[Fic] Gravity : 17/18
Apr. 30th, 2010 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lotus_beautyTitle: Gravity
Author: LotusBeauty
Rating: R to NC-17
Pairings: Min+Su, Min+Kumi
Genre: AU, fantasy, romance/drama/emo (lots of emo)
Summary: Prequel to Feel and Redefine. This arc encompasses Changmin’s past; how he became a vampire and how he and Junsu met.
Notes: You don’t have to read the other two before you read this, but it would probably be a good idea to have some general vampire myths down.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never were.
Previous chapters can be found HERE.
Part 17: Same Direction
Life went on.
Junsu and Changmin tended to move from place to place after enough years to look too young for the age they said they were. There were so many cities to visit, and so many countryside areas they could live, they had a feeling they’d never run out of places to live. And once a generation was dead and gone, and locals wouldn’t remember them, they knew they could come back again someday to see how the area had changed. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be recognized if they did.
They got used to cities again after too long. They started to crave being near other people again. Not that they wanted their blood, they just felt a bit lonely without others around, to feel like they could connect with a society, even if truly they couldn’t completely do that. But Junsu could see the spark in Changmin’s eyes. He was testing himself, seeing if he could block out the emotions. Sometimes it got too much when too many people felt strongly about something, but for the most part, Changmin lived perfectly fine in the cities. But there was something else Junsu learned about Changmin when they started living in cities again, one thrill that kept him interested, second only to Junsu.
It only made itself known to Junsu when Changmin came rushing into their home one night and quickly hushed him. Police went screaming by the building and Junsu stared out the window in surprise.
“What was that?” he asked with a frown, casting his eyes at his lover before back out the window.
“Are they gone?” Changmin asked, still crouching behind the door.
It hit Junsu. He flicked his eyes to the side to catch Changmin’s gaze and the spark in them. “You.”
He smirked—smirked—and stood to his full height, pride radiating from him.
“What did you do?” Junsu hissed.
“Nothing they’ll track back to me,” Changmin answered nonchalantly as he made his way into the front room of their home.
Junsu glanced out the window again before following. “At least tell me what you did?” he asked, worried. “You’re sure they won’t find out?”
“Use your power if you’re so worried,” Changmin answered with a careless wave of his hand. “All I did was break into someone’s property to change their accounting books.”
Junsu’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Why?”
“Because they were siphoning money off for their own greed, so I changed the books to the way they were supposed to be, wrote out checks to orphanages with what they had been trying to steal and then nearly got caught sneaking out.” He shrugged as he sat in a chair to pull his shoes off. Junsu crossed his arms and stood in front of his lover. Changmin glanced up and sighed. “Not buying it?”
“You wouldn’t get caught, or nearly,” Junsu accused evenly and assumed Changmin bit his lip to keep from smirking. He knew his lover too well. “You purposely let them almost catch you.”
“Yep!” Changmin stood. “So, about dinner?”
Junsu rolled his eyes and walked away. “Make your own.” He gasped when Changmin caught him from behind and breathed in against his neck.
“But what if I want you?”
Changmin had a unique sense of right and wrong, but who was Junsu to judge it, since he’d felt the same on most issues that Changmin did. That and when Changmin got riled up from doing all sorts of illegal things, Junsu wasn’t the kind of person to stop Changmin’s hands roaming all over him. That would be just plain wrong. Besides, it wasn’t like Changmin was hurting anyone, and he was always very careful to make sure what he was doing would be a help instead of a hindrance.
As time went on though, there were a few instances where things did end badly. A few people got hurt one time, and a mysterious benefactor paid for their hospital bills. Another time, a young woman died, but not as a direct result of what Changmin had done. In trying to serve someone with their comeuppance, a fight broke out among those involved and weeks later, a young woman was killed as a result. Junsu didn’t foresee the event until just before it happened. It was too rash a decision to have seen it any earlier, and Changmin’s guilt weighted him down for weeks. He bounced right back when he heard the man (who he’d tried to teach a lesson) hadn’t changed his ways despite the woman’s death. Changmin changed his tactics, doing everything in his power to have very annoying but completely plausible incidents happen to the man. He had plenty of time on his hands after all. Junsu had to admire Changmin’s tenacity for trying to teach someone a lesson. He shrugged his lover’s hobby off once they finally moved from that city and Changmin still grumbled under his breath about how he hated the man. Good thing he’d fixed the incorrect accounting for the man so everyone would know he was going bankrupt!
There was at least one truly good thing about Changmin’s antics. He was so good at finding information and legal papers as well as forging and switching them. Frequently, Changmin changed their papers and switched them out in places so people would think they had full right to be wherever they were. And as technology advanced, albeit slowly, so did Changmin, giving the authorities a run for their money. Assuming they would even find out, which none of them had.
And Changmin enjoyed every last second. All from his vague interest while smuggling on a ship when in his teens. Go figure.
Changmin was also good at everything else that came with doing rather illegal things. He was extremely good at picking locks, pickpocketing and overhearing or finding information that no one else bothered to seek out. He enjoyed looking very unassuming in a crowd, despite his race and culture being completely different—not to mention his height—he considered it a challenge. Changmin was also extremely good at hiding their identities and finding out who other vampires were. He never let on to them unless he was absolutely sure that the other vampires were not in a coven, and they could make a deal for help if they needed it.
At one point while living out on the countryside in Spain, Changmin came jogging into their home and tugged on Junsu’s arm to get his attention from his journal.
“I found someone willing to go to Cairo!” he told Junsu breathlessly, though how Changmin could ever be out of breath, Junsu had to wonder. “She’s working with an archeologist who doesn’t know she’s a vampire, but she’s his top student so to speak. Apparently, he’s going to send her to Egypt to study more and participate in some exploratory digs. She asked if she could bring along younger assistants from Korea and he said yes.”
Junsu blinked at his lover. “Isn’t that a bit high profile? I mean, it’s really sunny there.” He furrowed his eyebrows in worry.
“I mentioned that to her, and she said since we don’t sleep as much, we could sneak into the digs late at night when everyone is gone and study without interruption. The rest of the time, she plans on wearing tinted glasses with a headwrap and have us stationed inside a building to make copies of her notes and such.”
Junsu chewed on his bottom lip. “That might not be so bad. We could pretend we don’t know much more than Korean.”
Changmin nodded. “I told her that I’d bring you over after we discussed it. Think you wanna try it?”
Junsu shrugged and closed his journal. “Why not? We could always just leave if we don’t like it.”
“There is something though,” Changmin leaned on the desk and crossed his arms as he frowned. “She seemed familiar, like I’d seen her somewhere before. Her name is Junghyun, and I—” He cut off as Junsu stood suddenly, the chair clattering to the floor behind him.
“Where is she?” he asked immediately, his heart pounding at the name.
Changmin blinked and then frowned suspiciously. “You know her?”
“You know her too. I told you all about her,” Junsu smiled a bit at Changmin’s confusion. “Lee Junghyun was my teacher, the one who took care of me after I was turned.”
Changmin’s hand hit his face. “I knew I’d heard the name.”
Junsu laughed and kissed his lover before asking to be taken to his old teacher. He hadn’t seen Junghyun in so long, over twenty years now! He knew she would look as young as ever, but he was still nervous as Changmin led him to the college where he was told she studied.
“A professor was scolding her for staying up late and reading old manuscripts, so I assume she’s probably still here, studying,” Changmin told him as they approached the building she would probably be in. They slipped up to the door and Junsu kneeled as Changmin kept an eye out. No, Junsu hadn’t been left out of the fun and knew quite well how to pick this lock. Once he was sure they were helping people instead of hindering them, he asked Changmin to teach him so they could work together. Besides, it would be stupid for him not to know. If Changmin actually managed to get into trouble, how would Junsu help him out if he was clueless?
He had the door open faster than it took Changmin to glance around the corner and they were inside. Changmin led him through the building and they approached the only room with a light streaming out from the crack of the door. Junsu waited as Changmin knocked and a familiar voice told them to enter.
“Hey, I didn’t expect you to be back this… quick…” Junghyun’s jaw dropped open and she stared at Junsu as he entered. Her face lit up and she stood to move around the desk she’d been working at to hug him tightly. “God, Junsu, you look so good!” She smiled and laughed as he did the same.
“You too,” he told her happily.
“I’m assuming this means you succeeded,” she said with a glance to Changmin who tilted his head in interest. “I knew the name Changmin wasn’t a coincidence.”
“You told her about me?” Changmin frowned in confusion.
Junsu smiled and the three moved back to the desk as he explained how he had developed his power with Junghyun to Changmin, and as he lived on his own and with Changmin to Junghyun. “Oh, and remember the emotional transfer?”
“Yes,” Junghyun nodded as she straightened a stack of papers.
“He’s an empath,” Junsu told her quietly as her eyebrows jumped.
“That must be rather difficult,” she fixed Changmin with a curious look.
“I… do my best,” he replied with a shrug.
“As would most,” she said with a nod. “Well then, knowing it’s you two looking for the traveling opportunity, I would love to offer it to you. Just don’t let my professor know you speak anything more than Korean,” she told them with a wink. “The less they know, the less they’re likely to remember.”
“Understood,” Changmin replied with a nod as Junsu grinned.
“It’ll be good to work with you again,” told her as she smiled to herself.
“It’ll be nice to live with someone as accommodating as you.”
Moving again wasn’t tragic or difficult for them. They’d done it enough times to know what to leave behind. Changmin and Junsu decided to leave the majority of their things in Spain for the time being, keeping their flat paid for and moved with their essentials to Cairo.
Junsu could tell Changmin really enjoyed the place, because they were completely out of their element and he wanted to learn everything he could about this new and unusual area. And Junsu and Junghyun weren’t about to stop him. Junsu couldn’t help but be happy as Changmin got along well with Junghyun while she enjoyed teaching him everything she knew and learning along with them. Luckily, during their stay in the city, which wasn’t too many years, Changmin had very few nightmares and only woke up yelling during two. The second brought Junghyun into their room worried, but Junsu assured her Changmin would be fine. For the next few days, Changmin spoke at length with Junghyun, of which Junsu assumed was about his dreams, and she offered what advice she could.
Later, Junghyun approached him. “I do not envy you, and yet I do. I’m glad you two fit so well together to fight through everything opposing you.” She squeezed his shoulder before she walked away and Junsu could feel his cheeks burning with pride at the compliment.
The group went back and forth between Spain and Egypt a few times while they were staying in the latter, to make sure their belongings and such were in order and hadn’t been stolen. Not that Changmin and Junsu cared too much, but there were a few things they’d grown attached to. Once they decided to end their study in Egypt after three years, the two returned to their place to find it neat and tidy, just as they’d asked it be kept by the maid they’d hired.
One week after their return, Changmin and Junsu met up with Junghyun at the university to have a dinner together, of sorts. They discussed what they wanted to do next and the two men decided visiting their home country might be nice for a little while. The three drank and agreed to meet later on again down the road and Junsu told Junghyun he’d find her somehow. They didn’t doubt that. After some talk and bidding each other farewell, Junsu and Changmin took their leave of Junghyun to make their way back to their home.
Walking leisurely, as no one would notice them out at night to begin with, the two made their way down the streets quietly, enjoying the night. But halfway home, Junsu felt… off. He didn’t say anything at first, but became increasingly wary with each step. He didn’t know what it was that put him on edge, but he could feel something.
Changmin stopped finally and looked at him. “Tell me.”
Junsu gave him a worried glance. “I don’t know. I just feel…” he trailed off and glanced around. “We should hurry—” he cut off as a vision hit him, vampires surrounding them, anonymous faces crossing his vision, until a familiar one came into view—Kumi.
Junsu fell out of the vision, nearly falling forward on his face. He caught himself with a step as Changmin almost reached out to catch him.
He looked up into Changmin’s eyes. “Kumi,” was all he got out before they heard a growl and reacted before a dark mass flew by them to the ground. They were almost surrounded, but Junsu went straight for a few specific vampires to clear a path for escape as Changmin protected his back. Junsu put them down so quick, he turned to face more. He was met by the image of Changmin knocking Kumi out and then turning to grab his arm.
“Go,” was all Changmin had to say and they were flying down the streets. A few chased them, but both knew exactly how to lose them. They’d been planning for this sort of thing their entire lives. They split up a few times and led their pursuers back and forth before they finally lost them. The two met up and moved together again, across the city before doubling back to their home, sneaking in with ease. They didn’t bother with lights as they made their way through the rooms and hallways, grabbing the things they’d agreed they needed and wanted to keep with them. Junsu glanced up when he saw Changmin grab the tiger fang he’d given him so long ago, and the two glanced at one another for a moment. A split second of fear appeared before the two moved closer to press a kiss to one another’s lips.
“We can do this,” Junsu said as he squeezed his lover’s hand.
“We can.” Changmin squeezed back.
They both froze, sensing another close by. Changmin moved to the door first, slipping down the hallway to the front room and relaxed as Junsu followed closely behind. A cloaked figure stood in the arch to the entryway and Junsu stopped next to Changmin, assuming who it was by how his lover reacted.
“Never thought I’d run into you here,” Kumi murmured as she pulled the cowl back, a smirk alighting her lips. “I’m proud of you two.”
Junsu frowned and glanced away, embarrassed. “Why didn’t I see the attack sooner?”
“We weren’t after you. But you crossed our path and one of the subordinates recognized Changmin. Good job taking him out, by the way.” She nodded at Changmin who smirked. What he did, Junsu wasn’t sure, but he didn’t trust that they were safe yet.
“We shouldn’t stay long.” Junsu looked to Changmin who nodded.
“A safe assumption.” Kumi nodded. “I just wanted to see you two before I ‘let you escape,’” she said with a grin and held out her arms. The two moved closer to hug her tightly. “I hope I won’t see you again,” she whispered with a sad smile as they moved away.
“You won’t,” Changmin answered quietly.
She smiled at them, and they returned it before they looked at one another and nodded. Junsu concentrated for a moment before he gestured toward the back entrance of their home and the two nodded to Kumi before they turned. A feeling of nostalgia swept through Junsu and he glanced back to see Kumi watching them fondly before pulling her hood back up—the spy as ever. She would erase their tracks so no one would ever know they were here. And Changmin would make sure of anything else.
Once outside, the two agreed on a meeting place and split up. They didn’t know if the others were still searching, but better safe than sorry. The buildings flew by as Junsu sped down the streets, silently. He kept his mind in the immediate future, checking which streets were abandoned and could get through without detection. Everything went smoothly to his relief and he slowed when he arrived at their meeting place, a tree that he’d painted a few years back during a vacation from their trip in Egypt. As he neared the tree, Changmin slipped down from the branches, landing expertly.
“I win,” he said with a smirk.
Junsu rolled his eyes as he shook his head. He could at least smile. “Next time,” he threatened as Changmin pulled him closer. “You think you get a prize?”
“Well, I did win,” he murmured as he nuzzled Junsu, and Junsu had to force himself to resist.
“We need to get further away,” he asserted before he let Changmin steal a kiss.
“I know. Just wanted to make sure I get what I deserve,” Changmin snuck in before he let go.
Oh, he’d get it all right, Junsu thought as they turned east and headed out. The two ran on for some time, stopping only when they saw the dawn light starting to show on the eastern horizon. They turned south toward a safe house they had set up some time before and stayed there for the night.
“You like it too much when you get to run from something,” Junsu commented when Changmin hugged him from behind after they’d lit the fireplace.
“Gets my blood moving.” His lips touched Junsu’s ear, making him shiver slightly. “Almost as much as you.”
Junsu didn’t bother with a retort as he turned to capture his lover’s lips. He let Changmin pin him to the floor, lips already pressing a line of kisses down his neck. They should go on the run more often, he thought as Changmin rid himself of his shirt and Junsu admired his lover’s body. He was glad their minds were going in the same direction, because down was the only way his thoughts were going now, and so were Changmin’s hands.
Later, as the day’s sunlight crept across the room, it caught Changmin’s hair and made the browns shine as Junsu ran his hands through it. Changmin didn’t stir from his nap, but Junsu knew he was awake enough to know there were fingers sliding through his hair, if the emotions washing off of Changmin were any indicator. He kissed his lover’s forehead as their arms weaved around one another and they held tight.
They would be on their way again soon, but in this moment, Junsu could forget it all. Right now, Changmin was his world.
~***~
so yes, shortened to 18 parts with an epilogue. almost done guys! :) ♥ should i make a twitter for updates or is that overkill? >>?
Part 18 + epilogue
Author: LotusBeauty
Rating: R to NC-17
Pairings: Min+Su, Min+Kumi
Genre: AU, fantasy, romance/drama/emo (lots of emo)
Summary: Prequel to Feel and Redefine. This arc encompasses Changmin’s past; how he became a vampire and how he and Junsu met.
Notes: You don’t have to read the other two before you read this, but it would probably be a good idea to have some general vampire myths down.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never were.
Previous chapters can be found HERE.
Part 17: Same Direction
Life went on.
Junsu and Changmin tended to move from place to place after enough years to look too young for the age they said they were. There were so many cities to visit, and so many countryside areas they could live, they had a feeling they’d never run out of places to live. And once a generation was dead and gone, and locals wouldn’t remember them, they knew they could come back again someday to see how the area had changed. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be recognized if they did.
They got used to cities again after too long. They started to crave being near other people again. Not that they wanted their blood, they just felt a bit lonely without others around, to feel like they could connect with a society, even if truly they couldn’t completely do that. But Junsu could see the spark in Changmin’s eyes. He was testing himself, seeing if he could block out the emotions. Sometimes it got too much when too many people felt strongly about something, but for the most part, Changmin lived perfectly fine in the cities. But there was something else Junsu learned about Changmin when they started living in cities again, one thrill that kept him interested, second only to Junsu.
It only made itself known to Junsu when Changmin came rushing into their home one night and quickly hushed him. Police went screaming by the building and Junsu stared out the window in surprise.
“What was that?” he asked with a frown, casting his eyes at his lover before back out the window.
“Are they gone?” Changmin asked, still crouching behind the door.
It hit Junsu. He flicked his eyes to the side to catch Changmin’s gaze and the spark in them. “You.”
He smirked—smirked—and stood to his full height, pride radiating from him.
“What did you do?” Junsu hissed.
“Nothing they’ll track back to me,” Changmin answered nonchalantly as he made his way into the front room of their home.
Junsu glanced out the window again before following. “At least tell me what you did?” he asked, worried. “You’re sure they won’t find out?”
“Use your power if you’re so worried,” Changmin answered with a careless wave of his hand. “All I did was break into someone’s property to change their accounting books.”
Junsu’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Why?”
“Because they were siphoning money off for their own greed, so I changed the books to the way they were supposed to be, wrote out checks to orphanages with what they had been trying to steal and then nearly got caught sneaking out.” He shrugged as he sat in a chair to pull his shoes off. Junsu crossed his arms and stood in front of his lover. Changmin glanced up and sighed. “Not buying it?”
“You wouldn’t get caught, or nearly,” Junsu accused evenly and assumed Changmin bit his lip to keep from smirking. He knew his lover too well. “You purposely let them almost catch you.”
“Yep!” Changmin stood. “So, about dinner?”
Junsu rolled his eyes and walked away. “Make your own.” He gasped when Changmin caught him from behind and breathed in against his neck.
“But what if I want you?”
Changmin had a unique sense of right and wrong, but who was Junsu to judge it, since he’d felt the same on most issues that Changmin did. That and when Changmin got riled up from doing all sorts of illegal things, Junsu wasn’t the kind of person to stop Changmin’s hands roaming all over him. That would be just plain wrong. Besides, it wasn’t like Changmin was hurting anyone, and he was always very careful to make sure what he was doing would be a help instead of a hindrance.
As time went on though, there were a few instances where things did end badly. A few people got hurt one time, and a mysterious benefactor paid for their hospital bills. Another time, a young woman died, but not as a direct result of what Changmin had done. In trying to serve someone with their comeuppance, a fight broke out among those involved and weeks later, a young woman was killed as a result. Junsu didn’t foresee the event until just before it happened. It was too rash a decision to have seen it any earlier, and Changmin’s guilt weighted him down for weeks. He bounced right back when he heard the man (who he’d tried to teach a lesson) hadn’t changed his ways despite the woman’s death. Changmin changed his tactics, doing everything in his power to have very annoying but completely plausible incidents happen to the man. He had plenty of time on his hands after all. Junsu had to admire Changmin’s tenacity for trying to teach someone a lesson. He shrugged his lover’s hobby off once they finally moved from that city and Changmin still grumbled under his breath about how he hated the man. Good thing he’d fixed the incorrect accounting for the man so everyone would know he was going bankrupt!
There was at least one truly good thing about Changmin’s antics. He was so good at finding information and legal papers as well as forging and switching them. Frequently, Changmin changed their papers and switched them out in places so people would think they had full right to be wherever they were. And as technology advanced, albeit slowly, so did Changmin, giving the authorities a run for their money. Assuming they would even find out, which none of them had.
And Changmin enjoyed every last second. All from his vague interest while smuggling on a ship when in his teens. Go figure.
Changmin was also good at everything else that came with doing rather illegal things. He was extremely good at picking locks, pickpocketing and overhearing or finding information that no one else bothered to seek out. He enjoyed looking very unassuming in a crowd, despite his race and culture being completely different—not to mention his height—he considered it a challenge. Changmin was also extremely good at hiding their identities and finding out who other vampires were. He never let on to them unless he was absolutely sure that the other vampires were not in a coven, and they could make a deal for help if they needed it.
At one point while living out on the countryside in Spain, Changmin came jogging into their home and tugged on Junsu’s arm to get his attention from his journal.
“I found someone willing to go to Cairo!” he told Junsu breathlessly, though how Changmin could ever be out of breath, Junsu had to wonder. “She’s working with an archeologist who doesn’t know she’s a vampire, but she’s his top student so to speak. Apparently, he’s going to send her to Egypt to study more and participate in some exploratory digs. She asked if she could bring along younger assistants from Korea and he said yes.”
Junsu blinked at his lover. “Isn’t that a bit high profile? I mean, it’s really sunny there.” He furrowed his eyebrows in worry.
“I mentioned that to her, and she said since we don’t sleep as much, we could sneak into the digs late at night when everyone is gone and study without interruption. The rest of the time, she plans on wearing tinted glasses with a headwrap and have us stationed inside a building to make copies of her notes and such.”
Junsu chewed on his bottom lip. “That might not be so bad. We could pretend we don’t know much more than Korean.”
Changmin nodded. “I told her that I’d bring you over after we discussed it. Think you wanna try it?”
Junsu shrugged and closed his journal. “Why not? We could always just leave if we don’t like it.”
“There is something though,” Changmin leaned on the desk and crossed his arms as he frowned. “She seemed familiar, like I’d seen her somewhere before. Her name is Junghyun, and I—” He cut off as Junsu stood suddenly, the chair clattering to the floor behind him.
“Where is she?” he asked immediately, his heart pounding at the name.
Changmin blinked and then frowned suspiciously. “You know her?”
“You know her too. I told you all about her,” Junsu smiled a bit at Changmin’s confusion. “Lee Junghyun was my teacher, the one who took care of me after I was turned.”
Changmin’s hand hit his face. “I knew I’d heard the name.”
Junsu laughed and kissed his lover before asking to be taken to his old teacher. He hadn’t seen Junghyun in so long, over twenty years now! He knew she would look as young as ever, but he was still nervous as Changmin led him to the college where he was told she studied.
“A professor was scolding her for staying up late and reading old manuscripts, so I assume she’s probably still here, studying,” Changmin told him as they approached the building she would probably be in. They slipped up to the door and Junsu kneeled as Changmin kept an eye out. No, Junsu hadn’t been left out of the fun and knew quite well how to pick this lock. Once he was sure they were helping people instead of hindering them, he asked Changmin to teach him so they could work together. Besides, it would be stupid for him not to know. If Changmin actually managed to get into trouble, how would Junsu help him out if he was clueless?
He had the door open faster than it took Changmin to glance around the corner and they were inside. Changmin led him through the building and they approached the only room with a light streaming out from the crack of the door. Junsu waited as Changmin knocked and a familiar voice told them to enter.
“Hey, I didn’t expect you to be back this… quick…” Junghyun’s jaw dropped open and she stared at Junsu as he entered. Her face lit up and she stood to move around the desk she’d been working at to hug him tightly. “God, Junsu, you look so good!” She smiled and laughed as he did the same.
“You too,” he told her happily.
“I’m assuming this means you succeeded,” she said with a glance to Changmin who tilted his head in interest. “I knew the name Changmin wasn’t a coincidence.”
“You told her about me?” Changmin frowned in confusion.
Junsu smiled and the three moved back to the desk as he explained how he had developed his power with Junghyun to Changmin, and as he lived on his own and with Changmin to Junghyun. “Oh, and remember the emotional transfer?”
“Yes,” Junghyun nodded as she straightened a stack of papers.
“He’s an empath,” Junsu told her quietly as her eyebrows jumped.
“That must be rather difficult,” she fixed Changmin with a curious look.
“I… do my best,” he replied with a shrug.
“As would most,” she said with a nod. “Well then, knowing it’s you two looking for the traveling opportunity, I would love to offer it to you. Just don’t let my professor know you speak anything more than Korean,” she told them with a wink. “The less they know, the less they’re likely to remember.”
“Understood,” Changmin replied with a nod as Junsu grinned.
“It’ll be good to work with you again,” told her as she smiled to herself.
“It’ll be nice to live with someone as accommodating as you.”
Moving again wasn’t tragic or difficult for them. They’d done it enough times to know what to leave behind. Changmin and Junsu decided to leave the majority of their things in Spain for the time being, keeping their flat paid for and moved with their essentials to Cairo.
Junsu could tell Changmin really enjoyed the place, because they were completely out of their element and he wanted to learn everything he could about this new and unusual area. And Junsu and Junghyun weren’t about to stop him. Junsu couldn’t help but be happy as Changmin got along well with Junghyun while she enjoyed teaching him everything she knew and learning along with them. Luckily, during their stay in the city, which wasn’t too many years, Changmin had very few nightmares and only woke up yelling during two. The second brought Junghyun into their room worried, but Junsu assured her Changmin would be fine. For the next few days, Changmin spoke at length with Junghyun, of which Junsu assumed was about his dreams, and she offered what advice she could.
Later, Junghyun approached him. “I do not envy you, and yet I do. I’m glad you two fit so well together to fight through everything opposing you.” She squeezed his shoulder before she walked away and Junsu could feel his cheeks burning with pride at the compliment.
The group went back and forth between Spain and Egypt a few times while they were staying in the latter, to make sure their belongings and such were in order and hadn’t been stolen. Not that Changmin and Junsu cared too much, but there were a few things they’d grown attached to. Once they decided to end their study in Egypt after three years, the two returned to their place to find it neat and tidy, just as they’d asked it be kept by the maid they’d hired.
One week after their return, Changmin and Junsu met up with Junghyun at the university to have a dinner together, of sorts. They discussed what they wanted to do next and the two men decided visiting their home country might be nice for a little while. The three drank and agreed to meet later on again down the road and Junsu told Junghyun he’d find her somehow. They didn’t doubt that. After some talk and bidding each other farewell, Junsu and Changmin took their leave of Junghyun to make their way back to their home.
Walking leisurely, as no one would notice them out at night to begin with, the two made their way down the streets quietly, enjoying the night. But halfway home, Junsu felt… off. He didn’t say anything at first, but became increasingly wary with each step. He didn’t know what it was that put him on edge, but he could feel something.
Changmin stopped finally and looked at him. “Tell me.”
Junsu gave him a worried glance. “I don’t know. I just feel…” he trailed off and glanced around. “We should hurry—” he cut off as a vision hit him, vampires surrounding them, anonymous faces crossing his vision, until a familiar one came into view—Kumi.
Junsu fell out of the vision, nearly falling forward on his face. He caught himself with a step as Changmin almost reached out to catch him.
He looked up into Changmin’s eyes. “Kumi,” was all he got out before they heard a growl and reacted before a dark mass flew by them to the ground. They were almost surrounded, but Junsu went straight for a few specific vampires to clear a path for escape as Changmin protected his back. Junsu put them down so quick, he turned to face more. He was met by the image of Changmin knocking Kumi out and then turning to grab his arm.
“Go,” was all Changmin had to say and they were flying down the streets. A few chased them, but both knew exactly how to lose them. They’d been planning for this sort of thing their entire lives. They split up a few times and led their pursuers back and forth before they finally lost them. The two met up and moved together again, across the city before doubling back to their home, sneaking in with ease. They didn’t bother with lights as they made their way through the rooms and hallways, grabbing the things they’d agreed they needed and wanted to keep with them. Junsu glanced up when he saw Changmin grab the tiger fang he’d given him so long ago, and the two glanced at one another for a moment. A split second of fear appeared before the two moved closer to press a kiss to one another’s lips.
“We can do this,” Junsu said as he squeezed his lover’s hand.
“We can.” Changmin squeezed back.
They both froze, sensing another close by. Changmin moved to the door first, slipping down the hallway to the front room and relaxed as Junsu followed closely behind. A cloaked figure stood in the arch to the entryway and Junsu stopped next to Changmin, assuming who it was by how his lover reacted.
“Never thought I’d run into you here,” Kumi murmured as she pulled the cowl back, a smirk alighting her lips. “I’m proud of you two.”
Junsu frowned and glanced away, embarrassed. “Why didn’t I see the attack sooner?”
“We weren’t after you. But you crossed our path and one of the subordinates recognized Changmin. Good job taking him out, by the way.” She nodded at Changmin who smirked. What he did, Junsu wasn’t sure, but he didn’t trust that they were safe yet.
“We shouldn’t stay long.” Junsu looked to Changmin who nodded.
“A safe assumption.” Kumi nodded. “I just wanted to see you two before I ‘let you escape,’” she said with a grin and held out her arms. The two moved closer to hug her tightly. “I hope I won’t see you again,” she whispered with a sad smile as they moved away.
“You won’t,” Changmin answered quietly.
She smiled at them, and they returned it before they looked at one another and nodded. Junsu concentrated for a moment before he gestured toward the back entrance of their home and the two nodded to Kumi before they turned. A feeling of nostalgia swept through Junsu and he glanced back to see Kumi watching them fondly before pulling her hood back up—the spy as ever. She would erase their tracks so no one would ever know they were here. And Changmin would make sure of anything else.
Once outside, the two agreed on a meeting place and split up. They didn’t know if the others were still searching, but better safe than sorry. The buildings flew by as Junsu sped down the streets, silently. He kept his mind in the immediate future, checking which streets were abandoned and could get through without detection. Everything went smoothly to his relief and he slowed when he arrived at their meeting place, a tree that he’d painted a few years back during a vacation from their trip in Egypt. As he neared the tree, Changmin slipped down from the branches, landing expertly.
“I win,” he said with a smirk.
Junsu rolled his eyes as he shook his head. He could at least smile. “Next time,” he threatened as Changmin pulled him closer. “You think you get a prize?”
“Well, I did win,” he murmured as he nuzzled Junsu, and Junsu had to force himself to resist.
“We need to get further away,” he asserted before he let Changmin steal a kiss.
“I know. Just wanted to make sure I get what I deserve,” Changmin snuck in before he let go.
Oh, he’d get it all right, Junsu thought as they turned east and headed out. The two ran on for some time, stopping only when they saw the dawn light starting to show on the eastern horizon. They turned south toward a safe house they had set up some time before and stayed there for the night.
“You like it too much when you get to run from something,” Junsu commented when Changmin hugged him from behind after they’d lit the fireplace.
“Gets my blood moving.” His lips touched Junsu’s ear, making him shiver slightly. “Almost as much as you.”
Junsu didn’t bother with a retort as he turned to capture his lover’s lips. He let Changmin pin him to the floor, lips already pressing a line of kisses down his neck. They should go on the run more often, he thought as Changmin rid himself of his shirt and Junsu admired his lover’s body. He was glad their minds were going in the same direction, because down was the only way his thoughts were going now, and so were Changmin’s hands.
Later, as the day’s sunlight crept across the room, it caught Changmin’s hair and made the browns shine as Junsu ran his hands through it. Changmin didn’t stir from his nap, but Junsu knew he was awake enough to know there were fingers sliding through his hair, if the emotions washing off of Changmin were any indicator. He kissed his lover’s forehead as their arms weaved around one another and they held tight.
They would be on their way again soon, but in this moment, Junsu could forget it all. Right now, Changmin was his world.
~***~
so yes, shortened to 18 parts with an epilogue. almost done guys! :) ♥ should i make a twitter for updates or is that overkill? >>?
Part 18 + epilogue
