Myungsoo woke with a panicked start, suddenly remembering where he was and that the situation would be a very dangerous one, if Sungyeol were to be gone when he opened his eyes.

But as soon as he did exactly that, he saw that there was nothing to fear. Sungyeol was still lying on the floor, looking peaceful as his chest rose and feel with a slow, soothing rythm. His right arm was outstretched, his left resting on top of his stomach, and Myungsoo decided that he would sit there for just a couple of seconds, watching the sleeping boy. 

I wonder what he's dreaming about.

Myungsoo wanted to have nice dreams, like he assumed most kids his age did. He couldn't remember the last time he had dreamt a nice dream. It felt like it had been in another life altogether. 

-

When Sungyeol woke up, he was expecting to find Myungsoo there, sitting in the sofa or maybe on the bed, waiting for Sungyeol to wake up. But Sungyeol looked around the room, and quickly saw that Myungsoo wasn't there. Sungyeol frowned unconciously as a little knot formed in his throat. 

He could have said goodbye before he went, Sungyeol thought dejectedly. Then he noticed what he had just thought, and hit himself on the head. What the heck, Sungyeol. It's not like he's your friend or anything. It's not like you wanted him to say goodbye before leaving. 

Sungyeol pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and laying his head on top of his knees. Without helping it, he wondered how long it would be until Myungsoo came back. 

-

"I've spoken with Boss again, and his temper is starting to get worse," Myungsoo's hyung-nim said with a grave expression. "If there's no progress soon, he will probably take his anger out on... someone." 

Myungsoo knew very well who that someone would be. Me. He clenched his fists, pushing the thought away. "But why isn't Sungyeol's father doing anything to help his son?"

"Isn't that what you were supposed to find out?" the buzzcut-haired man retorted, clearly aggravated. 

"I'm sorry. I haven't done my duty," Myungsoo bowed. 

"That's obvious. Which is why I had to do it instead." 

Myungsoo flinched, knowing how wrong it was for a sunbae to do a dongsaeng's work. "I'm sorry."

"As you should be. You will get less food for a month for this," his hyung-nim informed him. "Now, I couldn't get to the bottom of this, which is kind of obvious, since Boss couldn't do it either. But there seems to have been some for of incident a while back. Sungyeol's father has done a good job at covering it up, so it's impossible to find out what the incident it, but I know that something happened which he doesn't want others to know. If you can find out what that is, L, Boss might forgive you for taking too long." 

"An incident?" Myungsoo repeated, surprised at this turn of events. 

"Yes, an incident," the older man said irritably. "Can you not hear properly?"

"No, hyung-nim, sir. I heard you, sir," Myungsoo quickly replied. "I was just slightly surprised." 

"Why would you be surprised that a man with power is hiding something?"

"It was my mistake," Myungsoo answered. "I will find out what this incident was."

"Good. This might be your last chance, L, so you should follow ordes properly," his hyung-nim said, and Myungsoo could hear the threat behind his words. 

"I understand," Myungsoo replied between clenched teeth, once again bowing.

-

"You could have said goodbye before you left," Sungyeol pouted as they sat on his bed playing cards. 

"I didn't want to wake you," Myungsoo calmly replied. 

"Why?"

"You were sleeping so peacefully. It looked like you were having nice dreams." 

Sungyeol looked up at Myungsoo then, and Myungsoo thought he could see something in the other boy's eyes. Something, though he didn't know what. 

"Then I guess you're forgiven," Sungyeol mumbled, and he turned his gaze to his playing cards. 

"That's good," Myungsoo smiled, and he meant it. 

"I thought you said you were good at drinking though," Sungyeol continued. 

"I am," Myungsoo retorted.

"Sure didn't seem like that to me," Sungyeol sang. 

"It was an exception," Myungsoo said defiantly. 

"If you say so," Sungyeol grinned. 

-

Maybe I should suggest we have a sleepover, Sungyeol mused as he stared at the ceiling. We could eat popcorn and have pillow fights and talk about girls we've liked... Not that I've ever liked any girls before... But maybe Myungsoo has. 

Sungyeol looked around the room, utterly bored. I wonder when Myungsoo will be back. 

He picked up a book lying next to him, staring at the cover. I should read to pass the time.

But he couldn't bring himself to do it, because he couldn't concentrate on the words on the pages anyway. His thoughts would always drift to Myungsoo and what Myungsoo was doing and where Myungsoo was at and when Myungsoo would return. 

I am becoming utterly helpless without him, Sungyeol thought, and he sighed. Great, Sungyeol. So much for your brilliant plan to make Myungsoo release you. At the rate you're going, you won't even be able to leave if he ever were to offer you freedom. 

-

Myungsoo paced back and forth in his little room, trying to think of a solution. I have to find out what that incident was. But how? How can I make Sungyeol open up to me? Is such a thing even possible?

Myungsoo ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. 

-

"I'm back," Myungsoo said as soon as he opened the door. 

Sungyeol immediately rose from the couch where he had been sitting, a smile quickly forming on his face. "Myungsoo!"

"Yeah," Myungsoo said, trying to hold back his happiness at seeing the other. 

"What did you bring today?" Sungyeol inquired, looking at the bag in Myungsoo's hands.

"Just some kimchi fried rice," Myungsoo informed, sounding like he hoped Sungyeol would approve.

"I approve!" Sungyeol answered immediately, to Myungsoo's great relief. "So let's eat. I'm starving."

Myungsoo laid the plastic plates on the floor, which had become their set place to eat. He gave Sungyeol his utensils, and couldn't help but notice Sungyeol's hand brushing his own as he did so. He also couldn't help but notice how much he liked it when Sungyeol was that close. 

It's almost as if we're real friends.

"What are you thinking about this time?" Sungyeol asked, gazing at Myungsoo with curiosity in his warm eyes. 

"Nothing much," Myungsoo mumbled, feeling embarrassed. 

"Tell me," Sungyeol whined, pouting innocently.

"I really wasn't thinking about anything special," Myungsoo insisted, knowing he couldn't very well admit that he had been thinking about how much he liked it when Sungyeol touched him. That would seem weird. And probably kind of freaky. 

"You're boring," Sungyeol complained. 

"Then I guess I'll just have to live with that."

"Whatever," Sungyeol said. "But hey! I had an idea earlier today."

"Yeah?"

"Let's have a sleepover!"

"A what?" Myungsoo said, taken utterly off guard. 

"A sleepover," Sungyeol repeated. "You sleep here, with me. We'll eat junk food and have pillow fights and talk and have fun." Sungyeol smiled hopefully.

"Okay," Myungsoo replied, to both Sungyeol and his own surprise. 

"Really?" Sungyeol said, looking like he couldn't quite believe that Myungsoo could agree so easily. "You're approving just like that?"

"You're right," Myungsoo answered, surprising himself more and more. "I'm approving just like that. Let's have a sleepover. Tonight even." Pabo. You're being too obvious. You don't seem like you're in control at all. But it was too late to change that now. Myungsoo had already uttered the words, and there was no turning back. And the worst part was the fact that he didn't want to turn back. 

He had never been to a sleepover party, and he couldn't help but want to experience it. He also couldn't help but want to experience it with Sungyeol. 

"Tonight it is then!" Sungyeol grinned, and Myungsoo looked at the other, at the way his smile seemed to light up the dark and dreary room. 

-

And so they had a sleepover in the little room where Sungyeol was being kept a hostage. Myungsoo had never experienced anything like it, and was amazed at how normal he felt when he listened to Sungyeol rant about a stupid teacher he had had in second grade, and how he had been unjustly punished for somebody else's prank. 

They had eaten pizza, popcorn, and chocolate until Myungsoo couldn't eat any more because he had started feeling slightly ill, which had made Sungyeol giggle because of Myungsoo's nauseated expression. 

Then Sungyeol had taught Myungsoo how to fold origami animals - to Myungsoo's great aggravation, because he had quickly found out that he was horrible at it - and Sungyeol ended up making eleven paper swans, while Myungsoo couldn't quite manage to make even one. 

Finally, after games and food and candy and laughter and silly stupidness, Sungyeol yawned and stretched his arms. 

"I'm sleepy," he said, rubbing his eyes. 

"You wanna go to bed?" Myungsoo asked.

"Of course not!" Sungyeol exclaimed, looking at Myungsoo as if he was stupid. "That's not how it works, silly."

"What do you mean?"

"When we're tired, we're supposed to get ready to go to bed, but then we're supposed to talk and stuff until we actually fall asleep."

"Oh," Myungsoo breathed, nodding slowly, as if not fully comprehending. "Okay... Then how do we get ready?"

"Well, normally we would brush our teeth and change into pajamas, but as I don't have either a toothbrush or any pajamas, there's not really much to do..." Sungyeol explained, slightly awkward.

"I brought some pajamas though," Myungsoo said then, as if he had forgotten about it." I brought two pairs."

"Really?" Sungyeol said, looking happy at the thought. "Why did you wait until today to bring me some?"

"I don't know... you never mentioned it..." Myungsoo mumbled. 

"It's okay," Sungyeol assured, to Myungsoo's great relief. 

"Then..." Myungsoo said, and he brought the matching pajamas he had bought earlier that day. He held them out for Sungyeol to see, feeling extremely embarrassed, and slighly regretting the fact that he had bought a matching pair. 

"I want the purple one!" Sungyeol said at once, grabbing the pajamas Myungsoo held in his left hand. "And you get the blue one."

"Okay," Myungsoo replied, and he stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do next. I feel like an idiot. Sungyeol probably thinks I'm an idiot. I don't even know how to behave at a sleepover! 

"It's fine, you know," Sungyeol said quietly, startling Myungsoo. 

"Huh?"

"That you're new to this. I get it. You were never like the other kids, right?"

Myungsoo stared at Sungyeol, feeling like he was looking at something close to an angel. Why is he so nice to me?

"It's okay, you know. You don't have to be like everyone else. It's fine that you don't know how a sleepover works. I'll just teach you."

"Why..."

"Why what?"

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Myungsoo asked, a knot forming in his throat. 

"What do you mean?"

"I'm keeping you as a hostage, for crying out loud," Myungsoo pointed out, and he could feel the bitterness in his words.

"But you don't really want to, do you?" Sungyeol said, looking at Myungsoo as if he understood. 

"I-" Myungsoo stuttered, but he closed his mouth again. He didn't know what to say. And he needed to seem like he had authority, and power, and the will to keep Sungyeol there. He needed to pretend he had all of those things. 

"I'm sorry for seeming like I hated you at first," Sungyeol continued, shocking Myungsoo completely. "I can't say that I've completely forgiven you or anything, but I'm not gonna claim that I hate you anymore. You're treating me nicely, after all. A real evil person wouldn't treat me like you do. So I'm not going to hate you. Of course I'd like to get out sometime before I turn eightly, but you'll probably get tired of keeping me here before then." Sungyeol smiled gently, and Myungsoo had to turn away for a moment, because his eyes were getting blurry. 

He felt stupid for behaving so much like a child, but nobody had ever said anything so kind to him. Not since he was little. Not since he had become one of his Boss' many puppets. Not since he had lost his freedom. Lost his goodness. Lost his worth. 

Myungsoo quickly wiped away the tear that had escaped down his cheek, praying that Sungyeol hadn't noticed it. Then he turned so that he was facing the other again, and he forced his expression into a stoic one. "You're right. You're much too boring to keep me entertained for over sixty years," he joked half-heartedly.

Sungyeol seemed like he understood, for he replied in the same manner. "I know, right. I'll probably win the prize for Most Boring Person Ever in the History of the World. You better be there when I get the trophy."

"I'll be there," Myungsoo chuckled, the knot in his throat still there.

"It's a promise," Sungyeol said.

"It's a promise," Myungsoo agreed.

"I'm tired," Sungyeol informed. "Let's put on our pajamas."

So they changed their clothes, Sungyeol into the purple pajamas with blue polka dots and Myungsoo into the blue pajamas with purple polka dots. When Sungyeol climbed into his bed, Myungsoo stood there awkwardly, not knowing what do to next.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Sungyeol said.

"I forgot to bring a blanket..." Myungsoo said sheepishly.

"What would you need that for?"

"You're right. I'm fine without one," Myungsoo said hurriedly. He walked over to the sofa and sat down.

"That wasn't what I meant," Sungyeol said, rolling his eyes. "You're obviously going to sleep here with me."

"What?" Myungsoo breathed, looking shocked. 

"That's how a sleepover works, pabo!" Sungyeol laughed. "So you better come here right this instant, and stop staring at me like I'm an alien or something."

Myungsoo rose awkwardly and shuffled over to the bed. Sungyeol lifted the planket, beckoning for Myungsoo to join him.

Myungsoo stood there for a moment, awed at the fact that someone was willing to sleep next to him, much less share the same bed. And not just anyone, Myungsoo added silently, unable to accept that this could be true.

"Myungsoo. Are you going to stand there forever? I'm tired, you know," Sungyeol said, bringing Myungsoo back to the present. 

"Sorry," Myungsoo said, and he hurriedly climbed into the bed and lied down next to Sungyeol. He couldn't help but notice that the bed was so narrow that his shoulders touched Sungyeol's, and he rather liked it that way. 

"Are you tired yet?" Sungyeol asked, staring at the ceiling. 

"A bit," Myungsoo answered, not at all tired. His shoulder was too hot, though it was a pleasant kind of hot.

"It was nice today," Sungyeol murmured. "Fun."

"Mhm," Myungsoo agreed, smiling to himself. 

"We'll do this again, right?" 

"If you want to."

"I don't have much else to do. I'l probably be stuck here for a long time."

"Why do you say that?" Myungsoo inquired. 

"My father. He won't give you any information just because I've been kidnapped."

"Of course he will," Myungsoo said, suddenly fully awake. Will he tell me now? Should I try to coax it out of him?

"He won't," Sungyeol said quietly, and Myungsoo caught the clear note of sadness in his voice. 

"What makes you think that?" Myungsoo asked gently, and it wasn't because he needed the information that he wanted Sungyeol to tell him. He wanted to understand the boy, and comfort him if he could. He wanted to be his friend. 

"Father doesn't really love me anymore," Sungyeol sighed resignedly, and the way he said it made it sound like a confession. 

"Of course he loves you," Myungsoo disagreed. "What father doesn't love his son?" What person couldn't love you?

"My father," Sungyeol said. "He never really forgot about my... accident."

"Accident?"

"It's not a nice story."

"That's okay."

"I don't know how you'll think of me afterwards," Sungyeol said, and he sounded like he didn't like the idea of telling Myungsoo about his 'accident'. 

"I'll think of you in the exact same way I've been thinking of you from the start," Myungsoo assured him. 

"And what way is that?" Sungyeol asked. They were still both looking at the ceiling, and their shoulders were still touching, and Myungsoo's shoulder was still burning.

"That you're a good person. Kind." Kinder than I deserve. 

"You're not so bad yourself," Sungyeol said quietly, so that Myungsoo thought he must have heard incorrectly. 

"Will you tell me about your accident?" Myungsoo murmured.

"I was probably around fourteen. A friend of mine had dared me to take my father's car - without permission, of course. He said I would get ten bucks if I could drive it all the way to the mall and back. I was stupid, and obviously didn't know how to drive, much less drive safely, but I didn't think about that at all. 

I just thought about those ten bucks, and about not wanting to look like a wimp. So I did it. I took my father's keys, and I drove the car. Except I didn't make it to the mall..." Sungyeol stopped, and Myungsoo remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"I drove too fast, and I lost control... crashed into another car. It was pretty bad..."

"So your father is angry at you for ruining his car?" Myungsoo asked, feeling himself becoming a little angry. "When you were fourteen?"

"That wasn't all though. The other car, it was a family of five. Parents, with two sons and a daughter. And I-" Sungyeol stopped again, and Myungsoo could hear the remorse in his voice. He was almost whispering now. "It was all my fault. The girl, she was only ten. And she got hit in the head. Went into a coma." 

Myungsoo turned his head, looking at Sungyeol with surprise. The other was still gazing fixedly at the ceiling, his expression that of a man who was trying - while not completely succeeding - to keep his emotions in check. 

"She went into a coma. Because of me. The whole family, they were devastated. They wanted to sue me, sue my whole family, but my father shut them up with a lot of money. He paid for all of their hospital expenses, made sure their daughter was being treated in every way possible."

"I'm so sorry, Sungyeol," Myungsoo said quietly. "It must have been hard for you."

"She woke up, you know," Sungyeol continued. "A year later. Didn't understand why she was there. When she was informed that she had gone into a coma, she almost couldn't believe it."

"So then things worked out in the end," Myungsoo said, and he felt the relief like a breath of fresh air.

"Things worked out for that family," Sungyeol agreed. "But my father never forgave me for almost ruining our family's reputation. He's got enough money to shut anyone up, of course, so nobody heard anything about the accident. He made sure nobody would ever find out that he had a son that had broken the law and almost killed a ten-year-old girl. But he never forgets things like that. If it's about his reputation, he will never forgive you if you ever do anything that will stain it."

Myungsoo didn't know what to say to that. What could he possibly say? 

"It's okay," Sungyeol said, and he sounded tired. "You don't have to say anything. I know it's hard to respond to something like that. And I know you probably think I was the most irresponsible little brat ever."

"Of course not," Myungsoo said at once. "We all make mistakes. Your father made the bigger one by not forgiving you."

Sungyeol turned his head, looking at Myungsoo with a sad smile. "Thanks."

"It's nothing," Myungsoo replied dismissively, gazing back at Sungyeol.

"It's not nothing to me," Sungyeol disagreed. Myungsoo saw that the other looked like he was about to fall asleep. 

"You should rest," Myungsoo said softly. "You look tired."

"I am tired," Sungyeol yawned, and he closed his eyes. 

Myungsoo lied there, facing the boy he liked more than he should, and he didn't think he could fall asleep anytime soon. Instead he watched Sungyeol slowly doze off, and when a lock of hair fell into the boy's eyes, Myungsoo silently brushed it away with gentle fingers. 

Author's Note: Once again, it has been too long! I'm sorry OTL I don't know why, but I find this story a bit difficult to write. It's fun, but it takes longer than the kind of fics I normally write xP 

But thank you guys for still sticking with the story, and for all of your comments:)) It makes me so happy^^ <3