Last Breath - Part 40
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They needed gas. Minho knew what was going to happen when they pulled up at the station. Still, he tried, saying, "Onew, don't kill anyone." but the vampire didn't so much as look at him before he hurried through the cold and into the station.
Minho cried when he felt that warm energy fill him, that which he knew was robbed from someone else, someone who - this time - he just could swear he felt the moment that they died.
Onew was panicking. Minho couldn't even begin to understand his feelings, though he did try. He wanted to say something, anything, to calm him down - but Onew was tense, and Minho thought, dangerous. For the first time in a long time, he found himself genuinely afraid of Onew.
Onew picked up some things at the gas station, even toothbrushes and toothpaste, and he had apparently stolen the uniform of the worker inside - and wiped most of the blood off of his face. Regardless of how bloodless he was, he was terrifying.
That was annoying Onew.
"Don't act like I'm going to hurt you when you know I would never." Onew said.
Minho might have pointed out that Onew had hurt him many times, but didn't. He was quiet, staring nervously at the road in front of the flying car.
It was another few minutes before Onew tried again, his voice more smooth as he said, "I'm sorry. Being there was just a lot to handle."
Minho ignored the apology as well.
They pulled up at a hotel, a very nice one just outside the city, and Onew gave Minho a card out of Key's wallet that had been carelessly left in the car. He was going to stand back while Minho did the talking, to avoid suspicion. The tired innkeeper didn't seem to suspect a thing, even though they had no luggage apart from a plastic bag full of items from the gas station and were checking into the most expensive room there, per Onew's request.
The two quietly took the elevator to the highest floor, the 6th, and only spoke after they entered the room. Minho wasn't unfazed by the unnecessarily large size of the room, but Onew sure was. The vampire tossed the plastic bag down and began pulling off the stolen shirt he wore, throwing it at a couch in the middle of the room.
Minho shook off his amazement to look at Onew. "Talk to me." he said.
"I'm sorry, Minho." Onew said, and he turned towards a door that Minho only assumed was the bathroom. So Minho grabbed him from behind, hugging him to him. "Wait..."
Onew froze, and Minho quickly moved away, crossing his arms as if to make further distance between himself and the vampire.
"Ha.." Onew said, "Does touching me hurt you, Minho?"
"It's not like that." Minho said.
Onew's voice was light, almost boyish, and masking all of his emotions. He sounded almost casual, if a bit exasperated, saying "I think they were right about me, Minho.. I think, I'm a monster even among my kind."
Minho's arms dropped down, and he looked concerned at his vampiree's back.
"I don't know what to do any more." Onew admitted, "I never knew what to do, but selfishly, I..."
"That's right.." Minho swiftly interupted him, a bit nervous, "Yeah. We were talking about how selfish you were. I think you were going to explain to me how selfish you were to make soup for me.."
"Since I want you to like me.. since I'm happy when you're happy..."
"Turn around and look at me, Onew, please."
Onew shook his head, "I.."
"I want to hear about your problems." Minho said, a bit uncertainly, "I have a right to. After all you've put me through, at least look me in the eyes and tell me why you're acting like you've lost your mind." His voice cracked as the sentence ended, maybe from his sore throat, maybe because it was intimidating to say these things to Onew at the time. More likely, it was because there was a lump rising in his throat, because he was genuinely upset for Onew. Because something about the way he was feeling was just too much hurt.
Onew waited a moment, and then turned fast to Minho, as if otherwise he'd stop himself from doing it. He lifted a hand to his dripping eyes, and bit a fang down on his lip. Minho bit his lip too, facing the vampire. He felt his own eyes getting teary, and he didn't even know why. "What's wrong, Onew?" he asked quietly.
The vampire sucked in a breath, and said it.
"I loved him." he said, and sobbed, "And I killed him."
That horrible, sad feeling from Onew became less terrifying now, but Minho took no comfort in realizing the emotion that was eating away at his vampire was heartbreak.
"I killed him." Onew said, scowling and dropping his fist from his eyes, "Just like I tried to kill Jonghyun."
"You'll forget this again soon," Minho said, "Won't you?"
Onew sniffed, "Yeah, I'll forget. And I won't become a different person. Minho..."
The vampire's cheeks reddened under steadily streaming tears, and his eyes looked soft and human beneath them all. He looked so very human, and the fact that he was an immortal murderer must have momentarily escaped Minho's mind as he stepped to him and hugged him once again.
"Don't." Onew said, even as he dropped his head down on Minho's shoulder. "I don't want to hurt you, Minho..."
"You wouldn't kill me." Minho said, suddenly crying himself. He laid his head on Onew's shoulder as well, hugging him tightly to him. "If you're crying about it, how could you kill me?"
"You're really not afraid?" Onew asked, calming.
"I'm terrified." Minho admitted, half laughing beneath his tears, "But at least I know you won't kill me. Not on purpose." An extra laugh was weak.
Onew didn't bother to give it even a fake laugh. He just lifted his head and said, "I don't know that."
Without a thought in his head, Minho lifted his head as well, and gave Onew a very brief kiss on the lips. As he pulled back, his own eyes widened in surprise with himself. Onew's surprise didn't even last as long, before the vampire gave his own half-cry half-laugh, asking, "You like me better when I'm in pain?"
"I just want you to.. stop crying.." Minho said nervously. He honestly regretted the move, even if it had seemed to have a positive effect.
Onew nodded, and then pulled back from Minho with a sigh, "I'm taking the shower first."
Minho agreed with a nod of his own, but caught Onew's shoulder before he walked to the bathroom. "Onew.."
"Hm?"
The human sighed, and said, "Just don't take too long."
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