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“Are you sure your parents are gonna like me?”
It’s the first thing Yeonjun asks him halfway through the journey. They’ve been seeing nothing but plain landscapes with the occasional farm every now and then. Soobin had woken up from an unplanned nap about fifteen minutes ago and was now staring ahead of him with puffy eyes and his hair sticking out in every direction.
It takes him a few seconds to process the question. However, once he does his gaze drops into his laps, fingers going ahead to play with the long ends of his black blazer.
Yeonjun’s hands whiten around the wheel. “They won’t?!”
“Oh, no!” Soobin says. He looks away again. “No, I’m more worried about whether you will like them…”
“Soobin? Of course I will!”
“No, Jun, they’re weird. Like, very weird .”
“Hey, no, it’s going to be okay. I’m sure you’re just exaggerating.”
Soobin doesn’t respond. He stares straight ahead of them, as if the road is any more interesting than the minimal scenery. The excitement over seeing a cow had gotten old quickly; a sheep, now that would be exciting. Soobin stays silent.
Yeonjun sighs, and though it’s dangerous, he sneaks over his hand to lay it on Soobin’s thigh. “Baby, if this is about how my parents reacted, then I’m sorry. Please don’t overthink it. They just need time to warm up to you. And I’ll make sure they know how much I love you.”
“It’s not that. That’s a whole different worry.” Soobin sinks his teeth into his bottom lip. He lays his hand over Yeonjun’s, covering it up whole. Yeonjun has to keep his eyes on the road, but he knows Soobin is looking at him. “Promise not to be too freaked out, okay? My family is… different.”
“Different is good, right?”
“Keep that mentality, and you’ll be okay.”
Yeonjun can’t help but wonder why it sounds like a bad omen.
Yeonjun wasn’t quite sure what Soobin meant with ‘big scary house, can’t miss it’. When you see it you’ll know . Yeonjun understands it now. He understands it very well, because the town is small and it’s very hard to miss the creepy mansion, probably three stories, with holes in the windows and dead trees. The gate is open, and with Soobin’s encouragement Yeonjun pulls up to the driveway.
“So this is it.” Soobin leans forward to get a better look, immediately falling back into his seat with a groan. “Oh my god, they have an entourage.”
Surely, there was a crowd waiting for them by the porch, all dressed in black. It wasn’t that part freaking Soobin out, however, it was the fact that there were so many of them.
“Do you know these people?” Yeonjun asks.
“Barely.”
“Something tells me they’re excited to see you again.”
“You don’t say.” Soobin rolls his eyes playfully. However, his shoulders then deflate. “I’m sorry, my family tends to be dramatic.”
“I think it’s… sweet.”
“Sure.”
Yeonjun shakes his head. He squeezes Soobin’s thigh one last time. “I’m excited to meet them, okay? They’re your family, and you love them. If you love them, then so will I.”
Soobin puffs out his cheeks. “Okay. Yes. Okay.”
Yeonjun taps his nose, before opening the door. When leave the car, Soobin is immediately pulled into an embrace by his mother. He crouches down to match her height, closing one arm behind her.
“You’ve finally returned,” she says. She crosses her hands over her chest, attention falling onto Yeonjun. “Oh, you must be Yeonjun. Soobin has mentioned you an awful lot in his letters. I can feel the joy coming off his pen strokes.”
Yeonjun bows, nervous smile painted on. “Hello. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Soobin’s father speaks. He holds out his hand.
Yeonjun nearly lets out a squeak. He’s sure his fingers cracked. He heard a joint pop, that’s for sure. He squeaks out a ‘thank you’, trying his best not to scream when he finally is freed.
Soobin doesn’t try to hide his amusement, his entire body shaking with unspilled laughter. Yeonjun glares at him, though it’s only a fake one. Before Soobin can reciprocate the childishness, however, he feels a tug on his back.
Taehyun looks up at him with big, round eyes. “Soobin. Welcome back.”
“Taehyun?” Soobin wraps his arms around him, swinging him around.
Taehyun lets it happen to him, stiff as a lifeless doll. His eyes are wide open, irises so large they nearly make out the entirety of them. They’re staring off into the distance as his body gets tossed around like a ragdoll.
Eventually Soobin releases him. He smiles. “How have you been? You haven’t written to me in a while.”
“I’ve waited for you to come to tell you this, but your rat has passed away.” Taehyun blinks at him. “A letter would’ve been too distant and thoughtless. I feel like it’s better to hear the news up front.”
Soobin’s eyes bulge out. “Odi?!”
“Yes, your pet. But don’t worry, I kept his remains intact so we can stuff him and immortalize him forever. You’ll always be able to look at him.”
Soobin is grateful the chattering is loud enough to drown Taehyun’s soft voice. However, Yeonjun has definitely caught it, standing right next to him. His mouth is hanging open, frozen in stance. Oh , this is too much for him to handle. Soobin should introduce him in proportions.
“Haha, yeah, Taehyun… let’s talk about this later.” Soobin takes Yeonjun’s hand. “Come on, let me show you my room.”
Soobin doesn’t waste a second; he dashes past the get-together with quick-paced footsteps. Now, the house already looked like the haunted attraction at the amusement park, but on the inside it feels like they just stepped into a horror film. The house everyone warns people about, to not enter because everyone who enters never gets out.
It’s exactly how Yeonjun feels. The mirrors are dusty, none of them cracked. The chandeliers look worn, like they date back to centuries ago. There are cobwebs in every corner, spiderwebs like silver threads in the stairs. Soobin doesn’t bat an eye at any of this. He doesn’t even flinch when each and every floorboard groans with effort.
Everything is a dark shade of wood and rotting. Yeonjun yelps when he hears a tap against the window.
Soobin, however, tightens his hand around his. “Don’t worry. It’s just the wind. Nothing to worry about.”
Yeonjun believes him. He’d rather believe Soobin than know the truth.
Soobin shuffles ahead of him, swinging open the first door they meet on the second floor. The third floor is his father’s study and his mother’s brewing room, he told Yeonjun shortly. Yeonjun’s jaws fall open. “Oh. Wow.”
“Welcome to my room. It’s something, isn’t it?”
Yeonjun nods. He steps forward, running his fingers over the spines of Soobin’s broad collection. He frowns at some of the titles. Guide to Basic Curses (Discomfort to Death). Yeonjun clears his throat, moving on to the rest of Soobin’s room. There’s a dead plant hanging from his walls, swords crossed above his bed. A double, deep ebony with inscriptions carved into them.
“What do they mean?” Yeonjun asks.
Soobin crosses his arms behind his back. “Well, when I was younger a seer predicted I would have a dark entity chasing me. My parents had a warding spell carved into my bed to be safe. Turns out the dark entity was just Taehyun.”
“What?”
“He’s possessed. It’s a long story,” Soobin waves it off. “Don’t worry about it. He’s harmless. Though sometimes he sleepwalks. Or levitates.”
Yeonjun opens his mouth to speak, however no words come out. He can only blink, looking as stupid as a guppy out of water.
Soobin claps his hands. “Do you want tea?”
The family is already gathered by the time Soobin and Yeonjun arrive in the garden room. At its core it’s a glass box, windows in the roof and making up most of the walls. There’s a round table in the middle, where Soobin’s parents and Taehyun are speaking in hushed tones. Well, it’s mostly the parents. Taehyun doesn’t seem to be the eloquent type.
Yeonjun wonders where the rest of the people went, but he doesn’t question it. They wouldn’t have fit in the room either way.
Taehyun is the first to take notice of them. “Mother,” he calls Mrs Choi’s attention.
Mrs Choi looks up. She breaks out into a smile. “Oh! Hello! Please, have a seat. Anywhere is fine.”
Soobin takes Yeonjun’s hand and guides him to his right, Taehyun on his left. The boy’s eyes bore holes through Yeonjun. At the least it’s unsettling.
“You’re nervous,” Taehyun says. His gaze pierces right through Yeonjun’s confidence.
“No reason for that! We won’t bite,” Mr Choi laughs. “Taehyun grew out of it years ago.”
Yeonjun chokes on his tea. Soobin pats him on the back, continuous stream of “are you okay?” spilling from his lips. Yeonjun wheezes, catching his breath. “Sorry for that. Just got caught by surprise there.”
“Oh, it’s alright, it’s alright.” Mrs Choi folds her hands under her chin, bright glint in her eyes. “So, Yeonjun. What’s the story between you and Soobin?”
“Mother, please,” Soobin mumbles. His hand on Yeonjun’s shoulder firms up.
“Sweetheart, there’s no reason to be ashamed of love! Boast about it! What’s the story?” Mrs Choi grabs her husband’s hands, holding them to her chest. “Oh, my love, remember when we fell in love?”
“The most haunted night of the year,” Mr Choi says. “All the spirits were escaping their graves. The way they flew, twirled your hair so beautifully. And when they pushed you, you fell into me, right into a waiting grave. It was the most glorious of times.”
Their faces close in on each other, eyes on lips. Soobin clears his throat, muttering some words under his breath which earn him a deadpan. His parents, however, part.
His mother rolls her eyes. “You didn’t catch anything when I said to celebrate love.”
Soobin mocks her in a whisper, muttering the words like a petty child. She sighs, but doesn’t say a word. If anything, she looks fond, a small smile on her lips.
“Well ours, I’d say is a fairly simple one,” Yeonjun breaks the tension with. “I’d say it’s serendipity. I always ran into him, wherever I went. The library, the cafeteria, on the way back to the dorms. If I see someone that much, I reckoned it might have a reason.”
Mrs Choi sends Soobin a cheeky look. “Soobinnie, tell us honestly, did you use a little hex?”
“No!” Soobin coughs, regaining his posture. “No, Mother, not at all. All up to fate. He was the first to see me, after all.”
“And the first to approach him,” Yeonjun continues. “I guess we clicked. We became friends really quickly, but we decided to take it slow when it came to a romantic relationship. Well, not really, just a lot of dancing around each other.”
“Until I asked him out,” Soobin says. His eyes crinkle up, rubbing circles on Yeonjun’s shoulder. “And that’s most of the story.”
“A simple dance into love, how sweet.” Mrs Choi finishes her gushing, then lifts the teapot. “Yeonjun, darling, can I serve you more?”
“No… no I’m good.”
“Oh.” She puts the pot back down. “Well, Yeonjun, what’s keeping you busy these days?”
“Right now I’m doing my internship at this fashion magazine. I just started, though, so the most I do is ‘coffee and observe’.” Yeonjun chuckles, scratching the back of his neck. Oh man .
“He’s the most stylish person I know,” Soobin pipes in. “I’m amazed how he manages to make silly clothes look so cool.”
“Silly?!” Yeonjun exclaims.
Soobin slowly pulls his arm away from Yeonjun, folding his hands in his lap. “They are a little silly sometimes, baby.”
“Why didn’t you say so…”
“Because they look good on you.”
Mrs Choi claps as if she’s at the opera. “Oh, you two are lovely. Soobin, why didn’t you bring him here sooner?”
“You’ll get to enjoy him for a long time, don’t worry,” Soobin says. He gives her a look Yeonjun can’t quite decipher. “So, please, take your time with showing him everything.”
“He should meet the whole family.” Mrs Choi claps again, though this time it’s only once, conclusive. “We should hold a seance!”
“There it is,” Soobin mutters under his breath.
“A seance?” Yeonjun repeats. “Like…”
“Well, you’re here to meet the family. Might as well meet all of them!” Mrs Choi’s voice is laced with excitement. “You know, Yeonjun, before I tried to get Soobin into Dark Arts and Hexes, but he insisted he wanted to learn the beauty of literature. As long as he is happy, I am too.”
“Right.” Soobin already has Yeonjun’s wrist in his hold. “We’re going to unpack. See you all later.”
“Your family are witches?” is the first thing Yeonjun asks him once they’re back in Soobin’s room.
Soobin bounces onto his bed. “Practicers of the occult. Don’t call them witches. They don’t quite like that. Has a negative connotation with the witch hunts.”
“Okay, okay.” Yeonjun sits down next to him, staring ahead of him. He stays like that for a while, until he finally speaks after a few minutes. “I didn’t think they were real.”
“Please don’t mind them too much. They’re very extravagant in their ways.”
Soobin wraps his legs around Yeonjun’s waist, pulling him down. He clings onto him like a koala to a branch. Yeonjun shifts so he can face Soobin, laying a hand against Soobin’s chest. He sighs out, in sync with his steady heartbeat.
“I don’t mind,” Yeonjun says. “You know, when I first met you I just thought you were just very dedicated to an aesthetic.”
“I’ve expanded my wardrobe quite a bit since I met you.” Yeonjun laughs, the cute, muffled type of laughter that makes his nose scrunch up and his eyes crinkle. Soobin sighs, pouting. “Give them a chance, okay?’
“Soobinnie, I know you and I’ve pretty much embraced most of it,” Yeonjun giggles. “You’re not the most standard person out there, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Oh, there’s so much more…”
“Hm?”
Soobin shakes his head, burying his face in the crook of Yeonjun’s neck. “Nothing.”
“Alright…” Yeonjun sighs, corner of his lips curling up. “You know, this explains that time you were poking that dead bird. Don’t you even think of denying it!”
“I wasn’t poking it,” Soobin says. He frowns. “I was just giving it a boost.”
“Were you trying to bring it back to life?” Yeonjun jokes.
Soobin rolls his eyes. “Necromancy is a practice that requires an entire coven. It takes a lot of energy and preparation. Seems you’ll be seeing just how much.”
It takes a moment for the words to settle in Yeonjun’s brain, for the puzzle pieces to fall into place. “What?”
“Don’t worry about that yet.” Soobin pecks Yeonjun’s mouth, hand cupping his cheek.
“Are you trying to distract me?”
“Am I?”
Soobin nips at Yeonjun’s bottom lip, looking way too pleased with himself. He pushes Yeonjun down into the mattress, climbing over him to sit on his lap. His fingers curl into Yeonjun’s shoulders. Yeonjun’s hands travel underneath his shirt, running over the curves of his torso. Soobin lets out a soft noise. He leans closer into Yeonjun, slipping his tongue between his lips.
A knock on the door has them breaking them apart. Soobin jumps off him like a magnet against the same pole. He runs his fingers through his hair, while Yeonjun rubs his face.
“Come–” Soobin clears his throat. “Come in!”
The door opens at an agonizing pace.
Taehyun . That little bastard.
Taehyun bows at them. “Father requests you downstairs. He wishes for you to help him prepare the ritual knife.”
“Oh. Oh, okay, I’ll be there. Okay.” Soobin turns to Yeonjun with an apologetic expression – for more reasons than one. “I wish you could come, but I don’t think this is something I can take you along with.”
“It’s okay!” Yeonjun reassures him with a smile. “I’ll just explore the house.”
Soobin purses his lips, clearly not convinced. “Let Taehyun help you.”
Taehyun’s eyes darken. “Why.”
“Come on, be a good host,” Soobin scolds him. “You know the rules of hospitality.”
“I will keep it civil.”
“Good. That’s good.”
Taehyun walks like he’s got somewhere to be, pace so quick Yeonjun has to hop in his steps every now and then just to keep up with him. They’ve skipped through the ballroom, the dining room, kitchen, and have finally arrived in the gallery. The basement and studies are off-limits, Taehyun had been kind enough to inform him.
Taehyun comes to a quick halt, turning on his heel with shark precision. He holds his hand up. “And these are the portraits of our ancestors. We like to hoard, as you can tell.”
“They’re… nice,” is all Yeonjun manages to get out.
They’re not. They’re so fucking scary Yeonjun knows he’s going to dream about this exact scenario, him in a room with moving eyes all on him. They’re all seated in these uncomfortable positions, their names underneath in golden lettering.
Yeonjun claps his hands, rocking on his feet. Nice. It’s the most he can make of it.
Taehyun looks him up and down. “They scare you.”
“No, they don’t!” To deliver the lie, Yeonjun’s voice cracks. He curses himself.
“You’re getting defensive,” Taehyun says.
“You’re being mean,” Yeonjun spits back, like the mature adult he is. He crosses his arms, meeting eyes with Great-Great-Aunt. He turns his gaze away just as quickly.
Taehyun raises a brow. “Are you really going to argue with a child?”
“You’re old enough to know exactly what you’re doing.”
Taehyun blinks at him. “Excuse me. Stay right here. I need to fetch something real quick and Soobin will be upset if you get lost in here. Be careful. There are traps.”
Taehyun is out of sight within the blink of an eye. It’s like he slipped from the present and into the shadows. Yeonjun turns a full circle, but there’s nothing except for his heels clicking against the tiles. The sound echoes off the walls, like a belated cry. There is no sign of Taehyun.
Yeonjun whistles. “Well, that was weird.”
He stays put for a second or two, before he decides this room really isn’t one he wants to stay in. Sure, Taehyun warned him, but he’s done nothing but try to get under his skin. Yeonjun is grown enough to know how to find his way back.
He goes along to take the same way back. Surely Soobin should be done by now. However, once he reaches the edge of the room, a cold wind runs down his spine. Yeonjun shivers. Now that was weird. The sooner he gets out of here, the better.
He quickens his pace, like those old people he sees working out in the park sometimes. He keeps going, going, and then he falls. Or so he thinks. Because he’s still standing on his feet, in a different room. The walls are white, the streaks of lighting harsh. Yeonjun squints at the sunray falling right into his eyes.
“What the fuck?” he mumbles.
Now this place, he doesn’t recognize. The panic sizzles in his veins, breath hitching for a moment, but he closes his eyes. Inhale, exhale, no need to panic. He figures the best thing is to keep walking. He can’t stay here and wait until someone finds him.
However, a low hiss simmers through the floor. Yeonjun freezes in spot. He should ignore it, wave it off. It’s just the wind, as they always say. He should let it go, and just keep moving.
The sound resurfaces, and Yeonjun follows it with his gaze. His mouth falls open into a silent scream.
A shadow crawls up the wall, running from the floor all the way to the ceiling. It walks over the white on all fours, claws tapping like branches against a window. It seeps into the mirror, disappearing like it never existed in the first place. Yeonjun squints, stepping closer. However, the mirror is empty. There is no reflection, nothing that indicates he is there.
A low rumble echoes through the empty halls, the candles flickering. Yeonjun, as a full-grown adult man, lets out a squeak. And nearly pisses his pants. Anyone would. Anyone sane .
It can’t get worse, he thinks. How naive. How foolish . In the mirror an image ripples up. It’s horrifying. Yeonjun doesn’t remember much, probably paralyzed by fear, but all he remembers is yellow eyes. Bright, menacing yellow.
“Soo— Soobin?” he calls, to no avail. “Soobin?!”
Noise, however, seems to be the wrong call. The monster shoots out of the mirror. Yeonjun screams. He tucks into himself, arms protecting his head. He feels it, the cold embrace of death. It consumes him whole, fills his ears like nails over chalkboard. He’s not sure if the cry is the monster’s or his own. He doesn’t really want to know.
And then it stops.
Yeonjun finds himself curled up on the cold tiles, eyes wide and trembling. He doesn’t move. He can;t. He’s nailed to the ground, a block of lead. Well. That was definitely something.
“What is this commotion?!” Mrs Choi’s voice rings through.
“Nothing, Mother, just playing a game.”
Taehyun. That wretched brat.
“What game?” Mrs Choi asks. The sternness remains.
“It’s called, ‘How long can he hold out’,” Taehyun says.
“Oh, Yeonjun, darling, don’t mind that.” Mrs Choi shakes her head, sighing. She gives Taehyun a quick pat on the head before walking over to Yeonjun. “Taehyun, don’t tease him like that.” She holds out her hand, which Yeonjun thankfully takes. “Sorry, he tends to let the demon out sometimes.”
“The demon?!” Yeonjun stumbles back, clutching his head. The demon, because of course there is a demon.
Mrs Choi stares off into the distance. “Oh, it’s woeful. It happened when he was awfully young.”
“My birth parents made a deal with them to conceive me. Smart people would know not to make deals with demons. He ate their souls and inhabited my body,” Taehyun says. “Their name is Calumcifer and they like chicken nuggets. Sometimes human flesh. Sometimes they find my body too cramped, so I let them out.”
Yeonjun doesn’t waste time rushing out of the house. His foot gets stuck in a plank on the porch. He doesn’t really think when he rips it out, sporting the broken wood-look around his ankle. He’s not quite sure where he’s running to, but he’s glad he kept going when he spots Soobin somewhere in the rose garden.
Yeonjun makes an ungraceful entrance, tripping over the gate. He falls face first into the mud, but he brushes it off quickly. He hears a gasp coming from his side, however.
“Jun?! Are you okay?!” Soobin rushes to his aid, helping him to his knees. He dusts off his face and clothes, checking for injuries. “Do you need any healing?”
Yeonjun shakes his head. He grips Soobin’s wrists, pointing over to the house. “Soobin, your– Taehyun, he–”
“Oh gosh. Don’t tell me you met Calumcifer.”
“I think I did.”
Soobin’s face falls, looking a mixture between unimpressed and disappointed. He puffs out his cheeks, staring ahead of him. Yeonjun is glad Soobin speaks in expressions rather than words, especially when he can’t find any way to formulate his thoughts. Yeonjun wouldn’t know how to tell a story around everything that has happened, but he assumes the situation is only odd to him.
“Jun, I’m so sorry,” Soobin says. “I should have told you about this… side of myself.”
Yeonjun holds his throbbing head. A lopsided grin is all he can manage. “A heads up would’ve been nice.”
“I’m really sorry.” Soobin rests his head against Yeonjun’s shoulder.
“Hey, hey, now, don’t worry about it,” Yeonjun says. “Calumcifer was nice.”
“You can call them Cal. They thrive off nicknames. Makes them purr.” Soobin exhales fall hot on Yeonjun’s skin, body shaking. “Well, it makes Taehyun purr, so I can only assume.”
Yeonjun gasps. “Taehyun purrs?”
He tries imagining it, but nothing comes to mind. He supposes Taehyun could have been cute, but every time he thinks of Taehyun, he sees a monster.
“Trust me, it’s not the weirdest thing he’s done.” Soobin pulls away, walking his fingers up Yeonjun’s chest. He pulls Yeonjun into his lap, earning him a yelp. “Now, where were we?”
Red spreads over Yeonjun’s cheeks. “Oh, you wanna continue? Out here?”
“I even cut myself on the knife because my mind was wandering over to you. It nearly messed up the process.” Soobin pouts. “It bled quite a lot. I think I could’ve raised a hamster from the grave with it.”
He raises his finger to show, and surely there is a gnarly gash running right down his index finger. Yeonjun is sure it could have cut the entire finger in half and they used some method to keep it connected to Soobin’s body. His ears start ringing.
“Baby–” Yeonjun’s nails dig into Soobin’s skin.
Soobin’s eyes widen. “Sorry, sorry. Forget I said that.” He holds Yeonjun’s cheeks. “Let’s just make out. I’ll stop talking.”
Yeonjun is a problem, but he is easy to beat. A little bit of shadows was enough to send him over the edge, and he can’t handle blood. Not even the mention of it. What a weak soul. Taehyun wonders how he survived this much time on Earth. Well, Taehyun figures all mortals are fragile. They break so easily. Most just get lucky.
He needs to exterminate Yeonjun, and for that he needs a plan.
He hisses when a ray of sunlight crosses into the shade he’s hiding in. He presses his back further into the tree. The shadow bounces back, shivering slightly. Taehyun smirks. Oh, the perks of hosting a dark entity.
He pulls out his notebook, burning holes into the scribbles. They’re good ideas, he admits – after all, he thought of them, but some of them are not attainable. There is no chance he’ll get a functioning guillotine in time.
“Hey, are you Taehyun?”
Taehyun snaps his head up to glare at whoever called his name. He’s met with fluffy curls and a smile like white sand beaches. Baggy clothes, broad stature, strong features, very recognizable. Deep-set eyes. Taehyun narrows his gaze.
“I am. Who are you?” he asks.
“I’m… I’m Kai. We’ve been in the same class for forever.” Kai frowns. “I live next door!”
“I don’t go out much.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed. Which is why I’m wondering what you’re doing out here.”
Taehyun shrugs. “The demon wanted sunlight.”
“Like walking the dog!” Kai exclaims.
“...Yes.”
Kai mistakes Taehyun’s general conversationalist skills as an invitation to join him. He plops down next to him, grinning. He curls his arms around his knees, head tilted. “So you’re out to let your demon out?”
“No. They don’t want to come out now. They just want me to get sunlight. They worry for my well being. They want me to get enough vitamins, granted without them I would never meet those wretched sunrays.”
“That’s sweet.”
“They are.”
“It’s sweet you’re listening,” Kai says.
Taehyun turns to face Kai with a sharp momentum. “Have you ever met a discontent demon, Kai?”
“Well, no.” Kai scratches his neck. “Am I supposed to?”
“Exactly,” Taehyun says. “When you do, you’ll know why I’m listening.”
Kai clears his throat. Taehyun pulls his notebook out again. He places his pen against the paper and… nothing. He’s met with nothing. Usually he’s overflowing with ideas, whether it be poetry or homicide. He sighs.
“Stuck?” Kai asks.
“Fatally so.”
Kai nods, only once. He bobs his head up and down. It reminds Taehyun of an unsuccessfully severed head. “Right. Since you’re out anyway, want to come to the record store with me?”
“I only listen to Bach.” Taehyun blinks. “And the occasional waltz.”
Kai links his arm with Taehyun, forcing him to his feet. “Well, wouldn’t you know? They’ve got records for that too!”
Oh, woe and below, how dreadful.
Taehyun doesn’t enjoy the mundane. He’s not sure if that’s his own thoughts or if it’s the immortal entity he’s housing. Kai is the most mundane thing he’s encountered in a while. Well, he supposes since it’s summer, he hasn’t encountered many mundane things. Soobin’s new way of thinking, that’s quite mundane. They used to resurrect frogs together; now Soobin looks at him in appall the moment he even mentions a taxiderming his old hedgehog. Of course Taehyun had kept the corpse. He figured Soobin would want to keep him. He was wrong.
It was rare to see Soobin horrified, but now it’s the only expression he has on his face. It’s the fault of that wretched boyfriend he’s gotten. Taehyun is sure. That pathetic excuse of a thing was afraid of everything. Taehyun hadn’t even shown him his collection of beheaded dolls yet. They were all from Taehyun’s childhood. He’s a hoarder of the sentiments.
He’s glaring holes into Bach’s face. It’s redirected frustration, but Taehyun still hopes to see him burn. He wishes to see everything around him burn. He hoped the little demon trick would’ve been enough to scare Yeonjun away, but of course his mother had to get in the way of his plans.
And of course Soobin, who had looked at Yeonjun with such pity in his eyes, and so much – Taehyun gags – adoration. Nothing Yeonjun would do would ever disappoint him. It’s disgusting.
“Man, what did Johann ever do?”
Kai’s face appears in his side view, head hanging over his shoulder as he watches everything Taehyun is seeing, doing. Taehyun wants to push him away, yet he doesn’t. Everything has been thrown off balance.
“He did nothing,” Taehyun says. “Except for fathering too many children. And being a devout christian. I can’t blame him for that, though, given the time setting.”
“Right, so why are you glaring like that?” Kai asks.
“What do you do when your brother returns from college a changed man?”
“A changed man, how?”
Taehyun’s brain aches with all the observations he’s made. He has to settle for a simple example. “He doesn’t want to do any of the activities we’ve used to enjoy.”
Kai shrugs. “Maybe he’s growing up.”
“Soobin? Impossible. Not with the way he has been coddled.” Taehyun crosses his arms.
Kai runs his fingers over the records, stopping for a brief moment at Beethoven’s name. He nods, lips pursed. He then puts it back. “Hmm, where did he return from?”
“He went off to college. He returned for the summer with his poor excuse of a boyfriend. I can’t believe he settled for a thing like that when Mother has a fine lineup she’s ready to introduce him to.”
Kai laughs. It’s a low sound, short but genuine. “He found love. Is that such a horrible thing?”
“Yes,” Taehyun says immediately. “It is if it ruins him like this. He’s normal now. He doesn’t even wear his given shade of black.”
“Does it upset you?” Kai asks.
“Nothing upsets me.” Taehyun frowns. “I revel in people getting upset. I don’t get upset myself.”
“Hate to bring it to ya, Taehyun, but you sound pretty upset.”
“I’m not.”
Kai lets it go easily. He’s back to touching all the covers, inspecting them, then returning them. It’s like a routine. Taehyun doesn’t see the joy in it. The store is musty and the music is too soft for it to be heard over the chattering of people.
“Whatever you say.” Kai finally takes a pick; Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. “Anyways, maybe think about it. Soobin has been out and exposed to new things and new ways. Perhaps he’s discovering himself. I’m sure he’ll still want to engage in your activities, but right now I think his main priority is leaving a good impression. I mean, you all are quite odd–”
“Thank you.”
“–and that can be a lot. Especially for a person like his boyfriend.” Kai sighs, offering him a close-lipped smile. “Give it time, Taehyun. He’ll come back to you.”
Taehyun blinks. “Let me think about it later. Alone.” He loops his arm with Kai’s. “Want to get ice cream?”
Kai lets out a ridiculous sound, the one adults use on babies. He wiggles so much Taehyun is shaken along with him. “Does the demon want it?”
“No. I am still only a mortal.” Taehyun nods. “Besides, we have important plans to discuss.”
Yeonjun drops the paint brush into the designated glass, taking a moment to appreciate his work. He’s not entirely sure why he was assigned to pot painting, but it definitely seems like the easier task compared to the pie baking Soobin has been assigned to.
Soobin is the baker between them. He’s a questionable cook, with the odd dishes he brings to the table. It’s usually takeout or Yeonjun’s pitiful attempt at emptying out the fridge for dinner. However, his pastries and cookies are the most heavenly thing Yeonjun has ever tasted. He can’t help but feel his heart leap whenever he sees Soobin has slipped one of his bakings into Yeonjun’s work bag.
Mrs Choi dances around the kitchen, kneading into some dough with easy determination. It’s probably her Soobin has learned it from. She blows her bangs out of her eyes. “Oh, Yeonjun, you’re doing great!”
“Heh, thank you.” Yeonjun grins. He holds the vase – yeah it’s more a vase than a pot – away from him to admire it from a distance. Pretty good, pretty good. “What exactly is this for?”
“It’s to store the blood for the offering,” Soobin answers. He hums as he takes the berry filling off the stove, giving it a final swirl. He said it so simply, like it’s nothing out of the ordinary. He freezes. “Don’t worry! It’s not fresh!”
Yeonjun swallows thickly. “I… I think I need to lay down.”
“We don’t do live offerings anymore,” Mrs Choi adds. “The dead don’t mind, as long as the blood is fresh enough. Soobin’s father is on his way to the slaughterhouse right now to get some.”
“I’m sorry, I just get a little queasy around the thought of… blood.”
“It’s okay, darling. You can sit out if you need to,” Mrs Choi says. She stops kneading for a second, casting him a glance.
Yeonjun shakes his head. “No, it’s alright.”
“Jun, you can go,” Soobin says. “We can finish on our own.”
His lips are tutted into a pout, the same expression he wears when Yeonjun stays up until 3am to meet deadlines or when he scalds his hands on the stove. It warms Yeonjun’s heart; he looks too cute when he’s worried.
“No, I’m…” Yeonjun grips the edge of the table. “Whoo, damn.”
“Baby, are you okay?”
“Yeah…”
Yeonjun’s head hits the table with a bang. Soobin nearly spills hot berries over himself to rush to his side. He takes Yeonjun’s face in his hands, shaking it, yelling his name.
Mrs Choi wordlessly presses a flask into Soobin’s hold. “Hold it under his nose. It should do the trick.”
Soobin follows her orders without hesitation. Yeonjun comes back into the world of the conscious with a jolt. His eyes are wild, fleeting everywhere. Before he can ask questions, however, Soobin has already tackled him in a hug, nose pressed to the base of his neck.
“Don’t ever do that again.”
“No promises.” Yeonjun runs his fingers through Soobin’s hair, laughing softly. “Baby, I’m okay.”
Soobin pulls away, lips pursed. Yeonjun presses their foreheads together and Soobin melts.
Mrs Choi clears her throat. The two spring apart, cheeks dusted pink. Soobin scrambles up, dusting off his clothes. “I should get that pie going.”
“Right, I’ll uh. Yeah, the blood urn needs some detailing,” Yeonjun says.
“Work hard.”
“You too.”
Ah, young love.
Yeonjun swings his and Soobin’s hands back and forth, hopping onto the edge of the sidewalk. “Your town is so small.”
“Yep.” Soobin smiles, allowing Yeonjun to twirl around under his arm. “Not a lot goes on here, actually. I never went out a lot so there aren’t many places I can show you. Except murders. There was one of those.”
Yeonjun giggles. He bumps his shoulder with Soobin’s. “Just a romantic stroll?”
“Mainly,” Soobin says, “but also I wanted to ask you if… If this is alright. Are you alright?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Yeonjun asks.
“Well, you did nearly pass out at the mention of blood.”
Yeonjun sighs, taking both of Soobin’s hands in his. He searches for Soobin’s eyes until he’s sure he’s seeing him, sure he’s listening. “I’m okay, love. I’m okay. And I will be okay tomorrow.”
“I just want you to like them,” Soobin says. The confession is soft, almost carried away by the wind. Yeonjun catches it, however, holding it in his heart.
“And I do. I like them a lot. They’ve treated me with nothing but kindness.” He holds the back of Soobin’s head, patting it. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
Soobin shrugs. “Well, you have to admit I’m right for it.”
Yeonjun laughs. He wraps his arms around Soobin’s waist, pressing a kiss to his nose. “Baby, don’t worry about it. I love how they’re taking me along in their practices, even if I don’t get it. Most of it. I’m glad they’re willing to introduce me to what’s normal to you.”
“Sap.”
“I mean it.”
Soobin’s grin is golden in the summer air. He stands out against the yellow and matted green, an all black nightmare, but he shines the brightest in Yeonjun’s eyes. He giggles, though swallows it away.
He clears his throat. “Wanna see where the town murders took place?”
“I– of course. Of course, show me.”
“Taehyun, is this a good idea? I feel like this is a little… morbid.”
“It’s fine. You’ll grow out of it.”
Kai looks down at the bucket, seeing all their little beady eyes, drained and lifeless. It reeks, too. He shoots a little prayer, also praying Taehyun doesn’t have psychic abilities. He’s not sure it will make it to Heaven. Not in this house.
“How did you even manage to find so many dead birds?” Kai asks.
“I have my methods.” Now, Taehyun doesn’t use a lot of intonation when he speaks, but there’s a darker pitch to his monotone this time. It does nothing to ease the nerves.
Kai shudders. “I fear you sometimes.”
“Good.”
Kai gulps, knuckles whitening around the bucket’s handle. He’s never been over at Taehyun’s. He figures it’s already scary when the sun is shining, but in the dark it’s far worse. He swears the shadows are moving, and there’s a low growling from beneath the floorboards. The stairs creak with every step they take. Kai would worry if that might give them away, but the house is filled with holes in walls and monsters in every nook and cranny; a little creaking was nothing compared to that.
It’s clear Taehyun likes wandering around in the dark, however. He moves like he floats, a ghostly sight. It doesn’t help that his eyes are so wide Kai can see his soul get swallowed up by them.
Taehyun turns around.
Kai screams. He nearly drops the bucket, but – bless the heavens – catches it on time. He doesn’t want to imagine how their cold, bloody feathers would feel in his hands. And how many diseases they carry.
“You scared me!” he yells in a whisper.
Taehyun blinks. “Don’t be dramatic.”
Kai doesn’t think he is with the way Taehyun is staring at him. A shudder runs down his spine.
Taehyun doesn’t pay him any mind. “My brother is out right now.”
“Why the hell is your brother out at ass o’clock?” Kai exclaims.
“To prepare for the ritual. There are certain things that only lurk in witching hour.” Taehyun doesn’t elaborate. Kai doesn’t think he wants him to.
“As I was saying, had my brother been here, it would have been a trickier task,” Taehyun continues. “However, on his own, Yeonjun is defenseless. It’s the perfect opportunity. However, there is a warding spell on my brother’s bed. I cannot enter.” He stares right through Kai’s skull. “I’m trusting you with this task. Do not disappoint me.”
“Do we need to go to these lengths?” Kai asks. Between the lines he’s begging for this madness to stop, but Taehyun isn’t the best at reading voices.
Instead, he raises a brow, condescending, cold. “Do you suggest anything better?”
“Calm and acceptance?”
“Ridiculous.”
Kai sighs. This night was dragging on forever.
Yeonjun’s toes squish into a bird’s skull first thing in the morning. The first reasonable thing he does is scream all the hours of the day together. It’s blood curdling, spine chilling and could land him a role in a B-grade horror film.
He stumbles back onto Soobin’s bed, kicking his foot as a meager attempt to get the rotting flesh off them. It doesn’t work. He screams more, maybe lets out a tear or two. No one will ever know; it’s a secret between him and the birds.
The next reasonable thing he does is rush to the bathroom. Or, he attempts, because the moment he sets foot back onto the cracking laminate, he sees that it’s not just one of them; it’s a dozen scattered around each side of the bed like a sick aftermath of bird flu. Yeonjun’s heart stills for a second. He’s completely frozen, can only stare with his lips parted and pupils blown wide.
Every day it just gets more uncanny. He knows the amount of birds probably have some type of message, a bad omen. Yeonjun doesn’t think his day can get any worse. Bird corpses have to be the peak of fucked up.
He toes his way around the rest of them, swallowing down bile – especially when he crosses poor Squishleton. He feels really bad for them, but he really can’t look at them without his stomach coming up his throat.
When he finishes his unusual morning routine of breaking down and trying to keep his cool, talking sense into himself through the mirror, he finally decides he’s had enough . He knows exactly who is behind this.
He stomps down the stairs, heavy-footed and ready for violence. He doesn’t need to travel far; Taehyun is already waiting for him, legs crossed on the stairs. He looks up at Yeonjun, empty eyes expectant.
Yeonjun points an accusing finger at him. “I know you did it.”
“I’d hoped you would,” Taehyun says. “I heard you scream.”
“You don’t like me.”
“I don’t. You’re lucky my brother does. I would’ve unleashed a worse fate over you.” Taehyun pushes himself to his feet, crossing his hands behind his back. “I have somewhere to be.”
“You–” Yeonjun wasn’t going anywhere with the sentence, but it’s still upsetting to be cut off.
Taehyun swishes past him. “Have a good day, Yeonjun.”
Yeonjun wants to brood all day, though has to remind himself to not show his weaknesses. However, he’s pretty sure Taehyun can smell fear. He shudders at the thought. That kid freaked him out more than he likes to admit. But then again, he’s certain he’s not the only one.
Instead he wordlessly curls into Soobin’s lap, playing with the hem of his shirt while Soobin reads a book in the garden room. It’s a hazy scene from a daydream; Yeonjun lets his heartbeat calm. Soobin goes to rest his hand in Yeonjun’s hair, massaging his scalp. He lets his eyes fall shut.
There’s no words, no questions; only the two of them enjoying each other’s presence and silence. It’s peaceful, with the occasional flip of a page and the huffs of breaths. A sweet break from the hectic movement going on around them. They’re busy, of course, buzzing with excitement for the night to come. However, Yeonjun could use a break, just to be with what he knows and feel safe.
Soobin briefly tells him about what he did with his father, though Yeonjun doesn’t remember much of it. Something monsters, something peace, something went well. He still hums in feigned understanding.
The door slams open. Yeonjun nearly falls out of Soobin’s lap and Soobin barely catches the book before it can drop into Yeonjun’s face.
Mrs Choi enters, humming and singing. Her eyes sparkle when they fall on the pair. “Oh, I was looking for you two! Darling, Soobin, let’s get you dressed up for the seance!”
“The seance?” Yeonjun echoes.
He slowly gets up, shutting his eyes for a second to chase away his spotting vision. He then casts Soobin a concerned glance. Soobin smiles, giving his hand a comforting squeeze. Yeonjun deflates against him.
“Are you sure I can join?” Yeonjun then asks.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. I can sense it in your… energy.” Mrs Choi claps her hands. “Now, you like dressing up, right? I’m excited to see what we can come up with.”
“What would I wear?” Yeonjun purses his lips together. “I didn’t bring any formalwear.”
Mrs Choi waves his concerns away. “It’s alright, we have a broad selection. All family heirlooms.”
Yeonjun holds his hands up, shaking his head. “Oh, I shouldn’t.”
“It’s alright, darling. Aren’t you family too?”
Yeonjun’s face crumples up, eyes glossing over. No one got to see; he had his face buried in Soobin’s chest.
“So? How did he react?”
Kai digs his spoon into his ice cream, swirling it around for a bit until it turns into a mushy mess. Taehyun pulls up his nose to the act, licking at his own strawberry cone. He doesn’t know why he agreed to come out with Kai, and he’s not sure why he feels at ease around him. He’s rarely felt like this. He’d coin it as enjoyment.
Taehyun takes another lick. “Hysterically.”
“Is that a good thing?” Kai asks.
Taehyun nods. “He’s breaking. I realized however that it might be too much for his human soul to handle. Unfortunately my brother is smitten with him. I must draw the line.”
“Mature.”
“I am.”
Kai rolls his eyes, resting the spoon between his lips for a second before slowly pulling it out again. He’s back to poking and stirring. They’re seated on the sidewalk, Taehyun in the shade of the trees while Kai is out to catch the beams. The sun bounces off his skin in honey-like hues, sandy in his black curls. He looks like something the poets would speak about.
Taehyun shakes the thought off him, going back to his ice cream. It’s going to melt at thai rate. He doesn’t like getting his hands dirty.
“What’s it like, living with a demon in you?” Kai then asks.
Taehyun shrugs. “Essentially I am an empty vessel, nothing more than a housing to keep them living in this world.”
“So it’s uncomfortable?”
“Barely. They’re very sweet, and they rarely take over. We live very peacefully together.”
Kai’s eyebrows furrow together. It’s his thinking face. “That’s so weird. I thought they were all evil and scary!”
“Stereotype,” Taehyun says. “They’re only dangerous if you make a deal with them.”
“Noted.” Kai sighs, stretching out his limbs. He sets his empty ice cream cup aside, facing the sky. There’s a lazy, close-lipped grin on his lips when he cracks open an eye to look at Taehyun. “You know, it’s so weird we only met each other now.”
“It is.”
“I don’t regret it, though.”
“What do you mean?” Taehyun asks. His voice is a tad bit too sharp. He’s being too defensive.
Kai, however, doesn’t flinch. He cups his cheeks, tilting his head. “I’m glad I met you, and that I can call you my friend.”
A friend. Taehyun has never had friends before. The only people he talks to are his family and Cal, and Cal is a horrible person to talk to. They never reply with eloquent replies. He’s way too unserious to be from the Underworld. Taehyun wonders how people took them seriously in the past. He never can.
But a friend, it sounds nice. He likes it. He likes the thought of having a friend. Someone his age who doesn’t avoid him every chance they get. A friend. Taehyun would like to have a friend.
“Kai.”
“Hm?”
Taehyun curls up the corners of his mouth. “Do you want to join the seance tonight?”
He’s never heard Kai scream. It’s high-pitched and it hurts. He hopes to never hear it again, not unless he intends for it.
Soobin melts at how Yeonjun glows in his robes. They’re made of white lace, sheer over his clothes. The hood is up, but his black hair shines through it. He’s spinning around in it, admiring himself, playing with the cape. Mrs Choi claps for him, praising him every chance she gets. Soobin watches the two silently, capturing the memory, locking it away and keeping it in his heart.
“Okay, Soobin,” finally, his mother has attention for him, too, “go put yours on too and we’re ready to go.”
Soobin rolls his eyes, though complies. It’s a quick thing, the few white things they own. Rituals always require a fancier attire.
“Where are we going?” Yeonjun asks. He smooths out the cloak.
“The graveyard, darling. You’re here to meet the family, so you’ll meet them all .” Mrs Choi clears her throat. “Taehyun!”
Her voice is shrill, loud enough to crack the already fragile mirrors and windows. However, it does what it must; Taehyun comes running down the stairs, Kai in tow. They’re both all dressed up. If Taehyun moved as a ghost before, he definitely does now. His movements are too light, like he’s gliding down the stairs, flying everyone into their impending doom.
Taehyun comes to an abrupt halt. Kai, however, needs a longer runway. He would’ve fallen to his face, had Taehyun not pulled him back into balance.
“Present,” Taehyun says.
Mrs Choi smiles in confusion. “Taehyun, who is this?”
Kai gives everyone a slight bow. “I’m Kai. Taehyun’s friend.”
A deathly silence falls over the crowd. They all stare at Taehyun, as if they’re waiting for the punchline to come. The joke to be completed. Taehyun furrows his eyebrows. Oh. Oh . He’s serious .
Soobin claps, once, twice, however as no one joins him, he drops his hands. He scratches the back of his neck. Hell, this is torture. Mr Choi snorts, but covers it with a cough when Soobin glares at him.
However, Mrs Choi’s eyes glaze over. She covers her mouth. “You made a friend, Taehyun? I’m so proud of you.”
“May he join the seance, Mother?” Taehyun blinks, waiting for the answer.
“Of course!” Mrs Choi says. “Oh, Tyunnie, why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“It was an impromptu decision,” Taehyun says. “I’ve not put much thought into it.”
Mrs Choi lets out a cry of delight, clutching her husband’s arm. “So many developments he’s going through. See, I told you to give him his time!”
“Mother, Father, can we get going?” Taehyun loops his arm with Kai’s. “As you can tell I already dressed Kai up for the occasion. I took Late Grandfather’s cloak. He’s ready to go.”
“Late Grandfather!” Mrs Choi sighs, crossing her hands over her chest. “Oh, Yeonjun, you gotta meet him! He was so charming. It’s a shame he passed.”
Yeonjun squeaks. “Seems lovely!”
Soobin snakes into Yeonjun’s hold, squeezing his hand. “It’s going to be okay. Promise.”
Yeonjun doesn’t speak, letting Soobin hold him.
The walk isn’t long. It’s actually way shorter than Yeonjun expected it to be. He nudges Soobin’s side with his elbow. “You didn’t tell me you had a graveyard in your backyard.”
Soobin hisses in pain. He rubs his sore spot with an equally sore expression. “It’s only for the family. Thought Taehyun would have shown you on the house tour.”
“He only showed me what it’s like to die.”
“You’re so dramatic sometimes.”
Yeonjun sighs, shaking his head. He looks up at the moon. “And here I thought you’d side with me.”
Soobin tries to stifle his giggles. He links his arm with Yeonjun’s, giving him a little shake. Yeonjun tries pushing his face away, though can’t stop himself from letting out a giggle of his own. Soobin knocks their heads together.
“Hush, hush,” he says, “they’re about to begin.”
Mrs Choi is the one leading. She holds her hands to the sky, chanting something in a language Yeonjun can’t understand. He tries listening with all his attention, waiting for her to finish. The top of her face is illuminated by the bright moonlight, not a cloud in the sky. The air is silent, not a bird in the trees. However, that might be Taehyun’s doing.
Once finished, Mrs Choi beckons Soobin to her.
“Close your eyes for this one, okay?” Soobin whispers.
Yeonjun doesn’t get the time to ask questions; Soobin has already gone to the one to take the vase Yeonjun painted. He holds it up to the sky, looking like an angel cloaked in white, or a spirit in the meadows.
He speaks out a blessing in that same language. Yeonjun stares at him in awe, the silver of the moon illuminating him. He breaks the vase, blood seeping into the ground. The metallic stench spreads up into the air, clinging to Yeonjun’s nose.
Ah. So that’s why. Yeonjun blinks away the queasiness.
Soobin’s back to Yeonjun’s side in a flash. He takes his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Didn’t pass out. An improvement.”
“Oh, shut up. That was once .”
Soobin only sticks out his tongue. Yeonjun knows this isn’t the time for it, but he could kiss Soobin right about now. Lock him in a hug and never let him go. Gosh, he’s down bad.
“Let us all close eyes and join hands,” Mrs Choi eventually continues.
Yeonjun shivers when he feels Taehyun’s deathly cold hand slide into his, but Soobin’s enough for him to forget that. He follows the instructions, though cracks open one eye, meeting Kai’s confused gaze. He’s glad, knowing he’s not the only one confused.
Mrs Choi’s voice rings through the night. “Oh, spirits of the past! Of the present! Of the future! Tonight we gather by the grave to open the pathway between life and death!”
The ground rumbles, cracks, shifts. Yeonjun bites down on his lip not to scream. He should be getting used to these jumpscares, but really, he isn’t. He’s not anywhere near getting used to the constant dangers ready to launch themselves at him. He’ll need at least five more family meetings for that.
The ground splits open, a rotting hand breaking through the soul. After Taehyun’s demon, it’s the scariest thing Yeonjun has ever witnessed. He already feels the bile burning at the top of his throat.
The hand extends to an arm, then another hand, and eventually a body. Yeonjun has to swallow down his fears and dinner. The man does not look… great. Yeonjun didn’t expect him to, but the man has been dead for a while and everyone can tell. It might be the half-eaten flesh, maybe the bones sticking out. The sickly complexion, dirty with mud.
“Grandfather!” Mrs Choi exclaims. “Welcome!”
What’s left of Grandfather grunts.
“Grandfather, meet Soobin’s lover,” Mrs Choi says. “And Taehyun’s first and only friend.”
Grandfather looks over at them with his bulging eyes. He beckons them closer with a bony finger. Yeonjun grabs Kai; he’s not going down alone. His ghostly hand runs over their cheeks. Yeonjun can feel his heart beating in his throat, hands clammy. The cold wind and rain chase away the sweat he’s broken out in.
Kai doesn’t seem to be fending any better, his knees trembling, yet the rest of him is so unnaturally stiff it’s laughable in a sad way.
He grunts something more. Yeonjun looks over at Kai, but Kai only stares at Yeonjun with shaking pupils.
“He wants to know your names,” Soobin says. “Also, he likes your robes, Kai.”
Kai holds up a shaking thumb. “Nice.”
“You speak ghost?!” Yeonjun exclaims.
“How do you think the creaking of the pipes stopped?” Soobin nods in Grandfather’s direction. “Go on, answer him. He’ll understand.”
“Choi Yeonjun, sir.”
“Kai.”
Grunting seems to be ghost language, since it’s the only thing Grandfather uses to answer them. Soobin nods all too intently for it to be bullshit. Or maybe it isn’t Ghost and this was the way he communicated when he was still alive. That would mean there weren’t any ghosts haunting their snug dorm either.
However, names and a vibe check was all Grandfather wanted, it seems. He nods, and pats the two of them on the shoulder. It hits Yeonjun’s skin like a chilly breeze in a tub of ice water. Whatever remains of Grandfather’s face tries to smile at them, but with a gaping hole in the cheek it really doesn’t do much to lessen the horror. Yeonjun appreciates the effort.
Then, Grandfather crosses his hands over his chest. What was left of his body crumbles to dust, seeping back into the soil. Kai lets out a scream, quickly slapping a hand over his mouth. The night is stretched thin, silence ruling over them. The feathers ruffle in the soft breeze.
No one utters a word, though Yeonjun can feel the gazes burning in his back. Unsure of what to do, Yeonjun remains frozen in place, his brain refusing to process anything that had happened. He doesn’t think he ever will.
“Now that that’s over, who wants snacks?” Mrs Choi is the one to break the tension. She’s nothing but smiles and grins, laying her hands on both Yeonjun and Kai’s shoulders. “And? Are you ready for a second time?”
Poor Kai, white as a sheet of paper, shakes his head. “Eh, I’ll pass. Need to grow a stomach. And find a new soul.”
Mrs Choi laughs. “Go enjoy the festivity.”
The drums get pulled out, the coven erupting into noises of festivity and cheer. Soobin’s father lights a bonfire. Taehyun watches the flames with flames licking at his big eyes. It’s unsettling, to say the least. However, Kai is quick to drag him away, determined to get a dance lesson.
Soobin comes sitting by Yeonjun in the grass. He takes his boyfriend’s head in his lap. “You did well, baby.”
“Thanks.”
Soobin’s eyes crinkle up. He runs his fingers through Yeonjun’s hair, glowing in the silver moonlight. He blends in seamlessly, the night kissing his skin and the stars raining down on him. The shadows have teeth, but Soobin’s smile turns them back into trees.
Yeonjun can get used to this.
Soobin slides into the seat, taking a rose from his mother. He pats the table for a garden scissor. “So?”
Mrs Choi snips off a stem. “So?”
“What do you think of him?”
As soon as the question slips his lips, he feels his cheeks heat up. He slices the neck of the rose clean off. Mrs Choi laughs at him, reaching out to pat his cheek. Soobin is too old for this, but it seems the age for being teased never ends.
“Oh, Soobin, he’s lovely,” she assures him. “I thought we made it clear. We’d love to meet him again soon. Maybe during the Blood Moon.”
Soobin’s mouth falls open. “Mother, the Blood Moon? That’s when the spirits cross over!”
“Exactly. The night I met your father… It’s an important event, and we would love to spend it with the people who matter.” Mrs Choi sets aside her work, taking Soobin’s hands. “He matters a lot to you, Soobin, I can tell. He’s got a good soul. Though it’s a little on the lavender side.”
“Mother…”
“I know our family can be a lot to get into, but he’s going to fit right in.”
“You think?”
“I know.” Mrs Choi’s voice is unwavering. “And if you have your doubts, we can always contact a seer. I know a good one.”
It’s like a weight is lifted off Soobin’s shoulders and he can finally move freely. His mother would never lie to him, but he had his fears. After all, this is the first person he has ever loved, the first person he’s ever brought home and introduced to his life, all the weird and the uncanny.
“I don’t think we’ll need it,” Soobin says. “I think he’s one to stay.”
Mrs Choi gives him a rub on the head. “You’re so precious, Soobin. He knows that very well.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Mrs Choi waves it off. She picks up her beheaded flower. “Now, I think there’s a little someone else who might need a little of your undivided attention, too.”
Soobin curses under his breath. He could slap himself. “Taehyun…”
Soobin decides to knock. Usually Taehyun senses his presence and is at the door in a flash. However, today the door stays shut. “Tyun?” he calls.
There’s no answer. Soobin waits a few seconds, before he decides to throw his manners out the window. He twists the knob. The room is empty. Soobin frowns, before he finally realizes. He looks up, finally finding Taehyun. He’s sitting in the air, legs crossed over one another.
Soobin crosses his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “What’s wrong.”
Taehyun’s eyes flash open, bright yellow. “Tyun’s not here right now. It is, I, the mighty Calumcifer.”
It should be intimidating. Had it been the first time Soobin saw it, he would be scared. However, he has grown up with Taehyun, and Taehyun has used this trick a lot . After so many times one can only turn immune. Yellow eyes, triple voices, it doesn’t faze Soobin in the slightest.
“Callie, can I talk to my brother?”
“He does not wish to see you right now.”
“Taehyun, I know you can hear me.” Calumcifer opens his mouth to protest, but Soobin holds his hand up. “Cal. Shut up. Taehyun, please talk to me.”
Calumficer gives a look of a kicked puppy, however the yellow fades out into Taehyun’s big, unsettling brown. He sinks back to the ground like a leaf from a branch. With a scoff, he dusts the cobwebs out of his clothes.
“You get a demon and then the demon gets upset because someone raised their voice at them,” he mutters. “Ridiculous. You call yourself a fright to the mortal world?”
Soobin presses his lips together to avoid a laugh from slipping. “Don’t bully them.”
“It’s not bullying if they are terrorizing you back,” Taehyun says.
“Bullying aside! What’s wrong, Taehyun?” Soobin makes his way over, taking a seat next to Taehyun on the floor.
Taehyun doesn’t look at him. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“You’re upset.”
“That’s Cal. I don’t get upset.”
Soobin pokes his side. “Come on, talk to me. Come on, come on, come on.”
“Your demise to begging disgusts me,” Taehyun says.
He slaps his hand away, glowering. Soobin, however, only chuckles. He continues poking his side, but Taehyun doesn’t flinch. He sits still as a statue, letting his fate come over him. Eventually Soobin gets tired, settling into a more serious mood.
“Taehyun,” he calls his attention.
It seems Taehyun noticed the shift in atmosphere, visibly stiffening up. He doesn’t speak, however, upright with his lips sealed. Soobin doesn’t force him to. They sit in silence for a long time until Taehyun shifts his position.
“Why do you dress in coal black? Your color has always been midnight.”
“Is that your concern?” Soobin already knows the answer to it. “I think there’s more to it.”
“You’ve changed,” is the further explanation Taehyun offers.
“Changed how?” Maybe Soobin is pushing too much, but he can’t help it.
Taehyun doesn’t display discomfort, instead he’s showing doubt. It’s etched in his features, in his big eyes. They glowing, squinted together. He’s picking at his pants, twisting his fingers into the fabric, then uncurling it. “You’re… brighter. It’s weird. I don’t like it.”
There it is, finally. The truth. Soobin had his suspicions, of course. Taehyun has been clingy to what he knows, with what’s comfortable. He doesn’t like change. It makes him uncertain, unsure of what to do and how to act.
Soobin shuffles closer to him, enough for only their shoulders to touch. “Tyun, I’m still the same person. I promise. It’s just that I’ve seen more of the world, not that much, but definitely something. It’s a big world out there and when you encounter new things, you can change a bit. You’ll adapt and learn new ways of existing. But I’m still Soobin.”
“Are you?” Taehyun asks, his voice small.
Soobin nudges him gently. “Wanna stuff that hedgehog?”
Taehyun’s face brightens up. “You will?”
“Of course! It’s just,” Soobin cups his hand around Taehyun’s ear, “Yeonjun gets really queasy around such things. I didn’t want to carry him up the stairs.”
Taehyun’s eyes sparkle. “Let me get my sewing kit and beads. He’s on my desk. I was waiting for you to come.”
Watching Taehyun dive into his closet, Soobin smiles. People change; he hopes this will stay the same. Excitement is rare in Taehyun; Soobin will indulge in every opportunity to see it.
After another week, their stay comes to an end. Soobin watches his father load their belongings into the trunk of Yeonjun’s car, while his mother is busy shoving herbs and trinkets into their hands. Yeonjun’s arms are overflowing with them, barely able to keep them all. Soobin helps him stuff them in with the rest of their stuff. They’re strapped up in the front in no time.
Soobin’s family is lined up by the front door, though this time with significantly less people, but it didn't take anything away from the value. Mrs Choi blows them a kiss, while the rest of them stick to waving.
Taehyun is a blank sheet, staring ahead of him. However, after Kai kicks him in the leg, he too is waving. It doesn’t make him look any more like a sunshine, but Soobin knows he cares. In his own way.
They wave until the car is out the street. Soobin does the same back. He sighs, pursing his lips together. It’s so quiet all of a sudden. Yeonjun pats him on the thigh, then turns on the radio. The creaking chases away the thoughts for a bit.
“Do you think he’ll ever like me?” Yeonjun asks once they’re on the highway. Soobin already knows who he’s referring to.
“Give him time,” he says. “If you go along with his interests, he’ll love you in no time.”
Yeonjun coughs. “Like… stuffing dead pets?”
“It helps with processing loss.”
“I… Okay, okay.”
Sometimes Soobin thinks Yeonjun is too softhearted for his family, with his easily upset stomach and the scared nature of a naive cat, yet he had blended in perfectly with them, trying everything they threw at his head. It might have been a lot, but Yeonjun has given it his all. He’s one to stay. Soobin is sure now.
“Don’t worry,” Soobin teases. “I’ll help you. I’m experienced.”
“I’m glad.” Yeonjun says, though he fails to keep his serious composure. He clears his throat. “Because you’ll probably have to take over.”
“We’ve got enough time to get you all ready and prepared,” Soobin says. “The next Blood Moon is a few months away.”
Yeonjun nearly swerves. “Blood Moon?!”
“Don’t worry, you’ll love it. Just a little spirit guidance. Keeping an eye on the portal between this world and that of the dead.”
“What?!”
Soobin pats him on the shoulder. “They’re just ghosts. I can assure you humans are scarier.”
Yeonjun wants to argue. The things he’s seen in these past few days have been some of the most terrifying, toe curling things he’s ever got to witness in his lifespan, but he’s sure he hasn’t seen the worst of it yet.
Beady eyes stare at him through the rear mirror.
Yeonjun tries ignoring it, yet every time he looks, they’re staring back. He drums his thumbs against the wheel. “...Do we have to bring the hedgehog?”
Soobin gasps. “He can still hear you!”
“Sorry, sorry.” Yeonjun rolls his eyes. “You’re a weirdo.”
“You say it like you didn’t know what you were getting into.”
“Yeah. Never regretted it, though.” Soobin shoots him a deadpan look. “Okay, so maybe I regretted it when your dead grandfather touched my cheek. And when your demon brother tried to kill me.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I will.”