Archive of Our Own ^beta

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There was light rain pouring when they arrived at the training facility. Junhui feels like it’s fitting for how everybody’s feeling right now. They’ve done this three times already; the latest was with Jihoon yesterday yet, it never gets easier.

“I promise I’ll call you guys every weekend.” Soonyoung promises.

Minghao sighs, a smile on his lips, about to tell him no, you should call your family first, but is cut off by Chan bursting into tears as he engulfs Soonyoung in a hug. “You promise?”

Soonyoung grins though they can tell he’s barely holding himself together, “I promise, Dino-yah.”

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Wonwoo stares at the wall clock. Five minutes to midnight.

He hears the unmistakable shaky breath at the end of the line, “Do you really have to go, hyung?”

“Yes Min-ah, I have to. You know I have to.”

Mingyu sighs, “When can I talk to you again?”

“Soon.”

“Promise?”

It takes him a few seconds to respond. He knows he can’t lie to him yet he can’t let him down again. 

“I promise.”

But as he says this, he knows Mingyu doesn’t believe him. Still, he responds with, “Okay hyung, I can’t wait.”

“Me too.” 

Then he hangs up.

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The second Mingyu sees Wonwoo’s figure enter through the door, he jumps off his seat, runs over to him, then engulfs him into the tightest hug ever.

Wonwoo, taken aback by the force, chuckles as he hugs him back.

Mingyu buries his face in the space between his neck and shoulder and inhales in his aroma that’s a mix of cologne, sweat, and just Wonwoo.

“I missed you so much, hyung.” He says, trying to keep the tears from falling.

Wonwoo grins as he hugs him tighter, “I told you I’d be back, Min.”

“Thank you for keeping your promise.”

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Wonwoo watches as the blood starts swirling down the drain, crimson red turning light as it mixes into the water. He grabs the bar of soap and starts washing his hands, mentally singing ‘happy birthday’ as he gets rid of the blood underneath his finger nails.

The sudden knock on the door startles him and he turns to see Mingyu’s worried face peeking at him.

“You okay, hon?”

Wonwoo nods quickly, “Yeah, of course. Just washing up before bed.”

Mingyu smiles, “Okay.” He says before leaving.

Wonwoo stares at himself in the mirror, face gaunt and anxious-looking.

Mingyu mustn’t know.

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Despite it being more than a decade, Mingyu could still remember what he felt when he first met Wonwoo.

At the young age of fourteen, he wouldn’t know what it felt like to fall in love yet the second Wonwoo walked up to him and introduced himself, he knew.

And suddenly felt like he was falling. But not the scary kind, the one where you’ll feel your breath catch in anxiety as you tumble down some unknown pit.

It felt safe, like you know you’ll land safely at the bottom.

That’s how Wonwoo always felt for him—safe and secure.

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Wonwoo’s been alive for centuries but he’s never met a mortal like Kim Mingyu.

Mingyu, at the age of twenty-eight, lives like it’s his first time experiencing it. He sees the world with optimism and with a lot of hope which Wonwoo hasn’t felt in a while.

The longer he spends time with Mingyu, the more he witnesses how the man lives his life and it pushes something in Wonwoo—something dormant inside of him but he knows will come out sooner.

But besides that, he also has to grapple with the fact that he’s falling in love with Mingyu.

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Wonwoo remembers what he felt when he realized he's in love with Mingyu.

It happened on an ordinary day—during rehearsals of all things. They were taking a break and Mingyu was the first one to grab a water bottle and as soon as Wonwoo reached him, he offered him one.

As Wonwoo grabbed the water bottle from him, their fingertips touched, he felt something akin to a zing of electricity.

He felt breathless, and he didn’t know if it was because he’s tired from dancing or because Mingyu gave him one of his usual boyish grins before he left.

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Wonwoo’s always been known as never being the type to step out of his comfort zone. He was always the rule follower, never stepped out of line, and certainly never thought about thinking outside the box.

“Classic Wonwoo,” someone once said, “knew you would agree with us.” 

It’s a compliment, sure, but it placed a pit of discomfort in him.

So meeting someone like Mingyu—someone who questioned everything, never blindly followed what the majority thought, always had ideas to counter yours—certainly made a difference in his mundane life.

Even more so when Mingyu took an interest in him.

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There are days when Wonwoo comes home from work and the apartment feels desolate. He can’t quite pinpoint exactly why because obviously it’s not but once he glances at the calendar he and Mingyu have put up on the fridge and sees that Mingyu’s gone for several days, he understands why.

They’ve done this before; Mingyu would be in another country for a solo schedule and he’d be at home going on live or even at practice but now he knows he can’t do that.

And now he realizes he was only sane during Mingyu’s absence because he had distractions.

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Mingyu remembers when his mom gave him the amulet his grandma owned. It made him curious why he’s never seen or known about this before and why his grandma gave it to him.

But ever since he got it, he’s noticed his life was getting so much better. He’s doing well in school, in work, with his family, and his friends. Hell, he’s gone on a date because of it.

Life seems to be looking up for Kim Mingyu.

Until he meets a tall and bespectacled man who claims that the amulet belongs to him and he needs it back.

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The two kids stare down at the broken pieces of glass on the floor before shifting their eyes back at each other.

“I’m telling my dad you broke it.” One of the kids said.

“Well, I’m telling my uncle you broke it.” The other kid chimes in.

Before they can continue pointing fingers however, Mingyu and Wonwoo walk in to see the two kids and the mess they made.

“Oh no, what happened?!” Mingyu exclaims.

“Yujin broke the vase, uncle!”

“No, it was Minwoo who did, papa!”

Both Mingyu and Wonwoo stare at each other, not knowing what to do.

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One of Mingyu’s friends once told him that their field of work is akin to the wilderness; you’ve got your prey and your predators. He disagrees, however, since he also doesn’t know where he falls in either category.

The same couldn’t be said about the elusive Jeon Wonwoo, however.

The six-foot tall man wearing the finest piece of suit Mingyu knows he can never afford, sitting at the far end of the table surrounded by people fawning over him yet his cat-like eyes are fixated on him, staring him down as if one wrong move and he’ll pounce towards him.

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Seungcheol, as morbid as it sounds, liked to joke that in his twenty-five years of living, he’d never had a serious or proper relationship before so he thinks he might get one when he dies—much to the annoyance of his friend, Mingyu.

So when he took his final breath after the doctors and nurses did everything they could to save him after the accident, he was more surprised to see who was fetching him and bringing him to the afterworld than the fact that he just tragically died.

This is the prettiest grim reaper he’s ever seen, he thinks.

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Grief is a fickle thing, Jeonghan realizes.

One minute you think you’ve moved on from the pain of what once was and the next, you’re crying outside a bar in Seoul while your friends console you and talk about what to do with you.

Three trips abroad, two hiking trips, a new sofa, and a balcony filled with plants later and he thinks he’s getting there.

Until he sees Joshua at Shibuya Crossing of all places, one hand clutching two shopping bags and the other holding another man’s hand.

Jeonghan wants the ground to swallow him up whole right now.

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Ever since Mingyu was discharged from the military, he found himself not knowing what to do with his life moving forward. He told his parents he had plans after enlistment and he thought so too but when it was time to go back to university and pick a course he should take, he ended up blanking out.

Now, he’s at a cafe a few blocks away from the university, daydreaming a life of travel and leisure—away from school and other responsibilities.

Not noticing the bespectacled figure towering over him asking if the seat in front of him was taken.

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Chan doesn’t frighten easily. As the hyung, he was always the one comforting his dongsaeng when he had nightmares and telling him nobody's taking him.

But now, as the youngest in a group, sometimes he lets himself be.

He thinks about the first time he was genuinely frightened—he was practicing alone in the dance studio at three o’clock when he noticed a head peeking through the window. Based on the hair, he thought it was Hoshi.

But the next day when he asked him what he was doing there, the older one said he was back at home, asleep.

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Jeon Wonwoo has been surrounded by royalty ever since he could remember. His family lived in the palace ever since he was a little boy, one of the benefits placed when his mother accepted the position as the royal family’s chef.

He remembers the first time he met Prince Kim Mingyu, a tiny baby cradled in the Queen’s arms. The Queen noticed the five-year old Wonwoo shyly peeking behind his mother’s skirt and she beckoned him forward. He cautiously stepped forward and once he got a look of the tiny baby with Queen’s eyes and the King’s nose, he smiled.

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When Yoon Jeonghan found out there was an opening position to become a guardian angel, he knew he had to take it.

Gaining a spot there was his gateway to getting a ticket to Paradise and finally reuniting with his parents and sister.

But when he got his first assignment, a university student named Jeon Wonwoo who was depressed and absolutely did not believe in heavenly beings such as himself, and met his “partner” in the form of a devil named Choi Seungcheol, he knew this wasn't going to be easy. 

But who said getting into Heaven was ever easy? 

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The infamous 96 crew are robbers who have experience in breaking into vaults around the globe. From physical to digital, there’s nothing the crew couldn’t break into. So, when Xu Minghao was tasked as the leader into bringing down the crew, he knew it wasn’t an easy task.

He’s heard of this crew even when he was just starting out at the agency three years ago. There were whispers about a group of young men, led by someone known as “Moon”, who’d basically perform heists at banks, museums, and government agencies, stealing items ranging from data, money, and art pieces.

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Junhui met Wonwoo, Soonyoung, and Jihoon when he was thirteen as an orphan. They were the four oldest kids left at the orphanage and as much as it pained the staff, they knew no one would want to adopt the four boys anymore.

It was hard, knowing that you’d never grow up calling someone your parent but Junhui realized as he got older that he didn’t need that, not when he’d come to know these three as his brothers.

His therapist tells him he has abandonment issues though and it probably contributes to the job he and his brothers chose.

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Wonwoo loves to lurk. His brothers say it’s a hobby of his to lurk. 

As one of the hackers of the group, lurking in online spaces is a pastime of his—switching from cyber room to room, looking through confidential data, peeking in through the lives of people he’ll never meet yet he knows so much about.

A digital voyeur, Soonyoung called him once.

Yet, what he prefers more is lurking in the coffee shop in front of the agency, trying to spot the tall tanned man he found out is part of the group set out to catch them.

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Mingyu swore he saw the guy run through this building but as he called out and was met with only the sound of his echo, suddenly he’s not sure anymore.

He’s about to leave the building and calls Minghao to ask for the man’s details when he sees something in his periphery so without thinking, he runs after him.

It takes him five minutes but he ends up on the second floor of an abandoned building, cornering the tall and bespectacled man he keeps noticing lurking around the coffee shop he frequents.

And oh my… he’s even prettier up close.

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“Mingyu-yah, we can’t…” Wonwoo wants to say but as Mingyu’s lips continue to devour his, licking inside his mouth, gripping his waist tightly that he knows it’ll leave bruises later while feeling his knees weaken, he knows he just couldn’t.

It’s been months since their last kiss and he thought he was doing well, resisting the temptation of doing it again, but ever since he realized that he might not be as straight as he thought he was, all he could think about was Mingyu’s hands and lips on him.

“Mingyu-yah, please, can—”

“I know you want this too, hyung.”

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Seungkwan didn’t know what to do. Hansol’s never acted like this before.

“Seungkwan, please just listen to me.” Hansol said, his tone so calm and collected. He placed the knife on the sink, letting the blood mix in the water as it swirled down the drain.

“No, just… leave me alone!” He shouted.

Hansol sighed and reached out his bloody hand and Seungkwan felt faint because it’s someone else’s blood and Hansol’s too relaxed for this and he doesn’t know what to do.

“If you just let me explain.”

“What’s there to explain? You just killed someone, Sol!” Seungkwan screamed.

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Jihoon tapped the quill against the bottom of his chin. He’s been struggling to write this letter for hours now; usually, he’s good at writing—it’s his preferred way of expressing himself rather than actions but now he’s having trouble.

Because how do you tell a worried mother that their son was severely injured in combat and there’s a high chance they won’t make it another day?

But alas, his commanding officer gave him the task of writing this letter and he has to have it finished by tonight so the messenger can bring it to the village tomorrow morning.

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Jisoo doesn’t know how long he’s been walking this path but it feels like forever. He doesn’t know if he’ll survive the next day or even tonight when the sun finally sets and the coldness comes back.

He misses home, he misses his family, and he misses him.

He regrets everything he did before he left; hates how he left their relationship like that.

If he’s able to come back, he would apologize and beg for his forgiveness.

But right now, he watches as the sun slowly sets, painting the sky in pinks and blues.

And then… darkness embraces him.

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It’s hard, Junhui knows—having to let go of someone you’ve known basically half of your life. But he has to. Not just for Minghao, but for himself too. 

He’s been steeling himself for this day, the day he finally says goodbye to Minghao. For good.

But as he wakes up next to him the following morning, looking at his soft and pretty face, he doesn’t know how he’ll be able to do it. It’s been months since Minghao had a peaceful night’s sleep and Junhui can’t stomach the idea of ruining that, ruining him.

He can’t hurt him again.

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Mingyu remembers the first time he met Wonwoo.

He heard his voice before he saw his face and it was a voice he could never forget. Even back in high school, he had a low and deep voice; lots of people fawned over it, saying his voice was like honey dripping at how nice it sounded. 

Oftentimes when he and Wonwoo are in the bedroom and the older would whisper in his ear about all the debauchery he plans on doing to him all night, that comparison is something he always remembers and he can’t help but agree with everyone.

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Mingyu knows he’s running late; he can feel the vibration on his phone from their group chat making fun of him for oversleeping but he doesn’t really have the time for it right now because he already needs to be in class.

He knows he only has a minute before his professor marks him absent and he has one turn to make and he’s right there but as he makes that turn, he collides with a body, the impact so hard both of them fall to ground.

He’s about to apologize when he sees who he bumped into.

Jeon Wonwoo.

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Junhui stares into his eyes, finding nothing but coldness.

“Take them away, boys.” The chief of police tells the officers as they whisk Jihoon, Soonyoung, and Wonwoo away. He watches as Mingyu stays behind, looking at Wonwoo being pushed into the police car, hands cuffed, before he looks down and walks away.

He looks back at Minghao, who continues to stare at him.

“So, this was your plan all along, huh?” 

No response.

“I can’t believe you.” Junhui spits out, “I trusted you! I let you in and you do this to me?!” He yells, betrayed.

Minghao finally looks away.

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Eternal life was something Mingyu never expected to have. He was a sickly boy during the war but as the eldest, he had to prioritize his siblings more than his needs, especially when their mother was the only one raising them after their father passed.

So you’d know he expected to die young but when an enigmatic man came to the village and offered him eternal life, he thought he was joking.

Yet he was so enamored by his cat-like eyes and stature that he couldn’t help but follow his every word.

And that is how he ended up here.

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“I mean, there has to be something you could give Jeonghan so he’ll stop hating you.” Jihoon tells Seungcheol.

“It’s not that easy,” Seungcheol grumbles, “I thoroughly fucked up, how could he ever forgive me?”

“Maybe you can bake him something. He told us he's been learning how to bake.”

Seungcheol groans, “I don’t know how to cook nor how to bake.” Then he sighs, “But I’ll try, I guess. Any suggestions?”

“Cupcakes?” Soonyoung chimes in, “I’ve got a fresh batch of blueberries, you can make some.”

“He’s allergic to blueberries.” Both Jihoon and Seungcheol speak at the same time.

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“Is this seat taken?”

Mingyu glances at the man beside him, briefly rolls his eyes, before continuing to sip his drink.

The man chuckles, “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”

“Silence means ‘no’, actually.”

“Oh, so he speaks.” The man jokes and Mingyu rolls his eyes again. “Oh, come on, Mingyu-yah, is that any way to welcome your hyung home?”

Mingyu scoffs before he spits out, “Welcome home, Wonwoo-ssi.”

Wonwoo laughs again, “Wonwoo-ssi? Never heard that before from you. Usually it’s hyung…” a pause, "or… baby.” Mingyu glares at him, “You once called me honey, even.”

“Will you shut up?”

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As a kid, Jihoon’s always been a loner—he’d rather stay at home and watch the new Digimon episode and play his instruments than go outside and play with the neighborhood kids.

But one day that all changed at the arrival of a new friend.

He was in the sandbox trying to build what he dubbed a “sandman”, essentially a snowman made of sand when he felt a shadow loom behind him.

He turned to see a boy with the longest eyelashes ever, he thought. “Hey, what'scha doing?”

“Making a sandman.”

The boy tilts his head in confusion, “A what?”

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As soon as they reached the roof top, it was already too late as they saw Seungcheol was now straddling the man and punching him repeatedly.

“Seungcheol, stop!” Jisoo shouted as they ran towards him, “Stop it, Seungcheol, you’re going to kill him!”

But it was no use as Seungcheol continued to punch the man, not caring about the blood painting his fists and the fact that the man was already unconscious and his face was now ashen and covered in bruises. He was forcibly stopped when Mingyu grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him away from the body.

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The first thing Mingyu sees is Wonwoo in front of him with a huge smile on his face. Normally this would put comfort to him but after finding out what he did, all he feels is fear and dread.

“What did you do to them?”

Wonwoo bends down and his smile grows wider. He reaches forward to caress his cheek and it causes Mingyu to flinch away. Still, he ignores it and just says, “Nothing to worry about, Mingyu-yah.”

“Wonwoo, what did you do to my friends?” 

“They’re not your friends, Min. I’m your friend. Your one and only friend.”

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In the span of a century that Mingyu’s loved Wonwoo, he can’t imagine ever parting from him ever again. As the Earth continued to turn and as the world continued to go through catastrophic events after the other, Mingyu’s love for Wonwoo never wavered.

Even when they were separated during the war with Mingyu having to escape to Europe and Wonwoo having to stay back home, he knew they’d return in each other’s arms again soon.

That’s the thing that makes them so admirable: their love for each other is timeless.

And now, they will be seeing each other again.

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Seungcheol immediately runs outside the cabin followed by Jeonghan and Jisoo. “Seungcheol!” Jeonghan shouts as he follows after him. “What’s wrong? What did the letter say?”

“We have to find the box Jihoon buried or else we won’t be able to lift the curse!” The elder shouts, still running and Jeonghan and Jisoo briefly exchange looks before they follow after him. They find him knelt down on the ground, clawing at the dirt. 

Before any of them can ask what he’s doing, they see a crow fly over them. All three of them look at each other in fear.

“Fuck.”

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“Well great, we’re lost.” Wonwoo grumbled as he tried to go over a large root. “We’re never making it out of here before sunset.”

Jeonghan turned to him and grinned, “Oh, come on Wonwoo-yah, don’t be so negative. Didn’t you remember what Mingyu said? The exit is just right over here!” He pointed forward.

“I wish Mingyu was with us.” Wonwoo grumbled again.

Jeonghan giggled, “I didn’t know you were such a clingy boyfriend, Wonwoo-yah.”

“He’s not my boyfriend!” Wonwoo yelled, “I’m just saying that because he’s the expert between us!” But Jeonghan just smirked which caused Wonwoo to groan.

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Soonyoung’s the type of friend Jihoon never expected to have—they’re both introverts, sure, but that’s where it stops. He’s a homebody, Soonyoung loves going out; he only has three friends, Soonyoung’s practically friends with the entire school—that sort of stuff.

And when you’re friends with someone like him, it can’t be helped that you’d be invited to a lot of parties.

“Come on, Jihoon! It’d be so much fun with you there!” Soonyoung said with fervour.

Jihoon snorted, “We both know that’s not true, man.”

“Oh don’t say that, Ji! The guys love you!” Soonyoung pressed, eyes pleading.

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Wonwoo should be used to this by now—being left alone in their apartment. It’s happened multiple times already, especially when his military service started at the same time Mingyu was practicing for their tour, working on their unit album, and attending to his schedules abroad.

But, he had something to distract himself with which was talking to the fans on live but since he’s enlisted, he can’t do that. He can’t talk to the other members too because they’re also away, though he knows they’d make time for him, he knows how difficult it’d be with the time difference.

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If you were to ask Mingyu what type of flower he likes, he’d say something like sunflowers or roses. He’s never really been a daisy type of guy but then again, he doesn’t really think much about this stuff.

But ever since Wonwoo started giving daisies to him every time they’d met, he’s grown fond of them. He knows Wonwoo doesn’t buy these, he’s been to his apartment building before and saw one of the ahjummas tending to them. He just doesn’t know how Wonwoo gets them without being scolded.

Maybe that’s one of the countless charms of Jeon Wonwoo.

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Mingyu looks across the table towards Wonwoo and smiles at how adorable he looks—so focused on looking out of the window of the restaurant towards the vast sea. It’s a miracle Mingyu was able to book this table on such short notice, it’s the best seat in the entire place, overlooking the beach.

His eyes focus on the moles that dot Wonwoo’s face down to the pretty purple cardigan he’s wearing and think about how he’s going to treasure this memory forever.

His Wonwoo. His one and only Wonwoo.

“What are you staring at?”

“Just admiring your beauty, sweetheart.”

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Call Seungcheol primitive or what other words you can think of, he is not letting somebody else handle his crew but him.

“I refuse.”

Jihoon scoffs, “You can’t really refuse here, buddy.”

Soonyoung nods next to him, “Yeah man, we need somebody to handle the crew while you’re out for a few weeks.”

“Yeah, I get it but I want one of you to do it. Not Yoon.”

“Here we go again.”

“Cheol, Jeonghan’s a great leader, alright? You have nothing to worry about.”

Seungcheol scoffs, “Oh, I have plenty to worry about. That man is nothing but a headache!”

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Although he held accursed feelings towards Yoon Jeonghan, Seungcheol could admit that he’s doing a good job handling his crew.

“See? I told you.” Soonyoung laughs.

Seungcheol rolls his eyes, “Whatever.” He continues to watch Jeonghan lead them in a jog, running laps around the track, with Jisoo beside him.

“Also, him and Jisoo seem to be getting along.”

“So well in fact that the kids have been calling them ‘evil twins’.” Jihoon laughs.

Seungcheol stays silent and watches the pair, laughing and talking while they’re jogging together. He feels something unsettling inside him.

But he chooses to ignore it.

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Chan continues to curse as he runs towards Hansol’s bleeding body on the floor.

“Hyung, stay with me, okay? The medics are going to be here soon.” Hansol doesn’t say anything, he just stares at the ceiling, the light hurting his eyes as he does so.

He didn’t know why he did this. He could’ve just stayed home like Seungcheol told him to, not to investigate further but he needed to do this.

For himself and for Seungkwan.

He reaches a frail hand and grabs Chan’s hand. “Hyung?”

But before he can say anything, he feels sleep coming to him.

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It takes them a second to realize Mingyu’s fallen into a trance.

Minghao and Seokmin both exchange looks before the latter leans in and shakes their friend, “Mingyu-yah, hey!” when that doesn’t work, he lightly slaps both of his cheeks then goes harder but both have no effect.

“Fuck.” Minghao curses, a rare occurence which means they’re utterly fucked. “He must’ve touched the headstone.”

“Shit.” Seokmin curses too but then he’s silenced by the sound of the witch’s cackle sounding from afar. “Oh my god, they’re here.”

“We have to get out of here. We have to get far away.”

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“Seungyeon asked me out.”

Mingyu looks up from his meal, “Really?”

Wonwoo nods, a smile playing on his lips.

“When?”

“Last night, after the game, you already went home. He, uh… walked me to the train station and asked me.”

Mingyu nods, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling settling in him. He didn’t get to accompany Wonwoo home like he usually did because he still had to sort things out with her but he didn’t think something like this would happen while he was away.

“That’s great.” He grins, though there’s a bitter taste in his mouth he says it.

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Mingyu attempts to follow the voice that calls out to him. He can’t remember what they’re saying but all he can recall is that the voice is deep and that it’s hypnotic.

He leaves Seokmin and Minghao to argue to themselves as he follows the voice beckoning him to go deeper into the forest.

When he reaches the clearing, he stops, and looks around, trying to find where the voice came from. He knows the voice is here, he can tell. He looks around again and sees a figure standing in front of him.

Then all of a sudden—darkness.

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“The moon looks exceptionally bright tonight.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Hope it’s the same for me tonight. Although it’s been raining a lot these past few days, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a glimpse of it tonight.” A pause. “So, when will you be home?”

“Hopefully the day after tomorrow. Our flight is tomorrow morning.”

A sigh. “I miss you, Mingyu-yah.”

A chuckle. “I miss you too, hyung. I can’t wait to come back home and spend time with you. Also, I’ve bought lots of presents for you.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“To me or the presents?”

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It’s when they’re lying in bed does Wonwoo suddenly ask, “Do you ever regret it?”

Mingyu, who’s almost asleep, groggily asks back, “Regret what?”

“Our relationship.”

“Of course not.”

“But did you ever wish… you fell in love with someone more… normal?”

“No.” He immediately answers and turns to face him, “I’ve never thought about it. Because the first time I met you, I knew you were in it for me.”

“Sap.”

“It’s true. Our love may be imperfect, wrong, or whatever to those people but what matters most is that I love you and you love me.”

“Okay Barney.”

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Wonwoo’s personally never been a dog person. He prefers cats as a lot of people have assumed correctly. Also, he doesn’t really get the hype around everybody having the same tiny and white alabaster-like dog especially when he can’t tell them apart.

It’s until he had to babysit his boyfriend’s dog that he understood never to underestimate these tiny little demons.

“Are you sure you’re going to be fine with Bobpul?” Mingyu asks. “I could still leave her with Minseo.”

But Wonwoo assured him that he’ll be fine taking care of her.

Oh, how wrong he was to say that.

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“So, any plans for your birthday?”

Minghao, eyes on his book, responds, “Not much. Probably just stay at home and catch up on my shows.”

Junhui frowns, “Well, that’s not a fun way to celebrate your special day.”

Minghao glances at him, “I’m turning 28, hyung, I don’t think I need to have fun on my birthday.”

“Well, I had fun on my 28th! Remember when you surprised me with a hot air balloon ride?”

Minghao threw him an icy glare, “You mean, you begged me to take you on a hot air balloon ride?”

“Semantics.” Junhui waves at him.

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Jeon Wonwoo has always been dubbed the model student at the SVT Girls High School. Always at the top of the class, an immaculate record for both discipline and leadership, and an overall model student.

Just don’t let her near Kim Mingyu.

Nobody knows why those two have always been at odds. Sure, Mingyu is a troublemaker but she never troubled Wonwoo at all. In fact, she makes sure to avoid her at all costs.

Yet every time her name is uttered in Wonwoo’s vicinity, she goes on a tirade.

It’s like she was born into this world hating Mingyu.

Chapter Text

Though if you ask her when she started hating Kim Mingyu, she wouldn’t really know how to answer it.

It’s just that she finds her unbearable, a nuisance, and as mentioned—a troublemaker. And Mingyu is aware that’s how Wonwoo sees her yet that doesn’t stop her from following her around like a lost puppy begging for the attention of its new owner.

“I think she has a crush on you.” Wonwoo’s classmate teased her and pointed towards Mingyu.

Wonwoo turns and sees Mingyu staring back at her with a big smile on her face and then waves excitedly.

Ugh.

Chapter Text

Prince Jisoo was deeply admired throughout the realm. He was known for being kind, patient, and overall a good leader. He was often accompanied by his second-in-command, Jeonghan, and chief security, Seungcheol.

So when he was seen one day without either of the two with him, it raised suspicion within the court.

“Oh, where could’ve they have gone?”

“I don’t recall Jeonghan being tasked to do something else without the prince.”

“Isn’t Seungcheol’s job to be there for the prince at all costs? Well where is he?”

“Well, where are they?”

And only Prince Jisoo has the answer to that.

Chapter Text

Mingyu has always been in awe of Wonwoo since he joined his group. For someone who seemed so quiet, serious, and stoic, the older one knew how to command a room.

It’s probably why he amassed such a big number of followers in just three years of starting the collective.

He can’t remember life before he started his worship and he doesn’t intend to, all he cares about is how to worship Jeon Wonwoo.

Though he still has to get used to the bi-annual sacrifices. He hates having blood under his nails, they’re such a bitch to get rid of.

Chapter Text

When Mingyu wakes up the next morning, he finds Wonwoo already packing his items and getting ready to leave.

“Leaving so soon?” He asks as he leans against the door to the living room.

Wonwoo nods, “Yes, I have to go. I have to be home before sunset.” 

“Well, that’s hours away. Don’t you want to stay for lunch?”

Wonwoo shakes his head, “No, sorry. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Who says you were?”

Wonwoo sighs, “Mingyu.”

“Come on, Won, stay?” He asks, eyes pleading.

Wonwoo stays silent.

“Come on, Won, for old time’s sake,” he pauses, “please?”

Chapter Text

People have always known Choi Seungcheol and Yoon Jeonghan to be enemies. It’s not a secret at all, especially if you’ve witnessed the countless arguments they’ve had right there in front of the employees.

So when it was announced that not only Choi Enterprises and Yoon Industries were going to merge, but that their respective COOs are getting married, well everybody was agog.

“Just smile and wave, it’ll be over soon enough.” Jeonghan’s father said before he left him to get his makeup done before the press conference.

Wonwoo, his assistant, stood by with a sad smile on his lips.

Chapter Text

Wonwoo already knew that with this union there was neither peace nor harmony that would come out of it.

Yoon Jeonghan and Choi Seungcheol are just too different to get along with each other.

“You make it seem like they’re a lost cause,” Kim Mingyu, CFO of Choi Enterprises, told him. “Don’t you know about ‘opposites attract’, Wonwoo-ssi?”

Wonwoo huffed, “Yes I do but they’re too different, they’ve almost killed each other numerous times.”

“Once or twice.” Mingyu confirmed and Wonwoo pointed at him. “Still, you can’t say that they won’t work definitely. I mean…” he grinned, “look at us.”

Chapter Text

When Junhui signed up for the creative writing class, he only had one goal in mind: be able to write a poem for Xu Minghao and be able to give it to him on Valentine’s Day.

Okay, that’s two goals, but still.

He’s not really great at poetry. Far from it, actually. He’s more into song writing, if you can believe it. His friend, Jihoon, told him they’re practically the same so he thinks he can write one poem for him.

What he didn’t expect though was seeing Minghao in the same class as him.

Damn it, he cursed internally.

Chapter Text

“How is he?” Prince Mingyu asked Minghao, his trusted guard.

Minghao sighed, “Still not eating, Your Highness.”

He clicked his tongue, “That stubborn brat.” then stood up, “Fine, bring me to him.”

His eunuch, Seokmin, stopped him, “Oh, Your Highness, I don’t think that’s advisable.” Mingyu stared at him in disbelief to which he continued, “Well, the last time you spoke to the peddler, he called you ‘heartless’ and threw your gifts to the ground. Who’s to say there won’t be a repeat of that if you go and see him?”

Minghao agreed.

Mingyu sighed, unsure what to do next.

Chapter Text

Prince Mingyu was about to ask what else they can do for the peddler when they heard a loud scream from outside. The three of them exchange glances before they rush out, ending up in the grounds to see the guards subduing the peddler.

“Let me go!” He shouted as he struggled against their grips. 

“What’s going on here?”

“The peddler is trying to escape, Your Highness.” One of the guards answered.

The peddler continued to struggle and Mingyu frowned as he watched his face contort into pain and weariness.

He looks so much like my Wonwoo, he thought sadly.

Chapter Text

It’s later that night when they find Mingyu still awake going through letters that he and Wonwoo used to send each other.

He smiles at one of the letters he found, remembering when it was written—it was during his birthday years ago. Wonwoo told him he couldn’t make the trip back home to celebrate it. He was sad but he knows his husband did all he can to get to him on time. Then Wonwoo surprised him by coming home earlier than expected, giving him lots of kisses to wipe away his frown at being fooled by his husband.

Chapter Text

It’s Wonwoo’s first time taking care of Mingyu during his shift. He won’t admit it but he’s been looking forward to this ever since they finally mated. As the only human mate in the pack, he knows he has a lot of responsibilities to uphold.

So when Mingyu, in his werewolf form, bounded up to him, silver eyes filled with joy at the sight of him, he knew he didn’t have to worry about anything at all.

He ran his hand through his brown fur, “Hello, my love.” To which Mingyu leaned in and nuzzled his hand with his snout.

Chapter Text

Chan waits for Seungcheol to leave before he lets out a sigh of relief. Seungkwan, sensing his anxiety, walks up to him. “That bad, huh?”

Chan nods, “Hyung’s been on edge lately and he’s taking it out on everybody. It’s really scary.”

Hansol looks at where Seungcheol just left, “That’s what happens when you’re too blinded by hate and revenge to see how it’s affecting others.”

Seungkwan frowns, “I know he wants to avenge Jeonghan-hyung but don’t you think he’s going a bit overboard?”

Chan shrugs, “He’ll do anything to seek justice for hyung.”

“Even if it means losing himself.”

Chapter Text

Seungcheol never believed in ghosts when he was a kid. He knew that adults only said that to scare off the children into not doing anything bad or naughty while they were away.

But ever since… Jeonghan…

Sometimes he wished he believed in them so he could tell himself that somewhere out there, his spectre is probably watching over him. But then he thinks that maybe it’s for the best because he knows Jeonghan wouldn’t like the decisions he’s been making.

Especially on his behalf. But he knows he must.

Because if no one will avenge him, who else will?