Infinite Paradise [One-shot]
Title: Infinite Paradise
Pairing: HyunJoong/KyuJong, HyunJoong/YoungSaeng, HyunJoong/KyuJong/YoungSaeng, hinted JungMin/HyungJoon
Genre: Fantasy, shinigami!au
Warning: Character death(?) - not exactly but just in case
Rating: PG-15
Summary: HyunJoong is a lazy shinigami, YoungSaeng and KyuJong are a job. He’s to stop their cycle of endless reincarnation, chasing after eternal love. And his supervisor’s idea on how to do it? Get down there and seduce the both of them into forgetting each other altogether. Easy.
[A/N: For renichifreak who gave me the song ‘Paradise’ by Infinite as a prompt. I hope this is anything close to what you wanted, because... idek...This idea obviously came out because I’m so filled with Christmas cheer... ._. Seriously, what’s wrong with me?]
~*~
This place is a paradise only if you’re here
A paradise that has locked you in against your will
A sad paradise that you won’t go if you’re awake
A paradise that we can be together forever
~*~
Gold, silver and jewels of glittering assortment. A world of intrigue, of daggers and politics. A world of masks.
Masks could hide many things - the little details in one’s expression, the smiles, the frowns, even one’s identity. And they certainly could hide the little looks they’d sent each other - the attraction, the flirting.
They thought themselves safe, even as they escaped to the back rooms, at differing times with differing excuses. And the secrecy, as frustrating as it could be sometimes, it did have it perks in that extra shiver and thrill with each touch, each kiss, each thrust.
But the curtain would fall one day as it did with all perfect things. And they’d clung to each other, desperate, even as hands pulled them away. And they cried, yearning, as they were separated in their respective prisons - one of the regular kind, the other of silk and gilded cage, but no less restrictive.
It was a tragedy in the making, when one was executed for treason - seduction of the crown prince and designs on the throne. They should have known that they’d find the prince lying lifeless in his own bed, poison lacing his cup and a paper with only the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
There were many things that HyunJoong hated, and on the top of that list was being nagged at.
Which was unfortunate, because with a supervisor like JungMin, he was getting nagged at every day.
“And this is already the tenth cycle that they’ve been reborn! It’s screwing up really badly with the system, and the higher-ups are starting to breathe down my back. Seriously, HyunJoong, I know that you’re lazy and take a while to get cracking, but this is getting out of hand!”
HyunJoong cracked open an eye from where he was lying down on the couch, watching JungMin stomp around hands musing his almost infamous red hair that went along with his title ‘demon supervisor’. “You’re going to give yourself a migraine, JungMin-ah.”
“And whose fault is that?!” HyunJoong had to cover his ears at the yell. “Seriously, I know you have the most impressive track record that we have here in the Special Cases division, and your work has been invaluable to me, but most of the time I just want to strangle you! Honestly, if I hadn’t know you, I’d never be able to guess you were the much respected ‘Case-closer Shinigami’.”
“I never asked for the title.” HyunJoong said, somewhat amused.
“Yes, but it was given to you, so live up to it will you?” JungMin huffed, shooing HyunJoong to sit up so he could plop down to the couch as well, picking up the case file that HyunJoong had been using as a eye shade. “What’s so tough about this case that you haven’t closed it anyway? It’s just two lovelorn souls trying to defy the natural cycle. There’s so many ways to solve this.”
“Which most of I’ve tried already.” HyunJoong sighed. For all his assumed laziness, he’d actually done quite a bit of work on this case. “I’ve set distractions, I’ve tried protecting them, I’ve set them to different states, I’ve made them next door neighbours. Hell, I’ve sent down some of the lady shinigami to seduce them - it always ends the same. They find each other, declare eternal love and make a pact to meet in the next life before they get separated and then both die horribly in some kind of tragedy or another.”
“... You sent lady shinigami to seduce them.” JungMin raised an eyebrow at HyunJoong. “Hyun. They’ve shown eternal love to each other, so much that they made some sort of weird pact to keep reincarnating until they get to live a full and happy life together.”
“Well, yeah. They’re still human. They can get tempted.”
“That’s not the point Hyun. They’re both guys.”
HyunJoong paused at that. “Well, I thought I’d do it the old fashion way first you know? But yeah, my next plan was asking some of my guy shinigami friends.”
But JungMin was shaking his head, and HyunJoong froze, realizing that his supervisor had that look on his face again. “No, HyunJoong. Don’t you know? When you want to get something done, you have to do it yourself.”
HyunJoong paled considerably as JungMin hauled him to his feet and swung him around as he did a rather ridiculous ready pose.
“Alright, HyunJoong, here’s your mission! You’re going to the human world to seduce both men! And you’ll make them so madly in love with you, they’ll forget about their pact altogether!”
~*~
Tradition, protocol and cool jade. A world of priorities, family honour and succession. A world of lanterns.
It was lanterns they used to signal each other when it was safe to meet. To others, they meant nothing much frivolous greetings to each other, but only the two of them knew better.
They thought they were safe, and they were, but only from detection. Nothing could stop war from sweeping through the land, and one, out of duty had to protect it.
It came as a shock to them all when the emperor’s most powerful advisor was found hanging in his room a day after the news came that the general’s army was wiped out, leaving no man alive. There was no clue as to the reason why, only a cryptic note with the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
“...Sunbae are you alright?”
HyunJoong glared at his companion who swallowed a little nervously. “Okay, okay. So the supervisor dumped a troublesome job on you, nothing new right?”
HyunJoong sighed, rubbing his head as he looked down at the human city below. “Easy for you to say, HyungJoon. JungMin likes you so he gives you all the easy jobs.”
“Hey, that’s not fair.” The shinigami named HyungJoon pouted, leaning on the railing as he looked down at the people walking past on the streets. “He yells at me as much as anyone else.”
HyunJoong bit his tongue, refraining from commenting that JungMin had had a thing for HyungJoon for the longest time ever, and only he was dumb enough not to notice yet. But he knew if he let the cat out of the bag, JungMin would have his balls for breakfast. “Whatever. You better get to work. Aren’t you going to be late for that 7 pm?”
“Ack, you’re right. See you sunbae!” And the other shinigami was gone, leaping off the railing and landing on the pavement. It probably would have turned heads, the sight of someone jumping off a forty story building. But, as it was, no one could see them unless they wanted to.
HyunJoong sighed as he pulled out the file again. He hated going into the human world, but it looked like this time he’d have no choice.
“Kim KyuJong, huh...” HyunJoong mused, looking at the photograph he’d been given. “Oh well, at least you’re cute.”
~*~
HyunJoong supposed there could have been better places to seduce people than a bar.
From what he’d read in the file, this KyuJong person was quite straight-laced. The good-natured, sweet-smiled, surprisingly good-looking boy-next-door. Coming from the country where he’d grow up unexposed to city streets and the grime probably didn’t help his unassuming disposition. And he certainly would be uncomfortable being dragged to a bar by friends who thought enough was enough, he was going to a bar to finally get laid and lose his innocence. From the way he was sitting on the stool, clutching his glass of soju like it was a lifesaver, he certainly didn’t want to be there either.
But bars were HyunJoong’s specialty, having visited them often despite JungMin’s nagging about them being inappropriate places for shinigami to hang out. They were interesting places, with both the best and the worst of humanity confined within one place. And he’d certainly finished many jobs with just the help of a bit of alcohol and comforting prodding.
He settled down on the seat beside KyuJong. Ordering a drink from the bartender, he turned a little, eyeing KyuJong a little before saying conversationally. “Someone out to kill you or something?”
The way KyuJong jumped almost made it seem like there was. But after a blink or too he answered. “N- no... what? No. Why?”
“You look like it.” Was HyunJoong’s simple reply before he thanked the bartender as his drink came. “You’re clutching the glass so hard it’s going to crack under your grip soon.”
And the grip on the glass loosened a little as KyuJong realized it was true. And he attempted to laugh it off. “Yeah, well. I’m just a little nervous. I don’t usually come to these kind of places.”
HyunJoong smiled. “Mmm... I understand. I was pretty nervous too the first time my friends dragged me to a bar for my 21st birthday.”
“Wha...?” The surprise was obvious. “How’d you know? I mean... yeah. I don’t see how I can have fun in a place where I can’t hear myself and where half of the people are too busy puking in the toilets to have a decent conversation?”
“Depends on the bar you go to, and the people you meet. Some of them just may be decent. And you might find some others who are in the same predicament as you.” HyunJoong winked, glancing over at a bunch of very drunk people not too far away. He had no idea who they were really, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that KyuJong thought that they were his friends, and he got what that implicated.
“Oh... oh...” KyuJong did get it. Smart boy. “...What did you say your name was again?”
And HyunJoong smiled.
Courtship. One of the few things that hadn’t changed in hundreds of human years.
~*~
Sun, sand and coyotes. A world of outlaws, gold-digging and boots. A world where you got anything you wanted as long as you took it.
Honestly, no one would have really cared if they’d been discovered. Sure, they’d have gotten a few discriminating looks, and some of the god-fearing people would have shunned them. But there were just as many to ignore them as long as they didn’t cause no one any trouble.
But the secrecy added thrill, and that was what it was all about - thrill. Thrill was what gotten them together after a scuffle in a bar over something inconsequential. It dragged into a room where it’d suddenly gotten sexual, and in the morning, they could have attributed it to god knows what they’d put in the beer, but they didn’t.
It was just bad luck that they were in the end when a terrible fight broke out, and the fire had swept through faster than anyone who could have gotten out. All that left were charred remains and no one would knew that the ashes on the floor were once a piece of paper that had been scrawled on with childish handwriting - but honest heart, written one night tending the sheep, lying beneath the stars. And there were the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
“Hey, YoungSaeng!”
There was that twitch of an eyebrow that betrayed an otherwise calm façade. And his own lips twitched into a smile as he went up to the other man, slapping him on his back in a way he knew he’d make the other man irritated.
A patient sigh, then. “What, Hyun?”
“What? I can’t come up and greet my best friend in the world with a friendly pat on the back?” HyunJoong grinned, tweaking YoungSaeng’s cheek.
“That was not a friendly pat.” YoungSaeng grumbled as he tried pushing HyunJoong off. “And you should get going. You’re going to be late for lecture.”
“Yah... I still don’t see how you could not take the same module as me.” HyunJoong pouted as he finally relented to let go.
“Because I’m in an entirely different major?” YoungSaeng answered dryly as he left off, leaving HyunJoong whining behind him.
Then a slight movement, and if not for HyunJoong’s unnatural reflexes, he wouldn’t have caught the chocolate mint that was thrown at him.
“So you don’t fall asleep!” YoungSaeng yelled as he stalked off, but HyunJoong grinned, knowing that YoungSaeng wouldn’t have thrown him the sweet unless he’d been concerned.
He didn’t actually go for the lecture, being skilled enough to tweak things so that the humans thought he’d gone. It was how he’d inserted himself into YoungSaeng’s past - the best friend since birth that known him all the years, even though he only had those memories because he had created them in the first place.
It was a little more troublesome, but he’d read YoungSaeng’s file and knew that anything less would have resulted him in being pitched into a wall. YoungSaeng was a lone wolf and he wouldn’t take well to a stranger hitting on him.
It wasn’t exactly legal either, since he needed a lot of paperwork before he could do this, but being a senior shinigami that had a close relationship with the higher ups did have its perks.
~*~
To his surprise, and against what he’d predicted, the one to first fall for his advances was YoungSaeng.
As far as kisses went, it wasn’t the best and it wasn’t the sexist. The ground was covered with his junk, so it was like a landmine to go through. The way his belt was digging into YoungSaeng’s stomach couldn’t have felt too comfortable, and it was miracle he didn’t bite down on YoungSaeng’s tongue when he stubbed his foot against the doorframe as they shuffled through it.
But even in his centuries on earth, he couldn’t remember at time more exciting. And the fire that coursed through his veins as they moved against each other, friction drawing more than just heat - but lust and desire, it was more addictive than the sweetest drug and loftiest dream.
When they later lay boneless beside each other, fingers still drawing and redrawing paths on each other’s body, mouths lazily nipping at any skin they could get, HyunJoong realized he’s nearly forgotten the reason he’d had sex with YoungSaeng in the first place.
~*~
KyuJong in comparison was like honey at its sweetest. It wasn’t as exciting as with YoungSaeng, but it was no less good.
And as he cradled the other man in his arms, and those sweet eyes looked at him, a shy confession that this was his first on his lips, HyunJoong could feel his heartstrings being tugged, and it was only with centuries of learnt restraint that he wasn’t sent tumbling head over heels into something he would regret.
But as he watched the other fall to sleep, fingers playing with that soft brown hair, for the first time in a long time, he sorely wished that this wasn’t just a job.
~*~
Blood, gunpower and hell. A world of surviving, praying and living everyday as if it were you last. A world of war.
They said that there were no atheists in trenches, but the two of them didn’t bother praying - they were probably going to hell anyway, what with their ungodly relationship and their equally ungodly carnal way of amusing themselves at night. While the boys went to play at the prostitute houses, they went too and locked themselves up in a room, playing with themselves.
There was only one way this could end, and it ended with a bullet hole in one of their skulls while the other led a kamikaze charge for revenge.
He was smiling as he ran, bullets flashing in front of him until one finally met its mark, and with the last of his strength he reached into his pocket, fingers curling around a piece of paper with the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
Things seemed to go well for a while. It was a little tiring juggling two relationships at once (hell, it was tiring with just one), and it made him wonder how some of those polygamists could stand it. But the smiles he had when he was together with either one made it all worth it. And the sex? He’d probably shouldn’t be enjoying himself so much on that count.
But it went a little strange after one night, both YoungSaeng and KyuJong had something on and he went back to the shinigami world for a while to crash, sleeping on JungMin’s couch with his supervisor’s nagging luring him to sleep. The next day, they both seemed a little preoccupied, but when he asked they just reassured him and life went on as normal.
He caught them sometimes, on and off, drifting in their thoughts, or looking at him strangely, but it wasn’t too overly suspicious, and he double and triple checked that neither knew of his double-timing.
So when KyuJong asked him if HyunJoong could come over to his place one night to have a little celebration, just because, he agreed, seeing nothing wrong. And they greeted the usual way, a little kiss, a little teasing.
And then, KyuJong pulled away, waving to someone inside the room, and he stared.
He probably should have run when he realized that the person waving back was none other than YoungSaeng.
~*~
He’d never known that KyuJong could tie a rope, let alone one so tight that he couldn’t wriggle his way out of it. Nor had he known that KyuJong could give him a smile like that - one seemingly sweet, but with unsavoury intention hidden underneath its saccharine layers. “Just say right there, HyunJoong, we’ll be right with you.”
And he went away, leaving HyunJoong alone with YoungSaeng. Or at least someone who looked like YoungSaeng. Even with all the passionate nights they had together, the YoungSaeng he knew would lie down on the bed like that - like a wanton predator cat who had his prey right in front of him.
“Hey...” He shifted nervously. “Hey, Saeng? Uhm... about KyuJong? I can explain... I mean, yeah, I was sort of two timing you but uh... I had my reasons?”
“Hmmm...?” YoungSaeng seemed only to realize now that HyunJoong had been talking. “Oh... no... it’s not about that.”
That stunned HyunJoong for a moment. “If it’s not about that, then what’s it about.”
“Oh...” HyunJoong started on reflex at the breath on his ear, and before he could react more, there was a cup full of bitterness at his lips and fingers pinching his nose to force it down. “You’ll find out soon.”
~*~
Banners, marches, revolts. A world of protests, conspiracies and where one strained to have his voice heard. A world of change.
They were marching for their rights, so what more was it to indulge in? Protestors by day, lovers by night, and if they were caught? Then it was press - and all press was good press, even sordid, dirty press.
When they died, it was in a protest, and the police, probably tired and overworked, got a little trigger happy. They died for their cause.
At least, that’s what the shinigami told them, a careless grin on his face when he came to collect their souls and was rewarded with a smack to his ass and a sloppy kiss on the lips.
“So, what do you have planned for the next life?” They had asked, like they always did.
And he replied, “Whatever it is, you’ll definitely meet again.”
Like he always did.
~*~
Gasping, HyunJoong tried to clutch at his head, pounding with the sudden inflow of memories, and the next moment, his hands were freed, and he did, groaning.
“I told you it hurts like a bitch. And you always teased us when we did the same thing.” And through the pain, HyunJoong saw YoungSaeng smirking at him, and he sighed.
“Aw... don’t be so hard on him. I think we nearly gave him a heart attack earlier.” A pair of arms wrapped around his neck, easing the muscles. “You, okay, Hyun?”
“Yeah... just... give me a minute.” He ground out, rubbing his head as the pain began to subside, the memories slowly retreating to their rightful places. “Ow. Okay. Ow. Remind me again why I agreed to erase my memories.”
“Wuss.” And another pair of arms, this time around his waist, and he lifted his head only to meet with soft lips, rolling against his. "The higher ups were getting suspicious of you. So we set up this elaborate scheme. But you remember now."
“Yah. Don’t monopolize him.” Was the amused voice on his right, and the kiss was broken off, and both weights shifted so that he had two extremely sexy men lip-wrestling right above him.
He did remember it all now, lips curling upwards as he watched. That night so many centuries ago, when he’d first met them. He’d been there to collect their souls and he’d wondered aloud what the attraction of declaring eternal love was. They wagered they could show him. And he wagered that they’d all get into trouble if they got caught. And then it had become a challenge of his skills.
He didn’t know when the hypothetical turned into a bet, but here they were many years later, still playing the same game.
“Hmm... so tell me, how did you manage to pull this stunt?” YoungSaeng asked as the two settled down beside him again, gesturing at his body - and what he meant was HyunJoong’s human form. “Usually, all you can manage is to off us real early, have one delicious round of sex before we’re off to the next life. What did you do? Sleep with your boss?”
“My boss would string me for garters if I tried,” HyunJoong chuckled. “No. He was the one who suggested it this time actually - that I go as a human to seduce the two of you into forgetting your pact.”
They all laughed at that, and KyuJong purred into his ear. “Too bad, he didn’t know that you’d already seduced us a long, long time ago.”
~*~
Hours later, as they lay in one tangled pile, KyuJong murmured a question into HyunJoong’s stomach. “So... how we going to die this time?”
And with a slight smile, HyunJoong kissed the top of his head, poking YoungSaeng’s cheek as he lifted his head, curious as well. “Hmm... well... this time, I was thinking old age.”
~*~
Every night, I filled me with you
Yeah, now I have to fill it with alcohol, time
The arm that wrapped, the panting night
The best paradise, without you it’s a hopeless world
~*~
Pairing: HyunJoong/KyuJong, HyunJoong/YoungSaeng, HyunJoong/KyuJong/YoungSaeng, hinted JungMin/HyungJoon
Genre: Fantasy, shinigami!au
Warning: Character death(?) - not exactly but just in case
Rating: PG-15
Summary: HyunJoong is a lazy shinigami, YoungSaeng and KyuJong are a job. He’s to stop their cycle of endless reincarnation, chasing after eternal love. And his supervisor’s idea on how to do it? Get down there and seduce the both of them into forgetting each other altogether. Easy.
[A/N: For renichifreak who gave me the song ‘Paradise’ by Infinite as a prompt. I hope this is anything close to what you wanted, because... idek...This idea obviously came out because I’m so filled with Christmas cheer... ._. Seriously, what’s wrong with me?]
~*~
This place is a paradise only if you’re here
A paradise that has locked you in against your will
A sad paradise that you won’t go if you’re awake
A paradise that we can be together forever
~*~
Gold, silver and jewels of glittering assortment. A world of intrigue, of daggers and politics. A world of masks.
Masks could hide many things - the little details in one’s expression, the smiles, the frowns, even one’s identity. And they certainly could hide the little looks they’d sent each other - the attraction, the flirting.
They thought themselves safe, even as they escaped to the back rooms, at differing times with differing excuses. And the secrecy, as frustrating as it could be sometimes, it did have it perks in that extra shiver and thrill with each touch, each kiss, each thrust.
But the curtain would fall one day as it did with all perfect things. And they’d clung to each other, desperate, even as hands pulled them away. And they cried, yearning, as they were separated in their respective prisons - one of the regular kind, the other of silk and gilded cage, but no less restrictive.
It was a tragedy in the making, when one was executed for treason - seduction of the crown prince and designs on the throne. They should have known that they’d find the prince lying lifeless in his own bed, poison lacing his cup and a paper with only the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
There were many things that HyunJoong hated, and on the top of that list was being nagged at.
Which was unfortunate, because with a supervisor like JungMin, he was getting nagged at every day.
“And this is already the tenth cycle that they’ve been reborn! It’s screwing up really badly with the system, and the higher-ups are starting to breathe down my back. Seriously, HyunJoong, I know that you’re lazy and take a while to get cracking, but this is getting out of hand!”
HyunJoong cracked open an eye from where he was lying down on the couch, watching JungMin stomp around hands musing his almost infamous red hair that went along with his title ‘demon supervisor’. “You’re going to give yourself a migraine, JungMin-ah.”
“And whose fault is that?!” HyunJoong had to cover his ears at the yell. “Seriously, I know you have the most impressive track record that we have here in the Special Cases division, and your work has been invaluable to me, but most of the time I just want to strangle you! Honestly, if I hadn’t know you, I’d never be able to guess you were the much respected ‘Case-closer Shinigami’.”
“I never asked for the title.” HyunJoong said, somewhat amused.
“Yes, but it was given to you, so live up to it will you?” JungMin huffed, shooing HyunJoong to sit up so he could plop down to the couch as well, picking up the case file that HyunJoong had been using as a eye shade. “What’s so tough about this case that you haven’t closed it anyway? It’s just two lovelorn souls trying to defy the natural cycle. There’s so many ways to solve this.”
“Which most of I’ve tried already.” HyunJoong sighed. For all his assumed laziness, he’d actually done quite a bit of work on this case. “I’ve set distractions, I’ve tried protecting them, I’ve set them to different states, I’ve made them next door neighbours. Hell, I’ve sent down some of the lady shinigami to seduce them - it always ends the same. They find each other, declare eternal love and make a pact to meet in the next life before they get separated and then both die horribly in some kind of tragedy or another.”
“... You sent lady shinigami to seduce them.” JungMin raised an eyebrow at HyunJoong. “Hyun. They’ve shown eternal love to each other, so much that they made some sort of weird pact to keep reincarnating until they get to live a full and happy life together.”
“Well, yeah. They’re still human. They can get tempted.”
“That’s not the point Hyun. They’re both guys.”
HyunJoong paused at that. “Well, I thought I’d do it the old fashion way first you know? But yeah, my next plan was asking some of my guy shinigami friends.”
But JungMin was shaking his head, and HyunJoong froze, realizing that his supervisor had that look on his face again. “No, HyunJoong. Don’t you know? When you want to get something done, you have to do it yourself.”
HyunJoong paled considerably as JungMin hauled him to his feet and swung him around as he did a rather ridiculous ready pose.
“Alright, HyunJoong, here’s your mission! You’re going to the human world to seduce both men! And you’ll make them so madly in love with you, they’ll forget about their pact altogether!”
~*~
Tradition, protocol and cool jade. A world of priorities, family honour and succession. A world of lanterns.
It was lanterns they used to signal each other when it was safe to meet. To others, they meant nothing much frivolous greetings to each other, but only the two of them knew better.
They thought they were safe, and they were, but only from detection. Nothing could stop war from sweeping through the land, and one, out of duty had to protect it.
It came as a shock to them all when the emperor’s most powerful advisor was found hanging in his room a day after the news came that the general’s army was wiped out, leaving no man alive. There was no clue as to the reason why, only a cryptic note with the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
“...Sunbae are you alright?”
HyunJoong glared at his companion who swallowed a little nervously. “Okay, okay. So the supervisor dumped a troublesome job on you, nothing new right?”
HyunJoong sighed, rubbing his head as he looked down at the human city below. “Easy for you to say, HyungJoon. JungMin likes you so he gives you all the easy jobs.”
“Hey, that’s not fair.” The shinigami named HyungJoon pouted, leaning on the railing as he looked down at the people walking past on the streets. “He yells at me as much as anyone else.”
HyunJoong bit his tongue, refraining from commenting that JungMin had had a thing for HyungJoon for the longest time ever, and only he was dumb enough not to notice yet. But he knew if he let the cat out of the bag, JungMin would have his balls for breakfast. “Whatever. You better get to work. Aren’t you going to be late for that 7 pm?”
“Ack, you’re right. See you sunbae!” And the other shinigami was gone, leaping off the railing and landing on the pavement. It probably would have turned heads, the sight of someone jumping off a forty story building. But, as it was, no one could see them unless they wanted to.
HyunJoong sighed as he pulled out the file again. He hated going into the human world, but it looked like this time he’d have no choice.
“Kim KyuJong, huh...” HyunJoong mused, looking at the photograph he’d been given. “Oh well, at least you’re cute.”
~*~
HyunJoong supposed there could have been better places to seduce people than a bar.
From what he’d read in the file, this KyuJong person was quite straight-laced. The good-natured, sweet-smiled, surprisingly good-looking boy-next-door. Coming from the country where he’d grow up unexposed to city streets and the grime probably didn’t help his unassuming disposition. And he certainly would be uncomfortable being dragged to a bar by friends who thought enough was enough, he was going to a bar to finally get laid and lose his innocence. From the way he was sitting on the stool, clutching his glass of soju like it was a lifesaver, he certainly didn’t want to be there either.
But bars were HyunJoong’s specialty, having visited them often despite JungMin’s nagging about them being inappropriate places for shinigami to hang out. They were interesting places, with both the best and the worst of humanity confined within one place. And he’d certainly finished many jobs with just the help of a bit of alcohol and comforting prodding.
He settled down on the seat beside KyuJong. Ordering a drink from the bartender, he turned a little, eyeing KyuJong a little before saying conversationally. “Someone out to kill you or something?”
The way KyuJong jumped almost made it seem like there was. But after a blink or too he answered. “N- no... what? No. Why?”
“You look like it.” Was HyunJoong’s simple reply before he thanked the bartender as his drink came. “You’re clutching the glass so hard it’s going to crack under your grip soon.”
And the grip on the glass loosened a little as KyuJong realized it was true. And he attempted to laugh it off. “Yeah, well. I’m just a little nervous. I don’t usually come to these kind of places.”
HyunJoong smiled. “Mmm... I understand. I was pretty nervous too the first time my friends dragged me to a bar for my 21st birthday.”
“Wha...?” The surprise was obvious. “How’d you know? I mean... yeah. I don’t see how I can have fun in a place where I can’t hear myself and where half of the people are too busy puking in the toilets to have a decent conversation?”
“Depends on the bar you go to, and the people you meet. Some of them just may be decent. And you might find some others who are in the same predicament as you.” HyunJoong winked, glancing over at a bunch of very drunk people not too far away. He had no idea who they were really, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that KyuJong thought that they were his friends, and he got what that implicated.
“Oh... oh...” KyuJong did get it. Smart boy. “...What did you say your name was again?”
And HyunJoong smiled.
Courtship. One of the few things that hadn’t changed in hundreds of human years.
~*~
Sun, sand and coyotes. A world of outlaws, gold-digging and boots. A world where you got anything you wanted as long as you took it.
Honestly, no one would have really cared if they’d been discovered. Sure, they’d have gotten a few discriminating looks, and some of the god-fearing people would have shunned them. But there were just as many to ignore them as long as they didn’t cause no one any trouble.
But the secrecy added thrill, and that was what it was all about - thrill. Thrill was what gotten them together after a scuffle in a bar over something inconsequential. It dragged into a room where it’d suddenly gotten sexual, and in the morning, they could have attributed it to god knows what they’d put in the beer, but they didn’t.
It was just bad luck that they were in the end when a terrible fight broke out, and the fire had swept through faster than anyone who could have gotten out. All that left were charred remains and no one would knew that the ashes on the floor were once a piece of paper that had been scrawled on with childish handwriting - but honest heart, written one night tending the sheep, lying beneath the stars. And there were the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
“Hey, YoungSaeng!”
There was that twitch of an eyebrow that betrayed an otherwise calm façade. And his own lips twitched into a smile as he went up to the other man, slapping him on his back in a way he knew he’d make the other man irritated.
A patient sigh, then. “What, Hyun?”
“What? I can’t come up and greet my best friend in the world with a friendly pat on the back?” HyunJoong grinned, tweaking YoungSaeng’s cheek.
“That was not a friendly pat.” YoungSaeng grumbled as he tried pushing HyunJoong off. “And you should get going. You’re going to be late for lecture.”
“Yah... I still don’t see how you could not take the same module as me.” HyunJoong pouted as he finally relented to let go.
“Because I’m in an entirely different major?” YoungSaeng answered dryly as he left off, leaving HyunJoong whining behind him.
Then a slight movement, and if not for HyunJoong’s unnatural reflexes, he wouldn’t have caught the chocolate mint that was thrown at him.
“So you don’t fall asleep!” YoungSaeng yelled as he stalked off, but HyunJoong grinned, knowing that YoungSaeng wouldn’t have thrown him the sweet unless he’d been concerned.
He didn’t actually go for the lecture, being skilled enough to tweak things so that the humans thought he’d gone. It was how he’d inserted himself into YoungSaeng’s past - the best friend since birth that known him all the years, even though he only had those memories because he had created them in the first place.
It was a little more troublesome, but he’d read YoungSaeng’s file and knew that anything less would have resulted him in being pitched into a wall. YoungSaeng was a lone wolf and he wouldn’t take well to a stranger hitting on him.
It wasn’t exactly legal either, since he needed a lot of paperwork before he could do this, but being a senior shinigami that had a close relationship with the higher ups did have its perks.
~*~
To his surprise, and against what he’d predicted, the one to first fall for his advances was YoungSaeng.
As far as kisses went, it wasn’t the best and it wasn’t the sexist. The ground was covered with his junk, so it was like a landmine to go through. The way his belt was digging into YoungSaeng’s stomach couldn’t have felt too comfortable, and it was miracle he didn’t bite down on YoungSaeng’s tongue when he stubbed his foot against the doorframe as they shuffled through it.
But even in his centuries on earth, he couldn’t remember at time more exciting. And the fire that coursed through his veins as they moved against each other, friction drawing more than just heat - but lust and desire, it was more addictive than the sweetest drug and loftiest dream.
When they later lay boneless beside each other, fingers still drawing and redrawing paths on each other’s body, mouths lazily nipping at any skin they could get, HyunJoong realized he’s nearly forgotten the reason he’d had sex with YoungSaeng in the first place.
~*~
KyuJong in comparison was like honey at its sweetest. It wasn’t as exciting as with YoungSaeng, but it was no less good.
And as he cradled the other man in his arms, and those sweet eyes looked at him, a shy confession that this was his first on his lips, HyunJoong could feel his heartstrings being tugged, and it was only with centuries of learnt restraint that he wasn’t sent tumbling head over heels into something he would regret.
But as he watched the other fall to sleep, fingers playing with that soft brown hair, for the first time in a long time, he sorely wished that this wasn’t just a job.
~*~
Blood, gunpower and hell. A world of surviving, praying and living everyday as if it were you last. A world of war.
They said that there were no atheists in trenches, but the two of them didn’t bother praying - they were probably going to hell anyway, what with their ungodly relationship and their equally ungodly carnal way of amusing themselves at night. While the boys went to play at the prostitute houses, they went too and locked themselves up in a room, playing with themselves.
There was only one way this could end, and it ended with a bullet hole in one of their skulls while the other led a kamikaze charge for revenge.
He was smiling as he ran, bullets flashing in front of him until one finally met its mark, and with the last of his strength he reached into his pocket, fingers curling around a piece of paper with the words:
‘My love, we will meet again in the next life.’
~*~
Things seemed to go well for a while. It was a little tiring juggling two relationships at once (hell, it was tiring with just one), and it made him wonder how some of those polygamists could stand it. But the smiles he had when he was together with either one made it all worth it. And the sex? He’d probably shouldn’t be enjoying himself so much on that count.
But it went a little strange after one night, both YoungSaeng and KyuJong had something on and he went back to the shinigami world for a while to crash, sleeping on JungMin’s couch with his supervisor’s nagging luring him to sleep. The next day, they both seemed a little preoccupied, but when he asked they just reassured him and life went on as normal.
He caught them sometimes, on and off, drifting in their thoughts, or looking at him strangely, but it wasn’t too overly suspicious, and he double and triple checked that neither knew of his double-timing.
So when KyuJong asked him if HyunJoong could come over to his place one night to have a little celebration, just because, he agreed, seeing nothing wrong. And they greeted the usual way, a little kiss, a little teasing.
And then, KyuJong pulled away, waving to someone inside the room, and he stared.
He probably should have run when he realized that the person waving back was none other than YoungSaeng.
~*~
He’d never known that KyuJong could tie a rope, let alone one so tight that he couldn’t wriggle his way out of it. Nor had he known that KyuJong could give him a smile like that - one seemingly sweet, but with unsavoury intention hidden underneath its saccharine layers. “Just say right there, HyunJoong, we’ll be right with you.”
And he went away, leaving HyunJoong alone with YoungSaeng. Or at least someone who looked like YoungSaeng. Even with all the passionate nights they had together, the YoungSaeng he knew would lie down on the bed like that - like a wanton predator cat who had his prey right in front of him.
“Hey...” He shifted nervously. “Hey, Saeng? Uhm... about KyuJong? I can explain... I mean, yeah, I was sort of two timing you but uh... I had my reasons?”
“Hmmm...?” YoungSaeng seemed only to realize now that HyunJoong had been talking. “Oh... no... it’s not about that.”
That stunned HyunJoong for a moment. “If it’s not about that, then what’s it about.”
“Oh...” HyunJoong started on reflex at the breath on his ear, and before he could react more, there was a cup full of bitterness at his lips and fingers pinching his nose to force it down. “You’ll find out soon.”
~*~
Banners, marches, revolts. A world of protests, conspiracies and where one strained to have his voice heard. A world of change.
They were marching for their rights, so what more was it to indulge in? Protestors by day, lovers by night, and if they were caught? Then it was press - and all press was good press, even sordid, dirty press.
When they died, it was in a protest, and the police, probably tired and overworked, got a little trigger happy. They died for their cause.
At least, that’s what the shinigami told them, a careless grin on his face when he came to collect their souls and was rewarded with a smack to his ass and a sloppy kiss on the lips.
“So, what do you have planned for the next life?” They had asked, like they always did.
And he replied, “Whatever it is, you’ll definitely meet again.”
Like he always did.
~*~
Gasping, HyunJoong tried to clutch at his head, pounding with the sudden inflow of memories, and the next moment, his hands were freed, and he did, groaning.
“I told you it hurts like a bitch. And you always teased us when we did the same thing.” And through the pain, HyunJoong saw YoungSaeng smirking at him, and he sighed.
“Aw... don’t be so hard on him. I think we nearly gave him a heart attack earlier.” A pair of arms wrapped around his neck, easing the muscles. “You, okay, Hyun?”
“Yeah... just... give me a minute.” He ground out, rubbing his head as the pain began to subside, the memories slowly retreating to their rightful places. “Ow. Okay. Ow. Remind me again why I agreed to erase my memories.”
“Wuss.” And another pair of arms, this time around his waist, and he lifted his head only to meet with soft lips, rolling against his. "The higher ups were getting suspicious of you. So we set up this elaborate scheme. But you remember now."
“Yah. Don’t monopolize him.” Was the amused voice on his right, and the kiss was broken off, and both weights shifted so that he had two extremely sexy men lip-wrestling right above him.
He did remember it all now, lips curling upwards as he watched. That night so many centuries ago, when he’d first met them. He’d been there to collect their souls and he’d wondered aloud what the attraction of declaring eternal love was. They wagered they could show him. And he wagered that they’d all get into trouble if they got caught. And then it had become a challenge of his skills.
He didn’t know when the hypothetical turned into a bet, but here they were many years later, still playing the same game.
“Hmm... so tell me, how did you manage to pull this stunt?” YoungSaeng asked as the two settled down beside him again, gesturing at his body - and what he meant was HyunJoong’s human form. “Usually, all you can manage is to off us real early, have one delicious round of sex before we’re off to the next life. What did you do? Sleep with your boss?”
“My boss would string me for garters if I tried,” HyunJoong chuckled. “No. He was the one who suggested it this time actually - that I go as a human to seduce the two of you into forgetting your pact.”
They all laughed at that, and KyuJong purred into his ear. “Too bad, he didn’t know that you’d already seduced us a long, long time ago.”
~*~
Hours later, as they lay in one tangled pile, KyuJong murmured a question into HyunJoong’s stomach. “So... how we going to die this time?”
And with a slight smile, HyunJoong kissed the top of his head, poking YoungSaeng’s cheek as he lifted his head, curious as well. “Hmm... well... this time, I was thinking old age.”
~*~
Every night, I filled me with you
Yeah, now I have to fill it with alcohol, time
The arm that wrapped, the panting night
The best paradise, without you it’s a hopeless world
~*~