[KPOP RPS] Mutli chap: As the crow flies - Part four {super junior}
Title: As the crow flies
Rating: R
Pairing: Kangin/Leeteuk [main], Heechul/Han Geng [main], Eunhyuk/Donghae, Siwon/Sungmin, Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Yesung/Ryeowook.
Warnings: Angst, drama, sex, violence, character death
Word count: 43,199
Summary: Immortals, they fight for the right and the power to rule the earth. The gathering has started and group of mortals are in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting pulled into a bloody battle and becoming pawns in a sadistic game.
A/N: Loosely based on the Highlander TV series.
As the crow flies
Chapter Four: Two more mysterious strangers walk into a bar…Ouch, that must have hurt.
Jungsu wakes with the feeling of having had the strangest dream. And a hard on. Neither sensation is an unusual morning occurrence, and the idea that they might be connected isn‘t either, but this time it feels different. Jungsu lies still for a few minutes, trying to sort through the thoughts floating through his head. He doesn’t remember exactly what he was dreaming about but he has vague impressions of strong arms and a warm tongue. Touching, tasting. He remembers the salt of sweat on skin, the feel of teeth clashing together in desperate need. He lies there until the pressure in his groin becomes too much and he has to find relief and find it now.
He hopes that the hour is still early enough for there to be no one else awake. It’s a meagre light that filters through the curtained windows, almost like it’s close to dawn but not quite there yet. Jungsu doesn’t think it’s an accurate reading of the time though. Doesn’t know if it’s just before dawn or it’s a while after and this gathering storm Heechul and Kangin talked about is stealing daylight. The clock on his night stand reads 8:27 pm. It’s stopped. Jungsu isn’t sure, but he thinks that might be the time Kangin walked into the bar last night.
He listens carefully, hears only muffled sighs and snores. The house is silent, still. He makes a break for the bathroom.
His skin, it feels hot, tight, like it’s not his own. He hasn’t felt like this since he was in his teens. He has that need, that need to get off quickly, now now now. He starts the shower running, strips out of the faded sweatpants he wore to bed, waits for the water to warm a little before stepping in.
When he touches himself he doesn’t want to think about Kangin, but he can’t help it. He thinks about the way it felt when Kangin held him the other night, the look in Kangin’s eyes, the way it might feel if Kangin pushed him down and…
Jungsu comes. Hard. When he whispers Kangin’s name it almost sounds like a prayer.
*
He tries to keep quiet as he walks back through the house, but his legs feel shaky in the wake of his orgasm. He should have stayed in the bathroom longer, collected himself, but he didn’t want to stay there. He needed to go, needed to move, needed to not be reminded of what he had just done. He passes the main room, the room Kangin stayed in last night. The door is open and the bedding neatly folded, Kangin is nowhere is sight. Jungsu feels something in his stomach constrict, tighten and release. Maybe it was all just a dream. One long, fucked up dream. He passes Sungmin and Kyuhyun’s room, he thinks he hears someone crying softly, thinks maybe it isn’t a dream after all.
He finds Kangin in the bar. Some tables and chairs have been pushed to one side, creating a decent sized space in the middle of the room. Jungsu watches-slightly breathless-as Kangin moves. He’s holding his sword in both his hands, he swings it through the air, gently, slowly, more gracefully than Jungsu would have thought him capable of. Kangin moves like he’s dancing to music only he can hear, moves like he’s dancing to a haunting, lilting melody. Beautiful. Deadly. He stands watching for a while, he tries to keep perfectly still, tries to not even breathe, he doesn’t want to move. Doesn’t want to disturb this moment.
Eventually Kangin stops, puts down his sword, opens his eyes, looks at Jungsu.
“Morning.” Jungsu says. His voice comes out faint, a little horse. He coughs and tries again. “Morning.”
“Morning.” Kangin says with a smile. Kangin’s smile is warm and Jungsu feels something in his heart trip.
“Hungry?” Jungsu asks. He wonders if he is going to be able to talk in complete sentences any time soon.
“A little.”
“Breakfast?”
“please.”
The bars kitchen doubles up as the house kitchen. The rooms above the bar are basic, one main living area, one bathroom, and three bedrooms. It’s small, maybe too small to house five grown men, but Jungsu likes it. It’s cosy. It’s home. Jungsu heads to the kitchen, Kangin follows close behind. Too close, Jungsu can feel Kangin’s breath on his neck. He’s too close, far too close. Jungsu jumps when he feels Kangin’s hand on his shoulder. Startled he turns around and backs up till his back is against something solid, he thinks it might be the refrigerator but he’s not really thinking all that clearly right now.
“Sorry,” Kangin says, his voice is contrite but his expression shows he is anything but. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s all right..I” Jungsu’s train of thought falls away as Kangin moves in yet closer, this is a bad idea but Jungsu doesn’t make to move away.
“Hyung?” Donghae’s voice cuts through Jungsu’s frozen thoughts. Sleepy, a little disorientated, Donghae stands in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eyes and looking younger than Jungsu had ever seen him.
“Hae?” Jungsu asks, worried. “Are you all right?”
“Couldn’t sleep.” Donghae mumbles as he shuffles into the room. Kangin moves back and away and Jungsu doesn’t know if he is glad of that or not. “What time is it?”
“It’s early, you should go back to bed.”
“Mmmm not tired.” Donghae says as he jumps up onto one of the stools around the large preparation table, rests arms and head on the cool surface, within seconds he’s snoring softly. Jungsu smiles and looks up to see Kangin laughing.
“Cute kid.” Kangin says with a smile.
Jungsu nods. “He’ll wake up when he smells food cooking. Let’s see what we have in the cupboards.” Jungsu starts to root through the cabinets, careful not to look at Kangin again, very careful not to invite anything.
||
There are sliver cords floating in the sky. They twist and turn and gather in clumps, some coarse like fresh picked cotton, some smooth and flighty like silk. Kibum tries to reach out and grasp them but his hand goes right through, they don’t really exist, he is sure of that, but they look so real. It’s like the cords form a rough trail, like the world is a maze and the cords lead the way out. They extend as far as he can see, passed the crumbled down old buildings, it’s like they’re leading somewhere. The silver cords lead and Kibum follows.
The streets are quiet, deserted. Kibum doesn’t like the world this way, it’s too peaceful, too eerily calm. He needs disaster, he needs people, needs the chaos of life. He thinks that he might travel to the main part of the city, away from the Gathering. He thinks he might like to find himself a little toy to play with. His last kill-phoenix-is only a few hours old, still fresh in his head, Phoenix's voice whispers in his ears, Phoenix's desires pull at him. Kibum wants to play, Phoenix wants to play.
The trail of sliver doesn’t end at the dance studio Kibum comes to, it goes further, stretching through the streets, around lamp posts, wrapping around trees and bushes and balconies. But Kibum hears that skip beat in his head, a light tap tap tapping on his consciousness and he stops. There are lights on in the dance studio, someone inside, Kibum thinks it might be someone special.
Kibum walks through the halls of the studio, peaking in room after empty room. Like every other place in this district the dance studio is run down, faded. But still, even empty, the place teams with life. Posters are pasted over every available surface, garish colours, smiling faces, uplifting words. Kibum would think it inspiring if it wasn’t so headache inducing. In the last room he looks in, Kibum finds a boy. The boy is dancing but there is no music playing. He has his back to the door that Kibum walks through, he’s facing the large mirror mounted on the wall, Kibum can see that the boy has his eyes closed. He’s counting beats in his head, working through an un-finalised routine, Kibum thinks it’s fascinating to watch. The boy moves with a fluid grace even as he stops and starts while he figures out the next step. Kibum doesn’t think he made any kind of sound but he must have done because the boy stops, opens his eyes, sees Kibum in the mirror. The boys smiles. It’s a strange smile, bright, friendly, genuine, but slightly lopsided, all gums and teeth.
“Hi.” Kibum says and he waves, a jerky little movement.
“Hi,” the boy says. He turns round in order to look at Kibum in person instead of backwards in the mirror. “I’m sorry but we’re sort of closed.”
“Sort of closed? How could you be sort of closed?”
The boys’ smile falters and looks at the ground, shuffles his feet.
“No one showed.” He says quietly, looking and sounding like a kicked puppy. He looks up again and this time his smile looks a little forced. “It’s probably the weather, freaky isn’t it? All the lightening” The boy starts to pack up his things, a water bottle, CD’s, a hoodie, he stuffs these things into a battered canvas bag. “If I’d known this class was going to get blown off I would have stayed in bed too.”
“My name’s Kibum.” Kibum says cheerfully. “I can’t dance but I think I’d like to learn.”
The boy straightens up and smiles, and his heart is back in that smile. “Well, Kibum, I’d like to teach you. Why don’t you come back tomorrow, the weather might have calmed down by then and everyone else will come back to class. It’s more fun when there is lots of people.”
“Oh I think,” Kibum says. “I think this storm might be around for a while.”
“Let’s hope not.” The boy throws his bag over his shoulder and ambles passed Kibum and towards the door. “Oh,” the boy says, turning on his heel and holding out his hand. “I’m Hyukjae, it’s good to meet you.”
||
“He won’t leave.” Kangin says to Heechul when he arrives. Heechul is mad, he’s all pissed off intensity and Kangin knows that the conversation with Siwon did not go Heechul’s way. Heechul doesn’t say anything, just huffs and folds his arms, sulking like a child.
They sit in the main part of the bar, Jungsu and the rest are going about their usual routine even though Kyuhyun complains-loudly-that there will be no customers to prepare for so why bother? Jungsu hasn’t talked to him, or even looked at him, since that thing this morning. That thing that makes his dick hard whenever he even thinks about thinking about it. So close. It was a clumsy attempt on his part but Jungsu didn’t push him away.
The others bustle around them. Kangin weathers some dark looks from Kyuhyun, he’s is starting to like that kid, just a little. They all try not to pay attention to Kangin and Heechul’s conversation. Sungmin, especially, was staying clear, like if they pretended they weren’t there, if this wasn’t happening, then it would all go away.
Kangin had tried to broach the subject of leaving the city with Sungmin to Jungsu earlier and had got the expected response.
“He won’t leave.” Kangin says again.
“Siwon said he probably wouldn’t” Heechul says and he actually pouts.
“What’s the matter?” Kangin asks and he feels a hint of a grin slip into his voice. There is something more to Heechul’s mood than a kid who didn’t get his way.
Heechul sighs dramatically and runs a hand through his hair. “Siwon said that the best place for the ‘dear little Potential’ is on Holy Ground. With him.”
“Ahh.” Kangin says, and he gets it. Heechul is jealous, that’s so cute. Kangin smiles, he can’t help it.
“It’s not funny, Youngwoon.”
“Grow up, Chullie-ah, you’re not his student anymore.”
“He said he wouldn’t teach anyone else after me. He said he was done with that as well as the Game.”
“Did you traumatize him that badly?”
“Fuck you.”
“He has a right to change his mind, Chul. Did he say he would be the kid’s teacher?”
Heechul pouts again, flips his hair, slumps lower in his seat.
“No, he didn’t even mention it.”
“Then what are you getting so worked up about?"
Heechul shrugs, he turns his head away, looks out the window, mutters something that sounds like "Siwon will be his teacher. That's the kind of man he is." Kangin follows Heechul's gaze out the window. The world through the glass is almost dark, like a permanent twilight. The storm, the Gathering, it’s in full swing now.
“All we have to do is convince them.” Kangin says and Heechul makes a soft sort of mewl in the back of his throat. “That’s going to be a fun conversation.”
*
“I’ll go.” Sungmin says quietly. He’s nervous, fidgety, he’s no longer comfortable in his own skin. Kangin can relate, well, almost. It’s hard having your whole world turned upside down this way.
“Hyung, no!” Kyuhyun, Ryeowook and Donghae all say in perfect unison. Kangin would think it was funny if they all didn’t look so sad, if Jungsu didn’t look so sad. Heechul snickers and Kangin kicks him under the table. Hard. Heechul kicks him back. Harder.
“It’s because of me that Teukie Hyung was attacked, those men wanted me. You would all be safer if I wasn’t here.”
“Then leave the city all together.” Heechul says. He says it quietly but Kangin still hears him, Sungmin still hears him.
“I can’t.” Sungmin says and he looks so frightened, he doesn’t want to leave his home, the only one he’s known. Kangin wishes he could relate to that.
“You’ll be safe on Holy Ground, Siwon and the Monks will keep you safe. You might think that they are all about pacifism but trust me, the very last thing you will want to do is piss off a Buddhist Monk”
“Who is this Siwon?” Kyuhyun demands. “How can we know to trust him?”
“He’s and old friend,” Kangin says. “He’s a very old Immortal, one of the oldest I have ever met. I trust him with my life, he’s saved it more times than I deserve. You’ll be safe with him.”
“Why is he on Holy Ground? Why isn’t he out playing the Game like you guys?” Sungmin asks, he winces after the words are out. He doesn’t really want to know the answer.
“That’s his business.” Heechul says and his voice comes out quick and harsh. He stops, takes a deep breath. “He’ll tell you if he wants.”
“Don’t go, Hyung.” Ryeowook says softly and the look in his eyes is heartbreaking.
“I have to, Ryeowookie.” Sungmin mutters not looking the younger boy in the eye. “I should go pack.” He gets up to go and just like last night his legs are shaky, he stumbles. Ryeowook reaches out with a slender hand-to help? To stop him from going?-Kangin isn’t sure. The look Ryeowook gives Kangin as Sungmin walks away is fearsome, but still almost impossible to take seriously coming from such a cute kid.
Silence descends on the table. Deep, awkward.
“Right.” Jungsu says with a forced brightness. “Who wants lunch?”
“It’s not lunch time, Hyung.” Kyuhyun says but Jungsu doesn’t seem to hear him. “Right good. Ryeowookie, why don’t you come help.” They get up to go. Jungsu looks back at Kangin, stops. “What is it?”
Kangin stands up. Raises his hand for quiet. He’s heard them first, Heechul is too deep in his sulk to notice at first but after a few minutes, once the Immortals have gotten a little closer Heechul hears them too. Kangin reaches for his sword but Heechul doesn’t, he just starts to look a little panicked.
“Who is it Chullie-ah?” Kangin asks. He tries to listen harder, hear through the buzzing noise in his head, tries to differentiate between the two tones he’s hearing. He can tell that one of the Immortals approaching the bar is very old. Very, very old. The other is just a baby, so, so young. “Chullie-ah?” Kangin asks again. Heechul shakes his head and backs away.
“I have to get out of here.” Heechul says and the panicked look he has turns towards desperation.
“Heechul!” Kangin says. “Who is it?” Kangin feels worry tugging at his gut, he looks over at Jungsu, always at Jungsu. Jungsu’s expression is tight, scared. “Go into the back.” Kangin says to him.
“No, it’s okay.” Heechul says. “You guys stay here, I have to go. Is there a back door? I need a back door.”
Wordlessly Jungsu points out to the back rooms, Heechul scrambles to get over there, but he’s too late. The door to the bar opens with a crash and a tall, gangly, Chinese man stalks through.
“HEECHUL!” The man screeches. This is the old Immortal that Kangin sensed. The younger, baby, Immortal follows close behind him. God, the kid is young. Just a baby when he had his first death and that can’t have been more than a few years ago.
“Oh god!” Heechul says and he tries to make a break for it. The tall man closes the distance between them in just a few long strides and suddenly Heechul is enveloped in a very enthusiastic hug. Kangin stares and then he starts to laugh. Heechul says something that comes out as a muffled press of words as he is clutched to the man’s chest. The man ignores him and just hugs Heechul tighter. The kid, the baby Immortal comes to stand next to Kangin. He’s so young, too young to know that he shouldn’t let his guard down around any Immortal. The kid looks over to where his companion is trying to squeeze all the life out of Heechul and he shakes his head.
“Heechul!” The tall man says. “Oh Heechul, I am so sorry! It‘s going to be awful”
Kangin doesn’t know what is going to be so awful…well Heechul‘s reaction to being touched so in public is going to be awful but Kangin doesn’t think that’s what the stranger is referring too. He must have released his grip on Heechul slightly because Heechul is able to-eventually-extract himself.
“Seasonings.” Heechul says. “Let go of me.”
“Seasonings?” Kangin asks raising an eyebrow.
“Youngwoon,” Heechul says, his face is flushed, his hair is a mess. “This is Zhou Mi.”
Zhou Mi smiles and it’s an impossibly big smile, all teeth and dimples and guilelessness. Kangin wonders how this guy has managed to live as long has he has.
“Hi,” Zhou Mi says. His Korean is flawless with only the hint of an accent. “Henli.” He says pointing at the baby Immortal.
“Hen-RY” Henry says.
“Hen-li” Zhou Mi tries to say. The word doesn’t roll easily of his tongue.
“Close enough.” Henry heaves out a long suffering sigh, throws himself onto a bar stool. Zhou Mi blinks at him and that smile just gets wider. “This is what I have to put up with.” Henry says in English to no one in particular.
“American?” Donghae says and he sounds cheerful for the first time since this morning.
“Canadian.” Henry says flatly. Donghae just blinks at him. Henry just shakes his head and covers his face with his hand.
“Ahhhh” Ryeowook cries, jumping back and clutching at Jungsu’s sleeve.
“What is it, Ryeowookie?” Jungsu asks kindly, gently patting Ryeowook on the arm. Jungsu’s voice is patient, like dealing with a hysterical Ryeowook is a daily occurrence.
“There was a face, in the window. Someone was looking in.”
“Oh he’s ok.” Zhou Mi says, he slides onto the stool beside Henry and merrily taps a tune on the surface of the bar. “He’s our watcher, he’s been following us since we left Beijing.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Heechul says and his sulk seems to be forgotten in favour of indignation. “Watcher’s are supposed to be unobtrusive, little fucking ninjas. What are they teaching them in Watchers school these days.”
“Zhou Mi likes to pretend he doesn’t know he’s there. He’s afraid of hurting the boy’s feelings.” Henry says.
Kangin thinks it’s a little weird to hear this child call anyone a boy.
“Well that’s stupid.” Heechul says. “How is he going to learn if you let him think he’s doing his job properly?”
“Chullie-ah, where are you going?”
“To teach Watcher boy a lesson.”
“Chullie-ah, wait.” But it’s too late, Heechul is off up and outside.
“What’s a Watcher?” Jungsu asks.
“We haven’t got that far yet, there is still a lot we have to tell you.” Kangin says and he feels regret at the wan look on Jungsu’s face.
“He’s gone.” Heechul says as he walks back inside. Heechul is pouting again, like he’s been deprived of a wonderful toy. “And I have no idea where he went.”
…End Chapter Four
Rating: R
Pairing: Kangin/Leeteuk [main], Heechul/Han Geng [main], Eunhyuk/Donghae, Siwon/Sungmin, Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Yesung/Ryeowook.
Warnings: Angst, drama, sex, violence, character death
Word count: 43,199
Summary: Immortals, they fight for the right and the power to rule the earth. The gathering has started and group of mortals are in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting pulled into a bloody battle and becoming pawns in a sadistic game.
A/N: Loosely based on the Highlander TV series.
As the crow flies
Chapter Four: Two more mysterious strangers walk into a bar…Ouch, that must have hurt.
Jungsu wakes with the feeling of having had the strangest dream. And a hard on. Neither sensation is an unusual morning occurrence, and the idea that they might be connected isn‘t either, but this time it feels different. Jungsu lies still for a few minutes, trying to sort through the thoughts floating through his head. He doesn’t remember exactly what he was dreaming about but he has vague impressions of strong arms and a warm tongue. Touching, tasting. He remembers the salt of sweat on skin, the feel of teeth clashing together in desperate need. He lies there until the pressure in his groin becomes too much and he has to find relief and find it now.
He hopes that the hour is still early enough for there to be no one else awake. It’s a meagre light that filters through the curtained windows, almost like it’s close to dawn but not quite there yet. Jungsu doesn’t think it’s an accurate reading of the time though. Doesn’t know if it’s just before dawn or it’s a while after and this gathering storm Heechul and Kangin talked about is stealing daylight. The clock on his night stand reads 8:27 pm. It’s stopped. Jungsu isn’t sure, but he thinks that might be the time Kangin walked into the bar last night.
He listens carefully, hears only muffled sighs and snores. The house is silent, still. He makes a break for the bathroom.
His skin, it feels hot, tight, like it’s not his own. He hasn’t felt like this since he was in his teens. He has that need, that need to get off quickly, now now now. He starts the shower running, strips out of the faded sweatpants he wore to bed, waits for the water to warm a little before stepping in.
When he touches himself he doesn’t want to think about Kangin, but he can’t help it. He thinks about the way it felt when Kangin held him the other night, the look in Kangin’s eyes, the way it might feel if Kangin pushed him down and…
Jungsu comes. Hard. When he whispers Kangin’s name it almost sounds like a prayer.
*
He tries to keep quiet as he walks back through the house, but his legs feel shaky in the wake of his orgasm. He should have stayed in the bathroom longer, collected himself, but he didn’t want to stay there. He needed to go, needed to move, needed to not be reminded of what he had just done. He passes the main room, the room Kangin stayed in last night. The door is open and the bedding neatly folded, Kangin is nowhere is sight. Jungsu feels something in his stomach constrict, tighten and release. Maybe it was all just a dream. One long, fucked up dream. He passes Sungmin and Kyuhyun’s room, he thinks he hears someone crying softly, thinks maybe it isn’t a dream after all.
He finds Kangin in the bar. Some tables and chairs have been pushed to one side, creating a decent sized space in the middle of the room. Jungsu watches-slightly breathless-as Kangin moves. He’s holding his sword in both his hands, he swings it through the air, gently, slowly, more gracefully than Jungsu would have thought him capable of. Kangin moves like he’s dancing to music only he can hear, moves like he’s dancing to a haunting, lilting melody. Beautiful. Deadly. He stands watching for a while, he tries to keep perfectly still, tries to not even breathe, he doesn’t want to move. Doesn’t want to disturb this moment.
Eventually Kangin stops, puts down his sword, opens his eyes, looks at Jungsu.
“Morning.” Jungsu says. His voice comes out faint, a little horse. He coughs and tries again. “Morning.”
“Morning.” Kangin says with a smile. Kangin’s smile is warm and Jungsu feels something in his heart trip.
“Hungry?” Jungsu asks. He wonders if he is going to be able to talk in complete sentences any time soon.
“A little.”
“Breakfast?”
“please.”
The bars kitchen doubles up as the house kitchen. The rooms above the bar are basic, one main living area, one bathroom, and three bedrooms. It’s small, maybe too small to house five grown men, but Jungsu likes it. It’s cosy. It’s home. Jungsu heads to the kitchen, Kangin follows close behind. Too close, Jungsu can feel Kangin’s breath on his neck. He’s too close, far too close. Jungsu jumps when he feels Kangin’s hand on his shoulder. Startled he turns around and backs up till his back is against something solid, he thinks it might be the refrigerator but he’s not really thinking all that clearly right now.
“Sorry,” Kangin says, his voice is contrite but his expression shows he is anything but. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s all right..I” Jungsu’s train of thought falls away as Kangin moves in yet closer, this is a bad idea but Jungsu doesn’t make to move away.
“Hyung?” Donghae’s voice cuts through Jungsu’s frozen thoughts. Sleepy, a little disorientated, Donghae stands in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eyes and looking younger than Jungsu had ever seen him.
“Hae?” Jungsu asks, worried. “Are you all right?”
“Couldn’t sleep.” Donghae mumbles as he shuffles into the room. Kangin moves back and away and Jungsu doesn’t know if he is glad of that or not. “What time is it?”
“It’s early, you should go back to bed.”
“Mmmm not tired.” Donghae says as he jumps up onto one of the stools around the large preparation table, rests arms and head on the cool surface, within seconds he’s snoring softly. Jungsu smiles and looks up to see Kangin laughing.
“Cute kid.” Kangin says with a smile.
Jungsu nods. “He’ll wake up when he smells food cooking. Let’s see what we have in the cupboards.” Jungsu starts to root through the cabinets, careful not to look at Kangin again, very careful not to invite anything.
||
There are sliver cords floating in the sky. They twist and turn and gather in clumps, some coarse like fresh picked cotton, some smooth and flighty like silk. Kibum tries to reach out and grasp them but his hand goes right through, they don’t really exist, he is sure of that, but they look so real. It’s like the cords form a rough trail, like the world is a maze and the cords lead the way out. They extend as far as he can see, passed the crumbled down old buildings, it’s like they’re leading somewhere. The silver cords lead and Kibum follows.
The streets are quiet, deserted. Kibum doesn’t like the world this way, it’s too peaceful, too eerily calm. He needs disaster, he needs people, needs the chaos of life. He thinks that he might travel to the main part of the city, away from the Gathering. He thinks he might like to find himself a little toy to play with. His last kill-phoenix-is only a few hours old, still fresh in his head, Phoenix's voice whispers in his ears, Phoenix's desires pull at him. Kibum wants to play, Phoenix wants to play.
The trail of sliver doesn’t end at the dance studio Kibum comes to, it goes further, stretching through the streets, around lamp posts, wrapping around trees and bushes and balconies. But Kibum hears that skip beat in his head, a light tap tap tapping on his consciousness and he stops. There are lights on in the dance studio, someone inside, Kibum thinks it might be someone special.
Kibum walks through the halls of the studio, peaking in room after empty room. Like every other place in this district the dance studio is run down, faded. But still, even empty, the place teams with life. Posters are pasted over every available surface, garish colours, smiling faces, uplifting words. Kibum would think it inspiring if it wasn’t so headache inducing. In the last room he looks in, Kibum finds a boy. The boy is dancing but there is no music playing. He has his back to the door that Kibum walks through, he’s facing the large mirror mounted on the wall, Kibum can see that the boy has his eyes closed. He’s counting beats in his head, working through an un-finalised routine, Kibum thinks it’s fascinating to watch. The boy moves with a fluid grace even as he stops and starts while he figures out the next step. Kibum doesn’t think he made any kind of sound but he must have done because the boy stops, opens his eyes, sees Kibum in the mirror. The boys smiles. It’s a strange smile, bright, friendly, genuine, but slightly lopsided, all gums and teeth.
“Hi.” Kibum says and he waves, a jerky little movement.
“Hi,” the boy says. He turns round in order to look at Kibum in person instead of backwards in the mirror. “I’m sorry but we’re sort of closed.”
“Sort of closed? How could you be sort of closed?”
The boys’ smile falters and looks at the ground, shuffles his feet.
“No one showed.” He says quietly, looking and sounding like a kicked puppy. He looks up again and this time his smile looks a little forced. “It’s probably the weather, freaky isn’t it? All the lightening” The boy starts to pack up his things, a water bottle, CD’s, a hoodie, he stuffs these things into a battered canvas bag. “If I’d known this class was going to get blown off I would have stayed in bed too.”
“My name’s Kibum.” Kibum says cheerfully. “I can’t dance but I think I’d like to learn.”
The boy straightens up and smiles, and his heart is back in that smile. “Well, Kibum, I’d like to teach you. Why don’t you come back tomorrow, the weather might have calmed down by then and everyone else will come back to class. It’s more fun when there is lots of people.”
“Oh I think,” Kibum says. “I think this storm might be around for a while.”
“Let’s hope not.” The boy throws his bag over his shoulder and ambles passed Kibum and towards the door. “Oh,” the boy says, turning on his heel and holding out his hand. “I’m Hyukjae, it’s good to meet you.”
||
“He won’t leave.” Kangin says to Heechul when he arrives. Heechul is mad, he’s all pissed off intensity and Kangin knows that the conversation with Siwon did not go Heechul’s way. Heechul doesn’t say anything, just huffs and folds his arms, sulking like a child.
They sit in the main part of the bar, Jungsu and the rest are going about their usual routine even though Kyuhyun complains-loudly-that there will be no customers to prepare for so why bother? Jungsu hasn’t talked to him, or even looked at him, since that thing this morning. That thing that makes his dick hard whenever he even thinks about thinking about it. So close. It was a clumsy attempt on his part but Jungsu didn’t push him away.
The others bustle around them. Kangin weathers some dark looks from Kyuhyun, he’s is starting to like that kid, just a little. They all try not to pay attention to Kangin and Heechul’s conversation. Sungmin, especially, was staying clear, like if they pretended they weren’t there, if this wasn’t happening, then it would all go away.
Kangin had tried to broach the subject of leaving the city with Sungmin to Jungsu earlier and had got the expected response.
“He won’t leave.” Kangin says again.
“Siwon said he probably wouldn’t” Heechul says and he actually pouts.
“What’s the matter?” Kangin asks and he feels a hint of a grin slip into his voice. There is something more to Heechul’s mood than a kid who didn’t get his way.
Heechul sighs dramatically and runs a hand through his hair. “Siwon said that the best place for the ‘dear little Potential’ is on Holy Ground. With him.”
“Ahh.” Kangin says, and he gets it. Heechul is jealous, that’s so cute. Kangin smiles, he can’t help it.
“It’s not funny, Youngwoon.”
“Grow up, Chullie-ah, you’re not his student anymore.”
“He said he wouldn’t teach anyone else after me. He said he was done with that as well as the Game.”
“Did you traumatize him that badly?”
“Fuck you.”
“He has a right to change his mind, Chul. Did he say he would be the kid’s teacher?”
Heechul pouts again, flips his hair, slumps lower in his seat.
“No, he didn’t even mention it.”
“Then what are you getting so worked up about?"
Heechul shrugs, he turns his head away, looks out the window, mutters something that sounds like "Siwon will be his teacher. That's the kind of man he is." Kangin follows Heechul's gaze out the window. The world through the glass is almost dark, like a permanent twilight. The storm, the Gathering, it’s in full swing now.
“All we have to do is convince them.” Kangin says and Heechul makes a soft sort of mewl in the back of his throat. “That’s going to be a fun conversation.”
*
“I’ll go.” Sungmin says quietly. He’s nervous, fidgety, he’s no longer comfortable in his own skin. Kangin can relate, well, almost. It’s hard having your whole world turned upside down this way.
“Hyung, no!” Kyuhyun, Ryeowook and Donghae all say in perfect unison. Kangin would think it was funny if they all didn’t look so sad, if Jungsu didn’t look so sad. Heechul snickers and Kangin kicks him under the table. Hard. Heechul kicks him back. Harder.
“It’s because of me that Teukie Hyung was attacked, those men wanted me. You would all be safer if I wasn’t here.”
“Then leave the city all together.” Heechul says. He says it quietly but Kangin still hears him, Sungmin still hears him.
“I can’t.” Sungmin says and he looks so frightened, he doesn’t want to leave his home, the only one he’s known. Kangin wishes he could relate to that.
“You’ll be safe on Holy Ground, Siwon and the Monks will keep you safe. You might think that they are all about pacifism but trust me, the very last thing you will want to do is piss off a Buddhist Monk”
“Who is this Siwon?” Kyuhyun demands. “How can we know to trust him?”
“He’s and old friend,” Kangin says. “He’s a very old Immortal, one of the oldest I have ever met. I trust him with my life, he’s saved it more times than I deserve. You’ll be safe with him.”
“Why is he on Holy Ground? Why isn’t he out playing the Game like you guys?” Sungmin asks, he winces after the words are out. He doesn’t really want to know the answer.
“That’s his business.” Heechul says and his voice comes out quick and harsh. He stops, takes a deep breath. “He’ll tell you if he wants.”
“Don’t go, Hyung.” Ryeowook says softly and the look in his eyes is heartbreaking.
“I have to, Ryeowookie.” Sungmin mutters not looking the younger boy in the eye. “I should go pack.” He gets up to go and just like last night his legs are shaky, he stumbles. Ryeowook reaches out with a slender hand-to help? To stop him from going?-Kangin isn’t sure. The look Ryeowook gives Kangin as Sungmin walks away is fearsome, but still almost impossible to take seriously coming from such a cute kid.
Silence descends on the table. Deep, awkward.
“Right.” Jungsu says with a forced brightness. “Who wants lunch?”
“It’s not lunch time, Hyung.” Kyuhyun says but Jungsu doesn’t seem to hear him. “Right good. Ryeowookie, why don’t you come help.” They get up to go. Jungsu looks back at Kangin, stops. “What is it?”
Kangin stands up. Raises his hand for quiet. He’s heard them first, Heechul is too deep in his sulk to notice at first but after a few minutes, once the Immortals have gotten a little closer Heechul hears them too. Kangin reaches for his sword but Heechul doesn’t, he just starts to look a little panicked.
“Who is it Chullie-ah?” Kangin asks. He tries to listen harder, hear through the buzzing noise in his head, tries to differentiate between the two tones he’s hearing. He can tell that one of the Immortals approaching the bar is very old. Very, very old. The other is just a baby, so, so young. “Chullie-ah?” Kangin asks again. Heechul shakes his head and backs away.
“I have to get out of here.” Heechul says and the panicked look he has turns towards desperation.
“Heechul!” Kangin says. “Who is it?” Kangin feels worry tugging at his gut, he looks over at Jungsu, always at Jungsu. Jungsu’s expression is tight, scared. “Go into the back.” Kangin says to him.
“No, it’s okay.” Heechul says. “You guys stay here, I have to go. Is there a back door? I need a back door.”
Wordlessly Jungsu points out to the back rooms, Heechul scrambles to get over there, but he’s too late. The door to the bar opens with a crash and a tall, gangly, Chinese man stalks through.
“HEECHUL!” The man screeches. This is the old Immortal that Kangin sensed. The younger, baby, Immortal follows close behind him. God, the kid is young. Just a baby when he had his first death and that can’t have been more than a few years ago.
“Oh god!” Heechul says and he tries to make a break for it. The tall man closes the distance between them in just a few long strides and suddenly Heechul is enveloped in a very enthusiastic hug. Kangin stares and then he starts to laugh. Heechul says something that comes out as a muffled press of words as he is clutched to the man’s chest. The man ignores him and just hugs Heechul tighter. The kid, the baby Immortal comes to stand next to Kangin. He’s so young, too young to know that he shouldn’t let his guard down around any Immortal. The kid looks over to where his companion is trying to squeeze all the life out of Heechul and he shakes his head.
“Heechul!” The tall man says. “Oh Heechul, I am so sorry! It‘s going to be awful”
Kangin doesn’t know what is going to be so awful…well Heechul‘s reaction to being touched so in public is going to be awful but Kangin doesn’t think that’s what the stranger is referring too. He must have released his grip on Heechul slightly because Heechul is able to-eventually-extract himself.
“Seasonings.” Heechul says. “Let go of me.”
“Seasonings?” Kangin asks raising an eyebrow.
“Youngwoon,” Heechul says, his face is flushed, his hair is a mess. “This is Zhou Mi.”
Zhou Mi smiles and it’s an impossibly big smile, all teeth and dimples and guilelessness. Kangin wonders how this guy has managed to live as long has he has.
“Hi,” Zhou Mi says. His Korean is flawless with only the hint of an accent. “Henli.” He says pointing at the baby Immortal.
“Hen-RY” Henry says.
“Hen-li” Zhou Mi tries to say. The word doesn’t roll easily of his tongue.
“Close enough.” Henry heaves out a long suffering sigh, throws himself onto a bar stool. Zhou Mi blinks at him and that smile just gets wider. “This is what I have to put up with.” Henry says in English to no one in particular.
“American?” Donghae says and he sounds cheerful for the first time since this morning.
“Canadian.” Henry says flatly. Donghae just blinks at him. Henry just shakes his head and covers his face with his hand.
“Ahhhh” Ryeowook cries, jumping back and clutching at Jungsu’s sleeve.
“What is it, Ryeowookie?” Jungsu asks kindly, gently patting Ryeowook on the arm. Jungsu’s voice is patient, like dealing with a hysterical Ryeowook is a daily occurrence.
“There was a face, in the window. Someone was looking in.”
“Oh he’s ok.” Zhou Mi says, he slides onto the stool beside Henry and merrily taps a tune on the surface of the bar. “He’s our watcher, he’s been following us since we left Beijing.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Heechul says and his sulk seems to be forgotten in favour of indignation. “Watcher’s are supposed to be unobtrusive, little fucking ninjas. What are they teaching them in Watchers school these days.”
“Zhou Mi likes to pretend he doesn’t know he’s there. He’s afraid of hurting the boy’s feelings.” Henry says.
Kangin thinks it’s a little weird to hear this child call anyone a boy.
“Well that’s stupid.” Heechul says. “How is he going to learn if you let him think he’s doing his job properly?”
“Chullie-ah, where are you going?”
“To teach Watcher boy a lesson.”
“Chullie-ah, wait.” But it’s too late, Heechul is off up and outside.
“What’s a Watcher?” Jungsu asks.
“We haven’t got that far yet, there is still a lot we have to tell you.” Kangin says and he feels regret at the wan look on Jungsu’s face.
“He’s gone.” Heechul says as he walks back inside. Heechul is pouting again, like he’s been deprived of a wonderful toy. “And I have no idea where he went.”
…End Chapter Four