Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was just another loud stormy night at their dorms. Except this time, it wasn’t the same as the previous nights. This time, the thunder was much louder, and the lightning was getting awfully closer to the boys’ dorm. Also, the fact that lightning was happening every five to fifteen seconds. There were rarely ever thunderstorms, so the boys didn’t know much of what to do.

“This is scaring me a little bit,” Hueningkai, the youngest of the five boys, whimpered quietly, “it wasn’t anything like this yesterday.”

“We can’t control what nature does, Kai,” Taehyun, the second youngest of them all, replied. He didn’t want Hueningkai to worry. Then again, what could he do? Clearly, reassurance is not working.

“Seems we’ll just have to wait it out.”

“What about Yeonjun and Beomgyu? They’re still outside shopping!” Hueningkai responded.

“They should have stayed in the store,” Soobin, the second eldest, hummed thoughtfully. Were they outside of the grocery store when the storm started? His curiosities led him to dial Beomgyu’s number, since he always answers.

“See? Soobin will call them for us,” Taehyun smiled, reassuring Hueningkai, even in the slightest.

The phone rang once, twice, three times…

“Hello?” came the familiar voice of Beomgyu, who was what people called the “middle child”.

“Hello, Beomgyu? It’s Soobin, is everything okay?” the older asked, responsibly.

“No,” Beomgyu responded, sounding upset and in the slightest, disappointed, “I can’t find Yeonjun. He’s not picking up, either.”

Hueningkai began to panic, “are you still inside the store?”

“Yeah, as far as I know, everyone inside the store stayed because it started storming.” Movement could be heard on Beomgyu’s side. The other three wondered what it was, but they just guessed that Beomgyu was moving around.

“Is it as bad as it is here?” Taehyun asked.

“Yeah, it’s bad,” Beomgyu sighed. Then, the three on the other line assumed that Beomgyu gasped.

Just moments before the end of the conversation.

Beomgyu gasped as a door to the store had flown off into the wild winds. He desperately hoped that Yeonjun was still inside of the store, and that he didn’t fly away as well.

“Yeonjun!” he shouted, full of desperation, “Yeonjun, where are you!”

“Beomgyu!” shouted the eldest, “Beomgyu, are you okay!”

Beomgyu smiled widely and followed the voice of the older. He made sure not to lose his phone, in case of emergency. He lost track of the voice and began to panic.

“Yeonjun! Can you hear me!” he shouted, in fear.

The agonizing scream of Yeonjun will never leave Beomgyu’s mind. It sounded so, so painful. Beomgyu ran the fastest he could in order to reach Yeonjun. The scream echoed, so it made it harder for Beomgyu. Due to his extreme determination, Beomgyu found Yeonjun’s body on the ground. He was covered in debris.

“Oh God, hyung…” he began to cry. Yeonjun, to his surprise, was still conscious.

“Beomgyu…” he smiled weakly.

“Don’t worry hyung! I’m going to get us out of here,” Beomgyu declared, just as lightning struck once again. Only that Yeonjun could have sworn he saw someone lurking around Beomgyu, waiting to strike like a snake waiting to capture its prey.

He wanted to say something, anything. He wanted to scream Beomgyu’s name and tell him to move out of the way so he wouldn’t get hurt. He didn’t care about the current pain he was in himself. All he cared was that Beomgyu was okay.

Before he could do anything he had in mind, he began choking. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe. As if he were drowning. His hearing had become muffled and his vision began to blur. He couldn’t see anything at this moment.

He passed out.

Which caused Beomgyu to go into a panic. What was he to do? Yeonjun just passed out, most likely is dying on the spot, and he’s sitting here doing absolutely nothing. This was a scary moment, probably the scariest thing he’s experienced in his life. Naturally, Beomgyu’s first instinct was to pick up Yeonjun and run out of the store. But he couldn’t do that.

The store was beginning to collapse. If too much weight was put on one area specifically, that weight would fall into the ground. And most likely never come back up.

What am I going to do?! Beomgyu inwardly screamed, Yeonjun is probably dying in front of me and I’m doing literally nothing! I have to come up with a plan, but what? What should I do? How can I rescue Yeonjun?

Ah, screw it.

Beomgyu picked Yeonjun up hurriedly and began running as fast as he possibly could. The ground was cracking and breaking quickly after his movements, but that wasn’t important to him. All that mattered was evacuating what was once named a store, now just crumbling debris.

He hoped he would make it in time.

It had been long enough for the three boys. Neither Yeonjun nor Beomgyu were answering their phones. It concerned Soobin, worried Taehyun, and panicked Hueningkai. The storm seemed to get heavier, even though it was to stop raining an hour ago.

“I’m starting to think something seriously bad happened to them,” Hueningkai panicked. There was a weather warning issued to stay inside at all times, so no one could go out. Unless they wanted to be struck by lightning.

They chose the safer option and stayed inside. They hoped that their friends would be alright until it was over.

“Wasn’t Wooyoung with them?” Taehyun asked, ready to dial the said boy’s number.

“Yeah, he was,” Soobin nodded, making sure Hueningkai felt safe in his embrace.

Taehyun dialed Wooyoung’s number and waited for him to pick up. To his surprise, he answered immediately.

“Tae! Oh, thank goodness!” Wooyoung sounded panicked over the phone, “have you gotten ahold of Yeonjun? Or Beomgyu, in that matter? They aren’t picking up at all!”

Taehyun’s hope washed away, as did Soobin’s and Hueningkai’s.

“No, we haven’t. That… that was why I called you,” Taehyun sighed, “where are you? Are you still in the store?”

Wooyoung’s sad sigh could be heard over the phone. It made the other three feel terrible.

“Oh. Okay. Sorry I got so excited. And no, I left the store a while ago; feels like eons since I did. I feel so bad. I should have stayed with them. I don’t know why I left…”

“No, no, it’s okay,” Soobin assured, “don’t beat yourself up over it. It’s alright, hopefully they’ll be alright and come back just fine. Hey, don’t they share their locations?”

“I don’t think they do. Plus, it might not work, considering the storm. Maybe it hit a powerline?” Wooyoung hummed, “I just hope they’re okay…”

“Us too,” Hueningkai pouted. He heard a whish of wind on Wooyoung’s end.

”What was that?” Taehyun asked, immediately as his concern grew more and more by the second.

”We’re at Seonghwa’s place. He has a basement, but the service here isn’t too amazing. I can barely hear you all.”

Soobin heavily sighed and looked to the ceiling in thought.

”That’s okay. Make sure you stay safe, okay? We’ll talk later.”

”Fine with me,” Wooyoung responded with a soft tone, “bye. And you all stay safe too!”

The conversation ended quickly after Wooyoung’s words.

”I have a very bad feeling about this…” Taehyun sighed, “this won’t end well. I just know it won’t.”

”Way to be optimistic, Tae,” sarcasm dripped from every word Soobin had spoken.

Taehyun didn’t say anything as he looked to the ground.

Please be alright, Beomgyu and Yeonjun. I hope you two are safe. Just please…

Don’t die on us.

Somehow and some way, Beomgyu managed to escape from the collapsing building. He hoped that no one was hurt or killed by the harsh amount of debris that had fallen.

This storm is horrible! Beomgyu winced as he heard the remaining debris of the store collapse, some of it even falling through the sidewalk and other restaurants and homes nearby.

Wait… but where was the police? Wouldn’t they be here to help evacuate citizens? What the hell?

The continuous rainfall made it become harder to see for Beomgyu. The rain—hail was also beginning to form—hit his face quite mercilessly. He had cuts on his arms, legs, face, etc. His clothes had been ripped due to the unusually large rocks and stacks of debris. Not only was he shivering and shaking, tears began to form as well. His arm hurt so much, he couldn’t bear it. He never got the opportunity to get a good look at his arm. Thus, he had assumed that his left arm was beat up pretty badly.

He carried Yeonjun on his back. It was a win-win either way; his shirt was on its last strings of life, so his back was nearly exposed completely. Yeonjun was bleeding out, too; worse than Beomgyu. Yeonjun had obviously been trying to protect others in the building.

His body was nearly destroyed in the process.

Beomgyu began limping, and started to grow frustrated because he couldn’t keep his balance. He knew this because he was weak, malnourished, and needed rest. In which, now would be the absolute worst time to just collapse and sleep. No, he couldn’t do that. Not yet. The dorms weren’t that far.

He was only a few minutes away.

My legs are going numb… so are my arms. I can’t keep this up. I’m going to pass out soon. And what’s worse is that I can’t even see. Is it exhaustion, sadness maybe?

Beomgyu couldn’t hold in his emotions anymore. He did collapse, but he made sure Yeonjun was still on his back. Beomgyu’s body hurt like hell. He cried.

He cried and cried and cried and cried.

The hail was stronger than before, and the winds only made it go in his direction. Beomgyu couldn’t even move anymore. He knows that he probably broke a bone.

”No! I can’t give up yet!” he screamed, looking up at the sky, “Yeonjun needs me!”

He continued to scream into nothingness. He used all of his remaining power to stand.

Come on, you’re not too far now. You’re so close! Just make a sharp left and keep going straight! Then you’ll be there! You’ve seen this area so many times. Come on, Beomgyu!

Be useful for once in your life!

And so, Beomgyu ran—no, sprinted in order to reach his destination as quickly as possible. He knew this wasn’t the most ideal for Yeonjun, whose head was injured the most out of anything.

He will help him, he will make sure of that.

Beomgyu reached the dorms before he knew it. He tried knocking, but did nothing more than collapse in front of the door. He passed out from exhaustion and blood loss.

”Did anyone hear that noise?” Hueningkai perked up immediately.

”I’ll check it out, it was probably another tree falling,” Soobin hurriedly ran to the door and opened it.

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

”Oh, my God…” he gasped. Soobin was going to be sick, he just knew it. His stomach churned into knots.

”What is it?” Taehyun asked, slowly walking to the door with Hueningkai hiding behind him.

”Taehyun, get the first aid kit. Hueningkai, call a doctor.” Soobin instructed quietly, fixated on the sight in front of him.

”Why?” the younger boys said in unison.

Soobin grabbed nearby towels, which were luckily unfolded. He lay them across the floor, and then brought in the two boys who, we’re on the verge of losing their lives.

Beomgyu and Yeonjun.

Taehyun and Hueningkai asked no more questions and got straight to their duties. Taehyun was quick with the first aid kit, but not much supplies was in there.

”The doctors were the only people that could come, and their ride will be delayed because of the storm,” Hueningkai informed. He couldn’t stop thinking about his hyungs’ current conditions.

What the fudge crackers happened to them!? Are they okay? No, Hueningkai, that’s such a stupid question to ask! Obviously they aren’t okay! Agh! What happened to them?!

Beomgyu and Yeonjun were unresponsive. Their bodies lay motionless on the towels—those towels were soaked—and they were ever so slightly pale.

This is no ordinary thunderstorm, Taehyun angrily paced around the front room after shutting the door, somehow, someone had to have planned this out. It doesn’t make sense, though. How does someone plan out the weather? It’s unpredictable! Whatever the case may be…

Let’s just hope that they’ll survive.

Chapter Text

Three weeks ago...

Beomgyu

It was an odd start of the day for Beomgyu. He woke earlier than before, at exactly 4:53 am. He decided to go to the bathroom. Who wouldn’t? He groaned slightly as he got out of bed. He stretched and yawned. Why was he up so early? Hell, even Taehyun wasn’t awake, and he was the earliest riser out of all of them. It would be a miracle if Beomgyu had awoken before noon.

He simply decided to make nothing of it. It was just one of those days, he made himself believe.

He flipped on the bathroom light switch and closed the door quietly, as to make sure he didn’t disturb his sleeping friends. He simply and tiredly stared at himself in the mirror, both hands on the ends of the sink. He brought his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes. Was he seeing things?

Was that his own reflection or someone—something, even—else?

Beomgyu squinted his eyes and looked closer. It looked like him... only he was chained up instead.

Beomgyu reached out for the mirror, aiming to touch it, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t move his arms, legs, nothing. Was that even a reflection? If it was, why couldn’t he see the chains??

What was going on???

He tried to scream for help, but his voice was only a raspy whisper. Most probably from only waking up what, twenty or so minutes ago? How long had he been in here?

He was chained to the wall, the chains strong and unyielding. He looked in the mirror, and it seemed his reflection was laughing at him...?

“You are pathetic,” it spat.

”Can’t you see what you have inflicted upon yourself? You are chaining yourself down, pathetic being. But, hear my little... offer I shall give, friend.”

Beomgyu was seriously so confused.

”What???” His tone portrayed every ounce of confusion and a hint of frustration he had felt.

”What are you on about??”

The reflection chuckled, its smirk not faltering, “I am you. That much is obvious, I hope. I am the you that craves dark things. You’re not as pure as everyone sees. You have a dark side, who doesn’t, child?”

“You... are me?” Beomgyu repeated quietly.

”Yes. Everything of me is from you. You created me.” The reflection sounded so much like Beomgyu it terrified him.

”You’re really creepy.” Beomgyu blatantly stated, desperate to keep up an indifferent and strong front, “and yeah, I guess everyone does have a dark side. But I have no interest in it. I’ll only stay positive.” He spoke with full on confidence and determination.

The reflection only laughed. Clearly, it knew that Beomgyu was trying—and frankly, failing—to keep up a strong front.

”You think you’re so innocent,” it laughed bitterly, “it’s only what you fail to understand... is the darkness will win. You may think you’re pure, but the darkness is only awaiting for your submission. You will succumb to it. You cannot escape the inevitable.”

The clock struck 5:53 am, and suddenly, the reflection and chains disappeared. As if nothing ever happened.

”I think I’m losing my mind...” Beomgyu sighed, adjusting his hair and splashing cold water on his face. He turned the doorknob, turned off the lights, and crawled back into his bed.

He couldn’t stop replaying what was said.

”The darkness will win.”

He shook off his thoughts and fell into a dreamless and restless sleep.

Hueningkai

Hueningkai didn't know what was happening. It was all so sudden, it was jarring for him.

Wait a minute... what was he even rambling about again?

Oh, that's right. When he had that weird dream. But sudden, at least to him, wasn't the right word to describe. More like... terrifying? No, not that word either. He felt conflicted about the dream and what he should feel. Yes, he did feel terrified. He also felt the slightest hint of intrigue... but that felt wrong to feel. He didn't want to feel intrigued about something that was so eerie.

He finally decided on the word bewildered. He was bewildered. He also decided the description of what that dream was... would be baffling.

Hueningkai plops onto his bed, humming softly as his train of thought began.

flashback...

Hueningkai was alone, in the forest with no exit in sight. He felt really confused and scared. Where was he? Where were his friends? This was all so new to him; he never went alone somewhere. And worst of all, he sucked with direction.

He felt a sudden urge to walk straight ahead. And so, he did, albeit a bit slowly at first. He didn't know what to expect in the unfamiliar setting, or if he should be on guard. He decided to not be so tense, to just continue walking forward with his head high.

He was met with a rooftop. Which was a bit... unsettling for him. Why was he ahead of a rooftop in a forest? Then he thinks to look around, to look below himself.

He wasn't in a forest anymore.

He was on top of the roof. How he got here... he didn't know that himself. How had he gotten up here? All he was doing was walking in the forest... right?

When he felt that sudden urge to walk forward, he realized, that wasn't walking in a forest. That was walking towards the edge of the roof.

He felt himself falling down to the ground, but he saw a light that showed a mirror. In the mirror, he looks at himself.

His eyes are blue and green. How weird was that? Why were his eyes blue and green??? Weren't they brown?

He feels another strange thing. He smiles, but he didn't smile himself. He realizes that doesn't make a lot of sense to him.

He felt something making him smile, something forcing it out of him. He wasn't smiling himself; but it was something inside of him forcing him to. Almost as if he were watching his own body follow commands without his brain.

Before he can comprehend the dream and what was going on, he wakes up.

Hueningkai stares at the ceiling as he lies on his bed. He clutches his penguin plushie Soobin had gotten him, and he holds it tight. He can't help but have a million questions going through his head. What was that all about? What did the dream symbolize? Did it even symbolize anything? If so, would that mean something like that will happen to him? He's always considered himself a happy person, he's never been through anything too traumatic.

But there was one question that stuck with him the most: why and how had he seen a forest when he was on the rooftop? Was it a sign?

Hueningkai scratches his head confusedly. He decides that if he gets the time-or maybe if he remembers-he'd ask Taehyun or Soobin about it. He didn't want to think about Yeonjun and Beomgyu and what they would think. He knows they only dream about each other.

Hueningkai giggles at that thought, his wonders and worries going away even if only momentarily.

Taehyun

It was nearing the beginning of October. Taehyun hated this month. Well, he couldn’t necessarily say he hated it, he just didn’t have the appealing for Halloween nor the trick-or-treating nonsense. He was sitting up in bed, a dimly lit room overcasting his sight, his glasses slightly off his nose. He was into novels about angst and sometimes fluff. Mix of both wouldn’t hurt.

He remembered one time Soobin found this app called “Wattpad”...

His mind would never be the same way again.

Taehyun always listened to music as he read his books. It was something natural for him. He set the mood to a R&B setting. SZA, Billie Eilish, keshi, you name it. He almost didn’t catch the strange sound of a picture falling. He placed a bookmark and removed his reading glasses before grabbing a flashlight to investigate. He was confused.

There was nothing out of place.

”Let’s play~” something whispered in Taehyun’s ear.

It sounded like Beomgyu.

”Beomgyu-hyung?” Taehyun turned around just to be met with nothing behind him.

”How strange...”

”Play with me~” it whispered again. Taehyun turned to where he thought he heard something, but nothing was there.

”Beomgyu, stop it.” Taehyun spoke in a firm albeit scared tone, “I don’t know what kind of prank you’re trying to pull on me, but I want none of it.”

”Let’s play together, Taehyun~” it continued to whisper. It was driving Taehyun nuts.

”What the hell??” Taehyun began to grow a bit more scared than frustrated, “who’s there?” He asked, reaching for a baseball bat out of instinct.

A cold chill was felt in Taehyun’s arm. He shivered, naturally.

“You fail to understand why I am here~“

”Who are you?!” Taehyun shouted desperately.

”You shall find out soon~”

“Wait-“

Hueningkai nearly broke the door down.

”Are you okay, Taehyun?? Were you talking to yourself???” Hueningkai asked frantically. He couldn't help but realize that Taehyun had that look on his face, that look when he's deeply pondering. Not so much pondering, but maybe analyzing? He sees the look in Taehyun's eyes, the same look of confusion and apprehensiveness when Hueningkai had experienced that dream. He doesn't comment on it though.

”I...I’m just tired is all, Huening. Thanks for checking on me.” Taehyun smiled softly, hoping to reassure the younger boy.

Although Hueningkai seemed very unconvinced, he only nodded. Maybe Taehyun was uncomfortable. What was he to do? He can’t force things out of him.

”Okie...” he replied slowly, disbelief and skepticism etched into his tone, “if you need me, I’m always here hyung.” Although it's a strong urge to call out Taehyun's familar look, he doesn't. It's for another time, another day.

Taehyun nodded with a small smile. “Thanks, Hueningkai.”

”Good. Now give me cuddles.”

Beomgyu (pt. 2)

Beomgyu was sitting alone, by Yeonjun's door. Yeonjun had went to hang out with Namjoon for a bit, to catch up on things. At least, that's what Beomgyu had assumed. He had to admit, he kind of missed his hyung. It was so... empty without his presence. He missed Yeonjun's laugh, his stupid jokes, his touch... he craved that so badly. He needed it-

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Beomgyu thinks, what am I thinking??? What kind of weirdo says something like that? Sounds like those silly stories Soobin would make up. He would always ship us... whoa! Wait! I don't have a crush on Yeonjun! I'm a straight guy! Straight as a circle-wait a minute, circles aren't straight! I'm as straight as a... ruler! Yeah!

Beomgyu was suddenly jolted out of his thoughts as something-he assumed it to be a ghost?-passed by him. He felt a pang of deja vu, he's felt this feeling before. But what was it? Why couldn't he catch the name of what he felt? His initial feeling was replaced by confusion and frustration as he couldn't pick out the word for what he felt. He felt... like someone-or something-was watching him. He felt eyes on him, he knew that for sure. He also felt cold, as if the room temperature had dropped by fifty. What he felt the most of all, however, was...

Fear! That's the feeling... Beomgyu concludes. But why? What is he so fearful of? There's nothing out of the ordinary, save for the freezing temperature. Maybe Soobin turned on the air conditioning, Beomgyu thinks. But Soobin wouldn't turn it on unless it's hot outside. They were in the autumn season. Weird, wasn't it...

"Why're you on the floor?" Soobin asks the younger.

"Next to Yeonjun's room specifically..."

"Uh- I- it's- I was just-" Beomgyu fumbles to come up with a response. That was a good question Soobin had asked. He wasn't entirely sure of the answer.

Or maybe he was, and just refused to accept it. To accept the fact he had a teeny tiny crush on Yeonjun. But that was it. And besides, they do weird stuff all the time. They always act like they like each other. Always touching, giggling and "flirting"...

If Beomgyu was so used to that, why did it suddenly feel so saddening now? What's going on with him?

"Earth to Beomgyu, anybody home?" Soobin cuts Beomgyu out of his thoughts, waving his hand repeatedly in his face.

"Huh?" Beomgyu responds, a bit slowly as he was suddenly forced out of his thoughts.

"You probably didn't hear anything I just said, did you?"

"Uhhh...." he smiles sheepishly.

"I thought so. That's okay. I was just wondering why you were so cold."

"Oh, uh.. that," Beomgyu replies.

"I guess I just need a jacket. Autum gets cold fast, if you get me." 

"Yeah," Soobin responds with a nod. "Well, if you're getting that cold, then you should probably use the heater blanket. With Yeonjun's scent~" Soobin winks and teases.

"Oh shut up," Beomgyu kicks the older, resulting in a very dramatized yelp.

"Hurting your own elders, tsk... the generation these days," Soobin chuckles as he "limps" away.

Silly hyung, Beomgyu thinks before going back to the shiver in the first place, and all those feelings.

He couldn't describe it, but he felt weirdly pleased at the thought of another being in the home with them.

I'm losing my mind, Beomgyu groans and gets up, shaking his head.

Yeonjun

Yeonjun was about to leave and go back to his younger friends. He first went to the bathroom, though, to do his business and to make sure he was all ready to go.

He looked in the mirror and saw something weird. What was that he saw just now? A demon? The eyes were kind of pretty.

One blue eye and one green. Yeonjun didn't know why, but he felt so... entranced. As if he couldn't take his eyes away. What was this feeling, and why did he feel like he's felt it before? Oh, that's right. Because he has. One time, he remembers the exact thoughts vividly.

He was waiting for Beomgyu outside of school, so he could take him home. Beomgyu had come running to Yeonjun's car, waving and smiling with his bag over his shoulder. Yeonjun didn't know why, but he loved the look. Beomgyu in a white sweater, his beautiful, chocolate brown eyes and hair, the denim blue jeans and perfect white shoes that completed his fit... Yeonjun was completely entranced. He couldn't look away for a while. At first, he had panicked. What if he got too distracted and crashed the car? But Beomgyu's voice and laugh reassured him.

Yeonjun wasn't dumb. He knew damn well he had feelings for the boy. Funny thing, he thought. How had he even fallen for Beomgyu in the first place? That would explain why he's so flirty with him specifically, and why his heart would do a little flutter whenever Beomgyu complimented him.

Back to his original train of thought, Yeonjun couldn't look away from those multicolored eyes on the mirror. There was a faint shape he could see on the mirror, and he tilted his head in curiosity.

A cat?

Why was there a cat on the mirror?

Yeonjun looks at the shape a bit more closely. He can see the full cat now. The dark, grayish black fur, those eyes that seemed to be unseeing yet seeing everyone and everything. The cat seemed to be watching Yeonjun just as intensely as he was watching it. Could the cat perhaps sense him in some way? He loved cats, don't get him wrong, but he didn't know much about them. He was a bit more towards a dog person.

When the cat went away, Yeonjun hummed in curiosity and slight fascination. That wasn't an everyday experience, not for him at least.

That's odd. Especially its eyes... what a mix. Yeonjun thinks, humming softly and resting a finger on his chin.

When he looks back at his reflection, he nearly gasps aloud. There, in the reflection, he had the same eyes as the cat's. He was chained up in a place full of purple flowers, and he was sitting. His black hair had horns sprouted at the top. A trickle of blood formed into an entire pool that flowed all the way to the entrance.

What in the world...? Is that me? What is this? A reflection? A vision?? Yeonjun rubs his eyes, and the entire... thing was gone.

As if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Am I losing my mind? Yeonjun groans and splashes water on his face.

He doesn't think he wants to walk home anymore. So instead, he asks Namjoon to drive him back.

And of course, the older one agrees.

Soobin

Soobin was writing in his book, thinking about nothing in particular. He sighs; he's really bored.

But something's not sitting right. And no, it wasn't Soobin's posture.

He closes his book filled with nothings and lies on his bed. He closes his eyes and sighs.

All before he's seeing those visions. No, scratch that. Visions isn't the right word.

Flashbacks. Yeah, that's better. He's seeing flashbacks.

He's remembering all the screaming, all the fighting and other things he doesn't want to reminisce on. But one thing specifically doesn't leave his mind.

"Don't forget our deal. I saved your family, I expect what was said in return."

Soobin hates himself every day for that day. That's where love for your family gets you, he thinks resignedly.

He was desperate at the time. It was an invasion, in his hometown. His family would have gotten killed by those demons had it never come.

Now he owes it the favor. He never forgot about that day.

Yet he didn't know what was worse. He didn't know what he was bargaining for at the time. That's his fault for his carelessness, right?

That's why Beomgyu was so cold... and why Taehyun was talking to "himself" earlier. It came back, I guess...

Soobin opens his eyes and looks out his window.

He sees those familiar eyes staring back at him. Those eyes of feigned sweetness, feigned protection.

It was all a setup, and Soobin failed to realize that. Why had he chosen this path? Why didn't he just defend his family like a normal person?

He wished he could turn back time. He wouldn't have agreed to the "favor" if it would cause so much pain for the other people that he loved the most. His second family.

His own friends.

Soobin sighs, looking at the multicolored eyes staring at him.

"I know what I have to do," he replies automatically, almost like a programmed robot.

He hated this, so much. He really did. Why did he do this to himself? Why would he bring it in?

Now he has to go against the people who have always stood beside him.

His own best friends.