Chapter Text
CLACK.
“Shit!”
Chris felt his forehead, wincing, and sighed deeply at the dot of blood on his fingertip. He had fallen asleep at the laptop again. Typically this was, at worst, embarrassing. This time, he’d managed to go down on one corner, scratching open his forehead.
Stupid. Stupid. Fucking stupid. Byeongsin!
His hands dug at his skull, seeking to punish rather than soothe, mind still racing.
Now your face is all fucked up, can they even cover it with makeup for the show tomorrow? Will there be a bruise? Selfish idiot. Now your colleagues will have to work harder, to cover your mistake, and-
“Chan-hyung, are you okay?” A soft, sweet voice. Felix? No…
“Hyunjin? No, no I’m okay, go back to sleep.”
The taller, slighter figure ignored this, slinking into the room to inspect his leader. As much as Chris hoped the others didn’t pick up on his anguish and agitation, the truth was that stress radiated from the man like fucking Chernobyl. At times the peak was so strong that it oozed, black and viscous as hot tar, covering everyone else around him, ironically the very people he fought so hard to protect and keep in good spirits.
Hyunjin had had quite enough of that shit.
“I was never asleep.” he informed his senior, slowly approaching his chair, “not with you… jung-eolgeolim? Ahhh.. busy little mouth?”
“Muttering?” Chris supplied helpfully.
“Yes! With your muttering, how can I sleep?”, he demanded, if softly, wrapping himself tighter in his clingy silk robe.
“I’m sorry, Jinnie.” His head drooped, shoulders slumping to match.
This spiritless gesture served only to piss Hyunjin off more. Without thinking, the hand that had reached out so tenderly to check on his hyung darted further and grasped a fistful of hair. He yanked it back, forcing the other man to look him in the eyes.
“Geuleoji maseyo! Be a MAN, not a pathetic little boy! Stop the- the pity for yourself!”
Tears sparkled in those big amber eyes.
Hyunjin gasped, releasing Christopher and covering his mouth in shame as he took a step back.
“Oh hyung… joesonghamnida! I am so sorry!”
No response came. The accosted man didn’t seem angry at all. To the contrary, his face looked relaxed, serene even. A curious hand lazily approached the site of the tug and gave it an experimental little pull of his own… not the same. He shook his head and reached out to stop the other man mid-bow.
“Jinnie-ah… I’m gonna need you to do that again.”
Confused but compliant, Hyunjin did as requested. Chris shook his head and grabbed the slender wrist, pushing it harder to his head. The sudden manhandling was not appreciated.
“No, that’s too light, do it like you mean i- AAAH! YES!”
The sound that escaped Chris’ mouth was beyond indecent, and the overly sexual nature of it seemed to spook both men. They jumped apart, Hyunjin rapidly exiting the room and his senior slamming the laptop shut before rolling into his bed, still fully clothed.
Though each in their own space, both mirrored the other, heaving chest, wide eyes on the ceiling. Worse still, the hotel suite at large was equally perturbed.
“Will you guys shut the FUCK up? Ssi bal nom aaah!”
“Dude it’s 4am!”
“Shut UP!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day was difficult, but both men managed not to raise the curiosity of their colleagues. It was harder for the eldest, unable to simply avoid contact. Every time their eyes crossed paths, he felt himself suddenly flushed. It would turn out to be a very sweaty show.
Taking separate cars home seemed like as good an opportunity as any. Making sure to sit in the very back, he steadied his breath and took the plunge.
[AlphaAussieAwoo] hey
[FerretMandu] hiii...
[AAA] soooooo
[FM] so?
[AAA] you're not gonna make this easy are you
[FM] chris wtf are you talking about
[AAA] the thing! last night!
[FM] oh yeah how's your forehead
[AAA] why are you like this it makes people want to choke you
[FM] but christopher, you are the one who wants to get choked
[FM] no?
[FM] chaaaan
[FM] omg ignoring me
[FM] such a baby
[FM] 애교
Changbin and Felix, in car #2, exchanged bewildered looks as Hyunjin dissolved into giggles but refused to let them in on the joke. Meanwhile, it was Lee Know and Han who got a sudden scare as Chan's phone hit the floor with a muffled bang. For either vehicle, it wasn't the first time, and far from the last.
------------------------------------------------------
Midnight again. There was a flight to catch at noon, which meant much packing in the morning, so it seemed most of the Kids had gone to bed with little fanfare.
Chris and Hyunjin sat on opposite sides of the former's room, the only one to get a single sleeping arrangement, since his habits often kept others up. The scene reminded him of those old American Westerns, each party motionless, waiting to draw and fire quicker than the other.
Chris was in basketball shorts, hair freshly washed, chest and feet bare. Normal for post-show. He sat on the bed, hands on his knees in a weak show of masculine composure.
Hyunjin was perched maybe two meters away, hair still wild from the show, makeup smeared, covered in gauzy layers of silk over practical plain black cotton boxers and a tank top. His legs were crossed, a hand lazily tracing unknown patterns on one thigh. He felt those all-seeing eyes tracking the motion.
"Do you want me to beat the shit out of you?"
This snapped Chris right out of his hypnosis.
"N-no, no, sorry I wasn't staring- I mean I was looking but I didn't mean to-"
"It wasn't a threat Channie, it's offer."
"It's An Offer"
"Now it is A Threat."
Then the ultimate weapon. That thousand-watt smile. Chris actually felt himself squinting, it was so pure and spiritually bright. He found himself on his knees.
Hyunjin approached softly, a dancer's step, fluid and enchanting. Irresistible.
"I don't even like men" he whispered half-defensively.
"I'm not exactly a man, Channie"
"I don't know what that means."
"Good. Waste of time."
By this point, Hyunjin was behind the older man, and had one slender and well-built arm around him in a light chokehold. Chris coughed reflexively and grabbed at it a bit, but soon relaxed and waited for further instructions. Not being in charge was... nice.
"We should decide on a safeword." that soft voice whispered.
"Uh... 3Racha"
"Wow, yeah, that will kill the mood pretty good."
"Pretty well- Aaaaaaaaha..."
Once again, a sharp tug at his scalp seemed to reach through the skin, through the skull, and right into his brain. It was sharper this time, and his eyes momentarily rolled to greet the ceiling. A new, unfamiliar sensation arrived with it, causing his thighs to flex and his face to burn crimson as he realized what was happening. Hyunjin saw it, too.
"Good boooy. Now, let me tell you how this is going to work. You will call me Master."
He waited a beat. Nothing. One sharp, manicured nail dug into his captive's shoulder.
"AaaAAAH fuck!"
The hand clapped over his mouth.
"You will call me Master. And you will be quiet. Do not wake your brothers."
"Okay" he agreed as the hand retreated.
A second claw pierced that perfect golden brown skin.
"Fuck! Yes, Master."
Just saying it felt like drowning... but instead of death and suffering, it was like being submerged in golden light. In pain, he felt... safety?
"Good booooy. Now, for tonight, the plan is..."
[Chapter 2: The Flame]