this is the story of a boy
this is the story of a boy
yoochun/junsu, yunho/jaejoong, shiwon/yoochun
10,021 words
light R, for slight horrific themes (see a/n), fighting, teenage hormones and potty mouths.
a/n. for the high school fic contest at yoosu_yongwonhi. buffy the vampire slayer!dbsk au. record-breaker (hence the number of words and how they are bolded!), un-beta'd and maybe kind of rushed, since the contest ends in 2 days and i was all omgskdjhfkj and often suffer from heavy procrastination. i would love to thank one person who never stopped believing in me throughout the whole thing, no matter how much i slacked - and really, without her, this probably never would have been finished. applesu, this 10k is all for you, bb. ♥
Two years ago, Kim Junsu became the first male Slayer. He was just an ordinary high school boy. He got good grades, had a best friend named Yoochun and a girlfriend named Erin, had kickboxing classes at four. Then everything changed and kickboxing became more than a hobby (and, more often than not, involved wooden stakes), Erin broke up with him because of the werewolf incident, and his grades went from high to average. The only constants in his life were Yoochun and slaying.
And then.
--
"So," Yoochun says, sliding around the counter with his eyes glued to the Frito chili pie Junsu's making. "It's your anniversary." Yoochun reaches for a chip and Junsu smacks his hand away with a noncommittal hum in response, twisting with his pie so Yoochun can't get to it. Junsu can almost hear Yoochun pouting. "Hey, are you even listening to me? This is a special occasion!"
"How is it special?" Junsu says around a mouthful of chili-cheese goodness. "It's the anniversary of the day I was told that I'm the luckiest person in the world, the one who gets to run around killing the nastiest things Hell can spit out. Oh, and don't forget the fact that it's actually a girl who's supposed to be doing this shit, and that I am not." Junsu takes a breath. "I've got a snarky bitch for a Watcher, a vampire who's perpetually in heat and I'm the big, red, blinking target for his lust, another vampire who has a soul and broods beneath my window all the fucking time, and my best friend is trying to get me to celebrate this?"
Junsu whips around after his tirade to find Yoochun staring. "Um," Yoochun says, looking adorably lost. "You're really strong and fast, too?" He points, looking determined again. "And hey, Yunho is really hot, okay. Broody, or not. Actually, he kind of makes brooding look good."
Junsu snorts and turns to shred some more cheese. He really needs to remind his mom that they can stand to be a little more modern and buy actual pre -shredded cheese. "Except brooding is stupid and completely pointless. And if you even start to tell me Jaejoong is hot, I'm going to stake you whether you're a vampire or not."
"Can't," Yoochun says, and Junsu can hear the smirk. "I'm an 'innocent'. Sucks to be you, macho-boy." Out of the corner of Junsu's eye, Yoochun steals a few chips while Junsu's busy. "And Jaejoong is hot. Bleach-blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, sexy, raw voice. I'd hit that."
"You'd hit anything with two legs," Junsu says dryly, rolling his eyes, though it's all fondness. "And Jaejoong's eyes are not piercing. They're beady." He finishes up his cheese and smacks Yoochun's hand away again. "Fix your own!"
"Lazy," Yoochun drawls, resting his head on an outstretched arm. "Bored. Let's go hunting. Or go pester Jaejoong. Or-"
Junsu throws a chip at Yoochun's face, shutting him up save for the spluttering. "No hunting. It's my day off. That's how I'll celebrate." Then Junsu's cell goes off and he sighs, hanging his head. "If that's Changmin, I'm going to kill myself and save evil the trouble."
A look at the info on the screen confirms it's Changmin and Yoochun laughs as Junsu answers with a sour, "Hello, Changmin, what is it now?"
"Well, if you're going to be like that, then you can forget about your surprise."
Junsu raises a brow. "Surprise?" Yoochun perks up instantly, waving his hand for more details.
Changmin sighs. "It's been two years, Junsu. Special occasion, and all?"
"Why does everyone think this is a good thing? I just don't get it," Junsu says, uncaring if he sounds a little bit whiny.
Yoochun rolls his eyes and steals the phone, ignoring Junsu's yelp of protest. "So, surprise? We'll be there as soon as Junsu finishes stuffing his face. Oh? Did you make extra, because I mean, you really eat too much sometimes." Junsu thinks he can make out something on the other end about stakes and shoving them in unpleasant places, but he's not really sure. "Yeah, yeah, except you're only a watcher or bookworm or whatever so I don't think so, buddy. We'll be there. Bye. BYE." Yoochun snaps the phone shut and hands it back. "He's made you dinner, stick that in the fridge for later and let's go. I'm starving."
Junsu glares and grabs for the pie but Yoochun's quicker this time and Junsu's still got his cellphone. "You suck," Junsu says lamely as Yoochun crows in victory and puts it away, but he's already heading to the door for his shoes and coat.
--
"So, I thought this was a special occasion," Junsu says grumpily, twirling the stake in his hand boredly.
Changmin sighs. "It is. Just not special enough for you to skip out on patrol."
Junsu huffs, tossing the stake up in the air. Yoochun tries to catch it from Junsu's other side, but Junsu's quicker. "Changmin, there is nothing going on tonight. Even the leaves are asleep, okay." A leaf blows by with a light gust of wind and Junsu scowls at it. "Okay, that one's a little restless, but it's so boring out here, I don't blame it."
Junsu can practically hear Changmin's eye roll. "Suck it up. You're the Slayer, so you have to patrol." Changmin hops off the tombstone and dusts his pants off. "I, meanwhile, am going to head back to the library and read."
Yoochun snorts. "Wow, reading in a library. No, wait, Changmin reading in a library. That's a new one."
Changmin glares at Yoochun snootily and adjusts his glasses with just his middle finger, and Junsu wonders if it was purposely. After all, Changmin may be a stick-in-the-mud Watcher, but he is their age, even if he's smarter than most students. Maybe they've loosened him up a little. "Yes, Yoochun, I'm quite an avid reader, thank you." Or maybe they haven't.
"Bye," Junsu calls after Changmin, shaking his head. "Well, Yoochun, it's just you and me now."
Yoochun hums absently, bent over the tombstone like a limp noodle. "Is it over yet?"
"No," Junsu pouts, swinging his legs. "Still about two more ho-" A familiar growl and a sharp yell interrupts Junsu before he can finish and he's off the tombstone and running in the direction of both sounds in an instant. He can hear Yoochun behind him and curses his best friend's inability to just stay put and out of trouble.
Junsu flies at the vampire, bent over a young man who's looking like he's about to piss himself. The vampire doesn't look like much, probably newly-risen, but Junsu's soon proven wrong as not even a few well-aimed roundhouses and new tricks he's learned keep the vampire down for long. "Shit!" Junsu cries as he goes tumbling over a headstone.
"Junsu, come on, you can do better than that!" Yoochun yells, then screams shortly after.
Junsu scrambles up and after the vampire, heading straight for Yoochun, who's still screaming loud enough to wake the dead. Which, on a hellmouth, isn't exactly a good thing. And not to mention, Jaejoong lives in the cemetery. Briefly, Junsu thinks if they both survive this motherfucker, he'll kill Yoochun himself. "Take the guy and run, dumbass!" Junsu shouts as he tackles the vampire, punching anywhere he can reach to distract the creature.
Yoochun nods, stumbling over and helping the guy up and out of harm's way. Except for the second vampire who shows up out of nowhere. Junsu hates it when they do that. He goes flying again, a loud grunt escaping him as he meets the wall of the mausoleum behind them. The first vampire comes running after him and Junsu ducks, letting the vampire ram himself headfirst into the wall. Junsu twists and stakes the vampire from behind, then makes to go after the second vampire... who's suddenly disappeared.
"Um," Junsu says breathlessly, wiping ashes from his cheek. Damn vampires and their tendency to get everywhere. "Where did the other one go?"
Yoochun sags against a tree, breathing hard and clutching at his chest. "He took off. Saw you dust the other guy and figured he'd save himself, I guess."
Junsu nods, wincing as he rolls his shoulder. "So, uh, who're you?" he asks the other guy, who's standing in front of Yoochun watching after where the vampire was, a strange expression on his face. "Um, helloooo?"
He starts, turning toward Junsu and Yoochun sheepishly. "Oh, I, um. Sorry. I'm Shiwon." He looks confused. "Um, was that what I think it was?"
"A vampire?" Junsu asks flippantly, grinning. "Yep, sure was. You new to these parts?"
Shiwon nods. "Yeah, I'm a transfer at the college."
"So," Yoochun says, apparently recovered and in full flirt mode, if the way he looks Shiwon up and down is anything to go by. Junsu feels a little jolt of something in his stomach. "What're you doing in a cemetery?"
"Oh, I'm majoring in history, and cemeteries are full of it, aren't they?" Shiwon answers, smiling nervously. "I just didn't think history would be that... thrilling."
Yoochun shrugs, grinning. "Maybe you should stick to museums. I hear they're incredibly boring and as non-thrilling as you can get."
"Or libraries. Libraries are good," Junsu chimes in, sending Yoochun a pointed glance. "Anyway, maybe you should get on home before any other vampires decide to come out and play. Yoochun's screams tend to draw them out, sometimes."
Yoochun says, "hey!" indignantly, while Shiwon laughs, nodding. "Thank you for saving me," he says graciously, and his accompanying smile gives Junsu a shiver that he can't quite explain away. Shiwon's gaze slides to Yoochun, the smile brightening a notch. "Maybe I'll see you around?"
Yoochun's lips quirk and he shrugs again, still leaning against the tree, though it's more languorous and casual then it was before. "Maybe," he says.
Shiwon shoves his hands in his pockets and nods at them both once before he heads off, disappearing into the darkness. "Creepy," Junsu says, shuddering. "He smiles weird."
"Tch," Yoochun says, pushing himself off the tree. "He's hot. And perfect."
Junsu's stomach does that funny thing again. "You know, around here there is such a thing as too perfect," he says casually.
Yoochun groans. "Don't remind me," he says pitifully. "I don't want to even try to remember Miss Jones." Yoochun kicks at a rock forcefully. "Fuck, too late. Thanks, Junsu."
Junsu giggles. "Not my fault you fell for a giant praying mantis lady."
Yoochun sniffs, shoving Junsu to the side. "Which is exactly why I've decided to just go completely for men, instead of both teams. Men can't be praying mantis ladies. I'm safe," he says, glaring at the ground.
Junsu shakes his head. "Whatever, Yoochun. Let's just get out of here before-"
"I knew I recognized that scream."
"-Jaejoong shows up," Junsu finishes flatly, turning in time with Yoochun to face the unwelcome guest. "Don't you have better things to do than to follow me around?"
"Hey, Jaejoong," Yoochun says, grinning from ear-to-ear as if Jaejoong didn't just insult his manliness. "I'll walk behind Junsu and you can feel free to follow all you want."
Jaejoong smiles, though to Junsu it looks more like some kind of sneer, and his eyes glitter as he moves closer. Junsu kind really hates it when his eyes do that. "Or you could just shut up and go away so that Junsu and I can have some private time," Jaejoong says, reaching out to grab at Junsu's waist.
Junsu punches him. "Bye, Jaejoong."
Yoochun sighs, shaking his head as Junsu tugs him away. "Ten bucks says Yunho's waiting for you in your room."
Junsu punches Yoochun, too. Just, not as hard. "Ten bucks says I'm going to kill you if he is, because you said it." Junsu pauses. "Actually, you know what. Almost everything happens when you say things like that. Like that time with the-"
Junsu whirls around suddenly and Jaejoong's face meets his fist again. "Do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here." He ignores Yoochun's pitiful glance down at Jaejoong and continues, "Anyway, like that time with the werewolf. I distinctly remember you saying to Changmin, 'oh, it's so boring, there hasn't been anything evil for days - hey, Junsu, let's go to Mirotic'. And then what happens?"
Yoochun opens his mouth to speak, but Junsu interrupts with, "Hold that thought," spins and lands a high kick to Jaejoong's chest, then sighs, loudly. "Jaejoong. Go. Away. Don't you have rats to go suck on, or something?"
Jaejoong laughs, shaking his head in a dazed kind of way that makes Junsu smug for a second. "I don't do rats' blood, babe," he says, spitting blood as he gets to his feet again. "That was always Yunho's thing."
"Whatever," Junsu says, rolling his eyes. "Go bug Yunho, then. Relive the glory days, or whatever. Or kill each other, I don't even care. Just leave me alone before I decide I really wanna stake you."
Jaejoong just grins. "I'll see you later, Slayer," he says, lasciviously licking away a dab of blood he missed as he backs away, still watching.
Junsu flips him off and starts dragging Yoochun away again. "So, you were saying?"
--
The next day is uneventful, as far as days on a hellmouth go. Junsu chats with Changmin and Yoochun before class, goes to class, makes it through class without dying of boredom or anything unusual happening, and spends his free period beating the ever loving crap out of Changmin. All in all, it's a good day. Great, even.
That is, until Junsu and Yoochun run into Shiwon again on their way to Mirotic. Yoochun and Shiwon waste no time in turning up the flirt, and Junsu's surprised to find himself not liking the way Yoochun only has eyes for Shiwon, not one bit. Unfortunately, that leaves Junsu sitting at the table watching the two of them dance, which must be something of an invitation Junsu doesn't know about.
"Aww, is widdle Junsu aw awone?" Heechul says with an exaggerated pout as he passes by, smacking a piece of gum so loud Junsu can hear it over the music.
"Fuck off," Junsu replies sourly.
Heechul tsks. "Language. By the way, I think I saw that shirt at the museum the other day. They'd like it back." Junsu glares and Heechul smiles brilliantly back at him, waving fingers. "Ta, loser," he says, sauntering off. Junsu thinks belatedly that the gay club would like their number one drag queen back, and is glad he didn't voice it aloud - nothing says loser like a comeback that lame.
Junsu goes back to sulking. After all, nothing says you're having fun like sulking. And wishing you were the one out there dancing with your best friend with his hands slowly sliding down your back and- Junsu gapes, then blushes furiously. There's no way he wants Yoochun to grope his ass. Scowling, Junsu grabs his bag (so much for studying French with Yoochun, he thinks bitterly) and makes his way to Yoochun, hopefully casually. "Hey, I'm going home. Kinda tired tonight."
Yoochun pouts, but nods. "Well, okay, then. Shiwon can walk me home. Right, Shiwon?"
Shiwon smiles, patting Yoochun's back and simultaneously giving Junsu the creeps again. "Yeah, I'll make sure he gets home safe and sound. Don't want you to beat the crap out of me, right?"
Junsu forces a laugh. "Nope, sure don't," he says through clenched teeth, thankful for the darkness of the club. "See you tomorrow, Yoochun."
But instead of going home, Junsu goes to the library, where he's sure Changmin's still at. Even though he's only seventeen, he's already on his own, graduated college and is now taking up the profession as their resident librarian. Junsu just wishes Changmin were a little less stuffy, sometimes. Hell, he might even be hot, then, and Junsu at least knows Changmin isn't some kind of weird... person-thing.
"So, someone's giving me the heebie jeebies," Junsu announces, dropping his bag on the table unceremoniously. Dust goes flying from the open book it lands on and Junsu wrinkles his nose in distaste.
Changmin glances up from his book, glasses perched on the edge of his nose. "Oh? And stop doing that. It makes you look like an idiot."
Junsu raises a brow. "Like you don't look like any less of an idiot with your glasses like that?" Junsu points at the bridge of his nose. "They go here, Changmin." Junsu flops into a chair, wincing a little at how not-comfortable it is and making a mental note to stop flopping so much. "Anyway, yes, this guy, Shiwon, that Yoochun and I - er, just I, really. Anyway, I saved him the other night. He's just weird. And he's going for Yoochun, which is still weird, considering Yoochun's track record."
Changmin actually cracks a smile. "Yeah. Praying mantis lady, mummy, Heechul."
"Exactly," Junsu says, slapping at a book lightly. More dust goes flying.
"I think you're jealous," Changmin says matter-of-factly.
Junsu stares. "Um, what?"
Changmin glances back up pointedly. "You. Are. Jealous. Of. Yoochun. Or well, more accurately, you're jealous of this Shiwon person."
"I am not!" Junsu protests, trying to keep the whine out of his voice. From the look Changmin's wearing, Junsu's not quite sure he succeeded. "Look, Changmin, I'm serious. This guy just. He makes my spidey senses tingle, okay? Especially when he smiles. It's like. Too good to be true or something."
Changmin takes his glasses off, chewing on the end of them. "Nothing's happened, Junsu. No strange deaths or disappearances."
"So? We're one step ahead is all!" Junsu sighs. "Didn't you tell me when I first started that I'd be able to sense these things? Evil... stuff?"
Changmin nods, dropping his glasses to rub at his face with a quiet echo of Junsu's sigh. "We'll keep an eye on him, then. On Yoochun."
Junsu bites his lip. "Okay. Thanks, Changmin," he says. "I uh, I should get going. I've got a test in French tomorrow to cram for."
Changmin shakes his head. "Nah, come here. I know a bit of French," he says, waving Junsu over.
"Great," Junsu says, half-relief and half-sarcasm as he moves. "My young, bookworm of a Watcher, dabbling in languages near and far."
"Watch it, Junsu," Changmin says, fixating Junsu with a look that makes him wonder just what Changmin's really capable of. "I could teach you things your teacher will most certainly not give you credit for."
Junsu laughs nervously. "Oh. Right." He takes out his book and when it hits the table, he nearly chokes on yet more dust. He keeps silent about it and makes no faces, though. "So. French."
--
Junsu notices with heavily-growing stomach twists and bouts of bad moods that Yoochun's spending less and less time with him and more time with Shiwon. But, to Shiwon's credit (as much as Junsu hates to admit it), nothing strange has happened at all. Not even vampires. In fact, Junsu's been so bored with the non-slayage lately, that he's taken to studying with Changmin more and more. Which Changmin makes no effort to hide his smiles and subtle digs about.
"Okay, so maybe I'm jealous, just a little bit," Junsu finally says loudly, glaring at the heap of wood that used to be his practice dummy-thinger.
Changmin taps his fingers against his elbow for a second or two. "I think I'll have to agree. Oh, wait-" Changmin grins, widely. "I think I distinctly remember having called it, didn't I?"
Junsu switches the focus of his glare. "Haha, gloat all you want. But now you have to build me a new dummy-thinger."
Changmin scoffs, toeing at one of the pieces. "I've got more where that came from. What kind of Watcher do you think I am?" he says dryly, then points a thumb at the mess as he maneuvers around it. "But you get to clean it up, since you did it."
Junsu harrumphs, grumbling to himself as he bends down obediently. Before he can even pick up one piece, though, the doors open and with a whoosh of air like always, Yunho's suddenly there, beside him.
"That's it," Junsu hisses as he stands again. "We are getting you a cowbell. One of those big, honkin' ones that say 'HEY, I'M HERE', so you can't go sneaking up on me every second of every day. Night, whatever."
"Hello, to you, too," Yunho says, frowning.
"Oh, hello, Yunho," Changmin says lightly as he makes his way back into the main room of the library, books in hand. "What brings you by?" He looks down at the pile of wood and adds, pointedly, "Junsu?"
Junsu sticks his tongue out and turns back to Yunho, hands on his hips. "So, what does bring you by, Crypto-Brood?" Not only does Yunho look at Junsu like he's just grown an extra head, but so does Changmin. "Shut up," he says grumpily, "Without Yoochun around, my wit equilibrium's been thrown off, okay."
Yunho shakes his head, then says, quietly, "Something's here."
Junsu pinches the bridge of his nose. "Thank you for enlightening me. I can go kick some ass, now. Oh, but wait. I have NO idea what ass I'm kicking." Junsu crosses his arms over his chest. "So, any hints?"
"It's bad," Yunho answers, mysterious as ever. "Haven't you noticed the lack of vampires lately? I have no idea what it is, but I can feel how powerful it is, and it's got me feeling antsy. Ask Jaejoong and I'm sure he'll tell you the same thing."
Junsu pulls a face at the mention of Jaejoong, then sighs, kicking at the mess. "No bodies, though," he says, confused. "No one's gone missing, either."
"Yet," Yunho says, shrugging. "Could be taking its time, scoping out the perfect victim."
"But we have no leads at all," Changmin says finally, tapping fingers against the table. "I wouldn't even know where to begin researching."
"Shiwon," Junsu says quietly. "I told you I've been feeling weird about him, jealous or not."
"Jealous?" Yunho asks, eyebrow raised.
Junsu scowls. "Pretend I never said that. Anyway, maybe I should start checking him out a little more closely." Junsu shrugs. "I mean, it can't hurt, right?"
"Until you become overrun with jealousy and go macho-man on him," Changmin mutters as he stands.
"NOT JEALOUS!" Junsu cries, pointing at Changmin menacingly. "A-and macho-man?" Junsu conveniently forgets that he lets Yoochun call him 'macho-boy' all the time. "Seriously? Is that really the best you can do?"
"Better than Crypto-Brood," Yunho interjects, lips twisted into what looks like maybe a smile.
"I am not a macho-man," Junsu says, glowering.
"Macho, macho-maaaan! Wait, I thought it was macho-boy?"
Junsu grabs a piece of wood and chucks it at the door, and consequently, at Yoochun. "Stop that!" Yoochun just barely manages to avoid being beaned in the head, gaping at Junsu in horror. "Sorry," Junsu says sheepishly, having not meant to actually try to hit Yoochun.
"Someone's pms-ing," Yoochun says with a low whistle, shaking his head. Junsu promptly forgets all thoughts of not-hurting-Yoochun and growls. "Whoa, not a vampire, remember?" Yoochun says, holding his hands up in surrender. "Seriously, what's your problem? It's been vampless for days. You should be happier than Barney on life."
Junsu casts a look at both Yunho and Changmin, daring them with his eyes to say one word. To their credit, they busy themselves immediately. Well, Changmin makes sure to give one of those dry eye-rolls of his, first, but Junsu can forgive that. "I'm just bored and you haven't been around." Junsu mentally slaps himself for that sounding as needy as it did. "Just not used to, you know, cramming for French by myself." And that ended up kind of pissy, but that, at least, is better than needy.
Yoochun pouts. "Hey, I'm courting. And being courted. And you said Changmin helped you!"
"So courting and being courted is more important than me?" Junsu says, indignant. "Some friend you are."
"Ahem," Yunho says, clearly uncomfortable if his constipated-looking expression is any indicator. "I'll just, uh, be going now. I'll let you know if anything comes up." Junsu doesn't think he's ever seen Yunho move so fast. Traitor.
Yoochun doesn't spare him a glance, expression turning sour. "Some friend you are, you mean. I'm finally maybe dating someone and you can't even be happy for me."
"Right, um, I have some things to do," Changmin interrupts, adjusting his glasses. "That involve being somewhere else. So. I'm going somewhere else." He sighs and leaves, though Junsu kind of gives him credit for going at a normal pace. But he's still a traitor, too.
"You know what, I told you when we saved him that he gave me the creeps, but did you listen to the one who knows this stuff? No, you just kept on. And now you could be in danger for all we know!" Junsu says, a little louder than he'd planned for it to be.
"Danger?" Yoochun says, laughing. "Um, Shiwon is a normal guy, just like you and me, Junsu. I'm not in any fucking danger." Yoochun growls this time, obviously frustrated. "You know what? I think you're jealous."
"DON'T EVEN GO THERE, PARK YOOCHUN," Junsu explodes, kicking at the rubble of wood and sending quite a few pieces flying. "I'm not jealous. I'm worried for your safety. And he's fucking ugly, ANYWAY." Junsu wonders if he could be any more lame, but he's so angry right now the thought is kind of quick and pointless.
"You know what?" Yoochun says, voice deadly quiet. "Fuck this. I'm going to go and see my boyfriend now. Maybe after you cool down, we can talk." He turns, shaking his head in clear disgust. Junsu doesn't try to stop him as he leaves, the doors swinging in a dejected kind of way behind him.
"Well, shit," is just about all Junsu can come up with, for that.
--
"You know you kind of brought this on yourself, babe."
Junsu's hand tightens on the stake. "You're going to bring this stake on yourself if you don't stop talking, Jaejoong."
Jaejoong laughs behind a hand, one of his stupid little habits that make Junsu just want to punch his face. "Love, you're so je-"
"Say it, and you're going to die, chip or not," Junsu growls, and Jaejoong doesn't finish the sentence, but he does keep laughing. Which just makes Junsu want to kill something, except there's nothing around to kill which is why he's stuck on patrol with fucking Jaejoong, not doing a damn thing but listening to him breathe. Or, not-breathe, in this case. "That's it, I can't take this anymore. There's nothing to patrol for and my best friend is probably being tortured somewhere right now."
Jaejoong follows Junsu out of the cemetery, hands in the pockets of the duster he always wears, the one Junsu thinks is actually pretty cool, but would never admit aloud in a million years. "So, go save him. Maybe he'll swoon and fall into your arms and kiss you and you'll both-"
"So, Jaejoong, how do you feel about French food? A La Stake, maybe?" Junsu thinks maybe his threats are getting kind of redundant now, since he never actually follows up on them. And from the amused look on Jaejoong's face, he probably agrees. "I hate you," Junsu adds. "Please don't ever forget that."
"Couldn't even if I wanted to, baby," Jaejoong replies, falling into step with Junsu as they near the sidewalk. A familiar giggle stops Junsu in his tracks, and he pushes Jaejoong behind a bush, crouching beside him. "'S your friend, isn't it?" Jaejoong whispers.
"Yeah," Junsu says absently, watching intently as Yoochun leans all over Shiwon, fingers curled into the crook of Shiwon's elbow. A hot rush of anger goes through Junsu and he twitches. Jaejoong's hand on his arm startles him, and he looks over to find the vampire actually wearing a look of concern. "Stop that. I hate you, remember?" he hisses, Jaejoong providing a nice outlet for the surge.
Jaejoong harrumphs as Junsu goes back to watching Yoochun and Shiwon, then leans in. "You know that's it, right? I dunno what, but that weird feeling is getting stronger. I'm surprised Yunh-"
"You called?"
Junsu closes his eyes and wishes for the hellmouth to open up and swallow him whole. Nothing happens. "You almost got a stake for your birthday," he says as calmly as he can, fixating Yunho with a steely glare. "That cowbell is happening."
Yunho frowns. "It's not my birthday."
Junsu stares. "Okay, not going to use that piece of wit anymore." Jaejoong snickers and earns himself a smack. "Peanut gallery is not allowed to laugh. Now, would you both shut the fuck up so I can figure out what the hell this guy is?"
Shiwon, it turns out, is very good at hiding whatever it is he is. Jaejoong and Yunho both insist on accompanying Junsu as he follows Shiwon to Yoochun's house and makes sure Yoochun gets home okay.
"You think he's gonna kiss him goodnight?" Junsu asks softly, fiddling with his stake.
"Which he are you talking about where?" Yunho asks.
"Um, either," Junsu replies, eyes narrowing as Shiwon begins to lean. "Shit. I can't watch." Junsu hides his face into Yunho's arm. "Tell anyone and you both die," he adds, upon the thought of both how he's acting and who he's acting like this against.
"Whoa," Jaejoong says, and the tone of it has Junsu looking up immediately, then instantly wishing he hadn't. "That's one hell of a liplock. That guy's pretty touchy-feely, too."
"I'm going to kill him," Junsu says furiously. "Slowly. He's going to learn the meaning of the word torture."
"Considering he's probably a demon, I'm sure he already knows what torture means," Yunho says unhelpfully.
Junsu sighs and shakes his head. "I give up. You're just eternally damned to be an idiot." Junsu jumps up as Shiwon lets go of Yoochun - finally - and they go their separate ways. "If you guys are coming, then c'mon!" he whispers hurriedly, eyes on Shiwon, wary.
They follow Shiwon to the college campus, where he disappears, not into the dorms, but behind the building. Junsu snarls softly, seeing nothing but the red imprint of Shiwon with his hands and lips all over Yoochun. By the time they cross the parking lot and follow, Shiwon's gone. Junsu curses, kicking the building fiercely. "Where could he have gone?"
"Uh, he didn't take everything with him," Jaejoong says.
Junsu frowns, moving closer. "What do you- oh. Oh god." There's a pile of skin laying in a sickening heap next to the dumpster, still steaming with warmth in the cool, autumn air.
--
"Skin demon," Changmin says, making his way down the stairs with a book in hand. "They steal... well, skin." He sighs, setting the book down. "Picky bastards, from the looks of it. They wear the skin as long as they can, and start searching for another perfect victim long before they'll need to change."
"Perfect victim?" Junsu says, trepidation like bugs beneath his own skin. "Yoochun. Fuck, I need to warn him."
"It's too late, Junsu," Changmin says, shaking his head. "Yoochun's been hypnotized, probably from the first night, when the two of you-" Changmin clears his throat at Junsu's pointed stare. "-When you saved him."
"So, Shiwon's got him under a spell, big deal. I'll kill Shiwon and Yoochun'll be fine after a good night's sleep." Junsu heads for the armory. "How do I kill him?" Changmin's silent for far too long. Junsu backs up and turns, feeling sick. "Changmin?"
Changmin sighs, sitting down. "You're not going to like it."
"Tell me," Junsu says, voice low. "I have to save Yoochun, Changmin."
"If you kill Shiwon, you'll kill Yoochun, too," Changmin says quietly, avoiding Junsu's gaze. "Shiwon's using this spell to bond with Yoochun, to bond with Yoochun's skin, you could say. So it doesn't reject him, much like an organ donor. If it's been going on this long... then yes, severing the bond could kill Yoochun."
Junsu doesn't say anything, a mixture of panic, raw anger and hysteria creeping through him. He laughs, high-pitched and strangled even to his own ears. "You- you're joking. You're pulling my leg, Changmin. God, you trickster." But Changmin's never been one to play pranks and the sad look he's suddenly giving Junsu as Junsu collapses to the floor reminds him of this, painfully. The laughter fades and Junsu swallows through the lump in his throat, ignoring the sting in his eyes. "I- I can't kill Yoochun. There's got to be another way."
"I'll keep looking," Changmin says, still soft-spoken. "We'll save Yoochun, Junsu. Somehow." Changmin makes his way to Junsu, pulling him close. "Go home and get some sleep. Shiwon can't make a move until the skin he's wearing has completely decayed." Changmin leans back, expression soft, but determined. "I need you to be strong, okay? Like you always are."
Junsu sighs, nodding. "Yeah. I am kind of tired. I guess losing a night's worth of sleep does that to you." He lets Changmin help him up and nods again, like he's trying to tell himself he's fine, it'll all be okay. "I'll see you tonight."
Changmin pushes Junsu to the door. "Yeah, tonight. I'll be here and we'll have a way to save Yoochun."
Junsu's glad his mom's out of town on business. He'd have a time explaining why he's coming home in yesterday's clothes and smelling like death - probably looking like it, too. Changmin'll cover for him as far as school goes. French can wait. Junsu sees Yoochun heading up the stairs and wants desperately to run after him, to tell him that he is jealous, that he's going to stop this mess and save Yoochun again, like all the other times. He wants to kiss Yoochun like Shiwon did, tell him he's sorry.
Junsu does none of those things.
--
"Junsu, help me," Yoochun says, his skin peeling away from his bones layer by layer, with a sickening wet sound that seems to echo forever. "I need you, Junsu. Please."
Junsu wakes in a cold sweat, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. He reaches for his phone. "Changmin," he says, when Changmin picks up, "Have you found anything?"
"No. We're still looking. Did you sleep well?"
"Not really," Junsu says, remembering the way Yoochun pleaded with him. He doesn't even bother to ask who 'we' is. "Bad dreams. I'll be there in a minute."
When Junsu gets to the library, Yunho's there, and strangely, Jaejoong as well. Yunho, Junsu had been expecting. "God, this day just gets better and better," Junsu mutters, easing himself carefully into a chair despite the want to flop sulkily. "So, we're still square one?"
"Yes," Changmin says, sounding tired, defeated. Junsu doesn't like that one bit, and suddenly feels selfish and ashamed for thinking it. Changmin's probably going on less sleep then him. "Most demons, they don't deal with magics like this, so there's no records on how to stop it. And we have no witches on hand to consult for possible magical counterattacks, so."
Jaejoong sighs loudly, sprawled out along the stairs lazily. "Why don't you just lock Yoochun up and let Shiwon's skin fall off, or something?" he drawls boredly. "I mean, if you ask me, he seems pretty touchy and don't some magics require touch or eye contact?"
Changmin perks up. "Jaejoong, you might have something." Changmin's gone in a flurry of papers, disappearing into his office. "I seem to remember a book of magics in here somewhere, I just can't seem to find it," he calls, obviously miffed.
"Um, would it be called 'A Book of Magicks, Near and Far?" Yunho says, lips pursed at a book that fell to the floor with Changmin's hasty departure.
Changmin rushes back into the main room, flustered. "Er, yes. That's it. Anyway." He picks it up, flipping through pages. "Ah, there we go. Jaejoong's right. And if this is the kind of magics we're dealing with, then yes, keeping them separated should sever the bond." Changmin looks up and at Jaejoong, his expression a cross between horror and awe. "Dear God, Jaejoong just saved Yoochun."
Junsu gapes along with Changmin, confused. Jaejoong takes note of this and winks. "So, babe. Tomorrow, after sunset, my place?"
Junsu recovers and rolls his eyes. "In your undead dreams, Jaejoong."
Yunho clears his throat, as if reminding everyone that he's still there, being ignored. "So, what's the plan?"
"Well, we need to get Yoochun away from Shiwon. I'd say it's nearly time for him to switch skins, since the three of you found a fair bit of his current one last night," Changmin says, setting his book aside and making for the armory. "And since Yoochun's not himself right now, you may need to use force. I've got some tranquilizers left from the werewolf incident, so if I lower the dose, he should only be out for an hour, maybe two. Yunho, Jaejoong, can you two take care of Shiwon while Junsu gets Yoochun somewhere safe?"
"We're on it," Yunho says over Jaejoong's audible and displeased groan. "At any rate, we can just keep him busy long enough for Junsu to do what he needs to, and then get out of dodge."
"Okay," Junsu agrees, taking the duffel Changmin hands him. "But when this is all over, I'm letting him know this shooting him thing was your idea."
--
"Alright, there they are," Junsu whispers, gun in hand. He's shaking all over, partly from adrenaline and partly because he's about to shoot his best friend. Sure, it's tranquilizer, but he's shooting his best friend. There's probably something written in the BFFL Codes against this sort of thing.
"Chill, love," Jaejoong says, rolling his eyes. "You're gonna mess around and miss, quaking in your boots like that."
"Would you stop calling me that?" Junsu hisses as they creep around a tree and crouch, waiting for the cue from Yunho, who's across the way. "I'm not your 'love'. I'm Junsu, and I'll be Junsu the Jaejoong Slayer if you do it one more time."
Jaejoong snorts softly, but he does shut up, thankfully. Yunho, meanwhile, holds his hand up, not quite giving the signal yet, but a heads up.
Junsu tenses, everything in him ready to spring. He can feel Jaejoong doing the same, briefly wonders why the fuck Jaejoong is even helping them. He watches with narrowed eyes as Yoochun presses back against the hand Shiwon's got slipping beneath his shirt, anger clouding his vision for a moment. Junsu's breathing harshens and Jaejoong nudges him, setting his focus back on track. "Thanks," Junsu whispers. Then Yunho gives the signal and there's no more time for thinking as they lunge, Yunho and Jaejoong tackling Shiwon to the ground with twin snarls.
Yoochun shouts in alarm, whipping around to face Junsu, stricken. "What the fuck are you doing?" he cries angrily, then begins backing up slowly as he sees the gun Junsu's got aimed at him. "J-Junsu, what-?"
"I'm sorry!" Junsu says, rushed for the way Yunho and Jaejoong seem to be having trouble keeping Shiwon down. Yoochun doesn't even try to run, just stares at Junsu in hurt disbelief. Junsu pulls the trigger and Yoochun goes down with the force of the tranquilizer as it hits him square in the chest, a strangled cry of pain escaping him. "I'm sorry," Junsu says more softly, distracted with how Yoochun looked, betrayed, how he didn't run.
"Junsu, get Yoochun and get the fuck out of here!" Yunho calls, then cries out sharply as Shiwon catches him with a punch to the jaw. Junsu's spurred into action with that, dropping the gun without a second thought. Changmin can just get a new one. Junsu's extremely glad for his slayer strength as he scoops Yoochun up into his arms and takes off, what would probably slow a normal human down only a minor annoyance to him.
Junsu takes Yoochun to Yunho's place, where they'll be above ground, but safe and hidden. Junsu tucks Yoochun into Yunho's bed gently, then sets about removing the tranquilizer from Yoochun's chest and rubbing some numbing salve on the bruise, so that Yoochun is at least physically pain-free when he wakes. Junsu can't make any promises for the mental pain, not with the way Yoochun looked back there.
Junsu paces away the hour, frantic and worried because neither Yunho or Jaejoong have showed up, and Changmin hasn't called to say they showed at the library, either. Yoochun's still asleep, looking peaceful save for the dark circles around his eyes. Junsu wonders if the spell's been affecting Yoochun's sleep, too. Yoochun's always been bad at sleeping, insomnia one of the reasons he's always with Junsu on patrol.
Junsu's so lost in thought that he doesn't register Yoochun's light movement until Yoochun's groaning softly with it, Junsu's name a whisper on his lips. "Yoochun!" Junsu rushes to his side immediately, taking his hand and shaking him awake. "Yoochun, I'm so sorry, I had to do it. It was Changmin's idea, he said you weren't yourself, oh God, Yoochun please say something."
Yoochun blinks at him, eye still glazed over slightly. "Water?" he says softly.
"Oh," Junsu says, not expecting that, then, "OH! Water, right, hang on." He makes for the sink, grabbing the first clean-looking glass he sees and filling it with water. He turns just as Yoochun is lunging for the door, the glazed-over look in his eyes now wild and panicked. "Yoochun!" Junsu yells, running at him. They both grunt loudly as they hit the floor, Junsu straddling Yoochun tightly in an effort to keep him down. "Goddammit, stop, Yoochun, you're in danger!"
Yoochun growls, more furious than Junsu's ever seen him, like an animal. "Let me go, Junsu. Shiwon- I have to get to him, I need him. He needs me, he said so."
Junsu slaps Yoochun hard, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. "Shut the fuck up and listen to me. I need you, Yoochun. I've always needed you." He's breathing hard again, that hot sting back in his eyes. "He's got you under a spell. He's a demon and yes, I'm jealous and I'm sorry I shot you, but I need you, Yoochun. Please. Don't leave me."
Yoochun just keeps staring at Junsu, but the crazed look in his eyes is starting to fade, giving way to a shine that gets caught by the lamplight. "Junsu," Yoochun breathes, "Junsu, I."
"Please," Junsu says again, doesn't care how desperately needy he sounds right now, because he's finally telling Yoochun something he's been keeping locked away for too long.
And then, Yoochun's not Yoochun anymore - or maybe he never was, maybe it was a trick and it worked - snarling and attempting to throw Junsu off in his distracted state. Junsu cries out as Yoochun tips them, his back coming into contact with the concrete floor with no little amount of pain. "Yoochun- you- fuck," Junsu stammers, angry tears blurring his vision. He blinks furiously, clearing them, legs still locked tight around Yoochun's waist as they tussle. Yoochun's strength has never been his strong point, however, and when opportunity presents itself, Junsu's fist connects with Yoochun's jaw, hard. Yoochun slumps against him, out cold, and Junsu holds him tight, face buried in Yoochun's neck.
"I'll kill him, Yoochun. I will."
--
Junsu finds the shackles Changmin packed in the duffel and chains Yoochun to the bed, waiting and feeling ashamed that he even has to do this. He must have hit Yoochun too hard, because Yoochun's jaw begins to darken and he's out for at least another hour. Junsu doesn't exactly keep track of the time, watching Yoochun silently. When Yoochun finally wakes, Junsu can see it's him. He can feel it. "Yoochun," he murmurs, brushing Yoochun's hair out of his face. Yoochun sighs softly, breath hitching halfway, and tilts his head into the touch.
"I'm sorry," Yoochun whispers, "I should have listened to you."
"Don't say that," Junsu says, shaking his head against a wave of emotion he tries to fight back. "It wasn't your fault."
Yoochun laughs bitterly, then winces, moving his jaw experimentally. "Jesus, 'Su, you didn't hold back," he mutters, lifting his eyes. "But. I'm glad you didn't." Junsu shakes, the way Yoochun's looking at him so intense, making him feel like he never felt with Erin, never felt with anyone but Yoochun. "Because I need you, too."
"You remember?" Junsu says on an exhale, not even realizing he'd been holding his breath.
Yoochun nods, swallowing hard. Junsu watches the bob of his adam's apple, brings a finger up to trace the warm skin of Yoochun's throat lightly. Yoochun sucks in a breath sharply. "Yeah. I remember everything."
"Why didn't you run, Yoochun?" Junsu asks quietly, frowning. "You didn't know they were tranqs. You just- you let me shoot you."
"I," Yoochun begins, voice catching. "I knew. I knew you would never hurt me. Even through the haze of that spell, I still knew you."
"Yoochun," Junsu says. "If I ever lost you, I don't know what- I'd die." Junsu moves forward, sliding on top of Yoochun so that he's straddling Yoochun's waist, pressed chest-to-chest. Yoochun watches him the entire time, nothing in his eyes like disgust or rejection. "When he kissed you, I wanted to make him hurt," Junsu admits, hovering so close he can feel Yoochun's breath on his lips. "I wanted to rip him apart limb from limb and then kiss you senseless, make you cling to me like that."
"Fuck, Junsu. Just do it already," Yoochun hisses, completely contradicting himself as he leans up and kisses Junsu roughly. A soft, needy sound escapes between them and Junsu's not sure whose it was, but he certainly doesn't care - not with the way Yoochun's tongue is curling against his own, reducing him to a quivering mess of teenage hormones and more emotion. "I love you," Junsu says breathily, "Don't have to say it back, I just need you to know."
Yoochun laughs, kissing Junsu lightly. "What if I wanna say it back?"
Junsu smiles. "Well, if you want to," he says, maybe prodding Yoochun in the right direction, a little.
Yoochun laughs again, that lively little giggling laugh that makes Junsu's heart skip a beat. "I love you," Yoochun says. "Too, that is."
Junsu giggles and kisses Yoochun again, hips moving this time. Yoochun's groan is clear this time, vibrating against Junsu's chest. Yoochun pushes up against Junsu's movements, only intensifying the incredible feel of it. Junsu kisses Yoochun deeper, harder, working his hand up into Yoochun's shirt to run fingers along the smooth skin there. Yoochun moans softly, arching and shuddering full body, the chains rattling with Yoochun's movement.
"God, this is so kinky," Yoochun breathes between kisses, tugging lightly at Junsu's lower lip. Junsu releases a soft groan of his own at that, dignifying Yoochun's statement with another deep kiss, rather than an actual response.
Then, the door opens and Yunho rushes in. "Junsu, Changmin says the ti- oh. Er, should I come- WAIT, IS THAT MY BED?"
Junsu jumps back hastily, gaping at Yunho and failing to actually come up with words. "I- um. Changmin says what?" he finally gets out, wiping his mouth and stumbling off of Yoochun with a murmured apology and a quick kiss.
"Shiwon? Slayer Wanted?" Jaejoong says, following Yunho in with a smirk on his face that Junsu suddenly wants to punch off. "Someone's kinky."
"Shut up," Junsu says lamely, blushing. "How do we kill him?"
"Lop off the head after his skin's gone, is the general plan," Jaejoong answers, eyeing Yoochun. "We'll watch Yoochun while you go, make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
Junsu's eyes narrow. "Touch him, and all those threats will happen. Really."
Yunho shoves Junsu to the door. "I'll make sure Jaejoong doesn't mess with him, don't worry. Go do your thing. Yoochun'll be here when you get back," he says softly, smiling.
Junsu nods. "Alright. Um. Thanks." He glances over at Yoochun, who nods, says, "Don't worry about me, go," waving his fingers towards the door. Junsu sighs, axe in hand, and takes off. Now that he's got Yoochun safe, he's in the mood to do some major ass-kicking.
--
Junsu finds Shiwon's trail easily enough, pieces of skin leading away from Yoochun's house. It leads him to the abandoned warehouse near Mirotic, one Junsu knows all too well. It seems most big bads love it, as he can't even count on fingers the number of times he's fought one here. "You know," he calls as he steps inside, axe at the ready, "You could have picked a more original place to hide. I've been here, done this way too many times before."
"Oh, is supposed to be the witty banter part?" Shiwon's familiar voice echoes, distorted so that Junsu's not sure where it's coming from. "Where you and I exchange cute little comebacks and then you kill me?"
"Actually, yeah," Junsu says, gleeful. "That's exactly what's going to happen. I'm so happy you're not in denial."
Shiwon lands in front of Junsu suddenly, but strangely, he's all skin, instead of what Junsu was hoping. Shiwon looks up and smiles a familiar smile. Too familiar - it's Yoochun's. "Too bad you're going to kill your boyfriend, too."
Junsu nearly drops the axe. "N-No, this isn't. The spell was broken. Yoochun was Yoochun," he says, disbelieving.
"Awww, is the Slayer going to cry?" Shiwon teases with Yoochun's voice, Yoochun's eyes glittering predatorily at him. "Think you can really kill me? Kill Yoochun? I don't think you can."
"You're not Yoochun," Junsu says, anger shaking his voice. "And the spell broke."
"Then why am I wearing his skin?" Shiwon cocks his head, and for a moment, it's Shiwon Junsu can see. "Or at least, parts of it. In a few hours, he'll be gone. I just need to take care of a certain... problem." And with that, Shiwon attacks with an inhuman sound that sends chills up Junsu's spine. Junsu twists to the side, swinging the axe. Shiwon ducks, laughing like Yoochun, except Yoochun's laugh has never made Junsu cringe in repulsion. "That all you got, Slayer?" Shiwon taunts, charging again.
This time, Junsu's not able to move fast enough and Shiwon knocks him down, a grunt escaping him as he momentarily forgets to breathe through the pain. He's quick to recover though, after too much practice, and kicks Shiwon away, flipping to his feet.
They circle one another warily, like animals, Shiwon's eyes gleaming as light hits them. They're completely black. "This is going to be the last time you'll have to worry about fighting here," Shiwon says, laughing again, playing off of Junsu's earlier wit.
"Thought you didn't want the banter?" Junsu asks breathlessly, moving forward with a high kick that Shiwon catches, sending Junsu spinning into the wall. Junsu gasps, shaking his head against the sudden wave of pain. "That all you got?" he continues as he picks himself up, just as Shiwon's coming after him again. He ducks, but Shiwon's not some dumb vampire and stops himself before he hits the wall, twisting to land a punch in Junsu's gut.
Junsu grunts, stumbling to the side, arm swinging wildly for anything he can use as a weapon. His fingers close around a thick iron rod and he swings it, knocking Shiwon to the floor. He tosses the rod away and makes for the axe, but Shiwon's not going down that easily, and before Junsu knows it, he's being tackled to the floor himself.
"Nope, plenty more where this came from," Shiwon growls in Yoochun's voice, and the anger of being so close to losing Yoochun gives Junsu a surge of energy. He throws his head back, wincing as it connects with Shiwon's chin, the snap more felt than heard. Shiwon cries out in pain and falls back, and Junsu takes advantage of that to twist and kick out full-force, sending Shiwon sliding across the floor.
"Too bad," Junsu says, spitting blood, "I was hoping for more of a challenge." Shiwon growls loudly, his face morphing between Yoochun's and his own in his rage and loss of control. Junsu flips back to his feet again just as Shiwon picks himself up and lunges. Shiwon just barely catches Junsu off-guard with a mean right hook, but Junsu's slight duck to the side means he doesn't get the brunt of it, and he comes back around swinging, grabbing Shiwon's head and smashing it into his knee.
Shiwon's rage is not so easily laughed off now, as the demon's beginning to gather strength in his desperate state. Shiwon's punches and kicks are more than a little pain now, and Junsu thinks his nose might be broken. Junsu yells as Shiwon gets the upper hand for a split second, all he really needs, and tosses Junsu across the room, the axe just within reach. But Shiwon's too quick and he's on top of Junsu before Junsu can even try to reach out for the weapon.
Shiwon grins ferally with Yoochun's lips, the ones Junsu kissed not so long ago, and wraps fingers around Junsu's throat, squeezing too-tight. Junsu gasps for air, struggling beneath Shiwon's weight in a panic, closing his eyes tightly.
Yoochun's face, his real face, flashes in Junsu's mind and with a yell, Junsu brings his knee up into Shiwon's groin. Shiwon howls in pain, tumbling over, and Junsu scrambles off to the side, choking and breathing hard. He grabs the axe just as Shiwon reaches for his ankle, and swings.
Shiwon's head falls to the floor with a dull thump and Junsu watches in horror as the skin peels from his bones with horrible squelching sounds, steaming and hissing as it melts into the floor. "Gross," Junsu says aptly, then remembers, "Yoochun."
When Junsu barges into Yunho's place, bloody, breathing erratically and eyes probably as big as dinner plates, the first thing he sees is Yoochun, still chained to the bed. "Yoochun. Are you Yoochun? Are you okay?" he asks, rushed.
Yoochun shakes the chains, frustrated-like. "What? Junsu, it's me, you dolt. What the fuck, did you kill him, am I okay now?"
Junsu moves swiftly, yanking on the chains fiercely. They snap as if they were made of twigs, and Junsu tugs Yoochun up, kissing him hard. Yoochun moans instantly, wrapping arms around Junsu's waist tightly as he kisses back despite Junsu's current state of grossness. Junsu's never been so happy to feel Yoochun's skin.
"H-hey. HEY. THAT'S STILL MY BED!"
--
"Well, I'm not sure why it didn't kill Yoochun," Changmin says, frowning down at the book of magics, thoughtful. "By all rights, it should have, if Shiwon was wearing Yoochun's skin."
Yoochun shudders in Junsu's arms, groaning softly. "Please never say that again. It's bad enough I kissed that thing, but to think of him wearing my skin? Just. Ugh."
Junsu kisses Yoochun's ear to placate him. "'Sokay, I took care of him. And honestly, I think you look a lot better in your skin than he did," he says, smiling.
Yoochun snorts with a low, teasing, "Flatterer," and Changmin glares at them. "Stop that, this is still a public place where anyone can walk in and see you. Do you want me to get a bad reputation?"
Junsu laughs and hugs Yoochun tighter. "C'mon, Changmin, be nice. We've had a rough couple of days."
Changmin walks over and pries them apart, walking Yoochun over to the chair across the table and sitting him down in it. "Authority figure equals me. Remember this," he says, raising a brow as if daring them to make a crack about how he's actually younger than them both.
Junsu decides to keep his mouth shut on that topic and goes back to the previous one, instead. "So, what do you think is the reason Yoochun's still here?"
"Well, love, maybe," Changmin says, contemplative again. "Love, after all, is one of the most powerful mystic forces there is." He nods, pleased with himself. "Yes, I'd say that's it."
"Great," Junsu says, winking at Yoochun. "So, since I'm celebrating love, this great, mystical force, can I take a break from patrolling tonight?"
--
"You'd think he'd lighten up, seeing us so happy. D'you think he's just jealous?" Junsu says, twirling a stake.
Yoochun hums from behind him, fingers cool as they slip beneath the hem of Junsu's shirt. Junsu arches slightly. "Maybe. Jealousy does strange things to people, after all," Yoochun says, the teasing tone in his voice obvious.
"Hey, was that a dig at me, mister?" Junsu says, twisting a little to eye Yoochun down. "Because, you know, we haven't went any further than kissing and if you were hoping for it, I'm not so sure that's going to help your case any."
Yoochun pouts and Junsu doesn't even try to resist the urge to lean in and kiss it away. Junsu's not really sure how much times passes, since Yoochun's started doing that thing with his tongue again - the really nice one that makes Junsu hard instantly - but there's a familiar growl in the distance that has Junsu breaking the kiss with much reluctance. "Duty calls," he says woefully, hopping off the headstone.
Of course, what he sees is nothing like what he's expecting - Yunho and Jaejoong, kissing like the end of the world is nigh and there's nothing more they'd rather do that see whose tongue can go farthest down each others' throats. Probably what breaks Junsu out of his horrified trance is not that, but Jaejoong's hand disappearing into the waistband of Yunho's pants, and the moan Yunho gives at whatever happens down there. Instead of 'what the hell is going on', a sort of gurgling sound comes out of Junsu's mouth. Yunho and Jaejoong break apart jumpily, Yunho with a wide-eyed look of 'oh shit' and Jaejoong with a smirk. "Wanna join in?" Jaejoong asks, fingering at the collar of Yunho's shirt. Yunho bats his hand away and it's then Junsu realizes that vampires can blush.
"Um, no," Junsu says, thinking the phrase 'scarred for life' fits this moment to a t. "In fact, I'd really rather just forget I ever saw this. Ever."
"Er, that sounds like a plan," Yunho says, nodding. "We'll just be going now."
Jaejoong leers, hand disappearing again, which results in a jumpy yelp from Yunho shortly after, followed by a glare. "Stop that," Yunho hisses, shoving Jaejoong into the shadows.
"Well," Yoochun says, hooking his chin over Junsu's shoulder. "At least they won't be lusting or brooding after you now."
"Hey, didn't we agree that you'd stop following me into the face of danger?" Junsu asks, not really annoyed at all, and turns in Yoochun's arms.
Yoochun grins, hands sliding down Junsu's back to cup his ass and pull him flush against Yoochun. The contact startles a soft sound from Junsu. "But. I really like following you," Yoochun replies, grin widening.
"You're awful," Junsu says, but he leans in and rewards Yoochun for the quip, anyway. "So, wanna go back to mine?" Junsu licks at Yoochun's lips. "Mom's still out of town."
"Sounds like a plan," Yoochun says, nipping at Junsu's chin. "You can get under my skin all night long, baby."
Junsu decides to let that one slide. There's plenty of time for comebacks later.
--
And then, there was still slaying. There were still vampires and demons and hellmouth knew what else out there, but at least now, Junsu had Yoochun to make everything better at the end of the day.
Plus, Yoochun was better in bed than Erin was, anyway.
yoochun/junsu, yunho/jaejoong, shiwon/yoochun
10,021 words
light R, for slight horrific themes (see a/n), fighting, teenage hormones and potty mouths.
a/n. for the high school fic contest at yoosu_yongwonhi. buffy the vampire slayer!dbsk au. record-breaker (hence the number of words and how they are bolded!), un-beta'd and maybe kind of rushed, since the contest ends in 2 days and i was all omgskdjhfkj and often suffer from heavy procrastination. i would love to thank one person who never stopped believing in me throughout the whole thing, no matter how much i slacked - and really, without her, this probably never would have been finished. applesu, this 10k is all for you, bb. ♥
Two years ago, Kim Junsu became the first male Slayer. He was just an ordinary high school boy. He got good grades, had a best friend named Yoochun and a girlfriend named Erin, had kickboxing classes at four. Then everything changed and kickboxing became more than a hobby (and, more often than not, involved wooden stakes), Erin broke up with him because of the werewolf incident, and his grades went from high to average. The only constants in his life were Yoochun and slaying.
And then.
--
"So," Yoochun says, sliding around the counter with his eyes glued to the Frito chili pie Junsu's making. "It's your anniversary." Yoochun reaches for a chip and Junsu smacks his hand away with a noncommittal hum in response, twisting with his pie so Yoochun can't get to it. Junsu can almost hear Yoochun pouting. "Hey, are you even listening to me? This is a special occasion!"
"How is it special?" Junsu says around a mouthful of chili-cheese goodness. "It's the anniversary of the day I was told that I'm the luckiest person in the world, the one who gets to run around killing the nastiest things Hell can spit out. Oh, and don't forget the fact that it's actually a girl who's supposed to be doing this shit, and that I am not." Junsu takes a breath. "I've got a snarky bitch for a Watcher, a vampire who's perpetually in heat and I'm the big, red, blinking target for his lust, another vampire who has a soul and broods beneath my window all the fucking time, and my best friend is trying to get me to celebrate this?"
Junsu whips around after his tirade to find Yoochun staring. "Um," Yoochun says, looking adorably lost. "You're really strong and fast, too?" He points, looking determined again. "And hey, Yunho is really hot, okay. Broody, or not. Actually, he kind of makes brooding look good."
Junsu snorts and turns to shred some more cheese. He really needs to remind his mom that they can stand to be a little more modern and buy actual pre -shredded cheese. "Except brooding is stupid and completely pointless. And if you even start to tell me Jaejoong is hot, I'm going to stake you whether you're a vampire or not."
"Can't," Yoochun says, and Junsu can hear the smirk. "I'm an 'innocent'. Sucks to be you, macho-boy." Out of the corner of Junsu's eye, Yoochun steals a few chips while Junsu's busy. "And Jaejoong is hot. Bleach-blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, sexy, raw voice. I'd hit that."
"You'd hit anything with two legs," Junsu says dryly, rolling his eyes, though it's all fondness. "And Jaejoong's eyes are not piercing. They're beady." He finishes up his cheese and smacks Yoochun's hand away again. "Fix your own!"
"Lazy," Yoochun drawls, resting his head on an outstretched arm. "Bored. Let's go hunting. Or go pester Jaejoong. Or-"
Junsu throws a chip at Yoochun's face, shutting him up save for the spluttering. "No hunting. It's my day off. That's how I'll celebrate." Then Junsu's cell goes off and he sighs, hanging his head. "If that's Changmin, I'm going to kill myself and save evil the trouble."
A look at the info on the screen confirms it's Changmin and Yoochun laughs as Junsu answers with a sour, "Hello, Changmin, what is it now?"
"Well, if you're going to be like that, then you can forget about your surprise."
Junsu raises a brow. "Surprise?" Yoochun perks up instantly, waving his hand for more details.
Changmin sighs. "It's been two years, Junsu. Special occasion, and all?"
"Why does everyone think this is a good thing? I just don't get it," Junsu says, uncaring if he sounds a little bit whiny.
Yoochun rolls his eyes and steals the phone, ignoring Junsu's yelp of protest. "So, surprise? We'll be there as soon as Junsu finishes stuffing his face. Oh? Did you make extra, because I mean, you really eat too much sometimes." Junsu thinks he can make out something on the other end about stakes and shoving them in unpleasant places, but he's not really sure. "Yeah, yeah, except you're only a watcher or bookworm or whatever so I don't think so, buddy. We'll be there. Bye. BYE." Yoochun snaps the phone shut and hands it back. "He's made you dinner, stick that in the fridge for later and let's go. I'm starving."
Junsu glares and grabs for the pie but Yoochun's quicker this time and Junsu's still got his cellphone. "You suck," Junsu says lamely as Yoochun crows in victory and puts it away, but he's already heading to the door for his shoes and coat.
--
"So, I thought this was a special occasion," Junsu says grumpily, twirling the stake in his hand boredly.
Changmin sighs. "It is. Just not special enough for you to skip out on patrol."
Junsu huffs, tossing the stake up in the air. Yoochun tries to catch it from Junsu's other side, but Junsu's quicker. "Changmin, there is nothing going on tonight. Even the leaves are asleep, okay." A leaf blows by with a light gust of wind and Junsu scowls at it. "Okay, that one's a little restless, but it's so boring out here, I don't blame it."
Junsu can practically hear Changmin's eye roll. "Suck it up. You're the Slayer, so you have to patrol." Changmin hops off the tombstone and dusts his pants off. "I, meanwhile, am going to head back to the library and read."
Yoochun snorts. "Wow, reading in a library. No, wait, Changmin reading in a library. That's a new one."
Changmin glares at Yoochun snootily and adjusts his glasses with just his middle finger, and Junsu wonders if it was purposely. After all, Changmin may be a stick-in-the-mud Watcher, but he is their age, even if he's smarter than most students. Maybe they've loosened him up a little. "Yes, Yoochun, I'm quite an avid reader, thank you." Or maybe they haven't.
"Bye," Junsu calls after Changmin, shaking his head. "Well, Yoochun, it's just you and me now."
Yoochun hums absently, bent over the tombstone like a limp noodle. "Is it over yet?"
"No," Junsu pouts, swinging his legs. "Still about two more ho-" A familiar growl and a sharp yell interrupts Junsu before he can finish and he's off the tombstone and running in the direction of both sounds in an instant. He can hear Yoochun behind him and curses his best friend's inability to just stay put and out of trouble.
Junsu flies at the vampire, bent over a young man who's looking like he's about to piss himself. The vampire doesn't look like much, probably newly-risen, but Junsu's soon proven wrong as not even a few well-aimed roundhouses and new tricks he's learned keep the vampire down for long. "Shit!" Junsu cries as he goes tumbling over a headstone.
"Junsu, come on, you can do better than that!" Yoochun yells, then screams shortly after.
Junsu scrambles up and after the vampire, heading straight for Yoochun, who's still screaming loud enough to wake the dead. Which, on a hellmouth, isn't exactly a good thing. And not to mention, Jaejoong lives in the cemetery. Briefly, Junsu thinks if they both survive this motherfucker, he'll kill Yoochun himself. "Take the guy and run, dumbass!" Junsu shouts as he tackles the vampire, punching anywhere he can reach to distract the creature.
Yoochun nods, stumbling over and helping the guy up and out of harm's way. Except for the second vampire who shows up out of nowhere. Junsu hates it when they do that. He goes flying again, a loud grunt escaping him as he meets the wall of the mausoleum behind them. The first vampire comes running after him and Junsu ducks, letting the vampire ram himself headfirst into the wall. Junsu twists and stakes the vampire from behind, then makes to go after the second vampire... who's suddenly disappeared.
"Um," Junsu says breathlessly, wiping ashes from his cheek. Damn vampires and their tendency to get everywhere. "Where did the other one go?"
Yoochun sags against a tree, breathing hard and clutching at his chest. "He took off. Saw you dust the other guy and figured he'd save himself, I guess."
Junsu nods, wincing as he rolls his shoulder. "So, uh, who're you?" he asks the other guy, who's standing in front of Yoochun watching after where the vampire was, a strange expression on his face. "Um, helloooo?"
He starts, turning toward Junsu and Yoochun sheepishly. "Oh, I, um. Sorry. I'm Shiwon." He looks confused. "Um, was that what I think it was?"
"A vampire?" Junsu asks flippantly, grinning. "Yep, sure was. You new to these parts?"
Shiwon nods. "Yeah, I'm a transfer at the college."
"So," Yoochun says, apparently recovered and in full flirt mode, if the way he looks Shiwon up and down is anything to go by. Junsu feels a little jolt of something in his stomach. "What're you doing in a cemetery?"
"Oh, I'm majoring in history, and cemeteries are full of it, aren't they?" Shiwon answers, smiling nervously. "I just didn't think history would be that... thrilling."
Yoochun shrugs, grinning. "Maybe you should stick to museums. I hear they're incredibly boring and as non-thrilling as you can get."
"Or libraries. Libraries are good," Junsu chimes in, sending Yoochun a pointed glance. "Anyway, maybe you should get on home before any other vampires decide to come out and play. Yoochun's screams tend to draw them out, sometimes."
Yoochun says, "hey!" indignantly, while Shiwon laughs, nodding. "Thank you for saving me," he says graciously, and his accompanying smile gives Junsu a shiver that he can't quite explain away. Shiwon's gaze slides to Yoochun, the smile brightening a notch. "Maybe I'll see you around?"
Yoochun's lips quirk and he shrugs again, still leaning against the tree, though it's more languorous and casual then it was before. "Maybe," he says.
Shiwon shoves his hands in his pockets and nods at them both once before he heads off, disappearing into the darkness. "Creepy," Junsu says, shuddering. "He smiles weird."
"Tch," Yoochun says, pushing himself off the tree. "He's hot. And perfect."
Junsu's stomach does that funny thing again. "You know, around here there is such a thing as too perfect," he says casually.
Yoochun groans. "Don't remind me," he says pitifully. "I don't want to even try to remember Miss Jones." Yoochun kicks at a rock forcefully. "Fuck, too late. Thanks, Junsu."
Junsu giggles. "Not my fault you fell for a giant praying mantis lady."
Yoochun sniffs, shoving Junsu to the side. "Which is exactly why I've decided to just go completely for men, instead of both teams. Men can't be praying mantis ladies. I'm safe," he says, glaring at the ground.
Junsu shakes his head. "Whatever, Yoochun. Let's just get out of here before-"
"I knew I recognized that scream."
"-Jaejoong shows up," Junsu finishes flatly, turning in time with Yoochun to face the unwelcome guest. "Don't you have better things to do than to follow me around?"
"Hey, Jaejoong," Yoochun says, grinning from ear-to-ear as if Jaejoong didn't just insult his manliness. "I'll walk behind Junsu and you can feel free to follow all you want."
Jaejoong smiles, though to Junsu it looks more like some kind of sneer, and his eyes glitter as he moves closer. Junsu kind really hates it when his eyes do that. "Or you could just shut up and go away so that Junsu and I can have some private time," Jaejoong says, reaching out to grab at Junsu's waist.
Junsu punches him. "Bye, Jaejoong."
Yoochun sighs, shaking his head as Junsu tugs him away. "Ten bucks says Yunho's waiting for you in your room."
Junsu punches Yoochun, too. Just, not as hard. "Ten bucks says I'm going to kill you if he is, because you said it." Junsu pauses. "Actually, you know what. Almost everything happens when you say things like that. Like that time with the-"
Junsu whirls around suddenly and Jaejoong's face meets his fist again. "Do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here." He ignores Yoochun's pitiful glance down at Jaejoong and continues, "Anyway, like that time with the werewolf. I distinctly remember you saying to Changmin, 'oh, it's so boring, there hasn't been anything evil for days - hey, Junsu, let's go to Mirotic'. And then what happens?"
Yoochun opens his mouth to speak, but Junsu interrupts with, "Hold that thought," spins and lands a high kick to Jaejoong's chest, then sighs, loudly. "Jaejoong. Go. Away. Don't you have rats to go suck on, or something?"
Jaejoong laughs, shaking his head in a dazed kind of way that makes Junsu smug for a second. "I don't do rats' blood, babe," he says, spitting blood as he gets to his feet again. "That was always Yunho's thing."
"Whatever," Junsu says, rolling his eyes. "Go bug Yunho, then. Relive the glory days, or whatever. Or kill each other, I don't even care. Just leave me alone before I decide I really wanna stake you."
Jaejoong just grins. "I'll see you later, Slayer," he says, lasciviously licking away a dab of blood he missed as he backs away, still watching.
Junsu flips him off and starts dragging Yoochun away again. "So, you were saying?"
--
The next day is uneventful, as far as days on a hellmouth go. Junsu chats with Changmin and Yoochun before class, goes to class, makes it through class without dying of boredom or anything unusual happening, and spends his free period beating the ever loving crap out of Changmin. All in all, it's a good day. Great, even.
That is, until Junsu and Yoochun run into Shiwon again on their way to Mirotic. Yoochun and Shiwon waste no time in turning up the flirt, and Junsu's surprised to find himself not liking the way Yoochun only has eyes for Shiwon, not one bit. Unfortunately, that leaves Junsu sitting at the table watching the two of them dance, which must be something of an invitation Junsu doesn't know about.
"Aww, is widdle Junsu aw awone?" Heechul says with an exaggerated pout as he passes by, smacking a piece of gum so loud Junsu can hear it over the music.
"Fuck off," Junsu replies sourly.
Heechul tsks. "Language. By the way, I think I saw that shirt at the museum the other day. They'd like it back." Junsu glares and Heechul smiles brilliantly back at him, waving fingers. "Ta, loser," he says, sauntering off. Junsu thinks belatedly that the gay club would like their number one drag queen back, and is glad he didn't voice it aloud - nothing says loser like a comeback that lame.
Junsu goes back to sulking. After all, nothing says you're having fun like sulking. And wishing you were the one out there dancing with your best friend with his hands slowly sliding down your back and- Junsu gapes, then blushes furiously. There's no way he wants Yoochun to grope his ass. Scowling, Junsu grabs his bag (so much for studying French with Yoochun, he thinks bitterly) and makes his way to Yoochun, hopefully casually. "Hey, I'm going home. Kinda tired tonight."
Yoochun pouts, but nods. "Well, okay, then. Shiwon can walk me home. Right, Shiwon?"
Shiwon smiles, patting Yoochun's back and simultaneously giving Junsu the creeps again. "Yeah, I'll make sure he gets home safe and sound. Don't want you to beat the crap out of me, right?"
Junsu forces a laugh. "Nope, sure don't," he says through clenched teeth, thankful for the darkness of the club. "See you tomorrow, Yoochun."
But instead of going home, Junsu goes to the library, where he's sure Changmin's still at. Even though he's only seventeen, he's already on his own, graduated college and is now taking up the profession as their resident librarian. Junsu just wishes Changmin were a little less stuffy, sometimes. Hell, he might even be hot, then, and Junsu at least knows Changmin isn't some kind of weird... person-thing.
"So, someone's giving me the heebie jeebies," Junsu announces, dropping his bag on the table unceremoniously. Dust goes flying from the open book it lands on and Junsu wrinkles his nose in distaste.
Changmin glances up from his book, glasses perched on the edge of his nose. "Oh? And stop doing that. It makes you look like an idiot."
Junsu raises a brow. "Like you don't look like any less of an idiot with your glasses like that?" Junsu points at the bridge of his nose. "They go here, Changmin." Junsu flops into a chair, wincing a little at how not-comfortable it is and making a mental note to stop flopping so much. "Anyway, yes, this guy, Shiwon, that Yoochun and I - er, just I, really. Anyway, I saved him the other night. He's just weird. And he's going for Yoochun, which is still weird, considering Yoochun's track record."
Changmin actually cracks a smile. "Yeah. Praying mantis lady, mummy, Heechul."
"Exactly," Junsu says, slapping at a book lightly. More dust goes flying.
"I think you're jealous," Changmin says matter-of-factly.
Junsu stares. "Um, what?"
Changmin glances back up pointedly. "You. Are. Jealous. Of. Yoochun. Or well, more accurately, you're jealous of this Shiwon person."
"I am not!" Junsu protests, trying to keep the whine out of his voice. From the look Changmin's wearing, Junsu's not quite sure he succeeded. "Look, Changmin, I'm serious. This guy just. He makes my spidey senses tingle, okay? Especially when he smiles. It's like. Too good to be true or something."
Changmin takes his glasses off, chewing on the end of them. "Nothing's happened, Junsu. No strange deaths or disappearances."
"So? We're one step ahead is all!" Junsu sighs. "Didn't you tell me when I first started that I'd be able to sense these things? Evil... stuff?"
Changmin nods, dropping his glasses to rub at his face with a quiet echo of Junsu's sigh. "We'll keep an eye on him, then. On Yoochun."
Junsu bites his lip. "Okay. Thanks, Changmin," he says. "I uh, I should get going. I've got a test in French tomorrow to cram for."
Changmin shakes his head. "Nah, come here. I know a bit of French," he says, waving Junsu over.
"Great," Junsu says, half-relief and half-sarcasm as he moves. "My young, bookworm of a Watcher, dabbling in languages near and far."
"Watch it, Junsu," Changmin says, fixating Junsu with a look that makes him wonder just what Changmin's really capable of. "I could teach you things your teacher will most certainly not give you credit for."
Junsu laughs nervously. "Oh. Right." He takes out his book and when it hits the table, he nearly chokes on yet more dust. He keeps silent about it and makes no faces, though. "So. French."
--
Junsu notices with heavily-growing stomach twists and bouts of bad moods that Yoochun's spending less and less time with him and more time with Shiwon. But, to Shiwon's credit (as much as Junsu hates to admit it), nothing strange has happened at all. Not even vampires. In fact, Junsu's been so bored with the non-slayage lately, that he's taken to studying with Changmin more and more. Which Changmin makes no effort to hide his smiles and subtle digs about.
"Okay, so maybe I'm jealous, just a little bit," Junsu finally says loudly, glaring at the heap of wood that used to be his practice dummy-thinger.
Changmin taps his fingers against his elbow for a second or two. "I think I'll have to agree. Oh, wait-" Changmin grins, widely. "I think I distinctly remember having called it, didn't I?"
Junsu switches the focus of his glare. "Haha, gloat all you want. But now you have to build me a new dummy-thinger."
Changmin scoffs, toeing at one of the pieces. "I've got more where that came from. What kind of Watcher do you think I am?" he says dryly, then points a thumb at the mess as he maneuvers around it. "But you get to clean it up, since you did it."
Junsu harrumphs, grumbling to himself as he bends down obediently. Before he can even pick up one piece, though, the doors open and with a whoosh of air like always, Yunho's suddenly there, beside him.
"That's it," Junsu hisses as he stands again. "We are getting you a cowbell. One of those big, honkin' ones that say 'HEY, I'M HERE', so you can't go sneaking up on me every second of every day. Night, whatever."
"Hello, to you, too," Yunho says, frowning.
"Oh, hello, Yunho," Changmin says lightly as he makes his way back into the main room of the library, books in hand. "What brings you by?" He looks down at the pile of wood and adds, pointedly, "Junsu?"
Junsu sticks his tongue out and turns back to Yunho, hands on his hips. "So, what does bring you by, Crypto-Brood?" Not only does Yunho look at Junsu like he's just grown an extra head, but so does Changmin. "Shut up," he says grumpily, "Without Yoochun around, my wit equilibrium's been thrown off, okay."
Yunho shakes his head, then says, quietly, "Something's here."
Junsu pinches the bridge of his nose. "Thank you for enlightening me. I can go kick some ass, now. Oh, but wait. I have NO idea what ass I'm kicking." Junsu crosses his arms over his chest. "So, any hints?"
"It's bad," Yunho answers, mysterious as ever. "Haven't you noticed the lack of vampires lately? I have no idea what it is, but I can feel how powerful it is, and it's got me feeling antsy. Ask Jaejoong and I'm sure he'll tell you the same thing."
Junsu pulls a face at the mention of Jaejoong, then sighs, kicking at the mess. "No bodies, though," he says, confused. "No one's gone missing, either."
"Yet," Yunho says, shrugging. "Could be taking its time, scoping out the perfect victim."
"But we have no leads at all," Changmin says finally, tapping fingers against the table. "I wouldn't even know where to begin researching."
"Shiwon," Junsu says quietly. "I told you I've been feeling weird about him, jealous or not."
"Jealous?" Yunho asks, eyebrow raised.
Junsu scowls. "Pretend I never said that. Anyway, maybe I should start checking him out a little more closely." Junsu shrugs. "I mean, it can't hurt, right?"
"Until you become overrun with jealousy and go macho-man on him," Changmin mutters as he stands.
"NOT JEALOUS!" Junsu cries, pointing at Changmin menacingly. "A-and macho-man?" Junsu conveniently forgets that he lets Yoochun call him 'macho-boy' all the time. "Seriously? Is that really the best you can do?"
"Better than Crypto-Brood," Yunho interjects, lips twisted into what looks like maybe a smile.
"I am not a macho-man," Junsu says, glowering.
"Macho, macho-maaaan! Wait, I thought it was macho-boy?"
Junsu grabs a piece of wood and chucks it at the door, and consequently, at Yoochun. "Stop that!" Yoochun just barely manages to avoid being beaned in the head, gaping at Junsu in horror. "Sorry," Junsu says sheepishly, having not meant to actually try to hit Yoochun.
"Someone's pms-ing," Yoochun says with a low whistle, shaking his head. Junsu promptly forgets all thoughts of not-hurting-Yoochun and growls. "Whoa, not a vampire, remember?" Yoochun says, holding his hands up in surrender. "Seriously, what's your problem? It's been vampless for days. You should be happier than Barney on life."
Junsu casts a look at both Yunho and Changmin, daring them with his eyes to say one word. To their credit, they busy themselves immediately. Well, Changmin makes sure to give one of those dry eye-rolls of his, first, but Junsu can forgive that. "I'm just bored and you haven't been around." Junsu mentally slaps himself for that sounding as needy as it did. "Just not used to, you know, cramming for French by myself." And that ended up kind of pissy, but that, at least, is better than needy.
Yoochun pouts. "Hey, I'm courting. And being courted. And you said Changmin helped you!"
"So courting and being courted is more important than me?" Junsu says, indignant. "Some friend you are."
"Ahem," Yunho says, clearly uncomfortable if his constipated-looking expression is any indicator. "I'll just, uh, be going now. I'll let you know if anything comes up." Junsu doesn't think he's ever seen Yunho move so fast. Traitor.
Yoochun doesn't spare him a glance, expression turning sour. "Some friend you are, you mean. I'm finally maybe dating someone and you can't even be happy for me."
"Right, um, I have some things to do," Changmin interrupts, adjusting his glasses. "That involve being somewhere else. So. I'm going somewhere else." He sighs and leaves, though Junsu kind of gives him credit for going at a normal pace. But he's still a traitor, too.
"You know what, I told you when we saved him that he gave me the creeps, but did you listen to the one who knows this stuff? No, you just kept on. And now you could be in danger for all we know!" Junsu says, a little louder than he'd planned for it to be.
"Danger?" Yoochun says, laughing. "Um, Shiwon is a normal guy, just like you and me, Junsu. I'm not in any fucking danger." Yoochun growls this time, obviously frustrated. "You know what? I think you're jealous."
"DON'T EVEN GO THERE, PARK YOOCHUN," Junsu explodes, kicking at the rubble of wood and sending quite a few pieces flying. "I'm not jealous. I'm worried for your safety. And he's fucking ugly, ANYWAY." Junsu wonders if he could be any more lame, but he's so angry right now the thought is kind of quick and pointless.
"You know what?" Yoochun says, voice deadly quiet. "Fuck this. I'm going to go and see my boyfriend now. Maybe after you cool down, we can talk." He turns, shaking his head in clear disgust. Junsu doesn't try to stop him as he leaves, the doors swinging in a dejected kind of way behind him.
"Well, shit," is just about all Junsu can come up with, for that.
--
"You know you kind of brought this on yourself, babe."
Junsu's hand tightens on the stake. "You're going to bring this stake on yourself if you don't stop talking, Jaejoong."
Jaejoong laughs behind a hand, one of his stupid little habits that make Junsu just want to punch his face. "Love, you're so je-"
"Say it, and you're going to die, chip or not," Junsu growls, and Jaejoong doesn't finish the sentence, but he does keep laughing. Which just makes Junsu want to kill something, except there's nothing around to kill which is why he's stuck on patrol with fucking Jaejoong, not doing a damn thing but listening to him breathe. Or, not-breathe, in this case. "That's it, I can't take this anymore. There's nothing to patrol for and my best friend is probably being tortured somewhere right now."
Jaejoong follows Junsu out of the cemetery, hands in the pockets of the duster he always wears, the one Junsu thinks is actually pretty cool, but would never admit aloud in a million years. "So, go save him. Maybe he'll swoon and fall into your arms and kiss you and you'll both-"
"So, Jaejoong, how do you feel about French food? A La Stake, maybe?" Junsu thinks maybe his threats are getting kind of redundant now, since he never actually follows up on them. And from the amused look on Jaejoong's face, he probably agrees. "I hate you," Junsu adds. "Please don't ever forget that."
"Couldn't even if I wanted to, baby," Jaejoong replies, falling into step with Junsu as they near the sidewalk. A familiar giggle stops Junsu in his tracks, and he pushes Jaejoong behind a bush, crouching beside him. "'S your friend, isn't it?" Jaejoong whispers.
"Yeah," Junsu says absently, watching intently as Yoochun leans all over Shiwon, fingers curled into the crook of Shiwon's elbow. A hot rush of anger goes through Junsu and he twitches. Jaejoong's hand on his arm startles him, and he looks over to find the vampire actually wearing a look of concern. "Stop that. I hate you, remember?" he hisses, Jaejoong providing a nice outlet for the surge.
Jaejoong harrumphs as Junsu goes back to watching Yoochun and Shiwon, then leans in. "You know that's it, right? I dunno what, but that weird feeling is getting stronger. I'm surprised Yunh-"
"You called?"
Junsu closes his eyes and wishes for the hellmouth to open up and swallow him whole. Nothing happens. "You almost got a stake for your birthday," he says as calmly as he can, fixating Yunho with a steely glare. "That cowbell is happening."
Yunho frowns. "It's not my birthday."
Junsu stares. "Okay, not going to use that piece of wit anymore." Jaejoong snickers and earns himself a smack. "Peanut gallery is not allowed to laugh. Now, would you both shut the fuck up so I can figure out what the hell this guy is?"
Shiwon, it turns out, is very good at hiding whatever it is he is. Jaejoong and Yunho both insist on accompanying Junsu as he follows Shiwon to Yoochun's house and makes sure Yoochun gets home okay.
"You think he's gonna kiss him goodnight?" Junsu asks softly, fiddling with his stake.
"Which he are you talking about where?" Yunho asks.
"Um, either," Junsu replies, eyes narrowing as Shiwon begins to lean. "Shit. I can't watch." Junsu hides his face into Yunho's arm. "Tell anyone and you both die," he adds, upon the thought of both how he's acting and who he's acting like this against.
"Whoa," Jaejoong says, and the tone of it has Junsu looking up immediately, then instantly wishing he hadn't. "That's one hell of a liplock. That guy's pretty touchy-feely, too."
"I'm going to kill him," Junsu says furiously. "Slowly. He's going to learn the meaning of the word torture."
"Considering he's probably a demon, I'm sure he already knows what torture means," Yunho says unhelpfully.
Junsu sighs and shakes his head. "I give up. You're just eternally damned to be an idiot." Junsu jumps up as Shiwon lets go of Yoochun - finally - and they go their separate ways. "If you guys are coming, then c'mon!" he whispers hurriedly, eyes on Shiwon, wary.
They follow Shiwon to the college campus, where he disappears, not into the dorms, but behind the building. Junsu snarls softly, seeing nothing but the red imprint of Shiwon with his hands and lips all over Yoochun. By the time they cross the parking lot and follow, Shiwon's gone. Junsu curses, kicking the building fiercely. "Where could he have gone?"
"Uh, he didn't take everything with him," Jaejoong says.
Junsu frowns, moving closer. "What do you- oh. Oh god." There's a pile of skin laying in a sickening heap next to the dumpster, still steaming with warmth in the cool, autumn air.
--
"Skin demon," Changmin says, making his way down the stairs with a book in hand. "They steal... well, skin." He sighs, setting the book down. "Picky bastards, from the looks of it. They wear the skin as long as they can, and start searching for another perfect victim long before they'll need to change."
"Perfect victim?" Junsu says, trepidation like bugs beneath his own skin. "Yoochun. Fuck, I need to warn him."
"It's too late, Junsu," Changmin says, shaking his head. "Yoochun's been hypnotized, probably from the first night, when the two of you-" Changmin clears his throat at Junsu's pointed stare. "-When you saved him."
"So, Shiwon's got him under a spell, big deal. I'll kill Shiwon and Yoochun'll be fine after a good night's sleep." Junsu heads for the armory. "How do I kill him?" Changmin's silent for far too long. Junsu backs up and turns, feeling sick. "Changmin?"
Changmin sighs, sitting down. "You're not going to like it."
"Tell me," Junsu says, voice low. "I have to save Yoochun, Changmin."
"If you kill Shiwon, you'll kill Yoochun, too," Changmin says quietly, avoiding Junsu's gaze. "Shiwon's using this spell to bond with Yoochun, to bond with Yoochun's skin, you could say. So it doesn't reject him, much like an organ donor. If it's been going on this long... then yes, severing the bond could kill Yoochun."
Junsu doesn't say anything, a mixture of panic, raw anger and hysteria creeping through him. He laughs, high-pitched and strangled even to his own ears. "You- you're joking. You're pulling my leg, Changmin. God, you trickster." But Changmin's never been one to play pranks and the sad look he's suddenly giving Junsu as Junsu collapses to the floor reminds him of this, painfully. The laughter fades and Junsu swallows through the lump in his throat, ignoring the sting in his eyes. "I- I can't kill Yoochun. There's got to be another way."
"I'll keep looking," Changmin says, still soft-spoken. "We'll save Yoochun, Junsu. Somehow." Changmin makes his way to Junsu, pulling him close. "Go home and get some sleep. Shiwon can't make a move until the skin he's wearing has completely decayed." Changmin leans back, expression soft, but determined. "I need you to be strong, okay? Like you always are."
Junsu sighs, nodding. "Yeah. I am kind of tired. I guess losing a night's worth of sleep does that to you." He lets Changmin help him up and nods again, like he's trying to tell himself he's fine, it'll all be okay. "I'll see you tonight."
Changmin pushes Junsu to the door. "Yeah, tonight. I'll be here and we'll have a way to save Yoochun."
Junsu's glad his mom's out of town on business. He'd have a time explaining why he's coming home in yesterday's clothes and smelling like death - probably looking like it, too. Changmin'll cover for him as far as school goes. French can wait. Junsu sees Yoochun heading up the stairs and wants desperately to run after him, to tell him that he is jealous, that he's going to stop this mess and save Yoochun again, like all the other times. He wants to kiss Yoochun like Shiwon did, tell him he's sorry.
Junsu does none of those things.
--
"Junsu, help me," Yoochun says, his skin peeling away from his bones layer by layer, with a sickening wet sound that seems to echo forever. "I need you, Junsu. Please."
Junsu wakes in a cold sweat, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. He reaches for his phone. "Changmin," he says, when Changmin picks up, "Have you found anything?"
"No. We're still looking. Did you sleep well?"
"Not really," Junsu says, remembering the way Yoochun pleaded with him. He doesn't even bother to ask who 'we' is. "Bad dreams. I'll be there in a minute."
When Junsu gets to the library, Yunho's there, and strangely, Jaejoong as well. Yunho, Junsu had been expecting. "God, this day just gets better and better," Junsu mutters, easing himself carefully into a chair despite the want to flop sulkily. "So, we're still square one?"
"Yes," Changmin says, sounding tired, defeated. Junsu doesn't like that one bit, and suddenly feels selfish and ashamed for thinking it. Changmin's probably going on less sleep then him. "Most demons, they don't deal with magics like this, so there's no records on how to stop it. And we have no witches on hand to consult for possible magical counterattacks, so."
Jaejoong sighs loudly, sprawled out along the stairs lazily. "Why don't you just lock Yoochun up and let Shiwon's skin fall off, or something?" he drawls boredly. "I mean, if you ask me, he seems pretty touchy and don't some magics require touch or eye contact?"
Changmin perks up. "Jaejoong, you might have something." Changmin's gone in a flurry of papers, disappearing into his office. "I seem to remember a book of magics in here somewhere, I just can't seem to find it," he calls, obviously miffed.
"Um, would it be called 'A Book of Magicks, Near and Far?" Yunho says, lips pursed at a book that fell to the floor with Changmin's hasty departure.
Changmin rushes back into the main room, flustered. "Er, yes. That's it. Anyway." He picks it up, flipping through pages. "Ah, there we go. Jaejoong's right. And if this is the kind of magics we're dealing with, then yes, keeping them separated should sever the bond." Changmin looks up and at Jaejoong, his expression a cross between horror and awe. "Dear God, Jaejoong just saved Yoochun."
Junsu gapes along with Changmin, confused. Jaejoong takes note of this and winks. "So, babe. Tomorrow, after sunset, my place?"
Junsu recovers and rolls his eyes. "In your undead dreams, Jaejoong."
Yunho clears his throat, as if reminding everyone that he's still there, being ignored. "So, what's the plan?"
"Well, we need to get Yoochun away from Shiwon. I'd say it's nearly time for him to switch skins, since the three of you found a fair bit of his current one last night," Changmin says, setting his book aside and making for the armory. "And since Yoochun's not himself right now, you may need to use force. I've got some tranquilizers left from the werewolf incident, so if I lower the dose, he should only be out for an hour, maybe two. Yunho, Jaejoong, can you two take care of Shiwon while Junsu gets Yoochun somewhere safe?"
"We're on it," Yunho says over Jaejoong's audible and displeased groan. "At any rate, we can just keep him busy long enough for Junsu to do what he needs to, and then get out of dodge."
"Okay," Junsu agrees, taking the duffel Changmin hands him. "But when this is all over, I'm letting him know this shooting him thing was your idea."
--
"Alright, there they are," Junsu whispers, gun in hand. He's shaking all over, partly from adrenaline and partly because he's about to shoot his best friend. Sure, it's tranquilizer, but he's shooting his best friend. There's probably something written in the BFFL Codes against this sort of thing.
"Chill, love," Jaejoong says, rolling his eyes. "You're gonna mess around and miss, quaking in your boots like that."
"Would you stop calling me that?" Junsu hisses as they creep around a tree and crouch, waiting for the cue from Yunho, who's across the way. "I'm not your 'love'. I'm Junsu, and I'll be Junsu the Jaejoong Slayer if you do it one more time."
Jaejoong snorts softly, but he does shut up, thankfully. Yunho, meanwhile, holds his hand up, not quite giving the signal yet, but a heads up.
Junsu tenses, everything in him ready to spring. He can feel Jaejoong doing the same, briefly wonders why the fuck Jaejoong is even helping them. He watches with narrowed eyes as Yoochun presses back against the hand Shiwon's got slipping beneath his shirt, anger clouding his vision for a moment. Junsu's breathing harshens and Jaejoong nudges him, setting his focus back on track. "Thanks," Junsu whispers. Then Yunho gives the signal and there's no more time for thinking as they lunge, Yunho and Jaejoong tackling Shiwon to the ground with twin snarls.
Yoochun shouts in alarm, whipping around to face Junsu, stricken. "What the fuck are you doing?" he cries angrily, then begins backing up slowly as he sees the gun Junsu's got aimed at him. "J-Junsu, what-?"
"I'm sorry!" Junsu says, rushed for the way Yunho and Jaejoong seem to be having trouble keeping Shiwon down. Yoochun doesn't even try to run, just stares at Junsu in hurt disbelief. Junsu pulls the trigger and Yoochun goes down with the force of the tranquilizer as it hits him square in the chest, a strangled cry of pain escaping him. "I'm sorry," Junsu says more softly, distracted with how Yoochun looked, betrayed, how he didn't run.
"Junsu, get Yoochun and get the fuck out of here!" Yunho calls, then cries out sharply as Shiwon catches him with a punch to the jaw. Junsu's spurred into action with that, dropping the gun without a second thought. Changmin can just get a new one. Junsu's extremely glad for his slayer strength as he scoops Yoochun up into his arms and takes off, what would probably slow a normal human down only a minor annoyance to him.
Junsu takes Yoochun to Yunho's place, where they'll be above ground, but safe and hidden. Junsu tucks Yoochun into Yunho's bed gently, then sets about removing the tranquilizer from Yoochun's chest and rubbing some numbing salve on the bruise, so that Yoochun is at least physically pain-free when he wakes. Junsu can't make any promises for the mental pain, not with the way Yoochun looked back there.
Junsu paces away the hour, frantic and worried because neither Yunho or Jaejoong have showed up, and Changmin hasn't called to say they showed at the library, either. Yoochun's still asleep, looking peaceful save for the dark circles around his eyes. Junsu wonders if the spell's been affecting Yoochun's sleep, too. Yoochun's always been bad at sleeping, insomnia one of the reasons he's always with Junsu on patrol.
Junsu's so lost in thought that he doesn't register Yoochun's light movement until Yoochun's groaning softly with it, Junsu's name a whisper on his lips. "Yoochun!" Junsu rushes to his side immediately, taking his hand and shaking him awake. "Yoochun, I'm so sorry, I had to do it. It was Changmin's idea, he said you weren't yourself, oh God, Yoochun please say something."
Yoochun blinks at him, eye still glazed over slightly. "Water?" he says softly.
"Oh," Junsu says, not expecting that, then, "OH! Water, right, hang on." He makes for the sink, grabbing the first clean-looking glass he sees and filling it with water. He turns just as Yoochun is lunging for the door, the glazed-over look in his eyes now wild and panicked. "Yoochun!" Junsu yells, running at him. They both grunt loudly as they hit the floor, Junsu straddling Yoochun tightly in an effort to keep him down. "Goddammit, stop, Yoochun, you're in danger!"
Yoochun growls, more furious than Junsu's ever seen him, like an animal. "Let me go, Junsu. Shiwon- I have to get to him, I need him. He needs me, he said so."
Junsu slaps Yoochun hard, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. "Shut the fuck up and listen to me. I need you, Yoochun. I've always needed you." He's breathing hard again, that hot sting back in his eyes. "He's got you under a spell. He's a demon and yes, I'm jealous and I'm sorry I shot you, but I need you, Yoochun. Please. Don't leave me."
Yoochun just keeps staring at Junsu, but the crazed look in his eyes is starting to fade, giving way to a shine that gets caught by the lamplight. "Junsu," Yoochun breathes, "Junsu, I."
"Please," Junsu says again, doesn't care how desperately needy he sounds right now, because he's finally telling Yoochun something he's been keeping locked away for too long.
And then, Yoochun's not Yoochun anymore - or maybe he never was, maybe it was a trick and it worked - snarling and attempting to throw Junsu off in his distracted state. Junsu cries out as Yoochun tips them, his back coming into contact with the concrete floor with no little amount of pain. "Yoochun- you- fuck," Junsu stammers, angry tears blurring his vision. He blinks furiously, clearing them, legs still locked tight around Yoochun's waist as they tussle. Yoochun's strength has never been his strong point, however, and when opportunity presents itself, Junsu's fist connects with Yoochun's jaw, hard. Yoochun slumps against him, out cold, and Junsu holds him tight, face buried in Yoochun's neck.
"I'll kill him, Yoochun. I will."
--
Junsu finds the shackles Changmin packed in the duffel and chains Yoochun to the bed, waiting and feeling ashamed that he even has to do this. He must have hit Yoochun too hard, because Yoochun's jaw begins to darken and he's out for at least another hour. Junsu doesn't exactly keep track of the time, watching Yoochun silently. When Yoochun finally wakes, Junsu can see it's him. He can feel it. "Yoochun," he murmurs, brushing Yoochun's hair out of his face. Yoochun sighs softly, breath hitching halfway, and tilts his head into the touch.
"I'm sorry," Yoochun whispers, "I should have listened to you."
"Don't say that," Junsu says, shaking his head against a wave of emotion he tries to fight back. "It wasn't your fault."
Yoochun laughs bitterly, then winces, moving his jaw experimentally. "Jesus, 'Su, you didn't hold back," he mutters, lifting his eyes. "But. I'm glad you didn't." Junsu shakes, the way Yoochun's looking at him so intense, making him feel like he never felt with Erin, never felt with anyone but Yoochun. "Because I need you, too."
"You remember?" Junsu says on an exhale, not even realizing he'd been holding his breath.
Yoochun nods, swallowing hard. Junsu watches the bob of his adam's apple, brings a finger up to trace the warm skin of Yoochun's throat lightly. Yoochun sucks in a breath sharply. "Yeah. I remember everything."
"Why didn't you run, Yoochun?" Junsu asks quietly, frowning. "You didn't know they were tranqs. You just- you let me shoot you."
"I," Yoochun begins, voice catching. "I knew. I knew you would never hurt me. Even through the haze of that spell, I still knew you."
"Yoochun," Junsu says. "If I ever lost you, I don't know what- I'd die." Junsu moves forward, sliding on top of Yoochun so that he's straddling Yoochun's waist, pressed chest-to-chest. Yoochun watches him the entire time, nothing in his eyes like disgust or rejection. "When he kissed you, I wanted to make him hurt," Junsu admits, hovering so close he can feel Yoochun's breath on his lips. "I wanted to rip him apart limb from limb and then kiss you senseless, make you cling to me like that."
"Fuck, Junsu. Just do it already," Yoochun hisses, completely contradicting himself as he leans up and kisses Junsu roughly. A soft, needy sound escapes between them and Junsu's not sure whose it was, but he certainly doesn't care - not with the way Yoochun's tongue is curling against his own, reducing him to a quivering mess of teenage hormones and more emotion. "I love you," Junsu says breathily, "Don't have to say it back, I just need you to know."
Yoochun laughs, kissing Junsu lightly. "What if I wanna say it back?"
Junsu smiles. "Well, if you want to," he says, maybe prodding Yoochun in the right direction, a little.
Yoochun laughs again, that lively little giggling laugh that makes Junsu's heart skip a beat. "I love you," Yoochun says. "Too, that is."
Junsu giggles and kisses Yoochun again, hips moving this time. Yoochun's groan is clear this time, vibrating against Junsu's chest. Yoochun pushes up against Junsu's movements, only intensifying the incredible feel of it. Junsu kisses Yoochun deeper, harder, working his hand up into Yoochun's shirt to run fingers along the smooth skin there. Yoochun moans softly, arching and shuddering full body, the chains rattling with Yoochun's movement.
"God, this is so kinky," Yoochun breathes between kisses, tugging lightly at Junsu's lower lip. Junsu releases a soft groan of his own at that, dignifying Yoochun's statement with another deep kiss, rather than an actual response.
Then, the door opens and Yunho rushes in. "Junsu, Changmin says the ti- oh. Er, should I come- WAIT, IS THAT MY BED?"
Junsu jumps back hastily, gaping at Yunho and failing to actually come up with words. "I- um. Changmin says what?" he finally gets out, wiping his mouth and stumbling off of Yoochun with a murmured apology and a quick kiss.
"Shiwon? Slayer Wanted?" Jaejoong says, following Yunho in with a smirk on his face that Junsu suddenly wants to punch off. "Someone's kinky."
"Shut up," Junsu says lamely, blushing. "How do we kill him?"
"Lop off the head after his skin's gone, is the general plan," Jaejoong answers, eyeing Yoochun. "We'll watch Yoochun while you go, make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
Junsu's eyes narrow. "Touch him, and all those threats will happen. Really."
Yunho shoves Junsu to the door. "I'll make sure Jaejoong doesn't mess with him, don't worry. Go do your thing. Yoochun'll be here when you get back," he says softly, smiling.
Junsu nods. "Alright. Um. Thanks." He glances over at Yoochun, who nods, says, "Don't worry about me, go," waving his fingers towards the door. Junsu sighs, axe in hand, and takes off. Now that he's got Yoochun safe, he's in the mood to do some major ass-kicking.
--
Junsu finds Shiwon's trail easily enough, pieces of skin leading away from Yoochun's house. It leads him to the abandoned warehouse near Mirotic, one Junsu knows all too well. It seems most big bads love it, as he can't even count on fingers the number of times he's fought one here. "You know," he calls as he steps inside, axe at the ready, "You could have picked a more original place to hide. I've been here, done this way too many times before."
"Oh, is supposed to be the witty banter part?" Shiwon's familiar voice echoes, distorted so that Junsu's not sure where it's coming from. "Where you and I exchange cute little comebacks and then you kill me?"
"Actually, yeah," Junsu says, gleeful. "That's exactly what's going to happen. I'm so happy you're not in denial."
Shiwon lands in front of Junsu suddenly, but strangely, he's all skin, instead of what Junsu was hoping. Shiwon looks up and smiles a familiar smile. Too familiar - it's Yoochun's. "Too bad you're going to kill your boyfriend, too."
Junsu nearly drops the axe. "N-No, this isn't. The spell was broken. Yoochun was Yoochun," he says, disbelieving.
"Awww, is the Slayer going to cry?" Shiwon teases with Yoochun's voice, Yoochun's eyes glittering predatorily at him. "Think you can really kill me? Kill Yoochun? I don't think you can."
"You're not Yoochun," Junsu says, anger shaking his voice. "And the spell broke."
"Then why am I wearing his skin?" Shiwon cocks his head, and for a moment, it's Shiwon Junsu can see. "Or at least, parts of it. In a few hours, he'll be gone. I just need to take care of a certain... problem." And with that, Shiwon attacks with an inhuman sound that sends chills up Junsu's spine. Junsu twists to the side, swinging the axe. Shiwon ducks, laughing like Yoochun, except Yoochun's laugh has never made Junsu cringe in repulsion. "That all you got, Slayer?" Shiwon taunts, charging again.
This time, Junsu's not able to move fast enough and Shiwon knocks him down, a grunt escaping him as he momentarily forgets to breathe through the pain. He's quick to recover though, after too much practice, and kicks Shiwon away, flipping to his feet.
They circle one another warily, like animals, Shiwon's eyes gleaming as light hits them. They're completely black. "This is going to be the last time you'll have to worry about fighting here," Shiwon says, laughing again, playing off of Junsu's earlier wit.
"Thought you didn't want the banter?" Junsu asks breathlessly, moving forward with a high kick that Shiwon catches, sending Junsu spinning into the wall. Junsu gasps, shaking his head against the sudden wave of pain. "That all you got?" he continues as he picks himself up, just as Shiwon's coming after him again. He ducks, but Shiwon's not some dumb vampire and stops himself before he hits the wall, twisting to land a punch in Junsu's gut.
Junsu grunts, stumbling to the side, arm swinging wildly for anything he can use as a weapon. His fingers close around a thick iron rod and he swings it, knocking Shiwon to the floor. He tosses the rod away and makes for the axe, but Shiwon's not going down that easily, and before Junsu knows it, he's being tackled to the floor himself.
"Nope, plenty more where this came from," Shiwon growls in Yoochun's voice, and the anger of being so close to losing Yoochun gives Junsu a surge of energy. He throws his head back, wincing as it connects with Shiwon's chin, the snap more felt than heard. Shiwon cries out in pain and falls back, and Junsu takes advantage of that to twist and kick out full-force, sending Shiwon sliding across the floor.
"Too bad," Junsu says, spitting blood, "I was hoping for more of a challenge." Shiwon growls loudly, his face morphing between Yoochun's and his own in his rage and loss of control. Junsu flips back to his feet again just as Shiwon picks himself up and lunges. Shiwon just barely catches Junsu off-guard with a mean right hook, but Junsu's slight duck to the side means he doesn't get the brunt of it, and he comes back around swinging, grabbing Shiwon's head and smashing it into his knee.
Shiwon's rage is not so easily laughed off now, as the demon's beginning to gather strength in his desperate state. Shiwon's punches and kicks are more than a little pain now, and Junsu thinks his nose might be broken. Junsu yells as Shiwon gets the upper hand for a split second, all he really needs, and tosses Junsu across the room, the axe just within reach. But Shiwon's too quick and he's on top of Junsu before Junsu can even try to reach out for the weapon.
Shiwon grins ferally with Yoochun's lips, the ones Junsu kissed not so long ago, and wraps fingers around Junsu's throat, squeezing too-tight. Junsu gasps for air, struggling beneath Shiwon's weight in a panic, closing his eyes tightly.
Yoochun's face, his real face, flashes in Junsu's mind and with a yell, Junsu brings his knee up into Shiwon's groin. Shiwon howls in pain, tumbling over, and Junsu scrambles off to the side, choking and breathing hard. He grabs the axe just as Shiwon reaches for his ankle, and swings.
Shiwon's head falls to the floor with a dull thump and Junsu watches in horror as the skin peels from his bones with horrible squelching sounds, steaming and hissing as it melts into the floor. "Gross," Junsu says aptly, then remembers, "Yoochun."
When Junsu barges into Yunho's place, bloody, breathing erratically and eyes probably as big as dinner plates, the first thing he sees is Yoochun, still chained to the bed. "Yoochun. Are you Yoochun? Are you okay?" he asks, rushed.
Yoochun shakes the chains, frustrated-like. "What? Junsu, it's me, you dolt. What the fuck, did you kill him, am I okay now?"
Junsu moves swiftly, yanking on the chains fiercely. They snap as if they were made of twigs, and Junsu tugs Yoochun up, kissing him hard. Yoochun moans instantly, wrapping arms around Junsu's waist tightly as he kisses back despite Junsu's current state of grossness. Junsu's never been so happy to feel Yoochun's skin.
"H-hey. HEY. THAT'S STILL MY BED!"
--
"Well, I'm not sure why it didn't kill Yoochun," Changmin says, frowning down at the book of magics, thoughtful. "By all rights, it should have, if Shiwon was wearing Yoochun's skin."
Yoochun shudders in Junsu's arms, groaning softly. "Please never say that again. It's bad enough I kissed that thing, but to think of him wearing my skin? Just. Ugh."
Junsu kisses Yoochun's ear to placate him. "'Sokay, I took care of him. And honestly, I think you look a lot better in your skin than he did," he says, smiling.
Yoochun snorts with a low, teasing, "Flatterer," and Changmin glares at them. "Stop that, this is still a public place where anyone can walk in and see you. Do you want me to get a bad reputation?"
Junsu laughs and hugs Yoochun tighter. "C'mon, Changmin, be nice. We've had a rough couple of days."
Changmin walks over and pries them apart, walking Yoochun over to the chair across the table and sitting him down in it. "Authority figure equals me. Remember this," he says, raising a brow as if daring them to make a crack about how he's actually younger than them both.
Junsu decides to keep his mouth shut on that topic and goes back to the previous one, instead. "So, what do you think is the reason Yoochun's still here?"
"Well, love, maybe," Changmin says, contemplative again. "Love, after all, is one of the most powerful mystic forces there is." He nods, pleased with himself. "Yes, I'd say that's it."
"Great," Junsu says, winking at Yoochun. "So, since I'm celebrating love, this great, mystical force, can I take a break from patrolling tonight?"
--
"You'd think he'd lighten up, seeing us so happy. D'you think he's just jealous?" Junsu says, twirling a stake.
Yoochun hums from behind him, fingers cool as they slip beneath the hem of Junsu's shirt. Junsu arches slightly. "Maybe. Jealousy does strange things to people, after all," Yoochun says, the teasing tone in his voice obvious.
"Hey, was that a dig at me, mister?" Junsu says, twisting a little to eye Yoochun down. "Because, you know, we haven't went any further than kissing and if you were hoping for it, I'm not so sure that's going to help your case any."
Yoochun pouts and Junsu doesn't even try to resist the urge to lean in and kiss it away. Junsu's not really sure how much times passes, since Yoochun's started doing that thing with his tongue again - the really nice one that makes Junsu hard instantly - but there's a familiar growl in the distance that has Junsu breaking the kiss with much reluctance. "Duty calls," he says woefully, hopping off the headstone.
Of course, what he sees is nothing like what he's expecting - Yunho and Jaejoong, kissing like the end of the world is nigh and there's nothing more they'd rather do that see whose tongue can go farthest down each others' throats. Probably what breaks Junsu out of his horrified trance is not that, but Jaejoong's hand disappearing into the waistband of Yunho's pants, and the moan Yunho gives at whatever happens down there. Instead of 'what the hell is going on', a sort of gurgling sound comes out of Junsu's mouth. Yunho and Jaejoong break apart jumpily, Yunho with a wide-eyed look of 'oh shit' and Jaejoong with a smirk. "Wanna join in?" Jaejoong asks, fingering at the collar of Yunho's shirt. Yunho bats his hand away and it's then Junsu realizes that vampires can blush.
"Um, no," Junsu says, thinking the phrase 'scarred for life' fits this moment to a t. "In fact, I'd really rather just forget I ever saw this. Ever."
"Er, that sounds like a plan," Yunho says, nodding. "We'll just be going now."
Jaejoong leers, hand disappearing again, which results in a jumpy yelp from Yunho shortly after, followed by a glare. "Stop that," Yunho hisses, shoving Jaejoong into the shadows.
"Well," Yoochun says, hooking his chin over Junsu's shoulder. "At least they won't be lusting or brooding after you now."
"Hey, didn't we agree that you'd stop following me into the face of danger?" Junsu asks, not really annoyed at all, and turns in Yoochun's arms.
Yoochun grins, hands sliding down Junsu's back to cup his ass and pull him flush against Yoochun. The contact startles a soft sound from Junsu. "But. I really like following you," Yoochun replies, grin widening.
"You're awful," Junsu says, but he leans in and rewards Yoochun for the quip, anyway. "So, wanna go back to mine?" Junsu licks at Yoochun's lips. "Mom's still out of town."
"Sounds like a plan," Yoochun says, nipping at Junsu's chin. "You can get under my skin all night long, baby."
Junsu decides to let that one slide. There's plenty of time for comebacks later.
--
And then, there was still slaying. There were still vampires and demons and hellmouth knew what else out there, but at least now, Junsu had Yoochun to make everything better at the end of the day.
Plus, Yoochun was better in bed than Erin was, anyway.