Journey's End (Chapter 7)
Title: Journey’s End
Pairings: Yunjae as a main, but there will also be: JaeChun, HoMin, Minsu and maybe some Yoosu.
Rating: PG to NC-17
Genre: Adventure, angst, romance, drama
Summary:Yunho, an unhappily married man, gets on a boat headed to Germany. That same day, a violent storm hits and the boat is destroyed. When Yunho awakes on a foreign shore, he’s tossed into an adventure of werewolves, vampires, lust, greed and destiny.
WARNINGS: This story will contain adult themes such as sex between two men as well as violence, gore and nonconsensual sex.
Chapters: Forwards (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
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The night air whips around him and his heart hammers in his chest, filling his ears with its rapid tattoo.
He has no clue what’s going on aside from the fact that werewolves are currently chasing them.
He’s trying to keep himself from glancing over Jaejoong’s shoulder, not wanting to see what might be after them.
He closes his eyes and presses his face against Jaejoong’s chest, some odd part of his mind noting the lack of a heartbeat and body heat.
Yunho opens his eyes for a moment to glance up at Jaejoong when something off to the left catches his eye.
It’s a massive wolf-like creature, at least seven feet tall even when all-fours. It’s fur appears silver in the moonlight, whipped back by the speed of his gate. He catches Yunho‘s gaze and lets out a loud snarl, huge muscles bunching as he springs towards Jaejoong.
Yunho lets out a strangled cry, shutting his eyes and bracing himself from impact.
A loud growl echoes through Jaejoong‘s chest and he jerks to the left.
The impact is hard and Yunho‘s sent flying from Jaejoong‘s grasp. He feels himself careen through the air, his body tumbling and contorting, choking the air from his lungs. His cry of terror is silent as he plows into the ground, flipping numerous times before coming to rest on the earthy bed of leaves.
He’s left suspended in waves of pain, eyes open wide but not seeing anything. All he can do is sit and feel the ache of being tossed into the ground.
When he finally regains himself, he peers through the darkness, chest constricting with panic when he spots Jaejoong lunging at the wolf, teeth bared in a snarl.
The two go tumbling, teeth snapping and snarls echoing throughout the serene night.
Jaejoong jumps back to his feet, swiftly dodging another lunge from the brutish werewolf. He swings his leg up and spins gracefully, the ball of his foot catching the attacking wolf on its side. A startled yelp rings through the night as the animal goes flying back, crashing against the trunk of a tree.
Movement to his right catches Yunho’s attention and he turns to see Changmin and Junsu deftly swinging swords through the night air.
His gut clenches with worry as he watches a dark colored wolf lung at Junsu, fangs bared in an open-mouthed snarl.
The small male deftly crouches to the ground, thrusting his sword into the wolf’s abdomen as it goes sailing by overhead.
The animal lets out a startled yelp and tumbles to the ground, just managing to regain his footing before Changmin’s sword slashes through the air where the wolves head had been moments before.
Changmin, seeing his failure to decapitate the animal, deftly spins into a kick that knocks the animal’s front feet out from under it.
The wolf losses its balance and tips forward, head smashing into the ground with a reverberating thud.
Changmin acts without hesitation and with apparent easy, runs his sword clean through the heavily muscled neck of the wolf.
Yunho feels his stomach churn at the sight, unable to turn his gaze away from the gory image set before him. He watches with even more horror as Junsu latches onto the furry neck with his mouth, eyes glowing red in the night.
Yunho startles badly when he hears a chuckle off to his right. He turns his head and peers into the shadow-bathed trees, eyes narrowed as if that would somehow allow him to see in the dark.
The panic grips at him as he hears a soft purr echo to his left, much closer than before.
He sits frozen, eyes wide in the darkness and his breath bated as he waits for another sound.
“You really not what I thought you’d be.”
Yunho jumps quickly and turns towards the direction of the smooth voice, panic gripping his chest as he realizes the vulnerability of his position.
“W-Who are you?” He stammers, inching back on the forest floor.
“My name’s Lee Junki.” The elegant looking male replies, offering a flourished bow. “I believe you name is Yunho, is it not?”
“What do you want?” Yunho breaths into the night, his movements slowing as he’s slightly placated by the clam aura of the other male.
“I’m here to rescue you.” Junki responds, taking a few steps closer to Yunho’s fallen form.
“R-Rescue me?” Yunho questions, glancing off to his left when he hears a long growl issuing from Changmin’s mouth.
“I’m here to rescue you from them.” He gestures towards Changmin and Junsu who are making quick work of another werewolf.
“I’m sure you’re confused about what I’m talking about, but just rest assured that Jaejoong is just toying with his food before he eats it.” Junki crouches down, balancing the height difference between himself and Yunho. “They’re a rebel band of vampires that have set out to destroy any humans they can get their hands on.”
“But…” Yunho shakes his head, brows pulling together to show his confusion. “How can that be?”
“Have they told you that you’re the chosen one yet? Has Jaejoong spurted on about the Book of Veritas? Are they taking you on some long journey to meet with a The Sage?” Junki trails off, watching as the look of confusion and shock spreads further across his face.
“It’s a ploy we’ve seen them use many times before.”
“That can’t be true.” Yunho shakes his head, his gaze flickering to where Junsu was slamming a huge wolf against the sturdy trunk of a tree. How in the world could Junsu be one of the bad guys? It’s impossible.
“I know that it’s hard to believe. They must have been really nice to you. Made you believe that they actually cared about you.” Junki reaches out a hand, face pulled into a look of concern.
“Just come with me and I’ll make sure that they don’t hurt you.”
Yunho’s gaze flickers to the extended hand, chewing on his bottom lip slightly as he tries to work through everything he’s been told.
If Jaejoong had lied to him, then who’s to say the Junki isn’t doing the same thing? In a world full of blood-thirsty monsters, who is he supposed to trust to keep him safe?
Junki’s words seem so much more reliable. He knows everything that Jaejoong has said and has seen it before. Junki is offering him an escape from death, whether it be a living death or not.
Yunho reaches out, fingers clasping around the ice-cold skin of the other male’s hand The fear bubbles in the pit of his stomach and he tries to push it away with the thought that he was going to be taken to safety. Something within him refuses to believe it.
Just as he’s pulled of the ground, a rumbling snarl breaks out from behind him and his balance is upset when Junki goes flying backwards.
Yunho’s chest tightens as he stumbles backwards, pressing his back against the nearest tree. He watches with large eyes as Changmin and Junsu redirect and swiftly move to Jaejoong’s aid.
Junki gracefully dodges a kick from Jaejoong, head whipping around to catch sight of Junsu and Changmin.
His face grows dark with anger before he swiftly turns and flees into the surrounding darkness, the tale of his cape whipping behind him.
The sudden silence is eerie and weighs heavily on Yunho, who had fallen to the base of the tree when his legs refused to support him. The air feels thick, as if he’s trying to breath in water and he finds himself laboring to pull in enough air.
“What the hell were you doing?” Jaejoong snarls suddenly, jerking around to bare down on Yunho’s shocked form. “Were you just going to walk off into the forest with him? Huh? Are you so desperate to get away from us that you would rather die?” Jaejoong crouches down and moves in close to Yunho, effectively pinning him against the tree.
“I…I…He said he was here to rescue me.” Yunho chokes, his entire body trembling from the sudden onset of his fear.
“Rescue you from what? Our kindness?” Jaejoong scoffs, drawing away from Yunho as he stands and paces away from the tree.
“Jaejoong, he’s terrified.” Junsu whispers, moving to stand in front of Yunho’s trembling form. “He was tricked so it’s not his fault. Don’t take it personally.”
“Jaejoong.” Yunho calls, just managing to stabilize his voice. “If you’re going to kill me anyway, then go ahead and do it! Don’t play with me like some kind of toy!” He’s slightly shocked at how commanding his voice manages to sound despite the fear that still pounds through his veins.
He finds himself doubting Jaejoong and the other two. How can he not after the seed of mistrust that Junki has planted in his head?
Jaejoong gaze sharpens as he pushes past Junsu and stares down at Yunho. “Is that what he said I’m going to do? Play with you and then devour you?” The corner of Jaejoong’s mouth twitches upwards. “If you were nothing but a meal to me, then I would have killed you already and saved myself the trouble of fighting off werewolves and vampires to protect you.” His annoyance is clear in his voice and in the way he stands with tensed shoulders.
Yunho is only slightly mollified, but the look in Jaejoong’s eyes quickly shuts down any other question or doubts he had been planning on voicing. All he can do is hang his head and mutter a simple apology for doubting. That’s all he’s good for. Making a mess and then apologizing for it.
“Changmin, carry Yunho.” Jaejoong snaps, eyes never leaving Yunho’s form as he takes a few steps backwards.
“I don’t want…” Yunho’s protest dies in his throat as he looks up to see the thunderous eyes of Jaejoong looking down at him.
“Did I ask you what you wanted?” He cocks his head to the side slightly and arches his eyebrows in a questioning look.
“No.” Yunho mutters to the ground, unable to hold that dark gaze for very long.
“Then shut-up and do as I say.” Jaejoong snaps before he turns and lets his gaze flicker through the dark surroundings. “We’ll stop at sunrise and let everyone get some rest and meditation in.”
Changmin and Junsu’s answers echo softly threw the air as they move about the clearing to gather Yunho and his misplaced bag.
“You don’t have much faith, do you?” Changmin states in a casual voice, leaning his shoulder against the tree Yunho is still huddled next to.
Yunho bites his bottom lip, fighting the agitation that’s bubbling up in his gut at Changmin’s cutting words.
He searches for something to say, something that will cut the other male down a few notches. He finds nothing in his abused mind, nothing that will pick him up off the ground and make him any stronger.
“Shut up.”
“Oh, that burns. I’m surprised that Jaejoong has been able to keep our under his thumb.” Changmin snickers as he leans down and easily scoops Yunho into his arms, practically slinging the younger male across his shoulder.
“He’s not a sack of potatoes, Changmin.” Junsu huffs in a disapproving manner, his brow crinkling as he slides Yunho’s bag onto his back.
“You’re right. A sack of potatoes would have more value.” Changmin smirks at the smaller boy, obviously enjoying the anger that’s building in the other’s eyes.
“That’s enough, Changmin. Put him down and I’ll carry him.” Junsu snaps, hands placed on his hips as if that stance makes him more powerful.
“Be my guest, Su darling.” Changmin responds as he dumps Yunho onto the ground and offers Junsu a flourished bow.
“That bastard.” Junsu huffs as he strides over to Yunho and bends over slightly. “Here, get on my back.”
Yunho rubs at his elbow, wincing slightly at the pain. He hates Changmin with a passion and he tries to put all of that hate into the glare that he’s aiming at the older male. He only earns himself an amused chuckle from the insolent vampire.
“Can’t I just walk?” Yunho questions Junsu softly, not liking the idea of be totted around like some kind of small dog.
“We’re going to be running, Yunho, and you’d never be able to keep up.” Junsu sighs and turns apologetic eyes back on the other male. “Just for tonight and then I’ll ask Jaejoong if we can walk the rest of the way.”
Yunho wants so badly to say no, but he catches the pleading look in Junsu’s eyes and finally sighs as he reaches out and wraps his arms around the boy’s neck.
He gives a slightly shocked yelp when his legs are suddenly pulled around the older male’s waist and he finds himself clenching his thighs together in order not to fall off. He almost prefers the way Changmin was carrying him.
The body that he’s pressed close to is cold, devoid of life and rock-hard, but the comfort of clinging onto someone brings a sudden wave of emotions over Yunho and he finds himself burring his head in Junsu’s shoulder as tears begin to leak down his cheeks.
He’s never felt so weak and useless. Not even as a child was he so looked down upon. He has nothing but the broken remnants of his pride.
Junsu says nothing when he feels the warm tears running down his neck, though he does turn his head to give Jaejoong a long look before he takes off into the forest, the other two following close behind.
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Yunho doesn’t even know how many hours they’ve been running. All he knows is that the exhaustion is beginning to wash over him in crushing waves, and he’s having a hard time holding onto Junsu.
He wants to ask the older male to carry him like Changmin had, but he can’t bring himself to admit weakness yet again. He just has to hold out until the sun rises, and judging by the lightening sky, it can’t be too far away.
He rest his head in the crook of Junsu’s neck and lets out a long breath, fighting to keep his eyes open and body alert.
“Are you alright, Yunho?” Junsu questions, concern clear in his voice.
“Yeah.” He breathes against Junsu’s neck, wanting nothing more than to crawl into bed and never come out.
The smaller boy offers no response, just a slight hum of disbelief as if to let Yunho know that he’s not fooled.
It’s twenty minutes later, just when Yunho is beginning to lose his grip on Junsu, that Jaejoong halts the group in a small clearing.
Yunho notices with joy that there’s a small stream trickling down the slight slope.
“You two set up the tents and then go out and hunt.” Jaejoong calls to Changmin and Junsu before he takes off into the forest, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Yunho falls to the ground in a tired mass, his head falling down to rest on the fleshy part of his arm. He hasn’t had a full nights rest since he’s gotten to this place and it’s all beginning to come crashing down on him.
He’s only vaguely aware of the tents being set up and of Junsu telling him to get into the tent.
He makes some kind of slurred noise when Junsu hefts him off the ground and easily carries him within the confines of the tent. As soon as his head touches the soft pillow there, he’s already being pulled under by his exhaustion.
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Yunho awakes from frightening dreams of large wolves, a cold sweat coating his brow.
He sits up and shakes his head slightly, glancing around the empty tent as if to make sure there’s no creatures lying in wait to attack him.
He feels an empty flutter in his stomach when he realizes he’s alone, his mind pulling up images of what happened the last time he was left alone.
He lets out a long breath and crawls from his tent, ignoring the warm blush that’s spreading across his cheeks.
The clearing is completely still and Yunho wonders if he’s been left totally alone.
It’s only after he takes a few more steps into the open that he sees Jaejoong sitting perfectly still in front of a low-burning fire.
Jaejoong turns his head and catches Yunho’s gaze, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
“It’s only been an hour since we got here.” He mutters as he stretches his legs out in front of him. “You should try to get more sleep.” He adds as he tips his head back and lets his eyes flutter shut.
Yunho feels his mouth go slightly dry as he watches the skin pull taut on Jaejoong’s jaw and neck. He looks like he’d be so warm and soft, but Yunho knows from experience that the only thing that body can offer is cold and hard muscles seemingly frozen in death.
“I’m not tired.” Yunho mutters as he shuffles forwards and takes a seat on the opposite side of the fire.
“Fine. But know that I’m not going to be making extra stops because you refused to rest during the times that I gave you.” Jaejoong replies smoothly, his eyes opening to gaze at Yunho.
“I can take care of myself.” Yunho huffs, crossing his arms over his chest like a pouting child.
“No you can’t.” Jaejoong chuckles, head shaking slightly. “You’d die if we left you to fend for yourself.”
Yunho feels the rebellion bubbling in the pit of his stomach, searching for release at the tip of his tongue.
“Is it fun putting me down, or is it just a habit now?” He huffs, hating the childish tone that edges his words.
Jaejoong sits up a bit straighter, his eyebrows arching at the tone of Yunho’s voice. “I’m not putting you down, Yunho. I’m telling you the truth.”
Yunho cringes slightly as Jaejoong’s words fall on him like a rebuke from a patient father.
It had been painfully obvious from the very beginning that he was hardly worth more than the dirt that clung to the bottom of their shoes. Not even as valuable as a sack of potatoes.
“I’d hate to see what it’s like when you put me down.” He growls, hardly mollified by Jaejoong’s words.
“You need to hold back those comment before they get you in trouble, Yunho.” Jaejoong snaps in a slightly more serious voice, his eyes growing slightly darker as he catches the other male’s gaze.
Yunho turns his head towards the dying embers, brow pulled together in a silent declaration of his annoyance.
“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” Jaejoong’s voice breaks the silence, his lips pulled up in the smallest of indulgent smiles.
Yunho glances up, fighting the nervous flutter in his lower stomach. He can’t seem to bring himself to hold that gaze for longer than a few seconds at a time.
“Why do you want to know?” He finds the defiant words slipping out of his mouth before he even has time to mull over the wisdom of saying them out loud.
He glances up to see Jaejoong’s face pulled into a dark look of disapproval.
“I want to know because I thought you might like to have a normal conversation” He snaps softly, arms crossing over his torso as he pins Yunho with a hard gaze.
Yunho blushes and looks to the ground, ripping a dead leaf into shreds before tossing it to the ground and starting on another. “I don’t want to talk about me. Let’s talk about you.” He lifts his head to gauge Jaejoong’s reaction, feeling slightly settled when he doesn’t see anger in the other man’s eyes.
“What do you want to know?” Jaejoong questions as he reaches out and plucks a log from a small pile next to the fire.
“Um…How old are you?” Yunho questions off the top of his head, watching as Jaejoong adds the log to the dying fire.
“Eight hundred and three years-old.” Jaejoong shrugs his shoulders, one brow pulling upwards in slight amusement.
“My favorite color is orange…in case you were wondering.”
“How did you become a vampire?” Yunho questions before he loses the nerve to ask such a personal question.
Jaejoong’s face darkened slightly and he gave Yunho a long look before he began speaking, “The werewolves kidnapped me when I was twenty and sold me as a slave to lecherous old werewolf. I spent four years with that pig before I tried to get away.” Jaejoong’s gaze drifts down towards the licking flames, almost as if he can see the image of his past playing out in the orange flames.
“When I did try to get away, I was caught and badly beaten. He left me in the woods to get picked off by animals or just die of blood loss. Lee Junki found me and turned me into a vampire before I died.” Jaejoong finishes simply, running his palms down the length of his thighs in a rather distracting manner.
“Oh…I see.” Yunho mutters, eyes pinned to the trail that Jaejoong’s hands are making.
He glances up and blushes when he finds Jaejoong giving him a rather amused look, his lips quirked upwards slightly.
“You married, Yunho?” He crosses his arms over his torso and leans back against the large log that should have acted as his seat.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Yunho turns his gaze towards the forest, fighting the sickening tightness that he feels settle over his stomach at the thought of his wife.
“Yes you do, you’re just worried about what people will think of you if you say something.” Jaejoong sighs, giving Yunho a knowing look.
“Look, I don’t mind you playing the leader, but could you just let me keep my personal life to myself?” Yunho questions in a nearly pleading voice, his gaze tired as he lifts it to meet Jaejoong’s stare.
“I’m not playing the leader, Yunho. I am the leader.” The look in Jaejoong’s eyes seems almost disappointed, but Yunho can’t be entirely sure since the other male quickly has his eyes back to that emotionless wall.
“We’re back!” Junsu cheers merrily, breaking the slight air of tension that had settled over the clearing after the two men had stopped speaking.
“Oh, you’re up already, Yunho?” He questions, falling to the ground next to the younger male.
“Yeah.” Yunho mutters, tossing a leaf into the fire.
“I’m going hunting.” Jaejoong states as he stands and begins to stride towards the forest. “By the way, Chun’s coming to the campsite tonight, so don’t be too worried if you hear something out of the norm.” Jaejoong calls back over his shoulder, completely missing the sour look that settles over Yunho face at the news.
Yoochun. Doesn’t that just make everything so wonderful?
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A/N: Bleh. This whole chapter was just bleh. I can’t believe I had such a hard time getting all of it out…but I did.
I’m really sorry that it took me so long! My weekend has been rather busy and I’ve been procrastinating in my free time. Go ahead, you can yell at me for being so bad to you!
I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter! Thank you all so much for commenting and taking the time to read!
Pairings: Yunjae as a main, but there will also be: JaeChun, HoMin, Minsu and maybe some Yoosu.
Rating: PG to NC-17
Genre: Adventure, angst, romance, drama
Summary:Yunho, an unhappily married man, gets on a boat headed to Germany. That same day, a violent storm hits and the boat is destroyed. When Yunho awakes on a foreign shore, he’s tossed into an adventure of werewolves, vampires, lust, greed and destiny.
WARNINGS: This story will contain adult themes such as sex between two men as well as violence, gore and nonconsensual sex.
Chapters: Forwards (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
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The night air whips around him and his heart hammers in his chest, filling his ears with its rapid tattoo.
He has no clue what’s going on aside from the fact that werewolves are currently chasing them.
He’s trying to keep himself from glancing over Jaejoong’s shoulder, not wanting to see what might be after them.
He closes his eyes and presses his face against Jaejoong’s chest, some odd part of his mind noting the lack of a heartbeat and body heat.
Yunho opens his eyes for a moment to glance up at Jaejoong when something off to the left catches his eye.
It’s a massive wolf-like creature, at least seven feet tall even when all-fours. It’s fur appears silver in the moonlight, whipped back by the speed of his gate. He catches Yunho‘s gaze and lets out a loud snarl, huge muscles bunching as he springs towards Jaejoong.
Yunho lets out a strangled cry, shutting his eyes and bracing himself from impact.
A loud growl echoes through Jaejoong‘s chest and he jerks to the left.
The impact is hard and Yunho‘s sent flying from Jaejoong‘s grasp. He feels himself careen through the air, his body tumbling and contorting, choking the air from his lungs. His cry of terror is silent as he plows into the ground, flipping numerous times before coming to rest on the earthy bed of leaves.
He’s left suspended in waves of pain, eyes open wide but not seeing anything. All he can do is sit and feel the ache of being tossed into the ground.
When he finally regains himself, he peers through the darkness, chest constricting with panic when he spots Jaejoong lunging at the wolf, teeth bared in a snarl.
The two go tumbling, teeth snapping and snarls echoing throughout the serene night.
Jaejoong jumps back to his feet, swiftly dodging another lunge from the brutish werewolf. He swings his leg up and spins gracefully, the ball of his foot catching the attacking wolf on its side. A startled yelp rings through the night as the animal goes flying back, crashing against the trunk of a tree.
Movement to his right catches Yunho’s attention and he turns to see Changmin and Junsu deftly swinging swords through the night air.
His gut clenches with worry as he watches a dark colored wolf lung at Junsu, fangs bared in an open-mouthed snarl.
The small male deftly crouches to the ground, thrusting his sword into the wolf’s abdomen as it goes sailing by overhead.
The animal lets out a startled yelp and tumbles to the ground, just managing to regain his footing before Changmin’s sword slashes through the air where the wolves head had been moments before.
Changmin, seeing his failure to decapitate the animal, deftly spins into a kick that knocks the animal’s front feet out from under it.
The wolf losses its balance and tips forward, head smashing into the ground with a reverberating thud.
Changmin acts without hesitation and with apparent easy, runs his sword clean through the heavily muscled neck of the wolf.
Yunho feels his stomach churn at the sight, unable to turn his gaze away from the gory image set before him. He watches with even more horror as Junsu latches onto the furry neck with his mouth, eyes glowing red in the night.
Yunho startles badly when he hears a chuckle off to his right. He turns his head and peers into the shadow-bathed trees, eyes narrowed as if that would somehow allow him to see in the dark.
The panic grips at him as he hears a soft purr echo to his left, much closer than before.
He sits frozen, eyes wide in the darkness and his breath bated as he waits for another sound.
“You really not what I thought you’d be.”
Yunho jumps quickly and turns towards the direction of the smooth voice, panic gripping his chest as he realizes the vulnerability of his position.
“W-Who are you?” He stammers, inching back on the forest floor.
“My name’s Lee Junki.” The elegant looking male replies, offering a flourished bow. “I believe you name is Yunho, is it not?”
“What do you want?” Yunho breaths into the night, his movements slowing as he’s slightly placated by the clam aura of the other male.
“I’m here to rescue you.” Junki responds, taking a few steps closer to Yunho’s fallen form.
“R-Rescue me?” Yunho questions, glancing off to his left when he hears a long growl issuing from Changmin’s mouth.
“I’m here to rescue you from them.” He gestures towards Changmin and Junsu who are making quick work of another werewolf.
“I’m sure you’re confused about what I’m talking about, but just rest assured that Jaejoong is just toying with his food before he eats it.” Junki crouches down, balancing the height difference between himself and Yunho. “They’re a rebel band of vampires that have set out to destroy any humans they can get their hands on.”
“But…” Yunho shakes his head, brows pulling together to show his confusion. “How can that be?”
“Have they told you that you’re the chosen one yet? Has Jaejoong spurted on about the Book of Veritas? Are they taking you on some long journey to meet with a The Sage?” Junki trails off, watching as the look of confusion and shock spreads further across his face.
“It’s a ploy we’ve seen them use many times before.”
“That can’t be true.” Yunho shakes his head, his gaze flickering to where Junsu was slamming a huge wolf against the sturdy trunk of a tree. How in the world could Junsu be one of the bad guys? It’s impossible.
“I know that it’s hard to believe. They must have been really nice to you. Made you believe that they actually cared about you.” Junki reaches out a hand, face pulled into a look of concern.
“Just come with me and I’ll make sure that they don’t hurt you.”
Yunho’s gaze flickers to the extended hand, chewing on his bottom lip slightly as he tries to work through everything he’s been told.
If Jaejoong had lied to him, then who’s to say the Junki isn’t doing the same thing? In a world full of blood-thirsty monsters, who is he supposed to trust to keep him safe?
Junki’s words seem so much more reliable. He knows everything that Jaejoong has said and has seen it before. Junki is offering him an escape from death, whether it be a living death or not.
Yunho reaches out, fingers clasping around the ice-cold skin of the other male’s hand The fear bubbles in the pit of his stomach and he tries to push it away with the thought that he was going to be taken to safety. Something within him refuses to believe it.
Just as he’s pulled of the ground, a rumbling snarl breaks out from behind him and his balance is upset when Junki goes flying backwards.
Yunho’s chest tightens as he stumbles backwards, pressing his back against the nearest tree. He watches with large eyes as Changmin and Junsu redirect and swiftly move to Jaejoong’s aid.
Junki gracefully dodges a kick from Jaejoong, head whipping around to catch sight of Junsu and Changmin.
His face grows dark with anger before he swiftly turns and flees into the surrounding darkness, the tale of his cape whipping behind him.
The sudden silence is eerie and weighs heavily on Yunho, who had fallen to the base of the tree when his legs refused to support him. The air feels thick, as if he’s trying to breath in water and he finds himself laboring to pull in enough air.
“What the hell were you doing?” Jaejoong snarls suddenly, jerking around to bare down on Yunho’s shocked form. “Were you just going to walk off into the forest with him? Huh? Are you so desperate to get away from us that you would rather die?” Jaejoong crouches down and moves in close to Yunho, effectively pinning him against the tree.
“I…I…He said he was here to rescue me.” Yunho chokes, his entire body trembling from the sudden onset of his fear.
“Rescue you from what? Our kindness?” Jaejoong scoffs, drawing away from Yunho as he stands and paces away from the tree.
“Jaejoong, he’s terrified.” Junsu whispers, moving to stand in front of Yunho’s trembling form. “He was tricked so it’s not his fault. Don’t take it personally.”
“Jaejoong.” Yunho calls, just managing to stabilize his voice. “If you’re going to kill me anyway, then go ahead and do it! Don’t play with me like some kind of toy!” He’s slightly shocked at how commanding his voice manages to sound despite the fear that still pounds through his veins.
He finds himself doubting Jaejoong and the other two. How can he not after the seed of mistrust that Junki has planted in his head?
Jaejoong gaze sharpens as he pushes past Junsu and stares down at Yunho. “Is that what he said I’m going to do? Play with you and then devour you?” The corner of Jaejoong’s mouth twitches upwards. “If you were nothing but a meal to me, then I would have killed you already and saved myself the trouble of fighting off werewolves and vampires to protect you.” His annoyance is clear in his voice and in the way he stands with tensed shoulders.
Yunho is only slightly mollified, but the look in Jaejoong’s eyes quickly shuts down any other question or doubts he had been planning on voicing. All he can do is hang his head and mutter a simple apology for doubting. That’s all he’s good for. Making a mess and then apologizing for it.
“Changmin, carry Yunho.” Jaejoong snaps, eyes never leaving Yunho’s form as he takes a few steps backwards.
“I don’t want…” Yunho’s protest dies in his throat as he looks up to see the thunderous eyes of Jaejoong looking down at him.
“Did I ask you what you wanted?” He cocks his head to the side slightly and arches his eyebrows in a questioning look.
“No.” Yunho mutters to the ground, unable to hold that dark gaze for very long.
“Then shut-up and do as I say.” Jaejoong snaps before he turns and lets his gaze flicker through the dark surroundings. “We’ll stop at sunrise and let everyone get some rest and meditation in.”
Changmin and Junsu’s answers echo softly threw the air as they move about the clearing to gather Yunho and his misplaced bag.
“You don’t have much faith, do you?” Changmin states in a casual voice, leaning his shoulder against the tree Yunho is still huddled next to.
Yunho bites his bottom lip, fighting the agitation that’s bubbling up in his gut at Changmin’s cutting words.
He searches for something to say, something that will cut the other male down a few notches. He finds nothing in his abused mind, nothing that will pick him up off the ground and make him any stronger.
“Shut up.”
“Oh, that burns. I’m surprised that Jaejoong has been able to keep our under his thumb.” Changmin snickers as he leans down and easily scoops Yunho into his arms, practically slinging the younger male across his shoulder.
“He’s not a sack of potatoes, Changmin.” Junsu huffs in a disapproving manner, his brow crinkling as he slides Yunho’s bag onto his back.
“You’re right. A sack of potatoes would have more value.” Changmin smirks at the smaller boy, obviously enjoying the anger that’s building in the other’s eyes.
“That’s enough, Changmin. Put him down and I’ll carry him.” Junsu snaps, hands placed on his hips as if that stance makes him more powerful.
“Be my guest, Su darling.” Changmin responds as he dumps Yunho onto the ground and offers Junsu a flourished bow.
“That bastard.” Junsu huffs as he strides over to Yunho and bends over slightly. “Here, get on my back.”
Yunho rubs at his elbow, wincing slightly at the pain. He hates Changmin with a passion and he tries to put all of that hate into the glare that he’s aiming at the older male. He only earns himself an amused chuckle from the insolent vampire.
“Can’t I just walk?” Yunho questions Junsu softly, not liking the idea of be totted around like some kind of small dog.
“We’re going to be running, Yunho, and you’d never be able to keep up.” Junsu sighs and turns apologetic eyes back on the other male. “Just for tonight and then I’ll ask Jaejoong if we can walk the rest of the way.”
Yunho wants so badly to say no, but he catches the pleading look in Junsu’s eyes and finally sighs as he reaches out and wraps his arms around the boy’s neck.
He gives a slightly shocked yelp when his legs are suddenly pulled around the older male’s waist and he finds himself clenching his thighs together in order not to fall off. He almost prefers the way Changmin was carrying him.
The body that he’s pressed close to is cold, devoid of life and rock-hard, but the comfort of clinging onto someone brings a sudden wave of emotions over Yunho and he finds himself burring his head in Junsu’s shoulder as tears begin to leak down his cheeks.
He’s never felt so weak and useless. Not even as a child was he so looked down upon. He has nothing but the broken remnants of his pride.
Junsu says nothing when he feels the warm tears running down his neck, though he does turn his head to give Jaejoong a long look before he takes off into the forest, the other two following close behind.
0--------------0
Yunho doesn’t even know how many hours they’ve been running. All he knows is that the exhaustion is beginning to wash over him in crushing waves, and he’s having a hard time holding onto Junsu.
He wants to ask the older male to carry him like Changmin had, but he can’t bring himself to admit weakness yet again. He just has to hold out until the sun rises, and judging by the lightening sky, it can’t be too far away.
He rest his head in the crook of Junsu’s neck and lets out a long breath, fighting to keep his eyes open and body alert.
“Are you alright, Yunho?” Junsu questions, concern clear in his voice.
“Yeah.” He breathes against Junsu’s neck, wanting nothing more than to crawl into bed and never come out.
The smaller boy offers no response, just a slight hum of disbelief as if to let Yunho know that he’s not fooled.
It’s twenty minutes later, just when Yunho is beginning to lose his grip on Junsu, that Jaejoong halts the group in a small clearing.
Yunho notices with joy that there’s a small stream trickling down the slight slope.
“You two set up the tents and then go out and hunt.” Jaejoong calls to Changmin and Junsu before he takes off into the forest, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Yunho falls to the ground in a tired mass, his head falling down to rest on the fleshy part of his arm. He hasn’t had a full nights rest since he’s gotten to this place and it’s all beginning to come crashing down on him.
He’s only vaguely aware of the tents being set up and of Junsu telling him to get into the tent.
He makes some kind of slurred noise when Junsu hefts him off the ground and easily carries him within the confines of the tent. As soon as his head touches the soft pillow there, he’s already being pulled under by his exhaustion.
-------
Yunho awakes from frightening dreams of large wolves, a cold sweat coating his brow.
He sits up and shakes his head slightly, glancing around the empty tent as if to make sure there’s no creatures lying in wait to attack him.
He feels an empty flutter in his stomach when he realizes he’s alone, his mind pulling up images of what happened the last time he was left alone.
He lets out a long breath and crawls from his tent, ignoring the warm blush that’s spreading across his cheeks.
The clearing is completely still and Yunho wonders if he’s been left totally alone.
It’s only after he takes a few more steps into the open that he sees Jaejoong sitting perfectly still in front of a low-burning fire.
Jaejoong turns his head and catches Yunho’s gaze, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
“It’s only been an hour since we got here.” He mutters as he stretches his legs out in front of him. “You should try to get more sleep.” He adds as he tips his head back and lets his eyes flutter shut.
Yunho feels his mouth go slightly dry as he watches the skin pull taut on Jaejoong’s jaw and neck. He looks like he’d be so warm and soft, but Yunho knows from experience that the only thing that body can offer is cold and hard muscles seemingly frozen in death.
“I’m not tired.” Yunho mutters as he shuffles forwards and takes a seat on the opposite side of the fire.
“Fine. But know that I’m not going to be making extra stops because you refused to rest during the times that I gave you.” Jaejoong replies smoothly, his eyes opening to gaze at Yunho.
“I can take care of myself.” Yunho huffs, crossing his arms over his chest like a pouting child.
“No you can’t.” Jaejoong chuckles, head shaking slightly. “You’d die if we left you to fend for yourself.”
Yunho feels the rebellion bubbling in the pit of his stomach, searching for release at the tip of his tongue.
“Is it fun putting me down, or is it just a habit now?” He huffs, hating the childish tone that edges his words.
Jaejoong sits up a bit straighter, his eyebrows arching at the tone of Yunho’s voice. “I’m not putting you down, Yunho. I’m telling you the truth.”
Yunho cringes slightly as Jaejoong’s words fall on him like a rebuke from a patient father.
It had been painfully obvious from the very beginning that he was hardly worth more than the dirt that clung to the bottom of their shoes. Not even as valuable as a sack of potatoes.
“I’d hate to see what it’s like when you put me down.” He growls, hardly mollified by Jaejoong’s words.
“You need to hold back those comment before they get you in trouble, Yunho.” Jaejoong snaps in a slightly more serious voice, his eyes growing slightly darker as he catches the other male’s gaze.
Yunho turns his head towards the dying embers, brow pulled together in a silent declaration of his annoyance.
“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” Jaejoong’s voice breaks the silence, his lips pulled up in the smallest of indulgent smiles.
Yunho glances up, fighting the nervous flutter in his lower stomach. He can’t seem to bring himself to hold that gaze for longer than a few seconds at a time.
“Why do you want to know?” He finds the defiant words slipping out of his mouth before he even has time to mull over the wisdom of saying them out loud.
He glances up to see Jaejoong’s face pulled into a dark look of disapproval.
“I want to know because I thought you might like to have a normal conversation” He snaps softly, arms crossing over his torso as he pins Yunho with a hard gaze.
Yunho blushes and looks to the ground, ripping a dead leaf into shreds before tossing it to the ground and starting on another. “I don’t want to talk about me. Let’s talk about you.” He lifts his head to gauge Jaejoong’s reaction, feeling slightly settled when he doesn’t see anger in the other man’s eyes.
“What do you want to know?” Jaejoong questions as he reaches out and plucks a log from a small pile next to the fire.
“Um…How old are you?” Yunho questions off the top of his head, watching as Jaejoong adds the log to the dying fire.
“Eight hundred and three years-old.” Jaejoong shrugs his shoulders, one brow pulling upwards in slight amusement.
“My favorite color is orange…in case you were wondering.”
“How did you become a vampire?” Yunho questions before he loses the nerve to ask such a personal question.
Jaejoong’s face darkened slightly and he gave Yunho a long look before he began speaking, “The werewolves kidnapped me when I was twenty and sold me as a slave to lecherous old werewolf. I spent four years with that pig before I tried to get away.” Jaejoong’s gaze drifts down towards the licking flames, almost as if he can see the image of his past playing out in the orange flames.
“When I did try to get away, I was caught and badly beaten. He left me in the woods to get picked off by animals or just die of blood loss. Lee Junki found me and turned me into a vampire before I died.” Jaejoong finishes simply, running his palms down the length of his thighs in a rather distracting manner.
“Oh…I see.” Yunho mutters, eyes pinned to the trail that Jaejoong’s hands are making.
He glances up and blushes when he finds Jaejoong giving him a rather amused look, his lips quirked upwards slightly.
“You married, Yunho?” He crosses his arms over his torso and leans back against the large log that should have acted as his seat.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Yunho turns his gaze towards the forest, fighting the sickening tightness that he feels settle over his stomach at the thought of his wife.
“Yes you do, you’re just worried about what people will think of you if you say something.” Jaejoong sighs, giving Yunho a knowing look.
“Look, I don’t mind you playing the leader, but could you just let me keep my personal life to myself?” Yunho questions in a nearly pleading voice, his gaze tired as he lifts it to meet Jaejoong’s stare.
“I’m not playing the leader, Yunho. I am the leader.” The look in Jaejoong’s eyes seems almost disappointed, but Yunho can’t be entirely sure since the other male quickly has his eyes back to that emotionless wall.
“We’re back!” Junsu cheers merrily, breaking the slight air of tension that had settled over the clearing after the two men had stopped speaking.
“Oh, you’re up already, Yunho?” He questions, falling to the ground next to the younger male.
“Yeah.” Yunho mutters, tossing a leaf into the fire.
“I’m going hunting.” Jaejoong states as he stands and begins to stride towards the forest. “By the way, Chun’s coming to the campsite tonight, so don’t be too worried if you hear something out of the norm.” Jaejoong calls back over his shoulder, completely missing the sour look that settles over Yunho face at the news.
Yoochun. Doesn’t that just make everything so wonderful?
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A/N: Bleh. This whole chapter was just bleh. I can’t believe I had such a hard time getting all of it out…but I did.
I’m really sorry that it took me so long! My weekend has been rather busy and I’ve been procrastinating in my free time. Go ahead, you can yell at me for being so bad to you!
I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter! Thank you all so much for commenting and taking the time to read!