Guardian (Part Two)
Title: Guardian
Fandom: SS501, U-KISS, Epik High
Pairing: HyunSaeng, SooBum, implied!KyuMin
Word Count: 14,000
Genre: AU, Fantasy
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence
Summary: 25 years ago, an incident occurred that released unspeakable evil across the world. At the same time, chosen children across the world were born, and at their coming-of-age received a gift called the Sight. These children were chosen to find and erase the evil from the Earth. But what they didn’t know was that they were never left to accomplish this task alone.
A/N: Happy birthday fic for renichifreak <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNNIE~~~~ I really hope you like it, and I don’t know what happened to the prompt >.<;;; Prompt was “Seeing the world through rose-colored glasses”. HUGE thank you to mskatness for betaing and fixing up my awkward sentences~!!!!
A week had passed, and they were having another meeting. KyuJong was still limping but at least he could walk around again on his own, the others treating the injury carefully since YoungSaeng had warned them of poison.
“You sure you’re okay?” JungMin eyed KyuJong when the older man had to stop for the second time as they were climbing the stairs to get to HyungJoon and KiBum’s apartment.
“Yeah, just dandy,” KyuJong panted, holding on to his calf. It burned.
“I can carry you the rest of the way.”
“That was a one-time thing because we were running from a pack of demons, and is never happening again.”
“Stubborn.”
KyuJong chuckled, then slowly straightened. “Okay, think I’m okay.”
“It’s just one more floor,” JungMin smiled, staying beside him as they made their way up carefully.
They were just about to turn towards the landing between the two floors when a shaky voice floated down, making them stop.
“Please, you can’t tell him.”
JungMin blinked, and helped KyuJong ease himself back down around the corner. They could just see three pairs of feet on the landing, unaware they were there. That had been Kevin’s voice.
“We’re not going to say anything.” That was HyunJoong, KyuJong recognized the voice. “It’s your duty, we’re not going to interfere in that.”
“Thank you,” Kevin replied with a sigh.
“You’re getting too attached,” YoungSaeng said softly. “You need to be careful.”
“You’re one to talk…”
“Our situation is different,” HyunJoong replied. “And we’re not talking about this now. You know what we’re going to need from you.”
“I know,” Kevin murmured. “When?”
“Once we’ve contacted the others…and once we’re ready to take on the nest. We both know your duty comes before all else…but can we count on you for that?”
“You can count on me,” Kevin said firmly.
“Good.” There was a smile in HyunJoong’s voice. “Come, they’re waiting.”
The three sets of feet turned to go up the stairs. JungMin and KyuJong remained silent until they were gone, then turned to each other with equal looks of confusion.
“What was that about?” JungMin asked.
KyuJong frowned. “No idea…what could they want from Kevin?” And what had they been talking about, his ‘duty’?
“Haven’t a clue, he wouldn’t even know anything about the demons if he hadn’t seen KiBum’s silver eye,” JungMin shook his head, then sighed. “Come on, we should go see the others. Should we ask KiBum? Do you think he’d know?”
“I’m not sure…maybe we should leave it alone until we know more. Kevin’s a nice kid, things could get strained between him and KiBum and they don’t need that.” Kevin had been KiBum’s best friend since childhood, and was behind only to SooHyun and HyungJoon in the younger brother’s heart.
They headed the rest of the way up the stairs, going slowly both for KyuJong’s leg and so that the other three would have time to get to the apartment without realizing they had been eavesdropping. Things were getting very confusing.
Reaching the apartment a few minutes later, they were let in by HyungJoon, the younger man beaming at them. “How’s the leg?” he asked, following them into the living room once they’d closed the door and taken off their shoes.
“Getting better,” KyuJong smiled.
“Would have been a lot better if you let me carry you up the stairs,” JungMin rolled his eyes, and yelped as KyuJong balanced on his bad leg to kick him with his good one.
“See? Perfectly fine.”
Laughter came from the living room, YoungSaeng and HyunJoong sitting on the couch. KiBum and SooHyun were attached at the hip, Kevin sitting on the floor in front of them with his forehead creased in a slight frown.
“So, what do we know?” Daniel asked, leaning forward and looking at YoungSaeng and HyunJoong intently as KyuJong, JungMin and HyungJoon sat down.
“We know the nest’s location,” YoungSaeng started, highlighting a spot on the map in front of them. “We also know that the nest contains about 175 adult demons, 300 youth, 400 babies and roughly 2,500 unhatched eggs.”
HyungJoon’s jaw dropped at the number. “Th-that’s a lot.”
“That’s roughly small for a demon nest,” HyunJoong shook his head. “Remember what we told you…once the nest is completed, the number will triple.”
“We’ll have more demons masquerading as humans than actual humans,” KyuJong murmured.
“Wrong. They won’t need to masquerade.” HyunJoong tapped his fingers against his knees. “Nowhere in the world has a nest been completed yet, but if one were to be completed, demons would spawn at such a high rate that disguising as humans would be pointless. They’ll take the entire city by storm, and kill everyone they see.”
HyungJoon paled. “We have to stop that from happening!”
“We will. But our numbers are still too few,” HyunJoong frowned.
“What about those contacts you mentioned?” Daniel asked mildly. They’d gotten no information about whom those contacts were.
“Some of them aren’t replying…we’re worried the demons may have found them,” YoungSaeng sighed.
“Who are they?” SooHyun frowned, arms firmly around KiBum’s waist.
“People who wish to remain unnamed,” YoungSaeng said firmly. “But their positions are…delicate to say the least. If they have been found out, we might have to help them before they help us.”
“That will be what YoungSaeng and I do next,” HyunJoong said, looking at each person in turn. “Finding our missing contacts. We may or may not require help. Other than that, the best that can be done is keep hunting any demons in the area.”
“I don’t like relying on people I don’t know and who you’re refusing to name,” JungMin scowled at them.
“We trust them with our lives, you have nothing to fear from them,” YoungSaeng said quietly.
“How are we supposed to believe you on that when you won’t tell us anything?”
“I think we should trust them,” Kevin piped up suddenly, looking up at KiBum sitting behind him. “They saved your brother, and KyuJong hyung and JungMin hyung.”
KiBum looked down at his best friend, before nodding with a small smile. “…All right. Then I’ll trust them too,” he sighed, looking up at YoungSaeng and HyunJoong.
JungMin looked at Kevin before glancing at KyuJong, who was frowning at the youngest too. He knew KyuJong was thinking about the conversation they’d overheard.
“Guess we have no choice,” Daniel sighed, rubbing his temples. “This is completely out of our league. Can you explain more about the demon nest?”
YoungSaeng and HyunJoong leaned forward, and KyuJong sighed as he put his suspicions to the side for the moment, focusing on what they were being told.
***********************************
They were halfway through the following week when KyuJong’s phone went off, YoungSaeng’s number flashing across the screen. Lounging in his apartment with JungMin, KyuJong shot the redhead a confused look before answering.
”We need your help,” YoungSaeng said quietly from the other end of the line.
KyuJong glanced at JungMin again before pressing speakerphone, so they could both hear. “What is it?”
“We found one of our contacts…a very influential person. The demons have him cornered. They can’t reach him just now, he’s set up barriers, but it’s only a matter of time. Gather your teams and meet us at this address.”
JungMin scrambled for pen and paper as YoungSaeng recited an address to them. He had to repeat it twice before JungMin got it down completely.
“Be here quickly,” YoungSaeng told them before hanging up. KyuJong listened to the dial tone for a moment before sighing and standing, wincing. “I’ll call HyungJoon, you call Kevin. SooHyun’s probably with KiBum and HyungJoon anyways.”
Within five minutes they were out the door, the others promising to meet them at the given address in ten minutes. KyuJong was worried about this contact…if demons were after him, how long would the barriers he’d set up hold? Nothing could keep demons out for long…
“So we’re finally going to meet one of these contacts?” JungMin asked as they hurried to the meeting spot as fast as a limping KyuJong could go. Thankfully they were closer to it than others.
“Guess so,” KyuJong frowned. “Maybe they’ll give us a few answers.”
They were the last ones to arrive despite being the first ones to head out, YoungSaeng impatient. “Come on, we have to move quickly,” he told them, setting out through the alleys. The only one missing was Daniel; no one had been able to reach the older man.
“What are we up against exactly?” KiBum asked, undoing the safety on his gun the second they were off the main streets, the noise of the traffic muted.
“Four adult demons,” HyunJoong looked back at them as he explained, following along beside YoungSaeng. “The sun isn’t set yet, but once it is, there will be more. We have to get him out before then, or we’re never going to leave the area. Once we’re out, YoungSaeng and I will take him to a safe location.”
“Four?” HyungJoon paled.
“We’ll be fine,” KiBum said determinedly. “We’re enough people to take on four of them.”
“That doesn’t change the fact we’ve never gone against four at once before!”
“Stop complaining and walk faster,” JungMin hit HyungJoon off the back of the head to get him moving.
They’d made it two blocks down before KyuJong started to see wisps of demon aura, slowing as he looked ahead warily. “They’re close…”
“He’s locked himself in his shop up ahead,” HyunJoong said. “We need to hurry.”
As they got closer, KiBum could see them too, eyes following strands of red. “They’ve got the place surrounded…” The shop was small, with a demon to each corner.
HyunJoong nodded. “YoungSaeng and I will move in first…the other demons will come quickly when they realize they’re being attacked, keep an eye out for them.”
The others nodded, HyungJoon wide-eyed as he tried to see what the others could see. SooHyun shuffled next to KiBum and released the safety on his gun, eyes narrowed.
HyunJoong held up one hand as they slowed to approach more carefully, trying to get as close as they could before they were spotted. The second KyuJong saw a flash of red up ahead, HyunJoong brought his hand down sharply and brought his gun up.
Gunshots rang through the air as HyunJoong and YoungSaeng darted to either side of the demon, taking it down quickly. Its dying screech echoed through the evening air and KyuJong’s head turned sharply to the side as he spotted red moving in from around the corner of the building.
“There!” KiBum was also pointing, SooHyun firing at the demon that had appeared as Kevin pressed his back against KiBum’s, sharp eyes scanning the darkness with his gun out and ready for anything trying to sneak up on them.
Suddenly HyunJoong was down, a demon dropping on him from the roof. YoungSaeng pulled out a bottle from his sleeve and sprayed it directly in the demon’s face, the creature shrieking and falling back long enough for the dark-haired man to fire a few bullets into it’s chest, exorcising it.
Looking around for the last demon, KyuJong’s heart leapt into his throat when JungMin was suddenly gone. “Min?!” he yelled, looking around frantically. The redhead had just disappeared…
A shriek of pain came from his right and he whirled around, seeing JungMin on the ground underneath a much larger demon. Saliva dripped from its jaws and disintegrating the ground next to the man’s head, JungMin flinching away.
The demon raised a clawed hand to kill the human in its grasp when two sets of gunfire rang out. Its body jerked with the force of the bullets before it melted away with a keen, JungMin covering his head to shield himself from the bits of demon that fell around him.
HyunJoong and YoungSaeng lowered their guns, looking at each other as KyuJong limped to see if JungMin was okay, HyungJoon right behind him.
“We’re going to make sure the building’s clear, stay here,” YoungSaeng ordered, nudging HyunJoong’s shoulder before turning to head around the side of the shop. The two were quickly swallowed by the shadows.
“You okay?” KyuJong asked JungMin, using his sleeve to brush demon blood and saliva off the man’s clothing before it could burn right through. JungMin nodded as he slowly sat up; apart from a burn across the back of his hand, he was fine.
“That was intense,” SooHyun panted, holding KiBum close. Kevin leaned against the alley wall, brushing sweat-matted hair out of his face.
HyungJoon watched KyuJong help JungMin stand before looking around. His eyes caught on a bottle lying on the ground. “Hey, this is YoungSaeng’s holy water, he dropped it.” He walked over and picked it up, then blinked. “Uh…”
“What?” KiBum looked over SooHyun’s shoulder at his brother.
Looking over the label, and then spraying a bit of the bottle onto his wrist to be sure, HyungJoon blinked owlishly at his brother. “This…isn’t holy water. It’s normal water.”
“Huh?” SooHyun turned around at that, confused as he held out his hand for the bottle. When HyungJoon passed it over, he looked the bottle up and down, KiBum doing the same.
“It…is just normal water,” he murmured, frowning as he passed the bottle back.
“But then…”
The back door to the shop unlocked and opened with a loud creaking noise, the Seekers jumping.
HyunJoong and YoungSaeng walked out, two young men right behind them. “The demons are clear of the area,” HyunJoong murmured quietly, the two men they’d brought out looking around warily.
“We’re going to bring them to a safer place,” YoungSaeng said softly, glancing between the others. “Thank you for helping.”
“Who are they?” JungMin frowned, nursing his burned hand as he eyed the two.
“This is Alexander,” HyunJoong introduced the man closest to him, who was standing half in front of the other man as though to shield him. “His friend is Eli.”
“Thank you for the help,” Alexander sighed in relief. “I couldn’t hold them all back much longer.”
HyunJoong nodded. “Come on, I need to talk to you both for a moment,” he smiled, drawing Alexander and Eli aside. KyuJong frowned, watching them talk further on and unable to hear what they were saying.
“YoungSaeng hyung,” SooHyun started after a minute of silence, his tone serious. The dark-haired man glanced in their direction. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Go right ahead,” the other man replied quietly. KiBum frowned, looking from SooHyun to YoungSaeng.
“Why is HyunJoong’s silver eye different from the others?” SooHyun asked, eyes narrowed. “It’s got a rose lining to it.”
YoungSaeng tilted his head to one side, considering that. “What he sees is different from what the others see,” he answered simply.
“What does he see?” KiBum asked quietly.
The older man’s lips curled into a smile. “Everything else.”
“Huh?” HyungJoon blinked in confusion.
KiBum scowled a little at the cryptic answer, about to ask again when HyunJoong’s voice floated to them. “YoungSaeng, we need to go.”
YoungSaeng pushed away from the wall, nodding to the others. “We will see you all at the next meeting, be ready.” He turned and walked to where HyunJoong, Alexander and Eli were waiting.
Watching them go, JungMin groaned, messing up his hair with his good hand. “Well, that gave us no answers.”
“Maybe there’s a reason why they’re not saying anything,” Kevin said softly.
“You seem very keen on defending them,” JungMin’s eyes narrowed at the youngest of their group, who blinked back at him with wide eyes.
“Stop, Kevin’s got a point,” KiBum sighed, shaking his head. “It’s just frustrating.”
“Come on, let’s go back home,” KyuJong said quietly. “The month’s just about up, we’re going to have to be rested and prepared for whatever happens. And the sun’s just about down.”
“I don’t like this,” JungMin grumbled beside him as they started to make their way back. “Not at all.”
“Neither do I, but we don’t have a choice but to go along with it for now.”
***************************
“What do they want to meet with us about now?” JungMin sighed as they stepped into the hotel elevator. It was the first time they were meeting HyunJoong and YoungSaeng at the hotel room they were occupying while in Seoul; HyungJoon commented that they must be filthy rich to be able to afford a hotel for a whole month. This place wasn’t exactly cheap.
“No idea, maybe they found out more,” KyuJong murmured as he leaned against the elevator wall, pressing the button for the fifth floor and watching the doors close. He was getting nervous; the end of the month was approaching, and he’d been seeing far more demons around than even before. “I don’t like this…SooHyun’s been getting more headaches than usual, he says there’s too much spiritual energy in the air.”
“I still think he’s a defective medium,” JungMin rolled his eyes. “He says he hasn’t stopped sensing something nearby since he joined us, but we’re not always around demons.”
“Either way, there are too many demons around,” KyuJong sighed. They were early to meet the two traveling Seekers, the others only going to be arriving in fifteen minutes or so, but he couldn’t help it. He’d been on edge all week, jumping at shadows, and the nightmares had come back despite JungMin’s efforts in keeping them away. Reaching up, he made sure his silver eye was covered, feeling like a target if it was showing.
“Relax, will you?” JungMin sighed, rubbing the older man’s shoulder lightly. KyuJong leaned against him a little before the elevator dinged and the doors opened.
They stepped out into the hallway, looking around as KyuJong glanced from the door numbers to the piece of paper in his hand. “This way,” he started down the hallway, JungMin following.
The room they were looking for was at the end of the hallway…and the door was open. Blinking in confusion, KyuJong exchanged a wary glance with JungMin before edging towards the door. Had demons found the two? He didn’t see an aura…
One finger against his lips to be quiet, KyuJong peeked around the doorframe, and stopped, eyes wide.
He could only just barely see the two at the other end of the hotel room, but he could clearly see HyunJoong pinning YoungSaeng against the wall, kissing him. YoungSaeng’s hands were pressed against HyunJoong’s broad back, one running up and down slowly as he tilted his head to one side, eyes closed. It was a slow, deep kiss, taking their time as HyunJoong cupped YoungSaeng’s face lightly, stroking his cheek with one thumb.
KyuJong blinked owlishly. Well, that was a lot easier to understand than the cryptic answers the duo had given so far.
Poking his head around the corner too to see what was going on, JungMin stared before pulling back, blinking at KyuJong. “…Okay.”
HyunJoong’s lips transferred to YoungSaeng’s neck, the smaller man’s head falling back against the wall as he moaned softly.
“Think we should…go and come back?” KyuJong mumbled, face burning red as he shuffled back from the door.
“But this is interesting,” JungMin pouted at him, and KyuJong rolled his eyes before grabbing the younger man’s arm and towing him back down the hallway.
It was a good twenty minutes of waiting at the other end of the corridor, and getting some weird looks from the maids, before the elevator dinged and the others filed out. “Hey,” HyungJoon grinned nervously at the two. “Are they in?”
“Yeah, they’re in,” JungMin smirked, and KyuJong kicked his shin.
Heading back to the room at the other end of the hallway, KyuJong wondered if the door being closed now was a good sign or not. But when Daniel knocked lightly, HyunJoong answered within a few seconds, looking perfectly normal.
“Come in,” he smiled at them, stepping aside and heading back into the room to give the group enough space to file into the hotel room.
“So, you found out more information?” Daniel asked, taking off his shoes. YoungSaeng motioned for the leader to sit down in the chair, the others taking up spots on the floor and the bed.
HyunJoong locked the hotel room door behind them and headed back into the room to sit next to YoungSaeng. “Yes, and we’ve reached the rest of our contacts,” he nodded, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “And we think it’s time to launch our attack to destroy the nest.”
“When?” Daniel asked, the others exchanging worried glances. Apart from Alexander, they hadn’t meet any of these contacts, and that had only been for a few minutes.
“Tomorrow evening,” HyunJoong said, getting out a more detailed map of the industrial park area. “It‘s the longest day of the year, and with the sun setting as late as possible, our window for success is the largest it will ever be.”
“Okay…so how are we going to do this?” KyuJong sighed, rubbing his temples as he watched HyunJoong spread out the map so they all could see.
“We’re going to surround the nest, and burn it,” HyunJoong replied firmly, circling the spot on the map where the nest was located. “My contacts are able to purify the fire to be deadly to the demons on touch, none of those in the nest will escape.”
“A big fire?” HyungJoon’s eyes were wide. “Won’t someone in the city notice? We’re right in the middle of Seoul!”
HyunJoong and YoungSaeng exchanged a look. “You don’t need to worry about that,” YoungSaeng said softly. “They won’t notice.”
“Now, this is where we’re going to need your help,” HyunJoong continued before someone else could protest. “My contacts and I can take care of the burning, and the demons inside the nest. But there will be demons out in the city, and they will flock back to the nest once they realize it’s being destroyed, which will be shortly after the first eggs are touched by fire. You will have to stop them from getting too close, and exorcise them.”
“Our contacts have accepted the fact they may die in this,” YoungSaeng said softly. “And it is their duty to protect you all above everything else. But if too many of them die, the fire will not be able to purify the nest, and Seoul will fall under the demons’ anger.”
“You still aren’t telling us who these contacts are,” Daniel said, frowning at them. “To talk about purifying a fire…are they priests? They would have to be.”
KyuJong and JungMin exchanged a glance, trying to imagine the one contact they had met, Alexander, as a priest.
“They are fully capable of this task,” YoungSaeng said firmly, eyes sharp. “You’re going to need to trust us.”
“This is our city you’re talking about,” JungMin’s eyes flashed.
“And this is our country,” YoungSaeng retorted. “We know the risk, but this is the best way.”
“Okay,” Daniel sighed, before there could be any more arguments. “We’ll do our part. When are we meeting?”
“The fire will start at 7pm sharp,” HyunJoong replied, marking off spots on the map. “Be at these locations by then.”
HyungJoon looked at the others uncertainly. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
KyuJong nodded, drawing in a shaky breath. Despite their misgivings about HyunJoong and YoungSaeng, they hadn’t let them down yet.
He only hoped the price of taking down the nest wouldn’t be too high.
*************************************
“Hyung, we need to get into position now,” KiBum sighed as HyungJoon checked and rechecked to make sure the guards on his arms and legs were secure. “I’m not going to be able to move properly with these on.”
“If it stops you from being sliced in two, it works for me,” HyungJoon retorted, tightening the straps. KiBum looked at SooHyun for help, but his boyfriend just shook his head.
“It’s just about 7, we need to go,” Kevin said softly, reloading his gun and glancing at his watch.
HyungJoon sighed before standing straight, hugging KiBum. “Be careful, okay?” he whispered, the younger brother hugging him back.
“I will be, hyung.”
“Don’t worry HyungJoon hyung,” Kevin smiled, glancing at SooHyun then at KiBum. “We’ll keep him safe.”
“That we will,” SooHyun grinned as he took a pill to fight back the headache that was starting; he couldn’t afford to be distracted during the long fight that was going to ensue.
“Let’s go guys, show time,” Daniel said as his watch beeped, heading off on his own. KiBum had to wiggle out of HyungJoon’s grasp before walking off toward where his team needed to be, Kevin and SooHyun flanking him.
“He’ll be fine Joon,” KyuJong smiled, rubbing the older brother’s back.
“I hope so,” HyungJoon murmured, getting ready himself. “You took your painkillers?”
KyuJong nodded. His leg was probably going to be aggravated during the fight, he couldn’t be distracted by the pain. He brushed his bangs back behind one ear, glancing towards JungMin who was adjusting his gloves.
“Maybe after this, we’ll have less work to do,” JungMin joked as he glanced at them.
“Probably not at first, we’re going to have to go after every single demon that escapes,” KyuJong replied, before smiling. “But yeah, I think once that’s over we’ll be able to focus on other things.”
“Such as?” JungMin grinned at him.
“Don’t start getting any ideas.”
“But you like my ideas~”
“Why am I stuck with you two again?” HyungJoon sighed, and shrieked when JungMin cuffed the side of his head.
KyuJong’s watch beeped, and they all stopped. “Ready?” The Seeker took in a shaky breath, stepping around to press his back against JungMin’s, HyungJoon standing at their sides to watch an alley way as he pulled out his gun.
“Not really, but it’s going to start anyways,” HyungJoon whimpered.
“That’s the spirit,” JungMin grinned, holding his gun out. “We’re going out for drinks after this. Person with the least hits buys.”
“You’re on.”
KyuJong smiled as he listened to them, counting silently in his head. Three…two…one…
BOOM!
The ground rocked beneath them as, in the direction of the nest, flames rose up from the ground in waves, starting at one end of the nest and progressing to the other.
A horrible keen went up, KyuJong clenching his jaw and resisting the overwhelming urge to press his hands over his ears. That was the babies dying.
A few seconds later he saw the first wisps of red, drawing in a shaky breath. “They’re coming…get ready.”
KiBum and the other two were just getting to their assigned location when the fire erupted, the heat of it making them stagger back. “Woah,” SooHyun stared for a moment before snapping out of it, looking around. “Where are they?”
“The demons will be here soon,” Kevin winced, getting into position.
“Not them…those contacts. Where are they?”
Blinking, KiBum glanced around. “Right. Where are they?”
“Probably closer to the fire?” Kevin suggested, glancing at them nervously.
“How are we supposed to protect them this far out?” SooHyun asked.
“I don’t-They’re coming!” KiBum yelled as through his silver eye he saw billows of red heading towards them, and towards the fire.
The second the first demon appeared, they started firing, getting into a triangle formation to watch all angles. SooHyun’s eyes searched the growing darkness, firing at any demon he saw. Dying keens rang in the air around them, from the babies and from the demons they shot.
Suddenly one popped up far too close, SooHyun yelling as he fired and blasted a hole in its head. KiBum fumbled with his gun at the shout from his boyfriend, and he saw several auras blast past them and towards the fire.
“Shit…they got through!” He glanced at his boyfriend and best friend as they finished off their targets. “We have to go after them!”
“We were told to stay here,” Kevin protested.
“Those contacts can’t die, remember?” KiBum checked around them, and when he saw the next wave of demons was far off still, he bolted in the direction of the fire.
“KiBum!” SooHyun ran after him. Kevin stared after them before hurrying after as well.
They didn’t get far. KiBum didn’t see the red wisps in the shadows until the demon leapt out at him, the Seeker slammed into the wall hard before being knocked to the ground.
Rearing up to finish the young man off, the demon jerked as bullets slammed into its body before falling and disappearing. SooHyun ran straight to KiBum. “KiBum, are you okay?!”
Kevin dropped down beside them, eyes wide as he took in the blood slowly dripping through his best friend’s hair, KiBum unconscious. SooHyun tried to revive him without effect.
“…We need to get him somewhere safe,” Kevin said after a moment, swallowing and looking up to meet SooHyun’s gaze. “KiBum comes first, always.”
The older man nodded, gathering KiBum up in his arms and standing. “Where do we go?”
“Follow me,” Kevin replied and hurried off. SooHyun followed after him, not asking where they were going and instead keeping an eye out for any demons.
Kevin took care of the demons they encountered, firing with a cold precision. Within minutes, they were at a place SooHyun recognized. Seeing the wood-covered doorway, he watched as Kevin pried the wood out of place and moved out of the way.
“Get in here,” he said.
“Are you sure?” SooHyun asked.
Kevin nodded, looking at SooHyun. “Please, he’ll be safe in here.”
Seeing how serious the younger man was, SooHyun did as told, climbing into the niche between door and wood and crouching down, KiBum carefully in his arms. Kevin leaned in, eyes pained as he brushed KiBum’s hair out of his eyes, fingertips resting against his bloodied temple for a moment before pulling away.
“What about you?” SooHyun asked; the space wasn’t enough for three people.
“I’ll stand outside and make sure no demons get to you,” Kevin said. “Don’t come out unless I tell you to, okay?”
“Kevin ah, you’ll be killed.”
“I’ll be fine,” Kevin smiled at him. “Look after KiBum hyung, okay?” He straightened and slid the wood back into place, hiding them from the outside world.
SooHyun gave a shaky sigh, looking down at the younger man in his lap. After a moment he got out his cell phone and flipped it open; it wasn’t the best source of light, but it would work for now. He brushed KiBum’s hair to one side to check his injury, and paused.
In the small amount of light he had, he could see no blood on KiBum’s skin, nor in his hair. Blinking, he checked where the blood had been coming from, and saw no wound. Only a thin, barely visible scar.
“JungMin, duck!” KyuJong fired over the redhead to catch a demon about to sneak up on him, killing it instantly.
“How much longer is this going to take?” HyungJoon panted, glancing behind them to where the fire was raging. He was shocked there was no sign of police or fire fighters; did no one see the flames reaching up into the sky?
“I have no idea,” KyuJong shook his head Then his eyes widened as he saw a storm of red and black. “…Oh God.”
“What is it?” JungMin panted, straightening after killing another demon and looking over to them.
“Demons coming.” KyuJong swallowed. “A lot of them.”
“How much is ‘a lot’?”
“As in you better get over here because we’re going to die if we don’t take them on properly,” KyuJong snapped, grabbing HyungJoon’s sleeve and turning the younger man around to face where the demons were coming from.
HyungJoon spun around dizzily, and then stared as they saw glowing red eyes. “…We’re dead.”
JungMin started firing first, the other two following him. But no matter how many they killed, the demons just kept on coming. There were too many…they couldn’t hold that many back.
KyuJong’s gun make clicking noises as he pulled the trigger, and his heart dropped. He was out of bullets.
“Look out!” A voice yelled behind them as the demons came into full view and surged towards them.
Only to slam into an invisible barrier right in front the three Seekers, a ripple moving through the air in front of them before the demons who collided the hardest blew apart with screeches of pain.
Feeling someone behind them, KyuJong straightened and whirled around, eyes wide.
Alexander stood behind them, one hand on his hips as he stared at the demon. Beside him was the older teenage girl from the pair YoungSaeng and HyunJoong had rescued just a week or so ago. Both of them had one hand out in a ‘stop’ motion.
Shrieks went up and by the time KyuJong turned back around, the demons had all disappeared, the auras evaporating into thin air.
“…What just happened?” HyungJoon asked shakily, trembling.
“You all okay?” Alexander asked, looking them over for injuries. He nudged KyuJong’s bad leg slightly with his own, the Seeker stumbling to one side. “Oops sorry,” the other man apologized quickly.
“Here,” The teenage girl said with a small smile, holding out more cartridges for KyuJong. “Keep up the good work, we’re just about through.”
“What did you both do?” JungMin asked, eyes wide.
“Trade secret,” Alexander winked. “Come on GyuRi!” He turned and ran back towards the fire, the girl running after him, both at a speed far too fast to be normal.
HyungJoon stared after them. “…Just what happened?”
“I have…no idea,” JungMin murmured. “These contacts…what are they?”
KyuJong shook his head, before blinking and looking down at his leg. “My…leg doesn’t hurt anymore.” He rolled up his pant leg, and his eyes widened. The marks from the claws were only scars.
After a moment, he swallowed. “Hey…remember when we asked YoungSaeng what HyunJoong could see with that eye?”
“Yeah?” JungMin quirked an eyebrow at him.
“We can see demons with ours…he said HyunJoong could see ‘everything else’.”
“But what else is there to see?” HyungJoon asked. KyuJong turned towards them slowly, a strange expression on his face.
“What if…divine intervention was more than just the Sight?”
“What do you-“ JungMin cut himself off, looking up as the keening noise from the burning nest grew louder. “That’s not good.”
KyuJong turned back to face away from the nest, seeing more demons coming. “The next wave is here. You guys ready?”
“No, but let’s do this anyways,” HyungJoon said, aiming again.
It was going to be a long night.
Nest-burning went on until the sun set. Finally the fire died out, nothing left of the nest but the faint taint of demons, slowly dissipating as they checked for demon survivors.
“Some of them would have escaped into the city,” Daniel told them later, nursing a bloody arm. “You’re going to have busy next little while.”
“Figured as much,” KyuJong sighed tiredly, leaning against the wall beside him.
“Where did all the others go?” JungMin asked. They hadn’t seen any of the contacts, nor HyunJoong or YoungSaeng.
“No idea,” Daniel shook his head.
HyungJoon suddenly looked around in a panic. “Where’s KiBum?!”
“Over here,” a voice called, and they turned to see SooHyun and Kevin walking towards them. KiBum was limp on SooHyun’s back.
HyungJoon ran over to his little brother. “What happened?” He asked with wide eyes, checking him for injuries and finding none.
“He was knocked out pretty good, but he’ll be fine,” SooHyun smiled. Kevin nodded along, one hand covering a bloody cheek.
“Go home, all of you,” Daniel sighed. “Your work here is done, you deserve a long rest.”
“Sleep,” KyuJong smiled happily at the idea, mismatched eyes showing his exhaustion.
“Come on, let’s go,” JungMin chuckled, wrapping one arm around KyuJong’s shoulders as they started to walk. HyungJoon fell back to walk on SooHyun’s other side, staying close to his brother.
KyuJong felt a prickling at the back of his neck, like someone was watching, but when he turned around there was no one there.
***********************************
They all ended up crashing at HyungJoon and KiBum’s apartment, since it was the closest and they were too tired to go back to their own. None of them woke up before noon the following day, too exhausted to do anything other than sleep.
Finally KyuJong stirred, opening his eyes and blinking at JungMin still unconscious beside him. For a moment he just lay there, wondering what had woken him up.
“Morning hyung.” He looked over to see Kevin sipping a cup of coffee. “Want some coffee?”
KyuJong blinked at him uncomprehendingly before his brain caught up. “Sure.”
Smiling, Kevin hopped off the counter and went to make another cup. “How’s your leg?”
“My leg…” Remembering, KyuJong looked down at his leg, rolling up the bottom of the pajamas he’d borrowed. His fingers traced over the faint scars. “Healed,” he murmured. “Completely healed.”
The others slowly started to wake up around them, stirring at the noise. Finally JungMin rolled over and nearly squished HyungJoon, startling a shriek out of the older brother that had all of them snapping awake.
“Be quiet you,” KyuJong groaned, kicking HyungJoon lightly.
KiBum stirred, eyes cracking open. “Was that HyungJoon hyung again?” he grumbled.
SooHyun brightened, leaning over him and looking down. “Hey! How are you feeling?”
KiBum blinked at him, before his eyes widened. “I feel fine.” He touched the side of his head lightly, before shaking his head and sitting up slowly. “What happened?”
“KiBum hyung!” Kevin waved happily from the kitchen where he was making coffee, KiBum smiling after a moment and returning the wave.
“We got rid of them,” SooHyun grinned, hugging KiBum tightly and kissing him full on the mouth.
“Great!” KiBum brightened, hugging him back and ignoring HyungJoon pretending to gag. “So does that mean your headache’s gone?”
“Yeah,” SooHyun grinned. “I mean, I still sense something nearby, but that’s managa-“
They all jumped at a crash from the kitchen. “I’m sorry!” Kevin whined. “I dropped a glass!”
KiBum chuckled, shaking his head and giving SooHyun a light peck before standing up and going into the kitchen to help his best friend. “Careful, don’t step on it.”
There was a knock on the door, the laughter at the youngest dying at the noise. “We supposed to be meeting anyone now?” HyungJoon blinked owlishly. KiBum poked his head back out of the kitchen and shook his head.
After a moment, KyuJong stood up out of the mess of blankets in the living room where they’d all crashed and fixed his hair over his silver eye, heading to the door. When he opened it, he blinked up at Daniel. “Hyung?”
“Hey hyung!” JungMin called. “Isn’t it early for a visit?”
“Just because you all just woke up…” Daniel shook his head, before stepping in. “You need to listen to this.” There was an urgency in his voice that they hadn’t heard in a while.
“What’s up?”
He stepped over to sit in the middle of the group, KiBum and Kevin coming out of the kitchen to join them. Their leader was holding papers tightly.
“I found HyunJoong and YoungSaeng.”
“Information on them?” JungMin perked up. “It’s about time!”
“Be quiet and listen,” Daniel chided, brows furrowed as he held out the first paper. “Kim HyunJoong, born in Seoul, has a degree in music. 25 years old…born the same day as the second Pandora’s Box was opened.”
KyuJong’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
Daniel nodded.
“And YoungSaeng?” The younger man asked.
“That’s…” Daniel swallowed, looking at the second paper. “There’s nothing to explain it.”
“Explain what?” KiBum asked softly as he sat down next to SooHyun, Kevin shuffling closer to him.
“YoungSaeng’s dead.”
KyuJong’s eyes widened in utter shock. “What?”
Daniel held out the paper for them to see. It had a picture of the YoungSaeng they’d met, looking the exact same.
“Heo YoungSaeng died 25 years ago…when the second Pandora’s Box was opened, and the day Kim HyunJoong was born.”
********************************
”Noon train to Busan, now departing”
HyunJoong watched the station pull away, and buildings start shooting by at an increasing pace. Humming softly to himself, he ran his fingers through the hair of the man resting against him, nose buried in his collar.
“Where to next?” He murmured, resting his head against the soft strands.
“We’ll rest for a bit,” YoungSaeng replied softly, kissing the exposed skin above the other man’s collar. “Then we need to go to Taiwan…they say there’s another nest starting, we need to get rid of it before it gets to the point this one was at.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” HyunJoong smiled, closing his eyes. There was silence for a few minutes, before he asked softly, “How much longer do you have?”
YoungSaeng smiled against his neck. “As long as you want. I’m not leaving without you, I told you that. I’ll always protect you.”
“And you won’t get into trouble?”
“Considering we’re doing the grunt work, the least they can do is give us that much.”
The Seeker chuckled at the reply, kissing the side of YoungSaeng’s head. The dark-haired man sat up after a moment for a proper kiss. Once they’d pulled back, YoungSaeng smiled at him, two black eyes crinkling in happiness as they met HyunJoong’s own mismatched eyes.
HyunJoong smiled back at him, taking in the other man’s beauty, both visible beauty and the beauty only he could see…wisps of light blue and white curling around from YoungSaeng’s back and enveloping him like soft wings.
Fandom: SS501, U-KISS, Epik High
Pairing: HyunSaeng, SooBum, implied!KyuMin
Word Count: 14,000
Genre: AU, Fantasy
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence
Summary: 25 years ago, an incident occurred that released unspeakable evil across the world. At the same time, chosen children across the world were born, and at their coming-of-age received a gift called the Sight. These children were chosen to find and erase the evil from the Earth. But what they didn’t know was that they were never left to accomplish this task alone.
A/N: Happy birthday fic for renichifreak <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNNIE~~~~ I really hope you like it, and I don’t know what happened to the prompt >.<;;; Prompt was “Seeing the world through rose-colored glasses”. HUGE thank you to mskatness for betaing and fixing up my awkward sentences~!!!!
A week had passed, and they were having another meeting. KyuJong was still limping but at least he could walk around again on his own, the others treating the injury carefully since YoungSaeng had warned them of poison.
“You sure you’re okay?” JungMin eyed KyuJong when the older man had to stop for the second time as they were climbing the stairs to get to HyungJoon and KiBum’s apartment.
“Yeah, just dandy,” KyuJong panted, holding on to his calf. It burned.
“I can carry you the rest of the way.”
“That was a one-time thing because we were running from a pack of demons, and is never happening again.”
“Stubborn.”
KyuJong chuckled, then slowly straightened. “Okay, think I’m okay.”
“It’s just one more floor,” JungMin smiled, staying beside him as they made their way up carefully.
They were just about to turn towards the landing between the two floors when a shaky voice floated down, making them stop.
“Please, you can’t tell him.”
JungMin blinked, and helped KyuJong ease himself back down around the corner. They could just see three pairs of feet on the landing, unaware they were there. That had been Kevin’s voice.
“We’re not going to say anything.” That was HyunJoong, KyuJong recognized the voice. “It’s your duty, we’re not going to interfere in that.”
“Thank you,” Kevin replied with a sigh.
“You’re getting too attached,” YoungSaeng said softly. “You need to be careful.”
“You’re one to talk…”
“Our situation is different,” HyunJoong replied. “And we’re not talking about this now. You know what we’re going to need from you.”
“I know,” Kevin murmured. “When?”
“Once we’ve contacted the others…and once we’re ready to take on the nest. We both know your duty comes before all else…but can we count on you for that?”
“You can count on me,” Kevin said firmly.
“Good.” There was a smile in HyunJoong’s voice. “Come, they’re waiting.”
The three sets of feet turned to go up the stairs. JungMin and KyuJong remained silent until they were gone, then turned to each other with equal looks of confusion.
“What was that about?” JungMin asked.
KyuJong frowned. “No idea…what could they want from Kevin?” And what had they been talking about, his ‘duty’?
“Haven’t a clue, he wouldn’t even know anything about the demons if he hadn’t seen KiBum’s silver eye,” JungMin shook his head, then sighed. “Come on, we should go see the others. Should we ask KiBum? Do you think he’d know?”
“I’m not sure…maybe we should leave it alone until we know more. Kevin’s a nice kid, things could get strained between him and KiBum and they don’t need that.” Kevin had been KiBum’s best friend since childhood, and was behind only to SooHyun and HyungJoon in the younger brother’s heart.
They headed the rest of the way up the stairs, going slowly both for KyuJong’s leg and so that the other three would have time to get to the apartment without realizing they had been eavesdropping. Things were getting very confusing.
Reaching the apartment a few minutes later, they were let in by HyungJoon, the younger man beaming at them. “How’s the leg?” he asked, following them into the living room once they’d closed the door and taken off their shoes.
“Getting better,” KyuJong smiled.
“Would have been a lot better if you let me carry you up the stairs,” JungMin rolled his eyes, and yelped as KyuJong balanced on his bad leg to kick him with his good one.
“See? Perfectly fine.”
Laughter came from the living room, YoungSaeng and HyunJoong sitting on the couch. KiBum and SooHyun were attached at the hip, Kevin sitting on the floor in front of them with his forehead creased in a slight frown.
“So, what do we know?” Daniel asked, leaning forward and looking at YoungSaeng and HyunJoong intently as KyuJong, JungMin and HyungJoon sat down.
“We know the nest’s location,” YoungSaeng started, highlighting a spot on the map in front of them. “We also know that the nest contains about 175 adult demons, 300 youth, 400 babies and roughly 2,500 unhatched eggs.”
HyungJoon’s jaw dropped at the number. “Th-that’s a lot.”
“That’s roughly small for a demon nest,” HyunJoong shook his head. “Remember what we told you…once the nest is completed, the number will triple.”
“We’ll have more demons masquerading as humans than actual humans,” KyuJong murmured.
“Wrong. They won’t need to masquerade.” HyunJoong tapped his fingers against his knees. “Nowhere in the world has a nest been completed yet, but if one were to be completed, demons would spawn at such a high rate that disguising as humans would be pointless. They’ll take the entire city by storm, and kill everyone they see.”
HyungJoon paled. “We have to stop that from happening!”
“We will. But our numbers are still too few,” HyunJoong frowned.
“What about those contacts you mentioned?” Daniel asked mildly. They’d gotten no information about whom those contacts were.
“Some of them aren’t replying…we’re worried the demons may have found them,” YoungSaeng sighed.
“Who are they?” SooHyun frowned, arms firmly around KiBum’s waist.
“People who wish to remain unnamed,” YoungSaeng said firmly. “But their positions are…delicate to say the least. If they have been found out, we might have to help them before they help us.”
“That will be what YoungSaeng and I do next,” HyunJoong said, looking at each person in turn. “Finding our missing contacts. We may or may not require help. Other than that, the best that can be done is keep hunting any demons in the area.”
“I don’t like relying on people I don’t know and who you’re refusing to name,” JungMin scowled at them.
“We trust them with our lives, you have nothing to fear from them,” YoungSaeng said quietly.
“How are we supposed to believe you on that when you won’t tell us anything?”
“I think we should trust them,” Kevin piped up suddenly, looking up at KiBum sitting behind him. “They saved your brother, and KyuJong hyung and JungMin hyung.”
KiBum looked down at his best friend, before nodding with a small smile. “…All right. Then I’ll trust them too,” he sighed, looking up at YoungSaeng and HyunJoong.
JungMin looked at Kevin before glancing at KyuJong, who was frowning at the youngest too. He knew KyuJong was thinking about the conversation they’d overheard.
“Guess we have no choice,” Daniel sighed, rubbing his temples. “This is completely out of our league. Can you explain more about the demon nest?”
YoungSaeng and HyunJoong leaned forward, and KyuJong sighed as he put his suspicions to the side for the moment, focusing on what they were being told.
***********************************
They were halfway through the following week when KyuJong’s phone went off, YoungSaeng’s number flashing across the screen. Lounging in his apartment with JungMin, KyuJong shot the redhead a confused look before answering.
”We need your help,” YoungSaeng said quietly from the other end of the line.
KyuJong glanced at JungMin again before pressing speakerphone, so they could both hear. “What is it?”
“We found one of our contacts…a very influential person. The demons have him cornered. They can’t reach him just now, he’s set up barriers, but it’s only a matter of time. Gather your teams and meet us at this address.”
JungMin scrambled for pen and paper as YoungSaeng recited an address to them. He had to repeat it twice before JungMin got it down completely.
“Be here quickly,” YoungSaeng told them before hanging up. KyuJong listened to the dial tone for a moment before sighing and standing, wincing. “I’ll call HyungJoon, you call Kevin. SooHyun’s probably with KiBum and HyungJoon anyways.”
Within five minutes they were out the door, the others promising to meet them at the given address in ten minutes. KyuJong was worried about this contact…if demons were after him, how long would the barriers he’d set up hold? Nothing could keep demons out for long…
“So we’re finally going to meet one of these contacts?” JungMin asked as they hurried to the meeting spot as fast as a limping KyuJong could go. Thankfully they were closer to it than others.
“Guess so,” KyuJong frowned. “Maybe they’ll give us a few answers.”
They were the last ones to arrive despite being the first ones to head out, YoungSaeng impatient. “Come on, we have to move quickly,” he told them, setting out through the alleys. The only one missing was Daniel; no one had been able to reach the older man.
“What are we up against exactly?” KiBum asked, undoing the safety on his gun the second they were off the main streets, the noise of the traffic muted.
“Four adult demons,” HyunJoong looked back at them as he explained, following along beside YoungSaeng. “The sun isn’t set yet, but once it is, there will be more. We have to get him out before then, or we’re never going to leave the area. Once we’re out, YoungSaeng and I will take him to a safe location.”
“Four?” HyungJoon paled.
“We’ll be fine,” KiBum said determinedly. “We’re enough people to take on four of them.”
“That doesn’t change the fact we’ve never gone against four at once before!”
“Stop complaining and walk faster,” JungMin hit HyungJoon off the back of the head to get him moving.
They’d made it two blocks down before KyuJong started to see wisps of demon aura, slowing as he looked ahead warily. “They’re close…”
“He’s locked himself in his shop up ahead,” HyunJoong said. “We need to hurry.”
As they got closer, KiBum could see them too, eyes following strands of red. “They’ve got the place surrounded…” The shop was small, with a demon to each corner.
HyunJoong nodded. “YoungSaeng and I will move in first…the other demons will come quickly when they realize they’re being attacked, keep an eye out for them.”
The others nodded, HyungJoon wide-eyed as he tried to see what the others could see. SooHyun shuffled next to KiBum and released the safety on his gun, eyes narrowed.
HyunJoong held up one hand as they slowed to approach more carefully, trying to get as close as they could before they were spotted. The second KyuJong saw a flash of red up ahead, HyunJoong brought his hand down sharply and brought his gun up.
Gunshots rang through the air as HyunJoong and YoungSaeng darted to either side of the demon, taking it down quickly. Its dying screech echoed through the evening air and KyuJong’s head turned sharply to the side as he spotted red moving in from around the corner of the building.
“There!” KiBum was also pointing, SooHyun firing at the demon that had appeared as Kevin pressed his back against KiBum’s, sharp eyes scanning the darkness with his gun out and ready for anything trying to sneak up on them.
Suddenly HyunJoong was down, a demon dropping on him from the roof. YoungSaeng pulled out a bottle from his sleeve and sprayed it directly in the demon’s face, the creature shrieking and falling back long enough for the dark-haired man to fire a few bullets into it’s chest, exorcising it.
Looking around for the last demon, KyuJong’s heart leapt into his throat when JungMin was suddenly gone. “Min?!” he yelled, looking around frantically. The redhead had just disappeared…
A shriek of pain came from his right and he whirled around, seeing JungMin on the ground underneath a much larger demon. Saliva dripped from its jaws and disintegrating the ground next to the man’s head, JungMin flinching away.
The demon raised a clawed hand to kill the human in its grasp when two sets of gunfire rang out. Its body jerked with the force of the bullets before it melted away with a keen, JungMin covering his head to shield himself from the bits of demon that fell around him.
HyunJoong and YoungSaeng lowered their guns, looking at each other as KyuJong limped to see if JungMin was okay, HyungJoon right behind him.
“We’re going to make sure the building’s clear, stay here,” YoungSaeng ordered, nudging HyunJoong’s shoulder before turning to head around the side of the shop. The two were quickly swallowed by the shadows.
“You okay?” KyuJong asked JungMin, using his sleeve to brush demon blood and saliva off the man’s clothing before it could burn right through. JungMin nodded as he slowly sat up; apart from a burn across the back of his hand, he was fine.
“That was intense,” SooHyun panted, holding KiBum close. Kevin leaned against the alley wall, brushing sweat-matted hair out of his face.
HyungJoon watched KyuJong help JungMin stand before looking around. His eyes caught on a bottle lying on the ground. “Hey, this is YoungSaeng’s holy water, he dropped it.” He walked over and picked it up, then blinked. “Uh…”
“What?” KiBum looked over SooHyun’s shoulder at his brother.
Looking over the label, and then spraying a bit of the bottle onto his wrist to be sure, HyungJoon blinked owlishly at his brother. “This…isn’t holy water. It’s normal water.”
“Huh?” SooHyun turned around at that, confused as he held out his hand for the bottle. When HyungJoon passed it over, he looked the bottle up and down, KiBum doing the same.
“It…is just normal water,” he murmured, frowning as he passed the bottle back.
“But then…”
The back door to the shop unlocked and opened with a loud creaking noise, the Seekers jumping.
HyunJoong and YoungSaeng walked out, two young men right behind them. “The demons are clear of the area,” HyunJoong murmured quietly, the two men they’d brought out looking around warily.
“We’re going to bring them to a safer place,” YoungSaeng said softly, glancing between the others. “Thank you for helping.”
“Who are they?” JungMin frowned, nursing his burned hand as he eyed the two.
“This is Alexander,” HyunJoong introduced the man closest to him, who was standing half in front of the other man as though to shield him. “His friend is Eli.”
“Thank you for the help,” Alexander sighed in relief. “I couldn’t hold them all back much longer.”
HyunJoong nodded. “Come on, I need to talk to you both for a moment,” he smiled, drawing Alexander and Eli aside. KyuJong frowned, watching them talk further on and unable to hear what they were saying.
“YoungSaeng hyung,” SooHyun started after a minute of silence, his tone serious. The dark-haired man glanced in their direction. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Go right ahead,” the other man replied quietly. KiBum frowned, looking from SooHyun to YoungSaeng.
“Why is HyunJoong’s silver eye different from the others?” SooHyun asked, eyes narrowed. “It’s got a rose lining to it.”
YoungSaeng tilted his head to one side, considering that. “What he sees is different from what the others see,” he answered simply.
“What does he see?” KiBum asked quietly.
The older man’s lips curled into a smile. “Everything else.”
“Huh?” HyungJoon blinked in confusion.
KiBum scowled a little at the cryptic answer, about to ask again when HyunJoong’s voice floated to them. “YoungSaeng, we need to go.”
YoungSaeng pushed away from the wall, nodding to the others. “We will see you all at the next meeting, be ready.” He turned and walked to where HyunJoong, Alexander and Eli were waiting.
Watching them go, JungMin groaned, messing up his hair with his good hand. “Well, that gave us no answers.”
“Maybe there’s a reason why they’re not saying anything,” Kevin said softly.
“You seem very keen on defending them,” JungMin’s eyes narrowed at the youngest of their group, who blinked back at him with wide eyes.
“Stop, Kevin’s got a point,” KiBum sighed, shaking his head. “It’s just frustrating.”
“Come on, let’s go back home,” KyuJong said quietly. “The month’s just about up, we’re going to have to be rested and prepared for whatever happens. And the sun’s just about down.”
“I don’t like this,” JungMin grumbled beside him as they started to make their way back. “Not at all.”
“Neither do I, but we don’t have a choice but to go along with it for now.”
***************************
“What do they want to meet with us about now?” JungMin sighed as they stepped into the hotel elevator. It was the first time they were meeting HyunJoong and YoungSaeng at the hotel room they were occupying while in Seoul; HyungJoon commented that they must be filthy rich to be able to afford a hotel for a whole month. This place wasn’t exactly cheap.
“No idea, maybe they found out more,” KyuJong murmured as he leaned against the elevator wall, pressing the button for the fifth floor and watching the doors close. He was getting nervous; the end of the month was approaching, and he’d been seeing far more demons around than even before. “I don’t like this…SooHyun’s been getting more headaches than usual, he says there’s too much spiritual energy in the air.”
“I still think he’s a defective medium,” JungMin rolled his eyes. “He says he hasn’t stopped sensing something nearby since he joined us, but we’re not always around demons.”
“Either way, there are too many demons around,” KyuJong sighed. They were early to meet the two traveling Seekers, the others only going to be arriving in fifteen minutes or so, but he couldn’t help it. He’d been on edge all week, jumping at shadows, and the nightmares had come back despite JungMin’s efforts in keeping them away. Reaching up, he made sure his silver eye was covered, feeling like a target if it was showing.
“Relax, will you?” JungMin sighed, rubbing the older man’s shoulder lightly. KyuJong leaned against him a little before the elevator dinged and the doors opened.
They stepped out into the hallway, looking around as KyuJong glanced from the door numbers to the piece of paper in his hand. “This way,” he started down the hallway, JungMin following.
The room they were looking for was at the end of the hallway…and the door was open. Blinking in confusion, KyuJong exchanged a wary glance with JungMin before edging towards the door. Had demons found the two? He didn’t see an aura…
One finger against his lips to be quiet, KyuJong peeked around the doorframe, and stopped, eyes wide.
He could only just barely see the two at the other end of the hotel room, but he could clearly see HyunJoong pinning YoungSaeng against the wall, kissing him. YoungSaeng’s hands were pressed against HyunJoong’s broad back, one running up and down slowly as he tilted his head to one side, eyes closed. It was a slow, deep kiss, taking their time as HyunJoong cupped YoungSaeng’s face lightly, stroking his cheek with one thumb.
KyuJong blinked owlishly. Well, that was a lot easier to understand than the cryptic answers the duo had given so far.
Poking his head around the corner too to see what was going on, JungMin stared before pulling back, blinking at KyuJong. “…Okay.”
HyunJoong’s lips transferred to YoungSaeng’s neck, the smaller man’s head falling back against the wall as he moaned softly.
“Think we should…go and come back?” KyuJong mumbled, face burning red as he shuffled back from the door.
“But this is interesting,” JungMin pouted at him, and KyuJong rolled his eyes before grabbing the younger man’s arm and towing him back down the hallway.
It was a good twenty minutes of waiting at the other end of the corridor, and getting some weird looks from the maids, before the elevator dinged and the others filed out. “Hey,” HyungJoon grinned nervously at the two. “Are they in?”
“Yeah, they’re in,” JungMin smirked, and KyuJong kicked his shin.
Heading back to the room at the other end of the hallway, KyuJong wondered if the door being closed now was a good sign or not. But when Daniel knocked lightly, HyunJoong answered within a few seconds, looking perfectly normal.
“Come in,” he smiled at them, stepping aside and heading back into the room to give the group enough space to file into the hotel room.
“So, you found out more information?” Daniel asked, taking off his shoes. YoungSaeng motioned for the leader to sit down in the chair, the others taking up spots on the floor and the bed.
HyunJoong locked the hotel room door behind them and headed back into the room to sit next to YoungSaeng. “Yes, and we’ve reached the rest of our contacts,” he nodded, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “And we think it’s time to launch our attack to destroy the nest.”
“When?” Daniel asked, the others exchanging worried glances. Apart from Alexander, they hadn’t meet any of these contacts, and that had only been for a few minutes.
“Tomorrow evening,” HyunJoong said, getting out a more detailed map of the industrial park area. “It‘s the longest day of the year, and with the sun setting as late as possible, our window for success is the largest it will ever be.”
“Okay…so how are we going to do this?” KyuJong sighed, rubbing his temples as he watched HyunJoong spread out the map so they all could see.
“We’re going to surround the nest, and burn it,” HyunJoong replied firmly, circling the spot on the map where the nest was located. “My contacts are able to purify the fire to be deadly to the demons on touch, none of those in the nest will escape.”
“A big fire?” HyungJoon’s eyes were wide. “Won’t someone in the city notice? We’re right in the middle of Seoul!”
HyunJoong and YoungSaeng exchanged a look. “You don’t need to worry about that,” YoungSaeng said softly. “They won’t notice.”
“Now, this is where we’re going to need your help,” HyunJoong continued before someone else could protest. “My contacts and I can take care of the burning, and the demons inside the nest. But there will be demons out in the city, and they will flock back to the nest once they realize it’s being destroyed, which will be shortly after the first eggs are touched by fire. You will have to stop them from getting too close, and exorcise them.”
“Our contacts have accepted the fact they may die in this,” YoungSaeng said softly. “And it is their duty to protect you all above everything else. But if too many of them die, the fire will not be able to purify the nest, and Seoul will fall under the demons’ anger.”
“You still aren’t telling us who these contacts are,” Daniel said, frowning at them. “To talk about purifying a fire…are they priests? They would have to be.”
KyuJong and JungMin exchanged a glance, trying to imagine the one contact they had met, Alexander, as a priest.
“They are fully capable of this task,” YoungSaeng said firmly, eyes sharp. “You’re going to need to trust us.”
“This is our city you’re talking about,” JungMin’s eyes flashed.
“And this is our country,” YoungSaeng retorted. “We know the risk, but this is the best way.”
“Okay,” Daniel sighed, before there could be any more arguments. “We’ll do our part. When are we meeting?”
“The fire will start at 7pm sharp,” HyunJoong replied, marking off spots on the map. “Be at these locations by then.”
HyungJoon looked at the others uncertainly. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
KyuJong nodded, drawing in a shaky breath. Despite their misgivings about HyunJoong and YoungSaeng, they hadn’t let them down yet.
He only hoped the price of taking down the nest wouldn’t be too high.
*************************************
“Hyung, we need to get into position now,” KiBum sighed as HyungJoon checked and rechecked to make sure the guards on his arms and legs were secure. “I’m not going to be able to move properly with these on.”
“If it stops you from being sliced in two, it works for me,” HyungJoon retorted, tightening the straps. KiBum looked at SooHyun for help, but his boyfriend just shook his head.
“It’s just about 7, we need to go,” Kevin said softly, reloading his gun and glancing at his watch.
HyungJoon sighed before standing straight, hugging KiBum. “Be careful, okay?” he whispered, the younger brother hugging him back.
“I will be, hyung.”
“Don’t worry HyungJoon hyung,” Kevin smiled, glancing at SooHyun then at KiBum. “We’ll keep him safe.”
“That we will,” SooHyun grinned as he took a pill to fight back the headache that was starting; he couldn’t afford to be distracted during the long fight that was going to ensue.
“Let’s go guys, show time,” Daniel said as his watch beeped, heading off on his own. KiBum had to wiggle out of HyungJoon’s grasp before walking off toward where his team needed to be, Kevin and SooHyun flanking him.
“He’ll be fine Joon,” KyuJong smiled, rubbing the older brother’s back.
“I hope so,” HyungJoon murmured, getting ready himself. “You took your painkillers?”
KyuJong nodded. His leg was probably going to be aggravated during the fight, he couldn’t be distracted by the pain. He brushed his bangs back behind one ear, glancing towards JungMin who was adjusting his gloves.
“Maybe after this, we’ll have less work to do,” JungMin joked as he glanced at them.
“Probably not at first, we’re going to have to go after every single demon that escapes,” KyuJong replied, before smiling. “But yeah, I think once that’s over we’ll be able to focus on other things.”
“Such as?” JungMin grinned at him.
“Don’t start getting any ideas.”
“But you like my ideas~”
“Why am I stuck with you two again?” HyungJoon sighed, and shrieked when JungMin cuffed the side of his head.
KyuJong’s watch beeped, and they all stopped. “Ready?” The Seeker took in a shaky breath, stepping around to press his back against JungMin’s, HyungJoon standing at their sides to watch an alley way as he pulled out his gun.
“Not really, but it’s going to start anyways,” HyungJoon whimpered.
“That’s the spirit,” JungMin grinned, holding his gun out. “We’re going out for drinks after this. Person with the least hits buys.”
“You’re on.”
KyuJong smiled as he listened to them, counting silently in his head. Three…two…one…
BOOM!
The ground rocked beneath them as, in the direction of the nest, flames rose up from the ground in waves, starting at one end of the nest and progressing to the other.
A horrible keen went up, KyuJong clenching his jaw and resisting the overwhelming urge to press his hands over his ears. That was the babies dying.
A few seconds later he saw the first wisps of red, drawing in a shaky breath. “They’re coming…get ready.”
KiBum and the other two were just getting to their assigned location when the fire erupted, the heat of it making them stagger back. “Woah,” SooHyun stared for a moment before snapping out of it, looking around. “Where are they?”
“The demons will be here soon,” Kevin winced, getting into position.
“Not them…those contacts. Where are they?”
Blinking, KiBum glanced around. “Right. Where are they?”
“Probably closer to the fire?” Kevin suggested, glancing at them nervously.
“How are we supposed to protect them this far out?” SooHyun asked.
“I don’t-They’re coming!” KiBum yelled as through his silver eye he saw billows of red heading towards them, and towards the fire.
The second the first demon appeared, they started firing, getting into a triangle formation to watch all angles. SooHyun’s eyes searched the growing darkness, firing at any demon he saw. Dying keens rang in the air around them, from the babies and from the demons they shot.
Suddenly one popped up far too close, SooHyun yelling as he fired and blasted a hole in its head. KiBum fumbled with his gun at the shout from his boyfriend, and he saw several auras blast past them and towards the fire.
“Shit…they got through!” He glanced at his boyfriend and best friend as they finished off their targets. “We have to go after them!”
“We were told to stay here,” Kevin protested.
“Those contacts can’t die, remember?” KiBum checked around them, and when he saw the next wave of demons was far off still, he bolted in the direction of the fire.
“KiBum!” SooHyun ran after him. Kevin stared after them before hurrying after as well.
They didn’t get far. KiBum didn’t see the red wisps in the shadows until the demon leapt out at him, the Seeker slammed into the wall hard before being knocked to the ground.
Rearing up to finish the young man off, the demon jerked as bullets slammed into its body before falling and disappearing. SooHyun ran straight to KiBum. “KiBum, are you okay?!”
Kevin dropped down beside them, eyes wide as he took in the blood slowly dripping through his best friend’s hair, KiBum unconscious. SooHyun tried to revive him without effect.
“…We need to get him somewhere safe,” Kevin said after a moment, swallowing and looking up to meet SooHyun’s gaze. “KiBum comes first, always.”
The older man nodded, gathering KiBum up in his arms and standing. “Where do we go?”
“Follow me,” Kevin replied and hurried off. SooHyun followed after him, not asking where they were going and instead keeping an eye out for any demons.
Kevin took care of the demons they encountered, firing with a cold precision. Within minutes, they were at a place SooHyun recognized. Seeing the wood-covered doorway, he watched as Kevin pried the wood out of place and moved out of the way.
“Get in here,” he said.
“Are you sure?” SooHyun asked.
Kevin nodded, looking at SooHyun. “Please, he’ll be safe in here.”
Seeing how serious the younger man was, SooHyun did as told, climbing into the niche between door and wood and crouching down, KiBum carefully in his arms. Kevin leaned in, eyes pained as he brushed KiBum’s hair out of his eyes, fingertips resting against his bloodied temple for a moment before pulling away.
“What about you?” SooHyun asked; the space wasn’t enough for three people.
“I’ll stand outside and make sure no demons get to you,” Kevin said. “Don’t come out unless I tell you to, okay?”
“Kevin ah, you’ll be killed.”
“I’ll be fine,” Kevin smiled at him. “Look after KiBum hyung, okay?” He straightened and slid the wood back into place, hiding them from the outside world.
SooHyun gave a shaky sigh, looking down at the younger man in his lap. After a moment he got out his cell phone and flipped it open; it wasn’t the best source of light, but it would work for now. He brushed KiBum’s hair to one side to check his injury, and paused.
In the small amount of light he had, he could see no blood on KiBum’s skin, nor in his hair. Blinking, he checked where the blood had been coming from, and saw no wound. Only a thin, barely visible scar.
“JungMin, duck!” KyuJong fired over the redhead to catch a demon about to sneak up on him, killing it instantly.
“How much longer is this going to take?” HyungJoon panted, glancing behind them to where the fire was raging. He was shocked there was no sign of police or fire fighters; did no one see the flames reaching up into the sky?
“I have no idea,” KyuJong shook his head Then his eyes widened as he saw a storm of red and black. “…Oh God.”
“What is it?” JungMin panted, straightening after killing another demon and looking over to them.
“Demons coming.” KyuJong swallowed. “A lot of them.”
“How much is ‘a lot’?”
“As in you better get over here because we’re going to die if we don’t take them on properly,” KyuJong snapped, grabbing HyungJoon’s sleeve and turning the younger man around to face where the demons were coming from.
HyungJoon spun around dizzily, and then stared as they saw glowing red eyes. “…We’re dead.”
JungMin started firing first, the other two following him. But no matter how many they killed, the demons just kept on coming. There were too many…they couldn’t hold that many back.
KyuJong’s gun make clicking noises as he pulled the trigger, and his heart dropped. He was out of bullets.
“Look out!” A voice yelled behind them as the demons came into full view and surged towards them.
Only to slam into an invisible barrier right in front the three Seekers, a ripple moving through the air in front of them before the demons who collided the hardest blew apart with screeches of pain.
Feeling someone behind them, KyuJong straightened and whirled around, eyes wide.
Alexander stood behind them, one hand on his hips as he stared at the demon. Beside him was the older teenage girl from the pair YoungSaeng and HyunJoong had rescued just a week or so ago. Both of them had one hand out in a ‘stop’ motion.
Shrieks went up and by the time KyuJong turned back around, the demons had all disappeared, the auras evaporating into thin air.
“…What just happened?” HyungJoon asked shakily, trembling.
“You all okay?” Alexander asked, looking them over for injuries. He nudged KyuJong’s bad leg slightly with his own, the Seeker stumbling to one side. “Oops sorry,” the other man apologized quickly.
“Here,” The teenage girl said with a small smile, holding out more cartridges for KyuJong. “Keep up the good work, we’re just about through.”
“What did you both do?” JungMin asked, eyes wide.
“Trade secret,” Alexander winked. “Come on GyuRi!” He turned and ran back towards the fire, the girl running after him, both at a speed far too fast to be normal.
HyungJoon stared after them. “…Just what happened?”
“I have…no idea,” JungMin murmured. “These contacts…what are they?”
KyuJong shook his head, before blinking and looking down at his leg. “My…leg doesn’t hurt anymore.” He rolled up his pant leg, and his eyes widened. The marks from the claws were only scars.
After a moment, he swallowed. “Hey…remember when we asked YoungSaeng what HyunJoong could see with that eye?”
“Yeah?” JungMin quirked an eyebrow at him.
“We can see demons with ours…he said HyunJoong could see ‘everything else’.”
“But what else is there to see?” HyungJoon asked. KyuJong turned towards them slowly, a strange expression on his face.
“What if…divine intervention was more than just the Sight?”
“What do you-“ JungMin cut himself off, looking up as the keening noise from the burning nest grew louder. “That’s not good.”
KyuJong turned back to face away from the nest, seeing more demons coming. “The next wave is here. You guys ready?”
“No, but let’s do this anyways,” HyungJoon said, aiming again.
It was going to be a long night.
Nest-burning went on until the sun set. Finally the fire died out, nothing left of the nest but the faint taint of demons, slowly dissipating as they checked for demon survivors.
“Some of them would have escaped into the city,” Daniel told them later, nursing a bloody arm. “You’re going to have busy next little while.”
“Figured as much,” KyuJong sighed tiredly, leaning against the wall beside him.
“Where did all the others go?” JungMin asked. They hadn’t seen any of the contacts, nor HyunJoong or YoungSaeng.
“No idea,” Daniel shook his head.
HyungJoon suddenly looked around in a panic. “Where’s KiBum?!”
“Over here,” a voice called, and they turned to see SooHyun and Kevin walking towards them. KiBum was limp on SooHyun’s back.
HyungJoon ran over to his little brother. “What happened?” He asked with wide eyes, checking him for injuries and finding none.
“He was knocked out pretty good, but he’ll be fine,” SooHyun smiled. Kevin nodded along, one hand covering a bloody cheek.
“Go home, all of you,” Daniel sighed. “Your work here is done, you deserve a long rest.”
“Sleep,” KyuJong smiled happily at the idea, mismatched eyes showing his exhaustion.
“Come on, let’s go,” JungMin chuckled, wrapping one arm around KyuJong’s shoulders as they started to walk. HyungJoon fell back to walk on SooHyun’s other side, staying close to his brother.
KyuJong felt a prickling at the back of his neck, like someone was watching, but when he turned around there was no one there.
***********************************
They all ended up crashing at HyungJoon and KiBum’s apartment, since it was the closest and they were too tired to go back to their own. None of them woke up before noon the following day, too exhausted to do anything other than sleep.
Finally KyuJong stirred, opening his eyes and blinking at JungMin still unconscious beside him. For a moment he just lay there, wondering what had woken him up.
“Morning hyung.” He looked over to see Kevin sipping a cup of coffee. “Want some coffee?”
KyuJong blinked at him uncomprehendingly before his brain caught up. “Sure.”
Smiling, Kevin hopped off the counter and went to make another cup. “How’s your leg?”
“My leg…” Remembering, KyuJong looked down at his leg, rolling up the bottom of the pajamas he’d borrowed. His fingers traced over the faint scars. “Healed,” he murmured. “Completely healed.”
The others slowly started to wake up around them, stirring at the noise. Finally JungMin rolled over and nearly squished HyungJoon, startling a shriek out of the older brother that had all of them snapping awake.
“Be quiet you,” KyuJong groaned, kicking HyungJoon lightly.
KiBum stirred, eyes cracking open. “Was that HyungJoon hyung again?” he grumbled.
SooHyun brightened, leaning over him and looking down. “Hey! How are you feeling?”
KiBum blinked at him, before his eyes widened. “I feel fine.” He touched the side of his head lightly, before shaking his head and sitting up slowly. “What happened?”
“KiBum hyung!” Kevin waved happily from the kitchen where he was making coffee, KiBum smiling after a moment and returning the wave.
“We got rid of them,” SooHyun grinned, hugging KiBum tightly and kissing him full on the mouth.
“Great!” KiBum brightened, hugging him back and ignoring HyungJoon pretending to gag. “So does that mean your headache’s gone?”
“Yeah,” SooHyun grinned. “I mean, I still sense something nearby, but that’s managa-“
They all jumped at a crash from the kitchen. “I’m sorry!” Kevin whined. “I dropped a glass!”
KiBum chuckled, shaking his head and giving SooHyun a light peck before standing up and going into the kitchen to help his best friend. “Careful, don’t step on it.”
There was a knock on the door, the laughter at the youngest dying at the noise. “We supposed to be meeting anyone now?” HyungJoon blinked owlishly. KiBum poked his head back out of the kitchen and shook his head.
After a moment, KyuJong stood up out of the mess of blankets in the living room where they’d all crashed and fixed his hair over his silver eye, heading to the door. When he opened it, he blinked up at Daniel. “Hyung?”
“Hey hyung!” JungMin called. “Isn’t it early for a visit?”
“Just because you all just woke up…” Daniel shook his head, before stepping in. “You need to listen to this.” There was an urgency in his voice that they hadn’t heard in a while.
“What’s up?”
He stepped over to sit in the middle of the group, KiBum and Kevin coming out of the kitchen to join them. Their leader was holding papers tightly.
“I found HyunJoong and YoungSaeng.”
“Information on them?” JungMin perked up. “It’s about time!”
“Be quiet and listen,” Daniel chided, brows furrowed as he held out the first paper. “Kim HyunJoong, born in Seoul, has a degree in music. 25 years old…born the same day as the second Pandora’s Box was opened.”
KyuJong’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
Daniel nodded.
“And YoungSaeng?” The younger man asked.
“That’s…” Daniel swallowed, looking at the second paper. “There’s nothing to explain it.”
“Explain what?” KiBum asked softly as he sat down next to SooHyun, Kevin shuffling closer to him.
“YoungSaeng’s dead.”
KyuJong’s eyes widened in utter shock. “What?”
Daniel held out the paper for them to see. It had a picture of the YoungSaeng they’d met, looking the exact same.
“Heo YoungSaeng died 25 years ago…when the second Pandora’s Box was opened, and the day Kim HyunJoong was born.”
********************************
”Noon train to Busan, now departing”
HyunJoong watched the station pull away, and buildings start shooting by at an increasing pace. Humming softly to himself, he ran his fingers through the hair of the man resting against him, nose buried in his collar.
“Where to next?” He murmured, resting his head against the soft strands.
“We’ll rest for a bit,” YoungSaeng replied softly, kissing the exposed skin above the other man’s collar. “Then we need to go to Taiwan…they say there’s another nest starting, we need to get rid of it before it gets to the point this one was at.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” HyunJoong smiled, closing his eyes. There was silence for a few minutes, before he asked softly, “How much longer do you have?”
YoungSaeng smiled against his neck. “As long as you want. I’m not leaving without you, I told you that. I’ll always protect you.”
“And you won’t get into trouble?”
“Considering we’re doing the grunt work, the least they can do is give us that much.”
The Seeker chuckled at the reply, kissing the side of YoungSaeng’s head. The dark-haired man sat up after a moment for a proper kiss. Once they’d pulled back, YoungSaeng smiled at him, two black eyes crinkling in happiness as they met HyunJoong’s own mismatched eyes.
HyunJoong smiled back at him, taking in the other man’s beauty, both visible beauty and the beauty only he could see…wisps of light blue and white curling around from YoungSaeng’s back and enveloping him like soft wings.