Round 08: Flammable
Title: Flammable
Team: AU
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: 2PM
Pairing: Chansung/Taecyeon; troll!Wooyoung
Summary: The wish to burn away the things that cause pain could possibly bring even more pain.
Author's Note: A big giant THANK YOU to everyone who has encouraged me and put up with me throughout this process (changing stories over and over, disappearing and reappearing at random times, etc). However, through it all, we stuck it out together, and I am happy that I got to write by the side of such an AUsome team. Finally, thank you to all who decides to read this fic. I hope it is worth your time and that you enjoy it. Happy reading, and thank you for reading!
Prompt Used: 2AM - I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me
The cold rain tapped furiously on the windows of Chansung's bedroom as the young man laid in bed. At that time of night, most people would be fast asleep. However, Chansung was very wide awake. He had no ounce of tiredness in him. His mind was too active with all the recent, tragic events. Even though it happened a week ago and people were settling back into normal routine again, Chansung knew things were far from normal. Things would never be normal with him ever again.
He knew what he was about to do was nothing but torture to himself, but he had to look. Chansung shuffled over to the closet on the other side of his bed. He reached down to grab the thing filled with all his precious moments and memories of his dear friend who was no longer here. Holding the photo album close to him, he sat on the corner of the bed and took a deep breath.
After a few, agonizing moments, Chansung began to flip the pages of his photo album, not minding how time was steadily passing by. Right now, he was in a whole different time, which was very far away from the current.
A picture of when he and his friend were in grade school together.
A picture of their winning a football tournament in junior high.
A picture of when they graduated high school together.
A picture of their eating dinner in their college dorm for the first time.
The final picture they took together...right before everything went crashing down.
Chansung was crashing down right along with it all. Hard.
Why am I doing this to myself, he thought.
He held the photo album close to his chest and closed his eyes to envision Taecyeon. All the memories he carried in his arms in that moment, Chansung allowed them all to replay through his mind. He started to hear the infectious laughter. He started to see that sincere smile. Everything about his friend weaved throughout his senses. It was like he never left the dorm on that Monday evening. It was like he never got rushed to the hospital. It was like Taecyeon never took his final breath, staring up at Chansung with a peaceful smile.
A crash of thunder rang loudly, bringing a shocked and dazed Chansung back to current reality. This reality was cold, not warm like some of his memories. On the other hand, some of those memories continued to burn, and they burned with an intensity that made Chansung's heart ache terribly.
Burning...if only that were a solution. If only that were the way to get rid of this pain Chansung has been carrying these past several days. If he could burn away this heartache, then he would be alright, right? He could move on like everyone else around him. He could smile a genuine smile to the people that passed his way in the university hallways.
“Then, burn, “Chansung whispered as he fell asleep on his bed. “Let it all burn.”
If this boy so desperately asks for it, then it shall be.
“What?!”
Chansung bolted upright at the voice, the photo album still clutched to his chest. Who was that? He was the only one in this dorm.
“Who said that?”
I did.
Chansung looked around his room, but all he could see was his pile of books, empty dinner box, and messy pile of clothes.
“Okay, guys, if this is a practical joke, this is not funny. Just stop.”
With that, Chansung flopped back into bed.
Look again, boy.
Chansung honestly did not see the point of going along with this stupid game that his classmates might be playing on him, but he went on and sat up to take another look around. What was he supposed to be looking for anyway?
Then, it hit him. He didn’t know how or why, but he just knew.
A tiny flame wobbling back and forth on a small wick of a candle on the table.
Whoever was playing this prank on him was trying to get Chansung in trouble for sure. Candles were not allowed in this dorm, and if the school officials found out about this, they would definitely place him and other students involved on suspension (or even expulsion if they are serious enough).
“That’s it! When I find out who did this, you are in big trouble,” Chansung snarled.
He got up and walked to the table to blow out the candle, but what happened next shocked him.
The tiny flame grew into a bigger flame and practically danced around in front of Chansung’s face as if to taunt him.
Chansung, scared of the bewildering sight before him, backed away from the table with arms and hands covering his face. “Wo-Woah! What the heck is this?”
Chansung was so preoccupied in trying to get away from the fire that he didn’t see one of the stacks of books located behind him. It was unfortunate because Chansung tripped over said stacks of books and fell right on his butt.
“Ugh,” Chansung whelped. The pain was searing, but his focus was still transfixed on the growing flame hovering over his table. He had a strong feeling that all of this was not a prank anymore.
As if that sight alone was not enough, the flame started transforming into a human-like shape, and soon the embers of the fire vanished completely in a flash of light, leaving behind a figure of a human-like male. His eyes glowed a mischievous red, and his clothes gave signs of being singed, but that did not appear to bother this man at all.
“Why do you fret so, human? Was it not you that summoned me here?”
All this time, Chansung was backing up further and further until he was sure his back was imprinted in the wall. No, none of this was a prank anymore. This was a dream. A wild, nonsensical dream.
“S-summon you? I did?”
You wished for things to be burned. A wish that burns with the same fervor of a wildfire. Those who wish with this insatiable passion summon forth beings such as I to grant the wish.
Chansung was still in a state of shock and awe. Was this for real? Was this whole thing not a dream like he thought it was? His body trembled from all the mixture of feelings and questions that were burning inside him.
“Who are you?”
“I am Wooyoung, the flame who is capable of burning all. All things that ones wish to burn I shall burn. Everything is flammable under my touch.”
Chansung considered Wooyoung’s words. Everything. Even his own memories? No, that’s impossible. One cannot burn memories, no matter how much Chansung wanted to.
Right?
Do you doubt my word, human?
Was this guy...being...whatever he was...a mind reader?
“I...would like to know how you would burn a memory. Memories can’t be burned.”
Wooyoung smiled widely, his grin alone enough to set the room ablaze.
As I just said...everythingis flammable under my touch.
Chansung was still doubtful, but Wooyoung really seemed very sure in himself. Chansung never imagined how a memory could be burned. Then again, he never imagined a fire being/creature/thing would ignite itself in the middle of his dorm room and start speaking to him about burning memories in the first place.
Yet here they were....
Your photo album.
Chansung stared in confusion at Wooyoung for a moment. What would his photo album do with anything?
You wish for proof, correct?
Chansung nodded dumbly. Yeah, he did ask for proof. But still...
Then bring me your photo album, human. It will act as the conduit to your real memories.
Chansung, who is still unsure of what in the world Wooyoung was up to, went to retrieve his photo album. He peered longingly down at the collage of pictures and photographs. There were so many memories here. Happy memories. However, they brought so much scorching pain to Chansung’s heart to the point where he thought he could not bear it anymore.
He had to do this. He had to do this to regain his sanity.
Chansung hugged the photo album closer to him as he walked closer and closer back to Wooyoung.
Hand one of the pictures to me.
Chansung opened the album once more and flipped to a random page. Interestingly enough, it was the very last picture he was looking at earlier that rainy night.
They had just moved into their new dorm room and wanted to celebrate by utilizing the cooking area for the first time.
Chansung told his roommate that what better way to break in their new kitchen than to cook some bulgogi.
Funny thing was that Chansung had no idea how to cook bulgogi. It was just a way for him to annoy his friend into teaching him how to cook it.
Taecyeon, the always good-natured fellow that he was, had no qualms with teaching Chansung how to cook bulgogi though. In the end, they were a pretty good team and pulled off the dinner. Sure, Chansung may have had a hand in singeing the meat, but still...it turned out fine.
Only for things to reduce to ash soon after.
If it truly has come to this, then let’s put this to ashes right now.
Chansung let the thought linger in his mind a little longer before gingerly slipping the photo out of the book. He glanced over it one last time before handing it to Wooyoung.
You wish to see me exercise my power. Is this truly the photo of your choice, human?
Chansung gave a firm nod. He was sure. He was absolutely sure.
Very well. Then may this memory incinerate, never to see light again.
Incinerate....
Never see light...
This memory will be...completely and utterly destroyed....
That joyful memory....
“Wai--”
It was too late. The photo of Taecyeon and Chansung’s sitting at the dinner table and enjoying their first and last bulgogi dinner together burst into a flare.
Chansung could feel hot tears emitting from his eyes. What had he done?
Suddenly, a scalding pain etched its way into Chansung’s mind.
“Wha-what’s going...on...”
Chansung fell to his knees in a daze, watching the last remnants of the bulgogi memory melt and wither. He desperately reached out to Taecyeon’s smiling face which steadily became lost in the flames.
“No....NO! Bring it back!”
The fire showed no mercy though. It devoured all that was within that memory and continued to feast despite Chansung’s pleas of anguish.
“YAH! Wooyoung! Make it stop!”
I cannot stop the flames, human. I can only ignite it and set its path. With these flames, all your memories in relation to the human whom you call Taecyeon shall be smoldered and consumed.
“WHAT?! I thought this was a test!”
Chansung was practically shouting. Not because the noise of the fire within his mind was upsetting him. It was the actual charring and burning that was inflicting him a great deal of insufferable pain that just made him want to scream and shout.
You underestimate the power of fire, human. Fire grows and grows and feeds and feeds until something can quench it. As long as there is life, that fire will burn. Also, because your memories act as chains, those flames will only go from one chain to the other and continue to eat away your memories until nothing is left.
Chansung ground his teeth, his heated tears falling from his eyes as he watched all his precious memories burn to ash and cripple under the power of the flames.
You humans who wish for burnings tend to forget just how powerful a burning can be. It is this forgetfulness that leads you all into trouble. Trouble that you are in right now.
Chansung wailed and fell flat on his face, grasping his head as if to try to stop the fire itself.
However, despite your trouble, I can do nothing about it. I can only stand here and watch the wish come to complete fulfillment.
At this point, Chansung was just a writhing mess on the dorm floor. Everything was going up in a blaze. Everything.
Things that he thought were causing him so much pain before were now causing him even greater pain to see them flicker away. Good memories that had nothing to do with the bad memories were also going up in smoke.
Tonight, Chansung learned how flammable memories were.
If only he knew what memories were...
If only he knew who he even was...
Poll Round 08: Flammable
Team: AU
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: 2PM
Pairing: Chansung/Taecyeon; troll!Wooyoung
Summary: The wish to burn away the things that cause pain could possibly bring even more pain.
Author's Note: A big giant THANK YOU to everyone who has encouraged me and put up with me throughout this process (changing stories over and over, disappearing and reappearing at random times, etc). However, through it all, we stuck it out together, and I am happy that I got to write by the side of such an AUsome team. Finally, thank you to all who decides to read this fic. I hope it is worth your time and that you enjoy it. Happy reading, and thank you for reading!
Prompt Used: 2AM - I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me
The cold rain tapped furiously on the windows of Chansung's bedroom as the young man laid in bed. At that time of night, most people would be fast asleep. However, Chansung was very wide awake. He had no ounce of tiredness in him. His mind was too active with all the recent, tragic events. Even though it happened a week ago and people were settling back into normal routine again, Chansung knew things were far from normal. Things would never be normal with him ever again.
He knew what he was about to do was nothing but torture to himself, but he had to look. Chansung shuffled over to the closet on the other side of his bed. He reached down to grab the thing filled with all his precious moments and memories of his dear friend who was no longer here. Holding the photo album close to him, he sat on the corner of the bed and took a deep breath.
After a few, agonizing moments, Chansung began to flip the pages of his photo album, not minding how time was steadily passing by. Right now, he was in a whole different time, which was very far away from the current.
A picture of when he and his friend were in grade school together.
A picture of their winning a football tournament in junior high.
A picture of when they graduated high school together.
A picture of their eating dinner in their college dorm for the first time.
The final picture they took together...right before everything went crashing down.
Chansung was crashing down right along with it all. Hard.
Why am I doing this to myself, he thought.
He held the photo album close to his chest and closed his eyes to envision Taecyeon. All the memories he carried in his arms in that moment, Chansung allowed them all to replay through his mind. He started to hear the infectious laughter. He started to see that sincere smile. Everything about his friend weaved throughout his senses. It was like he never left the dorm on that Monday evening. It was like he never got rushed to the hospital. It was like Taecyeon never took his final breath, staring up at Chansung with a peaceful smile.
A crash of thunder rang loudly, bringing a shocked and dazed Chansung back to current reality. This reality was cold, not warm like some of his memories. On the other hand, some of those memories continued to burn, and they burned with an intensity that made Chansung's heart ache terribly.
Burning...if only that were a solution. If only that were the way to get rid of this pain Chansung has been carrying these past several days. If he could burn away this heartache, then he would be alright, right? He could move on like everyone else around him. He could smile a genuine smile to the people that passed his way in the university hallways.
“Then, burn, “Chansung whispered as he fell asleep on his bed. “Let it all burn.”
If this boy so desperately asks for it, then it shall be.
“What?!”
Chansung bolted upright at the voice, the photo album still clutched to his chest. Who was that? He was the only one in this dorm.
“Who said that?”
I did.
Chansung looked around his room, but all he could see was his pile of books, empty dinner box, and messy pile of clothes.
“Okay, guys, if this is a practical joke, this is not funny. Just stop.”
With that, Chansung flopped back into bed.
Look again, boy.
Chansung honestly did not see the point of going along with this stupid game that his classmates might be playing on him, but he went on and sat up to take another look around. What was he supposed to be looking for anyway?
Then, it hit him. He didn’t know how or why, but he just knew.
A tiny flame wobbling back and forth on a small wick of a candle on the table.
Whoever was playing this prank on him was trying to get Chansung in trouble for sure. Candles were not allowed in this dorm, and if the school officials found out about this, they would definitely place him and other students involved on suspension (or even expulsion if they are serious enough).
“That’s it! When I find out who did this, you are in big trouble,” Chansung snarled.
He got up and walked to the table to blow out the candle, but what happened next shocked him.
The tiny flame grew into a bigger flame and practically danced around in front of Chansung’s face as if to taunt him.
Chansung, scared of the bewildering sight before him, backed away from the table with arms and hands covering his face. “Wo-Woah! What the heck is this?”
Chansung was so preoccupied in trying to get away from the fire that he didn’t see one of the stacks of books located behind him. It was unfortunate because Chansung tripped over said stacks of books and fell right on his butt.
“Ugh,” Chansung whelped. The pain was searing, but his focus was still transfixed on the growing flame hovering over his table. He had a strong feeling that all of this was not a prank anymore.
As if that sight alone was not enough, the flame started transforming into a human-like shape, and soon the embers of the fire vanished completely in a flash of light, leaving behind a figure of a human-like male. His eyes glowed a mischievous red, and his clothes gave signs of being singed, but that did not appear to bother this man at all.
“Why do you fret so, human? Was it not you that summoned me here?”
All this time, Chansung was backing up further and further until he was sure his back was imprinted in the wall. No, none of this was a prank anymore. This was a dream. A wild, nonsensical dream.
“S-summon you? I did?”
You wished for things to be burned. A wish that burns with the same fervor of a wildfire. Those who wish with this insatiable passion summon forth beings such as I to grant the wish.
Chansung was still in a state of shock and awe. Was this for real? Was this whole thing not a dream like he thought it was? His body trembled from all the mixture of feelings and questions that were burning inside him.
“Who are you?”
“I am Wooyoung, the flame who is capable of burning all. All things that ones wish to burn I shall burn. Everything is flammable under my touch.”
Chansung considered Wooyoung’s words. Everything. Even his own memories? No, that’s impossible. One cannot burn memories, no matter how much Chansung wanted to.
Right?
Do you doubt my word, human?
Was this guy...being...whatever he was...a mind reader?
“I...would like to know how you would burn a memory. Memories can’t be burned.”
Wooyoung smiled widely, his grin alone enough to set the room ablaze.
As I just said...everythingis flammable under my touch.
Chansung was still doubtful, but Wooyoung really seemed very sure in himself. Chansung never imagined how a memory could be burned. Then again, he never imagined a fire being/creature/thing would ignite itself in the middle of his dorm room and start speaking to him about burning memories in the first place.
Yet here they were....
Your photo album.
Chansung stared in confusion at Wooyoung for a moment. What would his photo album do with anything?
You wish for proof, correct?
Chansung nodded dumbly. Yeah, he did ask for proof. But still...
Then bring me your photo album, human. It will act as the conduit to your real memories.
Chansung, who is still unsure of what in the world Wooyoung was up to, went to retrieve his photo album. He peered longingly down at the collage of pictures and photographs. There were so many memories here. Happy memories. However, they brought so much scorching pain to Chansung’s heart to the point where he thought he could not bear it anymore.
He had to do this. He had to do this to regain his sanity.
Chansung hugged the photo album closer to him as he walked closer and closer back to Wooyoung.
Hand one of the pictures to me.
Chansung opened the album once more and flipped to a random page. Interestingly enough, it was the very last picture he was looking at earlier that rainy night.
They had just moved into their new dorm room and wanted to celebrate by utilizing the cooking area for the first time.
Chansung told his roommate that what better way to break in their new kitchen than to cook some bulgogi.
Funny thing was that Chansung had no idea how to cook bulgogi. It was just a way for him to annoy his friend into teaching him how to cook it.
Taecyeon, the always good-natured fellow that he was, had no qualms with teaching Chansung how to cook bulgogi though. In the end, they were a pretty good team and pulled off the dinner. Sure, Chansung may have had a hand in singeing the meat, but still...it turned out fine.
Only for things to reduce to ash soon after.
If it truly has come to this, then let’s put this to ashes right now.
Chansung let the thought linger in his mind a little longer before gingerly slipping the photo out of the book. He glanced over it one last time before handing it to Wooyoung.
You wish to see me exercise my power. Is this truly the photo of your choice, human?
Chansung gave a firm nod. He was sure. He was absolutely sure.
Very well. Then may this memory incinerate, never to see light again.
Incinerate....
Never see light...
This memory will be...completely and utterly destroyed....
That joyful memory....
“Wai--”
It was too late. The photo of Taecyeon and Chansung’s sitting at the dinner table and enjoying their first and last bulgogi dinner together burst into a flare.
Chansung could feel hot tears emitting from his eyes. What had he done?
Suddenly, a scalding pain etched its way into Chansung’s mind.
“Wha-what’s going...on...”
Chansung fell to his knees in a daze, watching the last remnants of the bulgogi memory melt and wither. He desperately reached out to Taecyeon’s smiling face which steadily became lost in the flames.
“No....NO! Bring it back!”
The fire showed no mercy though. It devoured all that was within that memory and continued to feast despite Chansung’s pleas of anguish.
“YAH! Wooyoung! Make it stop!”
I cannot stop the flames, human. I can only ignite it and set its path. With these flames, all your memories in relation to the human whom you call Taecyeon shall be smoldered and consumed.
“WHAT?! I thought this was a test!”
Chansung was practically shouting. Not because the noise of the fire within his mind was upsetting him. It was the actual charring and burning that was inflicting him a great deal of insufferable pain that just made him want to scream and shout.
You underestimate the power of fire, human. Fire grows and grows and feeds and feeds until something can quench it. As long as there is life, that fire will burn. Also, because your memories act as chains, those flames will only go from one chain to the other and continue to eat away your memories until nothing is left.
Chansung ground his teeth, his heated tears falling from his eyes as he watched all his precious memories burn to ash and cripple under the power of the flames.
You humans who wish for burnings tend to forget just how powerful a burning can be. It is this forgetfulness that leads you all into trouble. Trouble that you are in right now.
Chansung wailed and fell flat on his face, grasping his head as if to try to stop the fire itself.
However, despite your trouble, I can do nothing about it. I can only stand here and watch the wish come to complete fulfillment.
At this point, Chansung was just a writhing mess on the dorm floor. Everything was going up in a blaze. Everything.
Things that he thought were causing him so much pain before were now causing him even greater pain to see them flicker away. Good memories that had nothing to do with the bad memories were also going up in smoke.
Tonight, Chansung learned how flammable memories were.
If only he knew what memories were...
If only he knew who he even was...
Poll Round 08: Flammable