Beyond the Threshold: Sequel
Beyond the Threshold: Sequel
Genre: AU, Angst, Fluff
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Onew/Taemin, Jonghyun/Onew (oh yeah there's JongYu here~)
Summary: The Powers and Archangels find out that Jinki wasn't able to fulfill his mission.
Warning: Death.
A/N: Finally, it's here~! :)) I'M SO SORRY THE ENDING IS REALLY LAME I DON'T EVEN WANT TO END IT ANYMORE if only I can afford to leave it like that. *sobs* Comments and concrit are very much appreciated though. ^^
I researched a bit on angels, specifically their rankings...so if you want to check it out, here are the sites I used for reference: 1 2 3 (St. Thomas' views on angels)
I learned from my Bio professor (lalala tayanika and sandrew09 ~) that the sound of the heart is lub dub. So...I used it here lol :))
*
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Jinki-hyung…
The heartbeat stops, and its chaotic wavelengths on the heart rate monitor turn into one straight line, producing a loud and continuous beep. Lee Taemin is lying on the operating table, pale, unconscious, lifeless. The surgeons are gathered around him, despair and regret written on their faces.
“Time of death, eight-thirty PM,” one of the surgeons announces. And just like that, they lost another patient.
Jinki sits by the marble staircase near the entrance to the Cupids’ abode, his eyes brimming involuntarily with tears. Jonghyun, who is seated beside him, notices this, his jovial smile turning into an anxious expression.
“Hey hyung, what’s happening to you?” he asks, wiping the older boy’s tears. Apparently, the tears won’t stop falling, so he gives up and cups Jinki’s face in his hands. “What’s wrong?” he asks him worriedly.
Jinki sniffs, attempting to wipe the continuous flow of tears as he looks straight into Jonghyun’s eyes. “I don’t know… These stupid tears just came rolling down my cheeks…”
“Come on,” Jonghyun says as he pulls Jinki by the arm. “Let’s go see Minho and Kibum.”
They find Kibum wandering along the pathway near the Gates of Heaven. Jonghyun and Jinki immediately notice that there’s something odd about Kibum. He usually doesn’t act this way; it’s not his habit to pace, especially with such anxiousness. Once he sees his two friends, he runs to them, his eyes full of panic and woe.
“He did it,” Kibum tells them hurriedly. “I was about to stop him but unfortunately I couldn’t. Now the Archangels and the Powers will find out, and we’ll all be in trouble, especially you, Jinki-hyung. I don’t know what to do; this shouldn’t have happened if I kept my mouth shut!” Kibum breaks down into silent sobs and lunges at Jonghyun, arms tightly fastened around the other angel’s waist as they fall to the pebbled path.
“Whoa Kibum, take it easy,” Jonghyun says, patting Kibum on the back.
Jinki, on the other hand, cannot bring himself to pay attention to Jonghyun struggling, and squirming, beneath Kibum. The flow of tears won’t stop, because his eyes and his heart know and understand what had happened. Taemin is dead. The thought refuses to stop repeating itself in his mind even as he tries to tell himself that it isn’t true. But knowing Kibum, he wouldn’t lie about something as serious as this.
Once Jonghyun manages to calm Kibum, the two angels get to their feet and turn to Jinki, who’s still in a state of shock, tears threatening to fall from his eyes anytime.
“Hyung?” Jonghyun says, grabbing Jinki by the shoulders and making the older angel face him.
Jinki turns to Jonghyun, but his eyes are not focused on the younger one. They seem vacant, empty, and blank. “Kibum-ah,” he says in a soft and rather shaky voice, his eyes still looking into the distance rather than at the two angels in front of him. “It’s not true, right? Just now you… You were lying.”
Kibum shakes his head, tears starting to fall from his eyes again. “No… I was telling the truth.” He looks apologetically at Jinki. “I’m sorry, hyung…”
Jinki can feel his heart tearing apart as he collapses on his knees. He wants to shout to the whole world that this can’t be happening…but he finds himself rooted to the spot and unable to utter a word. His eyes are once more brimming with tears, and he can’t see Jonghyun and Kibum helping him up, he can’t hear Jonghyun shouting at him and telling him to calm down and snap out of it, and he definitely can’t feel Kibum’s firm grip on his arm. There is only one emotion overpowering him at that moment…pain.
______________
It’s been a week since Jinki, Jonghyun, Kibum, and Minho last stepped out of Heaven’s Headquarters, where they are heavily guarded by the Dominions. The four of them are still under investigation after the Archangels and the Powers found out that Jinki wasn’t able to accomplish his mission and that Minho ended up doing it for him. Jonghyun and Kibum were brought in for questioning too, since they knew about Jinki’s little adventure on Earth.
Jinki refuses to talk to Minho, afraid that he might say something unnecessary and offensive. Minho did tell him that he was sorry, and that he simply wanted to get the job done for Jinki so that he wouldn’t be punished severely for neglecting his duties. Eventually, the higher-ranking angels still found out. Of course, who could have hidden a secret as serious as that from the meddling Archangels who stood so closely by the Angels’ side?
Jonghyun sulks in one corner of their designated room in the Headquarters (which seems more like a prison cell except that they have really decent bunk beds, and there are no bars locking them in). “I want to get out of here,” he blurts out, breaking the deafening silence that has been lingering in the room for days. Only Kibum and Minho are able to react; they turn to him, weary and helpless.
“Who doesn’t?” Kibum replies, sighing as he hopelessly looks out the window. Minho remains unsmiling as he stares fixedly at Jonghyun, as if wanting to say something but deciding against it.
Jonghyun laughs sarcastically, ignoring the enormous eyes that threaten to engulf him. “This is a bit ironic, isn’t it?” he says, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “All of us used to be loud and we always joke around and stuff, especially when we’re in our quarters. But now none of us have anything to say.” He stares sadly at the space that divides the four of them…and it’s not as if the Dominions actually decided on that. The four of them simply chose to sit that way, in four corners of the room, not daring to invade one another’s private space.
No one responds, and Jonghyun isn’t surprised. Kibum doesn’t avert his gaze from the view outside. Minho merely blinks at Jonghyun, face expressionless as usual. Then Jonghyun catches sight of Jinki; Jinki, who has continually shed tears for the entire week, whose eyes have grown smaller because of all the weeping and sobbing. Jinki who appears paler than usual, who hasn’t said a word since they were sent to the Headquarters…Jinki who has been suffering from a great loss that none of his friends really understand.
Despite Kibum and Minho’s failed attempts in getting Jinki to speak to them, Jonghyun doesn’t lose hope. He sees to it that he continues to try his best up to the minute that they settle on their bunks and wait for sleep to come.
“Hyung?” Jonghyun says quietly, looking at the bunk across him. As expected, Jinki doesn’t reply. He doesn’t even budge. Jonghyun gets on his feet and squeezes himself beside Jinki. The older angel moves a little to his right, making space for Jonghyun to lie on. Jonghyun smiles. At least you’re starting to react now, he thinks. He reaches for Jinki’s hand and laces their fingers together.
Jonghyun finds it odd when he feels pressure coming from their linked hands; it isn’t his habit to squeeze people’s hands unless there’s a need for him to. He turns to look at Jinki. The older angel is staring back at him, eyes full of what seems to be downright melancholy and grief. Jonghyun realizes that it’s Jinki who’s crushing his hand, and it fucking hurts. “Hyung, you’re-”
“Hush,” Jinki says gently, his voice slightly hoarse from lack of use, one finger pressed against Jonghyun’s lips. Jinki closes the gap between their faces, and soon his lips meet Jonghyun’s.
Jonghyun finds it awkward at first; Jinki squeezing his hand tighter, his free arm wrapped around the younger angel’s waist. Nevertheless, Jonghyun kisses back, hands running through Jinki’s hair as he does so. His heart begins to thump rapidly as the kiss deepens. Jonghyun realizes how much he wants and longs for this that it makes him hurt inside, knowing that he can never replace Taemin in Jinki’s heart.
Jinki lets out a moan as Jonghyun tugs him closer. Jonghyun’s kisses start getting so intense that Jinki can’t breathe anymore. When Jonghyun pauses for a split second, Jinki tries his first attempt to make him stop. “Jong-”…then Jonghyun is kissing him again.
Jonghyun ignores the way Jinki struggles to break free from the kiss, and he is dumbfounded when Jinki pushes him away with such force that he falls flat on his back and onto the cold floor.
“I’m sorry!” Jinki says, face flushing, and he instantly buries himself in his huge blanket.
Damn, that was good, Jonghyun thinks as he picks himself up from the floor, not minding the overly embarrassed Jinki that is covered in a pool of blankets. One may think that Jonghyun’s a crazy person as he lies on his bed, a stupid smile plastered on his face. It feels so good, yet it seems so wrong…
Jinki resumes his I’m-not-talking-to-any-of-you act after that night.
______________
One month. It takes one month for the four Angels to be released, finally, from the Headquarters. Jinki, (as well as Jonghyun, who keeps on insisting that Jinki needs a companion) is given a new job as an Angel; he is now a Guardian, since he once showed interest in a human. The Dominions are the ones who assigned this new duty to Jinki. Jonghyun is just too pesky for their liking which is why they allowed him to become a Guardian. Besides, it’s the only way he can think of to always be around Jinki and find the right time to talk to him about what happened at the Headquarters.
Jonghyun never ceases to follow Jinki around, wherever he goes, and Jinki finds this annoying. So during the umpteenth time, when Jinki is about to cross the portal to visit the child he’s watching over, he finally decides to confront Jonghyun. Just a few feet away from the portal, Jinki turns back and pierces Jonghyun with a fiery gaze.
“What?” he asks him, displeasure etched in his soft and angelic voice. “Why do you keep on following me?”
Jonghyun stares back, wide-eyed, a pained expression drawn plainly on his face. “I was just-I want to talk to you,” he tells Jinki.
Jinki seems a bit taken aback, but he manages not to let it show. “About what?” He tries to keep his voice stern and indifferent.
Jonghyun looks at Jinki straight in the eyes. “Hyung, I l-” Say it now, dumbass! Jonghyun bites his lip, and looks distractedly at his feet. “I like you.”
“What…?” Jinki blinks his eyes in shock. “Jonghyun, about what happened last month, I didn’t-”
“It’s okay,” Jonghyun says, not letting Jinki finish whatever he wants to say. He takes a step closer to the older angel, wraps his arms around his waist, and buries his face in his neck. “I don’t regret anything that happened last month. I like you, hyung…even if it hurts. And even if I know that Taemin will always be the one in your heart…”
Jinki gulps, the lump in his throat not letting him say what he wants to say. Jonghyun-ah, I don’t regret it too… But you’re right. Taemin is the only person that will make my heart contented. I’m sorry, Jonghyun-ah… I’m really sorry…
Jonghyun trembles as heartrending sobs escape his lips, as if he heard all of Jinki’s thoughts. He clings to him like he won’t be able to hold him like this again. He loses his composure when Jinki wraps his arms around him and gives him a warm and crushing embrace.
______________
It has been a hundred days. Jinki misses Taemin. A lot. Watching over Yoogeun, the three-year-old orphan who has been staying at Little Angels’ Home in Seoul, doesn’t really help in the daunting and agonizing process of getting over Taemin. That orphanage, after all, is the same orphanage where Taemin stayed for almost his entire life.
Jinki takes a deep breath. He sings Yoogeun to sleep, half-wishing that he can go back to the time when he met Taemin and spend more time with him on Earth. He prays that Yoogeun won’t suffer the same fate that Taemin did, and that he’ll be adopted by responsible, loving, and caring parents.
“Yoogeun-ah,” Jinki says softly, “grow up healthy and strong, okay?” He smiles as Yoogeun mumbles in his sleep. He tucks a stray strand of hair behind the cute little boy’s ear. Jinki looks at his duty watch, only to find out that he needs to go back to Heaven. He gets to his feet, taking one last look at his Guarded. He plants a soft kiss on the boy’s forehead before going out and crossing the portal between the two worlds.
Jonghyun, Kibum, and Minho are all waiting for him by the pebbled pathway when he arrives at the Gates of Heaven. They’re all wearing bright smiles on their faces. Kibum approaches him first and pulls him into a cuddle. Jinki blinks as the younger angel makes them sway from left to right as he continues to cuddle him.
“We’re so proud of you,” Kibum tells him happily. He lets go of Jinki, and Jonghyun comes right into view, pulling the older angel into a crushing embrace. Jinki looks questioningly at Minho, but the younger angel only smiles and nods his head.
“Hey,” Jinki says firmly, despite his lack of breath. Jonghyun lets go of him, eyes and lips forming into a stunning smile that made Jinki’s heart flutter for a split second. “Can anyone tell me what’s going on? What are you so happy about?”
“Jonghyun-hyung will be the one to explain,” Minho replies, finally talking. Kibum nods and beckons for Jonghyun to go and do what he’s supposed to do. Jonghyun grabs Jinki’s hand and starts to drag him to a direction quite unknown to him.
“Oi! Where are you taking me?!” Jonghyun ignores Jinki’s shout of protests as he drags him along and leads him to the Powers’ abode. He flashes another endearing smile as he motions for Jinki to enter the chamber of the Powers’ dwelling.
Jinki does as he is told, even though there are a lot of questions swimming in his thoughts. Seriously, what’s up with them today, I don’t understand those stupid smiles on their faces!
“JINKI-HYUNG!!!” Someone comes running towards him and throws his arms around him, knocking him off his feet, making him fall flat on his back, onto the cold, cemented floor of the chamber.
Who in the world- Jinki’s eyes widen as he looks up at the auburn-haired person nestled against his neck. “Taemin?”
“Hyung, I missed you so much!” the young boy with auburn hair says, clinging on to Jinki as if he never wants to let go. Hot tears soak Jinki’s shirt as Taemin breaks into silent sobs, saying how much he wanted to see Jinki...but he couldn’t care less. All he knows is that Taemin is right here, in his arms, and he is happy. They’re both happy.
It only takes a few minutes of explaining why and how in the world Taemin managed to become an Angel. Apparently, the Powers (who are in charge of the transition of humans from Earth to Heaven when they die) took pity on the poor soul after finding out about the story of his life as an orphan and as a cancer patient. The Cupids, specifically Eros, their Head, also had their say in the matter. Eros explained that falling in love isn’t a sin, so why not let Taemin be reunited with the person he truly loved?
“Aww Taemin, I didn’t know you were so cute~” Kibum says, pinching Taemin’s cheeks. “You’re going to be my son from now on. Okay?”
Taemin nods, swatting Kibum’s hands away from his face. He turns to Jonghyun, sincerity written on his face. “I heard you took good care of Jinki-hyung when I was away,” Taemin tells him. “Thank you very much!” He gives him a quick cuddle.
Jonghyun seems to be taken aback at first, but he just can’t resist the adorable cuteness that is Taemin, so he pats the younger angel’s back. “No problem kiddo.”
Minho gives Taemin a small smile. “Welcome,” Minho says. “I hope you’ll enjoy our company.”
“I’m sure I will,” Taemin replies, smiling brightly. Then he turns his gaze back to Jinki. “So what’s my first mission?”
“Well,” Jinki says, “you haven’t been given a misson yet. But there’s someone I want you to meet.” He turns to the other three angels. “You guys can tag along too. I’m sure you’ll find him amusing.”
A split second later and they’re back on Earth, at the Little Angels’ Home, right at the foot of Jung Yoogeun’s bed. Jonghyun, Kibum, Minho, and Taemin stare in awe at the sleeping form of the three-year-old boy.
“Awww he’s adorable~” Kibum says, all the more revealing his fondness of cute and adorable stuff as he fixes the little boy’s hair.
“So this is the one you’ve been guarding recently?” Jonghyun asks, standing beside Kibum and joining him in fixing Yoogeun’s disheveled hair.
Jinki nods. Taemin looks at him and holds his hand. “Let’s look after him together,” he tells the older angel. Jinki smiles at him as he squeezes the angel’s hand.
Minho smirks as he discreetly watches over the lovers in front of him. “Jonghyun-hyung, Kibum-ah,” he says, catching the undivided attention of the two angels. “I think we have something left to do.” He points to his duty watch, and understanding immediately dawns on Jonghyun and Kibum.
“Right,” Jonghyun says. “We better get going. See you later Jinki-hyung, Taeminnie!”
Jinki looks suspiciously at his friends as they make a quick escape to the door. “Wait, where-” And they’re gone. Oh great, so they left me here with Taemin. Jinki hits his forehead with his hand. Lub dub. Lub dub. Lub dub. Oh no, not again-
“Hyung?” Taemin tugs at Jinki’s arm.
Jinki gulps as he turns to look at him. “Yes?” He blinks, wondering what Taemin is planning to do. Or say.
“Let’s go to the garden.” Taemin drags Jinki out of the door, and to the garden. He collapses on the grass and spreads his arms and legs as he lets out a small sigh. “It’s good to be back.” He sniffs the night breeze and takes another deep breath.
Jinki sits beside Taemin and looks up at the night sky. It is only then that he is reminded of how the sky looks so breathtaking at night, with the stars sparkling from a distance.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Taemin asks him, sitting up and resting his head on Jinki’s shoulder.
Jinki merely nods, taking Taemin’s hand and interlocking fingers with him. He then turns to take a good look at Taemin, one filled with so much joy and ease that Taemin can’t help but look back and get lost in those smiling eyes. “Taemin, I-”
Taemin closes the gap between them as he presses his lips against Jinki’s, either to shut him up or because he just wants to kiss him. Jinki squirms as he tries to escape Taemin’s kissing attack, but Taemin pins him against the grass and deepens the kiss. The older angel is at a loss for words as he kisses back, hands running through Taemin’s hair, thinking that this is exactly what he wants. Taemin whimpers as Jinki tugs him closer, heat radiating from their entangled bodies.
“I love you,” Jinki murmurs, panting.
“I love you too,” Taemin murmurs back, catching his breath.
They walk hand in hand as they make their way back to the portal dividing the two worlds, bright smiles on their faces. They’re happy they have each other, and nothing and no one can tear them apart…ever. And that is all that matters.
*
______________
Special thanks again to pinkweather for beta-ing. TYSM BB ILU~ ♥
Genre: AU, Angst, Fluff
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Onew/Taemin, Jonghyun/Onew (oh yeah there's JongYu here~)
Summary: The Powers and Archangels find out that Jinki wasn't able to fulfill his mission.
Warning: Death.
A/N: Finally, it's here~! :)) I'M SO SORRY THE ENDING IS REALLY LAME I DON'T EVEN WANT TO END IT ANYMORE if only I can afford to leave it like that. *sobs* Comments and concrit are very much appreciated though. ^^
I researched a bit on angels, specifically their rankings...so if you want to check it out, here are the sites I used for reference: 1 2 3 (St. Thomas' views on angels)
I learned from my Bio professor (lalala tayanika and sandrew09 ~) that the sound of the heart is lub dub. So...I used it here lol :))
*
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Lub dub.
Jinki-hyung…
The heartbeat stops, and its chaotic wavelengths on the heart rate monitor turn into one straight line, producing a loud and continuous beep. Lee Taemin is lying on the operating table, pale, unconscious, lifeless. The surgeons are gathered around him, despair and regret written on their faces.
“Time of death, eight-thirty PM,” one of the surgeons announces. And just like that, they lost another patient.
Jinki sits by the marble staircase near the entrance to the Cupids’ abode, his eyes brimming involuntarily with tears. Jonghyun, who is seated beside him, notices this, his jovial smile turning into an anxious expression.
“Hey hyung, what’s happening to you?” he asks, wiping the older boy’s tears. Apparently, the tears won’t stop falling, so he gives up and cups Jinki’s face in his hands. “What’s wrong?” he asks him worriedly.
Jinki sniffs, attempting to wipe the continuous flow of tears as he looks straight into Jonghyun’s eyes. “I don’t know… These stupid tears just came rolling down my cheeks…”
“Come on,” Jonghyun says as he pulls Jinki by the arm. “Let’s go see Minho and Kibum.”
They find Kibum wandering along the pathway near the Gates of Heaven. Jonghyun and Jinki immediately notice that there’s something odd about Kibum. He usually doesn’t act this way; it’s not his habit to pace, especially with such anxiousness. Once he sees his two friends, he runs to them, his eyes full of panic and woe.
“He did it,” Kibum tells them hurriedly. “I was about to stop him but unfortunately I couldn’t. Now the Archangels and the Powers will find out, and we’ll all be in trouble, especially you, Jinki-hyung. I don’t know what to do; this shouldn’t have happened if I kept my mouth shut!” Kibum breaks down into silent sobs and lunges at Jonghyun, arms tightly fastened around the other angel’s waist as they fall to the pebbled path.
“Whoa Kibum, take it easy,” Jonghyun says, patting Kibum on the back.
Jinki, on the other hand, cannot bring himself to pay attention to Jonghyun struggling, and squirming, beneath Kibum. The flow of tears won’t stop, because his eyes and his heart know and understand what had happened. Taemin is dead. The thought refuses to stop repeating itself in his mind even as he tries to tell himself that it isn’t true. But knowing Kibum, he wouldn’t lie about something as serious as this.
Once Jonghyun manages to calm Kibum, the two angels get to their feet and turn to Jinki, who’s still in a state of shock, tears threatening to fall from his eyes anytime.
“Hyung?” Jonghyun says, grabbing Jinki by the shoulders and making the older angel face him.
Jinki turns to Jonghyun, but his eyes are not focused on the younger one. They seem vacant, empty, and blank. “Kibum-ah,” he says in a soft and rather shaky voice, his eyes still looking into the distance rather than at the two angels in front of him. “It’s not true, right? Just now you… You were lying.”
Kibum shakes his head, tears starting to fall from his eyes again. “No… I was telling the truth.” He looks apologetically at Jinki. “I’m sorry, hyung…”
Jinki can feel his heart tearing apart as he collapses on his knees. He wants to shout to the whole world that this can’t be happening…but he finds himself rooted to the spot and unable to utter a word. His eyes are once more brimming with tears, and he can’t see Jonghyun and Kibum helping him up, he can’t hear Jonghyun shouting at him and telling him to calm down and snap out of it, and he definitely can’t feel Kibum’s firm grip on his arm. There is only one emotion overpowering him at that moment…pain.
______________
It’s been a week since Jinki, Jonghyun, Kibum, and Minho last stepped out of Heaven’s Headquarters, where they are heavily guarded by the Dominions. The four of them are still under investigation after the Archangels and the Powers found out that Jinki wasn’t able to accomplish his mission and that Minho ended up doing it for him. Jonghyun and Kibum were brought in for questioning too, since they knew about Jinki’s little adventure on Earth.
Jinki refuses to talk to Minho, afraid that he might say something unnecessary and offensive. Minho did tell him that he was sorry, and that he simply wanted to get the job done for Jinki so that he wouldn’t be punished severely for neglecting his duties. Eventually, the higher-ranking angels still found out. Of course, who could have hidden a secret as serious as that from the meddling Archangels who stood so closely by the Angels’ side?
Jonghyun sulks in one corner of their designated room in the Headquarters (which seems more like a prison cell except that they have really decent bunk beds, and there are no bars locking them in). “I want to get out of here,” he blurts out, breaking the deafening silence that has been lingering in the room for days. Only Kibum and Minho are able to react; they turn to him, weary and helpless.
“Who doesn’t?” Kibum replies, sighing as he hopelessly looks out the window. Minho remains unsmiling as he stares fixedly at Jonghyun, as if wanting to say something but deciding against it.
Jonghyun laughs sarcastically, ignoring the enormous eyes that threaten to engulf him. “This is a bit ironic, isn’t it?” he says, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “All of us used to be loud and we always joke around and stuff, especially when we’re in our quarters. But now none of us have anything to say.” He stares sadly at the space that divides the four of them…and it’s not as if the Dominions actually decided on that. The four of them simply chose to sit that way, in four corners of the room, not daring to invade one another’s private space.
No one responds, and Jonghyun isn’t surprised. Kibum doesn’t avert his gaze from the view outside. Minho merely blinks at Jonghyun, face expressionless as usual. Then Jonghyun catches sight of Jinki; Jinki, who has continually shed tears for the entire week, whose eyes have grown smaller because of all the weeping and sobbing. Jinki who appears paler than usual, who hasn’t said a word since they were sent to the Headquarters…Jinki who has been suffering from a great loss that none of his friends really understand.
Despite Kibum and Minho’s failed attempts in getting Jinki to speak to them, Jonghyun doesn’t lose hope. He sees to it that he continues to try his best up to the minute that they settle on their bunks and wait for sleep to come.
“Hyung?” Jonghyun says quietly, looking at the bunk across him. As expected, Jinki doesn’t reply. He doesn’t even budge. Jonghyun gets on his feet and squeezes himself beside Jinki. The older angel moves a little to his right, making space for Jonghyun to lie on. Jonghyun smiles. At least you’re starting to react now, he thinks. He reaches for Jinki’s hand and laces their fingers together.
Jonghyun finds it odd when he feels pressure coming from their linked hands; it isn’t his habit to squeeze people’s hands unless there’s a need for him to. He turns to look at Jinki. The older angel is staring back at him, eyes full of what seems to be downright melancholy and grief. Jonghyun realizes that it’s Jinki who’s crushing his hand, and it fucking hurts. “Hyung, you’re-”
“Hush,” Jinki says gently, his voice slightly hoarse from lack of use, one finger pressed against Jonghyun’s lips. Jinki closes the gap between their faces, and soon his lips meet Jonghyun’s.
Jonghyun finds it awkward at first; Jinki squeezing his hand tighter, his free arm wrapped around the younger angel’s waist. Nevertheless, Jonghyun kisses back, hands running through Jinki’s hair as he does so. His heart begins to thump rapidly as the kiss deepens. Jonghyun realizes how much he wants and longs for this that it makes him hurt inside, knowing that he can never replace Taemin in Jinki’s heart.
Jinki lets out a moan as Jonghyun tugs him closer. Jonghyun’s kisses start getting so intense that Jinki can’t breathe anymore. When Jonghyun pauses for a split second, Jinki tries his first attempt to make him stop. “Jong-”…then Jonghyun is kissing him again.
Jonghyun ignores the way Jinki struggles to break free from the kiss, and he is dumbfounded when Jinki pushes him away with such force that he falls flat on his back and onto the cold floor.
“I’m sorry!” Jinki says, face flushing, and he instantly buries himself in his huge blanket.
Damn, that was good, Jonghyun thinks as he picks himself up from the floor, not minding the overly embarrassed Jinki that is covered in a pool of blankets. One may think that Jonghyun’s a crazy person as he lies on his bed, a stupid smile plastered on his face. It feels so good, yet it seems so wrong…
Jinki resumes his I’m-not-talking-to-any-of-you act after that night.
______________
One month. It takes one month for the four Angels to be released, finally, from the Headquarters. Jinki, (as well as Jonghyun, who keeps on insisting that Jinki needs a companion) is given a new job as an Angel; he is now a Guardian, since he once showed interest in a human. The Dominions are the ones who assigned this new duty to Jinki. Jonghyun is just too pesky for their liking which is why they allowed him to become a Guardian. Besides, it’s the only way he can think of to always be around Jinki and find the right time to talk to him about what happened at the Headquarters.
Jonghyun never ceases to follow Jinki around, wherever he goes, and Jinki finds this annoying. So during the umpteenth time, when Jinki is about to cross the portal to visit the child he’s watching over, he finally decides to confront Jonghyun. Just a few feet away from the portal, Jinki turns back and pierces Jonghyun with a fiery gaze.
“What?” he asks him, displeasure etched in his soft and angelic voice. “Why do you keep on following me?”
Jonghyun stares back, wide-eyed, a pained expression drawn plainly on his face. “I was just-I want to talk to you,” he tells Jinki.
Jinki seems a bit taken aback, but he manages not to let it show. “About what?” He tries to keep his voice stern and indifferent.
Jonghyun looks at Jinki straight in the eyes. “Hyung, I l-” Say it now, dumbass! Jonghyun bites his lip, and looks distractedly at his feet. “I like you.”
“What…?” Jinki blinks his eyes in shock. “Jonghyun, about what happened last month, I didn’t-”
“It’s okay,” Jonghyun says, not letting Jinki finish whatever he wants to say. He takes a step closer to the older angel, wraps his arms around his waist, and buries his face in his neck. “I don’t regret anything that happened last month. I like you, hyung…even if it hurts. And even if I know that Taemin will always be the one in your heart…”
Jinki gulps, the lump in his throat not letting him say what he wants to say. Jonghyun-ah, I don’t regret it too… But you’re right. Taemin is the only person that will make my heart contented. I’m sorry, Jonghyun-ah… I’m really sorry…
Jonghyun trembles as heartrending sobs escape his lips, as if he heard all of Jinki’s thoughts. He clings to him like he won’t be able to hold him like this again. He loses his composure when Jinki wraps his arms around him and gives him a warm and crushing embrace.
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It has been a hundred days. Jinki misses Taemin. A lot. Watching over Yoogeun, the three-year-old orphan who has been staying at Little Angels’ Home in Seoul, doesn’t really help in the daunting and agonizing process of getting over Taemin. That orphanage, after all, is the same orphanage where Taemin stayed for almost his entire life.
Jinki takes a deep breath. He sings Yoogeun to sleep, half-wishing that he can go back to the time when he met Taemin and spend more time with him on Earth. He prays that Yoogeun won’t suffer the same fate that Taemin did, and that he’ll be adopted by responsible, loving, and caring parents.
“Yoogeun-ah,” Jinki says softly, “grow up healthy and strong, okay?” He smiles as Yoogeun mumbles in his sleep. He tucks a stray strand of hair behind the cute little boy’s ear. Jinki looks at his duty watch, only to find out that he needs to go back to Heaven. He gets to his feet, taking one last look at his Guarded. He plants a soft kiss on the boy’s forehead before going out and crossing the portal between the two worlds.
Jonghyun, Kibum, and Minho are all waiting for him by the pebbled pathway when he arrives at the Gates of Heaven. They’re all wearing bright smiles on their faces. Kibum approaches him first and pulls him into a cuddle. Jinki blinks as the younger angel makes them sway from left to right as he continues to cuddle him.
“We’re so proud of you,” Kibum tells him happily. He lets go of Jinki, and Jonghyun comes right into view, pulling the older angel into a crushing embrace. Jinki looks questioningly at Minho, but the younger angel only smiles and nods his head.
“Hey,” Jinki says firmly, despite his lack of breath. Jonghyun lets go of him, eyes and lips forming into a stunning smile that made Jinki’s heart flutter for a split second. “Can anyone tell me what’s going on? What are you so happy about?”
“Jonghyun-hyung will be the one to explain,” Minho replies, finally talking. Kibum nods and beckons for Jonghyun to go and do what he’s supposed to do. Jonghyun grabs Jinki’s hand and starts to drag him to a direction quite unknown to him.
“Oi! Where are you taking me?!” Jonghyun ignores Jinki’s shout of protests as he drags him along and leads him to the Powers’ abode. He flashes another endearing smile as he motions for Jinki to enter the chamber of the Powers’ dwelling.
Jinki does as he is told, even though there are a lot of questions swimming in his thoughts. Seriously, what’s up with them today, I don’t understand those stupid smiles on their faces!
“JINKI-HYUNG!!!” Someone comes running towards him and throws his arms around him, knocking him off his feet, making him fall flat on his back, onto the cold, cemented floor of the chamber.
Who in the world- Jinki’s eyes widen as he looks up at the auburn-haired person nestled against his neck. “Taemin?”
“Hyung, I missed you so much!” the young boy with auburn hair says, clinging on to Jinki as if he never wants to let go. Hot tears soak Jinki’s shirt as Taemin breaks into silent sobs, saying how much he wanted to see Jinki...but he couldn’t care less. All he knows is that Taemin is right here, in his arms, and he is happy. They’re both happy.
It only takes a few minutes of explaining why and how in the world Taemin managed to become an Angel. Apparently, the Powers (who are in charge of the transition of humans from Earth to Heaven when they die) took pity on the poor soul after finding out about the story of his life as an orphan and as a cancer patient. The Cupids, specifically Eros, their Head, also had their say in the matter. Eros explained that falling in love isn’t a sin, so why not let Taemin be reunited with the person he truly loved?
“Aww Taemin, I didn’t know you were so cute~” Kibum says, pinching Taemin’s cheeks. “You’re going to be my son from now on. Okay?”
Taemin nods, swatting Kibum’s hands away from his face. He turns to Jonghyun, sincerity written on his face. “I heard you took good care of Jinki-hyung when I was away,” Taemin tells him. “Thank you very much!” He gives him a quick cuddle.
Jonghyun seems to be taken aback at first, but he just can’t resist the adorable cuteness that is Taemin, so he pats the younger angel’s back. “No problem kiddo.”
Minho gives Taemin a small smile. “Welcome,” Minho says. “I hope you’ll enjoy our company.”
“I’m sure I will,” Taemin replies, smiling brightly. Then he turns his gaze back to Jinki. “So what’s my first mission?”
“Well,” Jinki says, “you haven’t been given a misson yet. But there’s someone I want you to meet.” He turns to the other three angels. “You guys can tag along too. I’m sure you’ll find him amusing.”
A split second later and they’re back on Earth, at the Little Angels’ Home, right at the foot of Jung Yoogeun’s bed. Jonghyun, Kibum, Minho, and Taemin stare in awe at the sleeping form of the three-year-old boy.
“Awww he’s adorable~” Kibum says, all the more revealing his fondness of cute and adorable stuff as he fixes the little boy’s hair.
“So this is the one you’ve been guarding recently?” Jonghyun asks, standing beside Kibum and joining him in fixing Yoogeun’s disheveled hair.
Jinki nods. Taemin looks at him and holds his hand. “Let’s look after him together,” he tells the older angel. Jinki smiles at him as he squeezes the angel’s hand.
Minho smirks as he discreetly watches over the lovers in front of him. “Jonghyun-hyung, Kibum-ah,” he says, catching the undivided attention of the two angels. “I think we have something left to do.” He points to his duty watch, and understanding immediately dawns on Jonghyun and Kibum.
“Right,” Jonghyun says. “We better get going. See you later Jinki-hyung, Taeminnie!”
Jinki looks suspiciously at his friends as they make a quick escape to the door. “Wait, where-” And they’re gone. Oh great, so they left me here with Taemin. Jinki hits his forehead with his hand. Lub dub. Lub dub. Lub dub. Oh no, not again-
“Hyung?” Taemin tugs at Jinki’s arm.
Jinki gulps as he turns to look at him. “Yes?” He blinks, wondering what Taemin is planning to do. Or say.
“Let’s go to the garden.” Taemin drags Jinki out of the door, and to the garden. He collapses on the grass and spreads his arms and legs as he lets out a small sigh. “It’s good to be back.” He sniffs the night breeze and takes another deep breath.
Jinki sits beside Taemin and looks up at the night sky. It is only then that he is reminded of how the sky looks so breathtaking at night, with the stars sparkling from a distance.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Taemin asks him, sitting up and resting his head on Jinki’s shoulder.
Jinki merely nods, taking Taemin’s hand and interlocking fingers with him. He then turns to take a good look at Taemin, one filled with so much joy and ease that Taemin can’t help but look back and get lost in those smiling eyes. “Taemin, I-”
Taemin closes the gap between them as he presses his lips against Jinki’s, either to shut him up or because he just wants to kiss him. Jinki squirms as he tries to escape Taemin’s kissing attack, but Taemin pins him against the grass and deepens the kiss. The older angel is at a loss for words as he kisses back, hands running through Taemin’s hair, thinking that this is exactly what he wants. Taemin whimpers as Jinki tugs him closer, heat radiating from their entangled bodies.
“I love you,” Jinki murmurs, panting.
“I love you too,” Taemin murmurs back, catching his breath.
They walk hand in hand as they make their way back to the portal dividing the two worlds, bright smiles on their faces. They’re happy they have each other, and nothing and no one can tear them apart…ever. And that is all that matters.
*
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Special thanks again to pinkweather for beta-ing. TYSM BB ILU~ ♥