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Angels. Yes they exist. You might know one, or two. They could be anywhere, your school teacher who takes long leaves of absence once in a while, your next door neighbour who always has their curtains drawn, the possibilities are endless. However, they tend to be a rare occurrence on Earth. Having to hide their wings was a burden for most, so they tend to choose to stay up in the heavens where they lived. Silvery gold auras surrounded each Angel like a beautiful glow, lighting up everything around them. These auras are hidden to the naked human eyes, but both angels and demons could see them. Angels followed every stereotype, sweet natured, beautiful, and they never ceased to help others, with their signature smiles they were known for. Rules were set in place when the heavens were created, and each one was as important as the last.
Always respect everyone, whether they're older or younger
Always follow God's way
No romantic or sexual relationships allowed with humans, angels, or demons
No personal belongings, everything needed would be given to you
And more. The list seemed infinite to the youngsters but they all knew why they were in place. Being guardian angels, they are carrying out God’s will, and these rules were important to them. No one dared to break them. Well, most.
Demons, on the other hand, are quite the opposite. If an angel is known by their smile, a demon is known by their smirk. Red auras surround them, again not appearing to the human eye, but still very much there. However, there are legends that some demons could manipulate their aura, letting people believe they are human, or even an angel. Their eyes are red, a set of black wings sprouting from their back, and a tail draping its way down from their lower back. Wicked natures are common, sent to Earth to corrupt humans, enticing them to sin in order to join them in hell.
A third species once roamed the Earth. Witches. They were a rare occurrence, working by magic and deals. Nowadays, they're known for dark magic, helping demons manipulate their auras, tricking everyone. Angels exiled them, yet still they worked underground. Their auras were unusual, changing from one to another, yet the aura was always weaker than true angels or demons. Very few have met a witch, some say they had disappeared all together, but many believe they're still out there, living on Earth amongst the humans.
~
If there was one thing Younghoon loved more than cheesecake and bread, it would be helping others. Through his days on Earth, he was always praised at how hard working he was, and how much time he spent doing things for others. Whether it was helping the elderly couple who lived next door with their groceries, or helping his parents look after the house and dog when they went away on business trips to the States, he helped as much as he could. Whatever it was, it had granted him a place in Heaven from the start. He had left Earth at a young age due to an incident, not that he remembered much (many angels don't, but his amnesia seemed a lot worse), but he was scouted by God immediately, and asked to be a Guardian Angel.
Younghoon loved his job as a Guardian Angel. Even though his memories of Earth were patchy, the only reminder he had was the scar traced across his right hand and a permanent pain in his head, he remembered how much he enjoyed helping people. He loved working with the other angels, making friends with both Sangyeon, the highest Guardian Angel in the caste system, and a few of the others. He had arrived at the same time as another angel, who, as it happened, was also suffering from amnesia. Younghoon had quickly befriended the brunet, who had introduced himself as New, and they began to spend nearly all their time together. They tended to work together, taking missions down on Earth as a pair, helping each other as much as they could. Sangyeon wasn’t keen on the idea at first, but had slowly begun to realise they worked better as a team, helping many more people than they would’ve done on their own. That’s why he set them up with their hardest mission yet.
New bounded through the castle towards Younghoon’s room, barging in quickly with an excited squeal, which turned into a high pitch squeak at the sight of a shirtless angel stretching his wings. The elder turned around and blushed slightly, wrapping his wings around his body quickly before grabbing a white shirt, covering himself up. Yes, they had seen each other shirtless before, working as a team down on Earth against demons tended to result in a few casualties in the clothes department, but it never ceased to be a shock to New how beautiful Younghoon’s body was.
The younger blinked, bringing himself back to Heaven before exclaiming loudly at the brunet. “Hyung, I have some news!” A broad smile spread across his face, and he walked forward, handing Younghoon the file he was carrying. “Sangyeon just gave me this, it’s the biggest one yet.”
The file was brown, as opposed to the usual white, which worried Younghoon slightly. He had seen files like this before, knowing they were categorised for the more experienced angels, which made him worry about how dangerous the demon was. He flipped it open, revealing a picture of a brunet attached to a normal file.
Ju Haknyeon
Name: Ju Haknyeon
Age: 22
DOB: 99.3.9
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Species: Human
Reason: Manipulated by demon, Ji Changmin.
Angel’s In Charge: Kim Younghoon, New
Ji Changmin
[No picture in files]
Name: Ji Changmin
Age: Unknown
Date Of Birth: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Species: Demon
Attached to the pages was an envelope, holding two passes for Seoul University, and two sets of keys to an apartment.
“Sangyeon wants to brief us at 7pm tomorrow. He said this one’s quite dangerous.” New’s voice was full of excitement, a wide smile spread across the younger’s face.
Younghoon returned the smile, pushing all of his worried thoughts to the back of his mind.
“Well, you better get packing, looks like we’re in for the long haul here.”
New bounded back out of the room, leaving Younghoon with the file. Something had worried him about this mission, whether it was the colour of the folder, or the lack of a picture inside for the demon. The name stuck with him, and he felt himself repeat it again and again in his head.
Ji Changmin… Ji Changmin… Ji Changmin
It had imprinted itself in his brain and seemed to trigger every nerve in his body, but he had no idea why. If anyone looked into his room now, they would’ve thought he was insane, seeing as he was shaking and slapping his head in such a ferocious manner to get the name out, but it didn't matter to Younghoon. Not that it did much. Still it stuck, shining out almost as brightly as the heavens.
He sighed, shoving the file onto his desk. It was tomorrow's problem, and apart from the meeting with Sangyeon, he didn’t have to think about it until later. Another sigh left his mouth before he could stop himself, and he collapsed onto his bed, letting sleep take over his body.
~
The sound of running water and busy streets surrounded him, and a blue car flew past. Darkness had clouded his vision, but he could faintly see an old railing in front of him, cars driving across the bridge. He was on Banpo Bridge, to be exact, over the Han River. He knew it well, he’d been there with New a few times. But this time, something was off. He was on the wrong side of the railing, the river stretching out beneath him. His hands were clinging to the rusty metal, feet failing underneath him as he gripped on for his life. His head pounded, and he felt something trickling down his scalp, which he soon realised was blood. Feeling his vision blurring ever so slightly, he clung on tighter, a worried tear slipping out of his eye.
“Hyung…” A voice called out quietly.
Younghoon looked forward, his eyes straining to see through his headache. A hooded figure stood before him, on the other side of the railing. Younghoon tried to call out, reaching out for help but no sound left his mouth.
“Hyung…” The voice rang out again, becoming deafening to Younghoon’s ears. He winced, trying to tighten his grip on the railing, slipping as he lost the grip from his feet. The rusty metal sliced open his hand, blood pouring out of the deep cut. A scream left his lips, and he let go of the railing with the injured hand.
“Hyung…” There it was again, the voice which was haunting his dream. The person in front of him offered him a hand, and Younghoon reached out for it, trying to grab it. The hand passed him, grabbing his collar and pushed him down, causing the angel to lose his grip completely, plummeting down towards the water below.
The world moved in slow motion around him, the hand reaching out slowly disappearing into the darkness of the water as he found himself sinking, eyes screwed shut.
“Hyung…!” The voice rang out again, sounding more and more frantic. His eyes opened slightly, only to see a bright light appearing in front of him. He thrashed out, swimming forward through the water, battling his own body as he heard the voice clearer now.
“HYUNG!” He shot up at the shout, slamming right into New’s forehead, sending the younger one toppling back off the bed. Sweat covered his body, his hand clutching tightly at the scar on his right hand.
New let out a groan of agony, rubbing his head where Younghoon had hit him, and the latter apologised half-heartedly, distracted by what he had just seen.
“Are you okay, hyung? What happened?” New’s voice was laced with worry, and he reached out to grab the elder’s scarred hand.
Younghoon pulled away and slipped out of bed, excusing himself to their shared bathroom, leaving a clueless New on his bed.
~
The day passed quickly, Younghoon avoiding New as much as possible, spending his time tutoring one of the younger angels. He was a blond boy named Felix, who always brought some sort of sweet snack he had made from the kitchen. He had slowly forgotten about his dream, until the younger boy had brought up a topic about Earth.
"Hyung, what is Earth like?"
Younghoon paused, looking down interestingly at the textbook in between them. What was Earth like? He wasn't quite sure. Yes he had been multiple times, and he had seen things he didn't want to, but he'd also experienced some amazing things too.
"Well, it all depends on who you're asking the question to. If you asked someone here, they'd say it would be full of sin. If you asked someone down in hell, they'd probably say it was full of opportunity. But me…"
He trailed off, placing down the pen he was gripping onto.
"But you??" Felix clung onto every word he spoke.
"But me, I think it's a wonderful place. There are so many amazing things to learn and see, and so many people to meet. Yes, the world is full of sin, but that sin can be beautiful from time to time.” Younghoon’s eyes glinted slightly, a smile spread across his face. He remembered all the times some of the humans he had helped had dragged him and New out to explore the world, doing things which only seemed greedy up in heaven, yet shopping for the latest brands was so exhilarating, especially for New.
Felix smiled with him, his eyes shining with excitement, his next question rolling off his lips before he could stop himself. “Have you ever broken a rule?”
Younghoon smiled softly.
“Well, let’s just say it would be weird if you didn’t buy some things on shopping trips with humans.”
“Won’t you get caught?”
Younghoon shook his head, smiling down at the boy once more.
“Let me tell you a little secret.” He sat down, his wings which were flowing behind him tucking themselves closer to his body.
“A long time ago, angels lived in peace with demons. They worked as one, running the underworld together, leaving humans to pave their own way on Earth. They visited Earth, fitting in as we do now, yet the demons sinned as they normally did. If you have read Chapter 4 like I told you to, you’ll know that demons are able to create a sort of forcefield to block out the views from the Heavens. It stops all sight of the Heavens, and many are now used by angels to hide their personal belongings they couldn't take back to heaven.”
Younghoon paused, watching Felix take in every word he spoke.
“Well, the demons had begun to work underground, trying to coax more people to sin, away from the sight of God, using their protective covers to hide it. Some angels helped them hide away too, being bribed and blackmailed into working with the demons. It all escalated, so God cut all ties with them, appalled by their sinful behaviour, before banning us from meeting any demon at all. That was when the rules came in.”
“Do you approve of the rules, hyung?”
Younghoon sighed, standing up. “That’s all for today on this topic, Felix. Let’s move on to Chapter 24 in your book.”
~
Seven o’clock rolled around sooner than Younghoon would’ve hoped. New had dragged him to Sangyeon’s office pretty much immediately after their meal, knocking rapidly on the door until a voice called out from inside.
Sangyeon was standing with his back to them, gazing out of the wide open windows directly behind his desk. He turned slightly as they entered, smiling softly before showing them to their seats.
The meeting was brief, Sangyeon directed them through their mission, warning them about the danger of Changmin, not before mentioning how he tends to go by aliases down on Earth. The instructions were clear, exactly like they did in the past. Save the human from the demon. Easy, right?
The meeting ended as quickly as it had begun. New bounded out the room excitedly, probably off to pack for Earth, while Younghoon hung back, hovering in the doorway slightly.
“Can I help you, Younghoon-ah?” Sangyeon looked up from the mission file across the room at the boy. Younghoon gulped silently, closing the door slightly before sliding back into the seat opposite the desk.
“Can I ask you about something?” He clasped his hands tightly together across his lap, almost too tightly, squeezing his fingers together nervously.
Sangyeon nodded, clasping his hands on the desk. “Of course. Ask away,”
“Has anyone ever gained their memories back of their life on Earth after ascending?”
A look of surprise spread across Sangyeon’s face, "Memories?" He leant back in his chair, eyes becoming glassy as he looked lost in thought. Younghoon watched him intently, his bottom lip becoming caught in between his teeth from nervousness. A few seconds passed, yet they felt like hours to Younghoon. Finally, Sangyeon shook his head.
"I don't recall any. Why are you asking??"
Younghoon let out a shaky breath he didn't realise he was holding in. He quickly explained the dream to the elder, watching his reaction. Sangyeon looked concerned, mentioning how he would ask the higher up angels about it, promising not to mention his name or the dream.
Leaving the office, Younghoon felt deflated. It never was his plan to open up to Sangyeon, yet something about him made it impossible to lie to him. New was waiting for him outside the office, pushing himself off the wall in anticipation when the elder emerged.
“What was that about?” His eyes focused on Younghoon’s face immediately.
“It was nothing, just something about the mission.” He turned away from New, pushing past him as he set off towards his bedroom. “I’m going to bed, we set off tomorrow morning at 7. Sleep well.”
~
“Hyung!”
The dream was back again, and Younghoon found himself somewhere different. A field which stretched as far as he could see, filled with wildflowers of all different colours. A figure was running towards him, the sun setting behind the figure as he bounded through the fields.
Younghoon squinted, but his face was hidden by shadows, yet Younghoon could just see dark brown hair covering his head. The boy held a hand out to him, yet he never became in reach of Younghoon. He felt himself wrestling with air, the flowers engulfing him into the ground, and his eyes flickered shut. Wind rushed past him, and his eyes flickered open, watching the bridge above him disappear as he hit the water below. His hand ached, the water engulfing his body, sending it sinking downwards. Younghoon thrashed out, his hands moving slower as his clothes stuck to his body tightly. The lights began to shine out from the left of him, and he squinted, his eyes closing tightly, embracing the ever growing light.
He shot up, breathing heavily once more. His head pounded, the sharp pain spreading through his forehead becoming noticeable. He reached out to his watch and checked the time.
6:08am.
Younghoon dragged himself out of bed and into the bathroom. He found himself in front of the bathroom mirror, his reflection staring back at him. His hair lay messy on his forehead, covering his eyebrows slightly, while bags had started to form under his eyes from the second night of nightmares. He sighed, grabbing the cup which normally held toothbrushes and he filled it up with water. Placing it to his lips, he drank half of the cup, splashing the rest down the sink. It was useless, the nightmare consumed his thoughts like a plague.
A knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts, and New shuffled in, half asleep.
“Mornin’,” He smiled sleepily at the elder, grabbing his toothbrush off the side, adding toothpaste before lazily brushing his teeth. Younghoon smiled at him, doing the same before resting himself against the bathroom wall.
~
Next thing Younghoon knew, they found themselves landing on Earth, and their keys to their apartment swung around his index finger. New practically ran down the corridor towards their new apartment, unlocking the door quickly with his own set of keys. It was always his favourite part of coming to Earth, having a new home to decorate and live in for however long the mission was.
The apartment was small, containing a basic kitchen area, a small living room and a big bedroom with an ensuite and a toilet. The bedroom contained a large double bed, much to Younghoon’s dismay, yet New smiled, jumping onto the left side of the bed joyfully. Younghoon let out a chuckle at the younger, who had buried himself into the bed, yawning after their trip down to Earth. Yet he didn't notice the soft blush which covered New’s cheeks at the thought of them sharing a bed.
The elder of the two made his way into the kitchen, opening some of the boxes which lined the kitchen counters. Bowls, plates, cutlery, pots and pans, everything you could need in a kitchen was there. The fridge was packed with food, Sangyeon had mentioned he had someone drop off everything they would need for the first week, and that they would have to supply themselves from then onwards.
Younghoon sighed, this mission wasn’t going to be easy. A university full of students, yet only one Ju Haknyeon, and one Ji Changmin. They’d be lucky to find them in the first week, let alone the first month.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and he made his way towards the front of the apartment, pulling open the door. Two boys stood there, smiling widely. The brunet on the left, who was wearing a black hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, bowed, introducing himself politely.
“Hello neighbour!” He spoke excitedly, his face contorting into the widest grin he had seen. “I’m Ju Haknyeon, it’s nice to meet you! We live just next door, Flat 13.”
He turned to his friend, a long necked boy who also had brown hair. Younghoon’s eyes traced the boy’s features, settling on his fiery eyes. Haknyeon’s smile didn't falter, as he went to introduce his friend. “And this is Ch-”
“Q. It’s Q.” The long necked boy stared at his friend with an angry glare before his eyes settled back on Younghoon. It was like he could read into his soul, and it sent a shiver down his back. His eyes were dark brown, yet Younghoon swore he could see a glint of red in them. He blinked rapidly, yet the colour was gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Hi, I’m-”
“Hoon, who's there?” New emerged from inside the apartment, sliding directly next to the elder boy instinctively. Younghoon watched Q’s eyes flick over to New, watching how close he moved to the elder. A small unnoticeable smirk played on his lips, yet Younghoon still saw it.
Haknyeon introduced them both again, and New bowed politely. “I’m New, and this is Younghoon.”
~
Changmin paced up and down his room. He couldn’t believe it. Two angels, next door to him. What are the odds? Younghoon, too. He’d remember that face forever. How could he forget? Watching someone fall off a bridge into the Han River wasn’t something you’d forget easily.
Yet somehow he had managed to get to heaven.
He sighed, slipping into the chair in front of the desk. This couldn’t be a coincidence. If Sangyeon sent them down here, he must’ve known where Changmin was. He knew Sangyeon too well, he knew he always had a plan which benefited him in some way. There was no way this was all one big accident. Sangyeon was too smart for that. He’d twist everything he could just to make a demon’s life a living hell, much to Changmin’s annoyance at this moment in time. It wasn’t his fault Kevin fucked everyone over because he wanted to impress his crush, so why is Sangyeon taking it out on him.
He smirked, leaning back in the chair as a plan formulated in his head. He’d do what he'd do best.
Fuck with them all.
~
Younghoon lay back on the sofa, head resting in New’s lap, who was flicking through the channels of the TV.
“Why is human television so boring?” He sighed, turning the TV off all together. Younghoon chuckled softly, watching New place the remote on the floor before threading his hands through the elders hair gently. A few minutes passed, silence filling the room. Younghoon’s eyes flickered shut, the soft tugs at his hair as New gently pulled out all the tangles was comforting to him.
“Hyung?” New broke the silence, his hands continuing to weave their way through the olders hair.
“Hmm??” Younghoon opened his eyes slightly, looking up at the angel. He pushed himself into a sitting position, his hair flopping over messily to one side.
“Do you think it's too easy?” New’s eyes followed him, and Younghoon could see the worry filling them. “You know, with Sangyeon setting us up in a house directly next to Haknyeon.”
“I agree, it normally takes at least a week to find them.” He sighed, flopping back down onto his lap. “At least we haven’t come across Changmin yet. Haknyeon will lead us to him eventually.”
New nodded, his hands immediately going back to threading their way through Younghoon’s hair.
~
The next few days stretched for the two angels. Navigating their way around the campus of the University was a stressful task, finding their classes on time. Both had decided to study music, thanks to the numerous amounts of singing they did up in heaven. The arts building consisted of four floors, each filled with classrooms and studios which bustled with students daily. Younghoon watched New’s face break into a smile as he walked up the stairs to the top floor, which was dedicated completely to music. Echos of instruments and voices drifted from open practice room doors, music dancing down the corridors loudly. New peaked into one of the open doors of the practice rooms, noticing a boy playing piano singing, while his friend sat across from him holding a guitar.
“We found love right where we are…”
Their harmonies curved beautifully together, and New found himself in the room listening quietly. Playing the last note, the blond holding the guitar smiled at the other boy, before noticing the presence of the two angels.
“Can we help you?” His voice was soft, a smile traced across his face, which fell slightly as soon as his eyes settled on them.
“Sorry to disrupt you both, it was just beautiful.” New smiled, not noticing the fake smile which plastered its way back onto the blonds face. “We just started here, and we were just looking around. I’m New, and this is Younghoon.”
The brunet angel gestured to the elder, who’s eyes were focused on the other boy in the room, who had turned around from the piano to look at them.
“I’m Jacob, and that’s Kevin.” Both had fake smiles plastered on their faces now, yet Younghoon couldn’t understand why. Their auras radiated out, humans, yet it wasn’t the strongest he had witnessed.
“Well, it's nice to meet you both, New let’s go, we have things to do." Younghoon grabbed the younger's arm, pulling him out of the room and down the corridor.
"What was that for?" New protested, ripping his arm out of Younghoon's grasp.
The brunet stopped and turned around. "They didn't want us there, it was blatantly obvious.”
New huffed in annoyance, walking past the elder towards the music office which was situated at the end of the long hallway.
~
Lunch came around quickly, and the two angels made their way downstairs to the café located on the bottom floor of the building. Finding an empty table, they settled on the end, tucking into the large array of food they had bought. So much that the barista had to help carry all the cakes to the table.
Younghoon sat back and sighed happily.
"I missed the food here." He picked up a slice of cheesecake, taking a large bite out of it.
New nodded, sipping on his iced Americano before helping himself to a muffin.
The sound of laughter disrupted their feast, and both angels turned their heads over towards the door to the stairwell. Haknyeon and Q appeared, followed by another four boys, two of which were Jacob and Kevin. Haknyeon had the same black hoodie on as when they first met, yet he wore jeans instead of sweatpants. His university pass was falling out of his hoodie pocket, hooked around one of his belt hooks on his jeans securely. Q walked beside him, the smirk which seemed to be permanently stretched across his face present. The other two boys, who were both taller than the others, had their hands linked together tightly. The tallest wore tight, black ripped jeans, with a Rolling Stones shirt underneath a black leather jacket which hugged his arms, showing off the clear muscles beneath them. The other boy, who had hair the colour of caramel, donned an oversized blue fluffy jumper and light blue jeans to match, a light pink beanie covering his light hair. Younghoon was surprised. He had never seen two people who looked so different in a relationship before. He watched the taller boy mumble something to the other, who blushed and hit his arm gently.
Haknyeon spotted the two angels staring from afar, waving, before dragging the other five boys over to their table.
"Hi neighbours!" He took a seat next to Younghoon, eyes flicking to the large expanse of cakes across the table. "Oh wow, so much cake. What's this for?"
Both angels shrugged slightly, and Younghoon offered him a slice which he took immediately, thanking him profusely. The other five made their way over, sitting down around the table too, with Q deliberately sitting opposite Younghoon, his eyes resting instinctively on the elders face.
Haknyeon introduced the others with his mouth full of cake, in which Jacob slapped him over the head for talking with his mouth full.
"This is Juyeon and Jaehyun, and Kevin and Jacob said you met them already."
"It’s hyung to you." Another slap landed on the back of Haknyeon's head who just giggled. Jacob turned to the two angels, a smile spreading across his face. "Sorry about earlier, we just don't like it when people interrupt our practice sessions.”
Haknyeon choked on the piece of cake he was still eating, causing more slaps to land on his back, courtesy of Jacob.
Younghoon watched them suspiciously. He heard right through Jacob’s lie, yet still couldn’t understand why he hated them so much. He watched as New accepted the apology, completely oblivious as he smiled back warmly.
~
The next few weeks passed pretty smoothly. The two angels settled into their new life once more, and New had befriended each one of the group, much to Younghoon’s surprise. Haknyeon had shown them both around, and Jacob and Hyunjae, who were also studying music, helped them navigate their way around the department. Q, Juyeon and Haknyeon were dance majors, spending all their time in the dance studios on the bottom floor, while Kevin spent his time divided between the music rooms and the art department, located directly below the music floor.
Changmin hadn’t shown himself yet, and Younghoon was becoming very suspicious of everyone he came across. Q had practically never left Haknyeon’s side, and Younghoon had decided to start to dig on who he really was, not that he was getting anywhere with it. New promised to help him, yet it only pushed them together closer, and suddenly New spent more time in the apartment next door than their own. Younghoon knew what Q was doing, he knew the looks Q sent to Younghoon every time he turned up at their apartment to pick up the angel, yet his growing feelings towards the younger seemed to haunt him. He couldn't stop them, his heart aching with jealousy each time he appeared to get New, sending him stares of lust and want, yet never acting on it. New was oblivious, dragging Q out each time happily.
"A shopping spree with Jacob and Kevin" was the latest thing New said as he left the apartment, stating that "you can never have enough clothes in case we run into Changmin."
It was just an excuse to get away from his nagging, Younghoon wasn’t stupid, yet he still ended up tagging along to make sure he didn't spend too much of their emergency funds.
~
The shopping center was busy, almost too busy for Younghoon’s liking, yet he watched the younger’s eyes sparkle as Kevin dragged him and Jacob off to his favourite shops. Younghoon followed behind at a slower pace, worried he would lose them. They made their way through a huge department store, and New’s pile of clothes he was carrying seemed to increase drastically.
The changing rooms were a massive corridor or tiny rooms, and Kevin ran off down to the end of the corridor with his own pile of clothes, dragging Jacob with him for an opinion. New followed, slipping into an adjacent booth to try on his own clothes.
Younghoon stayed by the entrance, sitting down on a pink sofa which was placed for people to wait. Q sat down on the other end, and the angel could feel his eyes baring into the side of his head. Younghoon flinched under his gaze, shifting uncomfortably. The younger just smirked, sliding up the sofa towards the angel. Younghoon shifted back, pushing himself up to the arm of the table.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
“Maybe if you stop using New to get to me, you’ll get to me quicker.” Younghoon muttered under his breath, yet Q still caught it. He quirked his eyebrow, resting a hand on the angel’s thigh.
“Oh so is that what this is about?” His lips moved closer to the elder’s ear, his voice dropping with a smirk. “Are you jealous?”
Younghoon shifted uncomfortably again, trying to push Q’s hand off his thigh nervously. “No, not at all.” He rushed over his words, and Q placed a kiss onto Younghoon’s neck softly, gripping his thigh tighter. The elder felt blood rush to his cheeks, and he looked down to hide it.
New appeared out of the changing room as Q pulled back, his eyes flicking over the hand which rested on Younghoon’s thigh. Q withdrew his hand, standing up to walk over to New, complimenting him on the clothes. He thanked him, eyes filling up with jealousy, as he watched Younghoon look up, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
~
Another week passed, and New was out with Q and Haknyeon again. Younghoon felt fed up, New spent more time with them than him, leaving him alone to work on the mission, in which he hadn't gained any further knowledge on Changmin. He lay on the sofa of the apartment, the TV blaring in the background. He wasn’t paying attention, his thoughts occupied by Q and New. He couldn’t get them out of his head recently, it consumed his brain and ate away at his thoughts.
The door flung open, disrupting his thoughts.
“Hey, Hoon!” Younghoon sat up, eyes widening as they rested on his once brown hair which now was the colour of cherry blossom.
“What is that on your head?” Younghoon’s voice cut through the room, his eyes never leaving the freshly dyed cotton candy which fell messily across his head.
“I thought it just looked nice, and Q persuaded me to do it.” Younghoon’s eyes narrowed at the mention of the younger, his hands slowly closing into a fist.
“Oh of course Q told you to do it. That kid's bad news, New. You thought you’d just break one of Sangyeon’s rules? For what, to impress your new human friends?”
“What, no? Why do you think everything I do revolves around making other people happy, Younghoon? Am I not allowed to do something for myself once in a while?!” New felt anger bubbling inside of him. He couldn't understand why Younghoon didn’t want him to be happy, to have friends away from him.
“That’s literally what we do! That’s what we are on Earth for!” Younghoon stood up, his hands flying around in exasperation.
"Well maybe I don't want to do it anymore!" New grabbed his bag which he had placed on the floor. "And Q's not bad, he actually listens to me, he helps me and he's even helped me get my memories back."
He turned around, opening the door of the apartment once more.
“Unlike you.”
He stormed out the door, slamming it behind him. Younghoon was left speechless. How did he get his memories back? Thoughts flooded his head, and he sank down the wall to the floor.
It isn’t healthy. New’s being delusional. Q isn’t good for him.
He sighed. He wasn’t sure whether he meant it or whether it was a reassurance to him.
A knock at the door brought him out of his thoughts. He dragged himself up, walking over to the door.
Speak of the devil.
Q stood there, his arm propping him up as he leant against the door frame. Younghoon’s eyes rested on his freshly dyed locks, now dark blue. He couldn’t lie at how much it suited him, yet his mind flicked back to New.
“Is Chanhee here?”
“Who?”
“Oh shit, he didn’t tell you? I managed to get New’s memories back. Looks like he remembered his name.”
Younghoon’s eyes widened slightly, before narrowing. “He just left.” His voice was etched with jealousy, yet he didn’t notice. Q, on the other hand, heard right through it.
“Ah right, I’ll go find him.” He pushed himself up, turning around.
Younghoon watched his figure retreat, quickly deciding he shouldn’t let Q near the younger angel. He called out to him, making the younger stop and turn back.
“Yes, Younghoon?” His eyes twinkled with mischief, yet Younghoon didn't notice.
“Stop trying to make him someone he isn’t.”
Q smirked slightly, walking back towards the door.
“And what exactly is he?”
Younghoon was taken back by the question, and he stumbled over his words slightly. Q pushed himself into the apartment, closing the door behind them.
“So you’re telling me he’s some innocent little angel who would never do anything wrong?”
Younghoon nodded, his eyes boring into Q’s with determination. Anger continued to flow through his veins, the adrenaline from the argument with New enhancing it.
“Yes.”
“And that you’re not lying to his face about how you’re in love with me?”
The angel flinched at his words, his head hanging slightly.
“I’m not in love with you.”
“So you’re a hypocrite now?”
“What is wrong with you Q? You come in here demanding that you’re New’s saviour for getting his memories back, yet you take him out and dye his hair like he’s some trashy human you can fuck around with? And get the stupid idea out of your head that I’m in love with you, or whatever it is.”
“And?” Q’s grinned cockily, leaning against the sofa.
“So will you stop messing with my friend and stay out of our lives?!” Younghoon’s anger amplified at how arrogant he was acting.
Q smirked at him, not moving his intimidating gaze away. He pushed the elder back, pinning him against the wall.
“So you’re saying you feel nothing towards me?” His hands rested either side of Younghoon’s head, his eyes boring directly into the angel’s.
Younghoon panicked, his eyes bulging, yet he avoided Q’s gaze, biting his lip slightly. Q grabbed his chin, directing his eyes directly into his, and the smirk spread further across the younger’s face. A blush creeped across Younghoon’s cheeks at the intense eye contact, yet he couldn't bring himself to look away. Q captivated him, in a way he wouldn't like to admit. Maybe that's what brought him to connect their lips.
The kiss was passionate, Q responding immediately. Younghoon melted into the younger, moaning slightly as he raked his hands across his body. He pushed himself off the wall, dragging the younger towards his room, not letting their lips disconnect. Watching the angel fall onto the double bed, Q climbed on top of him, pushing off New’s plushy to make room for them. Their lips found each other again, and Younghoon let out a moan as the blue haired boy slipped his tongue into his mouth.
Q traced his hands downwards, his lips brushing down the elders neck. He nipped at his skin, pulling away his shirt before placing a hickey on top of his collarbone. Younghoon moaned, hands tugging at Q’s hair softly. Q groaned into the elder's neck, biting down as Younghoon tugged his hair harder.
Their lips joined again, Q's hands making their way to palm the elder through his jeans, causing a shaky moan left his lips. Q smirked, undoing them quickly to give himself more access. Younghoon shivered, the cold hand against him sent a shock through his body. Q touched him slowly, kissing at his neck every once in a while.
“Wait…” Younghoon’s voice caught in his throat, and Q stopped moving his hand, looking up at the angel. His eyes were shut tightly, fighting the urge his body was demanding.
The younger pressed another kiss on his neck, bringing his hand out of his jeans, as Younghoon sat up, taking off his shirt. His wings unravelled themselves, and Q followed them with his eyes, surprise sketched across his face. The elder reconnected their lips, dragging the boy back down onto the bed. Q’s hands traced their way up his torso, resting on his shoulders as he looked at the feathers.
“Can I…” Younghoon nodded in response, watching Q reach out to run his fingers through his wings softly. The angel moaned uncontrollably, eyes closing once more. Q traced his lips down the boy’s chest, hands weaving their way through the soft feathers. Sinful noises left Younghoon’s mouth, the sensitivity of his wings making him shiver under the younger’s touch.
Q's hands left his wings, making their way to undo the angel's jeans, pulling them down. His lips traced down his body, placing kisses and bites wherever he could. His teeth latched onto Younghoon's waist and hip, causing a groan of agony and pleasure to ripple out of the elder's mouth. Reaching the band of his jeans, Q tugged them off impatiently, planting a kiss through the thin boxers. He removed them slowly, his lips pressing kisses across the skin which appeared.
Younghoon’s hands gripped Q’s hair tightly, pulling whenever he hit the back of his throat. Q moaned softly, his eyes tracing their way up to meet Younghoon’s, who stared back down at him. The eye contact pushed Younghoon over the edge, releasing hard into Q’s mouth with a groan. Q swallowed around him, pulling off before placing a kiss on his hip bone.
A sharp pain rippled through Younghoon’s wings, causing the angel to groan out in pain, wincing. Q pulled away, climbing back up his body to join their lips together. Younghoon tasted himself as Q slipped his tongue into the angel’s mouth. Another pain spread through his wings, and he pulled away groaning in pain.
Q opened his mouth to speak, yet his eyes grew wide as he saw a single feather burn and fall off. He reached out, catching it before looking at Younghoon.
“Is that meant to happen..?” His voice trailed off as he watched the feather turn to ash. Younghoon shook his head, watching it with tears filling his eyes.
Q stood up, carrying the ash to the bathroom, washing away the broken feather. Younghoon watched his retreating figure, sighing softly before slipping into bed properly. He lay down, stretching his wings out carefully. The pain slowly subsided, and his eyes flickered close.
A phone ringing brought him out of his daze, and he sat up slightly. He pulled himself out of Q's arms, who had snuggled up to the angel. Younghoon sat up, grabbing Q's phone from the bedside table. He reached out to shake him awake, yet he caught a glimpse of the name before he could stop himself.
Sangie hyung
accept decline
Younghoon's eyes widened and the phone slipped from his hands, landing on top of Q's chest. He woke up with a start, and grabbed his phone which continued to ring.
"I need to take this, I'll see you later." He slipped out the room, answering the call.
Younghoon watched him leave, the sound of the front door slamming behind him. The angel sighed, tugging at the bed covers.
It can't be Sangyeon, why would an angel be communicating with a human? It doesn't make sense.
He racked his brains, trying to think of anything that could connect Q to Sangyeon. Nothing.
Plus, there must be plenty of people with the syllable Sang.
He sighed. He was too tired to think straight. He picked up the discarded plushie left on the floor, pulling it into his grip tightly, before snuggling down into the soft sheets. His legs and wings ached, the intensity of what happened with Q washing over his body.
~
He was back in the dream. Yet this time, it felt different. He was sat on a bed, in an apartment looking out over the university. A brown haired boy was next to him, nestled into his chest. He looked down, yet the boy didn't look at him, his face still hidden away.
The scene changed, the running water of a stream, and a meadow of flowers. The boy ran ahead, soft laughter filling the air. He bent down to pick up a dandelion, letting the seeds blow through the wind.
Once more he was moved again, this time the wind was stronger. The running water got louder and stronger, and the sound of cars filled his ears. He was back on the bridge, his palm aching as he gripped onto the rusty railing for dear life. The boy was in front of him now, faint cries from afar distracted him as he saw another boy run towards them. Yet his grip slipped, causing the boy in front of him to smirk and lean forward, grabbing his collar tightly. His face entered the street light, and his smirk was caught perfectly.
Younghoon knew who it was. When their lips joined, he knew who it was. When he felt the grip on his collar loosen, he knew who it was. And when he plummeted into the water below, he caught a glimpse of his face staring down at him.
Q.
~
New walked back up the stairs of the apartment block feeling numb. Guilt had racked up inside of him, he never wanted to argue with Younghoon, yet he couldn't let him control his life. Even if he was in love with him.
He sighed, unlocking their apartment door. Shouting could be heard from further down the corridor, and his eyes flicked to see a certain blue haired boy on the phone. Q turned around and waved slightly, and a smile broke out on New’s face as he waved back, before disappearing into his apartment.
The bedroom door was open, and New slipped his head around to peer inside. Younghoon lay asleep, curled up facing away from the door. His grip on New’s plushy was deadly, his hands squeezed into fists. New’s eyes settled on his back, still shirtless yet now drenched in sweat.
He rested a palm on the elder’s back, who woke up with a start, whimpering softly.
“Hyung, did you have another memory?”
Younghoon nodded, his body shaking from fear and adrenaline.
“I remembered almost everything.”
~
Younghoon and New sat and talked for the rest of the evening. They apologised, speaking in turn about their memories, yet Younghoon couldn't bring himself to tell the truth to the boy. He had seen the hurt in his eyes each time Q had subtly flirted with Younghoon, jealous clouding up without a second thought. So he kept his lips shut, proceeding to snuggle back down into the sheets once their conversation ended.
New pulled the curtains closed, planting a kiss onto Younghoon's head before making his way into the bathroom for a shower.
As soon as the door shut, he pulled out his phone which they bought for an emergency. He texted Q, sending a cryptic message which only they would understand, before getting up.
Meet me where it all ended.
He got dressed quickly, slipping on the clothes which were discarded around the room from earlier. Sparing a glance at the closed bathroom door, he sighed, before slipping out of the door, leaving the phone open on the bed.
The air was cold, as he made his way down the winding streets towards the Han River. He knew the way like the back of his hand, everything came back to him now. Up to Dongjak bridge, then west to Bampo. Soon enough he found himself on the bridge, looking over the city lights as they gleamed in the night. The wind was strong, whipping up the river, ruffling his hair softly. He waited patiently, watching the boats pass along the river.
He heard footsteps a few minutes later, and Q stopped a few meters away from him, calling out softly. Younghoon turned around, meeting the gaze of the younger who had a smirk traced across his face.
“What do you want, hyung? Another round?” A smirk traced over his face. “Bit public for that.”
“Doesn’t this mean anything to you?” Younghoon gestured around him. Q looked at him cluelessly, pushing Younghoon to continue.
“My memories returned.”
Silence filled the space between them. Q moved closer, his eyes as wide as he moved.
“You knew me, didn’t you?”
Q nodded slightly, unable to lie any longer. “I never wanted you to find out like this...”
Another silence.
“Why did you lie, Q?"
Younghoon couldn't look at the boy, his back pressed up against the barrier of the bridge as Q stepped closer to him. He didn't answer, his hand reaching out to take the angel’s own, but Younghoon flinched, backing up until he felt his feet slip through the barrier.
A smirk made its way onto Q’s face, his eyes never leaving the elders face.
“Lying is a powerful thing, Younghoon. Something you should know about.” His arms encased him between the barrier and his body, his mouth etching closer to his ear. “See, you may think you can trick your little angel friend into your feelings about me, yet you can’t fool me. Even if your little friend is completely head over heels in love with you.”
Tears pricked in Younghoon’s eyes, threatening to cascade down his face, yet a shout interrupted them. Q rested his hand onto the angel’s, staring directly into his eyes.
“Hyung!”
Q’s eyes never left Younghoon, his hands gripping the elder’s tighter as tears started to stream down the angel’s face.
“Hyung!!”
The shouting got louder as Q’s grip got tighter.
“You can’t keep lying to me, Younghoon. I know you’re in love with me.” The tears fell from the angel’s cheek, landing on their joined hands. Q reached out, grabbing his shirt collar before bringing him into a kiss.
“JI CHANGMIN!!”
The blue haired boy broke apart from the angel, turning his head sharply to glower at Haknyeon running towards them. Chanhee, who had followed him, skidded to a halt at the sight of them joined at the lips, fresh tears slipping down his already tear stained cheeks, a look of shock tracing its way across his face.
“Ji Changmin…” Younghoon’s voice broke out. His eyes flicked over to the demon in front of him, a choked sob leaving his lips. “You…”
“Changmin, stop!” Haknyeon called out, running closer, yet Chanhee grabbed him back, halting the younger.
Another sob escaped Younghoon’s mouth, and he pushed Changmin back away from the edge of the bridge.
“What are you playing at Changmin? Why are you spending so much time fucking with my life again after I died the first time?! For what, to see me fall off a bridge again?"
The demon stumbled, catching himself before he landed on the road. He opened his mouth to protest, only to watch Younghoon lift himself over the barrier of the bridge.
"I'll fucking do it again!"
“You really think you have it in you to jump?” Changmin's voice was taunting, and he pushed himself into a standing position. “I know you better than anyone, hyung.”
He stepped forward, his aura changing almost immediately. His eyes flicked red, captivating Younghoon. Changmin made it directly in front of him, his hand reaching out to grab the angel by the collar. Younghoon gripped the barrier, gulping as his legs shook underneath him, threatening his balance.
“Seems a little familiar, doesn't it?” Changmin smirked, before kicking Younghoon’s legs out from under him. “Or was it something like this?”
Younghoon skidded downwards, hands dragging along the barrier, the familiar pain he felt in his palm sliced back through his body. Changmin never let go of his collar, leaning over the barrier. He pulled the angel up to join their lips once more, before letting go completely, watching him plummet to the water below.
~
Younghoon would remember New's scream for the rest of his life. It resonated through his head, imprinting itself on his brain when he slept and rang in his ears through the day. It bounced off the corridors as he walked through the angel realm, suffocating him. He hadn’t seen New since he fell off the bridge; his head was too wrapped with guilt to even think about the other angel’s reaction to his relationship with Changmin. Speaking of the demon, he hadn’t tried to communicate with him either, leaving Younghoon wondering whether any of this was worth it.
To say Sangyeon was mad was an understatement. Sangyeon was furious. The once placid angel was replaced with a cold, outraged man who would’ve exiled Younghoon on the spot if New wasn’t back in heaven yet. He gave him until Friday to return, and had tried to trace him on Earth. He was undetectable, which meant one thing. Changmin had him somewhere.
~
Younghoon gripped the book he held in his arms tightly, slipping into the Great Hall for the weekly feast which is held every Thursday. He hadn’t brought himself to enter the hall since his return, scared of being pushed aside by the rest of them. Yet Sangyeon had forced everyone to attend, mentioning an announcement which must not be missed. His eyes focused on Felix, who was seated on a table to the left of the entrance with his two friends Seungmin and Jeongin.
“...and he apparently slept with a demon. New hyung still hasn't returned, he’s got until tomorrow. I bet he's sleeping with the same demon too.” Seungmin’s voice filled Younghoon’s ears as he got closer, causing the elder’s ears to prick with tears. He hated gossip, no matter who it was about, yet he slipped into a table adjacent so he could hear.
“Yeah, but we all know how whipped New hyung was for Younghoon hyung. There’s no way he’d brush off his feelings for some demon.”
So Changmin was right, Chanhee was in love with him. Even the angels saw it. Younghoon felt his heart flutter slightly. Was he falling for him? What about his feelings for Changmin? A quiet sigh of agony left his lips, resting his head on his hands.
The conversation died down on the table next to him, focus moving to the stage located at the end of the room. Sangyeon made his way towards center stage, addressing the room with a stern welcome. Younghoon watched his eyes trail around the room, focusing on him with a merciless stare. The angel found himself sinking into his seat, knowing what was coming.
“Kim Younghoon.”
Terror flew through his body as he heard his name. He rose slowly, every eye in the room focusing on him. The walk from the back of the hall was long, and whispers and speculations followed him as he moved. Walking up the stairs to the stage, he felt suffocated. His breathing was ragged, his heart ached, yet he forced himself to keep his head raised.
Sangyeon turned to him, his eyes glistening with something Younghoon couldn’t quite read. He nodded to someone in the wings, and another angel appeared, walking forward.
“Kim Younghoon, you are under suspicion of having illicit relations with a demon. Due to the absence of your partner, Choi Chanhee, you will face the Council tomorrow alone, who will present a punishment which deems fit.”
He nodded to the angel next to him, who grabbed Younghoon’s hands, tying his wrists together tightly with a soft silk tie. Younghoon looked up in shock at Sangyeon, who’s gaze didn’t falter.
“Your trial will start at 9am sharp tomorrow.”
~
The night stretched out long for Younghoon. He had been dragged down to a part of the realm he had never been, the open white passages turning into dark, damp cellars. Yet spending the night in one of those cells seemed to be the least of his worries. He couldn’t understand why New hadn’t returned yet.
The courtroom was just like the rest of the realm, white. It was circular, white pillars lining the walls. The council sat around the room, on tiered seating reaching far up. Sangyeon sat at the front of the room, a gavel in hand. His eyes were cold and harsh, watching every move Younghoon made.
Younghoon was led to a solitary chair which was placed in the center of the room, every eye following him as his hands were bound to the hooks in the chair. The trial started almost immediately, yet Younghoon seemed to zone out. Chanhee screamed again in his head, his thoughts overtaking his body. Tears welled up in his eyes, yet he dropped his head to hide them. The screams continued, drowning out Sangyeon’s voice.
“Do you confirm you did indeed have romantic and sexual relations with the demon Ji Changmin?”
Younghoon brought himself back to reality, his head dropping further at Sangyeon’s words. His gaze landed on his bound hands, tied in front of him as he stood before the Council of Angels. He nodded, a single tear slipping down his cheek. He let go of the breath he didn't realise he was holding in, opening his mouth to confirm the accusation.
The sound of the door to the hall opening stopped him from speaking.
"Stop.” A voice called from the back of the hall. “Younghoon isn’t guilty."
Younghoon whipped his head around, landing on the pink haired boy.
"New." Sangyeon's voice was hard, and he leaned forward in his seat. "So grateful that you to have finally graced us with your presence."
"It wasn't Younghoon!" His voice broke, and Younghoon just watched in shock.
“New, what are you-”
New cut him off, his gaze focusing on Sangyeon.
"It was me."
~
Younghoon's tears had dried up, yet his heart still ached. He didn't understand what he was feeling, yet watching New being exiled because of him made his heart ache.
"Hyung…" New's voice brought him out of his thoughts, and Younghoon looked over to the door of his bedroom. A sad smile was spread across his lips, tears visibly filling his eyes.
Younghoon practically dragged the younger one into his embrace, tears starting to fall uncontrollably down his face.
"How long do you have?"
"Sangyeon hyung said tomorrow morning. Everyone's going to be there."
A silence blanketed them as Younghoon took in the information.
"Please don't leave me, New. I can't be here without you." Chanhee's heart broke at his words, tears of his own starting to build up. He snuggled into the elders arms, tightening his arms around his torso carefully so his wings stayed safe.
“I’m sorry I didn’t manage to remove the punishments completely.”
Younghoon sniffed slightly, shaking his head. “I guess never leaving Heaven is as bad as being banished to Earth. Though you didn’t have to get yourself exiled for me, Hee.”
Chanhee chuckled slightly, yet it was muffled in Younghoon’s chest. A few minutes passed, silence filling the air once more, apart from the occasional sniff from one of them. Younghoon was the first to break the silence, pulling the younger one away slightly.
"Why didn't you tell me you loved me?"
Chanhee stood shocked, his eyes widening.
"You… you knew?"
Younghoon nodded sheepishly, his hands fiddling with each other nervously.
"Well, Changmin pushed me to tell you, yes he knew, and then when I found out he was just using me to get to you it broke me. That was when I saw him kiss you on the bridge and then I realised you were in love with him and I had no chance and that I never really had a-"
Chanhee felt a pair of soft lips on his own. His arms wrapped themselves around the elder cautiously, yet when Younghoon pulled him closer, he let them fall loosely. The kiss was passionate, and Younghoon knew it would be their last. He pushed the younger onto his bed, climbing on top of him gently.
They broke apart after a while, finding comfort in each other's arms without speaking. Just lying in the company of one another made Younghoon feel contempt, like they weren't going to be separated.
It felt right to Younghoon.
.Too bad it didn't for Chanhee