• Insomnia •
Hybrid Slave
Youngjae wrinkled his nose in disgust as he closed the bottle of medicine on the counter. Insomnia pills? Youngjae raised an eyebrow as he rattled the bottle. Does Jaebum hyung have trouble sleeping at night? Shrugging his shoulders, Youngjae went on exploring the room. Then there was a massive display of tons and tons of books. Youngjae paced around the bookshelf, scanning the shelf for anything interesting to read. Youngjae pouted in annoyance. There wasn't anything at all that appealed to him. They were all non-fiction, not much to Youngjae's taste. Youngjae sighed. How was he going to pass the time? He glanced over to the fort wearily. Or he could just explore the house? Youngjae's ears perked up in excitement, only to flop down again. No, I shouldn't. Especially since hyung instructed me not too, even letting me off that goddamn collar. Yuck. Just then, something caught his eye. Thats right! Jaebum hyung has a television! Immediately, Youngjae scampered over to the television, looking high and low for the remote. Shouldn't a remote be somewhere near to the television? Frowning, Youngjae lifted the covers on Jaebum's bed. There it was, hidden by the fluffy blanket on the bed. Grinning from ear to ear, Youngjae hurriedly snatched it up and turned the television on, jumping on Jaebum's bed in an attempt to get comfy. He had never watched television for a long time already, not since his mother had left him and his dad and him to cope with the bills. To his amazement, Jaebum's bed was super fluffy. Just like sleeping on a cloud, Youngjae thought to himself, prodding the bed curiously. All thoughts of his father and mother drifted away as Youngjae's attention went back to the television.
~
Yawning, Youngjae got up from Jaebum's bed and stretched, whining as he did so. Jaebum's bed was really comfortable, much better than his fort. And Youngjae had thought the fort of pillows and blankets was already way better than his old, battered mattress back at his home. Smiling contentedly, Youngjae looked up at the clock hanging on top of the bedside mirror near Jaebum's bed. His face fell as he realized it was nearing 7 already. Youngjae felt his stomach growl loudly and swallowed some of his saliva. He couldn't do anything but wait for Jaebum. Biting his lips, he hopped off the bed and made his way back to the fort when he heard loud footsteps from the hallway outside the door, followed with much grumbling.
Youngjae froze on the spot, his tail waving behind him defensively. It didn't sound like Jaebum hyung. At all. Youngjae dived into his fort of pillows and blankets, creating a shield between him and the supposed stranger outside the door. Adjusting himself, Youngjae held his breath and waited for the man to pass. "Yah, this is stupid. Asking me to buy a ing mattress , and thats not all, to bring it here and find ... Youngjae? Who the heck is that anyway, never heard of him. How can hyung make me, Jackson Wang, the best out of the best, to lug one heavy mattress from a shop back to his house?" The voice from outside increased in volume, with each step sounding closer and closer. Youngjae huddled himself up even tighter. If the man comes in and tries to find him, he might not see him at all. Hopefully.
Youngjae peeked out from under one of the blanket as the doorknob rattled. To his surprise, a man with a snapback on his head walked through the door. He didn't seem as scary as what Youngjae had thought of. "Youngjae? Uh.. Are you here? Jaebum hyung sent me -" The said man cuddled up even tighter, heart beating furiously in his chest. Before Youngjae could peek out again to see why the man had cut off his sentence, the blanket above him was lightly pulled away to reveal the snapback man, smiling lightly at him. " You do know a fort isn't the best place to hide right? Besides, I won't hurt you. The Jackson Wang never does." He laughed, not aware of Youngjae's intense staring. Why did he keep referring to himself in third person? Who even does that? The man- Jackson- Youngjae corrected himself, extended a hand towards Youngjae. "Come on out, I need your help moving the mattress in. Jaebum hyung said its for you." Youngjae didn't move, only pulling the blanket back over him. He heard Jackson sigh as he did so.
"You don't want the mattress? " Jackson offered. The only response he got was the pile of blankets moving side to side, an indication of a silent no from Youngjae. "Than how are you going to sleep at night? Not on the floor, but where?" Jackson asked, gaze scanning the room. "Uh.. hyung's bed? I really like it. Its fluffy. " Youngjae managed to squeak out, a slight pink flushed over his cheeks. Jackson couldn't help but giggle when he saw Youngjae try and get out of the fort, his eyes twinkling in delight at the possibility of sleeping on Jaebum's bed. Realizing that he bought the mattress for nothing, Jackson groaned. "Now I have to get a refund for this. "
Youngjae immediately felt guilty. "Hyung?" Youngjae managed to whisper out. "Jackson hyung. Is it really okay? If you really did lug the mattress here by yourself, I'm really sorry. I won't mind." Jackson only adjusted his snapback and winked at Youngjae. "It's okay, I'm sure Jaebum hyung won't mind. And besides, it gave me a huge work out. Got to train them muscles for the girls you know." Jackson flexed his muscles in front of Youngjae, causing the younger to laugh. Youngjae wasn't sure why he was acting so close with Jackson. Its probably of his funny personality, Youngjae thought, besides, I never had a friend at all, having one here might be alright. Youngjae smiled to himself as he adjusted his fringe. The two of them fidgeted awkwardly as a long silence fell above them. Then, Youngjae's stomach offered a reply. The blonde's face turned red as Jackson snorted in laughter. "how about I bring you to the kitchen? We'll find some food for you there." Jackson asked, waving his hand in the direction of the open door. "But what about Jaebum hyung? He told me to stay in here specifically..."
"Are you sure he would rather you starve in this room? Of course not, Jaebum hyung isn't such a cruel person. Come on, he won't be angry. At least I'm the one accompanying you. Hey, you should be honored! Being led to the kitchen by the one and only Jackson Wang!" Jackson flipped his imaginary long hair as he walked out of the room, expecting Youngjae to follow. Smiling in delight, Youngjae got up and walked out of the room, following Jackson closely. After all, the house was so big. He didn't want to get lost somewhere in this maze. Just as Youngjae stepped a foot outside the bedroom, he saw Jackson accidentally bump into Youngjae's supposed mattress, cursing under his breath as he did so. "... Stupid mattress blocking my way..." Youngjae's ear's perked up as he suppressed his giggle.
~
"Hey Jackson hyung! I haven't seen you in a looooooooooong time! You promised to call me and- who is this? Oh my gosh, he's so cute!" Youngjae inched a step back in shock as the man reached an arm out to try and touch his ears. The man was wearing an apron, his black and slightly pink hair adjusted nicely under a cap. Jackson only grinned in response. "Bambam ah, this is Youngjae, you know, the hy- the one that Jaebum hyung was supposed to bring home today." Youngjae's tail curled in front of him in self defense as another man appeared from behind Bambam. He was much taller than the three of them, with slightly lighter pink hair and wearing an apron as well. "Yah, Bambam, you're scaring him." The pink man hit Bambam hard on the back of his head. "Hey! I'm just trying to make friends. Besides, who are you to hit me? I'm your hyung!" Bambam scowled at the pink man as he readjusted his hat. "Ignore Bambam. I'm Yugyeom. Youngjae right? Nice to meet you." Yugyeom flashed Youngjae a hearty smile before turning around to attend to the food. Bambam pouted at Youngjae. "Hyung, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it."
"I'm.. Your hyung?" Youngjae was taken aback. They both looked older than him, and they were much taller. "Yea, you're 18 right? We're 17." Bambam gave a big smile to Youngjae as Jackson nodded enthusiastically.
Another awkward silence.
Yugyeom broke the deafening silence by carrying out a plate of macaroons from the nearby oven. Youngjae had smelt it before even seeing it. His ears twitched in excitement as he held back the urge to pounce on Yugyeom and snatch one away. As Youngjae looked on, Jackson and Bambam proceeded to take one each, ravishing in the sweetness of the precious treat. The crunching and munching of the macaroons filled the kitchen as Youngjae stood beside Jackson, not daring to ask for one. Jackson noticed Youngjae shyly tugging at the hem of his shirt. "Youngjae, it's okay. You're hungry right? Just take one. Don't need to be so shy about it. Besides, you're part of our family now. The Im family." Jackson shrugged as he stuffed his face with more macaroons. Hesitantly, Youngjae stretched his hand out to cautiously pick one out, slowly putting the macaroon in his mouth.
It was heaven. Youngjae couldn't help but give a thumbs up at Yugyeom, smiling widely as he did so. "It's really nice! It tastes so heavenly..." Youngjae wiped his hands clean with a tissue on the countertop. Bambam laughed upon hearing that. "Well, it has to be good. If not we'll be sacked by Mr Im. He only hires the best of the lot. Not Jaebum hyung, but his dad. "
~
Jaebum sighed in frustration as he swung the front door open, only to see Jackson slouching lazily on his couch, with Bambam and Yugyeom on the floor, eyes practically glued to the television. Raising an eyebrow, Jaebum looked for a nest of blonde hair, only to no avail. "Looking for Youngjae ah? He's sleeping. " Jackson offered a penny for Jaebum's thoughts, stretching his limbs in the process. "Hyung, he's really cute. Do share him with us. We need friends of our age too you know.." Bambam grinned mischievously as he battered his eyelashes at Jaebum's direction.
Jackson stood up, grabbing Jaebum's hand and pulling him towards the direction of the staircase. "Hyung, let me show you something." Jaebum raised an eyebrow as he let himself be led up the stairs, with Yugyeom and Bambam behind him.
Jaebum frowned. Jackson had brought him to his bedroom door, a new mattress leaning outside the hallway. "Jackson, is that the mattress I asked you to bring for Youngjae?" Jackson nodded, hand on the doorknob. "If its outside, then how is Young-" Jaebum immediately got shushed by the trio, throwing his hands up in defeat. Crossing his arms, he watched as Jackson pushed open the door gently.
What he didn't expect was a sleeping Youngjae on his bed, his tail curled around Jaebum's bolster and head resting peacefully on Jaebum's pillow. The rise and falls of Youngjae's chest could be seen as the hybrid slept. Jaebum felt his heart warm once more. So Youngjae had wanted to sleep on his bed.
"Awww... Isn't hyung the cutest? To think he's even older than us..." Bambam whined, only to receive another smack in the head by Yugyeom.
"Be quiet! Hyung's sleeping!"
~
I won't call you my son. You won't be and never will be. A ing hybrid? Hah, why did I ever give birth to such a person like you? I should have known better. You should never have been born!
Youngjae clawed desperately at the sound of the voice in the darkness.
Mom, please don't leave me. I'm really sorry for being born as a hybrid. I really am. Just don't leave me. I miss you.
When he grasped nothing in the darkness, Youngjae felt his eyes prick with tears. Mom, please...
Youngjae woke up in shock in the middle of the night, only to be soothed by someone's warm hands wrapping around him. "It's just a nightmare. Go and sleep,hmm?" Jaebum's voice was laced with a tinge of sleepiness. Youngjae sniffed, using his free hand to wipe the stray tears flowing down his face. "Sorry..." Youngjae stuttered, voice still shaky. He heard Jaebum sigh as one of Jaebum's hand moved to his head, his hair gently. Youngjae leaned into the touch, snuggling closer to Jaebum.
"No need to be sorry. Everyone gets nightmares anyways." Jaebum muttered. "But you weren't sleeping right hyung?" Youngjae Inquired, turning around to face Jaebum. Even under the dim light, he could make out Jaebum's sleep deprived face, with dark eye rings already forming. Jaebum raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
"There's a bottle of pills to help your insomnia on your table, hyung. " Youngjae yawned as his tail wrapped around his leg. " Just try and go to sleep hyung, don't think about anything else. " With that being said, Youngjae put his head against Jaebum's chest and soon, light snores could be heard from the younger. Youngjae was too tired to move away from Jaebum, the body heat from Jaebum keeping him warm from the air conditioner in the room.
Jaebum smiled like an idiot for a good ten minutes. Youngjae seemed more comfortable with him now. Sighing in content and relief, he closed his eyes and pulled Youngjae in for a deeper hug.
And for the first time in many sleepless nights, Jaebum managed to fall into a deep slumber.
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