Ren holds some odd jobs here and there, in the ordinary sense. Sometimes a waiter or an associate in some store just to fund his brief ventures. Most of given his time is spent in his true line of work.

“It’s a hobby really,” Ren mentions in passing as he finishes bathing. Baekho wants to ask what was with the odd liquid on Ren’s clothes and the spattered goo downstairs, but decides like always, it’s better not knowing. He's always worried each instance though.

Ren doesn’t keep his life in the dark on purpose though, and Baekho knows if he asks, Ren will answer truthfully. Baekho knows he offers little, and does his best to support him the best way he can.

And as Ren is changed and walks down the stairs, Baekho steps forward to greet him. “Ren, do you think-”

BAM!

Baekho falls to the ground and sees a man kneeling on the table in the dining room that’s by the stairwell. And when the man raises his head that holds a tilted fedora hat and staff in hand, Baekho sighs as he finally stands up. Ren makes absolutely no reaction to the commotion and calmly walks the living room.

“Damn, and here I thought you wouldn’t be here.” Aron curses as he stands on the table, glowering at Baekho’s presence. Baekho returns the sentiments.

Oddly enough, this isn’t the weirdest thing that’s happened in their large loft.

Ren was a witch, Baekho knew that much as fact. He’s seen people come across many miles to speak with him and sees other who shudder at his presence, and it gives Baekho a good impression of how powerful Ren really was. And with that reputation, there came many enemies as much as friends. Aron was the former. However-

“Ren!” Aron greets highly and jumps off the table, striding towards the living room and stops abruptly a few feet away. “I like the color of your hair.”

“A happy accident,” Ren replies coolly. They speak so casually that their history wasn’t assumed like that.

This man was Aron, a powerful warlock, also known as Ren’s most battled foe and unintentional ally over the years, and not so secretive admirer. Aron sent daggers with his eyes to Baekho, and the human has an inkling that the warlock wants to make it more than just a metaphor.

“I heard of your fight today, you should have called me.” Aron calls out.

“I was fine,” Ren says crossly to shush him. Baekho’s already concerned though.

Aron scoffs and crosses his arm, “It must hurt for the human to be aware of just how useless he is.”

Baekho glares. Aron shrugs, “oh, don’t worry, I’m sure you can hold your own in a fight.”

“I can.” Baeko says, though his voice falters a bit.

Aron snickers and steps towards him. “Try me,” he challenges.

There’s a round of sparks by Aron’s feet and the warlock backs away. Ren holds a sharp gaze that makes the warlock eventually concede. Baekho lowers his head, he tries not to let Aron’s usual snide remarks affect him, but it was true. Baekho was effectively useless in anything Ren faced.

“I still believe we’re good together,” Aron mentions to the witch in sight of the human's melancholy.

Ren observes the silent Baekho intently and just barely spares a narrowed look in the warlock’s direction. “What delusion gave you that idea?” Ren remarks.

Aron impatiently leans his staff on his shoulder. The witch then stands up and walks towards Baekho.

“Baekho, you were asking me something earlier?” Ren reminds and Baekho nods.

“Actually, I was wondering if...” He gives a look in Aron’s direction who scoffs.

“I don’t care what humans do.” Aron insists and turns around.

Baekho purses his lips and shifts his attention back to Ren. “I was hoping you’d join me for the weekend, I thought we could travel to the cabin for the weekend. A friend of mine is letting me borrow it.”

Ren gives him a long silence. “Is it the same one Jonghyun says he owns?”

Baekho clears his throat and lowers his head. “Y-yes.”

Ren holds a glint to his gaze and then gives a wide smile. “Gladly.” Baekho smiles in relief.

“Good! Then I’ll call him to confirm it.” He says quickly as he rushes upstairs for his cell. Ren then scowls.

“Is that necessary?” Ren mutters. He waits by the stairwell when he turns his attention back to Aron.

“Aren’t you going home for the night?”

Aron smirked, “Soon enough.”

Ren nods and lets Aron look at him for as long as possible. Ren was someone Aron was never going to have, the witch spared him the thought of at least being near him. And at Ren’s squinted eyes, Aron finally takes a step.

“You remember our agreement?” Ren asks plainly, keeping a hand on the stairwell.

“Of course.”

And Aron stops a good distance away, unable to take another step. There's always a line he couldn't cross, Ren would never let the warlock touch him.

Aron was a persistent sort who needed to be given what he wanted. With that in mind, an agreement was made when Aron realized the extent of Ren’s relationship with the human.

As long as they agreed to meet at least once a year, Aron agreed he wouldn’t kill Baekho, or go as far to hurt him.

And at Ren’s softened gaze that returns atop the stairwell, Aron remembers the fine print too of the arrangement.

“It’s as if Baekho’s Helen of Troy.” Aron says out loud.

Ren snickers at the foreign comparison. Aron hears Baekho’s footsteps and decides he’s done with witnessing their affection and leaves with a loud BAM!

And walking through the streets, Aron recalls Ren’s presence outside Baekho’s hospital that one night. The witch gave his sharp warning to the warlock,

“I’ll kill you if you hurt him, and anyone who’s involved.”

It’s said with such a sweet voice within that sinister smile, that it’s unforgettable.

They were nothing alike at all, Aron digress.

Ren’s wrath was worse than a mere army of a thousand ships.

-