Seunghyun sat with Jiyong as he his hair. He was happy that Jiyong was breathing steadily, but he couldn’t help but to sit in fear as he didn’t know what would pop up next. Jiyong had been out cold, most likely exhausted from the monster that he had to fight. Seunghyun couldn’t imagine the type of pain Jiyong had gone through seeing Youngbae like that, he didn’t know what he would do if he had been faced with the same situation.

He sighed, of course, it would have been nothing he could have done. Seunghyun wished he could do something besides sit there and wait for Jiyong to do all the work, but this world was confusing to him. He had just been thrown into it and didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. More so he didn’t understand his purpose, why him?

There was a small groan coming from Jiyong and Seunghyun eagerly looked at him, wondering if he was going to wake up. He ran his fingers through his hair absentmindedly and waited for  Jiyong to open his eyes, he hoped he wasn’t drained too much.

“Seunghyun?” Jiyong sat up slowly and tried to gather his surroundings, he frowned when he realized they were still in the tunnels. For some reason when he opened his eyes he hoped he would be somewhere else, but to no avail, he was still here.

“All you all right?” Seunghyun asked with a bit of concern, and when he looked at Jiyong he was truly concerned until he realized what he had done earlier before Jiyong had passed. He blushed, remembering that he had kissed him in the heat of the moment. It had almost slipped his mind until he gazed into Jiyong’s eyes, his face had grown hot just thinking about it. Which was not something Seunghyun was used to, being embarrassed that is.

“I’m okay,” Jiyong smiled wholeheartedly and fully sat up. He cleared his throat and gave Seunghyun an unsure look that spoke a million words before he even said one, “You kissed me,” Jiyong remembered that part perfectly, the way Seunghyun had kissed him, it wasn’t so nice as it was rushed and Jiyong didn’t think he thought about it earlier as well. He didn’t know how to feel about it besides being a little surprised and maybe elated.

“I, I did,” Seunghyun hoped that part Jiyong would have forgotten in light of his fainting and all, but it seemed he wasn’t going to be let off easy.

“Why?”

Seunghyun paused, “I was excited so to speak.”

“Oh,” Jiyong fiddled with his shirt and looked at the walls around him like they were an interesting decoration to the tunnel, “I’m a lot older than you.”

“I know that. It was just a kiss,” he was trying to make it seem like it was nothing, but in his head, he knew it was a huge something that would hover above them.

“Right,” Jiyong stood up and dusted himself off, “Well we must get going then,” he took Seunghyun’s hand and helped him up, “We should find a way out,” Jiyong spoke quietly, “If there is a way out.”

They walked in silence with a heavy cloud of embarrassment and uncertainty hovering above their heads. Seunghyun couldn’t help but think about what Jiyong must be thinking about him. Was it too presumptuous of him to think that Jiyong was, in fact, thinking about him, or was he just dwelling on the situation for far too long?

Seunghyun had never really thought about a man before, or anyone for that matter. He had indulged in few kisses from the girls in his village and a quick romp in the hay bells at night, but it had never left his head spinning with questions of uncertainty. It was driving him insane and he couldn’t figure out why. His thoughts have never been so heavily preoccupied with another person in his life, and all because of a silly kiss.

He thought he himself was being ridiculous when there was a chance they could die right where they stand and yet here he was thinking about Jiyong’s lips of all things. Seunghyun coughed and gasped as that last thought passed through his head, oh God, he was thinking about Jiyong’s lips.

Jiyong stopped in his tracks and patted Seunghyun’s back, “Are you alright? You’re coughing up a storm.”

“Yes fine, I just have seemed to swallow incorrectly,” he settled his gaze at his feet, too embarrassed to look Jiyong in the eye in case he saw through his shenanigans.

“Okay?” Jiyong was not sure that was it at all but he let go anyway as he knew Seunghyun was going through some type of internal warfare. Jiyong wouldn’t ask in case Seunghyun exploded his most secret thoughts from his head.

There was a good patch of silence before they were interrupted again by more a nuisance than a frightening giant again.

Jiyong scoffed and crossed his arms at the nasty imp in front of him, “What do you want imp?”

“Message from Abaddon.”

Jiyong waved his hand, “Go on.”

The imp laughed at Jiyong’s smug face, “He says you’ll never get out, he supposes you should just off yourself and get it over with.”

Jiyong sneered and bat the imp away from him, “We shall do no such thing. Go away I don’t have time for a low-level demon that is of no help to me.”

“I’m not done,” the imp stubbornly floated near Jiyong and held up his letter reading off it slowly to irritate Jiyong, “Abaddon is giving you a proposition as you will never make it out alive here anyway. Give him Seunghyun, and he shall let you free.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jiyong rolled his eyes.

Seunghyun, on the other hand, thought about the offer. These tunnels are supposed to be infinite, how would they get out without this deal, “Let’s think about this.”

Jiyong gave Seunghyun an incredulous look, “No way, what are you thinking?”

The imp smiled, “I’ll let you fight over it,” and then disappeared.

Jiyong walked over to Seunghyun rested a palm on his forehead, trying to figure if he was sick for saying something so crazy, “How could you say something like that?”

“We both need to get out of here. You and I both know that we will not be able to leave unless he wants us too. This is the only way we can at least leave this place to somewhere that is a lot easier to escape from.”

Jiyong didn’t want to admit that it sounded better than being here, but there were implications to be had, “You do know it’s a trap, don’t you?”

“Maybe it’ll be a better trap than this one.”

Jiyong smiled at Seunghyun’s optimism, “Fine then, we’ll do it.”

When Jiyong said yes, as he expected the world seemed to open as light shined above them. They were taken to Abaddon’s thrown the place that they had been not too long ago and Jiyong couldn’t help but scoff at the extravagance of it all.

“I’m pleased you thought it my way,” Abaddon walked down from the steps and looked Jiyong over, “You’re journey through the tunnels bored me. I expected you to die a lot quicker,’ he gave Seunghyun a once over as well and grinned at him, “I’m interested in this one.”

Jiyong stepped in front of Seunghyun protectively and folded his arms, “Why?”

“You think you’re in the position to question me?” Abaddon chuckled, “The tension is thick, you could cut it with a knife. I find him,” Abaddon his lips, causing Seunghyun to shiver in disgust, “Appetizing.”

Seunghyun’s eyes widened and he took a step back, “What pray tell do you want with me,” Seunghyun spoke behind Jiyong’s shoulder, too afraid to speak from anywhere else in the room.

Abaddon gave Seunghyun an amused look, “Whatever I want,” he turned his gaze toward Jiyong and smiled, “But I don’t want you.”

Jiyong narrowed his eyes and in a split second, he lunged for Abaddon, avoiding the ground that opened under his feet. He knew there would be another trap, he just didn’t know what. It seems Abaddon didn’t plan on letting Jiyong go at all, nor did he expect Jiyong to attack him either.

“How dare you!” Abaddon cried out in outrage as he threw Jiyong off him. He couldn’t believe he had dared to touch him, let alone attack him.

Jiyong got up from the ground and gave Abaddon a look that was unreadable from both Seunghyun and Abaddon himself, “Well that put a bit of spring in my step, fancy a fight?”

Seunghyun raised an eyebrow, Jiyong seemed as cocky as he was when he first met him. It was that strange persona that Jiyong had that made him shiver yet he wondered if it was needed now. The strange energy Jiyong had made him take a few steps back in a direction that he deemed safe in case any fight ensued.

The way Jiyong was breathing even seemed different to Seunghyun, instead of the angelic aura that seemed to engulf most of the time, this was pure demon. His eyes weren’t the iridescent gold that shown whenever he used his power, but a black that made Seunghyun think twice about ever angering Jiyong.

Abaddon laughed in Jiyong’s face, thinking it foolish for Jiyong to even propose such a thing, “I find it funny, but if it is a fight you want, a fight you will get.”

An imp hovered by Seunghyun, excitedly munching on some demon delicacy that Seunghyun was too disgusted by to even ask what it is. The imp ate and nudged Seunghyun, “Your friend will die.”

Seunghyun paled just thinking about it, “I hope not, I quite like him.”

The imp laughed as he munched, “Too bad.”

Jiyong looked at Abaddon and cracked his neck, waiting for Abaddon to strike first. Abaddon was arrogant, so arrogant that Abaddon will hit first and Jiyong will take it. It will hurt, but Jiyong knew he could take it because though was who he was, he could take what was thrown at him.

In a flash Jiyong almost didn’t see it, Abaddon’s fist came toward him, but he stood where he was. He could have dodged it, but that would be too easy. He wanted Abaddon to think he had the upper hand, it was his arrogance he had to defeat first before anything else.

Seunghyun covered his eyes and peeked through his fingers as he watched what was going on. He was truly frightened at what would be the outcome and angry at himself that he couldn’t do anything about it.

Jiyong slammed into the wall opposite the thrown from the sheer force of Abaddon’s fist, and Seunghyun thought that this would be the end, but it wasn’t as Jiyong simply stepped from the hole he had made in the wall and cracked his knuckles.

“Oh my,” Seunghyun watched the fight with his eyes but it seemed there was no leeway as they fought. He could barely follow their movements as they battled it out. Never in Seunghyun’s life did he think he would witness such a magnitude of power. He had no idea that he would be standing here instead of fishing like he always did and watching Daesung make dinner for him as usual. It made him appreciate that life he had even more because this was too much for him.

Jiyong stopped, breathing heavily as he wiped a trail a blood that ran from his lip, and stared Abaddon down, “I’m tired of playing games,” his voice was distorted as he spoke, making even Abaddon himself step back as a small inch of fear crept up his back.

Abaddon had heard that voice before, and it scared him that the one he was fighting could hold so much power in his voice. Yet he wouldn’t believe it because he refused to believe that a demon that didn’t even have his own kingdom in hell could defeat him. Jiyong was not a prince, nor noteworthy in the books of demons. He was virtually nameless, so why did a mere look make him take a step back?

There it was, Seunghyun watched as Jiyong clenched his fists, in a second Seunghyun knew that this fight could have been over minutes ago. It seemed Jiyong had wanted to keep fighting. Taking hit after unnecessary hit because he could. He didn’t look hurt at all, Seunghyun squinted his eyes and realized there were absolutely no scratches on him. All traces of blood had disappeared, and his skin glowed that beautiful glow that Seunghyun grew accustomed to, but this time it looked deadly.

Abaddon took his stance, he wasn’t going to let a nobody defeat him. He threw a punch and cried out in anger as Jiyong caught it in his hand. He threw another punch and Jiyong caught that as well, and Jiyong squeezed make him his knees weak and tremble under the pressure. Abaddon had never felt so humiliated in his life, and by someone who barely even spoke as they fought. How could he be defeated by a peasant demon?

Jiyong tilted his head to the side and gave Abaddon a curious look, “I’m curious as to how you feel right now.”

Abaddon flinched, “That voice, where did you get this power from?”

A vile grin spread over Jiyong’s lips, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” he said as he placed his palm on Abaddon’s face and watched as he turned to pile of ash from his mere touch.

Seunghyun covered his mouth, not very surprised by how it had all gone down, but how ruthless it all seemed. He had barely a moment to process anything before Jiyong had ran and grabbed him the arm and pulled him into the middle of the foyer. He was dazed and confused about everything and could only muster a silly question as Jiyong started drawing a pentagram with his own blood, “What’s the rush?”

Jiyong paused for a second before continuing to draw, “We need to get out of here before this whole domain crumbles. Without Abaddon’s presence, it will collapse.”

Seunghyun looked around as hairline fractures climbed up the walls and small rumbling seemed to echo throughout the palace, suddenly he felt a sense of urgency. He was once again pulled by Jiyong when he was done drawing the pentagram.

The familiar blinding white filled Seunghyun’s eyes and before he knew it he was back in the human world with Jiyong. The smell of real pine trees enveloped his nostrils and he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with emotion at being in a place where he was less likely to be killed. Seunghyun sighed heavily and placed a hand over his heart then he turned to Jiyong and gave him a deep scowl.

He smacked Jiyong then pulled him into a hug while resting his forehead on Jiyong’s, “Don’t ever do that again!”

Jiyong was taken aback by the sheer strength of Seunghyun’s hug and slowly but surely wrapped his arms around Seunghyun too, “Sorry?” he was unsure about what he was apologizing for, but he would apologize none the less.

“You scared the living hell out of me. I thought…” Seunghyun sighed, he sounded like a paranoid lover, and Jiyong probably thought he sounded stupid.

Jiyong understood then and guessed maybe he deserved the hit had received, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I feel fine though,” which surprised him because he had been mentally taxed after the fight with the…Jiyong shook his head, he didn’t want to think about that.

Seunghyun pulled back from the hug, “Well that’s good.”

“So, I don’t get a kiss for saving your life again?”

Seunghyun’s cheeks inflamed and he could barely look Jiyong in the eye from that statement, “I, I,” he stuttered, trying to find a proper comeback for that, but he couldn’t.

“I’m just kidding,” Jiyong joked and almost laughed out loud at the way Seunghyun looked.

“Yes of course,” Seunghyun looked down at his shoes and stuck his hands in his pockets, “Do you want one?” he asked quietly as he looked up from his eyelashes sheepishly.

The amusement fell from Jiyong’s face, and it was his turn to be embarrassed, “Oh, uhm, very much so,” he bit his lip in anticipation and swallowed thickly as he felt Seunghyun’s warm hands on his cheeks, and his soft lips pressed gingerly against his.

Seunghyun pulled back with an amused smile on his face as he noticed Jiyong’s were still half closed, and his cheeks were as bright as a tomato, “That’s cute.”

Jiyong jumped back, mortified that he had been caught savoring the kiss and tried to save face, “I’m a powerful demon, I’m not cute!”

Seunghyun chuckled, “Yeah okay.”

“Hey! It may have been a long time since I’ve done something like this.”

“Oh really? How long?”

Jiyong felt like he was about to blow his thought, look what he had brought himself into, “Well,” he tried to make it look like he was thinking, when in reality, there was nothing for him to think about, “I never got the chance before I died.”

“You mean…” Seunghyun couldn’t believe it, “In any of the demon years you’ve lived?”

“Demons disgust me, you know this.”

“Humans?”

“I disgust humans, you know this.”

Seunghyun’s eyes widened, “So I’m…”

Jiyong rolled his eyes, “Yes.”

“Holy .”

“Please don’t,” Jiyong couldn’t stand there as Seunghyun’s head exploded with this new piece of information from him. He started walking because he couldn’t wait for Seunghyun to get out of his head.

Seunghyun realized he was being left and caught back up to Jiyong, “What kind of demon are you?”

Jiyong sighed, then bowed like he was presenting himself, “I am a demon of the purest form.”