fronter | for mysteriousness

for mysteriousness

( everything feels different. tastes different.

... sounds different.

there's nothing in his head now but his own thoughts, each of them racing as he tries to recount how he'd ended up in an alley with the taste of ash in his mouth. but he can't remember anything except the pain, the anger, the overwhelming sensation of what it meant to die. but he hadn't, and now, every part of him hurts. his hands, his face.

an extremely uncomfortable weight settles in his chest, and baby forces his eyes open.

he's alone.

the background noise of the city rushes to meet him like a warning: get moving. go somewhere, anywhere. hide. huntrix might still want to finish the job, and baby's self-preservation has him clawing his way to his feet before another worry crawls up into his throat.

what about mystery?

it's an odd panic that he quickly squashes down, pulling the singed robe over his head and grateful for his jeans and shirt underneath. they're ruined too, but it's less obvious than his performance-wear. he's uncomfortable regardless, staggering forward and sticking to the back streets. all he can think about is the other demon. was he safe? was he still there? anything beyond that causes baby to feel nauseous, so he moves and walks and keeps his head down until he gets where he's going.

an apartment he and mystery had decided to buy without telling any of the others, especially jinu. small enough for them, a place they could go if they wanted to exist for a few hours without an audience. but baby doesn't have a key, and he uses what little strength he has left to test one of the windows and crawl through one that's, luckily, open and accessible. he drops onto the floor once he's inside. )

Myst?! Mystery? ( his voice is scratchy, the pain and distress audible in his voice. ) Are you here?

( what the hell should he do if he's the only one left? )

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( that tenderness he's come to associate with mystery wells up in his chest while they kiss, threatening to swallow him too fast. too soon. baby nudges him with his nose, his lips, and then, without a word, he draws away.

but it isn't to leave him. instead, he takes mystery's hand and leads him back towards the bedroom. their bedroom. when they'd decided to get this place, it had originally been to have somewhere private to fuck. or to spend time on their own, though they've rarely been apart for more than a few hours at a time. now, it's this strange sort of safe haven, crawling into bed and sagging into the mattress once mystery is comfortable.

he's so tired. yet... )

What if you're not here when I wake up?

( his voice is low, hesitant—completely uncharacteristic of him. but he'd already worried about losing mystery before their last performance, and now, with the others (probably) gone, mystery is the only one he has. the only one who matters. )

[it's something only baby has seen from him and nobody else. the other saja boys never got close enough to do this (and he didn't really let them), but baby is different; he cares about him more than he can say and it sits in his chest like a heavy weight that he can't describe.

whenever baby withdraws, he exhales a soft sigh, lets his hand be taken and allows himself to be led to their bedroom. what a concept, being able to be alone in their room again, especially after he thought they'd never see each other again. once they've both gotten into the bed, he sinks down and drops backwards, one arm across his middle and the other looping around baby's shoulders to tug him in.

he glances over, tilts his head then shakes it, his arm gently squeezing.]

I will be here.

[because nothing and nobody is going to take him again from baby, not again. he'd say that they'd have to kill him at this point, but it seems like that already happened and it didn't succeed, so he can't even say that would take him away.]

( he's annoyed with himself for such a show of weakness. even if it's mystery, it doesn't matter. but baby keeps his expression neutral, only nodding before settling against the other and easily falling asleep.

he'd been tired, but the exhaustion is bone-deep.

baby doesn't even dream.

which is probably a good thing considering the nightmares that always lurk below the surface, only jarring awake to an intense emptiness in his gut. hunger isn't new to him, but this is something else, something that continues to eat at him until he sits up and shifts uncomfortably next to... relief washes over him the moment he notices mystery still there beside him. )

Hey. ( he reaches over, pushing some of mystery's hair away from his face. ) Something feels off.

( not that he means to alarm him, his voice steady and a bit curious. he just wants mystery's input on the situation. )

[maybe baby is annoyed, but mystery feels the direct opposite whenever he shares these sorts of things. it makes him want to protect him even more and once baby has settled down again, he squeezes his arm around him, exhales a sigh, then lets his eyes close so the exhaustion can take him.

surprisingly, he doesn't dream either; the tiredness is too much for his brain to bring thoughts to the surface. he sleeps on, right up until he feels baby shift. it rouses him somewhat and when baby reaches to push his hair aside, he lets his eyes flutter open, attention downturning to him. just like he'd said, he's still here and baby is still right beside him, which makes him glad that he didn't have to lie about being there once he wakes up.

he yawns, reaching his free hand to cover his mouth, lowering it afterward once he's woken up a little more.] What do you mean? [something feels off more than it already is?

he isn't immediately worried, not while they're safely tucked into bed, but the nervousness does rise in his chest slightly the longer he lies there waiting.]

( he's not exactly worried himself. just... confused? maybe?

baby sits up a little straighter on the bed, crossing his legs and glancing at mystery. normally, injuries like theirs would have eased by now, healed a little quicker than normal. but his entire body aches, and he's certain that the cut across mystery's face is going to be nice and irritated beneath the bandages.

lightly, baby flexes his hand, trying to will that easy change into demon. nothing happens. )

I think... ( he frowns, running his tongue along his teeth and feeling nothing but the flat edges of them. ) I think we're human.

( which should be impossible. right? or next to impossible? baby's thoughts spiral out of control after that, uncertain and a little more than terrified at the prospect. being human made them fragile, made them a target. what were they supposed to do if they couldn't protect themselves like they normally could? )

[after baby sits up, mystery follows suit, propping himself up with his hands, his hair falling back into place. he feels the burn in his face from the cut and that has him wondering the same thing: why hasn't the pain eased at all? as if on cue, the spot on his head throbs and he reaches to touch it, wincing slightly at the ache.

he glances over and down at baby's hand, knowing full-well what he's trying to do, but when nothing happens, his heart drops straight into his stomach.

“i think we're human.” no, that can't be... can it? it's the only explanation, though. why else would they still be hurting and have injuries? he drags his hand down, fingertips tracing over the bandage and tape on his face, his breath hitching at the shock that runs through him.

mystery takes a deep breath, sighs it back out, and tries to will his heartbeat to stop pounding, though to no avail. his hand lowers further to clutch his chest, his attention turning to his own hand as he attempts to transform as well, even if nothing happens.]

I— I think you're right... [and that's frightening to consider. if they're human, what does that mean? did the honmoon seal their demon powers? did it take them away entirely? he lifts his other hand and twists it up in his hair, gripping the strands none-too-gently, his anxiety spiking further, shown in the way his voice raises an octave.] What are we going to do?

( baby can sense the shift in mystery as soon as he realizes that he can't transform any part of his body like he'd been able to before. slowly, he shifts closer and lifts a hand to ease away the one tangled in those soft strands. mystery's anxiety is unmatched when he lets it go, but baby is determined to be the grounded one for a moment.

at least until he finds something else to freak out about. )

We've got each other. We're fine.

( he tries to believe that as much as he can, so it sounds genuine.

answers were never going to come if they stayed holed up in their apartment, but... they'd gotten this place and put money away for a number of contingencies. if anything, they would survive for a while without having to do anything, and he certainly isn't going to go asking the huntrix girls for help. they'd probably try to finish the job they started without a second thought.

baby kisses at mystery's fingers. ) We'll do what you said. Recover and wait it out. No one knows about this place except us.

[if he were the type, mystery would've probably started crying at this point, the anxiety too much to handle. as it stands, his chest is simply tighter than normal and his breath comes a little heavier than it should, but when baby reaches to remove his hand, he lets it happen, albeit with some reluctance. instead, he gently grips baby's hand in his own, trying to will his breathing back into something normal.

he can't let this take control, not whenever they already have enough to worry about, and baby's right: they're here together.]

Okay... okay. [who is he trying to convince here? himself or baby? (both, it's both.)

staying in their apartment is the best choice for now; they can take the time they need to recuperate and heal and not have to worry about anyone finding them, especially the huntrix girls. now, they just had to hope that nobody would recognize them when they do go out or else that could ruin everything, too. something tells him that the saja boys are probably not a concern after everything that happened, so it may be easier to move around than he's thinking, but he still doesn't want to risk anything, particularly when it comes to baby.

at the kiss to his fingers, mystery exhales a slow, steadying sigh, his heartrate finally starting to return to normal. he reaches his other hand to cup baby's face, the pad of his thumb rubbing across his cheek while he leans to kiss the corner of his mouth.] You're right. Nobody's going to come after us because nobody knows we're here. We don't have to worry.

( baby can see how mystery relaxes, and that, in turn, has him relaxing with him. the tenderness of the kiss isn't overlooked either, leaning into it so he can rest their foreheads together. )

I'll take care of you, Myst. ( a solemn promise, something only mystery will ever hear. ) Try to get more sleep. I'm going to check out the kitchen.

( because he's still starving, and if they don't have anything suitable, it means he's going to have to go out sooner rather than later.

there are plenty of extra clothes in the closet, he thinks. he could easily hide his eyes and face with a hoodie or sunglasses and a mask. no one's going to think twice about him buying simple things at a nearby market. but he's getting ahead of himself, making sure that mystery is comfortable before leaving the bedroom.

much to his surprise, there are enough snacks in the cupboard to tide him over, and he gathers an armful of chips and other things to take with him, dumping it onto the floor and taking a seat next to them. close to mystery but within arm's reach of the food. the only sound he makes is the softest hum of appreciation when he opens a bag and begins to eat. )

[their foreheads come together and mystery slackens even further, the relaxation flowing through him a lot easier now that he isn't panicking.

his eyes widen slightly at the remark and this time, when his heartbeat skips, it's because of something else. something he's still not sure he can put a name to, but it makes him smile, his head nodding faintly at the suggestion.] I'm going to do the same for you, Baby.

[mystery, albeit reluctantly, does lie back down, one arm draped across his middle while the other tucks underneath the pillow beneath his head. sleep doesn't come as easily as it did before, though whenever baby returns with his snacks, he does feel more at ease with him in the room than when he's not there. how is he going to survive the wait if baby does have to leave? he'll have to find something to distract himself with, something to keep his mind off anything else until baby returns safely.

if only his stupid face would heal faster.

he's about out, the sound of baby's soft shuffling and humming welcome noises while he's half-dozing. eventually, he does fall back asleep, but only after rolling to face baby for the last few moments that his eyes are open.]

( he watches mystery until he sleeps, demolishing a few of the spicier bags of chips before carefully (and quietly) leaving the bedroom.

his mission: the tv.

without a phone or access to the internet, it's impossible to tell what's really going on.

so, baby flops on the couch and turns the television on, volume off with the subtitles on as he flips through the channels. news, on any normal day, is boring, but he sits through a good chunk of multiple stations talking about the disbandment and super scandalous disappearance of the saja boys. no real mention of demons or the catastrophe gwi-ma had caused when they'd been on stage. odd, but... this entire thing was odd.

maybe the honmoon netted the world in peace and harmony while sealing away their powers and effectively making them human? baby could only theorize.

eventually, he gets bored of that and turns on a movie instead, half-watching until he grows tired of that too and wanders through the apartment. he could dress differently and go outside, but not yet. everything is still too new, and he doesn't want mystery to worry if he woke up without him there. so, returning to the bedroom, he carefully crawls into bed next to mystery and presses his face into his back, holding him close and grateful to whatever had done this that they were together. )

[while he sleeps, mystery actually dreams this time.

he dreams about what happened, what's happening, their lack of powers, the return of said powers. (even though he has a feeling that's not going to happen—) but the main thing he dreams about is baby. about their new life together, how it could unfold, how lucky they are to have each other. it eases him deeper into sleep, to the point where the exhaustion from before takes over again and has him sleeping on and on.

although he doesn't mean to, he's out for the entire time that baby does his thing. there is a moment where he does shift, rolling onto his other side and curling into himself like he needs to protect himself from something, even if his hindbrain reminds him that he's still safe and sound.

ultimately, mystery is awoken by a sudden empty feeling, something he recognizes as hunger. it isn't an entirely foreign feeling, he remembers how it used to feel back when he was still human. he exhales a slow breath, one hand moving to touch his belly while the other reaches back over his shoulder and rests atop baby's head, fingers carding gently through his hair. it's a little awkward, but he doesn't want to dislodge baby from where he's currently at; he's enjoying how it feels to be held like this.]

Sorry, [he murmurs through the sleepiness, the hand lifting from his stomach to rub his eyes, though he has to be careful because of his bandage which is already starting to itch in spots and that's going to drive him crazy.] I didn't mean to sleep so long.

( mystery's so cute when he's half-asleep. baby's decided this to be fact, leaning into the touch until it definitely becomes too awkward for both of them. carefully, he eases up and climbs over mystery, on his side towards him so he can see his face. )

You need the rest. ( as if he would complain, despite being bored. ) How are you feeling anyway?

( mostly, he's eyeing that cut across his face and wondering what else they have to do to get it better. but it's barely been a day since everything happened, and apparently, they're on the slow track to recovery. baby lets his thumb trace along the curve of mystery's mouth, soaking in the contact and comforted in the fact they're together. it's already strange that there's an obscene amount of quiet around them aside from the light noises of traffic outside.

just silence. silence and mystery.

a second later, he rethinks touching him and simply presses forward to kiss him. gentle and soft, an echo of all the feelings sitting in his chest he doesn't know how to really process. )

[still rubbing at his eyes with the one hand, he ultimately withdraws whenever baby moves to climb over him, using that hand to cover a yawn before he outstretches it and gently touches baby's face. he strokes the fullness of his cheek, smiling despite the faint ache of his stomach.]

My face itches. [which is supposed to be a good thing though, right? people say that means it's healing, even though he knows full-well that it will still take a while to be completely healed. and gosh, he really hopes it doesn't scar.] And I think I'm hungry.

[as much as he wants to scratch, he resists for the moment, clenching and unclenching his hand in an attempt to fight the urge. the brush across his lips has him leaning closer and he kisses baby's thumb, enjoying the light touching, silently asking for more. the quietness is so different, he almost wants to make noise just to break the silence, but the other half of him says no and urges him to relax while he's here with baby, which he's more than content to do.

and when baby moves to kiss him, he leans to meet him without hesitation, moving his hand to loop an arm around him, holding him close. his own feelings are complicated too, though he's doing his best not to think about them at the moment, instead relishing in baby's company and the kiss they're sharing.]

( as soon as the kiss ends, baby nudges him lightly with his nose. )

Feel like ordering something? ( they don't have phones, but he's sure he'd stashed a laptop somewhere in the closet. ) Most of the kitchen's just snacks.

( again, he's probably to blame for that. but they'd rarely spent time eating in this place. fucking or sleeping or some combination of both is how the hours crawled by, but now, it's going to be a little more mundane. the thought of dying of boredom creeps into his mind even as he lightly touches mystery's cheek and crawls back out of bed to check for the computer.

from the depths of the closet: ) We can get food, and I'll check your face.

( more sounds emerge, mostly that of baby pushing aside hangers and opening drawers until he returns triumphant with a tablet. it's good enough to get them what they want, and baby joins mystery once more, already turning the device on to offer the screen to him. )

What sounds good?

[mystery exhales a content-sounding sigh between them, a soft chuckle passing his lips whenever baby noses against him.]

Yeah, that might be a good idea. [snacks would tide them over for only so long, after all. it's important for them to eat actual food too, so ordering something would be a good plan.

snacks are better than nothing, at least, but with the money they have tucked away, they can afford to put actual food in their home now. (how strange, to think of it as a home instead of just a getaway they were using . . . ) for what it's worth though, he'll make sure to keep baby occupied however necessary, that way he won't get too bored. he leans into the touch for as long as baby is still there and when he pulls away and goes to hunt down the computer, he reaches to touch the bandage on his face again, knowing full-well that he should leave it alone, but he can't bring himself to do that for some reason.]

Okay. [eventually, he does lower his hand, both of them interlocking and tucking into his lap as he crisscrosses his legs.

curiosity gets the better of him and mystery leans to try and watch what baby's doing, even though he knows he's just looking for something they can use to order food; it still intrigues him, nevertheless, and after baby has returned, he accepts the tablet and drags his finger over the screen with a thoughtful noise.] Japchae and kimchi jjigae and kimbap.

[which is a lot to order all at once, but they can have leftovers and not have to worry for a little bit.]

( as soon as the words are out of mystery's mouth, baby realizes he's still hungry. why were human bodies so needy? )

What's the delivery time? ( he peeks at the screen, frowning at the half-hour window. ) I already miss when things were faster.

( because they were famous, and no one wanted them to wait around for things that might also gain their businesses attention. because they'd been handed everything almost immediately, and it's yet another loss that sits with him as he sighs and drops back against the bed. reaching to the side, he drags a pillow over his face and lies there until the need to breathe is almost too demanding to ignore. still, he doesn't move it far, only uncovering his mouth so he can speak (and breathe).

thoughts from before are already piling into his brain. )

I watched some TV while you were out. ( his hand gropes the bed until he touches mystery. ) It's like the world already forgot about us.

[perhaps it's good that he wants to order so much, then. it wouldn't do for them to be hungry while they're here, after all, so it's best that they stock up on something while they can.

he tilts the screen baby's way when he goes to look then sets the tablet aside afterward, the faintest smile tugging his lips up at the corners.] Guess we'll have to get used to it.

[or as used to it as they can, anyway. mystery wishes they could just go outside, but he unfortunately can't, not with his face still bandaged like it is. maybe once it's healed a bit, they could go somewhere together rather than sitting around, waiting for things to be brought to them. he averts his gaze as baby falls back, eyebrows lifting with consideration whenever he grabs a pillow and covers his face. for a moment, he thinks that maybe baby is going to muffle some screaming, though when nothing happens, he relaxes marginally, shoulders slumping beneath a weight he can't describe.

intrigued by the comment, he shifts to lay next to baby, one hand at his side while the other drapes across his midsection.]

That's good, isn't it? [or so he thinks, that is. if the world forgot about them, that means maybe they won't be recognized when they do eventually go out. the touch has him shifting slightly, his hand reaching to take hold of baby's and gently squeeze for reassurance.] Makes it a little safer for us.

( mystery had always been the more practical one of the two of them. or sensible, maybe. it's why baby struggles to see the positive, especially when they know so little and have very limited resources.

the shift in positions on the bed has him relaxing somewhat, unconsciously leaning into the warmth of mystery's body so close to his. the way his hand grips his eases some of the pressure building in his chest. not enough, but it's tolerable now. )

Is that what you really want? ( his voice is quiet in an effort to hide some of the bitterness. ) Safe is fine for now, but what about later? Do you think... ( he bites at the tip of his tongue, rolling the thought around. ) Do you think we should look for the others?

( he can't even really remember what had happened to abby and romance. and jinu... how obvious had it been to notice his thing for the one huntrix girl? not enough that baby had cared, clearly, but it could have potentially messed things up for them. and it had since... they should have died? that's also confusing to him, slowly pushing the pillow away from his face so he can turn his head to look at mystery. if he looks at him enough, he could probably see baby's indecision. )

Would they even care about finding us? ( if they were still around anyway. )

[one of them has to be in this situation, even if he'd been stressing a little bit earlier. after some reassurance, however, he feels slightly better about everything despite their circumstances, limited resources included.

when baby leans against him, he shifts a little closer and tilts his head so it can rest against baby's, a slow, measured exhale passing his lips as he considers the question. does he want them to be safe? yes, of course he does, but they will have to think about the future, about what they're going to do before those resources run out. immediately, his thoughts are on job-hunting and wondering what it is that he could do that might bring in some form of decent income.

he's drawn out of those thoughts by baby's next question, his heart thudding hard against his ribs. should they look for the others? would it matter?] I... don't know. [it's probably the most truthful thing he's spoken so far; he truly has no idea what they should do about their fellow bandmates. (demons? they aren't that anymore, so it wouldn't make sense to refer to them as such, unless they are somehow still demonic? which would be completely unfair—) but he can't focus on that too long, either.

mystery vaguely remembers them all fighting, abby and romance included, but he doesn't recall what happened to them. jinu, on the other hand, he remembers extremely well; the way he'd protected that purple-haired huntrix girl and sacrificed himself, somehow regaining his soul in the process. being human, did that mean they were returned their souls as well? he imagines so, but one can never be too sure, especially whenever he has no idea how these things work. he slowly turns his head toward baby to look at him, his own expression pinching slightly when he sees the indecision, heart sinking at the thought of the other saja boys not caring.

while they may not have all been as close as he and baby are, he would imagine that maybe they'd still seek them out if they were still around? or maybe it's just hopeful thinking and they wouldn't care at all.] Perhaps? I can't speak for them, but if they were afraid and had nowhere else to turn— [he cuts himself off, knowing full-well that if he hadn't found baby, the others would have been next on his list.]

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