White Noise - Part 13
Notes | Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31
32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | Epilogue
The only sound in Minho's dream was an odd, high pitched, white noise.
Onew wore duck patterned pajama pants. He climbed onto a huge bed that looked extremely squishy, much like himself. The image was so off, but it seemed so right as well. He grinned his dazzling, fangless smile as he squirmed his way under green blankets with the vampire he'd become bonded to.
They held each other for so long before the vampire whispered something that made Onew push away. The vampire was quick to pull him back into his hold, and they exchanged words emotionally.
The white noise got louder as Onew's bonded moved on top of him and ripped his white ducky t-shirt. Onew cried when his bonded bent down to bite him, and Minho jumped awake with a scream.
His brother was there, kneeling next to him on the bathroom floor, holding onto his arms. "Minho! What's wrong with you?"
"Onew..." Minho whispered.
Minseok narrowed his eyes, frustrated, and then a knock at the door shot him to his feet. "Stay down, I'll be right back."
Minho sighed heavily, putting a hand on his aching head. Had he hit it when he fell or was this Onew? His mind was whirling, and he couldn't tell.
In the other room, Minseok opened the door and Taemin smiled at him excitedly. Minseok was put off by Taemin's new look, tensing and stepping back, as if he'd opened the door for someone most unexpected, and not necessarily welcome. "Taemin." he said, "You should go. Minho's not feeling good."
Taemin frowned, "I think he really needs me though.."
"Just go." Minseok started to push the door closed, so Sungmin stepped into the doorway and caught it. Minseok widened his eyes at the new person, and moved back from the door. "Who are you?"
"Taemin, go in." Sungmin said, frowning at Minseok.
So Taemin did, and Minseok just stood there, glaring at the newcomer. "Where is.." Taemin begin to ask, but then he didn't have to, because Minho walked into the room, still rubbing his head. "MINHO!" Taemin shouted, grinning brightly.
Minho blinked at him, dropping his hand and effectively distracted. "Your hair is... Hi."
Taemin ran up and hugged him, "I missed you."
Minho frowned, "You could have called."
When Taemin stepped back, he looked a bit ashamed. "About that.. I have a lot to tell you.."
"Yeah, well before all that happens, how about a little more explaining over here?" Minseok asked, crossing his arms and turning in Taemin's direction. "Why is my brother passing out and talking about vampires?"
"You passed out?" Taemin asked worriedly, looking at Minho.
"It must be bad..." Sungmin murmured, mostly unheard, in the doorway.
"I need to see Onew." Minho said, "It's important."
"Come outside so you can talk to Jay and Moomoo. I think if they meet you, they'll want to help."
"He's not going anywhere!" Minseok yelled, "He just fainted in the bathroom floor. He needs a hospital!"
"I'm standing, aren't I?" Minho asked. "I know what I need. I'm going out now." Minho stepped to the door, and Minseok reached out to grab him, but Taemin grabbed Minseok instead, gently holding onto his arm.
Sungmin touched Minho's shoulder lightly, and guided him out of the doorway, looking at Minseok. "We'll take care of him." he told him, "You'll be better off staying out of it."
"That's my brother." Minseok said, "I'm not staying out of it."
"Um, Sungmin." Taemin said, "You can stay and talk to him for a bit, right?" Taemin asked, quickly stepping to the door after Minho.
Sungmin blinked, "You want me to--"
"Thanks!" Taemin took Minho's hand, guiding him away from the door. "I never knew your brother was such a pain." Taemin told him.
"He's just looking out for me." Minho muttered, looking and feeling sick. Taemin frowned at him, concerned, and walked a bit faster.
When they reached the parking lot, Jay and Jungmo were leaning against Jay's car. Jungmo straightened up upon seeing Minho, and tried to look stern. He worried, looking at the younger man, who was clearly tired and weak. It wasn't the first time Jungmo had seen a bonded human in that state.
"Where's Sungmin?" Jungmo asked.
"Talking to Minho's brother." Taemin answered, "Minho, this is Jay and Moo--Jungmo. Eheh." he turned to Jungmo, "We can tell him... can't we?"
Jungmo nodded, though he didn't look happy about it, and said "We're vampire hunters."
Minho widened his eyes, looking at Taemin, "You kill vampires?"
"When we can, and when we have to." Jungmo explained for him, "It's not an easy thing to do. It's more defense than offense."
"I've never killed one.." Taemin said in a small voice, as if ashamed. Minho stared at him.
"Taemin's been worrying about you." Jungmo said, voice a bit cold. "That's why we're here. Not so that we can help you save your vampire."
"I was right to worry." Taemin said, frowning at Minho, "He passed out..."
"Something is really wrong." Minho said, talking mostly to Taemin, and feeling a little ashamed to talk about the issue in front of the two strangers. It felt private. He was used to it being private, really. "I'm.. worried that he's dying."
"Jongie and Key," Taemin said, "they kidnapped one of us. They probably took him to The Council.. Moomoo--I mean Jungmo-- says that vampires don't just kill hunters."
"Hunters are interrogated, and every vampire who they've wronged in any way is given a chance at revenge." Jungmo shortly explained, and then said, "We already know a lot about those two. I doubt there's anything we could do to help you."
There was a pause. Jay was quiet, Jungmo was stern, Taemin was fidgeting, and Minho thought. Then, Minho asked, "Taemin.. will you help?"
Taemin smiled. The thought of being near Jonghyun and Key made him want to cry, but didn't hesitate in saying, "Of course I will."
"Taemin.." Jungmo said, turning on him seriously.
"I'll help too." Jay said. When Jungmo glared at him, he put a hand on his shoulder. "I understand if you can't. But I want to protect Taemin."
"I'll help." Sungmin said, walking quickly over with a smile. "Maybe Noodle will be able to help get Hongki back. I have to hope for that."
Jungmo was annoyed. As predicted, he was the bad guy.
"My brother..?" Minho asked Sungmin.
"He's, erm, out of the way for now. You'll have to do some more explaining later."
Minho raised a brow, worried, and Sungmin quickly added "He's fine."
"How do you all propose we help?" Jungmo asked, sounding as irritated as he felt. "We don't know where Jonghyun and Key are keeping Onew.."
"I have his phone number." Minho said, looking at the faded ink on his hand. "Jonghyun's. I can find Onew with this."
"Huh.. yeah. We can make a plan with that." Sungmin said, nodding. "It'll be dangerous, whatever we do."
"Better not to talk about it in the open." Jungmo said, opening one of the car doors. "Besides.. Minho doesn't look too good."
Minho nodded at him, very much wanting to sit.
Taemin grinned, saying, "I call window seat~."
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