[Fic] Redefine: Part 16
Sep. 8th, 2009 08:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lotus_beautyTitle: Redefine
Author: LotusBeauty
Type: Multi-chapter
Rating: R to NC-17
Pairings: JaeChun, JaeHo, other ot5 stuff eventually
Genre: AU, fantasy, crossover, comedy/drama/emo
Summary: He was trying to keep me safe. I wished he was wrong, but he was right. (Sequel to Feel)
Notes: you know the drill. disastrous win, etc :)
Disclaimer: Not mine, never were, but a girl can dream through fiction.
For previous chapters, please refer to the main post HERE, which also has links for the previous arc.
16: Inside of You
Disturbing, Jae thought as he glanced down from his position at the kitchen island in the Park home to see the group on the living room floor. Yunho and Aaron were currently teaching Junsu and Changmin some choreography they knew as Micky watched from the side, slurping on some bottled water as he sat out for the moment. Heechul watched from perched atop the furniture that had been pushed to the side of the room. Jae shook his head in disbelief as he went back to his trig homework. Last week, the vampires and wolves had all met up while Jae was in school and had some sort of discussion about working together. Yunho was the pack leader, so they picked him to be the wolves’ liaison and Micky was it for the vampires until Rain had arrived a few days ago.
Jae thought back on what had been happening. He hadn’t been privy to the early discussions, but he’d overheard them saying something about attacking Jin before the other vampire could plan a full scale attack. He demanded not to be left out of the attack if there was to be one and everyone assured him they would allow him to fight. A few didn’t seem happy about this, but when they saw him fighting in his pseudo-vampire form, they bit back their comments as his attacks were just as deadly as theirs. Kumi backed him by giving him knife fighting lessons for close combat these last few weeks and everyone had kept their distance when he’d become quick at it. Their discussion seemed to have also included becoming friends to form a bond and trust. Micky and Yunho took this very seriously and went out of their way to talk and hang out with each others’ groups. Jae was taken aback by their efforts, but pleased that they seemed to get along so well. Now if only Jae understood what he was supposed to be talking to Changmin about, he would feel better about the whole thing.
“How’s it coming?” Micky’s husky voice asked from just to the left of his ear and Jae managed to not shiver.
“Almost done,” Jae answered coolly and smiled before getting back to it. Micky patted his shoulder before wandering back to the group.
Jae sighed and rubbed his face. Having the vampires back was really testing his patience and he had a feeling they didn’t really know they were doing it most of the time. They were supposed to be attractive to him and were just naturally like that because they were predators. Jae had a feeling Yunho was having a hard time as well. There were moments when Jae noticed Changmin would catch Yunho’s gaze and Yunho would have a hard time getting words out. Changmin would immediately look away and Jae couldn’t help trying not to snicker at how red Yunho’s face would get. He probably had a natural defense to their powers to a degree, but it was still amusing to see that Yunho’s crush on Changmin had resurfaced. The poor wolf really needed his necklace back.
Jae wrote the next answer on his paper as he wondered what came next. Sure they were all training together, but they knew an attack was clearly waiting on the horizon. Yet another scout had been taken care of and when its partner had come back with another vampire, Micky had killed one and questioned the other to earn the information that Jin knew someone was eliminating his scouts and began to send them in pairs. Luckily, he assumed it was the wolves, but they took this information with a grain of salt. Jae hadn’t been there for the questioning, but they had been honest and told him what they’d gotten out of the vampire. Apparently, they’d pissed off Jin by killing all of his scouts and assassins. They all had to be on alert for anything to happen and to keep anyone from getting information back to Jin. Jae was relatively safe because he wasn’t around them when they encountered the other vampires, but that didn’t mean Jin’s cronies couldn’t spy on the group when they were together and attack. Jae always had his guns on or near him after they’d told him the news. He always had at least one vial and the knife Kumi had given him on his person at all times. It almost frightened Jae how dangerous he himself had become in the last few months. He hoped it wasn’t showing to his friends at school.
And though there was danger, it only seemed to bring everyone closer. They knew what was at stake. They knew they had to work together to survive all of this. There were small tiffs that were glossed over quickly, but for the most part, everyone got along far better than Jae expected.
Rain was also pleasantly surprised when he arrived to find everyone working together so well. When everyone met at their old home, he expressed how pleased he was as Hyori completely won over the other wolves. The pack didn’t know how, but Jae had a feeling it was her charm and that Rain had planned it. Jae was nervous about meeting the other family that was coming, but Rain admitted they wouldn’t be coming until near June. Junghyun’s family was tracking a very nasty and feral (and very real) werewolf in northern Canada and he said they should have it taken care of soon enough.
“Feral?” Jae asked.
“After they’re bitten they can’t control themselves at all. They can’t change back into a human for someone to restrain them when they turn wolf from the full moonlight,” Micky explained. “It’s rare, but it happens. Unfortunately, they really are feral and will never turn back into a human. They’re more dangerous if they live so they have to be killed.”
“Junghyun’s family gets contracted to track and destroy them from time to time. She’s an amazing tracker,” Junsu told them as Jae nodded.
“That’s not to say some werewolves only turn in the full moon either. It depends on the strain they have and how well they can control themselves. Some of them just turn into werewolf shapeshifters, similar to Yunho’s pack, but with feral tendencies when they turn. The moonlight actually gives them more power,” Micky told him.
Jae found himself fascinated as they explained how vampires and werewolves usually interacted and then as the conversation derailed into fighting strategies against Jin, Jae was included. He was happy to find they all viewed him as an equal.
Kumi also arrived to stay the day after Rain arrived and they finally started formal discussions on what to do about the threat. It was usually Yunho and Rain discussing strategy, but Rain wasn’t much of a fighter, so he tended to look to Micky for advice. Kumi ended up being their best informant. She apparently had sources all over the place that gave her information on Jin’s faction.
“He’s getting impatient,” Kumi told them when they all met to discuss their next move. “My sources said he was going to strike in August when he would have his little army under control and when he thought we’d let our guard down, but he’s obviously noticed the missing scouts.”
“Enough of them have gone missing,” Aaron commented as everyone nodded.
“I think he’ll push ahead to July, or even closer to the beginning of July,” Kumi admitted. “Especially once he finds out the Parks are here.”
“We should catch him off guard and push for the end of June,” Yunho suggested. “It’ll give us all time to train together and especially for Jaejoong, whose school year ends in June.”
“Since I actually have a date to prom,” Jae muttered as a few laughs echoed around him.
“We can plan strategies for getting down into Seattle and more when our other family arrives,” Micky suggested.
“Sounds good.” Yunho nodded.
Talk was short after that and they agreed to end the meeting after Rain took names down to make teams to go after any vampires that could show up in the future. Jae hung back and waited for Yunho to finish talking to Micky as everyone filed out.
“So, prom date?” Micky asked as he approached. “With who?”
“Lilly,” Jae admitted as Yunho laughed.
“So she is paying you back then?” Micky asked as Yunho raised a confused eyebrow. Jae explained what had happened as Yunho hummed in understanding.
“I didn’t go to my senior prom,” he replied.
“Why not?” Micky asked and gave him a frown.
“Ah, my mom was in the hospital,” Yunho explained.
“Oh,” the vampire said softly as Jae assumed he could read whatever Yunho was thinking about his mother. “Why not see if someone will take him?”
“Ara doesn’t have a date—”
“Yes she does,” Junsu interrupted as he and Changmin joined.
“Who?” the three asked and glanced at each other.
“I ran into her at the gas station and she asked me after I told her we were back.” He gave them a bright grin as they rolled their eyes.
“I’ll ask Jackie,” Jae told Yunho. “She seemed interested but didn’t have a date.”
“What about Kendra?” Micky asked as Jae looked at Yunho thoughtfully.
It seemed like it might work, but how well, Jae wouldn’t know until they could actually pull it off. Soon enough they were on Kendra’s door step, trying to convince her to take part.
“But, Chester—”
“Chester said he’d bring Changmin,” Jae explained with a grin. That had been the best conversation he’d ever been privy to in his life. Maybe he would tell her how Changmin had completely snarked his way into the date when she wasn’t so annoyed.
“But I don’t want to bring him!” Kendra snapped as she pointed at Micky who looked up at her in surprise. Jae just sighed silently. She still had a grudge it seemed. Jae couldn’t bring himself to hold one against Micky after he knew how his ex felt and had apologized. Yunho just couldn’t stay mad for long.
“She doesn’t have to. It’s her own decision.” Micky shrugged. “Besides, we can just hide outside in case another assassin shows up or something.”
Kendra scowled at him and suddenly hauled off and punched him. Everyone stared at her in disbelief, Junsu catching Micky when he fell back in surprise. Jae was just shocked she’d managed to catch him off guard. Maybe Micky wasn’t reading minds as much as he’d thought.
“You know you deserved that right? You never fight for anything!” she growled as she cradled her hand.
“I know.” Micky picked himself back up. “I’m sorry. I’ll try harder.”
“I accept,” she said icily before stepping back inside the door and slamming it in his face.
Micky sighed. “Girls.” Jae could only smirk in amusement.
With a sigh, Jae pushed all the memories away and went back to his Trig. He began to write out an equation as he pulled his calculator over to type into it. He ignored the squeak of tennis shoes on the wooden floor and the music as he chewed on the end of his pencil.
“You’re concentrating pretty hard,” Changmin commented as he slipped onto the stool next to Jae.
“I want to get this damn thing finished,” he muttered and glanced back. “Sick of dancing?”
“Need a break from those two,” Changmin grumbled and rubbed his temples.
Jae frowned as he wondered which two Changmin meant and turned back to his homework to scribble down more lines. It didn’t take him too much longer to finish and he looked over his work before he set the paper down and watched the others on the floor. Micky and Yunho were laughing at something one or the other had said. It made Jae smile to see them getting along so well. His chest fluttered and he glanced away as he didn’t want to think about things he shouldn’t.
“Please make it stop,” he heard Changmin groan softly as thumped his head on the counter.
“Make what stop?” he asked.
“Micky and Yunho,” the vampire said as he looked up at Jae. “Their feelings are so jumbled that its making my head hurt.”
Jae blushed as he rolled his eyes. “I can’t really change how they feel just for you. I mean, what am I supposed to do?”
“Ask them for a three-some,” Changmin told him with a cheeky grin as Jae felt his face heat worse.
“Changmin!” he hissed in embarrassment. “Stop it!”
“What? They’re even worse than you were!” Changmin whined a protest.
“What do you mean?” Jae asked.
“Is it break time up here?” Junsu asked as he jumped on the stool to the other side of Changmin as the others stopped next to Jae. He listened as they talked over his head, joining the conversation occasionally until he noticed Changmin’s gaze flipping quickly between Yunho, Micky and himself rather quickly. He looked so confused that Jae almost asked what was wrong. He didn’t get the chance as the vampire sighed in exasperation and left through the sliding doors to the backyard deck before anyone could stop him. The rest of them just looked at one another in complete bewilderment.
“I’ll go see what’s wrong,” Jae told them and followed the vampire before anyone could protest.
He found Changmin leaning on the far corner railing of the deck and walked over.
“I almost wish I could sense you,” the vampire said quietly.
Jae’s hand went to the pendant at his neck and wondered if he should tell the vampire. “I don’t have to lower my shields all the time.” He paused for a moment. “I’m glad you’re back.”
Changmin finally glanced back to smile. “Me too.”
“So you can’t sense me, eh?” Jae smirked. He liked irritating them and their cheating abilities.
“The fact that I couldn’t feel you made more sense when Kumi told me more about how you’ve been training yourself. Is it a new shield you learned that’s keeping you safe? It’s probably better you keep them up. Then I don’t have to feel your emotions in addition to theirs,” Changmin grumbled as Jae leaned on the railing next to the vampire. “The tension in there is giving me the worst headache, so I’m glad you can shield.”
Jae could only sigh. He’d thought Yunho and Micky had been getting along. Was it all an act to make him feel better? “I’m sorry Changmin. I’ll talk to them about it before they end up ripping out each other’s throats.”
“Ripping?” Changmin stopped short and laughed. “Jaejoong, how do you feel about them? Your shields are so tight right now, I can’t even feel you there.”
Jae smiled a little. “It’s not my shields. It’s this,” he told Changmin as he tapped the pendant. “Yunho gave it to me when we got together. It was protecting him before and now it protects me.” He pulled it off and set it aside as he shifted his shields to include Changmin. He heard the vampire sigh in relief and knew he was shielding him from emotions other than his own. He made a mental note to explore this idea in the future and reminded himself that he wanted Changmin privy to only his feelings at the moment. “Micky told me to talk to you about something, and I think I know what it is now.”
“Oh?” Changmin tilted his head.
“At one point when I was still with Micky, I thought about inviting Yunho in on our… agreement?” Jae smiled at how he tried to find the right word. “I thought it might not work because he was a werewolf though. I thought it was too complicated. It still is complicated even now.”
“The feelings in there are very complicated,” Changmin replied with a sigh. “I’m quite sure they don’t hate each other though.”
Jae sighed in relief. “That’s good.”
“When I said tension, I meant sexual tension.”
“Because I—what?” Jae gaped at the vampire who shrugged sheepishly. “Sexual?” Jae would never admit his voice squeaked just then.
Changmin chuckled. “Yes, sexual. But it’s more like they can’t decide if the way they feel toward one another is that or hate. As if they don’t want to like one another but they can’t help it.” He ran a hand through his long hair. “And the conflicting emotions get worse when you’re added into the equation.”
“I am so confused,” Jae let his face fall into his hands.
“Think about how I feel!” Changmin retorted before he let out a tired chuckle.
“So what do we do?” Jae looked to the vampire who shook his head.
“I’m not sure, short of shoving them both in a room alone together and locking them in,” he muttered.
“But even then, we don’t know if they’ll get into a fight or …or start making out!” Jae grumbled.
“Would that bother you?” Changmin asked curiously.
“Not in the least! Wait—which part?” Jae glanced over.
“The making out.”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“But the fighting would?”
“Of course!”
A smirk appeared on Changmin’s lips.
“What?”
“You want to see them making out?”
He refused to blush—or at least tried. “…yes.”
“Why?”
“Are you kidding? The two guys I’m attracted to?”
“Good point.”
Jae rolled his eyes. “You’re just teasing me.”
“Yep.” Changmin grinned.
“Then what do I do?”
The vampire sighed. “I don’t know. Talk to him?”
“Who?”
“Yunho.”
“Why don’t you?”
Changmin blinked and glanced away with a frown. “Why should I talk to him?”
It was Jae’s turn to smirk. “No reason.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Nothing.” Jae gave him a sweet smile and pushed off the railing to go back inside. He also pulled his shields back around himself so Changmin couldn’t feel his emotions.
“Hey, you!” Changmin yelled and turned as Jae retreated with the necklace.
“You two have a very unfair advantage over him. I’m going to go even it.” Jae said with a smirk as he went back inside. He could hear Changmin sputtering as he slid the door shut. He found the other four chatting and pushing the chairs back where they belonged when he walked up. It seemed Heechul had abandoned the cleanup project.
“He okay?” Junsu asked.
Jae nodded as he went up to Yunho and put the necklace around his neck. “Don’t think I’m breaking anything,” he said as fear entered his lover’s eyes. “I’m just taking away their ability to cheat.”
Yunho gave him the most confused look as Micky grumbled from behind him.
“This is what keeps them from prying into your mind,” Jae murmured to Yunho and tapped the pendant.
Yunho blinked in surprise. “This?” he picked the pendant up and glanced down at it.
Jae nodded. “I don’t need it because of my shields, but you haven’t got anything like that.”
Yunho tilted his head in confusion. “Are you sure?”
Jae smiled. “Trust me.”
“How are they prying into my mind?” Yunho asked.
Jae and the vampires blinked in surprise. “You didn’t know they have powers?”
Yunho shook his head as Jae smacked his hand against his forehead. He’d thought Yunho had at least an idea of their abilities. Then again, he’d never had to protect against them.
“Micky can read thoughts and Changmin reads emotions,” Jae told him quickly.
Yunho’s gaze turned a glare on Micky who stepped back. “You were reading my mind?”
“I can’t really stop it from happening…” the vampire trailed off as Yunho advanced on him.
“Who said you have the right?” Yunho growled. “Who said you could get inside of my head?”
“Yunho,” Jae said warningly. “It’s not his fault.”
“Trust me, sometimes your thoughts project into my head without me even actively searching. I can’t stop it even if I try,” Micky tried to explain.
Yunho exhaled sharply and walked away. “Stupid vampires.” He stalked off up the stairs and shut himself up in the bathroom.
“What did you go and do that for?” Micky whined.
“It’s not fair to him!” Jae countered.
“Now I have to apologize!” the vampire complained and turned to go before Jae caught his arm.
“You’re jealous,” he stated evenly, not specifying over who.
Micky scoffed. “I haven’t been alive for this long to let myself get taken by jealousy.”
Jae grinned. “You’re so jealous.”
A sigh escaped the vampire. “If I hadn’t dated you, you wouldn’t know me so well,” he said as he poked Jae’s chest. “Now let go so I can apologize?”
Jae shrugged and let go before Micky made a face at him and went up to the bathroom. Jae watched after him with a smile as he heard Micky knock on the bathroom door and try to get Yunho to come out.
“Now that’s a first,” Aaron said as he watched the vampire.
“Huh, I didn’t expect that,” Junsu said suddenly.
“How can you not expect something?” Jae asked.
Junsu shrugged. “Too many choices for me to follow for an outcome.”
“Choices?” Aaron asked. Jae explained Junsu’s power to Aaron who then hummed in understanding. “You vampires are so confusing.”
Junsu pouted. “You’re telling me. They confuse me the most. Do they like Yunho or not?”
Jae shrugged. “Does it matter in the long run?”
“I should leave, shouldn’t I?” Aaron asked warily, obviously not wanting to be privy to this part of the conversation.
“Probably.” Jae gave him a grin.
“You people are odd,” he shook his head and made his way to the door. “Tell Yunho I’ll call him later.”
Jae nodded as they said their goodbyes and he was left with Junsu.
“Ah, he let Yoochun in,” Junsu said as Jae glanced over to see that Micky had disappeared. From the hallway.
He sighed. “He better be apologizing.” A glance at Junsu staring off into space told him that the vampire was having a vision. With a roll of his eyes, Jae turned to go to the kitchen to make himself the dinner he’d brought. “This is the most ridiculous day I’ve ever had.”
“Learning to crawl.”
“Hm?” Jae glanced back to see Junsu smile at him innocently.
“Did I say something?” Junsu blinked.
Jae frowned. He knew the words had meant something, but he didn’t know what in the world to make of what Junsu had said. “Learning to deal with a werewolf?”
“In a way.” The vampire smiled brightly.
Jae gave up and walked away. He’d find out soon enough anyway.
~***~
I know this part is all kinds of flashback/backstory fail. I promise the next part is better~
Part 17
Author: LotusBeauty
Type: Multi-chapter
Rating: R to NC-17
Pairings: JaeChun, JaeHo, other ot5 stuff eventually
Genre: AU, fantasy, crossover, comedy/drama/emo
Summary: He was trying to keep me safe. I wished he was wrong, but he was right. (Sequel to Feel)
Notes: you know the drill. disastrous win, etc :)
Disclaimer: Not mine, never were, but a girl can dream through fiction.
For previous chapters, please refer to the main post HERE, which also has links for the previous arc.
16: Inside of You
Disturbing, Jae thought as he glanced down from his position at the kitchen island in the Park home to see the group on the living room floor. Yunho and Aaron were currently teaching Junsu and Changmin some choreography they knew as Micky watched from the side, slurping on some bottled water as he sat out for the moment. Heechul watched from perched atop the furniture that had been pushed to the side of the room. Jae shook his head in disbelief as he went back to his trig homework. Last week, the vampires and wolves had all met up while Jae was in school and had some sort of discussion about working together. Yunho was the pack leader, so they picked him to be the wolves’ liaison and Micky was it for the vampires until Rain had arrived a few days ago.
Jae thought back on what had been happening. He hadn’t been privy to the early discussions, but he’d overheard them saying something about attacking Jin before the other vampire could plan a full scale attack. He demanded not to be left out of the attack if there was to be one and everyone assured him they would allow him to fight. A few didn’t seem happy about this, but when they saw him fighting in his pseudo-vampire form, they bit back their comments as his attacks were just as deadly as theirs. Kumi backed him by giving him knife fighting lessons for close combat these last few weeks and everyone had kept their distance when he’d become quick at it. Their discussion seemed to have also included becoming friends to form a bond and trust. Micky and Yunho took this very seriously and went out of their way to talk and hang out with each others’ groups. Jae was taken aback by their efforts, but pleased that they seemed to get along so well. Now if only Jae understood what he was supposed to be talking to Changmin about, he would feel better about the whole thing.
“How’s it coming?” Micky’s husky voice asked from just to the left of his ear and Jae managed to not shiver.
“Almost done,” Jae answered coolly and smiled before getting back to it. Micky patted his shoulder before wandering back to the group.
Jae sighed and rubbed his face. Having the vampires back was really testing his patience and he had a feeling they didn’t really know they were doing it most of the time. They were supposed to be attractive to him and were just naturally like that because they were predators. Jae had a feeling Yunho was having a hard time as well. There were moments when Jae noticed Changmin would catch Yunho’s gaze and Yunho would have a hard time getting words out. Changmin would immediately look away and Jae couldn’t help trying not to snicker at how red Yunho’s face would get. He probably had a natural defense to their powers to a degree, but it was still amusing to see that Yunho’s crush on Changmin had resurfaced. The poor wolf really needed his necklace back.
Jae wrote the next answer on his paper as he wondered what came next. Sure they were all training together, but they knew an attack was clearly waiting on the horizon. Yet another scout had been taken care of and when its partner had come back with another vampire, Micky had killed one and questioned the other to earn the information that Jin knew someone was eliminating his scouts and began to send them in pairs. Luckily, he assumed it was the wolves, but they took this information with a grain of salt. Jae hadn’t been there for the questioning, but they had been honest and told him what they’d gotten out of the vampire. Apparently, they’d pissed off Jin by killing all of his scouts and assassins. They all had to be on alert for anything to happen and to keep anyone from getting information back to Jin. Jae was relatively safe because he wasn’t around them when they encountered the other vampires, but that didn’t mean Jin’s cronies couldn’t spy on the group when they were together and attack. Jae always had his guns on or near him after they’d told him the news. He always had at least one vial and the knife Kumi had given him on his person at all times. It almost frightened Jae how dangerous he himself had become in the last few months. He hoped it wasn’t showing to his friends at school.
And though there was danger, it only seemed to bring everyone closer. They knew what was at stake. They knew they had to work together to survive all of this. There were small tiffs that were glossed over quickly, but for the most part, everyone got along far better than Jae expected.
Rain was also pleasantly surprised when he arrived to find everyone working together so well. When everyone met at their old home, he expressed how pleased he was as Hyori completely won over the other wolves. The pack didn’t know how, but Jae had a feeling it was her charm and that Rain had planned it. Jae was nervous about meeting the other family that was coming, but Rain admitted they wouldn’t be coming until near June. Junghyun’s family was tracking a very nasty and feral (and very real) werewolf in northern Canada and he said they should have it taken care of soon enough.
“Feral?” Jae asked.
“After they’re bitten they can’t control themselves at all. They can’t change back into a human for someone to restrain them when they turn wolf from the full moonlight,” Micky explained. “It’s rare, but it happens. Unfortunately, they really are feral and will never turn back into a human. They’re more dangerous if they live so they have to be killed.”
“Junghyun’s family gets contracted to track and destroy them from time to time. She’s an amazing tracker,” Junsu told them as Jae nodded.
“That’s not to say some werewolves only turn in the full moon either. It depends on the strain they have and how well they can control themselves. Some of them just turn into werewolf shapeshifters, similar to Yunho’s pack, but with feral tendencies when they turn. The moonlight actually gives them more power,” Micky told him.
Jae found himself fascinated as they explained how vampires and werewolves usually interacted and then as the conversation derailed into fighting strategies against Jin, Jae was included. He was happy to find they all viewed him as an equal.
Kumi also arrived to stay the day after Rain arrived and they finally started formal discussions on what to do about the threat. It was usually Yunho and Rain discussing strategy, but Rain wasn’t much of a fighter, so he tended to look to Micky for advice. Kumi ended up being their best informant. She apparently had sources all over the place that gave her information on Jin’s faction.
“He’s getting impatient,” Kumi told them when they all met to discuss their next move. “My sources said he was going to strike in August when he would have his little army under control and when he thought we’d let our guard down, but he’s obviously noticed the missing scouts.”
“Enough of them have gone missing,” Aaron commented as everyone nodded.
“I think he’ll push ahead to July, or even closer to the beginning of July,” Kumi admitted. “Especially once he finds out the Parks are here.”
“We should catch him off guard and push for the end of June,” Yunho suggested. “It’ll give us all time to train together and especially for Jaejoong, whose school year ends in June.”
“Since I actually have a date to prom,” Jae muttered as a few laughs echoed around him.
“We can plan strategies for getting down into Seattle and more when our other family arrives,” Micky suggested.
“Sounds good.” Yunho nodded.
Talk was short after that and they agreed to end the meeting after Rain took names down to make teams to go after any vampires that could show up in the future. Jae hung back and waited for Yunho to finish talking to Micky as everyone filed out.
“So, prom date?” Micky asked as he approached. “With who?”
“Lilly,” Jae admitted as Yunho laughed.
“So she is paying you back then?” Micky asked as Yunho raised a confused eyebrow. Jae explained what had happened as Yunho hummed in understanding.
“I didn’t go to my senior prom,” he replied.
“Why not?” Micky asked and gave him a frown.
“Ah, my mom was in the hospital,” Yunho explained.
“Oh,” the vampire said softly as Jae assumed he could read whatever Yunho was thinking about his mother. “Why not see if someone will take him?”
“Ara doesn’t have a date—”
“Yes she does,” Junsu interrupted as he and Changmin joined.
“Who?” the three asked and glanced at each other.
“I ran into her at the gas station and she asked me after I told her we were back.” He gave them a bright grin as they rolled their eyes.
“I’ll ask Jackie,” Jae told Yunho. “She seemed interested but didn’t have a date.”
“What about Kendra?” Micky asked as Jae looked at Yunho thoughtfully.
It seemed like it might work, but how well, Jae wouldn’t know until they could actually pull it off. Soon enough they were on Kendra’s door step, trying to convince her to take part.
“But, Chester—”
“Chester said he’d bring Changmin,” Jae explained with a grin. That had been the best conversation he’d ever been privy to in his life. Maybe he would tell her how Changmin had completely snarked his way into the date when she wasn’t so annoyed.
“But I don’t want to bring him!” Kendra snapped as she pointed at Micky who looked up at her in surprise. Jae just sighed silently. She still had a grudge it seemed. Jae couldn’t bring himself to hold one against Micky after he knew how his ex felt and had apologized. Yunho just couldn’t stay mad for long.
“She doesn’t have to. It’s her own decision.” Micky shrugged. “Besides, we can just hide outside in case another assassin shows up or something.”
Kendra scowled at him and suddenly hauled off and punched him. Everyone stared at her in disbelief, Junsu catching Micky when he fell back in surprise. Jae was just shocked she’d managed to catch him off guard. Maybe Micky wasn’t reading minds as much as he’d thought.
“You know you deserved that right? You never fight for anything!” she growled as she cradled her hand.
“I know.” Micky picked himself back up. “I’m sorry. I’ll try harder.”
“I accept,” she said icily before stepping back inside the door and slamming it in his face.
Micky sighed. “Girls.” Jae could only smirk in amusement.
With a sigh, Jae pushed all the memories away and went back to his Trig. He began to write out an equation as he pulled his calculator over to type into it. He ignored the squeak of tennis shoes on the wooden floor and the music as he chewed on the end of his pencil.
“You’re concentrating pretty hard,” Changmin commented as he slipped onto the stool next to Jae.
“I want to get this damn thing finished,” he muttered and glanced back. “Sick of dancing?”
“Need a break from those two,” Changmin grumbled and rubbed his temples.
Jae frowned as he wondered which two Changmin meant and turned back to his homework to scribble down more lines. It didn’t take him too much longer to finish and he looked over his work before he set the paper down and watched the others on the floor. Micky and Yunho were laughing at something one or the other had said. It made Jae smile to see them getting along so well. His chest fluttered and he glanced away as he didn’t want to think about things he shouldn’t.
“Please make it stop,” he heard Changmin groan softly as thumped his head on the counter.
“Make what stop?” he asked.
“Micky and Yunho,” the vampire said as he looked up at Jae. “Their feelings are so jumbled that its making my head hurt.”
Jae blushed as he rolled his eyes. “I can’t really change how they feel just for you. I mean, what am I supposed to do?”
“Ask them for a three-some,” Changmin told him with a cheeky grin as Jae felt his face heat worse.
“Changmin!” he hissed in embarrassment. “Stop it!”
“What? They’re even worse than you were!” Changmin whined a protest.
“What do you mean?” Jae asked.
“Is it break time up here?” Junsu asked as he jumped on the stool to the other side of Changmin as the others stopped next to Jae. He listened as they talked over his head, joining the conversation occasionally until he noticed Changmin’s gaze flipping quickly between Yunho, Micky and himself rather quickly. He looked so confused that Jae almost asked what was wrong. He didn’t get the chance as the vampire sighed in exasperation and left through the sliding doors to the backyard deck before anyone could stop him. The rest of them just looked at one another in complete bewilderment.
“I’ll go see what’s wrong,” Jae told them and followed the vampire before anyone could protest.
He found Changmin leaning on the far corner railing of the deck and walked over.
“I almost wish I could sense you,” the vampire said quietly.
Jae’s hand went to the pendant at his neck and wondered if he should tell the vampire. “I don’t have to lower my shields all the time.” He paused for a moment. “I’m glad you’re back.”
Changmin finally glanced back to smile. “Me too.”
“So you can’t sense me, eh?” Jae smirked. He liked irritating them and their cheating abilities.
“The fact that I couldn’t feel you made more sense when Kumi told me more about how you’ve been training yourself. Is it a new shield you learned that’s keeping you safe? It’s probably better you keep them up. Then I don’t have to feel your emotions in addition to theirs,” Changmin grumbled as Jae leaned on the railing next to the vampire. “The tension in there is giving me the worst headache, so I’m glad you can shield.”
Jae could only sigh. He’d thought Yunho and Micky had been getting along. Was it all an act to make him feel better? “I’m sorry Changmin. I’ll talk to them about it before they end up ripping out each other’s throats.”
“Ripping?” Changmin stopped short and laughed. “Jaejoong, how do you feel about them? Your shields are so tight right now, I can’t even feel you there.”
Jae smiled a little. “It’s not my shields. It’s this,” he told Changmin as he tapped the pendant. “Yunho gave it to me when we got together. It was protecting him before and now it protects me.” He pulled it off and set it aside as he shifted his shields to include Changmin. He heard the vampire sigh in relief and knew he was shielding him from emotions other than his own. He made a mental note to explore this idea in the future and reminded himself that he wanted Changmin privy to only his feelings at the moment. “Micky told me to talk to you about something, and I think I know what it is now.”
“Oh?” Changmin tilted his head.
“At one point when I was still with Micky, I thought about inviting Yunho in on our… agreement?” Jae smiled at how he tried to find the right word. “I thought it might not work because he was a werewolf though. I thought it was too complicated. It still is complicated even now.”
“The feelings in there are very complicated,” Changmin replied with a sigh. “I’m quite sure they don’t hate each other though.”
Jae sighed in relief. “That’s good.”
“When I said tension, I meant sexual tension.”
“Because I—what?” Jae gaped at the vampire who shrugged sheepishly. “Sexual?” Jae would never admit his voice squeaked just then.
Changmin chuckled. “Yes, sexual. But it’s more like they can’t decide if the way they feel toward one another is that or hate. As if they don’t want to like one another but they can’t help it.” He ran a hand through his long hair. “And the conflicting emotions get worse when you’re added into the equation.”
“I am so confused,” Jae let his face fall into his hands.
“Think about how I feel!” Changmin retorted before he let out a tired chuckle.
“So what do we do?” Jae looked to the vampire who shook his head.
“I’m not sure, short of shoving them both in a room alone together and locking them in,” he muttered.
“But even then, we don’t know if they’ll get into a fight or …or start making out!” Jae grumbled.
“Would that bother you?” Changmin asked curiously.
“Not in the least! Wait—which part?” Jae glanced over.
“The making out.”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“But the fighting would?”
“Of course!”
A smirk appeared on Changmin’s lips.
“What?”
“You want to see them making out?”
He refused to blush—or at least tried. “…yes.”
“Why?”
“Are you kidding? The two guys I’m attracted to?”
“Good point.”
Jae rolled his eyes. “You’re just teasing me.”
“Yep.” Changmin grinned.
“Then what do I do?”
The vampire sighed. “I don’t know. Talk to him?”
“Who?”
“Yunho.”
“Why don’t you?”
Changmin blinked and glanced away with a frown. “Why should I talk to him?”
It was Jae’s turn to smirk. “No reason.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Nothing.” Jae gave him a sweet smile and pushed off the railing to go back inside. He also pulled his shields back around himself so Changmin couldn’t feel his emotions.
“Hey, you!” Changmin yelled and turned as Jae retreated with the necklace.
“You two have a very unfair advantage over him. I’m going to go even it.” Jae said with a smirk as he went back inside. He could hear Changmin sputtering as he slid the door shut. He found the other four chatting and pushing the chairs back where they belonged when he walked up. It seemed Heechul had abandoned the cleanup project.
“He okay?” Junsu asked.
Jae nodded as he went up to Yunho and put the necklace around his neck. “Don’t think I’m breaking anything,” he said as fear entered his lover’s eyes. “I’m just taking away their ability to cheat.”
Yunho gave him the most confused look as Micky grumbled from behind him.
“This is what keeps them from prying into your mind,” Jae murmured to Yunho and tapped the pendant.
Yunho blinked in surprise. “This?” he picked the pendant up and glanced down at it.
Jae nodded. “I don’t need it because of my shields, but you haven’t got anything like that.”
Yunho tilted his head in confusion. “Are you sure?”
Jae smiled. “Trust me.”
“How are they prying into my mind?” Yunho asked.
Jae and the vampires blinked in surprise. “You didn’t know they have powers?”
Yunho shook his head as Jae smacked his hand against his forehead. He’d thought Yunho had at least an idea of their abilities. Then again, he’d never had to protect against them.
“Micky can read thoughts and Changmin reads emotions,” Jae told him quickly.
Yunho’s gaze turned a glare on Micky who stepped back. “You were reading my mind?”
“I can’t really stop it from happening…” the vampire trailed off as Yunho advanced on him.
“Who said you have the right?” Yunho growled. “Who said you could get inside of my head?”
“Yunho,” Jae said warningly. “It’s not his fault.”
“Trust me, sometimes your thoughts project into my head without me even actively searching. I can’t stop it even if I try,” Micky tried to explain.
Yunho exhaled sharply and walked away. “Stupid vampires.” He stalked off up the stairs and shut himself up in the bathroom.
“What did you go and do that for?” Micky whined.
“It’s not fair to him!” Jae countered.
“Now I have to apologize!” the vampire complained and turned to go before Jae caught his arm.
“You’re jealous,” he stated evenly, not specifying over who.
Micky scoffed. “I haven’t been alive for this long to let myself get taken by jealousy.”
Jae grinned. “You’re so jealous.”
A sigh escaped the vampire. “If I hadn’t dated you, you wouldn’t know me so well,” he said as he poked Jae’s chest. “Now let go so I can apologize?”
Jae shrugged and let go before Micky made a face at him and went up to the bathroom. Jae watched after him with a smile as he heard Micky knock on the bathroom door and try to get Yunho to come out.
“Now that’s a first,” Aaron said as he watched the vampire.
“Huh, I didn’t expect that,” Junsu said suddenly.
“How can you not expect something?” Jae asked.
Junsu shrugged. “Too many choices for me to follow for an outcome.”
“Choices?” Aaron asked. Jae explained Junsu’s power to Aaron who then hummed in understanding. “You vampires are so confusing.”
Junsu pouted. “You’re telling me. They confuse me the most. Do they like Yunho or not?”
Jae shrugged. “Does it matter in the long run?”
“I should leave, shouldn’t I?” Aaron asked warily, obviously not wanting to be privy to this part of the conversation.
“Probably.” Jae gave him a grin.
“You people are odd,” he shook his head and made his way to the door. “Tell Yunho I’ll call him later.”
Jae nodded as they said their goodbyes and he was left with Junsu.
“Ah, he let Yoochun in,” Junsu said as Jae glanced over to see that Micky had disappeared. From the hallway.
He sighed. “He better be apologizing.” A glance at Junsu staring off into space told him that the vampire was having a vision. With a roll of his eyes, Jae turned to go to the kitchen to make himself the dinner he’d brought. “This is the most ridiculous day I’ve ever had.”
“Learning to crawl.”
“Hm?” Jae glanced back to see Junsu smile at him innocently.
“Did I say something?” Junsu blinked.
Jae frowned. He knew the words had meant something, but he didn’t know what in the world to make of what Junsu had said. “Learning to deal with a werewolf?”
“In a way.” The vampire smiled brightly.
Jae gave up and walked away. He’d find out soon enough anyway.
~***~
I know this part is all kinds of flashback/backstory fail. I promise the next part is better~
Part 17
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 04:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 05:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 05:44 am (UTC)anyway, its nice to see you post :) And as always, I find that the chapter is well written and a good length with just the right amount of information given
changminnie is cute lol, they all are, I love how they talk to each other aha
update soon~! <3
no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 05:42 am (UTC)OhmyGod. i am DYING
seriously. what fail?
there is no fail!
loving it!
there's so much to expect!
first the impending fight, now the 'maybe so/maybe no' threesome?
damn. life is good =D
can't wait for the next chapter~
no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 05:43 am (UTC)i say the five of them just get together =P
i wanna see junsu in action ;D (i mean, we did before, but out of the five of them... i think he needs to get laid and i think we need to read about it)
no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 05:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 06:55 am (UTC)i'm happy with the progression of their relationship =)
still feel sorry for the broken jaechun but...^^no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 07:33 am (UTC)hwaiting
no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 03:25 pm (UTC)AND. THE. FIVESOME.
I. HATE. YOU.
BUT. NOT.
PITY. ME. I. TOOK. A. LONG. TIME. TO. TYPE. LIKE. THIS.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:51 am (UTC)IT. IS. EASY. TO. TYPE. THIS. WAY.
TEASE. TEASE. TEASE. XD.
YOU. DON'T. HATE. ME.
YOU. HAVE. THE. BEST. COMMENTS!
no subject
Date: 2009-09-09 09:48 pm (UTC)I was giggling at the fact that Jae kind of seems a bit oblivious to the tension....
^_~
Though I wish I knew what Su was seeing, what Chun hears and the emotions Min feels *w*
no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 12:52 am (UTC)and lol, he's a bit of an airhead so i love that he forgets it XD
what su sees will be on an offshoot short ficlet eventually ;D
no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 01:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-10 05:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-12 09:23 am (UTC)