KiBum had admitted to KyuJong on more than one occasion he was glad they weren't staying in JungMin's house full-time. Just the short moment in the morning before work and a couple hours at night were more than enough, considering how crowded and loud the place was getting.

The flower shop was a nicer alternative, with only KyuJong for company (and the occasional customer). They may not be as productive when there were no customers around compared to before they started dating. KiBum was nowhere near as affectionate a person as DongHae, but he had no qualms about stealing a kiss every now and then, even if it meant taking off his hat to avoid hitting KyuJong in the forehead.

"It's a slow day," he noted as he left the cold room with a bunch of flowers, frowning. It was almost noon, and still not a single customer. There were less people out on the streets in general.

KyuJong seemed distracted, his brow furrowed as he picked at an arrangement he'd been working on. "There's something wrong out there," he said quietly, snipping a leaf off of a stem. "It's like the whole city is holding its breath."

"Even ordinary people are noticing something's wrong," KiBum said, placing the flowers he'd brought down on a counter as he glanced towards the windows. "What do you feel? Just apprehension?"

"And a lot of fear," KyuJong nodded, setting his shears down. "With a very small amount of... excitement. There are going to be a few who will take advantage of the fact that super heroes, and villains are staying indoors these days."

"Figured that would happen eventually," KiBum sighed. "And if any of us try to do anything about it, we're likely to be targeted. But does that mean we're going to hide and do nothing?" He glanced to KyuJong.

"I don't know," KyuJong shook his head. "It doesn't feel right that no one is out there keeping the streets safe... but how can we if they're going after us?"

"I don't know either. But we're going to have to figure it out fast." It felt like the calm before the storm. "How are the safe houses working out?"

"As far as I know, good," KyuJong said, leaning up against the counter. "We've agreed not to stay too much in contact. Whatever we can do to protect people."

KiBum nodded slowly in understanding. Whatever he was going to say next was interrupted by KyuJong's phone ringing.

Blinking at the interruption, KyuJong glanced at his phone where it was sitting on the counter. His expression brightened seeing who was calling. "Sunshine!" he chirped in greeting. "I didn't expect to hear from you."

"Oppa!" Sunny's voice came through the phone. "How are you? Is everything okay with you and the others?"

"We're... alive, that counts I think," KyuJong said, giving KiBum a strained smile as he walked towards the back. "Everything okay Sunny?"

"Relatively okay considering what's been in the news recently. Oppa...I want to help. Whatever you're doing about this, I want in. This is just too scary."

"What? I thought... what about your fiancé?" KyuJong frowned, closing his office door. "I thought you didn't want to get involved to keep him safe."

"Not being involved isn't going to keep him safe either," Sunny replied softly. "I'm gonna send him out of town, to visit family...he knows who I am, so I'll just have to explain what's going on."

"You told him?" KyuJong rubbed at his temples. "Okay, make sure he gets out of town... then meet me at JungMin's place. We've got a network of safe houses started but you're family, you're staying with us. JungMin won't be happy."

Sunny chuckled quietly, sighing into the phone. "It was a little hard not to tell him considering I glow, oppa...JungMin's place? I don't want to intrude on his personal space."

"His personal space has shrunk in the past week," KyuJong snorted. "He'll be happy to see you either way. No one can say no to you Sunshine."

"I'll be happy to see him too...what do you mean, is someone else already there? Besides the precog you were telling me about?"

"Oh... a couple people," KyuJong said. "Apophis' group, as well as some others."

"...Oh no, him and JungMin oppa in the same building?" Sunny giggled. "Okay...I have to speak with my fiancé...is it all right if I stop by tonight?"

"Of course, just don't tell your fiancé what you're doing okay? He'll be worried about you and we don't want that," KyuJong said. "Make something up."

"I'll do my best," Sunny said, voice sobering. "Be safe, oppa...I'll see you tonight."

"You too Sunny, see you soon," KyuJong replied, hanging up his phone and leaning back in his chair. There was something nagging at him, something that seemed off but he couldn't put his finger on it. Getting to his feet and leaving his office, he decided to ignore it for now and think more on it later. "That was Sunny, she's going to be at JungMin's when we get out tonight."

"Oh?" KiBum blinked, looking over at KyuJong. "What's going on?" He leaned back against the counter.

"She's scared, and I don't blame her," KyuJong said. "She said she wants to help, which... is good and bad. We can use the help, but she's sending her fiancé off to stay with family."

"Why is that bad, it'll be safer for him away from the city," KiBum frowned, watching the older man.

"Because she should be going with him, not putting herself in harm's way," KyuJong said, shaking his head. "That was the life she wanted."

"But she decided to help rather than run away," KiBum replied. "That was her decision. You know her more than I do, but few people make that kind of decision lightly."

"And she wouldn't, but it wasn't that long ago that she wanted no part of it," KyuJong said, looking at the arrangement he'd been working on. Orange and yellow lilies mixed with white carnations, framed in ivy. "What do you think of this?" he asked, turning the bouquet around slowly so he could see different angles. "Too much?"

"...I think you're asking the wrong person about flower arrangements," KiBum's lips quirked slightly. "But it's nice. Everything you make is nice."

"I should bring this one to JungMin, I haven't brought him flowers in a while," KyuJong said, adding another layer of ivy around the base. "With one more person being added to the house I think he'll need something to cheer him up."

"He does seem to be rather...testy. More than usual." Especially when YoungSaeng was practicing with Yixing or resting, and JungMin had no one to distract him from all the people in his house. "If it weren't for the current situation, getting him out of the house for a few hours would be a good idea."

"It may not be a bad idea to get him out anyway," KyuJong said, touching one of the carnations. "He has such a short fuse and I do worry about him being there all day... there could be another accident."

"...You think so?" KiBum frowned, walking up behind KyuJong. "He's so unstable he could do that again?"

"I don't know," KyuJong said quietly, closing his eyes. "He was alone in that house for so long... Just walking out the door was too much for him and now... it can't be good for him."

KiBum thought about that. "Why don't you leave the shop to me tomorrow," he said quietly, resting his hand on KyuJong's shoulder. "I'll be fine running it alone. Take him out for some fresh air."

"He won't go without YoungSaeng," KyuJong shook his head. "I can suggest it, or try at least. But I already know his answer."

"Is YoungSaeng stable enough to leave the house?" KiBum frowned.

"... I don't know," KyuJong murmured. "I don't know if it would be a good idea to either way. What if something happened?"

"That is true," KiBum nodded. "But from what you're saying, it's possible something might happen if you leave them in that house too."

"I know," KyuJong's shoulder's slumped and his chin dropped to his chest. "I'm just so worried... maybe it's the city's anxiety just making my head spin."

KiBum gently gripped KyuJong's shoulders and turned the older man around to look at him. "Try focusing on something a little closer to home," he murmured.

Lifting his eyes, KyuJong looked at KiBum with a small smile, searching the other man's eyes. "It's funny... the one person I want to feel... I can't," he said, reaching up a hand to touch KiBum's cheek. "I didn't even notice before."

"Hm?" KiBum's brow furrowed slightly at that. "You can't...?" He covered the hand against his cheek with his own.

"You live in and out of the shadows, it's like your emotions are in a dense fog that I can't see through," KyuJong said, running his thumb over KiBum's cheek. "Took me a while to notice."

"...Ah." KiBum's gaze lowered slightly. "It might be a recent development, if you just noticed."

"Possibly," KyuJong said, leaning in to kiss KiBum lightly. "It hasn't got any worse has it? What we talked about before?"

KiBum returned the kiss, wrapping his arm loosely around KyuJong's waist. "I wouldn't know if it did...I told you, nothing's different from my perspective. Others will tell me I've changed, but I can't remember being any different."

There was a slight tightening to KyuJong's eyes at that response, pulling back to look into KiBum's eyes. "When Yixing is done helping YoungSaeng, maybe you and he should talk," he said softly. "You don't seem bothered by this."

"I'm not," KiBum frowned at KyuJong lightly. "I doubt the telepath will be able to focus on someone other than YoungSaeng for a while."

"Last time we talked about this, you said it did bother you," KyuJong said, his expression worried. Lifting his other hand to KiBum's cheek, his fingers pressed slightly into the skin. "May I?"

There was no visible reaction to KyuJong's words, KiBum nodding slightly. "Okay." He lowered the hand that was cupping KyuJong's, looking into the older man's eyes.

Keeping his eyes locked on KiBum's, KyuJong used what limited abilities he had to try and press through the black haze surrounding KiBum. Nothing worked. He was too weak to get through and had to pull away, shaking his head. "Sorry."

KiBum inhaled slowly, shaking his head to clear it. The shadows that had lifted from the corners of the shop settled back down. "Nothing to be sorry about...I had a feeling it wouldn't help," he smiled sadly at the older man.

"I'm not giving up," KyuJong said. "I'll talk with Yixing, we'll figure this out... I won't let it consume you."

"Thank you for trying, but we have bigger things to worry about right now." KiBum leaned in and kissed KyuJong softly.

KyuJong returned the kiss, his arms going around KiBum's neck and holding onto him tightly. He wouldn't voice it out loud, but to him, it was something big to worry about. After he pulled back from the kiss again, he looked up into KiBum's eyes. "Promise me something... if you do notice something, tell me okay?"

KiBum met his eyes, nodding slowly. "I will...but you'll probably notice it well before I do," he murmured. "I just don't want this to get between us." He brushed his fingers lightly against KyuJong's cheek, cupping his jaw.

"It won't," KyuJong replied, leaning into the touch. "Don't even think it because no matter what, I won't let it."

A smile curled the other man's lips. "That's reassuring to hear." He leaned in and kissed KyuJong again, closing his eyes as he just focused on his older boyfriend.

After another few minutes of just kissing, KyuJong pulled away to lean against the counter, smiling smugly at KiBum. "If you don't stop that, we're closing early," he said, smoothing the wrinkles down on his shirt. "And we won't be making it back to my place."

"Is that supposed to convince me to stop?" KiBum chuckled, fingers running through KyuJong's hair and playing with the soft strands.

"Not you," KyuJong laughed, glancing towards the windows. No one had been in all day, the streets looked deserted. "You're a bad influence," he said, tapping a finger against KiBum's chest and pushing him back towards the office.

"I'm not doing anything," KiBum chuckled, walking backwards to the office. "Nothing too bad, anyways." He trailed his hands down to KyuJong's waist before hooking his fingers into his jean belt loops.

"Now will be the time we get a customer you know," KyuJong said, but he didn't make a move to stop, leaning forward again to kiss KiBum and put his arms around his neck.

KiBum returned the kiss, closing the door with one foot before steering them back towards the desk and chairs. "Guess we're going to have to find out," he murmured against KyuJong's lips.

"Should have at least locked the door," KyuJong whispered, hitting the desk with the back of his legs and sitting down. "Hope no one steals anything." One leg wrapped around KiBum's legs and pulled him even closer, returning to a very heated kiss.

One of KiBum's hands slid up the back of KyuJong's shirt, and he groaned into the kiss, leaning up against the edge of the desk and KyuJong. "Did you want to go back and lock the door?" He asked when they had to break the kiss to breathe, kissing along KyuJong's jaw.

"If I go out there, I'll change my mind," KyuJong said, his head tipping backwards. "And that feels too damn good to stop now."

Chuckling, KiBum kept up the kisses before pulling back to catch KyuJong's lips again. His fingers worked to undo the other man's pants.

"You know, this is the first time I've had someone like this in the office," KyuJong murmured against KiBum's lips, helping to wiggle off his pants.

"Really?" KiBum chuckled lowly, getting KyuJong's pants and underwear off. "Let's keep it just for us then."

"Gladly," KyuJong grinned, already having KiBum's pants undone and pushing them down his legs before wrapping both legs around his waist. Leaning up, he kissed KiBum hard, arms going back around his neck.

It probably wasn't the most comfortable of places, and KyuJong was sure he was going to have bruises up and down his backside later. Not to mention the number of things he'd pushed off the desk onto the floor when he'd been trying to hold onto something. He'd have to clean it all up later, but at that moment he was too tired to move, slumped on the floor against the desk with a silly smile. "You can talk me into more things like that anytime," he said tiredly.

Sitting next to KyuJong with his arms wrapped around the older man, KiBum laughed quietly, brushing his nose against KyuJong's temple. "Gladly. Let's clear the desk first next time," he murmured.

"That was part of the fun," KyuJong chuckled, closing his eyes. "It's probably time to close down isn't it... and still not a single customer."

"Business will pick up again once this is over." KiBum pressed a kiss against KyuJong's temple. "Then everyone will be buying flowers to celebrate."

"Let's hope you're right," KyuJong nodded, sighing softly before slowly moving to get back up to standing. "If you'll go close out up front, I'll pick this up and meet you at the door in a minute," he said, putting his pants back on.

KiBum stood as well, securing his pants. "All right, it won't take long." He smiled at KyuJong before turning to leave the office. Nothing had changed out in the main room, and he went around closing everything up for the night.

Cleaning up the mess in the office, KyuJong tried not to think about all the problems that were plaguing them. Seemed like every day there was something new to make them worry. When he was done with cleaning up, he turned out the lights and headed back out to the front, grabbing his keys from the front desk drawer and his phone. "Everything set?" he asked, going to the doors.

"Yeah," KiBum nodded. He'd fixed up the bouquet KyuJong had said he wanted to bring to JungMin, holding the wrapped flowers out to him. "Here."

"Thank you," KyuJong smiled, cradling the bouquet in one arm and opening the door. "You working here has been wonderful, I can't say that enough."

"Are you sure you might not just be biased?" KiBum chuckled, following him out of the store after pulling his cap on. "I don't know much about flowers."

"You don't need to know that much about flowers to help me keep this place clean and organized," KyuJong said, locking the door behind them. "Or to keep me company."

"I wouldn't need a paycheck for that," KiBum smiled, turning towards JungMin's house. "...it just occurred to me I'm dating my boss."

"I hope that's not a problem," KyuJong said, glancing over at him. "If it is, then I don't know what we would do, I couldn't very well fire you."

"I didn't say it was a problem," KiBum met his eyes, an amused smile pulling at his lips. "I just didn't think of it from that angle before."

"As long as you realize that the only reason I volunteered you to work with me and not with KyuHyun is because I thought we would get along better," KyuJong said. "And I thought you were cute."

"I'm not sure I would have gotten along with KyuHyun any better than DongHae has," KiBum chuckled. "I prefer working with you...and not just because you're more agreeable."

"KyuHyun... he doesn't work as well with others as he used to," KyuJong said, his eyes saddening. "I don't blame him for some of the things he's done, he didn't get any choice in this.. not that any of us did but we accepted it, he didn't."

"Why hasn't he?" KiBum frowned.

"It's... complicated," KyuJong said with a small smile. "What's important is that he has accepted it now, and I hope we're all working towards the same goal. Even if we're going about it in different ways."

"Yes," KiBum looked away, watching the street as they walked. He wasn't sure what else to say to that, because venturing too close to what KyuHyun was doing (and who he was with) was dangerous territory.

They arrived at JungMin's house a few minutes later. Stepping in, KiBum winced at the amount of noise in the house.

"Kyu, is that you?" JungMin showed up in the hallway, looking frazzled. "Can someone tell me just what is going on here?"

"Oppa?" Sunny appeared beside him.

"Sunshine!" KyuJong grinned, avoiding JungMin's harried look for the moment and scooping the girl up into a hug. "We have to stop meeting like this," he said, hugging her tightly. "Everything okay? How did the conversation with the fiancé go?"

Sunny hugged him back just as tightly, before pulling back. "About that...the conversation went very unexpectedly," she sighed, looking back into the living room. "Come here, I want you to meet someone," she said to someone just out of sight.

"Oh... no," KyuJong's heart sank when someone took Sunny's hand and joined her at the door. Shorter than himself with dark brown hair and too big of eyes, the man gave a small smirk to KyuJong.

"Hi, I'm HyungJoon," the man said, bowing to KyuJong. "SoonKyu's told me a lot about you."