“The answer is 12…” Youngjae rested his plump cheek in his palm as he eyed Daehyun’s homework. The teen, obviously distraught by the assignment, was gnawing on his pencil like a crazed beaver.

“I won’t know how to do it if you just give me the answer…” Daehyun grumbled, but still scribbled down Youngjae’s answer. Why look a gift-horse in the mouth?

“And banging your head against the dining table is such a better option?” Youngjae scoffed, playing with the end of his dangly earrings. 

“ing Newton, I wished that stupid apple smacked him harder. Who the hell decides to make Calculus!? Couldn’t he be normal and get a girlfriend or something.” Daehyun tipped the dining chair, throwing his head back to stare at the ceiling. 

“You know Newton getting hit with an apple is a myth right?” Youngjae eyed the boy who shot him an annoyed glare.

“Wow, not only a talkative poltergeist, but a nerdy one too.” Daehyun widened his eyes mockingly in shock, leading to Youngjae kicking up the front legs of Daehyun’s lifted chair, the teen falling flat on his back. 

“I told you not to call me a poltergeist, punk .” Youngjae flashed a cocky smirk as Daehyun stared up at him in legitimate shock. 

“What are you doing…” Himchan hovered over Daehyun, staring down at the teen on the floor. Himchan gripped his side satchel, preparing to go to his university to finish up on some designs for his group presentation. 

“Trying to do Calculus so I can finally graduate high school…” Daehyun let out an exhausted groan, running his hands over his face. 

“You’ll be fine,” Himchan waved his hand nonchalantly. “You just need what? A ‘B’ on your final to pass?”

“I need a 97%, Himchan….” Daehyun stared at the elder with a dead expression.

“Oh…” Himchan scratched the back of his head. “Poison your teacher with laxatives so you can steal the test answers.”

“You’re ed up Kim Himchan…” Daehyun let out a snort. 

“Thank you.” Himchan flashed a cocky grin before putting on his sunglasses and exiting the apartment. 

“Your friend is really deranged…” Youngjae scrunched his face in confusion and slight fear which was truly a feight since Youngjae dealt with the dead on daily basis. Kim Himchan was one crazy weirdo. 

“It’s part of his charm.” Daehyun shrugged. 

“Shouldn’t you be studying? You need to get an ‘A+,’ ya know. ” Youngjae floated on top of the rooftop railing, watching Daehyun stare out at the cityscape. 

“Who would have thought that a year after our meeting you’ve leveled up from naggy mother to naggy tiger mom,” Daehyun let out a snort. “If you start wearing leopard yoga pants and sun visors you would reach your final for-Ouch!” Daehyun glared at Youngjae, rubbing his forehead to soothe the pain from the collector’s flick. 

“I just don’t want to see your terrorizing these poor high schoolers anymore.” Youngjae crossed his arms across his chest.

“My my, aren’t you such a saint? Maybe you should go make a visit to Pope Francis and get ordained.” Daehyun snorted. 

“Stupid brat.” Youngjae sneered.

“Whiny poltergeist.” 

“Emo Man-child.”

“Wannabe grim reaper.”

“I hate you.” 

“Likewise.” Daehyun and Youngjae glared at each other, Youngjae bearing a fierce pout while Daehyun a arrogant smirk on his lips. The moment soon ended with both boys letting out a small stream of laughter.

Within a year of their first meeting, the two had somehow managed to be on amicable terms. Youngjae was less judgmental towards the teen and had some new found respect for the young man’s determination to become a singer, despite it being against his parent’s wishes. Daehyun was more understanding of the collectors situation, after all no one wants to babysit for twelve years. No matter how fabulous Daehyun was. Though the two still bickered like bitter old cats, the two would deem their relationship as some form of friendship. Maybe not the best of friends, but something better than ‘I want to kick your everytime I see you’ kind of friends. 

“Why do you keep checking your phone? You’ve been suspicious for the past week. Did you get a girlfriend or something?” Youngjae floated down so that he was standing beside Daehyun on the rooftop, the teen quietly placing his phone in his back pocket.

“Pfft, jealous?” Daehyun let out a snort, but Youngjae was not amused since his expression was deadpanned. “It’s nothing important.”

“It’s not nothing when your face looks like a wrinkly butthole after every time you check.” Youngjae frowned, his expression entirely serious. 

“What the actual ? And you say that Himchan is deranged.” Daehyun looked at Youngjae in disgust before returning to stare at the cityscape. 

The bustling streets of people accented the setting sun on the horizon. Daehyun always liked watching the city like this, it was a form of escape for him. A way for him to cleanse his mind of the uncertainty and truth that reality always seemed to shove down his throat. Daehyun let out a deep breath, resting his head in the crook of his arms and turning to look at Youngjae. The collector was also looking out at the cityscape, but unlike Daehyun, Youngjae’s expression wasn’t dazed. There was a spark, an excitement, in Youngjae’s eyes that resembled that of an intrigued child. Perhaps it was, from what Daehyun gathered, all the death that surrounded the collector that Youngjae didn’t have the luxury to enjoy the simplicities of life, like a sunset. Thinking about it, it was quite tragic. Ironic, since it was Daehyun’s life that may end in a tragedy, not Youngjae’s. It may have been Daehyun’s nature, though. The teen would fight tooth and nail before letting his life be taken away from him before completing any of his goals and dreams. He was a stubborn to say the least. Well, he was fortunately a pretty too. 

“I’m waiting for a callback audition for a music academy I’ve applied to…” Daehyun sighed, ruffling his hair as he glanced back at the landscape and missing the surprised expression on Youngjae’s face. “I sent them a sample of my singing for the preliminary application and well...I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m even good enough to get a formal audition.”

“You’ll get it.” Youngjae smiled at Daehyun. There weren’t many things that Youngjae would openly say he liked about Daehyun, the only exception being the teen’s singing. Youngjae wasn’t able to hear it often, the teen complaining that it was too embarrassing before immediately shutting his bedroom door in Youngjae’s face. The sweet, muffled melodies he was able to hear through the flimsy door automatically conjured a smile on Youngjae’s face. Despite Daehyun’s harsh, jaded appearance, the teen’s voice was sweet and soft like cotton candy. Or bunnies. Or cotton candy bunnies. The teen was obviously talented, but he always second guessed himself. Good was never enough for Daehyun. It had to be perfect or nothing. Youngjae associated that almost borderline psychotic tendency to the fact that Daehyun’s parents never approved of the teen’s passions, so Daehyun took it upon himself to prove them wrong. It was stubborn and childish, but understandable and admirable.

“I don’t even understand Calculus, how the heck am I supposed to get an audition?” Daehyun let out a disheartened chuckle. 

“Are you a human punching bag? Why do you keep beating yourself up?” Youngjae frowned, not liking that the teen had already claimed defeat before the results were even in. 

“Come on, I know that you think the same. I’m some dumb punk who ditched all his classes just cause he was trying to rebel against the ‘system’,” Daehyun shook his head in dismay. “It’s no shocker that I probably won’t graduate high school.”

“True. I do think you’re some dumb punk.” Youngjae shrugged. Daehyun shot the collector a disgruntled glare. 

“Wow, you’re oh-so-comforting.” Daehyun frowned before mumbling curses as he buried his face further into his arms. 

“But I also think you’re not giving yourself credit where credit is due,” Youngjae smiled at the pouty teen. “You’re talented, Daehyun. There is no doubt about it. Instead of focusing on the negative that’s holding you back, focus on the fact you were brave and strong enough to give it your all for your dream.” Daehyun lifted his head enough to glance at Youngjae, seeing a sweet smile on the collector’s face. A sincere smile. Since the two mostly bickered, it was rare that Daehyun got to see the collector grin. It was beautiful and angelic. Worthy of a Kodak moment. 

“Thanks…” Daehyun mumbled in his arm, warmth forming on his cheeks at the sudden compliment. “You’re not terrible either…”

“Wow, I give you this beautiful compliment and you just say that I’m not terrible, I’m hurt.” Youngjae let out a snort, shedding crocodile tears.

“What did you want me to say?” Daehyun scoffed, rolling his eyes, but a small smile was forming on his lips. 

“That I’m wonderful, fantastic, a God send, the greatest thing that has ever happened in your life.” Youngjae let out haughty laughter as he continued to tease the teen. The laughter soon ceased as soon as Daehyun brought his face closer to Youngjae’s, the collector nearly falling over. Youngjae could see the clear details of the teens face, from the little mole under Daehyun’s eye to the lip ring embellishing his plump lips. Youngjae wanted to push the teen at least 20 ft away from him, but he was frozen as a strange heat ran to his face. 

“You’re wonderful, fantastic, a God send, the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life,” Daehyun quirked that devilish smirk of his that always pissed off Youngjae, but also somehow got Youngjae’s clock ticking quicker. “Happy?”

“V-very!” Youngjae pushed Daehyun’s face away from his, letting out an awkward cough. “Now let’s see if the brilliant me could teach the peasant you some Calculus.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot to mention humble.” Daehyun flashed a lopsided grin as he rolled his eyes. 

 “Congratulations on our boy Daehyun for passing his Calculus final!” Himchan cheered, clanking his glass of beer against Jieun’s and Daehyun’s glass of juice. 

“Oh my God, Himchan. It was just a test there is no need for a toast,” Daehyun gestured to the little decorations and snacks Himchan and Jieun prepared for him at the bar after their shift at the club. “You know we’re the ones that have to clean this up, right?”

“I do this out of the kindness of my heart and this is the thanks I get?” Himchan wept crocodile tears, Jieun joining in on the act and soothingly rubbed Himchan’s back. “It’s not everyday that you ace your final!”

“I don’t know if I should feel thankful or spiteful right now…” Daehyun shook his head, but a smile was plastered on his lips. 

“So next on the list is that audition, right?” Jieun’s eyes gleamed, eager to hear the news from Daehyun. “Have you heard back from them?”

“No, not yet…” Daehyun rubbed the back of his neck before taking a sip of his juice.

‘“Don’t be glum. I’m sure that you’re just so amazing that the admissions board is just torn about letting you audition or just automatically letting you in.” Jieun winked at Daehyun, which caused the teen to let out a bubble of laughter.

“From your lips to God’s ears, Jieun,” Daehyun gulped his last bit of juice before placing the glass on the counter. “Anyways, I should head back home. I still have other finals I have to deal with.” 

“You’re just going to leave us? With the mess?” Himchan’s jaw was agape with mock offense.

“Of course, who do you think I am, Himchan?” Daehyun scoffed already heading towards the exit. 

“A punk .” Himchan grumbled, but a proud mama smile was engraved on his lips. 

“Bingo.” Daehyun chuckled, waving Himchan and Jieun one last goodbye before closing the door and to be greeted by the chilly night of February air. Daehyun let out a small shiver as he squished his winter jacket closer to his frame. 

“Himchan’s spot on. You are a punk .” Youngjae chuckled as he walked beside Daehyun, watching the teen shiver like an antsy chihuahua.

“Aren’t you col-” Youngjae’s lips immediately tightened when he saw the ‘are you really gonna ask that’ look. “Uh, never mind…” 

“So I’m waiting.” Daehyun looked at the collector, raising one of his eyebrows as Youngjae leaned forward so that he could see Daehyun’s face. 

“For?” 

“My ‘thank you’ for saving your from failing Calculus.” Daehyun let out a snort at Youngjae’s incredulous demand. 

“Wow, self-centered aren’t we?” Daehyun lightly kicked the bits of snow and ice that formed on the road. “Thanks oh amazing Youngjae. I couldn’t have done it without you.” 

“That’s better,” Youngjae nodded, deeming Daehyun’s gratitude offering worthy of his greatness. “And congratulations, you deserve it…” Youngjae lightly punched Daehyun’s arm, eliciting a small smile from the teen. The two walked in silence for most of the way back. One because it was colder than a witch’s tit to even be talking and two, the silence between the two of them was comfortable. They didn’t need superfluous noise to simply enjoy each other’s company. Plus the teen kept himself entertained by occasionally kicking snow in Youngjae’s direction in which the collector retaliated by shoving snow in the teen’s jacket. Youngjae was a sore loser. 

“Do you mind if we take a detour for a sec?” Daehyun nodded towards the direction of a small public playground. Youngjae shrugged. It wasn’t Youngjae’s that was gonna freeze. Daehyun put his hands out, gesturing Youngjae to sit down on one of the open swings. 

“Wow, such a gentleman,” Youngjae snickered, earning a light flick of the forehead from Daehyun. The collector pouting as he clutched his forehead. The two swung for a few minutes, Daehyun not saying a word, instead, choosing to stare intently at the ground. “Did you want me to push you on the swing or something?” Youngjae felt anxious from Daehyun’s strange request for the detour and his silence. 

“No,” Daehyun let out a chuckle. He scratched his head as he glanced at Youngjae ever so often. “I don’t know why I always feel so awkward about this…” He murmured, earning him a scrunched up look of confusion from Youngjae. “W-would you like...mind if I asked your opinion about this song I was thinking for the audition?”

“Y-you want my opinion?” Youngjae’s confusion shot up to level 10,000. He just stared at Daehyun as the teen’s cheeks became a light pink and he refused to look at Youngjae in the eye.

“Yeah...I mean...I know that you eavesdrop on me when I practice…” Daehyun took slow breathes as if to soothe his racing heart. “And that Himchan didn’t make those honey lemons that magically appear in the kitchen these past few days...he’s off to school by then.” Now it was Youngjae’s turn to become bright red. 

“Hyung! Hyung! Yongguk! Yongguk! Bbang Yongguk! Bbang Yongguk!”

“WHAT!” Yongguk had bags under his eyes as he tiredly glared at Youngjae through the pocket watch screen. Apparently the clocksmith department was behind on work and Yongguk was now flooded with overtime. 

“I need some advice, hyung…” Youngjae gave Yongguk a puppy pout, knowing that the elder couldn’t say no to the ‘Youngjae puppy pout.’ It was nearly impervious. 

Yongguk let out a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Zelo, can you make sure everything is working properly?” Yongguk instructed his apprentice, the tall lanky boy in the back carrying boxes of finished clocks. “What is it Youngjae?”

“Hyung, you’ve been around for a long time-”

Yongguk shot Youngjae another glare. “Are you calling me old?”

“No?” Youngjae flashed a sheepish grin. “That’s not the point, what I’m saying is that you’re wise,” Yongguk eyed Youngjae suspiciously, but allowed the younger to continue explaining. “I was just wondering, for, like, human singers, is there something that you know...helps their voice and stuff?”

“Autotune.”

“Hyung! I’m being serious.” Youngjae’s applecheeks flashed an angry red. Yongguk chuckled lightly, slightly curious as to why Youngjae would ask him about such things. 

“I didn’t know I had such a loyal fanboy.” Daehyun chuckled, his grip around the swings tightened. 

“You’re about to lose your only fan if you keep teasing.” Youngjae pouted and glared at Daehyun, Youngjae’s face now entirely red. 

“Sorry,” Daehyun gently rustled Youngjae’s hair, not helping with the collector’s flaming cheeks. Rather it was adding fuel to the fire. “I just want to hear the opinion of my precious, adorable fan?” Daehyun grinned and Youngjae couldn’t help but think that the teen’s prominent little canines were the cutest things since baby monkeys chilling in a Japanese hot spring. 

“D-did you just call me adorable!?” Youngjae was about to argue that he was suppose to be scary like a t-rex, not adorable. 

“Hush, or you’ll miss the song.” Daehyun chuckled, pushing his finger against Youngjae’s lips before singing a sweet melody. Daehyun’s honey voice mingled with the fresh breeze of the night sky, drifting each note to the stars above them. Youngjae couldn’t help but feel his eyes trained on the teen, hearing the soul and feelings Daehyun was pouring into each word, each sound. It was mesmerizing. Captivating. Enchanting. Youngjae was running out of words from his mental thesaurus. It was simply perfect. Daehyun spun his swing around, grabbing onto the chains of Youngjae’s swing. The collector trapped between Daehyun’s arms as the teen stared at him with a spark of playfulness and a sincere smile painted across his plump lips. Youngjae couldn’t help but sit there stunned until the devilish teen teasingly pinched Youngjae’s nose. Daehyun’s sweet laughter mixed in with his melodies. 

“Even if time passes by and you can’t remember me. It’s okay as long as you can laugh.” 

Thanks for reading! Comments and Critiques are super welcomed!

Hehehehe the two boys are warming up to each other and Daehyun evening serenading his beau <3 Imma just leave it at that and keep it short. Also the the lyrics Dae sings are actually from Dae's song 'Dark Light' :3