003. 500w | 30min
He, he gets it. He knows what he wants. He knows how's he going to go about it.
"Hey, hey, kid, sure?"
"Come on, just do it okay, I can do this. Stop underestimating me."
The man laughs, fingering the faux cross around his neck. Hyukjae eyes it.
"You're not even alive in the first place, don't question me."
"I'm -- I"m not. I want to do this, okay? Just let me do this."
The smile is almost pitiful, but the man nods. "Sure, sure, come on, let's."
There's no puff of smoke, no sudden epiphany Hyukjae experiences, but he does feel a bit different. He twitches his fingers experimentally.
"Like it?" The man smiles, left hand in his pocket as he watches Hyukjae twist his neck.
He sighs in satisfaction.
"God, yeah. This is good. This is terrific, this is--"
"Everything comes with a price, you know that."
"I do, we already settled it though."
The man laughs dryly.
"Yes, I suppose. But remember; you're doing this for love, not to be human, right?"
Hyukjae's too busy bending his elbows and hearing cracks, shutting and opening his eyes in quick succession.
"Right, love."
"So you get a week. I'm not mean, I'm a nice guy. Just do what you said you would, and nothing will happen. After the week, I'm sorry but my powers don't last that long. You'll be back and immobile again."
Hyukjae nods, and attempts to bend his knees. He stills.
"I, er."
Sungmin looks down, covering his mouth before he can smile.
"Sorry kid, but I can't do anything else. Good luck though; I'll see you on the other side if not."
Sungmin's gone, and Hyukjae's stuck.
The first day is more boring than he remembers. At least before he could distract himself with staring at one spot for the rest of his life, but now it's just. He has to keep still. It's boring.
He didn't do this just to stand here all day, but he can't do anything else. His first attempt at human contact results in a kid screaming, and his mum running from the store. The second makes the store owner stumble back in shock and twist his ankle.
The owner's nephew is nice, though.
Small and compact with a wry grin and hair too long, he hums as he dresses Hyukjae, and Hyukjae has to keep from blushing as Donghae nears his groin. Even if it is... non-existent.
"So what do we have today..." Donghae trails off as he takes off yesterday's stiff suit. Hyukjae wants to sigh in satisfaction, his shoulders and arms loosening and slacking.
"You might like this." Donghae grins as he hooks a t-shirt onto Hyukjae's shorter frame, adjusting the hat and pulling on some shorts. He sets Hyukjae's arm just /so/ and tilts his head almost arrogantly. Donghae laughs but leaves it, and retreats back to the counter, smiling as a new customer walks in.
Donghae's sweet and keeps Hyukjae company for the first few days, even as the customers mill about and poke him inappropriately. He figures that if he ever discovers the secret to time travel, he'll go back to past-Hyukjae and tell him to /never/ make this deal. His ass probably has bruises upon bruises and his thighs are starting to grow numb.
On his second-to-last day, the store's quieter than usual and Donghae's humming isn't enough to keep Hyukjae's attention. He longs to jump off his small platform and run around the store, screaming like a kid with his arms up high, but he admires his view. He can see Donghae's ass as he bends over to pick up something.
"...Are you wearing underpants?" Donghae's head whips around. "Oh fuck."
Hyukjae's determinedly looking ahead, sweat rolling down his temple and his hands clenched on the edges of his jacket. The store's empty.
"Did you talk?"
Hyukjae flushes, jaw set, and tries not to move. Donghae walks closer. He peers up into Hyukjae's face and sets his hand against Hyukjae's crotch.
Hyukjae jumps at the touch and Donghae laughs lightly.
"I knew it."
"YOU PERVERT."
Donghae scoffs. "Oh please, you enjoyed me undressing you everyday, don't deny it."
Hyukjae's blushes, redder than before. "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO UNDRESSES ME."
"Right, but you didn't SAY anything."
Hyukjae can't find any words to refute that.
"Well..."
"Why ARE you alive anyway?"
"Things. Happen. Lots of things. Happened."
Donghae nods like he believes him, and Hyukjae sincerely wishes he does. Though he can't say for sure.
"Right, yeah. Um, well if you ever feel like sharing, then you know where to catch me."
Donghae skips off to the back room to stock up on belts, and Hyukjae closes his eyes in horror.
Now that Donghae knows, Hyukjae's hours pass quickly. Being frozen in one position is sore on the joints, and he groans at the end of the day when Donghae closes up, locking the store.
"Doesn't it hurt, or annoy you, to be stuck like that everyday?"
Hyukjae shrugs, and then hisses.
"It's not like I'm human anyway, I've already been through a life of this. Doesn't really matter, you know."
Donghae nods. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Can't say I envy you though." He grins.
His final day doesn't seem that bad, now that Donghae's there.
Just before opening hours, Donghae blasts music to clear away the dreary feeling of early morning and runs throughout the store, laughing as he passes by Hyukjae. He can't help but feel a bit cheated as he watches Donghae's lean thighs work, and though he realises he might have feelings for Donghae, it isn't enough to keep him animate for the rest of his life.
The day's spent well; music and Donghae chatting with customers, occasionally leaning on Hyukjae in times of boredom or trying to tickle him. Hyukjae's proud to say his self-control has grown immeasurably.
At the end of the day, though, nothing changes, and Sungmin appears again as Donghae's in the backroom.
"I'm sorry about this, Hyukjae, but you know I have to."
Hyukjae nods. He's obedient and nice, but he wants a bit more a grasp of what being human is like. He knows what he has to offer isn't enough for this opportunity, though.
"Yeah. It was a nice week though."
"It was," Sungmin says softly, and Hyukjae is rendered inanimate once more.
Donghae doesn't come back the next day because the owner is back and he moves Hyukjae to one of the backrooms, convinced he's a cursed mannequin. Hyukjae goes quietly because there isn't any other way to go about it.
But as the years go bye, the owner decides to sell the property, and Donghae's there to help move the old stock. He lifts Hyukjae carefully, asks his uncle if he could take it. His uncle tells him to be careful, and Donghae nods seriously as he supports Hyukjae's weight on his shoulder.
"Jesus, did you get any heavier?" Donghae whispers casually as he loads Hyukjae into his own car, but Hyukjae can't reply, only blink.
"My apartment," Donghae says proudly, and it's the first opportunity Hyukjae has of really seeing Donghae and how he's changed in the few years. More man than boy now.
Hyukjae's zoned out, tired of being frozen for so long as Donghae moves around the apartment quietly, before he settles on the couch. He sleeps a bit, before he awakes to Sungmin standing in front of him, smiling lightly.
"Hey you."
Hyukjae can't do anything but look, inanimate.
"Donghae's made a proposition. So I'm going to grant it, of course, and we'll see how this goes."
Sungmin fingers his earring, a plain stud, and Hyukjae takes a breath with a gasp.
"What's-- what /is/ this?"
Sungmin laughs lightly.
"Donghae traded half of his life and gave it to you. Thank him when he wakes up."
Hyukjae turns his head, moving his joints with small clicks before he looks down. Sungmin follows his gaze.
"And his legs for your's."