.” He replied bluntly. “And if you and Yongguk have identical hickeys on the side of your necks then my parents are going to ask what’s going on. You haven’t left each other’s sides for two weeks and they’re not stupid.”
Jongup pulled the collar of his shirt up to cover the reddening bruise. “Sorry. Making up for lost time, I guess?” He pulled the chair out next to Junhong and downed half the bottle before turning to him with a sheepish shrug. “You’ll understand one day why being able to touch your soulmate is so intense. Sometimes I lose track of time and then I realize I’ve been kissing him for two hours.”
“That’s disgusting.” Junhong muttered with a grimace. He tapped his fingers on the table and stared out of the window at the snow. “Yongguk always takes me to the park when it snows. We sit and drink hot chocolate and make fun of all the people who pass.”
The boy next to him frowned. “If you want to spend time with him then I can go home. You know I would never want to get between you and your brother.”
“No.” He shook his head and jumped up from the table to grab his coat and shoes. “He’d rather stay here with you now and I need to get used to that I guess. If he went it would only be because he felt guilty. I’ll be home later.”
The snow started to fall harder as he trudged through the sidewalks and he was glad he had remembered to grab a blanket before he escaped out the door. He had felt weird all day and all he wanted to do was relax on his favorite bench until the bubbly feeling inside of his stomach went away.
The moment he had woken that morning the nerves in his body felt like static, electricity jumping through him with every breath he took. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe calmly, the way Yongguk had taught him to do when the link he shared grew so overwhelming that he wasn’t sure where he ended and his soulmate began. But nothing calmed the unhappy sea rolling in his chest.
--
“Don’t make me go.” He pleaded quietly as his mother stirred the pot of soup on the stove. “I’ll do anything you want. I’ll even call him dad if you don’t make me go there.”
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. The begging had been going on all day and she had a headache and knew her husband would be home before too long so she needed time to put the fake happy expression back on that would keep them safe for a few more hours. “Baby please, you need to go school. It will be good for you, Daehyun. Get you out of the house and maybe you’ll finally make some friends.” She turned towards her soon and placed her hands on his shoulders. “If you can show that school how smart you are then maybe you can get a scholarship and get away from here. You can go anywhere in the world. Don’t you want that?”
He shook his head because leaving meant leaving her behind and if he wasn’t there then everything that was taken out on him would be put onto her instead. “I’m not going to abandon you with him.”
The back door slammed before she could reply and both of their faces paled because being home early meant a hard night was ahead of them. Either he was drunk on the job or he had gotten in trouble and sent home, it didn’t matter, an early arrival was never good.
“It smells like a dead animal in here.” The gruff voice had always felt like needles stabbing into his ears, painful and unwanted. Daehyun already has his eyes lowered to the ground because he knew submission was the only way to stay on his stepfather’s good side. So the elbow to his ribs came out of nowhere causing him to trip painfully against the table. “Move kid.”
“Supper will be done in a little bit.” His mother’s voice when his stepfather was home was another sound that Daehyun hated. Syrupy sweet and too high-pitched from the one she used with him. “Daehyun sweetheart, why don’t you go outside and take a walk before we eat. You were saying earlier that you wanted to play in the snow.”
He hadn’t. But he knew it was an excuse to get away for a few more minutes. When he opened his mouth to argue, because getting away meant leaving her behind, she motioned to the door and mouthed a silent ‘go’.
“Listen to your mother.” His stepfather ordered.
“Yes sir.” He rummaged through the hooks by the back door for a coat that fit him but all he could find was last fall’s jacket. The sleeves ended above his wrists and it was missing three buttons but it was better than the t-shirt he was wearing. His stepfather’s scarf was hanging on the next hook and even though he would be in trouble if he was caught, he grabbed it anyways. The air looked bitingly sharp through the cracked glass door and since he didn’t have a hat he needed something to help cover the exposed skin.
The snow had slowed to a gentle dusting as he turned the corner of his house and headed towards the park. It was late and cold enough that most kids had gone home for the evening, leaving the only people on the sidewalks the dog walkers and workers heading home for supper. He had the evening to himself and being allowed outside was a rare thing so he was going to enjoy every second of it. The last time he had been on a walk was two months ago when his mother took him to the grocery store to pick out a cake for his stepfather’s birthday. Daehyun suggested one made out of dirt and the dog droppings they saw on their way to the store. They bought strawberry cake instead. He refused to touch it out of pride.
The further he headed the heavier the snow started to fall again and by the time he had made it to the center of the park he figured he had better turn around and head home before it got too thick to walk in. His mother would probably have their soup done and if he wasn’t back before they finished eating he would probably be in more trouble.
Before he left though he let himself have one more minute just to be free and alone, with no heavy weight on his back dragging him to the ground. His head leaned back and he stuck his tongue out to feel the tiny snowflakes melting on top. Being in the park was his favorite place to be and even though he didn’t get to go very often he still felt the same thrill run through him as he spun around in happiness with his arms stretched out as far as they could go.
Even if he had to trudge back to his own personal hell he figured whatever happened to him later that night would be worth it because right at this very second he had never felt so whole.
--
Junhong watched with amusement as the smaller boy across the pond danced in the middle of the heavily falling powder. He looked like he had never in his life experienced snow and as his laughter hit Junhong’s ears he didn’t think he had ever heard such a happy sound before.
The disquiet that had been pressing on him all day was slowly evaporating but Junhong’s attention was so captivated by the sight in front of him that he never seemed to notice.
The jacket was too thin and too small to even protect him from the cold and unless he had on tan colored gloves then there was no covering on his hands either. Junhong wished he had been on the other side of the pond so that he could offer to share his blanket. They could have warmed up together then maybe the stranger would let him play in the snow with him before he left.
He chuckled to himself as the fast movements caused him to trip and fall to the ground where his lips pulled up into such a beautiful smile that Junhong felt his heart stop.
Once the other boy stopped his frantic spins he reached down to pick up the scarf that had fallen off during his game and his eyes caught the spying Junhong from where he sat bundled up in his blanket on his favorite park bench.
The already wind-bitten lips and flushed cheeks reddened in the few seconds it took to wrap the scarf back around and his face and he was gone before Junhong could even lift a hand to wave hello.
---
No matter how much Yongguk begged him, Jongup refused to spend the evening anywhere near Himchan. “If I have to explain it to you then you’re too stupid to even know.” He told him through gritted teeth after the third phone call Yongguk had made to him in an hour then slamming the phone down to grass. “Your brother’s trying to test my patience.” Jongup told Junhong just before he hissed and reached for his hip. A heart outline was slowly appearing on his skin as Yongguk tried to plead his case from wherever he was while Jongup and Junhong played basketball together in the park after school.
“Why does he still do that?” Junhong flinched at the swollen skin until Jongup pulled his shirt down to hide it. “It’s not okay to hurt your soulmate.”
“It doesn’t really hurt that bad.” Jongup’s brow was furrowed for a few more seconds as Yongguk finished up. “When I’m not with him and he scratches his name across my skin it’s actually kind of a turn on.” He shrugged shamefully and stole the ball from a disgusted Junhong’s hands. “Haven’t you ever thought of sending your name or address to yours this way? It would save you a lot of searching and worrying.”
Junhong was emphatic as he shook his head. “I’m not hurting him any more than he’s already been. It’s not right and we’ll find each other when we’re meant to.”
Jongup stopped halfway to the net to look at him. “That’s really sweet, Junhong. I don’t know if I could purposely hurt Yongguk if I knew he was mistreated. But sometimes he scrawls penises on my arms when I’m wearing tank tops and I think about asking you to punch me just to get even.”
When they were leaving the park and Jongup’s phone went off for the sixth time Junhong finally asked the question that had been burning at him for weeks. “How are you okay with him still being around Himchan?”
“It’s complicated.” Jongup answered quietly, turning his phone off so that he didn’t have to worry about any more interruptions. “It wasn’t like he was in love with him when they did those things. I felt everything he felt so I should know. He was just using him as a way to punish me. Himchan is an idiot but I can’t really be mad at him for not knowing what was happening.”
“So you’re not worried that he’ll try to like, seduce Yongguk or anything?”
With a snort of laughter Jongup’s shoulders shook until he got himself back under control. “Yongguk said he told him everything about us and that Himchan thought it was hilarious. Apparently he’s found some junior boy and turned his attention there so no, I’m not concerned with them hanging out together.”
Junhong glanced over at the pond where he had watched the mysterious boy playing a few days earlier. A part of his brain had stayed in that moment ever since it had happened and he couldn’t get the way his exhausted face had lifted in excitement as he spun around in the snow out of his mind.
He pushed the thought away and turned back to his best friend. “Then why do you keep telling him you don’t want to be anywhere near Himchan?”
“Because even though Yongguk’s off-limits to Himchan I still don’t want him to start up that horrible flirting with me again. Last time he thought you and I were dating and still managed to touch me three times before I got away. Just imagine how he’ll be now that he knows I’m soulmates with Yongguk.”
“He’ll be a horny little beast.” Junhong agreed. Maybe I could leave a new set of gloves and a hat beside the pond and destiny will help him find it, his distracted thoughts continued to crowd his mind no matter how hard he tried to forget them. “What are they planning on doing this weekend?”
The pond finally passed behind them and Junhong could breathe easier again.
“I think Himchan’s friend from that other school wanted to get a bunch of people together and go eat or something. Yongguk’s been asking me for a week and I keep telling him no.” He bounced the basketball as they walked down the sidewalk towards Junhong’s house. Even if he was arguing with his boyfriend he wasn’t going to go home without seeing him first. They still had too much time apart to make up for. “Would you go too? He’s going to wear me down and I hate him for it.”
How exactly his older brother would wear down his best friend wasn’t mentioned but Junhong had a pretty good, albeit gross, guess.
“I don’t want to be a third wheel.” He complained, scratching at an old scar on his thumb. “Now that you two are together I’ll just sit there and be uncomfortable.”
“Don’t be stupid.” Jongup told him bluntly. “I hate going out just as much as you do. Yongguk can hang out with his friends and you and I can sit and make fun of everyone. Same as old times.”
He chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip. “You promise you won’t ignore me?”
Jongup held the basketball under his arm so that he could slip his hand into Junhong’s. “I swear it.”
--
His first day of junior year was actually a lot easier than Daehyun had thought it would be. Getting up early wasn’t anything new since his stepfather woke the entire house up at six in the morning when he dressed for work. And the schoolwork was actually fun. Daehyun hoped he had homework every night because it would be something to keep him out of the way and busy all night. Even his teachers were nice to him (partly because his mother lied and told them he had a learning disability and that was why he was so far behind everyone).
After being introduced to his fourth hour geography class he was still riding the wave of elation that having a third hour lab partner for science had given him. He walked shyly but happily to the seat the teacher pointed out and slid into it excitedly waiting for the lesson.
“No one’s ever that excited for geography.” An amused voice spoke up from the left side of him.
Daehyun jumped because even though he was having a good time at school he hadn’t gotten his hopes up that anyone would even try to talk to him. The boy beside him was friendly looking with a chubby-cheeked smile and thick hair that he pushed out of his eyes as he gave Daehyun a once-over. “You’re a charity kid aren’t you?” At Daehyun’s shamed blush the other boy raised his hands in alarm. “Sorry! My friends keep telling me I need to stop blurting out everything I think. I didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just that charity kids wear red undershirts instead of green.”
He had known his mother couldn’t afford a school this nice and that there was some kind of a scholarship happening for him to attend but he had hoped not to stick out and already someone had noticed he didn’t belong. Daehyun felt his good mood evaporating quickly once the lesson started.
The boy kept quiet for the next hour, taking notes and answering some of the questions the teacher put to the class. Daehyun tried to keep up with the work but after fifty minutes of hurriedly writing down everything the teacher had written on the board and talked about he was worn out and his hand was aching.
“We get a study guide the week before the tests so don’t worry about trying to remember whatever she’s blathering about up there. It’s all in the book.” The stranger waited beside Daehyun’s desk as he packed up his notebook and textbook into the brand new backpack his mother had bought him. It was the first one he’d ever gotten and where most of the other students shoved them into their lockers he kept it proudly over his shoulder all day. “Daehyun, right? I’m Youngjae.”
He bowed his head but stayed quiet. His feelings were a little raw after finding out everyone could tell right away that he wasn’t supposed to be there. The least they could do was make the scholarship students fit in a little better.
“Do you want to go get some lunch with us? They’re having pizza I think. It’s not bad but there’s probably better tasting garbage somewhere in this school.” If Youngjae had noticed that Daehyun hadn’t spoken yet then he was doing a good job at covering it. “I think you’re in my first period homeroom, too. I noticed you walk in but we were playing a card game in the back and if you take your eyes off of it for two seconds then someone swoops in and it’s all over. Your locker’s just one hallway away from me so I can walk you there. Do you want to drop your stuff off before we eat?”
The only reason he knew where his locker was located was because Youngjae pulled the schedule out of his hand and looked it over while they headed out the door.
Daehyun shook his head, pulling the backpack strap tighter over his shoulder. This was the nicest thing he had ever owned and no one was prying it from his fingers today.
Youngjae didn’t seem to notice or care that Daehyun hadn’t said a single word to him. He happily pointed out people and things in the school that he thought the new student should know about and by the time they had entered the cafeteria he finally had Daehyun smiling cautiously at him.
“You getting a tray?” He asked as he threw his coat over the back of a seat. “If you want to save us a table I can get it for you.”
He shook his head and pulled out the paper bag his mother had packed for him that morning. He knew they didn’t have enough money for the expensive lunches in this school but still felt embarrassed when he looked around and didn’t see any other homemade meals.
Ten minutes later Youngjae had come back with a small group of other boys, all eying him curiously as they surrounded the table.
“Here.” A tray was set down in front of him with a thick slice of pizza, a bowl of mixed fruit and a side salad that was so stuffed with extras that they were falling over the sides. “Your schedule says you have gym next period and if you don’t get something big to eat you’ll pass out. Coach Lee is a beast.”
Before Daehyun could open his mouth to say anything, thank him or refuse he wasn’t actually sure yet, Youngjae had already started introducing all of his friends. He would never remember their names, he couldn’t even look them in the eye, but he nodded after each one said hello.
Thankfully the conversation strayed from him and turned towards what they were doing that weekend. Youngjae was trying to convince them that they should all hang out with another set of boys from a different school but the others had some complaints about it.
“That drunk guy was an asshole.” The boy across from him in glasses spoke up. “He made that tiny kid cry for no reason.”
“Himchan promised he’s mellowed out. Did I not tell you guys this? That little kid was his soulmate.” Youngjae burst into laughter and slapped the table wildly. “He was trying to make him jealous and it backfired. Now he’s apparently whipped and a giant teddy bear.”
Daehyun listened to them with amusement. He had never had friends before, only saw them in movies or books, and it was exciting to see exactly how real life ones interacted. One day he hoped to have someone to laugh and tease with just like this.
When the bell rang he tried to smile at the half-hearted goodbyes the other boys made but he could tell they wouldn’t even remember him come lunchtime the next day. He needed some confidence but it scared him too much to try.
“Hey.” Youngjae’s voice interrupted his inner shaming. He turned around to see what he had wanted, backpack held tight to his chest. “I was a new kid once, too. No one talked to me for weeks and I ate lunch in the bathroom. It sucked and I promised myself that I wouldn’t let another kid here go through that. All the boys you ate with today were just like us at some point over the last few years. So don’t be so worried tomorrow, okay? We’ll take care of you.” He smiled and patted Daehyun on the shoulder as he walked past, not seeing the flinch the smaller boy made from the friendly touch.
“Thank you.” Daehyun whispered to his back. Youngjae turned and grinned at the first soft words he had finally earned.
There was one difference between him and the rest of those boys, Daehyun thought to himself as he searched for the gym.
They were normal and that was something he could never be.
--
“No leaving me alone with him. And I’m not to sit on his side of the table.” Jongup kept thinking of new rules for Yongguk as they walked towards the restaurant across town. “If he touches me I will punch him in the eye.”
“If he touches you then we’ll both be punching him.” Yongguk muttered, pulling Jongup closer. “I told Himchan to tone it down tonight. He’s not a bad guy, Jongup. Just a little over the top.”
Jongup glared up at his boyfriend, the furious expression making Yongguk cower in fear. “I know what sleeping with him feels like. Do you want to know how I know what that feels like, Yongguk? It’s because you were a little dumbass who spread his l-“
"Alright!” Yongguk covered the angry words with his hand and blushed as he looked over to see if his little brother had heard. “Are you going to make me feel guilty for that for the rest of our lives?”
“Probably.” Jongup answered bluntly. “Junhong, are you coming or not?” He looked over his shoulder and held a hand out for his best friend. “Are you feeling okay?”
Junhong was anxious and nervous but as he scrolled through everything that had happened that day he had no idea what it could be about. It had to be his soulmate feeling something so powerfully that it leaked through their bond without him knowing about it. Sometimes he could control his own emotions and rein them in so the other boy wasn’t overloaded with them but he must not have mastered that skill yet because Junhong always felt everything he felt.
“He’s excited.” Junhong told him, taking Jongup’s hand and ignoring his brother’s growl. “And happy. I don’t think I’ve ever felt him like this.” It made him a little jealous that something else was putting his mate into such a good mood. If this tiny spark made him this jealous then he didn’t know how he’d act if he was put in the same position Jongup was for so long. He’d probably rip the city apart brick by brick looking for him.
“That’s good though.” Jongup could see his friend’s warring emotions on his face and squeezed his hand in reassurance. “Happy is better than waking up with a new scar.”
He nodded, but couldn’t help the tiny sliver of sadness push through his barrier and infect the other boy wherever he was.
--
Daehyun jumped on the balls of his feet and waited by the door for the clock to strike six so he could leave. Youngjae had offered to pick him up and drive him but he didn’t want anyone knowing where he lived yet. His mother worked hard to keep the outside looking nice so that no one grew suspicious but he didn’t want Youngjae coming up to his door and looking inside and seeing the holes in the walls where his stepfather lost control or the empty living room because they had to sell the couch to pay rent three months ago.
The chime rang out for six and he quickly grabbed the coat Youngjae had snagged from the lost and found box for him before racing out the door and up the street to the subway. When he had excitedly explained to his mom how he was going out to eat with boys from school, with friends, she had handed him a handful of bills from her purse and left before he could see her tear up. Now he had money for the trip and enough to get a small meal that hopefully wouldn’t look pathetic next to everyone else’s plates.
“Dae!” Youngjae called for him from the subway exit where they had agreed to meet earlier that day at school. He waved him over with a grin. “Everyone’s already there so I had them order us whatever they were eating.” He had learned over the last week that when you made Daehyun uncomfortable his entire body would freeze and his eyes would dim so he quickly reassured him that it was okay. “I’m paying for everyone’s meal tonight so make sure and get dessert.”
They entered the restaurant and Youngjae looked around for his friends. “There’s Himchan with the serial killer smile waving at us. Don’t be frightened of him but he’s a loud mouth. That’s his best friend Yongguk and his boyfriend Jongup.” The tiny boy next to the gruff looking tall one was scooting so far away from Himchan that he was practically in his boyfriend’s lap. Daehyun thought it was odd how Youngjae seemed so easygoing about them being gay but didn’t press the matter. It was none of his business anyways. “And that’s Yongguk’s little brother, Junhong.”
The name slid across Daehyun’s skin like silk as he stared at the oversized baby-faced boy laughing at something. A dimple appeared on his cheek adding to his childlike expression and a brand new emotion burst through Daehyun, one he had never experienced before.
Safe.
--
Junhong cracked up at Jongup trying to crawl over Yongguk to get to the other side. They had arrived first and chosen their own seats so of course when Himchan showed up a few minutes ago he had gravitated towards the empty one by Jongup.
“Move, move, move!” He hissed at Junhong, shoving him so hard that he fell off the side of the bench and into the floor.
Even though his hip hit the ground hard Junhong couldn’t stop laughing. Giddiness had filled his belly and he wasn’t sure if it was because Himchan torturing Jongup was so funny or if it was another link to someone he couldn’t see.
“I guess we missed the pre-show entertainment.” Youngjae interrupted, pulling two chairs out at the other end of the long rectangle table where the other boys had gathered. “I’m starving. Sit down, Daehyun.”
The jolt the word gave Junhong shocked him up out of the floor and to his feet where he could see the newcomer shyly hiding his eyes beside Youngjae. He was tiny and thin with tanned skin that reminded Junhong of warm caramel and honey. His jet black hair hung over his face but Junhong didn’t need to see all of it to recognize the plump lips and outline of his profile.
It was the boy from the park that had danced so freely when he thought no one was looking.
And when he bit his lip and lifted his eyes to meet Junhong’s from the other end of the table fireworks skittered across his skin and the rest of the world melted away.
part five
Rated: PG13
Length: 5.9K
part three
SONG
If looks could kill then Jongup would have been ten feet under by the way Yongguk was glaring holes into him. His body was pulled tight over his bones, the only movement coming from the slight tic in his jaw every time he inhaled.
“You could really feel it?” He finally spoke up. “All of the things I did with Himchan?”
Jongup nodded slowly. “Every single second.”
“Good.” Yongguk cocked his head to the side and smirked. “I hope it kept you up at night. I hope you suffered.”
“No you don’t.” Jongup took a step forward, surprising Yongguk so that he stumbled backwards, landing against the wall with a thump and a sore elbow. “You wouldn’t have done all of those things if you didn’t care about me. You wanted me to be jealous.”
The truth turned Yongguk’s cheeks red and made him lose a lot of his bravado. “What makes you think I care at all that you were jealous? Maybe I just liked sleeping with Himchan. Maybe I love him.”
Another step had Yongguk pressed flat, his hands grabbing at the wall behind him. “Because I can feel everything, Yongguk. That you cry whenever you leave his house. How you scratch my name into your skin the second you’re alone.” He carefully started to unbutton Yongguk’s shirt, just barely using his fingertips so that they never touched. When he had gone far enough he pulled the shirt apart and could see the tiny prints of his name dotting Yongguk’s collarbones and down his sternum. “How you’re turned on every single day at one-fifteen which is the same time I’m in gym. You watch through the side door thinking I can’t feel your eyes on me.”
Finally, he took the last step that had him pressed against Yongguk’s trembling body. The first time in their lives that they had touched and it was enough to cause Yongguk to pant shamefully against Jongup’s hair.
“I’m not that white knight ten year old anymore.” Yongguk was trying so hard to keep his voice even but then Jongup’s lips were skimming his throat and he threw his head back to let him have more room. “You can’t expect me to do the right things.”
“I don’t want you to do the right thing.” Jongup’s eyes were closed as he inhaled deeply the scent he had never before experienced. Deep and intense and thick as it rolled inside of him, his body recognizing the feeling of mate so close to him. “I just want you to be you.”
Yongguk was jelly in his arms, soft and pliable as Jongup’s hands slowly slid around his back to hold him in place. He replaced his lips with sharp teeth that nipped and scraped down the pounding vein in his neck until Yongguk started to weakly push at his stomach.
“Stop, stop Jongup.” His fists squeezed into the thin material of Jongup’s t-shirt as he worked hard to slow his breathing down and regain control. “You can’t ask me to go from hating you one second to… this. Whatever this is.”
“You can’t hate your soulmate.” Jongup took a step back anyways because he had never purposely tried to upset Yongguk and he wasn’t about to start now. Even if he could see the drastic effects his touches had on the older boy he still didn’t want to push him. “That’s rule number one.”
“You told me that I was disgusting.” Yongguk’s lips thinned as he looked away from the smaller boy in front of him. “That two boys couldn’t be soulmates and to stay away from you.”
Jongup remembered the horrified words he had spat at him eight years before, but he had been so frightened and shocked over what had happened that they just poured out of his mouth and it wasn’t until he got home that he had thought twice about the crushed expression on Yongguk’s face.
“I shouldn’t have done that to you and I’m sorry.” He had felt the regret settle heavier and heavier in his bones with every year that had passed since then. Every time he felt Yongguk touching someone else’s skin and being so completely possessed by someone other than him it had ripped his soul into shreds. “Are you going to hate me forever? You’ll never forgive me? Wasn’t the things you did with Himchan enough to punish me?”
“Himchan never knew about us.” Yongguk told him, bringing a hand up to where Jongup’s name was still red and sore over his chest. His fingers traced the letters absentmindedly and Jongup could swear he could feel the same strokes across his own hot skin. “They fade before he sees them.”
With a growl, Jongup stormed towards Junhong’s desk and rummaged through it. He found what he was looking for and held it tight in his fist as he shoved Yongguk back against the wall, fingers tugging so hard at the last remaining buttons of his shirt that several popped off into the floor.
He uncapped the permanent marker in his hand and wrote his name wide and thick across Yongguk’s chest, the letters going so high that they would be visible even with a shirt on.
“That will take a week to wash off.” He told him smugly, throwing the marker behind him and pulling Yongguk back towards him by his belt loops. “If he touches you again then I’ll cut his fingers off. Or maybe I should sleep with someone else just so you know what it feels like.”
Yongguk leaned forward suddenly, surprising Jongup so much that he didn’t even move while their lips were pressed together for barely a moment.
“I’ll cut their fingers off.” Yongguk murmured under his breath.
The grin on both of their faces would probably never come off. Until Jongup pushed forward again and told Yongguk with something other than his words just how sorry he was for the last eight years.
--
Junhong liked that his brother was no longer the moody and brusque boy that he had grown up knowing. And he was absolutely ecstatic that Jongup was now finally getting appreciated and cared for by someone other than him.
But when he had to walk by Yongguk’s bedroom and hear things that a brother should never have to hear, well then it got a little uncomfortable. Jealousy would fill him alongside with the annoyance. Where was his soulmate? When was it his turn to press his lips to someone’s and feel it all the way down in his core?
“You okay, Junhonggie?” Jongup came into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and blinked awkwardly when he could see the storm clouds brewing on his best friend’s face. “Do you want us to watch a movie with you or something?”
“Your hair’s a mess.” He replied bluntly. “And if you and Yongguk have identical hickeys on the side of your necks then my parents are going to ask what’s going on. You haven’t left each other’s sides for two weeks and they’re not stupid.”
Jongup pulled the collar of his shirt up to cover the reddening bruise. “Sorry. Making up for lost time, I guess?” He pulled the chair out next to Junhong and downed half the bottle before turning to him with a sheepish shrug. “You’ll understand one day why being able to touch your soulmate is so intense. Sometimes I lose track of time and then I realize I’ve been kissing him for two hours.”
“That’s disgusting.” Junhong muttered with a grimace. He tapped his fingers on the table and stared out of the window at the snow. “Yongguk always takes me to the park when it snows. We sit and drink hot chocolate and make fun of all the people who pass.”
The boy next to him frowned. “If you want to spend time with him then I can go home. You know I would never want to get between you and your brother.”
“No.” He shook his head and jumped up from the table to grab his coat and shoes. “He’d rather stay here with you now and I need to get used to that I guess. If he went it would only be because he felt guilty. I’ll be home later.”
The snow started to fall harder as he trudged through the sidewalks and he was glad he had remembered to grab a blanket before he escaped out the door. He had felt weird all day and all he wanted to do was relax on his favorite bench until the bubbly feeling inside of his stomach went away.
The moment he had woken that morning the nerves in his body felt like static, electricity jumping through him with every breath he took. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe calmly, the way Yongguk had taught him to do when the link he shared grew so overwhelming that he wasn’t sure where he ended and his soulmate began. But nothing calmed the unhappy sea rolling in his chest.
--
“Don’t make me go.” He pleaded quietly as his mother stirred the pot of soup on the stove. “I’ll do anything you want. I’ll even call him dad if you don’t make me go there.”
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. The begging had been going on all day and she had a headache and knew her husband would be home before too long so she needed time to put the fake happy expression back on that would keep them safe for a few more hours. “Baby please, you need to go school. It will be good for you, Daehyun. Get you out of the house and maybe you’ll finally make some friends.” She turned towards her soon and placed her hands on his shoulders. “If you can show that school how smart you are then maybe you can get a scholarship and get away from here. You can go anywhere in the world. Don’t you want that?”
He shook his head because leaving meant leaving her behind and if he wasn’t there then everything that was taken out on him would be put onto her instead. “I’m not going to abandon you with him.”
The back door slammed before she could reply and both of their faces paled because being home early meant a hard night was ahead of them. Either he was drunk on the job or he had gotten in trouble and sent home, it didn’t matter, an early arrival was never good.
“It smells like a dead animal in here.” The gruff voice had always felt like needles stabbing into his ears, painful and unwanted. Daehyun already has his eyes lowered to the ground because he knew submission was the only way to stay on his stepfather’s good side. So the elbow to his ribs came out of nowhere causing him to trip painfully against the table. “Move kid.”
“Supper will be done in a little bit.” His mother’s voice when his stepfather was home was another sound that Daehyun hated. Syrupy sweet and too high-pitched from the one she used with him. “Daehyun sweetheart, why don’t you go outside and take a walk before we eat. You were saying earlier that you wanted to play in the snow.”
He hadn’t. But he knew it was an excuse to get away for a few more minutes. When he opened his mouth to argue, because getting away meant leaving her behind, she motioned to the door and mouthed a silent ‘go’.
“Listen to your mother.” His stepfather ordered.
“Yes sir.” He rummaged through the hooks by the back door for a coat that fit him but all he could find was last fall’s jacket. The sleeves ended above his wrists and it was missing three buttons but it was better than the t-shirt he was wearing. His stepfather’s scarf was hanging on the next hook and even though he would be in trouble if he was caught, he grabbed it anyways. The air looked bitingly sharp through the cracked glass door and since he didn’t have a hat he needed something to help cover the exposed skin.
The snow had slowed to a gentle dusting as he turned the corner of his house and headed towards the park. It was late and cold enough that most kids had gone home for the evening, leaving the only people on the sidewalks the dog walkers and workers heading home for supper. He had the evening to himself and being allowed outside was a rare thing so he was going to enjoy every second of it. The last time he had been on a walk was two months ago when his mother took him to the grocery store to pick out a cake for his stepfather’s birthday. Daehyun suggested one made out of dirt and the dog droppings they saw on their way to the store. They bought strawberry cake instead. He refused to touch it out of pride.
The further he headed the heavier the snow started to fall again and by the time he had made it to the center of the park he figured he had better turn around and head home before it got too thick to walk in. His mother would probably have their soup done and if he wasn’t back before they finished eating he would probably be in more trouble.
Before he left though he let himself have one more minute just to be free and alone, with no heavy weight on his back dragging him to the ground. His head leaned back and he stuck his tongue out to feel the tiny snowflakes melting on top. Being in the park was his favorite place to be and even though he didn’t get to go very often he still felt the same thrill run through him as he spun around in happiness with his arms stretched out as far as they could go.
Even if he had to trudge back to his own personal hell he figured whatever happened to him later that night would be worth it because right at this very second he had never felt so whole.
--
Junhong watched with amusement as the smaller boy across the pond danced in the middle of the heavily falling powder. He looked like he had never in his life experienced snow and as his laughter hit Junhong’s ears he didn’t think he had ever heard such a happy sound before.
The disquiet that had been pressing on him all day was slowly evaporating but Junhong’s attention was so captivated by the sight in front of him that he never seemed to notice.
The jacket was too thin and too small to even protect him from the cold and unless he had on tan colored gloves then there was no covering on his hands either. Junhong wished he had been on the other side of the pond so that he could offer to share his blanket. They could have warmed up together then maybe the stranger would let him play in the snow with him before he left.
He chuckled to himself as the fast movements caused him to trip and fall to the ground where his lips pulled up into such a beautiful smile that Junhong felt his heart stop.
Once the other boy stopped his frantic spins he reached down to pick up the scarf that had fallen off during his game and his eyes caught the spying Junhong from where he sat bundled up in his blanket on his favorite park bench.
The already wind-bitten lips and flushed cheeks reddened in the few seconds it took to wrap the scarf back around and his face and he was gone before Junhong could even lift a hand to wave hello.
---
No matter how much Yongguk begged him, Jongup refused to spend the evening anywhere near Himchan. “If I have to explain it to you then you’re too stupid to even know.” He told him through gritted teeth after the third phone call Yongguk had made to him in an hour then slamming the phone down to grass. “Your brother’s trying to test my patience.” Jongup told Junhong just before he hissed and reached for his hip. A heart outline was slowly appearing on his skin as Yongguk tried to plead his case from wherever he was while Jongup and Junhong played basketball together in the park after school.
“Why does he still do that?” Junhong flinched at the swollen skin until Jongup pulled his shirt down to hide it. “It’s not okay to hurt your soulmate.”
“It doesn’t really hurt that bad.” Jongup’s brow was furrowed for a few more seconds as Yongguk finished up. “When I’m not with him and he scratches his name across my skin it’s actually kind of a turn on.” He shrugged shamefully and stole the ball from a disgusted Junhong’s hands. “Haven’t you ever thought of sending your name or address to yours this way? It would save you a lot of searching and worrying.”
Junhong was emphatic as he shook his head. “I’m not hurting him any more than he’s already been. It’s not right and we’ll find each other when we’re meant to.”
Jongup stopped halfway to the net to look at him. “That’s really sweet, Junhong. I don’t know if I could purposely hurt Yongguk if I knew he was mistreated. But sometimes he scrawls penises on my arms when I’m wearing tank tops and I think about asking you to punch me just to get even.”
When they were leaving the park and Jongup’s phone went off for the sixth time Junhong finally asked the question that had been burning at him for weeks. “How are you okay with him still being around Himchan?”
“It’s complicated.” Jongup answered quietly, turning his phone off so that he didn’t have to worry about any more interruptions. “It wasn’t like he was in love with him when they did those things. I felt everything he felt so I should know. He was just using him as a way to punish me. Himchan is an idiot but I can’t really be mad at him for not knowing what was happening.”
“So you’re not worried that he’ll try to like, seduce Yongguk or anything?”
With a snort of laughter Jongup’s shoulders shook until he got himself back under control. “Yongguk said he told him everything about us and that Himchan thought it was hilarious. Apparently he’s found some junior boy and turned his attention there so no, I’m not concerned with them hanging out together.”
Junhong glanced over at the pond where he had watched the mysterious boy playing a few days earlier. A part of his brain had stayed in that moment ever since it had happened and he couldn’t get the way his exhausted face had lifted in excitement as he spun around in the snow out of his mind.
He pushed the thought away and turned back to his best friend. “Then why do you keep telling him you don’t want to be anywhere near Himchan?”
“Because even though Yongguk’s off-limits to Himchan I still don’t want him to start up that horrible flirting with me again. Last time he thought you and I were dating and still managed to touch me three times before I got away. Just imagine how he’ll be now that he knows I’m soulmates with Yongguk.”
“He’ll be a horny little beast.” Junhong agreed. Maybe I could leave a new set of gloves and a hat beside the pond and destiny will help him find it, his distracted thoughts continued to crowd his mind no matter how hard he tried to forget them. “What are they planning on doing this weekend?”
The pond finally passed behind them and Junhong could breathe easier again.
“I think Himchan’s friend from that other school wanted to get a bunch of people together and go eat or something. Yongguk’s been asking me for a week and I keep telling him no.” He bounced the basketball as they walked down the sidewalk towards Junhong’s house. Even if he was arguing with his boyfriend he wasn’t going to go home without seeing him first. They still had too much time apart to make up for. “Would you go too? He’s going to wear me down and I hate him for it.”
How exactly his older brother would wear down his best friend wasn’t mentioned but Junhong had a pretty good, albeit gross, guess.
“I don’t want to be a third wheel.” He complained, scratching at an old scar on his thumb. “Now that you two are together I’ll just sit there and be uncomfortable.”
“Don’t be stupid.” Jongup told him bluntly. “I hate going out just as much as you do. Yongguk can hang out with his friends and you and I can sit and make fun of everyone. Same as old times.”
He chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip. “You promise you won’t ignore me?”
Jongup held the basketball under his arm so that he could slip his hand into Junhong’s. “I swear it.”
--
His first day of junior year was actually a lot easier than Daehyun had thought it would be. Getting up early wasn’t anything new since his stepfather woke the entire house up at six in the morning when he dressed for work. And the schoolwork was actually fun. Daehyun hoped he had homework every night because it would be something to keep him out of the way and busy all night. Even his teachers were nice to him (partly because his mother lied and told them he had a learning disability and that was why he was so far behind everyone).
After being introduced to his fourth hour geography class he was still riding the wave of elation that having a third hour lab partner for science had given him. He walked shyly but happily to the seat the teacher pointed out and slid into it excitedly waiting for the lesson.
“No one’s ever that excited for geography.” An amused voice spoke up from the left side of him.
Daehyun jumped because even though he was having a good time at school he hadn’t gotten his hopes up that anyone would even try to talk to him. The boy beside him was friendly looking with a chubby-cheeked smile and thick hair that he pushed out of his eyes as he gave Daehyun a once-over. “You’re a charity kid aren’t you?” At Daehyun’s shamed blush the other boy raised his hands in alarm. “Sorry! My friends keep telling me I need to stop blurting out everything I think. I didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just that charity kids wear red undershirts instead of green.”
He had known his mother couldn’t afford a school this nice and that there was some kind of a scholarship happening for him to attend but he had hoped not to stick out and already someone had noticed he didn’t belong. Daehyun felt his good mood evaporating quickly once the lesson started.
The boy kept quiet for the next hour, taking notes and answering some of the questions the teacher put to the class. Daehyun tried to keep up with the work but after fifty minutes of hurriedly writing down everything the teacher had written on the board and talked about he was worn out and his hand was aching.
“We get a study guide the week before the tests so don’t worry about trying to remember whatever she’s blathering about up there. It’s all in the book.” The stranger waited beside Daehyun’s desk as he packed up his notebook and textbook into the brand new backpack his mother had bought him. It was the first one he’d ever gotten and where most of the other students shoved them into their lockers he kept it proudly over his shoulder all day. “Daehyun, right? I’m Youngjae.”
He bowed his head but stayed quiet. His feelings were a little raw after finding out everyone could tell right away that he wasn’t supposed to be there. The least they could do was make the scholarship students fit in a little better.
“Do you want to go get some lunch with us? They’re having pizza I think. It’s not bad but there’s probably better tasting garbage somewhere in this school.” If Youngjae had noticed that Daehyun hadn’t spoken yet then he was doing a good job at covering it. “I think you’re in my first period homeroom, too. I noticed you walk in but we were playing a card game in the back and if you take your eyes off of it for two seconds then someone swoops in and it’s all over. Your locker’s just one hallway away from me so I can walk you there. Do you want to drop your stuff off before we eat?”
The only reason he knew where his locker was located was because Youngjae pulled the schedule out of his hand and looked it over while they headed out the door.
Daehyun shook his head, pulling the backpack strap tighter over his shoulder. This was the nicest thing he had ever owned and no one was prying it from his fingers today.
Youngjae didn’t seem to notice or care that Daehyun hadn’t said a single word to him. He happily pointed out people and things in the school that he thought the new student should know about and by the time they had entered the cafeteria he finally had Daehyun smiling cautiously at him.
“You getting a tray?” He asked as he threw his coat over the back of a seat. “If you want to save us a table I can get it for you.”
He shook his head and pulled out the paper bag his mother had packed for him that morning. He knew they didn’t have enough money for the expensive lunches in this school but still felt embarrassed when he looked around and didn’t see any other homemade meals.
Ten minutes later Youngjae had come back with a small group of other boys, all eying him curiously as they surrounded the table.
“Here.” A tray was set down in front of him with a thick slice of pizza, a bowl of mixed fruit and a side salad that was so stuffed with extras that they were falling over the sides. “Your schedule says you have gym next period and if you don’t get something big to eat you’ll pass out. Coach Lee is a beast.”
Before Daehyun could open his mouth to say anything, thank him or refuse he wasn’t actually sure yet, Youngjae had already started introducing all of his friends. He would never remember their names, he couldn’t even look them in the eye, but he nodded after each one said hello.
Thankfully the conversation strayed from him and turned towards what they were doing that weekend. Youngjae was trying to convince them that they should all hang out with another set of boys from a different school but the others had some complaints about it.
“That drunk guy was an asshole.” The boy across from him in glasses spoke up. “He made that tiny kid cry for no reason.”
“Himchan promised he’s mellowed out. Did I not tell you guys this? That little kid was his soulmate.” Youngjae burst into laughter and slapped the table wildly. “He was trying to make him jealous and it backfired. Now he’s apparently whipped and a giant teddy bear.”
Daehyun listened to them with amusement. He had never had friends before, only saw them in movies or books, and it was exciting to see exactly how real life ones interacted. One day he hoped to have someone to laugh and tease with just like this.
When the bell rang he tried to smile at the half-hearted goodbyes the other boys made but he could tell they wouldn’t even remember him come lunchtime the next day. He needed some confidence but it scared him too much to try.
“Hey.” Youngjae’s voice interrupted his inner shaming. He turned around to see what he had wanted, backpack held tight to his chest. “I was a new kid once, too. No one talked to me for weeks and I ate lunch in the bathroom. It sucked and I promised myself that I wouldn’t let another kid here go through that. All the boys you ate with today were just like us at some point over the last few years. So don’t be so worried tomorrow, okay? We’ll take care of you.” He smiled and patted Daehyun on the shoulder as he walked past, not seeing the flinch the smaller boy made from the friendly touch.
“Thank you.” Daehyun whispered to his back. Youngjae turned and grinned at the first soft words he had finally earned.
There was one difference between him and the rest of those boys, Daehyun thought to himself as he searched for the gym.
They were normal and that was something he could never be.
--
“No leaving me alone with him. And I’m not to sit on his side of the table.” Jongup kept thinking of new rules for Yongguk as they walked towards the restaurant across town. “If he touches me I will punch him in the eye.”
“If he touches you then we’ll both be punching him.” Yongguk muttered, pulling Jongup closer. “I told Himchan to tone it down tonight. He’s not a bad guy, Jongup. Just a little over the top.”
Jongup glared up at his boyfriend, the furious expression making Yongguk cower in fear. “I know what sleeping with him feels like. Do you want to know how I know what that feels like, Yongguk? It’s because you were a little dumbass who spread his l-“
"Alright!” Yongguk covered the angry words with his hand and blushed as he looked over to see if his little brother had heard. “Are you going to make me feel guilty for that for the rest of our lives?”
“Probably.” Jongup answered bluntly. “Junhong, are you coming or not?” He looked over his shoulder and held a hand out for his best friend. “Are you feeling okay?”
Junhong was anxious and nervous but as he scrolled through everything that had happened that day he had no idea what it could be about. It had to be his soulmate feeling something so powerfully that it leaked through their bond without him knowing about it. Sometimes he could control his own emotions and rein them in so the other boy wasn’t overloaded with them but he must not have mastered that skill yet because Junhong always felt everything he felt.
“He’s excited.” Junhong told him, taking Jongup’s hand and ignoring his brother’s growl. “And happy. I don’t think I’ve ever felt him like this.” It made him a little jealous that something else was putting his mate into such a good mood. If this tiny spark made him this jealous then he didn’t know how he’d act if he was put in the same position Jongup was for so long. He’d probably rip the city apart brick by brick looking for him.
“That’s good though.” Jongup could see his friend’s warring emotions on his face and squeezed his hand in reassurance. “Happy is better than waking up with a new scar.”
He nodded, but couldn’t help the tiny sliver of sadness push through his barrier and infect the other boy wherever he was.
--
Daehyun jumped on the balls of his feet and waited by the door for the clock to strike six so he could leave. Youngjae had offered to pick him up and drive him but he didn’t want anyone knowing where he lived yet. His mother worked hard to keep the outside looking nice so that no one grew suspicious but he didn’t want Youngjae coming up to his door and looking inside and seeing the holes in the walls where his stepfather lost control or the empty living room because they had to sell the couch to pay rent three months ago.
The chime rang out for six and he quickly grabbed the coat Youngjae had snagged from the lost and found box for him before racing out the door and up the street to the subway. When he had excitedly explained to his mom how he was going out to eat with boys from school, with friends, she had handed him a handful of bills from her purse and left before he could see her tear up. Now he had money for the trip and enough to get a small meal that hopefully wouldn’t look pathetic next to everyone else’s plates.
“Dae!” Youngjae called for him from the subway exit where they had agreed to meet earlier that day at school. He waved him over with a grin. “Everyone’s already there so I had them order us whatever they were eating.” He had learned over the last week that when you made Daehyun uncomfortable his entire body would freeze and his eyes would dim so he quickly reassured him that it was okay. “I’m paying for everyone’s meal tonight so make sure and get dessert.”
They entered the restaurant and Youngjae looked around for his friends. “There’s Himchan with the serial killer smile waving at us. Don’t be frightened of him but he’s a loud mouth. That’s his best friend Yongguk and his boyfriend Jongup.” The tiny boy next to the gruff looking tall one was scooting so far away from Himchan that he was practically in his boyfriend’s lap. Daehyun thought it was odd how Youngjae seemed so easygoing about them being gay but didn’t press the matter. It was none of his business anyways. “And that’s Yongguk’s little brother, Junhong.”
The name slid across Daehyun’s skin like silk as he stared at the oversized baby-faced boy laughing at something. A dimple appeared on his cheek adding to his childlike expression and a brand new emotion burst through Daehyun, one he had never experienced before.
Safe.
--
Junhong cracked up at Jongup trying to crawl over Yongguk to get to the other side. They had arrived first and chosen their own seats so of course when Himchan showed up a few minutes ago he had gravitated towards the empty one by Jongup.
“Move, move, move!” He hissed at Junhong, shoving him so hard that he fell off the side of the bench and into the floor.
Even though his hip hit the ground hard Junhong couldn’t stop laughing. Giddiness had filled his belly and he wasn’t sure if it was because Himchan torturing Jongup was so funny or if it was another link to someone he couldn’t see.
“I guess we missed the pre-show entertainment.” Youngjae interrupted, pulling two chairs out at the other end of the long rectangle table where the other boys had gathered. “I’m starving. Sit down, Daehyun.”
The jolt the word gave Junhong shocked him up out of the floor and to his feet where he could see the newcomer shyly hiding his eyes beside Youngjae. He was tiny and thin with tanned skin that reminded Junhong of warm caramel and honey. His jet black hair hung over his face but Junhong didn’t need to see all of it to recognize the plump lips and outline of his profile.
It was the boy from the park that had danced so freely when he thought no one was looking.
And when he bit his lip and lifted his eyes to meet Junhong’s from the other end of the table fireworks skittered across his skin and the rest of the world melted away.
part five