Chapter Six

Berserker

 

      “No. Get out.” Youngjae quickly said, just as his sadistic bodyguard sat next to him whilst his psychology teacher continued to muse on about the importance of maintaining clarity whilst in the middle of a panic attack. He found it almost ironic, since Youngjae was about to lose his clarity as he attacked the man who had taken up the seat next to him.

 

      “Shh, I’m trying to learn,” Daehyun said with an almost sarcastic chuckle as he took out a notepad and paper, barely sparing the other a glance. Youngjae almost growled, feeling the other all too close to his frame.

 

      “Those aren’t even notes you’re taking.”

 

      Daehyun looked up, mid drawing of a , to let out an insulted gasp. “Do you know anything of the Freudian envy? It’s very psychological.”

 

      “I am going to kill you.”

 

      “This again, Jae-Jae, you flatter me with all that attention.” Daehyun stated, nudging the other with his shoulder. This time, Youngjae let out a low growl that rumbled on his chest. “Now, now, Jae. We are in class. I am trying to learn.” Daehyun immediately retorted, a smirk outlining his plump lips.

 

      Youngjae almost immediately stood up, taking his bag and walking out of the class, a few students looked up just as Daehyun began to follow.

 

      “Sorry, he gets like this before .” Daehyun stated, and almost laughed at all the surprised faces just as he closed the door behind him to see a crumbled up paper thrown at his face. Daehyun’s reflexes kicked in and he immediately caught it before it could slam into his eye.

 

      “I hate you.” The boy fumed, and Daehyun smirked in response, not allowing much else to cross his face.

 

      “Now we are just hurting each other’s feelings, how about we kiss and make-up.” Daehyun took a step forward, nearing the stiffened frame of the braniac boy. “Let’s start over. I am Jung Daehyun, and I like long walks on the beach and frisky women.”

 

      Youngjae’s eyes only further narrowed, no more words coming from his lips.

 

      “See, now, Jae-Jae, this is why you don’t have any friends,” Daehyun took another step forward, watching as the boy’s frame further stiffened. “You don’t let things go.”

 

      “Daehyun,” Youngjae looked like he was two seconds away from an aneurism, meaning that the older boy’s mission was just about complete. “If I pay you to stay away from me, would you even do so?”

 

      Daehyun’s brow arched, but for the most part, his expression didn’t much change. “Aw, but Jae, how could I leave you all in your lonesome?” By now, Daehyun was directly in front of the boy. “I promised your sister to protect you. You’re the damsel in distress in this story, baby.”

 

      Youngjae’s scowl deepened before he completely lost all expression. “Fine.”

 

      Daehyun blinked, slightly surprised at the calm, hallow response. “Fine? That’s it.”

 

      “I’m going to calculus next.” Youngjae turned around, not waiting for his bodyguard to follow. Daehyun hesitated for a moment, before finally following.

 

      The elder had a feeling that the boy was pulling an old fashion reverse psychology ploy.

 

      How petty did Youngjae think he was? To stop doing something just because the other now wanted him to?

 

⚉—•♚•—⚇

 

      As it turned out, Daehyun was very petty and the day soon dragged on as Youngjae actually ignored his very presence, no matter how obnoxious. He had found himself actually listening to the lecture on water vapor.

 

      Daehyun almost groaned, leaning back in his seat as he gave Youngjae a rather rude nudge, a last attempt in getting attention before he ultimately felt his eyes droop.

 

      . Daehyun frowned, finding the desire to sleep become all the more appealing. He nudged a girl next to him, quickly muttering out a tone-less “How much longer until class ends?” and she replied without hesitation.

 

      “Two and a half hours.”

 

      “AAAISH.” Daehyun hissed, slamming his face onto the desk while Youngjae smirked from the corner of his eye. Daehyun’s mood only worsened as the yawns began to grow harder to fight.

 

      Youngjae felt, for the first time since he met his moody bodyguard, accomplished. Sure, Daehyun had been successful in driving all happiness out of his life, but he had won this round.

 

      Although, the feeling didn’t last long as he felt a tiny pressure against his shoulder. Almost immediately, Youngjae once again felt his attention completely slip from the teacher and onto the of a bodyguard. Youngjae glanced to his side, ready to throw the other off, but quickly found himself halting in all movements when he saw the once annoying man, sleeping with a more peaceful expression that Youngjae had never seen before. He blinked, finding himself frozen in place.

 

      Even when he was asleep, Jung Daehyun was annoying as hell…

 

⚉—•♚•—⚇

 

      Daehyun yawned, his back in an uncomfortable position against the tiled ground, whilst his head was leaning against the desk. His body felt like someone had thrown him on the ground. He glanced up, finding the likely culprit, still writing down the lecture notes from the class that never seemed to end.

 

      Daehyun shrugged, having expected as much when he had allowed his eyes to droop.

 

      He slowly sat back against the desk, his palm propping up his chin while he scowled at Youngjae.

 

      “Sleep well?” Youngjae asked, in an almost mocking tone.

 

      “Dandy, Jae-Jae, just dandy.” Daehyun retorted and Youngjae’s smirk deepened.

 

      “The class still has an hour.” Youngjae reminded in a whisper, and almost immediately Daehyun’s head banged into the table.

 

      Oh yes. Youngjae won this round in their never-ending game of tag.

 

⚉—•♚•—⚇

 

      “You know, I think I’ll walk,” Youngjae retorted, turning his back to Daehyun and his conspicuous black car. He almost immediately felt an arm wrap around his shoulders, and his body stiffened at the less than welcome touch.

 

      “That’s actually rather sweet, Jae-Jae.” Daehyun began, his eyes narrowing with a moment of playful edge. “Sure, a car ride together is romantic, but that’s nothing in comparison to a walk home. Please take care of me, baby.”

 

      Youngjae cringed at every word, visibly flinching at Daehyun’s use of the lovable catch phrase of ‘baby’ that only succeeded in annoying him beyond comprehension.

 

      “Remove the arm, or I’ll break the arm,” Youngjae threatened, only succeeding in making Daehyun’s smirk widen.

 

      “Oh baby, that’s a thing for me,” Daehyun replied, the sound of their feet against the pavement was all that filled the tension. The sun was just beginning to set past the skyscrapers, and the sidewalk was slowly growing more and more empty apart from them.

 

      Youngjae immediately rubbed his temples as he felt his theory that the lazy bodyguard would abhor walking seemed to backfire.

 

      And the feeling of his arm against his shoulders only seemed to become more and more natural, much to Youngjae’s own disgust. Many of Daehyun’s natural actions were beginning to disgust the him, such as the new way that Daehyun was constantly finding reason to touch him. Youngjae already saw the twinkle of amusement in the elder’s eyes, which only managed to deepen the revulsion.

 

      The only source of light began to be completely dependent on the streetlights, and Youngjae quickly reprimanded his stubborn pride that caused him to walk side by side the other instead of quickly getting home in a fast car. Before he knew it, it was just them, alone on the road.

 

      “How long do you plan on doing that?” Youngjae asked, motioning towards Daehyun’s arm, lazily pressed on his shoulders.

 

      “All night if it means I get this rise from you.” Daehyun immediately retorted and Youngjae made a sound of disgust before bringing his gaze back on the street lamps that hung around them, dimly lit.

 

      “The only rise you will ever get from me will be thrown up on your shoes, you .” Youngjae stated back, without hesitation and he felt Daehyun suddenly press his back against a wall, his body sudden thrown into the darkness of an alleyway. “What the are-”

 

      Youngjae instantly found himself silence by the urgent finger of Jung Daehyun. He instantly found himself insulted that he was allowing himself to become manhandled, but discovered soon after that Jung Daehyun wasn’t given him any sort of choice on the matter.

 

      “Shh,” Daehyun whispered into his ear, his lips just barely grazing over Youngjae’s neck. A tiny shiver ran through the younger boy’s body, and he found himself burying his back into the wall, trying to get as far from his all too close bodyguard. Daehyun didn’t seem to be actually paying Youngjae any attention, much to the other’s immense annoyance, especially since Youngjae soon found that he was unable to just ignore Daehyun’s entire existence.

 

      His existence was intertwined in his body. Youngjae could smell, feel, and see every part of Daehyun who had flatly pressed their bodies together. Youngjae found all his voice was caught in the palm of Daehyun’s hand, which flatly rested against his lips.

 

      “Quiet.” Daehyun urged, and it took a moment for Youngjae to realize why.

 

      The sound of footsteps, echoed in the silent tension that lingered between the two. Daehyun quickly found himself protecting some disobedient child from danger, when, in his line of work, he should be the danger. The footsteps continued to grow louder, the thumping of someone running made a familiar sound against pavement. It wasn’t long until the two could hear voices, muttering out small swears.

 

      “Where did he go? He was just here.” Snapped a deep voice of someone in the distance.

 

      “He’s just one child, we’ll find him.” Retorted another voice, which Daehyun instantly recognized as Zico. He made a silent note to actually blow up his old friend’s car, hopefully with said old friend inside.

 

      Daehyun sighed, his eyes connecting with Youngjae’s, quickly finding the boy’s lids snapped open in what looked like surprise. Daehyun meant to just glance away, but he quickly found himself unable to look anywhere else. Slowly, Daehyun removed his hand, trusting that Youngjae wasn’t a who would scream in this situation.

 

      This display of trust wasn’t lost as Youngjae didn’t make any reaction apart from his eyes further widening.

 

      Daehyun instantly heard the footsteps grow louder, nearing their fairly bad hiding place and only gaining in speed.

 

      “I think they went this way.” One of the voices snapped and Daehyun made a motion to roll his eyes as he separated his body from the boy’s before turning his back to him.

 

      “Stay.” Daehyun ordered and Youngjae’s brows furrowed, not fully understanding.

 

      “Why?” Youngjae mouthed and instantly regretted even bothering when Daehyun’s lips pulled up into an arrogant smirk.

 

      “Worried?” Daehyun mouthed back, his lips barely visible in the dim light. Daehyun’s smirk widened. “Scared?” This time Daehyun whispered against Youngjae’s ear, the motion caused the boy to shiver once again, much to his growing annoyance.

 

      Daehyun didn’t give the boy to reply as he quickly and effortlessly separated their bodies. He didn’t hesitate to walk out of the shadowed alleyway, leaving Youngjae, still frozen on the wall.

 

      “Aren’t you a busy body?” Daehyun stated in a slightly louder tone of voice as he stared upon Zico and the unnamed three anonymous ‘villains’ that Daehyun slowly recognized as PO, Taeil, and B-Bomb.

 

      Zico’s lips curled into a smirk, his head tilting to the side as Daehyun silently took notice to the gun at the other’s side. He also couldn’t help but notice his old friend’s familiar and trigger-happy smile. Daehyun almost found himself rolling his eyes, which was a rather uncommon emotion of expectance for him.

 

      “We had a deal, Z,” Daehyun stated in a playfully scolding tone.

 

      “What can I say, my boss wants what he wants.” Zico replyed, shrugging his shoulders as he slowly raised his gun. “And I have to say, I also want what I want.”

 

      “Oh? And that means little old me….” Daehyun began and Zico’s smirk widened.

 

      “I wouldn’t mind you dying here, Dae. I want to say this is just business, but this is personal.” Zico didn’t hesitate to raise the gun completely and fire.

 

      As soon as the bullet entered Daehyun’s chest, the man looked down, as if mildly surprised.

 

      “We’re fighting with guns, Z?” Daehyun said, watching as his white shirt began to redden with blood, and Zico shrugged, as if expecting as much.

 

      “Bullets are rather tough to get out of flesh, Dae.” Zico replied, and craned his neck to look over Daehyun’s shoulder.

 

      “Should I get the boy?” P.O asked slowly, his deep voice echoing in the silent and tension filled night.

 

      “They are asking your permission now, Z? Tickle me touched.” Daehyun mocked, poking his finger into the bullet hole, once again finding the wound taking much longer than usual to heal.

 

      A tiny pain was easy to ignore, and Daehyun found the prickle of the bullet to grow a bit more intense than usual. His brow furrowed slightly as he dug his finger into the wound, feeling the metal just barely on his pointer finger.

 

      Before he could gouge it out, he heard Youngjae’s voice muttering out complaints as the boy was dragged out of the darkened alleyway by an annoyed and bored looking B-Bomb.  Daehyun’s expression didn’t change, even when Youngjae’s eyes widened on the bullet wound in his chest.

 

      “Why are you so interested in a boy?” Daehyun asked, glancing towards Zico with a barely apparent expression of curiosity. He noticed the five men suddenly share a look of surprise before looking back at Daehyun.

 

      “You don’t know, do you?” Zico asked and Daehyun couldn’t help but notice that they all made sure to not physically touch Youngjae. B-Bomb was keeping him at a careful distance whilst gripping him tightly by the collar of his shirt.

 

      Daehyun blinked, not much for guessing games.

 

      “No matter. Give him back and I’ll kill you.” Daehyun ordered and Zico let out a laugh.

 

      “Isn’t it supposed to be ‘give him back and I’ll let you go,’” Taeil replied, his voice slightly confused. Daehyun’s face continued to look bored.

 

      “That would make me a liar.” Came Daehyun’s reply, and for a moment Youngjae saw something in Daehyun’s eyes, a coldness that had always been masked by bad humor and indifference before. Youngjae found himself wanting to look away from the sudden lack of humanity in Daehyun’s face.

 

      For a moment, it began to be easy for Youngjae to see a leopard instead of a man. He looked like he was ready to kill and hunt for sport, ready to become a vicious killer at any moment. Youngjae found himself almost afraid of the look in Daehyun’s eyes. And the look only seemed to intensify.

 

      Zico didn’t have any time to react as the man was suddenly in front of him, fingers itching to grip onto the his neck, and squeeze until his head popped clear off his body.

 

      “How long have we known each other, Dae?” Zico asked, his eyes gazing upon the man with a look of curiosity.

 

      “It doesn’t matter. I’ll still kill you.” Daehyun replied, and Zico smirked, tilting his head to the side, not afraid of the predatory look in Daehyun’s eyes.

 

      “Kill the boy.” Zico ordered, causing the slightest of emotion to flicker in Daehyun’s eyes for an instant, before it died. “Let’s see what’s more important Dae, because I will ask again…why are you protecting the enemy?”

 

      Daehyun barely paid any attention as he found his hand suddenly and instinctually gripping onto B-Bomb’s neck, just as his hand began to hover over Youngjae’s body to give a finishing blow.

 

      Daehyun didn’t hesitate to toss the man aside as if he were a duffle bag, before his body blurred in speed and ended up kneeling down next to Youngjae’s frame. The boy’s lids had successfully widened and he was now speechless as he stared straight into Daehyun’s eyes. The predatory look only intensified, and Youngjae found himself actually afraid as it was directed at him.

 

      “Kill him and we both win, Daehyun.” Zico stated, stopping the other five from finishing the job.

 

      Zico shot a warning look to B-Bomb who had barely recovered from his body being slammed directly into the wall. B-Bomb made his annoyance clear as he crossed his arms over his chest, wanting nothing more than to kill his attacker or die trying.

 

      Daehyun tilted his head, finding himself looking at the gash on Youngjae’s forehead for a moment longer than he thought he would before gazing back into the boy’s eyes.

 

      Youngjae’s eyes darted to the blooded wound on the other’s shirt, his eyes widening as the once gaping hole was closed as if it never was there. Their eyes connected again, and Daehyun didn’t hesitate to stand.

 

      “I don’t like…” Daehyun was in front of Zico in an instant and his fingers gripped tightly on the other’s neck. The predatory look seemed to have intensified. “To be told what to do, Z.”

 

      “And I don’t like to be without a plan B, Dae,” Zico was suddenly thrown from the other in a violent tremor of force, and Daehyun found himself shoved aside by a very similar force, knocking him into the corner of a building. His skull scraped against the jagged edge, and slumped against it.

 

      P.O glanced down at his palm, his eyes barely open as his taller body towered over Daehyuns.

 

      The arrogant man slowly stood back up, the blood barely visible on his skull, but that didn’t seem to even slightly slow him down as he slowly straightened out his once hunched over form.

 

      “You brought a berserker?” Daehyun wiped the blood away from his lip, a tiny smirk beginning to grow more and more apparent. “Last I checked, you didn’t have that strength.”

 

      “Daddy gave him an upgrade when you tried to kill me in my own territory,” Zico said in a light and playful tone. Daehyun smirked at the fond memory.

 

      “Upgrades are cheating.”

 

      “You’d know.”

 

      “I don’t play fair.”

 

      “What the hell is going on?” Youngjae found himself snapping, his body still against the ground.

 

      They all looked over, as if they all simultaneously had forgotten he was even there. Which was strange, since he was the reason they were there.

 

      “He doesn’t even have a clue why he even exists,” Zico laughed, and Youngjae felt his fury only rise.

 

      “Stupid human and stupid demon.” Taeil muttered, and let out a bored yawn. He didn’t look affected at Daehyun’s scowl.

 

      “Well, I think I’m done here.” Zico smirked. “Kill the kid.” Zico paused. “And not even you can out run a berserker, Dae.”

 

      Before Daehyun could fully react, the wind brushed past his cheek, cutting into his skin and the parted pieces of flesh instantly began to bleed. Daehyun paid no heed as the berserker’s form already hovered and was ready to take the kill.

 

      Speed had always been Daehyun’s strong suit, and for the first time in his existence, he felt slow. Too slow.

 

      And the idea of Youngjae’s mangled corpse flickered in his mind before he could stop it from appearing.

 

      Daehyun felt his hands bleeding before he knew why and when he looked down he saw his hands gripping onto P.O’s blade like arm. He could see the blood dripping from his palms, and the burning that spread over his entire body as he just barely managed to keep his stance despite P.O’s monster like strength.

 

      “Always full of surprises, Dae,” Zico commented, his eyes narrowing as P.O gave him a wondering look. Zico answered back with a shake of his head. “I guess this is it for us…”

 

      Instantly P.O was suddenly gone from Daehyun’s sight and was once more next to Zico.

 

      “It’s been fun. You’ve been annoying,” Zico commented and Daehyun tilted his head to the side, still surprised as he stared down at his palms.

 

      “How long will you be able to protect an abomination I wonder?” Taeil asked and when Daehyun looked up, they were all gone.

 

      Daehyun’s eyes connected with Youngjae’s who’s stare was only on the blooded wound on his hands.

 

      “W-Why?” Youngjae asked and Daehyun knelt down next to him, his expression just barely showing the hint of confusion.

 

      “Stand.” Daehyun ordered and Youngjae found himself obeying without hesitation. The gash in his head causing his brain to pound against his skull with a feeling that almost caused his body to fall back to the ground.

 

      Youngjae found his body suddenly steadied by a burnt and bloodied hand, tightly gripping onto his arm. His questioning eyes looked up to gaze upon the wounded Daehyun, and he found his eyes trapped onto the bloodied hand that was slowly starting to heal before his eyes.

 

      “What are you?” Youngjae asked and Daehyun blinked, almost confused at the question before his face emptied of emotion.

 

      “Were you scared?” He asked in return, and Youngjae’s face contorted in a loathing scowl.

 

      “Why would I be scared? I was never in real danger…was I?”

 

      Daehyun’s brows furrowed, as if he didn’t understand the question. “You weren’t?”

 

      Youngjae scowled and looked down. “If I died…then you wouldn’t get paid…I knew you wouldn’t let that happen.”

 

      Daehyun found himself bringing his now healed palm, running closer to Youngjae’s cheek. The moment his fingers glided over the other’s face, Youngjae felt his skin tingle where Daehyun touched. Youngjae’s eyes narrowed on Daehyun’s hand, finding his own skin ignite with a warm heat that almost drove him to lean into it.

 

      “Your skin isn’t healing fully…” Daehyun stated with a furrowed brow as he gazed at Youngjae’s head, watching as the wound molded together, but refused to actually close. Daehyun swiftly dropped his hand to his side and Youngjae raised his palm to his forehead, finding all traces of a wound gone, except for a tiny scar.

 

      “What are you?” Youngjae repeated and Daehyun head slightly tilted to the side.

 

      “As far as you remember…” Daehyun slightly sighed, pressing his pointer and middle finger against the other’s head, and almost instantly Youngjae’s eyes rolled back before closing altogether. His body instantly collapsed onto Daehyun’s empty lap, causing said bodyguard to freeze as he stared down at the slightly wounded boy. “A dream.” Daehyun finished, finding his burn marks still discolored and red, the swelling obvious on his hands.

 

      Something was wrong with him. That much was growing obvious.

---

Author's Note

Omg. I am super duper tired. I feel like I have taken too long with this chapter. I feel horrible about that >.> Sort of

I just couldn't get into this one. I got into the chapter every once and a while, but then quickly found myself back on writer's block. I hope you all liked it~ 

I wanted to slowly progress the DaeJae in this update, and make their bond kind of start to form a connection of some sort, so I hope that came across through this chapter. I also want to take their romance very slowly, and most focus around plot~ I hope you all continue supporting me. Thank you very much! ^-^