Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"No, I mean it. I'm not stepping foot in that thing. My viewers will be sad if I die a horrible death. I'll never be able to finish 'To separate the clouds' and that will be tragic." Beomgyu stared down at the large drain pipe situated in the middle of an abandoned construction site.

From the looks of it, the pipe was cleaned, or as clean as it could be at first glance. The bateria that lived on the surface could fool anyone into recklessly sitting inside and indulging in their mindless banter and obnoxious pep talks for relationships and all that.

Beomgyu imagined himself entering a sort of tunnel—a tunnel that could either lead him to his salvation or damnation. The light from the street lamps weren't doing their thing. The entire place was engulfed in its dark coat making the tunnel pitch black.

The tunnel may just be hell.

"Hyung, just come on." Kai encouraged, moving towards the contraption of a pipe and seated himself down. Soobin and Taehyun were sorting through their snacks on the skateboard, talking mindlessly about flavors and preferences.

Their faces were obscured from his vision as he pointed it toward the unfamiliar male standing beside them, making silly jokes and sexual remarks about the snacks that looked like dicks.

They were called penis candy, as he heard them mutter about every little detail about it. Beomgyu already wanted to go home but pushed himself forward to sit beside Kai, who opened his arms to allow him entry into his warm embrace.

It was a cold night; the temperature was below his comfort, and his fluffy brown coat wasn't shielding him enough.

"Are you ok, Hyung?" Kai asked as he caressed his arms, allowing him deeper access into his embrace.

The brown-haired male pondered his response ardently, his arm snaking over the large expanse of his chest for a snug fit. Was he ok?

Well, that person was here, so what did he expect?

"I wanna go home and watch Emily in Paris." He muttered under his breath, body practically melting into Kai's as they relaxed in the possibly haunted drain pipe.

Beomgyu could even hear the cries of the construction workers, who were crushed to death after the building fell on top of them.

"Bitches, we have cheetos and doritos, so we'll just pick which we prefer." Yeonjun, with his obnoxiously nasally tone, came barging through the pipe, making it shake under his weight.

Beomgyu felt his blood heat up in annoyance. He fucking hated him.

Soobin casually came over with beer cans and soda bottles—preferably for himself and Beomgyu, who were most likely taking them home later. The brown-haired male cringed at that. Being the designated driver for three drunk bastards on a school night wasn't settling well in his stomach.

"Why don't we just eat it all?" Taehyun suggested with a shrug. He made sense. Why buy so much if you're just gonna pick one out of the bunch? It made no sense to him.

Soobin sat down beside Beomgyu, while Taehyun and Yeonjun sat opposite them with a skateboard perched in the middle holding the bag of snacks they bought at the convenience store. Their presence at that store bothered the cashier.

You could imagine how far Beomgyu's imagination went as he sat against the freezers, head held up, as he fantasized about things like usual. The store was thrashed, and blood was smeared in nearly every corner as they all rushed around to grab food to survive the apocalypse. While Soobin grabbed the water, any that was left after the previous people left little to nothing for other people to survive with, Taehyun fumbled with the chip packets, debating a suitable flavor that would taste good as their final meal.

Yeonjun grabbed the booze with a clink, amused at the bloody handprint left on one of them, a sullen reminder of someone who wished to take one last sip but died on their journey. The body on the floor was proof of that. Kai was by the candy aisle, picking everything up and dumping it into the cart. He also rummaged through the cigarettes at the checkout desk. Beomgyu couldn't care less as they journeyed for survival whilst he sat there, hoping to die at the hands of a ruthless zombie who could tear him to shreds.

"Beomgyu, are you daydreaming again?" Soobin's soft voice brought him out of his reverie, forcing him to look his way. Behind his gaze, he saw the tenderness of a mother, the intrigue of an aunt, and the playfulness of a sibling.

"Oh, yeah, guess so." His body straightened up as he moved out of Kai's embrace a little so that he could grab a penis candy, surprised at how much had been eaten so far. Guess they liked it.

Eyes bore deep holes in his head as he popped the candy into his mouth, imagining the salty taste of precum on the tip of his tongue. Well, in actual fact, the candy tasted like grapes—a sweet yet sour taste that had him moan as it burst on his tastebuds.

"You like that?" Kai asked with an amused eyebrow raise.

Ignoring his question, Beomgyu went down and popped another one in his mouth and began chewing the crunchy candy, feeling the fine, splinter-like pieces stab into his gums. He didn't care for that; these candies tasted good. Surprisingly.

"Guys, have you heard the rumors about this place?" That was Taehyun; his mischievous smile heard through his eerie tone. A ghost story was about to unfold.

"Enlighten us, Tae." Yeonjun hummed, leaning against the pipe with his hands behind his head lazily. Beomgyu couldn't help but look at his exposed collarbones as his shirt moved aside.

Those bony accents to the base of his neck. They were like slip and slides with how defined they were, and if Beomgyu wanted to, he could slide across them easily.

"Well," Taehyun picked up the flashlight they were using as a light source and put it under his chin, creating shadows on his face to make him look intimidating and scary.

"Legend has it that, Mr. Han, the head construction worker had intentionally dropped that pipe against the building." A symphony of gasps sounded through the hollowed pipe, all more dramatic than it should've been. The brown haired male felt the need to drink it off with a cherry coke.

"Wait really? No, that can't be Hyunnie. Where'd you even gather that information?" Kai clung to Beomgyu with a grip so tight he could feel his arm starting to swell.

"Ow." He hissed softly, which had Kai sheepishly lightening the pressure.

With a mumbled sorry, he pulled him in closer and held him like a baby. Not like Beomgyu was the scared one.

Soobin had come closer too, hand wrapped loosely around his waist, just past his belly button. They were already scared, and the story barely began.

"Well, Sherlock, rumors are a fucking plague that spreads like a goddamn wildfire. Where else do you think I obtained this from you dumb fucking fuck?" Those tasty anger issues again.

Everyone was silenced after his inital outbreak, hoping he'd either continue the story or calm the hell down.

"Take a sip of that stomach poison and wish yourself a future perfect dick." Beomgyu grunted, soda can magically appearing in his hand like a wizard who could summon things from dust.

The cherry coke hit his tongue, mingling with the aftertaste of the penis candies, creating a weird yet tasty combo of cherry and grape. Taehyun picked up a beer and chugged it down to nearly half of what it had to offer him.

"Slow down!" Yeonjun giggled, patting the bottom of the can to get him to stop.

His smirk grew sharper on the corners as Taehyun obeyed him, dropping the can on the skateboard and grunting at the taste on his tongue. This wasn't strong enough to get him drunk, but it was enough to keep him through the story.

Beomgyu felt the way Soobin's hand tightened around the fabric of his jacket, mindlessly playing with the fluff to distract himself from whatever was on his mind. He didn't pay any attention to that; instead, his eyes were directed at none other than Choi Yeonjun, whose eyes were glued to his own in a heated glare. Those foxy eyes held many things behind them, none of which Beomgyu cared to uncover. That smirk read another thing, and he wasn't sure if he liked the meaning behind it.

"Ok, ok. The story will begin now. So shut your goddamn yappers and give me all ears." Taehyun shoved a dorito, far too big for his mouth, directly inside and munched on it before his eyes opened up once more, seriousness taking over the previous anger.

"It's said that his wife was in labor just the previous day and gave birth to a lovely daughter. I guess that's sweet and all or whatever, but it turns out the kid wasn't his. DNA tests proved it, and when he yelled and pleaded to know the man behind it, she said it was one of his workers. I guess y'all can tell where this is headed." Another chip was munched as everyone allowed him to speak freely.

Dusting his chip finger on his pants, he looked up again. "Mr. Han was enraged, and as I said, he killed those people intentionally for revenge since he didn't know which one impregnated her. The whore refused to enlighten him, so he took them all down." He eyed each and every one of them, observing facial expressions and body postures to try and read them.

Soobin clung onto Beomgyu's back, face shielded from his vision. Beomgyu sat there nonchalantly squeezed between their bodies, his face as indiscernible as always. Kai tightened himself in Beomgyu's hold, trying not to think too much into it, but he was feeling something pool inside his veins. Yeonjun, on the other hand, sat there with an amused smile, his eyes holding a sort of venom that was neither bad nor good. He just always looked like that, honestly.

Licking his chapped, chip-crumb-covered lips, Taehyun sneaked a hand through his hair. "It's said that none of the people he killed that day were having an affair with his wife and that his wrath was all for nothing. The guilt persisted as he came to that realization and took his own life right there atop that tower." He pointed towards a clock tower a street away.

Everyone turned to view the clock tower, eyes expressing many, many things left unsaid.

"Ever since that day," he continued. "This place has been haunted by his spirit, seeking to find the one who impregnated his wife and to kill them personally. Many have heard his angry footsteps stomping around here late at night. And that's when he catches his victims." Taehyun's eyes grew hazy with the dark glint, those orbs penetrating their skin and leaving them icy cold.

Crunch~

A loud, gravelly step was heard outside, crunching pebbles and discarded autumn leaves. Everybody turned their heads in the direction of where it came from, all on full alert.

"Did you hear that?" Soobin asked, body pressed against Beomgyu's back, seeking comfort.

Everyone stiffened, eyes wide with fear.

"The fuck?" Taehyun clung to himself, not sure whether he wanted to investigate or not.

Crunch crunch crunch~

The sound was more frequent now, periodically stopping before it continued again. It was footsteps. There was no doubt about that, and Beomgyu knew exactly who it was; his body was not even taut like the rest of them.

"Boo!" Yeonjun jumped in front of the pipe, scaring everyone besides Beomgyu.

Their screams filled the nightly air, all loud and unexpected. Beomgyu had to cover his ears to prevent any ear damage from the close proximity to Kai and Soobin.

"Fuck you, Choi Yeonjun, you dick sucking egg shaped ass!" Taehyun and his lousy insults again.

"Ugh, stop squeezing; I'm fucking suffocating here." Beomgyu meant that, his lungs were closing as he felt his air being taken from him, filling his lungs with poison from the most venomous mushroom in the forest.

His brain was muddled, his senses prickly, and he couldn't focus on anything as small wheezes escaped his throat.

An ashtma attack.

"Oh shit." Taehyun's voice reverberated through the void, followed by frantic pacing and many sounds of distress and fumbling.

His eyes began to water as his throat grew excessively dry. The grumpy sound of cats tearing paper echoed through his ears. Swiftly, Taehyun popped his inhaler into his mouth and pushed down, forcing oxygen into his lungs once more.

"Fuck, Gyu, don't scare us like that." Kai's voice breeched the barrier of the elastic forest, making it snap in a way so that it could not be undone.

"Are you ok? You're overheating." Soobin's large hand was placed over his forehead, worry clear on his face.

The spinning came to a halt, his airway not as closed in, nor squeezed in the palm of a hand. He hated being held too tightly; it made him panic, but he couldn't possibly tell his friends that. They wouldn't understand.

"I'm fine; just give me some water." His ragged breathing came to a stop, finally evening out as someone handed him water. He wasn't paying attention to whoever gave it; his mind was still wild in thought.

"I think we should head home now. It's getting pretty late." Yeonjun suggested, surprising Beomgyu with the hint of concern in his tone.

Not in the mood to even think of him and his rude self, Beomgyu took a sip of water and allowed Soobin and Taehyun to help him up.

. . .

Yeonjun was the designated driver...

And why did Beomgyu have to live the farthest from all his friends. Life was against him because why was he currently alone in a car with Yeonjun, not to mention that he was in the passenger seat as well, and why was Yeonjun's hands so veiny and attractive as he held onto the steering wheel.

Beomgyu was at a loss for words as he squeezed his tote bag against his chest, trying to remain calm. His beef with Yeonjun was still fresh, meaning the scars were still there and blood occasionally dripped out. It burned, the rising infection soon to take over and reveal its true nature.

"I..." Yeonjun's voice trailed off as he mustered up the courage to talk. Beomgyu wanted to slap him for even attempting to talk to him, but the look on his face made him queit down.

The ravenette took in a deep breath, inhaling through his nostrils and allowing the calming drive to ease his nerves. "I wanted to say sorry... for what I did back there. Supposed to be a meaningless joke but I didn't realize how bad of an idea that was." Wow an apology.

Beomgyu would've snorted if he had not realize how sincere he was being. It was the way his eyes held a singular sparkle, one that wasn't present in his day to day life as a heartless idiot. The way his fingers tightened around the steering wheel the longer Beomgyu dragged out his response too. He was sincere. For once in his life.

Beomgyu tapped his fingers on his bag, all signs of anxiety gone as confidence bubbled inside of him like a heated cauldron with a cure for an incurable disease. He felt mischievous, but wasn't sure how to play out his thoughts as they came barreling in.

"I don't accept your apology." Honestly, it wasn't Yeonjun's fault, it happened on its own but he wanted to see how far this could go on before an argument blossomed between them. Not like he was fond of fighting and arguing, but he just wanted drama because it was fun.

Yeonjun turned to face him, face scrunched in a pout. There wasn't surprise in those knitted brows, as if he expected this response. His face turned back towards the road, driving at a regular speed that increased a moment later. This speed was usually dangerous during the day, but since it was the dead of night with no cars roaming around it was seen as ok. Beomgyu could relax as the speeding car soothed him.

The intricate details of the street lamps were like ancient engraving on an old, abandoned gate that lead to a spectacular journey ahead. A story of a ghost haunting a family or a story of a rabbit falling into a realm of deep contemplation to unravel the intricacies of this plane to witness the dark secrets of the human conscious.

The bunny would hop around and try to escape the dangers, albeit unsuccessful as they capture him once again and torture him until he dies.

"Are you daydreaming again, princess?" Yeonjun asked, his voice sultry and sweet.

The once dark road in his vision was no longer a road, but the sign of Earthlings Hive, his favorite fast food restaurant. His eyebrow quirked up as he stared at Yeonjun. What was he doing? Why were they here at this hour?

"What the fuck are we doing here? If my house was Earthlings Hive I'd be sporting a gut right now you know." That was simply a meaningless comment to him, but somehow it seemed like everything to Yeonjun as he burst into laughter.

What the fuck?

"What's so funny Choi?" His tone was sour, the way it always was whenever he was in close proximity to Yeonjun.

The latter smiled at him, slicking his hair to the back, unbothered and sated with his choice.

"Buying you food obviously."

. . .

The morning was chilly as Beomgyu curled in bed with his thick covers. He was updating his book "To separate the clouds" since his loyal fans were anticipating a new update. The story was very basic and fluffy but also very sad and depressing with the events following up.

The chapter he wrote today was another sad one, which he wished would continue forever. He liked writing sad things, liked being dramatic and giving sad endings to his characters because that's life. It wasn't all cupcakes and rainbows. No, unfortunately not.

He couldn't ride a unicorn in Pixie Valley, nor could he consume rainbow juice and live a life without pooping. Those fantasies were just that, fantasies. Nothing would come of this, he was just a normal person like everyone else living in this world. Nobody had a perfect life. What looks perfect on the outside hides the most painful stories. Behind closed doors things were different and pain spread like a wildfire, heating the house in its unnatural heat.

Knock knock knock~

He startled, body jumping on its own as the sound persisted. Fear paralyzed him as he tried kicking off whatever was about to happen. A kidnapper, a murderer!! He nearly began hyperventilating until he heard a very familiar voice.

"Ya, Choi Beomgyu open up!" Yeonjun exclaimed, voice tired and mildly grumpy.

Beomgyu sighed out a relieved breath, quickly getting up to open the window to see what he needed... and to scold him rotten.

"Yeonjun," he hissed. "What the fuck are you doing, I thought there was a burglar." His eyes displayed his anger and annoyance, and Yeonjun was very much aware but wasn't tempted to find out the extent.

"Can you let me in?" He asked, his somber tone cracking a chunk of Beomgyu's heart.

Why do I care?

"Uh, I-I guess." He was on the top floor of his quaint house, so he only allowed him inside because he wouldn't want him to die at his house.

Casually climbing inside the familiar home—
their friends regularly meet up here since he lives alone—and made himself at home on his bed. He couldn't deny the comfort this house brought him. But he wouldn't tell Beomgyu that.

"What do you want?" He asked, arms crossed over his chest in an intimidating way. Well as intimidating as he could get with those short pajamas.

Yeonjun's eyes were glued to his attire, which had his bottom lip gathering between his teeth, as a sly smirk formed.

"You look sexy." His tone held a sort of hunger, one that made Beomgyu scowl.

Perverted ass bitch.

"Yes, yes, I look hot. Now tell me what your purpose is here. We haven't agreed on a meeting with the rest of those assholes, so what's this about?" Feeling exposed and insecure, he tried pulling down his shorts a little to cover himself up. He rarely showed skin—not even to his own boyfriend, well, ex in this case.

As he struggled to hide his exposed, milky thighs, Yeonjun got up and took off his coat nonchalantly. The brown-haired male nearly stepped up to try and refute whatever he was planning, but once he felt the soft material around his shoulders, he shuddered, body enveloped in a whirlpool of confusion, sucking him into its trance. The sea creatures around him said nothing, not like they could talk, and as he sank lower, he felt a faint touch on his shoulder.

"Rise and shine, sunshine." His deep, raspy voice startled him out of his thoughts, forcing him back into reality.

He really needed to get over these daydreams.

Yeonjun's handsome face was a couple inches before his own, a smile weaved into the skin like a tapestry of warm and bright lights. Beomgyu felt faint; this was all so... new.

"Were you daydreaming princess?" He asked, caressing his curly brown locks.

This gesture felt too intimate for Beomgyu—a gesture that physically hurt his heart. This reminded him of that person.

Shrugging his hand away, Beomgyu pouted, hands seeking comfort in the flaps of the jacket.

"Just tell me, Choi Yeonjun." His pout was not threatening anyone, but he wasn't capable of getting mad right now. Even if he hated his guts.

Yeonjun sighed softly, going back to sit on his bed. Beomgyu hated how he seemed to claim his bed like that, but he refused to say a thing until he finally spoke up.

"So, I got kicked out of the dorm for almost setting it on fire." He explained, causing Beomgyu to gasp.

Was he an idiot?

"What the fuck were you trying, you retarded dingbat?" He sighed, feeling concern for his roommate, whoever that was.

"I wanted to shoot fireworks, ok." He tried defending himself, but it only increased Beomgyu's anger.

"What shitty idea is that you fuckturd!? Where in the hell did this idea come from, and why did you think it would be fucking successful? Are you an idiot?!" He snapped, fuming in rage as he stood by his dresser. His body closed in on Yeonjun, towering over him with the advantage of the older male being seated.

Yeonjun's eyes roamed the expanse of his face instead of answering any of his questions. He knew he'd get an earful of nonsense scoldings about being illiterate and a bad person overall.

He couldn't exactly blame Beomgyu for his strong distaste for him. He started this whole ordeal between them simply because he dumped his milk on his hair. It was meant to be a simple prank, but Beomgyu didn't take it that way, giving him a few powerful blows to the face. It stunned him to no end because, for such a skinny and frail looking boy, he had such abnormal strength.

"Choi. Fucking. Yeonjun. Pay attention to me when I speak to you." Oh, the government name.

"Yes, yes, I'm all eyes, baby." He flirted, leaning his body to the back as his fingers threaded through the silken sheets.

Beomgyu stiffened at the sight.

He didn't need to be this attractive. No way.

"Uh, well, so... why the fuck are you here? How is it my problem that you screwed up big time?" Folding his arms, Beomgyu sassily threw his hip out, feeling courageous with the oversized jacket over his frame. All the ravenette could do was gawk in awe.

The curve of his waist to his hip was so edible, like an apple meant to be bitten into.

"You see..." His eyes never left the protruding hip. "I sort of need a place to crash. Just until I get enough money to get my own apartment." Averting his gaze from the hip that had sunken, he stared at him in the eyes, noticing the creases between his brow and his twitching eye.

He was mad. Surely he would be.

"Wow." He said, voice husky and deep. "You're one stupid asshole, you know. Don't involve me with your problems, Choi Yeonjun. That's a you problem, and I have better things to worry about than to take you under my wing because you're too fucking stupid to realize right from wrong." His tone held venom. "I'm amused that you'd even consider asking me out of all people. The guy who hates your guts and would gladly rearrange them if I had a chance."

None of what he said affected the older male in any way. In fact, it only spurred him on even more. Maybe he liked the insults.

So he sat up straight, reaching out a determined hand to grab a hold of Beomgyu's smaller one. It was biting cold, much to Yeonjun's surprise.

Slowly, he pulled him closer, which he followed easily, but not without scowling at him and gritting his teeth. Once Beomgyu's frame fit between his thighs, Yeonjun began feeling the butterflies settle within his stomach.

"You know, baby, insults don't hurt me." His hand stroked his hip, feeling the shiver beneath his palms. "Actually, it arouses me." Beomgyu smacked his hand away fiercely, his cheeks a juicy red, only bugging him more.

Yeonjun (1) Beomgyu (0)

"Shut up, this isn't some strip show you goddam lunatic! This shit is not on! Look, you had your fun; now leave while I'm still sane." His face bubbled up all threateningly to emphasize his point in big, fat letters.

It didn't work.

"Ah, Beomgyu-ssi, you know I'm not one to back down so easily. Come on, it's just until I can financially support myself and get a good apartment. It wouldn't take long." His smirk said otherwise.

"Fuck n—"

"Pretty, please, with a cherry on top." Yeonjun pouted, eyes wide and his hands folded.

What were his motives?

"No."

"Why are you so difficult?"

"Because I don't like you?"

"Why don't you like me?"

"That's a rhetorical question?"

"Come on, baby?"

Beomgyu rolled his eyes to the back. "Stop calling me that. I'm anything but." The annoyance was as clear as day; it was almost nauseating. Yeonjun had to push.

"Ok, ok, I'll stop. But just help me this one time. We can compromise, yeah? I know you're a shit cook, so I can make you breakfast and dinner, but only if you agree to let me stay for a while. It won't be long." The wiring in Beomgyu's head prickled and cracked. The offer wasn't bad; he loved food and...

"How dare you call me a shit cook!" Beomgyu yelled, an entirely different anger bubbling within him.

Yeonjun nearly face-palmed.

"You know it's true, though." Yeonjun responded, his eyes blank, with a certain heat. The ravenette knew there was no argument for that.

Beomgyu too.

His response was a nasty side eye that caught Yeonjun off guard for a second.

"And how do I trust you're not a shitty cook yourself? Think ya all high and mighty or some bullshit?" His tone was harsh, intentionally so, and Yeonjun knew very well that it was only used for him.

"If you don't believe me, how about I show you right now? Not so hard, right?" His tone was cocky, and his body was leaning back so attractively that Beomgyu couldn't even disagree.

"Let's see about that then." Without sparing him another glance, Beomgyu headed for the door and walked out with Yeonjun's coat still wrapped around him.

. . .

Beomgyu sat on the kitchen island with Nugget (his cat) perched on his lap as he watched Yeonjun buzz around, doing his own thing. He wasn't sure what he was making, but it smelled really good, and he was silently panicking on the inside.

"How you holding up there?" The ravenette inquired, face smug, trying to rile him up.

Beomgyu wanted to shove his face in a toilet.

"Shut the fuck up and finish this. I have shit to do." Beomgyu couldn't even force a nicer tone if he wanted to.

"Well, then go do whatever you want. Why are you sitting here?"

"Because I don't trust you."

"Ah, I see." Yeonjun chortled.

The male hated how obnoxiously handsome he sounded. Fuck him and his hot self.

Yeonjun silently continued cooking, whistling a soft tune as he skidded between the oven and the kitchen island where Beomgyu sat. He didn't even look at him once, so focused on cooking. His eyes were so dark; Beomgyu wasn't sure what that meant, but he allowed him to do his thing.

Later, Beomgyu allowed Nugget to roam free after he grew bored. Yeonjun had just finished cooking with a cocky smile on his face. Beomgyu wanted to smack him; he actually tried it, but Yeonjun pulled back swiftly.

"You're pretty agile with those hands, but let me tell you, baby, you're not faster than me." He gloated, but Beomgyu was quick to hit his head pretty hard. The resounding smack was the only pleasure Beomgyu knew.

"Ow!" Yeonjun goraned, rubbing his sore head, feeling annoyed.

"Does that answer your shitty response?" He grinned, hopping off the counter to take a seat at the table. The annoyance seeped through as he tried to maintain a cool and calm demeanor. He still wore Yeonjun's jacket, enjoying it way too much to even consider taking it off. If he were to be honest, he'd admit how good it smelled, like pine leaves and strong, expensive men's cologne. A scent he was fairly familiar with at this point.

The older male simply sighed, his exasperation clear through his eye roll as he plated the food.

"There you go, princess." He grumbled out, making no effort to gaze at his face. The latter wasn't even anticipating it; he was carefree as the plate was presented to him. It looked absolutely delicious; he couldn't deny that, but he wouldn't admit that even on his deathbed.

"How can I trust that you didn't poison it?" He quirked a brow, looking for a reason to decline his polite offer, which was an absolute tragedy to his hungry tummy.

Yeonjun simply rolled his eyes like a quarter that rolls in a spiral across the floor once it has been dropped. "You're just trying me, aren't you?" He grabbed a fork from the drawers, scooped a small portion of the food, and stuffed it into his mouth, humming in delight at the taste. "See?" he swallows. "Not poisoned, baby." That cocky smirk was there to haunt Beomgyu once again.

"You've got that Ian Somerhalder smirk." The latter pointed out with a grimace.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Slinking his way back into his seat, his bony elbows perched onto the counter for a temporary headrest. "Go ahead; I'm waiting."

The entire situation itself was so odd and unnerving to Beomgyu, but he sucked it up and took a spoonful of the food and ate it, anticipating something absolutely disgusting, only to be stunned silly.

"Why the fuck is this good?!"

. . .

Just like that, Beomgyu lost, and Yeonjun was now living alongside him for, god knows, how long. Everything was just getting started too; what could poor Beomgyu do?

"How the fuck did y'all end up living together?" Kai asked as he sat up on the practice room floor. After practicing "Moon River," he practically melded with the floor as his dance partner Vanessa Choi went off for a much-needed bathroom break.

After twirling around endlessly, their bodies in sync, and all those cute interactions, he was pooped. Beomgyu was always amused by this. The concept of ballroom dancing. It was such a graceful and elegant dance routine that held him hostage in its tight grip.

The way he twirls her like spaghetti on a fork during salsa or his trustful dip during tango. They were like a scene from a movie of grace, a song of promise, and a pose of declaration. Beomgyu could watch them on end and always participated in watching their routines and dance practices like a true supporter.

"It sort of just happened. And Mexican spicy wings were involved in the making of this decision. But the rest was all just me trying to get him off my damn ass." He sighed, carding a hand through his fluffy brown locks, touseled one too many times.

The blonde decided to humor him. "Really, seems believable to me." He hopped up with practiced grace, not even a simple move proved to be ugly or imperfect.

"What's that supposed to mean?" His brow curled up like a cursive font.

"It is what it is, Choi," he said, pulling out his takis and munched one while pointing another in Beomgyu's direction. "You two are push and pull, but it doesn't have to be that way. When he pushes, pull him closer."

That mental image sent heat flying in all directions inside his body, leaving him engulfed in a fiery storm of mixed emotions.

"Suck a demonic cock, you hag."

Kai couldn't contain a loud laugh.

. . .

Screech~

"Oh, come on, what's this! That's the fucking third time, goddamn it." Taehyun threw the controller on the bed with precise aim. His third loss in Mario Kart was his breaking point. He began going on a riot, throwing paper around and messing up the things on his desk, allowing the overflow of emotions to pour out.

Yeonjun and Soobin watched him stoically, with their bodies relaxed on the bed. Taehyun's unabashed personality in regards to his severe anger issues made them best friends. They traveled together, bathed together, and had conversations together. He had no shame or fear.

"Should've let him win." The taller male had the nerve to suggest such a thing.

"Not over my dead body. He has to suck it up," he said, taking a sip of his root beer. "Not everything in life comes easy, so I won't let him dance in my palm."

Soobin sighed as he turned back to the screen to start a new game. "One on one?" He asked.

"Sure, let's go." He picked up the discarded controller, unbothered by the screeching Taehyun, who broke something made of glass. They didn't care; it wasn't their room anyway.

"So I heard you were kicked out of the dorms, and Beomgyu kindly took you in."

"Kindly?" He huffed.

"Kindly." He turned to face him with a deadpan expression.

The older male scratched his nape; his irresponsibility was like a heavyweight on his shoulders, but he knew there was nothing he could change about it. What's done is dead and gone, like an extinct species that would just be a thoughtful memory.

"It wasn't easy." He replied after a moment of blissful silence.

"Can imagine. He's as hard as a rock, and his edges are hard to carve. What you need to do is soften the rock, then carve into it bit by bit, and maybe he'll warm up to you. Just remember that he's not all that bad once those edges are evened out."

Yeonjun sat deep in contemplation.

Soften the rock, carve the edges.

Taehyun sat back down, his breath forced out of him.

"Your rooms a wreck."

"My mom will clean it."

. . .

Alone with Beomgyu.

Whenever they were confined in a space together, the air ran cold, sometimes heated by flames of rage. They could never be civil, not in a hundred years, but today was a lazy day, fueled by... well, companionship.

It was a lazy Sunday, which meant movie night. Usually, their friends would all be here for an epic night of laziness. Unfortunately, instead of an epic night with all five males, it was just the two of them in front of the screen with a three-person gap between them.

This was the most civil they could have ever been.

"What is this movie about?"

"Are you like not paying attention?"

"I mean, I see a dog and—"

"This movie isn't about a fucking dog, you deranged masochist."

"You know your mean comments turn me on."

"And that's why I call you a masochist."

"A masochist likes pain—"

"And you do!"

Yeonjun was silenced by that since it was the hardcore truth.

"Damn."

Beomgyu sighed in annoyance and focused his attention back on the screen. It didn't have to be like this. They were dancing around each other in the worst way possible. They couldn't deny that they were attracted to each other. Maybe not romantically, definitely not sexually, but they were drawn to each other's looks.

Beomgyu felt uneasy and annoyed as he stared at the blur of moving pictures in his gaze. But the presence beside him was glaringly obvious, like a sore pimple on your butt. He couldn't process the movie or what was even happening. The plot was long forgotten in the haze of his unreachable thoughts, far away in the corner. He couldn't pinpoint why or how this male made him feel.

All he knew was that he was bad news. A wanted poster on the screen with a huge fat bounty on his head. He wanted nothing to do with him, wanted him locked away for good. But just like the temptation of the bounty, he was drawn in to what he could possibly be rewarded with in return.

So it was as Kai said.

'You two are push and pull...'

'When he pushes, pull him closer.'

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

He glanced in Yeonjun's direction, noticing the eyebags under his eyes. It wasn't common that he opened his eyes for Yeonjun, but then again, it wasn't rare. He noticed the way he shifts in his seat when he feels uncomfortable, notices the way his smile lines crinkle when he smiles, or how his brow furrows when he is feeling mischievous or skeptical. It was all there, even now with those prominent bags under his eyes.

He had baggage, like those cartoon characters with the stick over their shoulders. He pulled and pulled for miles, but to no avail. Beomgyu would never know his struggles... but he didn't care enough to investigate.

Everyone has demons. He's not special.

Oh, but he might be.