Against the Tide: Eighteenth Dal Segno (Ch.18 Pt. 1)
Pairing: Poly OT8
•❥ Rating: Explicit (18+)
•❥ Genres: Heavy Angst, Action, Romance, Fluff, Smut, Fantasy
•❥ Series AU Tags: Demon Pirates, Supernatural, Poly Relationship (mxm), Past and Modern Day AU, Mythology Au, Slow Burn, Slice of Life, College Au, Rock Band Au, Happy Ending Endgame
•❥ Chapter Tws: Migraines, Nosebleeds, Blood, Guilt, Nightmares, Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Misunderstandings, Poison
•❥ Chapter Sws: Foursome, Consentacle Tentacles (lets go Whiro!), Temperature Play, Comfort Sex, Finger Sucking, Jacob's Ladder Piercing, Hair Pulling, Blowjob, Frottage, Bareback, Auralism, Scent Kink, Cum Swallowing, Biting, Dacryphilia
•❥ WC: 10.7k out of 25.5k
•❥ A/N: The blue hellsite's devs are full of shit and my chapter was too big to post all in one so now I have to break it up into two posts. It would be real lovely for my AtTiny enjoyers to make sure to reblog my work when they're finished :3 This was going to be the reveal chapter but it was already 25k so I decided to break it up. Which...was clearly the right option since tumblr's new posting limitations hates me and my big chapters lmao. Thank you for waiting and stay tuned :) Also, if you haven't yet, maybe check out my new universe Ataraxia while you wait for the next chapter?
•❥AO3 | Taglist Form (Please make sure your urls are updated and able to actually be tagged) | Commission Sheet𓆩⟡𓆪
•❥ ©atiny-piratequeen 2024. do not repost, translate, or use my works.
•❥Network Pings: @kwritersworld | @cultofdionysusnet | @k-vanity
•❥← previous dal segno next dal segno –>
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Friday, March 27th
-225 Days Remain-
-7:30am-
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Siyeon sat in the center of her room, eight flowers in front of her. She glanced from right to left, pursing her lips before she exhaled and shuffled her cards. Her deck had begun to call her, awakening her from a recurring dream she was in.
“I hear you, give me a moment.” She spoke to the cards as she shuffled them, placing a card before each flower. The ex-pirates had yet to come back to her to ask to do another Trial.
She did not press the issue, they had time before she would feel the need to pressure them to do so.
A stream of sunlight came in through her blinds, landing on her face and that was the moment she stopped shuffling. She smiled softly at the sunbeam, pulling eight cards and placing them before each flower.
“Yes, thank you, I’ll have a look.” She spoke directly to the ray of sun and then reached for the card she’d set in front of the gladiolus.
“Jongho and the Evil God, huh? I seem to remember those two being… strangely the second most in sync and harmonious of the bunch. What do we have?” She spoke to herself, looking down.
“Seven of pentacles…I see. For a god like Whiro…both of you are startingly consistent…and positive?” She placed the card aside and looked towards the next flower, Wooyoung’s purple hyacinth.
Siyeon stared at it for a long while before flipping the card.
“Reversed…five of wands.” She brought her knuckle to her lips, staring at the card. She grabbed her notebook, muttering something under her breath as she recorded her findings, tapping her pen against it. She glanced at the recent reading and the one she gave the men after their trial, pressing her lips together.
The sun witch set the card down without another word, sighing softly before her eyes landed on Mingi’s yellow carnation.
“Two of swords….You’ve had an especially hard time for all of these centuries, haven’t you?” She set the card down and adjusted herself on the cushion she’d put under her knees.
“I hope you can find your peace soon. I’d love to do a full pull for you but my cards are already painting a clear enough picture…” she glanced at San’s snapdragon and the card in front of it; a reversed five of swords.
“A clear enough picture for all of you.” she closed her eyes, feeling the next card pull towards her.
She set the reversed card down and looked towards Yeosang’s lavender. Her brows went up in surprise as she picked up the King of Wands.
“Oh? How…curious. Are you to experience a breakthrough soon? Will it be your time to show and prove?” She smiled softly and looked beside it to Yunho’s chamomile.
“Justice? Very fitting.” She hummed, curious it wasn’t tied to his recent romantic accomplishment, but given the theme of the cards, she figured the full picture would clear itself to her soon.
“Seonghwa…reveresed death?” She stopped short, brows pinched together.
That…wasn’t great.
Far from it, actually.
She looked to the final flower.
A lotus, for Hongjoong.
The card in front of his had an…oppresive amount of energy. She pursed her lips together, reaching towards it before startling as a knock came to her door.
“Unnie?”
Siyeon placed her hand over her chest and stood, heading over to the door. When she opened it, Chungha looked up at her, smiling softly.
“Sorry, did I wake you?” She inquired. Siyeon shook her head, relaxing her shoulders.
“Not at all. What is it?”
“Breakfast is done. I didn’t want yours to get cold.”
Siyeon looked at the spread she had and nodded, smiling softly.
She could finish her read later.
“I’m on my way, thank you for waking me, sweetheart.” She winked at Chungha, pretending cheekily that she didn’t notice the way the woman’s cheeks went bright red before the two walked down to the kitchen.
In her room, a strong gust blew in through the curtain, scattering the flowers and their cards, sending them and the rest of Siyeon’s deck scattering throughout her room before the curtain settled, obscuring the rays of sun from coming inside.
Downstairs, Hongjoong was lacing up his shoes, adjusting to make sure they were situated properly on his feet before glancing between his coat and the one Yunho had let him borrow.
Siyeon glanced at him, head tilted.
“Heading out?” She inquired, leaning on the railing at the foot of the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder at her and nodded.
“Yeah, I finished my breakfast already so I was going to go ahead and start placing our orders for everyone since Yeonjun had a slow start this morning and the others are still eating.” He sent her a sweet smile and turned to the door, holding Yunho’s jacket tight to himself as he moved to the handle.
“Hongjoong?”
He turned to look at his friend, tilting his head. Siyeon smiled gently at him and nodded once.
“Maybe we get you a belt for that coat, mm? We don’t want it dragging the ground, after all.”
Hongjoong blushed and nodded.
“Right. I’d feel horrible if I returned it to him all torn and damaged. Thanks. I’ll ask Chungha-noona to make me one soon.”
With that, he waved and left the home. Siyeon pushed herself off the railing and moved quietly to join the others.
Outside, Hongjoong shuddered as the cold air hit him. He tucked his face into the coat collar and headed down the sidewalk toward his favorite shop.
“I wonder how much longer it is until the seasons change…?” He mused to himself, smiling as the scent of flowers and dried tea leaves wafted gently up to his nose with every step.
Idly, Hongjoong wondered how Yunho was.
He hadn’t texted him yet this morning, too flustered from yet another dream he had about his encounters with both the doctor and the god inside of him.
Ah…right.
Hongjoong’s boots crunched in the snow that coated the sidewalk before he stopped, lips pursed.
He’d started out having…rather… avantgarde and very intimate dreams after meeting the men. But then he…remembered?? A man he was certain he had never seen before in his entire life and the whole ass god inside of him .
He remembered him, their intimate touches shared that were impossible for him.
Just…who was Yunho? How did Hongjoong know him? Who was Hongjoong if somehow the man in question (and Geb) remembered him both inside and out.
Hongjoong felt that sensation come back. The head splitting pain, the world spinning. It happened every time he tried to pry a bit too deep. Analyze the situation he was in.
Just a bit more, let him think a bit more.
Gods are real….obviously.
Even if they weren’t, magic or super powers…that was absolutely real, he’d seen and felt it himself.
If Yunho knew him, and Geb knew him, and he clearly held memories from somewhere , did that mean the others-
The head splitting feeling amped up and Hongjoong felt his throat begin to tighten. His body tensed and the telltale sensation of blood running down his nose startled him back into focusing and he coughed, stumbling slightly.
He’d gotten weird, concerned glances from others on the side walk but it was a warm hand on his shoulder that made him focus.
“Excuse me, do you need help? Huh-Hongjoong? Oh my goodness! Are you alright?!”
He looked up and locked eyes with Yeosang, blinking in surprise as the slightly taller man hurriedly put his sleeve to Hongjoong’s nose, holding his arm to steady him.
“Y-Yeosang-?”
“Hey, hold on, let’s get you seated somewhere-San, can you open the door?”
Hongjoong let Yeosang guide him into a nearby shop, cringing at the series of surprised gasps and chatter that erupted as the bloodied man and San came shuffling in.
“I’m sorry, my friend got a nose bleed and he’s a bit dizzy, can we please have some water?”
Hongjoong looked up at Yeosang, feeling nauseous as the world continued to spin.
‘I’ll stop for now, I’ll stop-’
He thought frantically, cringing as whatever it was that was bringing on the headsplitting migraine began to slowly ebb away, like a predator stalking their way back into the bushes. Never too far, simply waiting for the next time he had the audacity to try and figure out the chaos in his life.
“Hongjoong-hyung?”
His vision focused on Yeosang, staring into soft, concerned eyes.
“Can you hear me? What happened?”
San rushed over to where Yeosang had sat Hongjoong down, holding out a cup of water to him.
“I uh…I have these bad migraines sometimes. I think it may be from stress or something. Sorry if I startled you. Uh, good morning-shit, I ruined your sleeve-”
Yeosang looked at his bloodied sleeve and shook his head.
“Clothes can be changed. Here, drink this.” He moved so Hongjoong could drink the water, giving him a bit of space.
“Do they happen often?” San inquired, eyes scanning Hongjoong’s face for signs of injury. Hongjoong shook his head, taking some of the napkins the younger man had gotten together and dipping some in the water glass, he wiped his nose and sighed at the amount of crimson that he saw staining the white napkin.
“Uh, not…often.”
They weren’t happening at all until he met the group of seven.
“They are happening more frequently, though.”
Every time he flew a bit too close to the sun and tried to unravel whatever mystery had fallen into his lap.
San and Yeosang exchanged a look with one another that Hongjoong pretended he wasn’t privy of before Yeosang placed his hand near his on the table.
“Where are you headed? If you don’t mind, can we head out with you? Not that I don’t believe you but I don’t want to risk you having another bad nosebleed…” Yeosang trailed off and Hongjoong nodded without hesitation.
“No, I don’t take any offense to it. I was heading to the cafe to order some things for the others.” He sent them a tired smile. Yeosang nodded and stood, offering his clean hand to Hongjoong. The pianist took it and stood.
“I’ll wash my hands and be out in a moment, then we can head out if that’s alright with you?” Yeosang tilted his head and Hongjoong nodded, watching as Yeosang headed to the bathroom, bowing in thanks to the staff members of the small shop who helped them out.
Hongjoong glanced over at San, finding the man already staring at him, a stormy expression in his eyes.
“You look like I’ve died, San-ah. I’m alright.” Hongjoong tried to joke, but San’s brows pinched together in displeasure at the metaphor.
He glanced away before looking back to Hongjoong as he spoke.
“I…I'm not good at healing ailments and helping nurse others back to health like the others. I just kind of. Lock up and panic."
Hongjoong blinked at the honest way San spoke to him.
Something else is there, isn’t it?
Also, he didn’t mind that San felt that way, but were they close? Close enough that he’d be this torn up about him having a nose bleed and dizzy spell?
There was more. His head was pounding once again, so he knew he was on the right track. Whatever…that was supposed to be.
“San-”
“I’m back!”
Hongjoong looked up when Yeosang came back and decided he’d approach San another time with his inquiry. He waved and apologized to the staff and lead the way out of the store, the March chill once again blanketing over him.
The shock of the temperature change helped him focus a bit as he walked with the other two men.
“How is everyone at home? It’s not often I see you guys split up.” Hongjoong smiled and looked at both of them.
“I’m just checking out some grocery stores to see if they have the ingredients I need to make Seonghwa his birthday dinner.” Yeosang responded, sighing softly.
“He’s been…under the weather recently and I’m sure he has no excitement for his birthday. So I want to give him something hopefully he’s never had before…or maybe something that reminds him of home…Oh, or even-” Yeosang began speaking to himself, muttering the names of things Hongjoong had never heard before. He was unsure what was supposed to be an ingredient and what was supposed to be the dish itself.
“And you, San? Are you out here looking for a gift for Seonghwa?” Hongjoong turned his attention to the other man.
San's fingers tightened on the handle of the coffee shop door. He paused, eyes focused on the worn brass of the handle before he shook his head.
“No, I’m just helping out Yeosang. I’ll help him cook the meal. I’m not the best at giving gifts.” He rubbed his neck and pulled the door open, ushering the two men inside.
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard one of them say that. Last time, it was Wooyoung, but he figured it was a sore spot and opted to leave it be, looking towards the counter.
“Well, if I can help, please let me know. I can’t put on another big performance for a while since Yunho and Seonghwa’s birthdays are so close to each other….but if you need a singer or a keyboard player, I’m your man.” He sent them a big smile and both of them sent him a grateful one back.
“We’ll certainly keep that in mind, Hyung.” Yeosang laughed.
“Thank you very much.” Wooyoung nodded before looking to the menu.
“While we’re here, we might as well get the others coffee.” He mused.
The three fell into a comfortable lull, discussing different menu items as they ordered for their respective groups of loved ones.
Outside, a few flakes of crystalline snowflakes began to fall. Soon, others joined them, as the day’s gentle snow covered the city in a fresh blanket of white.
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“What do you mean e n d of the world?”
“If you don’t succeed…the world itself as you know it may fall to utter ruin. I don’t want to…pressure you, but if you don’t succeed this time, there’s a very real possibility you won’t get another chance.”
“....”
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“Aren’t you supposed to, like, be in some college classes or something, pretending you’re a normal boy or something?” Jaemin squinted, holding a cup of coffee as Seonghwa sat in his living room, books scattered all around him.
“I’m sorry, I just…I need to look into a few things.”
“I let him in, don’t worry. As long as someone is seriously pursuing knowledge, my home is open.” Renjun lightly scolded as he made a sweeping motion with his hand, plucking a book from the top shelf with his magic and bringing it down for the ice prince to have a look at.
“ Your house? I live here too, and it’s way too early for me to have someone rummaging around with books everywhere.”
“Jaemin, by the gods, you are a god of time , just rewind or some shit or put yourself in a chronic stasis so you can sleep for as long as you want, then.” The two began to bicker and Seonghwa perked.
“A god of time? Could you perhaps-”
“Absolutely the fuck not. No . I am not interfering with any curse brought onto you and your pirate boyfriends because you pissed off Poseidon’s daughters or whatever. Besides, it takes a LOT of energy for me to rewind time and it has been centuries since your little uh oh. To rewind so far back a alter so many lives for the sake of you eight would cause catastrophic levels of damage control. And think of the PARADOXES-”
“No, I’m not asking you to go back.”
Jaemin paused mid-rant and blinked at Seonghwa, squinting.
“I would like to ask if it is possible for you to…put me in a kind of…stasis, as Renjun put it, so that I may train? How do I describe it…”
Jaemin deadpanned and pinched his brow.
“Dude, it’s an anime concept you just hit me with.”
“...I do not know what you mean. Are you saying you cannot do it?”
Renjun snickered behind his hand while Jaemin twitched and crossed his arms, eyeing the prince.
“You all really like demanding things of us. What exactly is in it for me? Why on Earth would I exhaust so much magic so you can have some shonen anime montage?”
Seonghwa looked at him for a while before he plucked a few books from the floor, beginning to straighten up the mess he had made as he began researching.
“I know I’m asking for a lot with nothing good to offer in exchange.” he sighed and put the stack of books beside him, pressing his hands together to the floor and bowing, letting his forehead touch the floor.
Renjun and Jaemin looked at the ex prince in surprise as he stayed bowed.
“But I have a hunch on what we’re facing if we fail. I can’t do this alone. I love my boys, but I don’t think we can do it without any aid as we are now. Please help me. Help us . I will be forever indebted to you. I just…I’m so tired, Jaemin. I just want to protect them. I want to save them, myself…and apparently, the world.”
Renjun’s sympathetic expression shifted to one of confusion. Jaemin squinted and walked over to the bowing pirate, hands on his hips.
“What the hell does that mean?”
Seonghwa rose his head, grabbing the book he’d placed at the top of his pile, opening it to a page and turning it towards the time god.
His eyes drifted down, widening as he stared at the page.
“What…about it?”
“If I don’t get my Captian back and he doesn’t remember us, that thing’s getting loose. The God of the Sun didn’t tell me explicitly, but I have a strong hunch I’m right.”
Jaemin ran a hand through his hair, swearing.
“You got a week, pretty boy. I’ll prepare. Come back then. Bring your A game because I can’t do the stasis too many times without fucking over my powers and if I ever truly get exhausted, time itself is going to be all out of whack.” He warned. Seonghwa nodded and smiled, grabbing the books he’d be borrowing.
“Thank you, I will work hard. Thank you. I need to go before I’m late.”
Jaemin frowned, watching the taller man leave, shaking his head.
“Park Seonghwa.” Jaemin called to him, eyes hardened. Seongha glanced over his shoulder at him.
“You better not be late. I hate having to waste time.”
Seonghwa nodded and hurried out of view, the wind whipping his blonde locks over his forehead before the door closed behind him.
A beat of silence passed between Renjun and Jaemin before the latter sighed.
“Gods dammit, how did I get roped into this shit?”
Renjun pushed his glasses up and watched Seonghwa leave through the window.
“The sun witch girl did tell us things were bad, Chronos.”
Jaemin scowled, tapping his foot.
“I still don’t have to like it, Thoth. A simple curse should never have spiraled into whatever clusterfuck this is.” he hissed. Renjun hummed and nodded, moving to the kitchen.
“I can’t say I disagree.”
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10:30am
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“ Mon Dieu , what the hell happened to your arm?! Are you hurt?!” Seonghwa was startled when he finally rejoined with the others, eyes landing on the bright red of Yeosang’s sleeve.
The smaller of the two ex princes sent him a soft smile, shaking his head.
“No, our Captian had a nosebleed on the street and San and I helped out. I’ve long since fallen out of the habit of carrying handkerchiefs with me so I didn't have anything else to use at the time….” Yeosang trailed off, noticing the heavy-looking satchel settled against Seonghwa's hip.
“Is that why you were missing at breakfast and were late this morning to class?” He inquired softly, eyes locking with Seonghwa's.
The other ex prince glanced down before looking at him.
‘I'll know if you lie to me.’ Yeosang didn't break his gaze with Seonghwa.
“I stopped by Renjun, Jaemin, and Jenos's place. I wanted to look into a few things and see if I can come up with a plan of attack for breaking the curse as quickly as possible.”
Yeosang continued staring at him before his shoulders subtly relaxed and he cupped Seonghwa’s cheek.
“Can I help?”
Seonghwa pressed his face into Yeosang’s palm, the chill of his skin contrasting with the warmth of the kitsune's.
“Yes… I just haven't gotten to that part of my brainstorming. But… I will need everyone's help.” He closed his eyes, simply enjoying the intimacy.
Yeosang rubbed the curve of his cheek with his thumb before glancing behind him.
Yunho had met up with Hongjoong, smiling wide with his arm around his shoulder and Jongho and Moa trailing not too far behind them, the quartet engaged in light-hearted chatter.
Chan, and Felix had roped Mingi's introverted self into an animated conversation about something that seemed to have made him comfortable after the initial shock of the two singling him out to talk to.
Wooyoung and San were leaning against a wall a bit further off, sharing a pastry Wooyoung had gotten this morning and talking softly, not even Yeosang could hear them. He wondered for a moment if they were talking at all, or simply reading each other’s lips before he turned his attention back to Seonghwa.
“Just let us know what you'll need and I can assist. I've never been the greatest at organizing anything in combat, but food is always a good icebreaker for motivating troops.” He joked, pulling Seonghwa into a kiss.
Seonghwa let him, melting slightly into the hold before breaking it, pressing their heads together.
“I appreciate you.”
Yeosang smiled.
“And I appreciate you.”
Hongjoong glanced over his shoulder at the others before looking up to Yunho, nudging him lightly.
“Do you want to invite everyone over? Have a movie date or something at my place?” He inquired. Yunho smiled and nodded.
“I’ll ask the others. 8 sound good?”
Hongjoong smiled and nodded, a pep in his step afterward.
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6:30pm
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“Wait, you’re not coming?”
San frowned, watching as Seonghwa placed books down on the dining room table, spreading them meticulously.
Wooyoung, Yeosang, Yunho, and Jongho all stood near the door, staring at the ice prince in shock.
“Non, I will pass this time. Please tell everyone I said hello and I hope you all have a good evening. I’ll be up when you get home.” He waved at them and an immediate curtain of confliction fell over the men.
Mingi decided he wouldn’t be joining either, telling the others he’d be familiarizing himself with the new culture they were surrounded with so he wouldn’t stand out so much when he spoke to the others surrounding their resurrected Captain.
No one believed him, but for the sake of avoiding an argument, no one pressed him.
“Maybe we should reschedule…” Wooyoung trailed off and Seonghwa waved a hand, cutting him off briskly.
“Nonsense. It’s been…centuries. Please, you all deserve to unwind we have enough looming over us. Go.” He spoke a bit more firmly, leaving less room for them to contest him.
“Next time,” Yeosang spoke up, his eyes landing on Seonghwa’s.
“-next time, you’re coming.” His voice matched Seonghwa’s authoritative one and the older immortal smiled softly.
“Deal.”
The remaining five ex-pirates filtered out into the cold night, leaving Seonghwa in the quiet home.
As soon as the door closed, his shoulders slumped, his eyes landing on the scattered papers before him.
Gods, he felt like he was going mad.
“A week. I have a week. Come up with a plan, Park Seonghwa.”
He spoke to himself, grabbing a pen and a notepad and beginning to scribble wildly, jotting down every single plan of action that came to him.
Devise a plan, find the flaws, throw it out, repeat.
Adjust the plan, weigh the variables, revise once more, repeat.
This won’t work.
That won't work, either.
It won’t work.
None of it.
Is this all a strategist like him has to offer?
Seonghwa grit his teeth and ran his hand through his hair.
“Come on, Seonghwa. It’s not that hard.” He scolded himself and looked back at the papers around him.
From the top of the staircase, Mingi glanced down, watching Seonghwa work almost manically, muttering to himself and making plan after plan, only to crumple them up and toss them away.
“....” The ex boatswain pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and turned to leave, disappearing back down the hall.
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8pm
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“Oh…they stayed home?” Hongjoong frowned after San delivered the news. The “younger” man nodded, putting his hands in his pockets.
“Mingi wanted to study and Hyung is keeping him company.” He lied without missing a beat and Hongjoong glanced at the remaining men.
“Are you sure you don’t want to reschedule? We have these little family game nights like, multiple times a week-”
“We made them promise to come next time.” Yeosang piped up, sending him a reassuring smile as he held up a platter of snacks he made.
“I made these. Where would you like me to put them?”
Hongjoong glanced at the platter and smiled, reaching over and taking it from him. Their fingers brushed against one another lightly as he did, and Yeosang almost recoiled at the small static shock that ran through him the moment they did.
“Oh? Oh thank gods, they brought food, c’mon, get out of the doorway and get inside.” Yuta’s voice startled them all to attention as he leaned against the staircase.
Jongho noticed the subtle headcount Yuta did with his eyes before arching a single, sharp brow.
‘Keep an eye on that one, yeah?’ Whiro growled inside of him. He hummed in agreement before taking the first few steps into the home after toeing off his shoes at the door.
The others followed suit, following Hongjoong and Yuta deeper into the home.
“Oh! Just in time, I just counted and set up the controllers for smash bros, and Yeonjun-ah found the Uno deck for those who need to sit out between rounds.” Chan greeted them with a big smile while Suzuka pointed to the table at the corner of the room.
“You can set the food there. Moa and Yeonjun have the drinks set up.”
The boys dispersed into different groups, some curious to play smash brothers, some watching over as Chungha, Felix, and Yuta showed them how to play Uno.
Hongjoong relaxed into Yunho’s chest, sitting comfortably in his lap as he explained how to play smash brothers, occasionally stealing kisses from the man behind him between character selection screens.
It was a bummer that they weren’t all together, but he intended on making the next gathering even more eventful so Mingi and Seonghwa could enjoy it just as much.
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“Goodness, they might as well stay the night.” Siyeon exhaled softly, taking a blanket and pulling it over Hongjoong, Yunho, and Jongho. The trio lay in a heap on the floor, sprawled over each other after an exciting series of Uno matches.
The shadows shifted along Jongho’s skin for a moment. Small, subtle movements Siyeon caught from her closeness, pulling the blanket snugly against them before settling back onto him.
She smiled. So it was true. The God of Evil and darkness wasn't so bad after all now that he'd been stuck inside of the ex-gunner, hm?
Curiously, she moved her finger to poke Jongho’s arm, biting back the small laugh that nearly bubbled out as a shadow subtly pushed her finger back. The lines shifted before settling once more.
It was endearing.
“I’ll grab some pillows.” Chungha disappeared down the hall and Siyeon looked around, finding that San and Wooyoung had fallen asleep with their heads in Yeosang’s lap as he gently pet them, watching over them all with a quiet gaze.
“You are still awake? Aren’t you tired?” Siyeon approached him, cleaning up some of the refreshment platters that were on the coffee table.
“We all are. I’ll rest in a moment.” He spoke softly, gently scratching his nails along their scalps. Siyeon nodded and continued cleaning up. Chungha helped her put the pillows under Hongjoong, Jongho, and Yunho before passing Yeosang one of the others.
“You sure you want to rest there? You may have a sore neck if you stay like that.” Chungha warned him. Yeosang sent her a soft smile.
“I’ll be okay, Noona. Thank you.”
She nodded and turned to Siyeon.
“Unnie, I’ll be in the kitchen cleaning up. Are you heading to bed?”
“No, my sweet. I’ll be there in a moment to help out. You shouldn’t have to clean up after everyone.”
Chungha’s cheeks went bright pink and she quickly darted into the kitchen, leaving Siyeon alone with the slumbering boys and Yeosang.
“Siyeon, how long have you known Hongjoong?”
She smiled softly and put the Uno deck away on the shelf in the room.
“Mmm, in his last lifetime or this one?”
The kitsune perked and stared at her, following her movements before she knelt down in front of him.
“Tell you what. If you want to sit down with me and talk a bit, I am willing to do so.” She looked towards the men in his lap before meeting his eyes.
“I’d love to do a proper reading on you all one day. No charge, of course.”
As she turned to leave, Yeosang’s voice called out once more.
“What…what was the old Hongjoong like? The one from…your other life time?” He squinted and tilted his head. Siyeon laughed lightly and looked at him over her shoulder.
“Joong? He was a chaotic jackass but he was the bestest friend a girl could ever hope for. That’s why,” She looked to the pianist, his face tucked into Yunho’s clavicle.
“That’s why I’m honored to protect his reincarnation and help you all. I won’t ever get my Joong back, but I’ll give everything to help you all save our little artist and your Captian.” Siyeon walked away after quietly saying her peace.
If Yeosang noticed the quiver in her voice, he was polite enough not to mention it, settling into the couch, his hands going back to running through San and Wooyoung’s hair.
✰✰(¯`*•.¸,¤°°¤,¸.•*´¯)✰✰
Saturday, March 26th
-224 Days Remain-
-5:30am-
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Mingi heard the door to his room opened and was fully alert in an instant. The stress had made him a lighter sleeper than usual, and while he didn’t open his eyes immediately, he was tensed and on alert.
“Cheese, can you please stay here so the house isn’t empty when he wakes?”
Mingi’s brow twitched.
Seonghwa…?
“Cheese will remain by his side but….where are you going, Master Captian?”
“Seonghwa is fine, Cheese. You needn’t waste your time calling me things I have not earned.”
“Okay, Master Captian Seonghwa.”
Seonghwa paused staring at the dog. Cheese wagged his tale, tongue out and delightfully happy. Seonghwa let out an amused exhale before he scratched the Jindo behind the ears.
“Nevermind. I’m going out to train. If anyone needs me, please come get me, okay?” He lowered his hand, offering his scent to the Jindo out of a formality.
The spirit hunting dog had long since imprinted their scents into him once they got him.
Still, the canine sniffed at his chilled hand before letting out a single affirming gruffaw. Cheese licked his hand and climbed into bed with Mingi, curling up at his side and settling down as Seonghwa turned his back and headed towards the door.
He glanced over his shoulder at Mingi, his lips twitching up in a mournful smile.
He really wasn’t very good at playing dead, was he?
Seonghwa left without audibly saying he knew the other man was awake, heading down the stairs and out of the house.
As soon as the chilled air touched his face, his eyes sharpened.
He had a lot to do today.
Back in their home, Mingi counted the minutes in his head before he felt Cheese nudge his hand.
“Cheese smells the change in your scent. Cheese believes this is…’ apprehension’? Would you like to ‘vent’? Cheese may not be the smartest, but Cheese is a very good listener.”
Mingi opened his eyes and sighed.
“I don’t know what the hell I should do, Cheese.”
Cheese shuffled closer, resting his head on Mingi’s chest.
“Cheese believes what is often said is to ‘follow your heart’? Cheese has no idea what this means but Cheese is good at following. What does your heart say, Windy Master?”
Mingi worried his bottom lip between his teeth.
For obvious reasons, he was still…rather sore about some of his past lovers, and a huge part of him still wasn’t sure how he felt about this ‘new’ Hongjoong. He’d told him that he had no issues with him to quell some of the worry in the pianist, but was that really true?
No, of course not.
Absurd as it may be, wasn’t he betraying his Captian by falling for this…lookalike?
It seems Mingi didn’t adapt to change as easily as the others.
Part of Mingi felt horrible, harboring these feelings for someone who truly didn’t deserve it, but he still needed to sort through some of the shock before he could see himself…’letting it go’.
“Captian, what do I do….?” He muttered into the stillness of the room.
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Joong felt his body getting violently jostled as the dragon once more began to move, dragging his tail along the floor as he rolled to his feet.
He’d ducked back into the safety of the silken fur of his tail, but he couldn’t resist peeking out more often than he had been before, staring at the crystal whenever he had the chance.
The man inside of it. No doubt, was him.
Or…a version of him? He wasn’t sure what the fuck was going on at this point, if he were being honest.
He’d never been a religious or spiritual man-that was more Siyeon’s thing-but he did believe in things he could see.
Right now, there were ‘two hims’, a fucking dragon, and the monster the dragon had nearly killed once he found this crystal.
It’s times like this, the motorcyclist wished he did have the guidance of his best friend. Siyeon always seemed to have a calm head and a knack for explaining things that could not be explained.
Joong flinched as the dragon roared and slammed its head against the crack in the crystal, grunting and possibly swearing in a language he did not understand.
He peeked out between the dragon’s bouts of frenzy and saw the small crack grow just a bit larger. He couldn’t help the anxious clench in the pit of his stomach.
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The ground around him shook violently, and through those motions, Hongjoong startled awake, looking around.
He was…in a palace, as it was, though as he looked out from the carved jade columns, he saw ocean life. He looked below him, finding the familiar scene of his feet causing ripples with every step, though they illuminated the way as he walked down the corridor.
The shaking only grew more violent, and Hongjoong found himself stumbling.
“What is happening?!”
His body jerked left and right before he grit his teeth and took off running down the hall.
Where is he going? What is he doing?
These questions floating around his mind did not stop him as he threw open the doors before him, storming out.
“Go up to the surface and find out what is causing those awful tremors. I am the Lord of these waters.”
Hongjoong looked for the person speaking, but found that everyone in the room were staring at him, their heads knelt down.
A hulking beast stood to his full height.
“I will go, Milord. Please leave it to me.”
Hongjoong could not find his voice, watching as the man left. He glanced at the others in the room, pressing his lips together in a line before he turned around to leave.
He found that his head was raised higher than it was before, and he stood much taller now. The watery halls now had creatures bustling through them, all of whom scrambled to get out of his way when he walked by them.
They uttered terrified ‘good days’, and ‘hello Milords’ to him before scurrying out of his way. Others looked upon him as if he was some kind of magnificent being.
“You look radiant today, Milord.”
“Thank you for the rains you’ve blessed the lands with, My King.”
Hongjoong walked until he reached a room he believed to be his wash room.
It was…gaudy, certainly worth millions. He’d had plenty of dreams but this one had a bit more glitter and gold (or, rather, jade) than ever before.
He sighed and looked to the wash basin, finding it had no knobs or faucet. His brows furrowed, but he found water began to shift and swirl around the space above the jade basin. He reached out hesitantly, startling at the turquoise scales and claws he had been met with when he brought his hands up. His lips parted in surprise as the water danced between them.
‘This is weird.’
He looked up at the mirror, finding the image staring back at him was of his own. Two sided hair and all. He reached up to press his clawed hand to the glass and blinked.
In an instant, the image shifted.
Scales, the same familiar clawed hand, and piercing jade eyes.
One was a bit dimmer than the other.
Hongjoong startled. The man looked exactly like him, but there was a frightening anger in his gaze that made a chill run down his spine.
The pianist noticed his hand was back to normal and moved to pull it away from the mirror. As soon as he did, the clawed hand reached through, grabbing him sharply and yanking him through.
Head over heels, he stumbled through the mirror, falling. He couldn’t find his voice, however, simply staring into those piercing jade eyes, staring back as the two of them hurtled towards the ground.
“Well, well, well~”
Hongjoong opened his mouth to ask who this man was, but the moment he did, water flooded into his lungs.
(_¸.•’´(_¸.•’´*♫♪♫♪*`’•.¸_)`’• .¸_)
“Hgh?!” Hongjoong jolted up, knocking into Jongho and making the man jolt awake. Whiro twitched along his skin, watching Hongjoong from the dark lines. Yunho was a bit slower to rise, but he looked up at Hongjoong, rubbing his eye.
“Baby? Are you alright? ” Both he and Geb responded on instinct and Hongjoong coughed, touching his thoat in a panic as the last tendrils of the strange dream unraveled. He touched his face and looked around, unfocused.
As if on instinct, his eyes scanned the room, counting.
Yunho, Jongho, Yeosang, Wooyoung, San.
Mingi and Seonghwa, where are they? He needs them all together, something dangerous is approaching he needs to protect his cre-
“Hongjoong?”
His eyes focused in an instant to the sound of Jongho’s voice as he cupped his face abruptly, pressing his forehead to his and staring directly into his eyes.
“-H-ho..Jongh..ho…”
“Look at me, breathe, okay?”
Hongjoong stared, wringing his hands into the blanket Siyeon put over the three. From behind him, he could feel Yunho loop a hand around his waist, a sturdy support while he looked into Jongho’s eyes.
“Where are you right now, Hyung?” Jongho’s voice spoke strongly and Hongjoong’s eyes broke contact only to scan the room.
He’d woken the other three, and he felt his brows pull up, guilty as Wooyoung, San, and Yeosang scrambled over themselves to get closer, hurriedly also asking him if he was alright.
“Focus, Hyung. Where are you?”
“H..Home.”
“Yes, you’re home. Who am I?”
“Jongho…”
“Good. Can you breathe? Does your chest hurt?”
Hongjoong looked down, finding Jongho had placed a gentle palm over his ribs. He found himself slightly melting, putting his hand over Jongho’s, shaking his head.
“No…No. I’m..I’m alright. Just a bad dream. I’m sorry.” He finally let out a relaxing sigh and smiled at the men around him.
“Thank you. Sorry to worry you all.”
“We don’t mind.” San spoke, leaning out of his space once he was sure the man was doing okay.
“So uh…good morning?”
The six men startled, looking over and finding Felix and Changkyun staring at them curiously from the entrance of the kitchen.
“Everything alright? Hongjoong?” Changkyun spoke firmly, eyes landing on the hand Jongho still had on Hongjoong’s chest and the…compromising position it looked like he was in.
Hongjoong went beet red and cleared his throat.
“Yes, it’s not anything dirty, I swear.” He stammered. Changkyun’s eyes narrowed, unimpressed. A single, pierced eyebrow rose and Felix pursed his lips.
“I didn’t say it was, but since you so graciously brought it up-” Changkyun cut his gaze over to Jongho like a disapproving older brother.
“He had a nightmare. He was having a panic attack, it’s not anything inappropriate, Hyung.” Jongho spoke for himself without tripping over his words. Blunt, honest, and to the point.
A moment passed before the poet’s shoulders relaxed. Changkyun seemed to appreciate it and take it for truth, if the way his eyes softened were anything to go by.
“You’ve been having a lot of weird ones lately. C’mon, we’ll start some breakfast and get your mind off it. Let’s make today a lazy day.”
Hongjoong’s shoulders relaxed as Changkyun turned to go into the kitchen. Felix lingered for a moment longer before following his hyung into the next room.
“Weird ones? Have you been having nightmares a lot recently, Hyung?” Wooyoung inquired, a frown settled on his face.
Hongjoong looked around at them, rubbing his neck.
“I’ve always had vivid dreams, they’ve just been vamping up recently.” He explained.
Yeosang watched him, noticing the small change in his scent.
‘That’s not the full truth, is it? Is it us? Are we why you’re having the influx of dreams?’
“I’ll go help with breakfast.” Yeosang stood, dusting his clothes off. He wasn’t really…one to confront others, and he figured it would do more harm than good to pry into it a bit more.
Instead, he’d do what he was great at, healing through cooking.
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1:37pm
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“Ngh! Again! I can go again!”
“Forgive me if this sounds…mmm…rude, but if you intended on training, why are the others not also with you?”
Seonghwa wiped away the bead of sweat that had rolled down his brow and tightened his grip on his falcatas.
“They will be, I just-”
Across from him, Miyavi sighed, lowering the gleaming bow he had in his hands.
“Tearing yourself up for the past is not how you all are to overcome this. The trials, making my son remember, it its all a group effort. You called me out to train with you early in the morning and you’ve been holding your own well but-”
“ They will be involved .” Seonghwa shifted his posture, cutting the Sun God off.
“I just. How can I expect them to follow my lead if I’m weak? I had them jump into the Trial and all of them were worse off because of it. No one was ready, not even me, but if I can get better, become stronger, I can-”
“Seonghwa, who is this for?”
The ice prince paused, staring at the deity as he dispelled his bow.
“I don’t take pleasure in senseless violence. If you can answer for me, with full honesty, who is this for , I’ll happily train with you and give my all. I understand your urgency to have my so remember, but if your body and mind is torn up, will you truly be able to help yourself? Let alone the others.” he walked over to Seonghwa, staring down at the ex pirate.
“Have you even realized you’ve been healing slower with each of my bows that have pierced your skin? That’s enough for today.” he sent Seonghwa an understanding smile.
“Be kinder to yourself, Mr. Park Seonghwa.”
Seonghwa’s shoulders slumped as the god walked away from him, leaving him alone with his own racing thoughts in the abandoned warehouse they’d been training in.
His grip on his falcatas tightened, the ice one let out a cracking noise, but did not shatter and Seonghwa’s eyes narrowed.
He didn’t need soft words of encouragement. He didn’t need rest . He needed results .
Seonghwa let out a harsh breath, summoning a series of ice dummies, completely freezing the floor over in the warehouse.
Again, go again.
It’s the only way.
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10:25pm
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“I’ll be back. Cheese, c’mon.”
The group of ex pirates looked up as San stood, whistling for Cheese to follow him.
“ Cheese is right beside you, Blood Master!”
“San, it’s freezing outside, where are you going?” Yeosang inquired. San pressed his lips in a line and looked towards the stairs before looking back at the others.
“Seonghwa hasn’t come back, you know. We haven’t seen him all day.” He reminded them. Everyone tensed, and Mingi fidgeted. The others hadn’t gotten back in until late in the afternoon and he’d…neglected to tell any of them that Seonghwa had left so early all by his lonesome at that ungodly hour.
It really slipped his mind, he was just excited to have them return so he wasn’t alone (sans Cheese) with his own conflicted thoughts.
Yeosang looked at the time and startled, setting aside the food he was prepping.
“Gods above, I didn’t realize the hour. I’m coming with you.”
Wooyoung stood, followed by Jongho and Yunho, with all of them quickly trying to devise a plan to break up into pairs to go see if they could locate the prince-
“The Master Captian is here!”
All heads snapped towards the door as Seonghwa walked through, his face pale and his posture slouched. He looked up when he felt everyone’s eyes land on him.
“Oh, pardon. I didn’t mean to interrupt-”
“Where the HELL have you been?!”
“Are you okay?! Where were you?!”
Seonghwa rose his hands in surprise, startled by the burst of noise as the ex pirates rushed him, all chattering over top of one another.
“I’m alright-Goodness, I did not mean to worry anyone, I was merely out training.”
They all paused, staring at the tired man as he gave each of them a kiss, properly greeting them before he rose his head to look into Mingi’s direction, waving at him.
“...Good evening, Mingi.”
Mingi glanced away.
“Hey.”
Seonghwa took it for what it was, though he smiled at not being ignored.
“Pardon me, everyone. I’m very sore and I’ll be heading to bed after a shower. I’m sorry if I worried any of you with my absence.”
They watched him leave, glancing at one another. Cheese trotted after him, his tail curled and wagging as he occasionally nudged Seonghwa’s hand with his head.
“Cheese has made sure the Masters are safe in your absence. cHEESE DEMANDS PRAISE FOR HIS WORK!”
Seonghwa laughed gently and summoned a bone made of ice, handing it to the canine. Cheese took it, running back and forth through the hallways, playfully growling in excitement.
Tomorrow, he’d be up early again, he had an idea of who he could ask to help him train if the Sun God was unavailable.
“We should be doin’ more too, you know.” Whiro spoke once Seonghwa and Cheese relocated. Jongho nodded in agreement as the shadows rose from his skin.
Wooyoung and San exchanged a look, worry on the formers while an unreadable look was on the latter’s. Yeosang touched his neck gently, remembering the burning feeling of humiliation at being defeated so soundly by Yugyeom during their first fight.
The kitsune grit his teeth and frowned.
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Tuesday
March 31st
-221 Days Remaining-
“Is everything alright?” Hongjoong leaned over, running his hand through Yunho’s chocolate locks. Yunho put his head on Hongjoong’s shoulder, gently breathing in his scent.
“I feel…like I’ve made a mistake.”
Hongjoong felt a pit in his stomach, hand tensing. Was Yunho referring to him…? They did start this relationship abruptly…
Yunho, sensing this, looked up instantly.
“No, not you! Gods, no. I’m sorry my love.” He pressed a kiss to Hongjoong’s cheek and the musician relaxed for a moment before tilting his head.
“So then…what? If you don’t mind me asking?”
“I…said something before to Seonghwa and I think I….I’ve put a lot of pressure on him and that’s not..at all helpful. I don’t know what to do.” He sighed, closing his eyes. Hongjoong frowned and tilted his head.
“Pressure? Pressure in regards to what?”
Yunho kept his eyes closed, but sighed.
“I…I’m sorry. I don’t think I can say yet without hurting you.”
Hongjoong looked down, lips pursed.
So it was in regards to…whatver the hell this supernatural thing was that was going on. The memories, the migraines, the nosebleeds, the dreams.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” He inquired, pressing a soft kiss to Yunho’s head as he leaned on him. Yunho sighed again.
“We can’t always expect you to fix our messes. I think…our reliance on one person always fixing things and leading us is part of why we’re not seeing eye to eye.”
Hongjoong stared at him. There it was again. That phrasing. It implied he’d been in this position many times before. ‘Fixing their messes’, as Yunho put it. His temple began throbbing in subtle dull pulses, but he decided not to pry too much.
He could read between the lines, though.
“So…have you all came together to do something for him since he seems to be stressed? I haven’t seen him in days, are you all sending him out of the house for birthday preparations? I haven’t seen Mingi, either.”
Yunho sighed.
“Mingi has been keeping to himself, he takes a bit longer to warm up to new people so he’s been declining coming out.
Hongjoong was about to nod in understanding when he felt his vision distort slightly. He squinted, rubbing his head before hearing distant voices rattling around in his head.
“_____, I made friends with a shopkeep in town and she gave me a new book! Do you mind reading it with me?”
“Of course I don’t mind, baby. Let’s go get Seonghwa and we can read it together. Who knows, there may be a poem in there for you?”
“Hey, ____…?”
“Yes, Mingi?”
“Thank you…so much, for giving me the opportunity to meet so many new people and see so many new things. I can’t thank you enough”
“...Heh, of course, baby. I’d do anything for you, y’know?”
Hongjoong tensed.
Yunho noticed and turned to him, tilting his head.
“Hongjoong?”
He blinked, focusing back.
“Sorry, I spaced out. Do you think I can help with anything?”
Yunho smiled and nodded.
“I think I focus better when I hold you close. Mind if I test that out?” He smiled boyishly and Hongjoong shoved his chest lightly, muttering something about him being cheesy, all whilst leaning into his arms for more cuddles.
He couldn’t help the small downward tug to his lips, his mind wandering in concern for a different tall man.
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X
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“You’re holding back. I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Prince .”
Seonghwa scowled and threw up a shield of ice, blocking a glowing blade. It’s owner bounced off of the shield and spun on their heel, rolling their neck and adjusting the large bladed tonfas in their hands.
“We’ve been fighting for hours and you’ve only cut me once. You are taking this seriously, right? Don’t waste time I could be spending training on my own if you’re going to bullshit me.”
“I would hate to have to explain to my beloved why his brother is dead otherwise.” Seonghwa growled.
Across from him, Yuta tilted his head, a bewildered look on his face before he threw his head back, peals of laughter rumbling from his chest.
“ You ? Kill me? With that stuffy, old ass way of fighting? You wish .” He taunted, standing straighter and circling Seonghwa. The blonde mirrored him, carefully matching his steps, eyes narrowed.
Gods above, if he knew how snarky this one would be, he would’ve asked Moa or Suzuka to help him, or even Whiro and Jongho.
Yuta’s foot shifted, and Seonghwa had a fraction of a moment to brace himself as the man lunged towards him.
“The cut you hit me with has already healed. Won’t even bruise in the morning. Can’t say the same for your wounds.” He teased, slashing downwards and tearing through Seonghwa’s sleeve, gashing his arm.
He swore in one of his many learned languages and moved to parry the second blow Yuta threw his way, knocking the blade back and catching him in the side.
The guitarist retreated, smiling like mad as the red creeped into his clothes, staining them.
“There we go. Get angry, Blondie. Get your shit together.” He dug his heels into the dirt, the blades of his tonfas beginning to glow as he laughed.
“I wanna see the man who’s going to save my brother go all out. If you give me anything less, I’ll cleave your damn head right from your fucking body, throw the shit back on till it reattatches, and fucking hack it right off again.”
Seonghwa’s jaw set as he exhaled, a chilly vapor escaping as he froze over his still bleeding wound. He missed the way the edges had been tinted purple before the ice obscured it.
“Fine, as you wish.”
(_¸.•’´(_¸.•’´*♫♪♫♪*`’•.¸_)`’• .¸_)
Hongjoong looked up from his screen, startled at the 2:24am that glared back at him from the clock he kept above him in the studio.
"Shit-" He could feel both fatigue and hunger grip him at the same time and sighed, knowing he'd ended up skipping dinner as he was engrossed in his composing and planning for the group's next piece. He stood, cracking his back and neck after a good stretch and then moving to leave his studio.
His home was quiet and still, and the pianist felt a bit guilty as he glanced towards the kitchen.
If he went now, he'd wake everyone up.
Wait, there was a convenience store down the street, right?
A smile came onto Hongjoong's face as he headed to the door, sliding on Yunho's coat and heading out into the chill of the early morning April hours. As he walked, he felt the wind chill him down to his bones. His body was wracked with a shudder before he pulled the jacket taught against his body, thrusting his hands into the oversized pockets.
"It's already April..."He muttered quietly to no one in particular. In an instant, he remembered Yunho's voice from earlier in the day. Hopefully, they’d be able to come up with an idea of something that could help the man with his current stress.
"Seonghwa-ya's birthday..." Hongjoong ducked into the convenience store, bowing in greeting to the cashier before grabbing a hand basket.
He couldn't whip up another performance like he had for Yunho so close together. He wasn't even sure if Seonghwa would enjoy that as much as Yunho did.
What did he like again…?
Hongjoong stopped in the middle of the store, pursing his lips.
Maybe….if he tried a bit, really tried to wring his brain a bit, he could…remember?
He knew all of them, that much was obvious to an extent. But he had yet to have the same cosmic revelation on how he knew the others like he had with Yunho.
Yet.
He couldn’t deny he saw Seonghwa in a lot of them, though. Bits and pieces, but he knew those eyes staring out from the obscure figure. He’d heard his voice through those distorted dreams.
He just…didn’t know what the man would like.
Hongjoong sighed and grabbed some snacks, deciding he’d make ramen and an egg using the convenience store’s microwave and he’d just eat while he was out so he didn’t disturb anyone else.
Hongjoong sighed, swinging his foot as he ate, zoned out.
Outside, a figure watched him through the window, sneering.
‘Ah, there’s the brat. I’d hate to end my fun early, but if I kill him now, that shitty dragon will be out of my space.’ Pricilla watched Hongjoong before plucking a marble from her pocket. She tossed it to the ground, watching as it morphed and formed into the shape of a man.
‘When he’s out, get rid of him. It's no fun playing with my toy anymore if the dragon is going to get in the way.’ She waved a hand and turned her back to the entrance of the alleyway.
‘I’ve gotten sick of the pirate, anyway. He’s gotten stale and boring. I refuse to let his lizard-brained self run rampant in my space I created. He’ll regret the day he slinked out of the shadows and DARED to mess with Scylla.’ She disappeared into the night, leaving the minion she’d summoned to handle Hongjoong.
He stretched when he got outside, the bag high above his head before he rolled his neck and headed down the street.
Maybe he’d take the day off or something, he tried to not make it a habit of going to class exhausted and wiped out.
‘Crunch, crunch’
Maybe if he went out later today, after a nap, he’d be able to go to a department store and get Seonghwa a gift. Surely something there should catch his eye.
‘Crunch, crunch, crunch’
Was he a fashion type of man? Maybe if Hongjoong brought along Chungha and Yeonjun, they’d be able to advise him on what would look well and suit Seonghwa. Hongjoong wondered if the man was more conservative with his fashion or if he was more daring?
‘Crunchcrunchcrunch-’
Hongjoong spun on a dime, dodging a strike from the person who had been following him, grabbing their arm and twisting roughly.
“Who are you?” He growled. The man opened his mouth, letting out a bark like a wild dog.
Hongjoong’s eyes grew, he’d heard that bark before.
Fangs sinking into his body, tearing into him violently.
Serpentine tendrils tightening around his form, yanking him back.
Yunho has his hand in a tight grip, horror in his face as he tries to fight against the jaws yanking him towards the ocean.
The man turned and lunged at Hongjoong, and the pianist looked up, lip curled up as a burning, unspeakable a n g e r pumped into his veins.
༻(ᵔᴥᵔ)༺
White ears perked, followed by insistent sniffing.
Cheese rolled onto his stomach, ears standing alert atop his head as he sniffed around the home for the scent. He guffawed and looked towards the front door.
“Cheese smells….something is off.”
“Cheese? What are you doing up so late?” Mingi inquired, watching as the dog beelined towards the door.
Cheese did not respond, fur ruffled and eyes glowing as he phased through the door. His lip curled up, fangs elongating as he snarled. Mingi rushed to the door, opening it and watching the dog take off down the hall before vaulting the stairs.
“Mingi…?” Yeosang came downstairs, eyes squinted as he tried to wake up fully.
“What are you doing?”
“Cheese ran out?? I don’t know why?”
Yeosang’s eyes widened and he rushed over.
“I’m following him.”
“You’re what? ” Mingi startled as Yeosang’s tails unfurled, deep red streaks appearing along his cheeks as he looked at Mingi.
“Are you coming with me or not?”
Mingi hesitated before sighing and grabbing a jacket.
“Let’s go find our dog.”
Cheese was already several blocks ahead, running along the sky and chasing the bold flurry of scents that caught his attention and triggered his instincts.
Amber, bloody lotus, ocean.
He smelled all of it.
Amber, bloody lotus, ocean.
Amber, bloody lotus, ocean.
Amber, amber amber, blood, blood-
Cheese looked down from the platform he’d created, finding the one he was looking for and diving down, landing in the snow at the end of the alleyway. He let out a howl only a certain few could hear and rushed over, standing before the familiar oreo-haired man.
Hongjoong stared down at the fallen man that had attacked him, eyes narrowed, but still their natural brown color.
Cheese could see the scales that had crept up to his neck and jaw as he backed away from the man, seemingly shaking off his daze.
“W..what…? Where-” He shook his head, holding his head. Cheese sniffed, the scent of blood, lotus, and ocean water dissipating, leaving an overpowering amber. Cheese stepped forward, headbutting his hand.
“Woof!”
Hongjoong startled and looked down, finding Cheese looking at him, his fur back to normal and his eyes normal once more.
Just a normal dog.
“C..Cheese? What are you doing so far from home off leash…?”
Cheese glanced behind him before barking once more, spinning in a circle, and heading out of the alleyway.
Hongjoong startled and rushed to catch up with him despite his lingering wariness around canines. He didn’t glance behind him, not remembering anything from the past few minutes in the alley as worry flooded him.
How the hell did his boyfriend’s dog get all the way out here this early in the morning all by himself? Would the dog listen to him if he tried to wrangle him back to his home until he could call Yunho?
Gods above and below he hoped the dog didn’t bite him if he tried-
“Hold on, I should call one of your dads so you can get taken home-oof-” Hongjoong ran right out of the alley and into Mingi’s chest, stumbling back for a moment before looking up.
“Oh!”
The two stared at one another in surprise before Hongjoong looked to his side, watching as Yeosang quickly dispelled his tails and ears, looking at him in confusion.
“Ca-Uh, Hyung? What are you doing out so late at night?” He inquired, checking him for signs of injury. Hongjoong rubbed his neck, explaining to them that he’d come out for food after staying up late producing.
As they talked, Cheese slinked back into the alleyway, finding the ‘man’ had transformed back into a marble, a remnant of one of Scylla’s dogs. The Jindo bent down, taking the marble between his canines and swallowing it whole.
“No one will be threatening Cheese’s Masters.”
“Cheese? Where’d he go again-” Mingi called for him and Cheese spun on his paws, bounding out of the alleyway once more, happily bouncing and nuzzling up to the three men’s side, tail wagging energetically.
“Cheese is here! Let us go home! Cheese will blend into the snow if he stays out like this! Now you see Cheese, now you don’t!” Cheese happily trotted forward again, jumping into a pile of snow before jumping back out of it eagerly, shaking his fur off, and rushing down the block.
“Wh- Cheese!” Yeosang took off after him in worry. Mingi glanced down at Hongjoong, watching as the smaller man scratched his cheek in confusion.
His knuckles were bruised.
He glanced at Mingi and smiled softly.
“Does this happen often?” He inquired, trying to make light conversation, seemingly not feeling the pain. Mingi stuck his hands in his pockets.
“No, he’s normally a lot better behaved than that.” He mused before shrugging a shoulder, choosing not to address Hongjoong’s injury and beginning to walk.
If he had, perhaps, the two of them would have noticed the way the bruising began to heal quickly mere moments later as Hongjoong began to walk a few paces behind him.
* ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ►*
“Ugh, even in this life the shitty pirate gets on my nerves. I lost a dog, too. Ugh...Fine, I'll regroup.”
* ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ► ◄ ◊ ►*
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