[TC/006] Wayward Intentions [Eunhyuk/Junsu, PG-13]
Title: Wayward Intentions
Pairing: Eunhyuk/Junsu
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General/Romance
Challenge: Themes Challenge
Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, their respective managements do. Plot is mine.
Summary: You can learn a lot about a man from a simple tattoo.
Warning: UN-BETA'D. Rushed. Written on an iPad (that doesn't belong to me); it was my first time using one, too~.
Challenge - Theme: Vines. Pairing: Eunhyuk/Junsu.
“I’m sorry, but I really don’t drink.”
His words go upon deaf ears, the girls surrounding him only smiling wider as his cheeks redden and he shies away from them. “Oh, come on. It’s just one drink!” They urge, hands roaming his arms freely. “It tastes good!”
Junsu nervously bites his lips, weaving himself away from them as much as he can beside the bar counter. The girls don’t give in. “I’m allergic to alcohol. I really can’t.”
“Don’t be a party pooper, Junsu.” His co-worker pouts. “One shot won’t kill you.”
The young boy furrows his brows. “It might.”
“But--”
“If you girls don’t mind, we’d like to have a word with this gentleman.”
Two well built men dressed in formal black suits stand behind the girls, staring directly at Junsu. The girls nearly cower, but can’t find it in themselves to abandon their co-worker. “Has Junsu done something wrong?”
“No, not at all. Someone is asking for him,” one of the men explain.
Reluctantly, the girls all turn to Junsu. The boy simply nods his head, finding this a way of relieving himself from his co-workers. After a moment of consideration, the girls leave him with concern drawn all over their faces.
“Let’s tell the others about this. Junsu might be in danger,” the smallest of the girls suggest. The other girls nod, rushing off to gather the rest of the co-workers.
“Our boss would like to have a chat with you.”
Junsu purses his lips, tilting his head at the larger man standing before him. “I’m sorry, but, do I know any of you?”
“All you have to do is follow us. If you’re not going to cooperate, we can only--”
“Only what?”
A foreign voice interrupts them-- well, foreign to Junsu, at least. The men seem to recognize the voice and immediately frown, shifting around to greet the man. “This is none of your business.”
The boy laughs, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “Oh, but it is. You should know that.”
“We found him first.” The larger suited man insists as politely as he can. The veins in his neck are protruding from beneath his dark skin.
He smiles a bit bigger, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “There’s no such thing as first come first serve in our line of business, guys. You should know that, too.”
“You can’t--”
“Why don’t I treat the two of you to a drink?” The boy suggests, raising his brows. “I’ll send someone to explain to your boss. I’m sure he’ll understand, given the fact that everyone acknowledges we are the stronger team on these grounds.”
The suited men take a deep breath, clenching down on their jaws. Junsu watches with curiosity as their guard falls, admitting their defeat. “Thank you in advance, then.”
The boy shakes his head modestly, raising two fingers to the bartender behind the counter. The barista nods, quickly conjuring two drinks and sliding them down the table. After a quick thanks, the boy hops over to the drinks, his back to the men.
Junsu can vaguely see the boy hovering his hands over the top of the glasses from his angle, but he isn’t sure what he’s doing, or why.
“Have a good night then, boys.” He says. The men take the shots from him and chug them in one shot, setting the glasses back onto the table.
When they leave, the boy waves them goodbye; his eyes dark and a smirk ever so present on his thin lips.
“Did you just drug them?” Junsu asks, mostly out of curiosity.
The boy frowned, pouting. “I just saved your life. Shouldn’t you thank me?”
“I saw you put something into their drink,” Junsu adds, his tone unwavering. “Why did you drug them?”
“You’re really vain for a kid your age,” the boy shakes his head as he clicks his tongue, “and you think too much. Why would I do such a thing to them? They weren’t even good looking, or hot, or even cute.”
Junsu stubbornly ignores the boys comments. “What was it? Rophy? Ambien? You shouldn’t be dropping those in people’s drinks. It’s very dangerous.”
The boy rolls his eyes, shifting on his heel to walk away.
“Wait!” Junsu calls out to him, grabbing him by his forearm. “Why didn’t you let them take me?”
Obviously a bit irritated, the boy flings his hand off, crossing his arms over his torso. “My job is to make their life of ruining other people’s lives difficult. I steal their people, take their business, and prevent them from growing. That’s why. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Job?” The confused young boy repeats, his brows knitted tightly together. “Like, a guard? Were they the mafia? What would they want with me?”
Scoffing, the stranger couldn’t hide his amusement. “You don’t want to know.”
“So, what did you slip into their drinks?” Junsu persists.
The boy really couldn’t keep track of what the kid was thinking. Somehow, he felt as though this kid was entitled to know what he had dropped into the drinks; it was like a trick of some sort, he kind of grew on him. “Laxatives.”
“Seriously?!” Junsu gasped. “That’s horrible.”
“Nothing near as bad as what they would have done to you. Now, if you were smart, you would leave this place as soon as you could. If they get their hands on you again, I’m not so sure you would be able to get away as easily as you did this time.” He said. “I’m not always around to save kids.”
“You can’t be any older than I am,” Junsu accused. He glanced over the strangers attire; from his tight black jeans to the matching wifebeater, from the chain necklace to the matching bracelet and leather fingerless gloves.
Even the light layer of black eyeliner on his single lidded eyes could have given his age away easily, not to mention the platinum colored hair.
“You’re right, though,” Junsu adds, “I should thank you properly for helping me out of a risky situation. I know this snack bar just down the street that has awe--”
“It’s fine. A simple thank you will do. I’m not allowed to leave this club and I don’t really want to.” The stranger interrupts him.
Junsu bites his inner cheek. “Right. You’re probably still on duty. I can wait until you’re off--”
“Are you really that slow?” The stranger scoffs again. “I don’t work here. Heck, I don’t work at all. And we’re not mafias, kid. We’re gangs. Though, I’m guessing you can’t tell the difference, can you? Just go home.”
Refusing to let the issue rest so simply, Junsu takes the stranger by the wrist again just as he starts stepping away again. He realizes that there is a small vine tattoo imprinted on the back of his hand, from the space between his pointer finger and thumb to his wrist-- Junsu can’t really tell in the darkness, but it sort of resembles a vine of some sort.
He earns a stern glare from this man he hasn’t even known for ten minutes. “What do you want?” The boy growls at him.
Junsu musters up all the courage he has, trying to not shy away. “What’s your name? If I happen to show up around here again, I’ll bring a treat with me. I’ll repay you with it.”
“Don’t need t--”
“Just tell me.”
The stranger takes a deep breath, hesitating as he looks into Junsu’s eyes. There is determination more than he has ever seen from people like Junsu-- people who show up cluelessly in a club, usually youngsters who are here for the party, and expect not to be harmed.
He’s only ever seen fear in the eyes of young boys and girls like this; fear when faced with danger.
“Junsu!”
A group of people rush over the him, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him until he’s forcibly unlatched from the strangers wrist. Junsu groans, shouting for his friends and co-workers to stop.
“Are you alright?” His friends inquire worriedly. “They told us you were taken away to talk.” They look at the boy staring at them in the near distance, suspicion in their eyes. “Was it him? Did he do anything to you?”
Junsu smiles softly, shaking his head. “No, he helped me.”
“Eunhyuk! They caught one of them hovering around in one of the VIP rooms!”
The stranger snaps around, searching for the person calling out to him nearby, on the other end of the bar counter. “Got it! I’ll be right there!”
Without so much as a second glance, Eunhyuk runs off. Junsu wants to follow him, but his friends are still throwing a fuss, worried that he had been hurt or harassed. They’ve always treated him as if he were some delicate child.
“You shouldn’t associate too much with people from around here,” one of the guys says. “They’re not exactly... safety zoned, I suppose.”
Junsu resists the urge to roll his eyes. “Then why’d we even come?”
“Experience.”
Yeah, Junsu agrees, this was an experience he will probably have a hard time forgetting. Just like the tattoo on the boy named Eunhyuk’s hand-- engraved into his memory.
It was unique, much like the boy himself.
-
Thoughts of the boy from the night club wouldn't leave Junsu. As much as he had tried to push back those surfacing memories, questions, lingering feelings, he refused to acknowledge his interest as anything more than just curiosity-- the need to know more about someone mysterious.
Still, he couldn't suppress the constant reminiscence.
"Eunhyuk...." He wonders to himself. It's an interesting name, and Junsu doubts it was a true name.
Junsu glances out the window, staring at the gradually darkening skies; a mixture or amber and red, and a dark shade of purple. At these late hours, he supposes Eunhyuk has just started his day.
A routine similar to his own.
-
"He's really not as simple as he seems. That face could fool anyone, though." A young boy standing at the corner of a wall inside the alley states. Eunhyuk purses his lips, nodding a little to the beat of the music in his headphones. "Well?" He asks. "How are you going to bust him?"
Eunhyuk shrugs, chewing on his gum loudly as he leans against the kids shoulder. His black hoodie hides his platinum hair, loose against his torso, hanging over his ripped black jeans. He snuggles his temple up against the boy's shoulder, his eyes stinging from the piercing of the cold night winds. "Who says I want to?"
"You're just going to let him slide?"
"It's not as though anyone will blame me for it." Eunhyuk jokes. "At most, they'll just give the younger one's a scolding as a means of taking out their anger. The kid didn't cause me any trouble."
"You're being too lenient."
Eunhyuk sighs, punching his friend on the shoulder. "And you're being too much of a worry wart, Henry."
"I just don't want you getting into anymore unnecessary trouble. We can't really afford to." Henry chides. He shivers slightly from the cold, shoving Eunhyuk away from himself. "Not after this, anyways."
The warmth leaves Eunhyuk as Henry stretches over the corner, peeking across the street. "So, what's his deal anyways?"
"A cop?" Eunhyuk guesses. "I doubt he's from the other end of the city, doesn't live up to their name."
"For being jokes?" Henry laughs.
Eunhyuk grins. "For being wusses. Seriously though, he's too clean-cut and one-way minded. Not very bright. He practically interrogated me in the bar, just like they do in the stations. It was so hard trying not to laugh. His friends were worse, glaring me as if I were some kind of criminal. So new but so refreshing; dealing with those old officers started to bore me."
"You sound more than just amused," Henry teased.
The older boy scratched his head through the hoodie, yawning. "Just a bit. Things get old around here, you know."
"Right, because night life is so repetitive every night." Henry drawls sarcastically. "Hey, he's leaving."
"Seems like he didn't find anything worthy of his interest tonight." Eunhyuk says, glancing over the corner.
Henry's eyes narrow in a grin, grabbing Eunhyuk by the arms and pushing out onto the street. "I think we can fix that."
Eunhyuk tries to jump back into the shadows but Henry shoves him back out, shouting words that he can barely catch in the night commotion.
"Is everything alright?"
Before Eunhyuk even realizes it, Junsu is already standing a few meters away, concern in his eyes. Same as always. "Yeah, we're just having a lovers spat." Henry says with a smile so wide his eyes can hardly be seen.
"Right." Eunhyuk plays along. "Nothing to worry about."
Neither of them can quite read the expression in Junsu's eyes. There was a bit of amusement, a bit of wonder, and maybe even a hint of disbelief. "I'm sorry to have interrupted then. Actually, I've been looking for you the past few nights. I just had a few questions--"
"Appropriate ones?" Henry interrupts, winking.
Eunhyuk elbows him in the ribs. "Shut up, dope."
"Abuse!" Henry cries. He pouts, rubbing his ribs as he begins to stallk away. "Well, fine then. I'll see you at home tonight. I'm going to skip the eves, you'll take care of that for me right? As compensation?"
"Just leave." Eunhyuk rolls his eyes, stuffing his hands into his pockets and fishes out a set of keys. "Take the car."
Henry pushes the outstretched hand away. "I'm fine. You should keep it. You'll be staying out late."
"Just take it. You know how it's been with them lately; I don't feel safe about letting you go home alone without some sort of defense. At least you can run if anything happens." Eunhyuk insists. "I'll grab a ride with the others."
After a deep breath, Henry takes the keys from Eunhyuk reluctantly. "We have to make it down to After Life by 2am. You remember, right?"
Eunhyuk nods. "I'll meet you there."
At that, Henry runs off across the street and disappears into the distance. Eunhyuk turns to Junsu, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "Can I help you?"
Junsu watches as Eunhyuk leans against the rail behind him, his face hidden under the shadow of his hoodie. "The gang you're in..." Junsu trails off. "How do you get in?"
"You're chosen."
"Chosen by the leader or--"
Eunhyuk chuckles, tossing his hoodie off and ruffling his hair into a mess. It shines under the street lights, almost a silver white color. "You won't get in. Don't waste your time."
Junsu frowns. "How do you know?"
"I'm a recruit and, as far as I can tell you, you're no where near our standards." Eunhyuk raises a single brow at him. "You nag, you're weak, you can't even defend yourself against a few giddy girls. Honestly, you seem like quite a pushover. None of these qualities put you at an advantage. Not to mention, you lie. That's the biggest no-no in our regulations."
"Lie?" The boy furrows his brows. "When have I ever?"
Eunhyuk smirks, leaning over so he's meeting eyes with Junsu at eye level. "Ask yourself that question. We keep our silence, Junsu-ssi, but that doesn't mean we're stupid." Hs breath is warm against Junsu's cheek, oxygen escaping his lips in puffs from the cold night air. Mockery-- his eyes are filled with mockery and judgement.
"I didn't lie. I just never addressed myself to you. There is a difference." Junsu frowns.
The cold man stretches straight, arching his back as he yawns loudly. "I'm tired."
"Of life?"
Eunhyuk narrows his eyes, staring straight back into Junsu's. "No, silly. Of you."
"You've only met me twice." Junsu retorts.
"That should tell you something, Junsu-ssi." Eunhyuk provokes, grinning mischievously.
Junsu erects, biting on his cheek. "Why did you stop those guys from getting to me then? You could have just let them step into our trap-- wouldn't that have been to your own advantage? I don't understand you."
A laugh escapes Eunhyuk's lips, amusement brightening his eyes. "Have you ever thought that I was just being nice? Or maybe I was worried for you; a helpless young lad about to be pulled away by my rivaling gang. Maybe I just don't like watching them take someone off my own turf? There could be so many possibilities."
"None personal?"
"What are you aiming for? For me to tell you that I was interested in you? Or is this your way of trying to make this emotional, hoping that with an attachment I will give in to your needs?" Eunhyuk inquires with various emotions in his eyes.
He leans closer, searching into Junsu's alighted orbs.
"I can't help you, Junsu-ssi. No one can. You have to help yourself. Take my advice; next time, try your tricks on some else's division. Someone less... headsmart."
Junsu forces a smile. "I like a challenge."
The youngster shakes his head, his eyes downcast. "It takes one to know one, kid. And you-- you can never level up against us. You're not bad enough. To be one of us, you've got to be bad to the marrow of your bones. We were born with it, Junsu-ssi, but you, you were born on the side of justice; something we all fight with our lives to reach, but only achieve at the expense of the life of another's."
"Is that still justice, then?" Junsu asks.
Eunhyuk shrugs, his eyes a blank stare. "It doesn't matter, what's wrong or right. For us, as long as we can protect what's important to us, then all of our actions are justified; no matter what it takes to achieve it. Other than ourselves, there is no one else we can depend on for justice."
He looks at Junsu, and Junsu feels as though he can sense a yearning from the other man.
"But I've been getting greedy, and that's something I cannot afford." He admits, laughing at himself.
"For what?" Junsu asks.
Eunhyuk smiles weakly. "A day life? I feel like a vampire, lurking the streets at nights, hunting people down, chasing people around, and sleeping during the day time. Sometimes, I miss the beach and the sun."
Junsu chuckles a little, but then he seems to come to some realization. "Why don't you go?" He asks, his tone filled with concern, his words warming. "Don't you get vacations? Day offs?"
Sighing, Eunhyuk pulls back, staring up at the starless sky. He feels cold, restrained-- alone. "You're prying again, Junsu-ssi."
Feeling quite helpless, Junsu lowers his head. "I didn't have any other intentions, I was honestly just wondering-- like a friend would."
"You're not a friend though, so, that beats your purpose." Eunhyuk grins. His fringes fall over his eyes, allowing him to rest from any direct eye contact with the other man. He felt relieved; if he had to look into that kids eyes one more time, he might actually want a vacation. "But thank you anyways, I guess."
"We should go sometime. Together."
Eunhyuk looks up, his feet stopping mid-action while he kicked the concrete ground beneath him.
"To the beach, I mean. During the daytime. Let's go, when we're both free."
He tries to convince himself that the man is either really dumb, or just not getting his hints. Nothing more, nothing less. He can't afford to mess up anymore than he already has.
"It's my attempt to become friends. Nothing related to work, no differentiations between day time or night life. Just you and me, two young men who met in a club and become friends. You saved me that night, regardless of what our true intentions were." Junsu explains. "I think it justifies a friendship between us."
Eunhyuk knows he should reject, he knows that he has to, but he can't bring himself to. "Yeah. If we ever get the chance, I think I'd like that." He raises the back of his hands to eye level, admiring the image that is embed into his skin. He supposes the ink has drained into his veins, too, poisoning him, deeper than he had already been.
"It's a nice tattoo," Junsu comments, stepping bide Eunhyuk to get a more clear inspection of the tattoo.
The other slants him a smile. "You think so?" Eunhyuk asks. "When I first got it, I thought so, too."
-
“Why is your tattoo a vine?”
“Do you know what vines are like? They’re like roots. It’s our gang symbol, something we’re not allowed to erase. We’re rooted here, to our grounds, to our people. We’re never allowed to leave, never allowed to betray. Family; that’s what some of us refer to each other as. But really, we’re just the roots to dangerous and sharp vines; shackled, bound.”
“Why do you choose to stay?”
Eunhyuk roughly grabs Junsu by the base of his neck, pulling him in as their lips crash together. The kiss is anything but gentle; teeth clashing as their mouths smash together violently, the air drained out of Junsu’s lungs as Eunhyuk runs his tongue over his lips and sucks on them hard, inducing pain amongst mild pleasure.
In the distance, the waves pull up against shore violently, crashing, colliding with the sands and mixing with the winds.
It hurts, but it hurts so good. Junsu appears to understand.
“I don’t choose to,” Eunhyuk pants, his words brushing against Junsu’s lips in scattered breaths. “None of us do. We just are."
Like vines, Eunhyuk’s fingers weave into Junsu’s as they sit there under the night sky. There are still no stars, the moon hidden beyond the dreaded black clouds. Endlessly, the scent of salt and sea bury them into the darkness, the waves unrelenting. The wind is cold, stinging Junsu’s skin as the breeze brushes past them.
Their interlocked fingers, for the moment, knot together; as if they were rooted, rooted to each other.
Eunhyuk bends back, laying in the grassy sand. “But I don’t regret being with them. I don’t think I ever will.”
Junsu wonders why, but he supposes he will never understand. They are from different worlds, after all.
-
Read Nyx's version of Eunhyuk/Junsu [Vines] here.
-
Cross-posted @ hyuk_su
-
[ [TC/005]: Yesung/Henry [Wolves] ] ♦ [ [TC/007]: Hanchul [War] ]
Pairing: Eunhyuk/Junsu
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General/Romance
Challenge: Themes Challenge
Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, their respective managements do. Plot is mine.
Summary: You can learn a lot about a man from a simple tattoo.
Warning: UN-BETA'D. Rushed. Written on an iPad (that doesn't belong to me); it was my first time using one, too~.
Challenge - Theme: Vines. Pairing: Eunhyuk/Junsu.
“I’m sorry, but I really don’t drink.”
His words go upon deaf ears, the girls surrounding him only smiling wider as his cheeks redden and he shies away from them. “Oh, come on. It’s just one drink!” They urge, hands roaming his arms freely. “It tastes good!”
Junsu nervously bites his lips, weaving himself away from them as much as he can beside the bar counter. The girls don’t give in. “I’m allergic to alcohol. I really can’t.”
“Don’t be a party pooper, Junsu.” His co-worker pouts. “One shot won’t kill you.”
The young boy furrows his brows. “It might.”
“But--”
“If you girls don’t mind, we’d like to have a word with this gentleman.”
Two well built men dressed in formal black suits stand behind the girls, staring directly at Junsu. The girls nearly cower, but can’t find it in themselves to abandon their co-worker. “Has Junsu done something wrong?”
“No, not at all. Someone is asking for him,” one of the men explain.
Reluctantly, the girls all turn to Junsu. The boy simply nods his head, finding this a way of relieving himself from his co-workers. After a moment of consideration, the girls leave him with concern drawn all over their faces.
“Let’s tell the others about this. Junsu might be in danger,” the smallest of the girls suggest. The other girls nod, rushing off to gather the rest of the co-workers.
“Our boss would like to have a chat with you.”
Junsu purses his lips, tilting his head at the larger man standing before him. “I’m sorry, but, do I know any of you?”
“All you have to do is follow us. If you’re not going to cooperate, we can only--”
“Only what?”
A foreign voice interrupts them-- well, foreign to Junsu, at least. The men seem to recognize the voice and immediately frown, shifting around to greet the man. “This is none of your business.”
The boy laughs, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “Oh, but it is. You should know that.”
“We found him first.” The larger suited man insists as politely as he can. The veins in his neck are protruding from beneath his dark skin.
He smiles a bit bigger, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “There’s no such thing as first come first serve in our line of business, guys. You should know that, too.”
“You can’t--”
“Why don’t I treat the two of you to a drink?” The boy suggests, raising his brows. “I’ll send someone to explain to your boss. I’m sure he’ll understand, given the fact that everyone acknowledges we are the stronger team on these grounds.”
The suited men take a deep breath, clenching down on their jaws. Junsu watches with curiosity as their guard falls, admitting their defeat. “Thank you in advance, then.”
The boy shakes his head modestly, raising two fingers to the bartender behind the counter. The barista nods, quickly conjuring two drinks and sliding them down the table. After a quick thanks, the boy hops over to the drinks, his back to the men.
Junsu can vaguely see the boy hovering his hands over the top of the glasses from his angle, but he isn’t sure what he’s doing, or why.
“Have a good night then, boys.” He says. The men take the shots from him and chug them in one shot, setting the glasses back onto the table.
When they leave, the boy waves them goodbye; his eyes dark and a smirk ever so present on his thin lips.
“Did you just drug them?” Junsu asks, mostly out of curiosity.
The boy frowned, pouting. “I just saved your life. Shouldn’t you thank me?”
“I saw you put something into their drink,” Junsu adds, his tone unwavering. “Why did you drug them?”
“You’re really vain for a kid your age,” the boy shakes his head as he clicks his tongue, “and you think too much. Why would I do such a thing to them? They weren’t even good looking, or hot, or even cute.”
Junsu stubbornly ignores the boys comments. “What was it? Rophy? Ambien? You shouldn’t be dropping those in people’s drinks. It’s very dangerous.”
The boy rolls his eyes, shifting on his heel to walk away.
“Wait!” Junsu calls out to him, grabbing him by his forearm. “Why didn’t you let them take me?”
Obviously a bit irritated, the boy flings his hand off, crossing his arms over his torso. “My job is to make their life of ruining other people’s lives difficult. I steal their people, take their business, and prevent them from growing. That’s why. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Job?” The confused young boy repeats, his brows knitted tightly together. “Like, a guard? Were they the mafia? What would they want with me?”
Scoffing, the stranger couldn’t hide his amusement. “You don’t want to know.”
“So, what did you slip into their drinks?” Junsu persists.
The boy really couldn’t keep track of what the kid was thinking. Somehow, he felt as though this kid was entitled to know what he had dropped into the drinks; it was like a trick of some sort, he kind of grew on him. “Laxatives.”
“Seriously?!” Junsu gasped. “That’s horrible.”
“Nothing near as bad as what they would have done to you. Now, if you were smart, you would leave this place as soon as you could. If they get their hands on you again, I’m not so sure you would be able to get away as easily as you did this time.” He said. “I’m not always around to save kids.”
“You can’t be any older than I am,” Junsu accused. He glanced over the strangers attire; from his tight black jeans to the matching wifebeater, from the chain necklace to the matching bracelet and leather fingerless gloves.
Even the light layer of black eyeliner on his single lidded eyes could have given his age away easily, not to mention the platinum colored hair.
“You’re right, though,” Junsu adds, “I should thank you properly for helping me out of a risky situation. I know this snack bar just down the street that has awe--”
“It’s fine. A simple thank you will do. I’m not allowed to leave this club and I don’t really want to.” The stranger interrupts him.
Junsu bites his inner cheek. “Right. You’re probably still on duty. I can wait until you’re off--”
“Are you really that slow?” The stranger scoffs again. “I don’t work here. Heck, I don’t work at all. And we’re not mafias, kid. We’re gangs. Though, I’m guessing you can’t tell the difference, can you? Just go home.”
Refusing to let the issue rest so simply, Junsu takes the stranger by the wrist again just as he starts stepping away again. He realizes that there is a small vine tattoo imprinted on the back of his hand, from the space between his pointer finger and thumb to his wrist-- Junsu can’t really tell in the darkness, but it sort of resembles a vine of some sort.
He earns a stern glare from this man he hasn’t even known for ten minutes. “What do you want?” The boy growls at him.
Junsu musters up all the courage he has, trying to not shy away. “What’s your name? If I happen to show up around here again, I’ll bring a treat with me. I’ll repay you with it.”
“Don’t need t--”
“Just tell me.”
The stranger takes a deep breath, hesitating as he looks into Junsu’s eyes. There is determination more than he has ever seen from people like Junsu-- people who show up cluelessly in a club, usually youngsters who are here for the party, and expect not to be harmed.
He’s only ever seen fear in the eyes of young boys and girls like this; fear when faced with danger.
“Junsu!”
A group of people rush over the him, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him until he’s forcibly unlatched from the strangers wrist. Junsu groans, shouting for his friends and co-workers to stop.
“Are you alright?” His friends inquire worriedly. “They told us you were taken away to talk.” They look at the boy staring at them in the near distance, suspicion in their eyes. “Was it him? Did he do anything to you?”
Junsu smiles softly, shaking his head. “No, he helped me.”
“Eunhyuk! They caught one of them hovering around in one of the VIP rooms!”
The stranger snaps around, searching for the person calling out to him nearby, on the other end of the bar counter. “Got it! I’ll be right there!”
Without so much as a second glance, Eunhyuk runs off. Junsu wants to follow him, but his friends are still throwing a fuss, worried that he had been hurt or harassed. They’ve always treated him as if he were some delicate child.
“You shouldn’t associate too much with people from around here,” one of the guys says. “They’re not exactly... safety zoned, I suppose.”
Junsu resists the urge to roll his eyes. “Then why’d we even come?”
“Experience.”
Yeah, Junsu agrees, this was an experience he will probably have a hard time forgetting. Just like the tattoo on the boy named Eunhyuk’s hand-- engraved into his memory.
It was unique, much like the boy himself.
-
Thoughts of the boy from the night club wouldn't leave Junsu. As much as he had tried to push back those surfacing memories, questions, lingering feelings, he refused to acknowledge his interest as anything more than just curiosity-- the need to know more about someone mysterious.
Still, he couldn't suppress the constant reminiscence.
"Eunhyuk...." He wonders to himself. It's an interesting name, and Junsu doubts it was a true name.
Junsu glances out the window, staring at the gradually darkening skies; a mixture or amber and red, and a dark shade of purple. At these late hours, he supposes Eunhyuk has just started his day.
A routine similar to his own.
-
"He's really not as simple as he seems. That face could fool anyone, though." A young boy standing at the corner of a wall inside the alley states. Eunhyuk purses his lips, nodding a little to the beat of the music in his headphones. "Well?" He asks. "How are you going to bust him?"
Eunhyuk shrugs, chewing on his gum loudly as he leans against the kids shoulder. His black hoodie hides his platinum hair, loose against his torso, hanging over his ripped black jeans. He snuggles his temple up against the boy's shoulder, his eyes stinging from the piercing of the cold night winds. "Who says I want to?"
"You're just going to let him slide?"
"It's not as though anyone will blame me for it." Eunhyuk jokes. "At most, they'll just give the younger one's a scolding as a means of taking out their anger. The kid didn't cause me any trouble."
"You're being too lenient."
Eunhyuk sighs, punching his friend on the shoulder. "And you're being too much of a worry wart, Henry."
"I just don't want you getting into anymore unnecessary trouble. We can't really afford to." Henry chides. He shivers slightly from the cold, shoving Eunhyuk away from himself. "Not after this, anyways."
The warmth leaves Eunhyuk as Henry stretches over the corner, peeking across the street. "So, what's his deal anyways?"
"A cop?" Eunhyuk guesses. "I doubt he's from the other end of the city, doesn't live up to their name."
"For being jokes?" Henry laughs.
Eunhyuk grins. "For being wusses. Seriously though, he's too clean-cut and one-way minded. Not very bright. He practically interrogated me in the bar, just like they do in the stations. It was so hard trying not to laugh. His friends were worse, glaring me as if I were some kind of criminal. So new but so refreshing; dealing with those old officers started to bore me."
"You sound more than just amused," Henry teased.
The older boy scratched his head through the hoodie, yawning. "Just a bit. Things get old around here, you know."
"Right, because night life is so repetitive every night." Henry drawls sarcastically. "Hey, he's leaving."
"Seems like he didn't find anything worthy of his interest tonight." Eunhyuk says, glancing over the corner.
Henry's eyes narrow in a grin, grabbing Eunhyuk by the arms and pushing out onto the street. "I think we can fix that."
Eunhyuk tries to jump back into the shadows but Henry shoves him back out, shouting words that he can barely catch in the night commotion.
"Is everything alright?"
Before Eunhyuk even realizes it, Junsu is already standing a few meters away, concern in his eyes. Same as always. "Yeah, we're just having a lovers spat." Henry says with a smile so wide his eyes can hardly be seen.
"Right." Eunhyuk plays along. "Nothing to worry about."
Neither of them can quite read the expression in Junsu's eyes. There was a bit of amusement, a bit of wonder, and maybe even a hint of disbelief. "I'm sorry to have interrupted then. Actually, I've been looking for you the past few nights. I just had a few questions--"
"Appropriate ones?" Henry interrupts, winking.
Eunhyuk elbows him in the ribs. "Shut up, dope."
"Abuse!" Henry cries. He pouts, rubbing his ribs as he begins to stallk away. "Well, fine then. I'll see you at home tonight. I'm going to skip the eves, you'll take care of that for me right? As compensation?"
"Just leave." Eunhyuk rolls his eyes, stuffing his hands into his pockets and fishes out a set of keys. "Take the car."
Henry pushes the outstretched hand away. "I'm fine. You should keep it. You'll be staying out late."
"Just take it. You know how it's been with them lately; I don't feel safe about letting you go home alone without some sort of defense. At least you can run if anything happens." Eunhyuk insists. "I'll grab a ride with the others."
After a deep breath, Henry takes the keys from Eunhyuk reluctantly. "We have to make it down to After Life by 2am. You remember, right?"
Eunhyuk nods. "I'll meet you there."
At that, Henry runs off across the street and disappears into the distance. Eunhyuk turns to Junsu, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "Can I help you?"
Junsu watches as Eunhyuk leans against the rail behind him, his face hidden under the shadow of his hoodie. "The gang you're in..." Junsu trails off. "How do you get in?"
"You're chosen."
"Chosen by the leader or--"
Eunhyuk chuckles, tossing his hoodie off and ruffling his hair into a mess. It shines under the street lights, almost a silver white color. "You won't get in. Don't waste your time."
Junsu frowns. "How do you know?"
"I'm a recruit and, as far as I can tell you, you're no where near our standards." Eunhyuk raises a single brow at him. "You nag, you're weak, you can't even defend yourself against a few giddy girls. Honestly, you seem like quite a pushover. None of these qualities put you at an advantage. Not to mention, you lie. That's the biggest no-no in our regulations."
"Lie?" The boy furrows his brows. "When have I ever?"
Eunhyuk smirks, leaning over so he's meeting eyes with Junsu at eye level. "Ask yourself that question. We keep our silence, Junsu-ssi, but that doesn't mean we're stupid." Hs breath is warm against Junsu's cheek, oxygen escaping his lips in puffs from the cold night air. Mockery-- his eyes are filled with mockery and judgement.
"I didn't lie. I just never addressed myself to you. There is a difference." Junsu frowns.
The cold man stretches straight, arching his back as he yawns loudly. "I'm tired."
"Of life?"
Eunhyuk narrows his eyes, staring straight back into Junsu's. "No, silly. Of you."
"You've only met me twice." Junsu retorts.
"That should tell you something, Junsu-ssi." Eunhyuk provokes, grinning mischievously.
Junsu erects, biting on his cheek. "Why did you stop those guys from getting to me then? You could have just let them step into our trap-- wouldn't that have been to your own advantage? I don't understand you."
A laugh escapes Eunhyuk's lips, amusement brightening his eyes. "Have you ever thought that I was just being nice? Or maybe I was worried for you; a helpless young lad about to be pulled away by my rivaling gang. Maybe I just don't like watching them take someone off my own turf? There could be so many possibilities."
"None personal?"
"What are you aiming for? For me to tell you that I was interested in you? Or is this your way of trying to make this emotional, hoping that with an attachment I will give in to your needs?" Eunhyuk inquires with various emotions in his eyes.
He leans closer, searching into Junsu's alighted orbs.
"I can't help you, Junsu-ssi. No one can. You have to help yourself. Take my advice; next time, try your tricks on some else's division. Someone less... headsmart."
Junsu forces a smile. "I like a challenge."
The youngster shakes his head, his eyes downcast. "It takes one to know one, kid. And you-- you can never level up against us. You're not bad enough. To be one of us, you've got to be bad to the marrow of your bones. We were born with it, Junsu-ssi, but you, you were born on the side of justice; something we all fight with our lives to reach, but only achieve at the expense of the life of another's."
"Is that still justice, then?" Junsu asks.
Eunhyuk shrugs, his eyes a blank stare. "It doesn't matter, what's wrong or right. For us, as long as we can protect what's important to us, then all of our actions are justified; no matter what it takes to achieve it. Other than ourselves, there is no one else we can depend on for justice."
He looks at Junsu, and Junsu feels as though he can sense a yearning from the other man.
"But I've been getting greedy, and that's something I cannot afford." He admits, laughing at himself.
"For what?" Junsu asks.
Eunhyuk smiles weakly. "A day life? I feel like a vampire, lurking the streets at nights, hunting people down, chasing people around, and sleeping during the day time. Sometimes, I miss the beach and the sun."
Junsu chuckles a little, but then he seems to come to some realization. "Why don't you go?" He asks, his tone filled with concern, his words warming. "Don't you get vacations? Day offs?"
Sighing, Eunhyuk pulls back, staring up at the starless sky. He feels cold, restrained-- alone. "You're prying again, Junsu-ssi."
Feeling quite helpless, Junsu lowers his head. "I didn't have any other intentions, I was honestly just wondering-- like a friend would."
"You're not a friend though, so, that beats your purpose." Eunhyuk grins. His fringes fall over his eyes, allowing him to rest from any direct eye contact with the other man. He felt relieved; if he had to look into that kids eyes one more time, he might actually want a vacation. "But thank you anyways, I guess."
"We should go sometime. Together."
Eunhyuk looks up, his feet stopping mid-action while he kicked the concrete ground beneath him.
"To the beach, I mean. During the daytime. Let's go, when we're both free."
He tries to convince himself that the man is either really dumb, or just not getting his hints. Nothing more, nothing less. He can't afford to mess up anymore than he already has.
"It's my attempt to become friends. Nothing related to work, no differentiations between day time or night life. Just you and me, two young men who met in a club and become friends. You saved me that night, regardless of what our true intentions were." Junsu explains. "I think it justifies a friendship between us."
Eunhyuk knows he should reject, he knows that he has to, but he can't bring himself to. "Yeah. If we ever get the chance, I think I'd like that." He raises the back of his hands to eye level, admiring the image that is embed into his skin. He supposes the ink has drained into his veins, too, poisoning him, deeper than he had already been.
"It's a nice tattoo," Junsu comments, stepping bide Eunhyuk to get a more clear inspection of the tattoo.
The other slants him a smile. "You think so?" Eunhyuk asks. "When I first got it, I thought so, too."
-
“Why is your tattoo a vine?”
“Do you know what vines are like? They’re like roots. It’s our gang symbol, something we’re not allowed to erase. We’re rooted here, to our grounds, to our people. We’re never allowed to leave, never allowed to betray. Family; that’s what some of us refer to each other as. But really, we’re just the roots to dangerous and sharp vines; shackled, bound.”
“Why do you choose to stay?”
Eunhyuk roughly grabs Junsu by the base of his neck, pulling him in as their lips crash together. The kiss is anything but gentle; teeth clashing as their mouths smash together violently, the air drained out of Junsu’s lungs as Eunhyuk runs his tongue over his lips and sucks on them hard, inducing pain amongst mild pleasure.
In the distance, the waves pull up against shore violently, crashing, colliding with the sands and mixing with the winds.
It hurts, but it hurts so good. Junsu appears to understand.
“I don’t choose to,” Eunhyuk pants, his words brushing against Junsu’s lips in scattered breaths. “None of us do. We just are."
Like vines, Eunhyuk’s fingers weave into Junsu’s as they sit there under the night sky. There are still no stars, the moon hidden beyond the dreaded black clouds. Endlessly, the scent of salt and sea bury them into the darkness, the waves unrelenting. The wind is cold, stinging Junsu’s skin as the breeze brushes past them.
Their interlocked fingers, for the moment, knot together; as if they were rooted, rooted to each other.
Eunhyuk bends back, laying in the grassy sand. “But I don’t regret being with them. I don’t think I ever will.”
Junsu wonders why, but he supposes he will never understand. They are from different worlds, after all.
-
Read Nyx's version of Eunhyuk/Junsu [Vines] here.
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Cross-posted @ hyuk_su
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[ [TC/005]: Yesung/Henry [Wolves] ] ♦ [ [TC/007]: Hanchul [War] ]