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“Let’s switch assignments. Training newbies is B.S.”
Ryoshu didn’t even wait for Yi Sang’s answer before she shoved a piece of paper into his chest, irritation clear in her voice. His eyes briefly swept over the short list of names. Five new recruits for today. The average amount. W corp preferred keeping their hiring pool small due to its secretive nature.
“Alright,” Yi Sang responded in a deadpan voice, smoothing out the paper’s wrinkles.
It wasn’t the first time Ryoshu asked, no commanded, that he teach newcomers in her stead. It wouldn’t be the last either. The second senior member’s eyes only had a euphoric gleam during clean up duties. The gorier the better. She’d make regular commentary on the “artstyle” and even chuckled at her own unamusing quips.
“Thank.”
She left him behind with the list and the lingering stench of cigar smoke.
The orientation room for new recruits wasn’t anything extravagant. A simple office with a small amount of desks for seating. The walls were aligned with the company’s logo. The front of the room was covered in a floor to ceiling long opaque glass. Yi Sang quietly stood before it, eyes quickly studying the newcomers.
Two of them looked especially excited.
A short blonde woman looked positively thrilled to be there.
A tall woman with chestnut brown hair appeared equal parts interested and nervous.
A long haired man whose…small smile looked so familiar. Yi Sang’s eyes lingered on him a fraction longer before lightly shaking his head.
As he opened his mouth to begin taking attendance, the blond woman raised her hand up as high as it could go.
“A question good sir!”
Yi Sang blinked. “Go on, Miss…?”
“Don Quixote. Is it true that the warp trains will venture out onto paths located in the Outskirts to prevent crashes during its highspeed travel?”
She spoke with a pace that matched her enthusiasm. It took a moment to process her question.
“I’m afraid not.”
Don Quixote looked slightly taken aback, but not remotely dispirited. “A-Aye, well another inquiry. Is it true that first class cars are equipped with special suits to stop m-mol..mo.. - “
“Molecular?” Yi Sang suggested.
“Ah yes that! Thank thee! So do first class passengers receive special suits to stop molecular breakdown of their cells while commuting??”
“Hmmm, no. However, you are on the right path. You will see for yourself soon enough.”
She beamed and her chest swelled with pride. The taller woman next to her rolled her eyes. The two behind her leaned in closer as though hoping to soak in Don Quixote’s prior knowledge. The man’s light expression barely changed.
“Now when I call your name, please raise your hand and say here. I will skip your name Miss. Don Quixote since you are obviously present.”
He soon learned the name of that man with a placid smile. His name was Hong Lu. He had an equally gentle voice too. Another memory of a certain someone flickered in his mind.
“What I’m about to show will be…incredibly distressing. If you decide to decline the offer after witnessing these recordings, do be aware that your memory of this will be wiped. If you decide to proceed with the next phase of the training, you must never speak of this to people outside of the company. Should you disobey that rule, the consequences will be - “
Fatal.
“ - dire.”
The graveness in his voice made everyone straighten up their posture. A few of them gulped. With a push of a button, the opaque glass behind him came to life with a burst of color and sound.
The mildly concerned voices. The questions of how much time had passed. The confusion in their voices turned into anger and sorrow. The inevitable wet sounds of blood and entrails hitting the floor and walls. The buzz of mad laughter. The desperate cries. Yi Sang has heard and seen it more times than he’d like. Instead, his eyes swept across the face of the new recruits.
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” he heard the one called Rodya say as she turned green in the face. Meanwhile the two in the back succumbed to their queasiness and were emptying out the contents of their stomachs in a conveniently placed W corp branded barf bag.
The brightness in Don Quixote’s face was completely dimmed and replaced with a horrified look.
Hong Lu’s nose wrinkled in disgust but...he was not nearly as disturbed as the average trainee. As though this level of senseless violence was nothing new to him. Yi Sang’s eyes rested on him longer than needed before drifting to a random spot across the room when Hong Lu took notice.
The screen became opaque again. Shock still weighed heavily on their faces. Some were still reaching for their barf bag. Before he could speak, Don Quixote raised a shaky hand.
“For what…for what reason do the innocent turn into such vile villains?” she quietly asked.
His brows cocked upwards. “Villians you say? For us on the outside of the iron horse, exactly ten seconds have gone by. However, for those in economy class, it will take exactly 2,000 years or more to reach their destination.”
More gasps. A loud swear. The typical reactions.
Don Quixote’s mouth moved to form another question, but Yi Sang already knew. “Simply for money,” he said solemnly. “The collected time gets sold to T corp. The economy class passengers get mended back together if applicable and the centuries of torture are erased from their memory. Therefore, no permanent harm is done in the end.”
The last sentence was something he often said to himself or to others as a sickening source of comfort.
“They do not experience the pains of hunger or thirst. Nor do their bodies require sleep. They are trapped in this state for centuries. Suicide is a common answer to this monotony, but it will not give them the relief that they desire. Others do harm to themselves and others. To you Miss. Don Quixote these people are villains, but to us clean up agents we understand that they want to feel something. Anything.”
She continued to frown, but acknowledged his words with a nod. The rest of the time was spent with Yi Sang explaining the training process to them. From learning how to assist new first class passengers into their chambers, to the final steps of erasing people’s memories, and what to do in case of a sudden emergency.
“Now it is lunch time. Please inform me before the end of the shift if you wish to reconsider. Our canteen can be found below this floor. Just follow the signs.”
The screech of chairs being dragged against the floor bounced between the walls as the small group departed with hunched shoulders and sluggish movements. When he saw that Hong Lu still remained, he felt a strange flutter in the pit of his stomach.
“Mr. Yi Sang, may I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“I noticed that you were watching me while the recordings were playing. Was there something wrong? Am I not wearing the uniform correctly?”
With a light frown on his face, Hong Lu fumbled with the buttons on his shirt as though they were the root of the supposed flaw.
Yi Sang swallowed thickly. Suddenly, the room felt several degrees warmer.
“N-No. My apologies if I made you feel uncomfortable. I will be sure to be more mindful of that.”
“Haha, no need. I didn’t feel bothered one bit ~ “
Hong Lu left Yi Sang alone with a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind.
Don’t over think it. He was just being polite. That’s all.
The cafeteria of W corp was brimming with employees all wearing their standard uniform. The food served here was far from the cream of the crop, but it was free and guaranteed a full stomach.
He spotted two of the new recruits sharing a table together. The taller one, nicknamed Rodya, was clearly in the middle of telling Don Quixote something amusing between mouthfuls of food. She forced out a laugh in response and went back to picking at the scraps on her plate. It appeared awkward now, but they at least showed signs of much needed cooperation.
Yi Sang took the usual tray of shredded chicken, assorted vegetables, mystery soup, and a roll of bread and settled with a lone table by a wide window. Between bites of food, his eye gazed over to the walking silhouettes in the adjacent tower. Moments later, the sound of another tray landing on the table reached his ears.
“Is this seat still free, Mr. Yi Sang?” Hong Lu asked with a friendly smile.
“Go ahead. No need to call me Mr. by the way,” Yi Sang responded with a light smile.
He didn’t mind me looking at him.
He sought out my company.
Again..don’t over think it.
“You…” Yi Sang began looking at the mounds of food on Hong Lu’s tray, “must have been incredibly hungry this morning.”
“Hah, not really. I wanted to try a little bit of everything because it’s all new to me. I only arrived here yesterday. You can have some if you want.”
Before Yi Sang could politely reject the offer, he was already pushing an assortment of meat and vegetable dishes onto his plate wearing the same easy going smile.
“Uh thanks, Hong Lu. Where do you hail from?”
“I’m from H corp,” he said before taking a bite out of what looked like beef. “Oh that’s really rubbery. I think that means they overcooked it ~ “
He plopped another portion in his mouth, clearly not perturbed by its texture. Something Yi Sang did himself when he first arrived.
“And you?”
“I also come from the East. S corp.”
“Wow ~ is it true that S corp is better off becoming a landfill for the other Nests? That’s what some of my family members said, but I think it’s better to hear the truth from a former resident.”
Yi Sang opened and closed his mouth a few times, looking like a fish out of water. Despite the bluntness, Hong Lu’s lips were still stretched into a kind smile.
“Hmm while S corp is suffering from financial troubles and brain drain, I would not refer to my homeland as such.”
Hong Lu nodded, chewing through another rubbery piece of meat. “Then what’s it really like?”
Yi Sang hummed thoughtfully. “It is not plagued by heavy industry so the air is fresher. The grass is greener. The flowers are beautifully vibrant.”
“Wow,” Hong Lu softly commented. His eyes sparkled like he was picturing it as well. “I hope I can visit it myself one day.”
Suddenly, a dreamy image of Hong Lu with a bright smile on his face and a butter yellow flower tucked behind his ear came to mind. He blended in perfectly with the scene, like the precise color being added to an artist’s canvas.
“Yeah..that would be nice,” he replied with an airy voice, accidentally stabbing through a styrofoam cup containing mixed vegetables. “...Oops.”
Hong Lu huffed in amusement.
As expected, no one rescinded the offer for it would be beyond foolhardy to reject a golden ticket for leaving the backstreets behind. The following weeks were spent intensively training the new recruits. Yi Sang and Hong Lu continued to spend most of their lunch time together with Don Quixote and Rodya occasionally joining, adding a layer of jubilation to their conversation.
“So when do we get our own cool company hat, huh?” Rodya asked him with a cheeky grin.
Currently the four of them were huddled together at the same table near the wide window. Don Quixote was sandwiched between a wall and Rodya’s side already deprived of her dessert which she willingly gave to her food loving companion. It took several days for Yi Sang not to feel faint over his and Hong Lu’s thighs rubbing together.
His fingers rubbed at the brim of his cap. He has worn it for so long, that he often forgot about its existence entirely.
“As soon as you board one of the warp trains for hands-on experience.”
Rodya gave an exasperated sigh, digging her spoon through layers of spongy cake. “Oh…goody.”
“Forsooth! The sooner we can help rescue them, the better.” Don Quixote declared in a chipper voice.
Nobody had the heart to correct her. If that train of logic helped her cope then no one was willing to derail it. The ladies did most of the chatter with Hong Lu adding his own occasional input. Yi Sang stayed mostly quiet. The two left as the end of lunch time drew near and after Rodya pilfered half of their side dishes.
“Do you want to go out with me for lunch tomorrow?” Hong Lu casually asked while they discarded their trays into the rack. Yi Sang nearly dropped his.
“P-Pardon?”
“Rodya and I have already been to several restaurants. I learned a lot of neat gambling tricks from her. Do you want to come along with us? Or it could be just me and you ~ “
He and Hong Lu. Alone. In a private booth. His delicate face illuminated by the flickering light of a single candle. Maybe their fingers would “accidentally” touch when they reached for the salt at the same time. Perhaps Hong Lu would daringly use that as an opportunity to lean in and -
“Yi Sang?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “My apologies Hong Lu. I was suddenly seized by a minor headache. I would love to…j-just us if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all ~ meet me outside the main entrance during lunch time tomorrow, ok?”
“...Alright.”
Yi Sang was again left alone with a whirlwind of (un)wanted thoughts.
He also realized that he neglected to inform them that tomorrow they will be boarding a warp train to observe a live clean up job.
I sincerely hope that it doesn’t spoil his appetite.
Before a warp train arrived at its designation, it took a “brief” stop at a special platform for the clean up crew. A platform protected from the unpleasant effects of entering another dimension. Rodya and Don Quixote were chatting amicably admiring their new W corp hats and work uniform. Yi Sang looked deadpan as always. Ryoshu sucked her teeth impatiently.
And Hong Lu just appeared to be happy to be there.
“H.I.C.” Ryoshu said with a sign of glee in her voice. “Stand behind the yellow line. You newbies are finally going to experience real art.”
Rodya, Don Quixote, and Hong Lu all obeyed her orders as the blue and gray train came to a halt at the platform.
“Quiter than expected,” Rodya whispered to Don Quixote who nodded in agreement.
Ryoshu wasted no time lifting up a panel to push a blue button behind it. The train doors automatically slid open.
“G.I…get in.”
As usual, Yi Sang’s nose was assaulted by the metallic stench of spilled blood on the floor. The walls. In basically every nook and cranny. He heard a loud crunch beneath his feet. Most likely some poor soul’s missing teeth. There were crumbled bodies thrown askewed across the train car. One passenger appeared to have lost half their face.
Ryoshu let out a low whistle in approval. Rodya loudly gagged. Yi Sang remained silent. Hong Lu looked to be merely observing his surroundings with a neutral expression.
“Don’t touch - ” Ryoshu barked in Don Quixote’s direction. She was leaning over the one with half a face with obvious concern.
‘- anything,” she continued with an irritated breath of smoke. “Yellow hair, you and the others are just here to watch. Follow me or that guy. Doesn’t matter which one.”
With an apologetic glance towards Yi Sang, Rodya dragged Don Quixote to her side to follow Ryoshu. He took no offense to it. Ryoshu’s demeanor oozed much more confidence after all.
“I guess it’s just us as usual ~ “ Hong Lu chirped, following closely behind.
“R-Right.”
Distractions can lead to fatality for the passenger…you need to stay focused.
Yi Sang began the menial task of "stitching" lumps of meat back into its original form. The pops of bones connecting together. The wet stretching sounds of muscle fibers uniting. The sight of skin stretching back into the form of a human. Blood and other fluids splashed against his face and clothes. Even now, it would be a lie to say that he had become completely numb to it.
Hong Lu thankfully was a silent observer and only inquired if the passengers felt pain while being stitched back together.
“Perhaps…I cannot confidently say,” he admitted, fastening a newly restored passenger’s seat belt.
“I guess it doesn’t matter since they won’t remember any of this, huh?”
Yi Sang gave no reply.
“Do you see this metallic keypad near their leg? We put in a specific code. It starts the memory removal process. The light above it will stay red during the procedure and then flash green when done. The passenger must remain still and seated.”
Hong Lu moved in close, brushing his shoulders against Yi Sang’s and ticking the back of neck with stray strands of hair.
Again…don’t get distracted.
He punched in the code and watched as the red color switched to green.
“Woah ~ that only took a few seconds. What happens if it goes on longer than it should?”
“Then you write down the machine’s number and report it to a senior member who will handle it. There will always be at least one of us on board during clean up.”
“I see. Is there a place where I can get cleaned up after this? I didn’t even touch anything, but I’m still quite filthy.”
He looked up at Hong Lu to see similar dried splotches of blood on his face and attire. He still appeared to be unbothered as usual.
“Yes, this ‘station’ is equipped with showers for the staff. You can leave and freshen up if you want. I believe you have seen enough. Ryoshu and I will take it from here.”
Somewhere inside the train, he could hear Ryoshu’s cackling. Seems like he will have to rescue the others from being held hostage by her madness.
“That’s good. Breaktime is soon and I don’t think I would have enough time to go home for a change and take you out for lunch.”
As predicted, the gore did not in fact ruin his appetite.
“Ok. I will be seeing you soon.”
He was smiling down at the keypad. He couldn’t recall ever doing so during a clean up job.
“Forgive me Hong Lu I’m - “
“Just five minutes late ~ no worries.”
They met by the entrance as planned. A steady stream of workers entered and exited the building. Yi Sang still hadn’t a single clue as to which restaurant they were going to. Not that it really mattered to him.
What did matter, however, was the way in which Hong Lu planted a hand on Yi Sang’s shoulder. He mentally grabbed onto his fleeing soul.
“Stay close to me. Don’t want to lose you in this sea of people ~ “
The wide streets of W corp were aligned with harsh neon lights of every color imaginable. The sounds of passing conversations and camera shutters from excited visitors went through one ear and out the other. Hong Lu’s palm remained on his shoulder gently guiding him through the never ending flow of people.
“Almost there.”
After a few more strides Hong Lu paused and Yi Sang stopped with him. His gaze shifted from the establishment to Hong Lu and back again.
“Is this…truly the right location?”
He recognized the restaurant as a place created with eastern influence in mind. It also contained prices that even someone on a Nest salary couldn’t regularly afford unless they held a very high position. Judging by the small wave sent by a beaming hostess, this wasn’t his first visit.
“Yep ~ they serve S corp delicacies here, so I thought maybe you’d enjoy it.” Hong Lu explained, slipping his hand away as the woman approached them.
She greeted them with an unfamiliar gesture before dipping her head low into a respectable bow.
“It’s ever so good to see you again Mr. Hong Lu. I extend my greetings to your…friend as well,” she said, lips pulling into a bright smile. “Kindly follow me.”
The interior was just as grand, teeming with rich shades of red and black, scenic black and white ink paintings, and intricate wood carvings. Hong Lu’s attention was focused on the chatty hostess while Yi Sang eyed the expensive looking suits worn by the other restaurant goers. He and Hong Lu both opted for casual wear.
“We saved a special spot just for you good sirs. Mostly quiet here just like you requested,” she said, beckoning them to two cushioned seats already separated from the table by a pair of smiling waiters. The tinkling of a small, artificial waterfall could be heard nearby.
Once seated, they were handed two menus that looked and felt just as expensive as the rest of the place. After opening the menu, Yi Sang’s eyes had never witnessed so many zeros.
“Order anything you want. I’ll pay for it,” said Hong Lu as the waiters began to pour cups of what appeared to be piping hot tea.
“But Hong Lu..these prices are - “
“Pretty cheap, right? Especially for this level of service ~ “
Pretty…cheap?
For now, Yi Sang didn’t question it. He selected a meal similar to the one he typically eats in the canteen with their version containing a sophisticated moniker and side dishes he had never heard of before. Hong Lu opted for an assortment of dumplings.
For a moment, they sat in silence. A stillness broken by Hong Lu sipping on his tea. “Oh, that pu’er tea is quite tasty ~ they must have gotten it straight from the source."
“I bet. You know I’ve heard that the executive director dines here for lunch pretty frequently.”
“Wowsers ~ I wonder if I bumped into them here and didn’t even know.”
“What I’m trying to say is….this eatery isn’t something that lower class employees such as ourselves can afford. Do you happen to come from an important family who is supporting you?”
Hong Lu didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gulped down the rest of his tea. “You could say that.”
The way his eye darted away from Yi Sang's face signaled some discomfort. Still, he pushed the manner further.
“Why relocate to W corp then? Surely someone of your status had plenty of choices - “
“I was never given any choice,” Hong Lu swiftly corrected him. “And I prefer it that way. I’m fine with just drifting away.”
There was a smile on his face, but his eyes were so painfully dull. Yi Sang was glad that their food arrived as a form of distraction.
Definitely not ideal so far.
He wracked his brain for a more mundane topic, but Hong Lu beat him to it.
“Yi Sang, do you not get enough sleep? You always have such intense discoloration under your eyes.”
He held his fork mid air in surprise. “Sleep tends to evade me. Or rather, I lose myself in a world of books and…poetry.”
“Oh you like poetry? Me too ~ “
Light seemed to be returning back to Hong Lu’s eyes. Yi Sang smiled.
“I make my own poems to pass the time. They represent words left unsaid to those I once held dear…and for those I walk a new path with.”
“Does ‘walk a new path with’ also include me ~ ?”
His tone was light and playful, but Yi Sang nearly choked on his food nonetheless.
“Anyway, before migrating to W corp, I lived in T corp as an architect. My real passion however laid in creating inventions. I worked with a small group of friends with an equal love for technology.”
A thoughtful look reached Hong Lu’s face. “And I guess that didn’t work out since you’re here now, huh.”
“You would be correct,” Yi Sang replied, no longer smiling.
“Connections are always so fleeting aren’t they?” Hong Lu asked in a voice that sounded more like he was questioning himself. “But you can make a new one with me even if it’s destined to fade away. Rodya and Don Quixote too. I’m sure they would gladly accept you.”
Yi Sang's eyes darted nervously. “I do not mind spending time with you, but Misses Rodya and Don Quixote are…are - “
“What? You don’t like them?”
“I-It’s not that. They tend to light up any room that they’re in. I do not know if those types would want a gloomy cloud overhead.”
“You’re being too hard on yourself. They’ve only said nice things about you. They too wonder if you’re getting enough sleep.”
There was laughter in his voice, but a blanket of tenderness as well. It made his heart ache. The now chilled cup of tea in his palm felt suddenly warm. The silence that descended upon them felt rather cozy.
Just like his fantasies foretold, their fingers made the briefest contact when they reached for the same bottle of soy sauce. But unlike that dream, they both murmured hurried apologies. There was a faint hint of color in Hong Lu’s cheeks, but surely that must’ve been the red lantern's glow.
“Do you…want to have lunch again tomorrow?”
There was subtle uncertainty in voice and face that melted away when Yi Sang nodded with a grin.
Hong Lu continued to stay with Yi Sang during clean up assignments. Don Quixote and Rodya joined in as well, clearly taken aback by Ryoshu’s artistic expression to say the least.
When they finally began stitching passengers on their own, both Yi Sang and Ryoshu kept a keen eye on them. For bigger jobs, they were accompanied by another senior member named Outis, a middle aged woman who enjoyed barking orders in a tone one would use on a battlefield. Only Hong Lu and Don Quixote were willing to indulge in her antics.
“Lemme watch the smiley one,” Ryoshu muttered to him before they boarded a warp train in need of cleaning up. “That one needs an unbiased eye.”
…Was it that obvious?
“...My mind wonders what you mean by that, but alright.”
She sniggered, squishing the cigarette between her lips. “Sure. Yo, smiley one. You’re with me today.” Ryoshu said as Hong Lu approached them, most likely to gravitate around Yi Sang again.
Mild surprise crept onto his placid face, but he didn’t appear displeased. At least not openly.
“Okay ~ “
“You take those girls,” Ryoshu added, nodding towards Don Quixote and Rodya who were currently sitting on the floor engaged in a card game. “Too bad they don’t appreciate A.R.T.”
“Different tastes for different folks,” Yi Sang replied indifferently with a shrug.
Monitoring the women proved to be a nosier affair as Rodya loved to chat and Don Quixote must’ve felt as though a minute passed without asking a question was a minute wasted. But it wasn’t unpleasant. Yi Sang responded to their enthusiasm with the same patience he showed Hong Lu.
“It wasn’t that bad ~ I couldn’t understand a quarter of what she said though because of all the acronyms,” Hong Lu later informed him as they walked the streets of W corp in search of lunch.
“Hmmm typical.”
He recalled Ryoshu telling him nothing except H.W.F which he assumed to mean “he was fine.”
“...Were you worried about me?” Hong Lu teased. “Ah, be careful,” he added, gripping onto Yi Sang's arm when he abruptly lost his footing. “What do you think about heading to the backstreets to try something new to eat?”
“The backstreets?” Yi Sang parroted. “Hong Lu, that area isn’t particularly secure.”
“I’m aware, but I’ve been to H corp’s backstreets before. It wasn’t too bad.”
“Still we should stay within the Nest because you’re - “
Yi Sang’s gaze drifted from his raven sheet of hair, to his warm eyes, to the peach color on his cheeks, to his soft looking lips.
Pretty…
Yi Sang swallowed. He became suddenly aware that his arm was still nestled in Hong Lu’s grip. He wondered if they looked like a couple in the eyes of other pedestrians.
“ - new. Well relatively new to W corp. You mustn't paint all backstreet dwellings with the same brush,” he lightly warned.
He could vividly picture a gang of desperate locals placing bets on how much his presumably prosthetic eye was worth, their lips etched into devious grins.
If his fellow was lucky enough that is. All it could take was a simple turn around the wrong corner for a greater disaster to strike.
Hong Lu hummed thoughtfully. “You make a good point. I was a child shielded from having much interaction with the locals anyway. Where do you want to go then?”
Yi Sang took him to a small eatery located in a discreet alley and home to the best chicken skewers in W corp. He and Hong Lu took their orders to go as all the seats were occupied. Luckily, they were able to find a bench not too far away.
“What’s the purpose of skewering chunks of chicken?” Hong Lu asked, carefully examining his skewer which was as long as his foreman.
“I suppose it allows the cook to evenly grill it better. You can either use your fingers to remove the chicken off the stick or you can turn it sideways and chew it off.”
The excitement Hong Lu felt over a simple chicken skewer put a wide smile on Yi Sang’s face. Yi Sang let out a pleased hum as the rich assortment of flavored hit his tongue. A few bites later and he felt Hong Lu patting a corner of his mouth with a clean napkin.
“You got some sauce on your face ~ “
He could’ve simply informed him. Instead he delicately cleaned his face. And Yi Sang was allowing it. If they didn’t look like a couple before, they definitely appeared that way now.
“T-Thanks Hong Lu,” he stammered, feeling all the blood rushing to his face.
That night, Yi Sang lost himself in the creation of a new poem. This one was dedicated to Hong Lu. He hoped one day he could muster up the courage to read it to him.
Several weeks later Don Quixote, Rodya, and Hong Lu were all able to do a clean up job without a senior member breathing down their necks. Still they preferred to do their assignments together having grown pretty attached to each other. It wasn’t uncommon for them to enjoy each other’s company outside of working hours.
Inside the train Hong Lu didn’t need to be at his heels anymore, but he usually was within earshot. When Yi Sang reminded him that he was free to work more independently, he responded with:
“Oh I know, but I especially like being around you ~ “
Yi Sang was glad that his back was turned so he couldn’t see the deep flush on his face
Yi Sang and Hong Lu continued sharing meals together, but were often accompanied by Rodya who was feeling left out and sometimes Don Quixote too. The four of them were currently squeezed into a small booth, taking advantage of the burger place’s special Monday deals.
“Did ya know that LuLu took Yi Sang to that big fancy place in the middle of the town?” Rodya whispered to Don Quixote. Her hushed tone of course didn’t make a difference as Yi Sang sat directly in front of her.
“Oooh that eatery that favors eastern customs?” Don Quixote also muttered.
“Yeah, how come you haven’t taken us there??” Rodya asked, pouting in Hong Lu’s direction.
“Maybe Sir. Yi Sang is - “ Don Quixote leaned into Rodya and hissed loudly, “- special.”
“Oooooh, that must be it!”
Yi Sang hurriedly, but politely excused himself. Hong Lu’s promise of taking them there ended their speculations with a round of cheers.
Somehow, they managed to convince even Ryoshu to tag along once in a blue moon, but she usually left early stating ‘boredom’ to be the culprit.
Today’s warp train held a smaller than average number of passengers, but for Yi Sang, this job was an especially difficult beast to tackle today as his mind and body was weighed down by a tired haze. He managed to mend a few of them before the groginess reached dangerous levels.
“Hong Lu? I deeply apologize for giving you more burdens to bear, but do you mind assisting me with these passengers? I fear my tiredness might lead to an irreversible mistake.”
“Hmmh no problem ~ “ he said after punching in the code to start the memory wipe process. “Have a good rest, Yi Sang. I’ll wake you up when I’m finished.”
He chose one of the few clean spots on this train car to slouch down onto the ground. He was so fatigued that even the cold ground felt welcoming.
“Thanks a lot, Hong Lu.”
He closed his eyes and let the darkness of sleep take him. After what felt like just a few seconds, his eyes started to flutter open. Even in this groggy state, he distinctly felt some of his fingers being constricted by…something. There was something weighing him down to his right.
After a couple of blinks, he was able to make better sense of his environment. He was definitely still in the warp train. Those blaring neon lights were his first clue. His fingers were…laced together with someone else’s hand. The weight on him was another human body. One that was warm and smelled so recognizably pleasant.
Maybe he should pinch himself just to make sure he wasn’t still dreaming. He could melt right here and resemble what was left of a poor economy class passenger.
“Hong Lu? Are you awake?”
“Hmmm yep. I was waiting for you to wake up. Had a nice nap?”
Much to Yi Sang’s disappointment, Hong Lu was the first to get up. He helped Yi Sang to his feet and brushed away a layer of invisible dirt on his shoulder.
“Not really. One’s body remains in the same state as when they boarded the train. In my tired state I…forgot about that. Sorry.”
“Ah no worries. How about we do that again? You can come sleep with me tonight.”
Yi Sang’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. Time seemed to stand eerily still. His mouth would’ve felt dry if the train allowed it.
Is he implying that they should…surely not. If that was the case he would say it wouldn’t he? No no, Hong Lu likes to beat around the bush but…he can also be surprisingly blunt too.
Should I be the one to buy…p-protection? Or does Hong Lu already have them handy? He’s a pretty man with a sweet personality…he must have had at least one partner by now.
The thought of Hong Lu being intimate with an unpleasant stranger made his blood -
“Helloooo Yi Sang,” Hong said in a slightly raised voice, softly patting his face. “Sorry, maybe I should have worded it better,” he said with a small giggle. “It’ll be like a fun little sleepover ~ I haven’t had one of those since I was a child. How about it?”
Oh. Of course.
He felt a deep flush of embarrassment for entertaining such thoughts, but answered with a weak nod. Hong Lu smiled brightly and passed along his address to him.
“I’ll see you tonight, Yi Sang.”
As expected, Hong Lu dwelled in a particularly wealthy district of the Nest. On the upper floor of a tower that kissed the clouds. Yi Sang arrived with a small bag stuffed with things he would need overnight in one hand and a greasy bag of chicken skewers in the other.
It just took one knock for him to answer the door. He was already dressed in sleepwear that looked like it was made from silk. His hair was free of the usual high ponytail, making him look even more handsome than usual.
“...Are you just going to stare at me all night or are you going to come in?” Hong Lu teased, making Yi Sang's face go red.
His dwelling was plainer than one would imagine, but right on the mark for him as Hong Lu wasn’t the type to flaunt his wealth anyway.
“Grandmother insisted that I stay in the best area, but she never said I had to splurge on decorating,” he heard Hong Lu comment as though he just read his mind.
Both too tired for a late night snack, Hong Lu placed the skewers in the fridge as Yi Sang slipped into something more comfortable. When he emerged from the bathroom, Hong Lu scrutinized his clothes.
“Hmmm do you want to borrow my clothes to sleep in? Maybe you’ll sleep better once your skin touches better material,” Hong Lu suggested, rubbing at one of the sleeves of Yi Sang’s shirt.
“I’m ok, Hong Lu. You already do enough for me.”
Hong Lu responded with a if you say so expression before leading him to his bedroom. It felt a little more homier, but still expectedly plain. The most impressive part was a spacious window that bathed a massive bed below with gentle hues of light.
There was a picture of a child on a shelf above the bed that caught his attention. A little girl whose dark hair was swept into two neat buns. She wore a cheerful, infectious smile.
“Is she your…sister?”
“Yep ~ she’s my most amicable sibling. I haven’t seen her for a while, but I’m sure she’s still alive. She’s a plucky one and has a very loyal group of followers after all.”
His answer just raised more questions, but Yi Sang shelved those for now. Hong Lu sank into the mattress with such a peaceful expression that Yi Sang instinctedly followed him.
Hong Lu’s bed was more like a cloud. A particularly fluffy one at that. The pillows were equally plush. He thought back to his own bed and felt a sting of envy.
“Feels good, huh? Maybe we should go mattress shopping together ~ “
“Hmm maybe,” Yi Sang said with an edge of tiredness in his voice.
He closed his eyes. There was a pause. And then the most unexpected question.
“Yi Sang…can I kiss you goodnight?”
His eyes flew open. His head turned to face Hong Lu who was laying on his side, head propped up by the palm of his hand. A pale shade of pink coated his cheeks. Was this real or was he still on the warp train? That couldn’t be, because not even in his dream does Hong Lu’s jade eye shine so brightly.
“I-I guess…”
A small peck on the cheek…friends do this all the time, right?
But when Hong Lu cupped his face and his gaze focused on his lips, he knew that it wasn’t just a friendly gesture.
Oh.
Oh.
He shut his eyes so tightly that it ached. Seconds passed and Hong Lu still hadn’t kissed him. More time ticked by and soft laughter reached his ears. That sound signaled that it was safe to open his eyes.
“It’s just a little kiss, Yi Sang. You don’t have to look like you’re bracing for impact.”
Embarrassment took root upon his face. “I-I wasn’t trying to - “
His words were cut off by Hong Lu’s soft lips. Not just his lips, but his tongue as well. Hot and invasive, but gentle. He felt helpless, but secured in his hands. Yi Sang allowed him to set the cadence of the kiss. Hong Lu let out a happy whine against his lips when he raked his hands through his fine strands of hair. Much to his displeasure, Hong Lu ended the kiss with a hazy look in his eyes. Yi Sang’s vision twinkled with want.
Hmmm don’t stop…
“I wanted to kiss you longer but - you don’t know what you do to me. It was very tempting to keep going…”
Yi Sang gulped, as warmth spread across his body. Seconds later, Hong Lu pulled him closer again, but this time just to cozy up against him. Yi Sang nestled himself into the crook of his neck and Hong Lu rested on the top of his head. A soft woosh and they both were covered by a heavy blanket.
“Let’s have another sleepover soon, ok?”
He gave a small hum of agreement. Anything to spend additional time with Hong Lu was more than ideal to him.