No one’s Pov

The sun had begun to set before Changmin could notice. Kyuhyun was normal though their exchange of words were little. Their ice cream had become long gone with the children already on their way home. Not having moved from their current position on the top of the wall, Changmin couldn’t help but steal small glances at the other. He found Kyuhyun confusing but cute when he is though his feelings were confusing. Curiosity took over him as if it was normal to do so. When he was with Kyuhyun, he couldn’t help but feel that way.

“You said; it wasn’t by choice, your leaving. What was the reason then?” Changmin wanted to know more, he wanted to know why Kyuhyun left Victoria. What could have possibly made the other’s eyes so dark? For Victoria’s sake, or so he thought. Everything about the other suddenly became his top priority.

An uncomfortable shifting of the other’s body brought awkwardness between the two of them. Clearly it was a subject he wasn’t comfortable with. Changmin felt bad having suddenly put him in the spot once again. A minute silence felt forever as Kyuhyun stood up on the top of the wall signalling his leave.

“A-are you leaving already?” He mentally face palmed himself for stuttering at a simple question but he was scared, scared that Kyuhyun was going to leave after just finding him again. After all, he wasn’t the easiest when it came to finding him.

“Yes, I have to go.” His eyes didn’t look to Changmin’s but rather avoided it completely. The penguin plushy was brought close to his face before forcefully shoved into Changmin’s arms to the point he nearly fell off his seat.

“Give this to her.” Not letting Changmin utter another word, he jumped down from the high wall. In shock, Changmin quickly looked down. Seeing that Kyuhyun was safe made Changmin’s heart feel better and at ease as his eyes followed the other’s body getting father away from him. Seeing Kyuhyun’s back and body so far worried him. It felt as if something bad was going to happen. He wasn’t safe. It brought fear to him. Something he hate was that his instincts were almost 100% correct at all times. Bringing the plushy to his face, he examined the face the penguin made. A small smile crept up his lips, thinking back to Kyuhyun’s exact expression when he held the toy. It was innocent and childish with a bright smile. Sure, cute things weren’t his type but they seemed to fit Kyuhyun very well. Especially since he seemed to act like a child in a candy store as soon as he stepped inside the store; that was if Changmin didn’t drag him inside.

“When will I see you next?” Unconsciously, he asked the penguin, bringing it to his eye level and looking at it in the eye. Feeling stupid from embarrassment, he held the plushy under his arm. He stepped up from the wall and made his way to his car. Climbing back into the driver’s seat, he let the penguin have a seat next to him, bringing the seatbelt over to secure it in place. Asking the question of why he was doing that again, he decided it was best to overlook it and drive home for the day. Victoria was probably waiting and looking at his clock, it was already 5pm and it took approximately an hour to get home.

The scenery changed with each minute he drove whilst listening to the sweet sounds of Korean music that was brought. Not only was that changing but it was getting darker. For some reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about Kyuhyun. He felt sorry for the other, not being able to see Victoria directly with the current position he was in. Maybe, if he woke up early enough and found Kyuhyun before Victoria’s birthday celebration, he could come along. Cheering at his brilliant plan, he couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come.

It was long before he finally arrived home. By this time it was already dark with the street lights shining brightly at its place. His keys rattled as he came to the front door, unlocking it only to have Victoria ambush him with a tight hug.

“Why were you out so late?! I was getting worried! You didn’t even call or tell me what you were doing!” Her eyes filled with worry and tars threatening to fall out, Changmin chuckled. With that, it earned him a smack on the arm from the other.

“Why are you laughing!? I was worried as hell!”

“I’m sorry, you’re just so adorable.” Wrapping his arms around Victoria’s waist, he brought her closer to his body and kissed her on the forehead. Almost instantly, her worries subsided with a smile brought up to her lips. She was glad he was safe.

“Let’s go eat!” They joined hands, intertwining their fingers as they made their way to the living room table where food was sprawled out nicely. Food of different names and seasoning made Changmin’s mouth water. He hadn’t realised how hungry he was, not having eaten properly.

They didn’t notice the shadow watching them from behind as their laughs could be seen echoing in the wind. The shadow didn’t smile but his heart was with them. Rather, a sense of sadness overcame them, wanting to be with them physically rather than watching them from afar. After all, how many years had passed with him doing just that. Watching the two was all he could do. If he got any closer, all hell would break loose. He couldn’t do that, not again after what happened. Not after promising to protect the ones he loves.

Little did he know, his gaze lingered longer at the male rather than the other. He would feel the side of his lips jerk up a bit but he surpassed it with all his might. Seeing the other so happy allowed him to finally let go.

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Changmin woke up with a groan, putting his hand on his forehead. He was never a morning person and having woken up 6am was a miracle for him. His mother would be happy but today was special. Not even she was able to wake him up at such crazy times. However, it was Victoria’s birthday and his plan was coming together. Doing this will surely be worth it if it all proceeded as planned. Waking up this early already allowed him to tick off the first box. It went as follow:

-Wake up early

-Find Kyuhyun

-Take him back to see Victoria and celebrate it with the three of them.

Some would call him an idiot but Changmin couldn’t help but feel happy for himself. The plan was basically fool proof. Anyone, including an idiot, would be able to follow something as simple as his. However, a giant obstacle lay between the lines. That was if Kyuhyun was willing to go. As Changmin remembered correctly, the penguin plushie was still in the front seat of his car, strapped in with a seat belt. If Kyuhyun was planning on celebrating it together with them, he wouldn’t have given him the present. It was Victoria’s birthday after all and it would be quiet harsh for her only family not to come and celebrate it with her.

“How is this going to work…?” talking to no one in particular, he decided it was best if he got out of bed. Otherwise, he would end up falling back to sleep in a heartbeat. With an ‘ompf’, he leapt out of bed and snuffled into his slippers before making his way to the bathroom. Having a quick morning shower allowed him to think things through whilst waking him up with the presence of water slapping him across the face.

Lazily getting out and drying himself with a white towel, he brushed his teeth. How was he going to find Kyuhyun in the first place? Never mind try and convince him to go to the party… The first place Changmin thought of was that crummy, old abandoned warehouse where the other apparently lives. His body shivered at the memory of being there and his first encounter with the younger. Some part of him really didn’t want to see Kyuhyun again but the other half wanted to, even if it costs him his life.

Getting dressed in a casual blue striped shirt with navy blue skinny jeans, it allowed him to set off on his journey to find Kyuhyun. He made sure to first leave Victoria a note of his absence to not worry the girl. A sigh left his lips as he entered his car, strapping in. Changmin’s eyes caught the blue penguin plushie straight away. He stared at it, not knowing for how long, suddenly moving to dreamland. For some reason, it spoke to him. It was as if it was telling him something bad was going to happen. It sent chills down Changmin’s spine

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Broken and cracked ceiling seemed to be the most amusing thing for Kyuhyun today. He couldn’t remove his eyes from the crack which was located right in the middle of the ceiling. It didn’t do much damage as the ceiling seemed to be still in a habitual condition despite of it. It wasn’t as if it was going to tumble down any time soon, though he should probably get it fixed some time.

He got off the mattered futon which he was sleeping on with a painful gasp. It seemed, thought looking harmless, it did great damage to his back.

A knock on the door alerted him.

“Who is that…?” He mumbled under his breath. Senses on full alter due to the fact no one knocks on his door. It was labelled by the government as a derelict building so why was there a knock? Unless…

Before Kyuhyun knew it, the door flung open as it someone with a great deal of strength kicked it open. Kyuhyun took cover behind a wall in hope that he wasn’t spotted.

“Hyung.” The voice was familiar. Too familiar. Kyuhyun let himself be seen as he removed himself from his cover. There he was, standing tall and proud as his eyes scanned the room for his supposable ‘hyung’. No smile as his usual greeting was seen as the other saw his target. Instead, he moved closer to Kyuhyun, grabbing onto his arm forcefully and pulling him along the room.

“What are you doing Hoya?!” He struggled under the younger but stronger, trying to pry himself away from the other’s strength. It was no use, he was getting pulled along. Something in Kyuhyun told him not to go and stay. He was sure this was not a good sign. Especially if it was Hoya at his door, it was never something good.

He had no hard feelings for Hoya. Rather, they were good friends after Sungjong introduced him to the other. They clicked on quite well. Unlike his hard exterior, Hoya was a softy inside which surprised Kyuhyun when he first witnessed him and Sungjong together. Let just say, there was a full 180 degrees turn in his personality compared to the other members that weren’t either him, Sungjong or Sunggyu. Kyuhyun grew to like the younger bit by bit and even allowed Hoya to call him ‘Hyung’.

Now, he was acting as if Kyuhyun and Hoya were just members of the same organisation. It was almost as if they were strangers…

“Hoya!”

“We have to leave; the boss wasn’t to see you.” Said in a monotone, Hoya didn’t turn to look at Kyuhyun’s face which was filled with shock and horror mixed in together.

The boss rarely asked for anyone personally and if he did, it meant there was something that needed to be done. Kyuhyun was going to be given a job and that meant, to kill another.

“NO! Please! I-“ His whole body began to shake, imagining back to his last job. How the blood gushed out, how hollow the person’s eye was. It seemed so easy to dispose of it but the nightmares came back. Kyuhyun didn’t sleep for days. It was also 4 years since that job. Though he was accustomed to killing, it still affected him in the worst way possible. A feeling told him this time was going to be worse.

“I’m sorry, hyung.”