Chapter Text
Hyunjin anxiously looked out the small window of the plane. It had been so long since he'd been back home... They were about to land; the 14-hour flight had passed incredibly quickly. He'd slept through almost the entire journey, waking only when meals were served. But he didn't eat them, merely politely informing the waitress that he wasn't hungry and falling back into a deep sleep.
He briefly went to the restroom to freshen up and empty his full bladder. He felt very uncomfortable on this plane. The knowledge that a coffin was flying below deck still paralyzed him. Only he and the crew knew about it. The rest of the passengers were unaware of this cargo. Oh well... Not everyone needs to know everything...
***
- I'll kill him... - After hearing the young man's sad story, Lee jumped out of bed and quickly put on his clothes. He was ready to strangle Chan with his bare hands. He couldn't believe he'd spent several years in the band with this man.
Hyunjin, watching this, felt truly terrified. With his last bit of strength, he grabbed Minho's hand and pulled him closer. He didn't want revenge. He wanted to close this topic forever.
But he was too weak to hold him in his tenuous grip. The older man immediately broke free, threw his sweatshirt over his bare chest, and headed for the exit.
"No, Minho!" Perhaps the only way to stop Hyung was to plead. Hwang pleaded with his entire being, with his eyes and his exhausted frame, which barely moved in the sheets.
"We'll record it to the end... and we'll try... you know..." Lee knew what he was talking about. He also wanted nothing more than to try. With him. Hyunjin had such a positive influence on him. Not only on his dick, who was now incredibly obedient, but also on Minho himself and his self-discipline. He himself had noticed that caring for the heavily addicted boy effectively distracted him from his own addiction. Lee focused solely on Hyunjin. On him recovering and fighting for his career once again. He was furious with himself for forcing him to participate in those recordings. Through him, he met his tormentor again, the man who had shamelessly sold him like a piece of meat. He regretted insisting so much on him dancing. But he didn't know. He was being told a completely different story.
But he couldn't ignore this request. Hyunjin had a good heart, untainted by hatred or a thirst for revenge. He had to give in.
He didn't believe, however, that the younger man would be able to finish the recording. He could barely move his drug-inflicted limbs...
- How? You can't even stand up... It'll be easier if I just kill him... I'll destroy the contract and we'll go to Korea... - simple plan.
- Give me your phone... and tell the receptionist that you have a visitor. I'll call Felix... - Hyunjin extended his long arm towards the table where the older man's cell phone lay.
- I won't let you get high again! Hyunjin!
"He'll get me back on my feet... without drugs. Like when I came to the audition. Don't worry, Hyung... I don't want to use again... and... I'm sorry about yesterday..." He lowered his head sadly and continued waiting for the call. Minho looked at him suspiciously but complied with both requests. He hugged him tightly, and they waited for their special guest to arrive.
After less than an hour, they heard the softest yet most brazen knock.
Felix, once again in white with hair as light as the morning sun, entered the room, radiating his unnatural aura. As always, he was smiling with all his might. His gaze immediately fell on Hwang's tired body, who had just been there yesterday.
"Ginny... I said it was too much, honey... how can I help you today? And who is your beautiful friend?" he swept Minho with his bright and cunning eyes. He liked anything pretty. And the older Lee was damn handsome.
"Lee Minho," he extended his hand toward the unusual newcomer. With a hint of hesitation. The man dealt in death. On the other hand, he radiated incredible warmth. Meeting him on the street, he probably would never think ill of him...
"Will you help him?"
"Of course, honey... Ginny, you took everything yesterday, right?" A nod only confirmed his observations. "Did he eat?" Felix asked like a seasoned medic, mentally calculating all the necessary information.
"No... I took him to his room and he fell asleep... he might have had a sip of water this morning..." Minho tried his best to recount last night. "But I found him late... maybe he ate something before?"
"No... Ginny was in such a state yesterday that he couldn't swallow a single crumb... okay... he needs to throw up... bring a bowl, anything..." The silver-haired man gave orders like a true leader. He knew perfectly well what he was doing. From his signature bag, he pulled out equipment that a true medic would be proud of. He filled a syringe with fluid from a vial and began to swab the crook of his skinny elbow.
"I said it without drugs!" Minho shouted immediately upon seeing the glint of the needle being unwrapped. Felix silenced him with a single glance. After a moment, he regained his calm expression.
"He'll throw up after this... get some towels, it'll go quickly..."
Lee, still incredibly unsure, went to the bathroom. He didn't want to watch them prick the boy. As soon as he got out, he sped up because Hyunjin was already loudly vomiting into the metal trash can he'd just handed them. Felix, as if nothing had happened, held his hair and stroked his shoulders. "Okay, honey, spit that shit out..."
The situation was hilarious. A drug dealer who encourages detox...
Hyunjin collapsed, exhausted from the exertion. Sweat poured down his face, and his tongue couldn't keep up with the salty drops.
Felix tossed the first syringe into the bucket of puke and hastily opened the small werflon. He looked at Minho and flashed his snow-white teeth again.
"Please take this and come back. I'll need you." He complied, and a few seconds later he was standing over the barely alive boy again. He watched as the needle pierced the pale, paper-thin skin, then connected to a rather long tube, at the end of which was a substantial bag of clear fluid.
"What's that?" Minho was so afraid of how the young body would react to these mysterious substances. But Hyunjin trusted him. He had also experienced the power of his potions; in fact, he owed him a great deal.
"Hold it up, these are vitamins... my formula, especially for him. He'll be good as new in an hour." He handed him a soft bag of liquid and got out of bed.
"Where? Were you a doctor?" Lee couldn't believe he was entrusting the life of such an important being to a self-proclaimed healer.
"I studied... chemistry, biology, then medicine... I got a scholarship in the States. I focused heavily on transdermal drug delivery... needles always disgusted me." It was hard to believe after Hyunjin's graceful insertion. "But I was too smart, too idealistic... I really thought medicine was there to help. But they quickly disillusioned me. It's all about the money." My research was suspended, I was reduced to a meager lab worker... I made poor money... so I started my own business...
"You're killing them..." Minho watched Hyunjin writhe in the rumpled sheets... slowly regaining his color. But at what cost...
"No... I'm helping them... they wouldn't be able to handle this kind of life for long sober. I never sell to spare. I know the weight and health of every regular customer. Their history... I detox for them for free. I care for them. Thanks to me, their lives become a little more bearable... don't judge me... You used my services yourself..." For the first time, Felix wasn't smiling...
Minho fell silent... who was he to judge a man who knew more about Hwang than he did...
The contents of the transparent bag quickly seeped into his thirsty veins. The boy really looked much better. It was a miracle, because a moment ago he could barely open his eyes.
Felix looked at his handiwork and exulted. He started to leave.
"Buy him a Coke and something sweet. He likes sweets after a detox. M&Ms, without peanuts, are the best... come on... it's all downstairs in the vending machine." - Minho obediently took the wallet from the table and followed the stranger...
"Hang in there, honey!" the fair man shouted towards the bed and headed for the elevator. The few seconds they spent together were difficult for Minho. Felix's enormous ego barely fit in the small cabin. They didn't talk much. They walked out to the front of the building, where a huge vending machine stood. Minho hurriedly inserted coins. He wanted to get back upstairs as quickly as possible. He turned to thank him. He was instantly met with hot lips, and a moment later, with a wet tongue. The stolen kiss was sweet but incredibly overwhelming. Cold sweat ran down his neck.
Felix, as usual, just smiled.
"Take care of him... he's special... he won't last much longer... get him out of here if you can..." His eyes demanded he follow his instructions. Minho just nodded like an idiot. "And take care of yourself too..." He felt a warm hand on his heart. How did he know? When he returned to the room, Hyunjin was already sitting upright, his eyes wide and healthy. He was delighted to see the sweets in Hyung's strong hands. He ate them all, completely unperturbed by the surprised look.
"Let's go..." He quickly dressed and disappeared into the bathroom for a moment. He didn't look like the junkie who had barely batted an eye a moment ago. Felix... he really knew what he was doing. They could really change the world... if he were given a chance... if money hadn't won.
They walked through the bustling streets, passing people sad and happy. And indifferent.
They themselves didn't pay much attention to the people passing them. They only saw themselves and the dimly outlined future in their minds.
Hyunjin, despite his full support and the warm, firm hand holding his own, hesitated at the entrance to the building. But Minho understood.
"I won't let you get hurt, I'll always be by your side." - If they'd come this far, nothing should stop them.
Chan wasn't pleased when he saw the two in the doorway of his office. Jisung, sitting on the sofa next to him, dispassionately scrolling through his phone, was immediately forced to call the director. Luckily for Hyunjin, the entire crew was still available. He didn't need much makeup; the video had a relatively relaxed feel. Less than an hour later, the crew was ready to film the final takes. After the third rehearsal, the director unceremoniously called it quits.
Chan slammed the door, furious that his plan had failed. He so desperately wanted revenge on the people who had caused him losses. Minho, who hadn't flown in from Korea, and Hyunjin, who had fled the company with his promising ass. After failing to intimidate him, he simply wanted to cause him pain. But he couldn't have predicted that the plot he had woven would end in such an idyllic ending...
"Hyunjin, wait for me downstairs. I have a word to talk to Bang." Minho wiped the remnants of makeup from the young man's face. After signing all the final papers and saying goodbye to the crew, they were left alone in the recording room. The circumstances were similar to those during the casting. Almost identical... only... they knew each other better now.
Hyunjin wasn't convinced but obediently left the building.
"Don't smoke so much... it's bad for your health..." Lee found the CEO on the large balcony on the mezzanine. Bang was lighting another cigarette with shaking hands.
- Satisfied? Take him…
"If he wants, I'll take him, Chan..." He looked at him for a long time, at the man he supposedly once knew, to whom he'd confided his deepest secrets... he was a stranger. Even his eyes were no longer the same...
"Get lost, Minho!" Bang couldn't stand that judgmental look anymore.
Minho just smiled. He pulled his old anti-smoking patch out of his pocket and applied it to his old friend's muscular arm. With his other hand, he patted his broad back.
"Take care, Chan. And take care of yourself..." He turned on his heel and left. He hoped they'd never meet again.
Fake concern instantly raised Bang's blood pressure. He suddenly followed the retreating Minho and caught up with him just by the stairs. He pushed him with all his might...
***
Hyunjin was the last to exit the plane. He had papers to sign and then waited for a special car to pick up the coffin and its contents.
An hour later, he was on his way to baggage claim. His suitcase was the last one to spun lonely on the conveyor belt. He headed for the exit.
Minho was the first to notice a thin figure emerging from the frosted doors. He threw down his empty coffee cup and ran to meet his boyfriend. The month without Hyunjin seemed incredibly long. They fell into each other's arms and instantly locked lips. People looked at them disapprovingly, but they truly didn't care.
He wanted to take the suitcase from him, but the arm he'd broken in the fall down the stairs wasn't fully functional yet. All he could do was hold him...
"It's so good that you're back... how... did it work?" When Lee had already enjoyed his boyfriend, he asked about secondary matters. After all, they were the reason they'd been apart for so long.
"Yes... he's here... his parents should be waiting at the side exit. The driver had their number." Hwang explained the entire paperwork process he went through.
- You did too much for him... he didn't deserve this.
- It's over... let's go... home?
***
Bang Chan died suddenly... right after pushing his former colleague down the stairs, feeling very ill. Within seconds, he lost the ability to breathe. He felt his throat tighten, trapping his breath. He fell, cracking his head on the metal railing. A few minutes later, he was in the other world...
***
Minho struggled for a long time with whether to tell his boyfriend what happened after he left the company building.
But he finally made a pact with himself and decided he would never do it. Even if... even if they didn't work out.
He was the one who killed Chan. With that supposed patch... in reality, with poison prepared by Felix. He was the one who asked him to stick it on the arm of the man who ruined the life of an innocent boy. Felix wanted revenge for Hyunjin and the others who daily bought their apparent happiness from him.
And seeing the desperation and genuine affection in Lee's eyes, he asked him for a small favor. All this time, he was conducting his own research on administering drugs through patches. He needed a guinea pig. He found the perfect specimen.
And Minho never regretted this step. He rejoiced in watching Chan fall, crack his head, and take his last gasping breath. Then he pretended to faint.
After examining CEO Bang, a significant amount of fentanyl was discovered in his system, which directly contributed to his death.
They began to dig deeper into the activities of the entertainment company's CEO. Everything was uncovered. Pimping, illegal pornography involving minors... and much more... even notes recently found in a park, lost by Minho, were linked to the company's disgusting practices. Every application was accompanied by indiscriminate, sexualizing comments from the CEO... a scandal erupted, causing his parents to fear flying to the States to collect their son's body.
Jisung, deeply entangled in shady dealings, disappeared with the help of Kim, who was also extremely keen on discretion. So he bought the squirrel's silence and helped her flee the country. Changbin wanted no part of this mess. He immediately resigned and voluntarily gave a statement to the police. Minho knew more, but his testimony didn't add much to the case. His visa was expiring. He had to return.
Hyunjin, who knew the most of everyone, had to stay. He moved in with Binnie, who was racked with guilt. To Minho's delight, someone he trusted was keeping an eye on him. The time apart was difficult. Minho immediately signed up for addiction treatment upon his return. He doubted he could cope without Hyunjin.
However, a month passed surprisingly quickly. Changbin drove Hyunjin to the airport in his private car. He wished him all the best, promised to visit Jeongin and support him in difficult times. He didn't want to go back even though Hyunjin tried to persuade him many times... he was already in too deep... Hyunjin surfaced at the last moment... or maybe he was caught by a lost fisherman...
Despite his grief, Hwang agreed to help transport Chan's body home. Despite everything... he felt no resentment...
***
- Make yourself comfortable - Minho ushered the boy into his apartment. He couldn't believe Hyunjin was here.
- My parents live nearby... - the younger man had a deep longing in his voice. Despite the joy he was experiencing, he felt overwhelmed by painful memories.
- We'll visit them if you want... we'll explain everything... it'll be alright, Hyunjin... I'll take care of you... I promised...