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? )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[if he'd known about baby tumbling in through the window, he would've been even more worried, but as it stands, he can only be concerned with his current state of being now that he's found him. he rushes to meet him, uncaring about his own injuries, which are a little more worrisome than he'd like them to be, though again, he's not focused on that with baby here.

his hands find baby's shoulders, holding firmly yet gently so as not to hurt him even more while he's looking him over.]

I'm okay, [mystery assures, either unaware of the head wound that has blood caking in his hair or he's just outright ignoring it for the moment.] Are you?

[he can smell it too, but he's too busy checking baby out to wonder if it's himself or the other male; if it's the latter, he needs to get him looked after right away and if it's the former, well, he said he was alright and he meant it despite any actual injuries he does have. they're here and alive and that's what matters, isn't it? aside from the wound on his head, there's a long cut along his face from one cheek, over the bridge of his nose and nearing the opposite eye, which is probably a bit concerning when examined and seen how close it came to taking one of his eyes.]

No, I— I don't know. [he relaxes somewhat, letting himself be pulled, his heartrate slowly starting to calm now that he's found baby.] All I remember is fighting Huntrix... then everything went dark and I was waking up here.

( most of baby's own injuries are superficial. at least, he thinks they are. scratches along his neck and over an ear, some burns that he can barely feel given how overstimulated with worry he is. even some of his hair has been charred, but those are little things in comparison to what he finds on mystery the moment he pushes his hair back.

his handsome face...

reluctant to let go of him, baby forces himself to leave mystery in one of the barstools shoved up against the island once they're in the kitchen. he fills a bowl with warm water and searches for something clean so he can wipe some of the blood from mystery and see how deep the cut is. )

Me too, ( he says eventually, unsure if that really begins to answer anything. ) But it's so quiet now.

( can mystery sense that too? gently, he wipes at the blood on his face, his expression turning hard. )

It feels like a trap. ( because why else would they be there after failing so miserably? )

[maybe baby isn't worried about himself, but that just means that mystery is extra concerned now. he gingerly touches the scratches on his neck with one hand while the opposite brushes through the singed bits of baby's hair. how had he avoided being burned? he doesn't know, although he imagines his own injuries more than make up for it.

with his own obvious reluctance, he lets baby go, reaching to push his bangs all to one side, his fingertips finally touching the cut on his face, the wound on his head, both of them making him wince faintly at the ache that runs through them. fortunately, the cut on his face isn't as bad as it looks. once it's cleaned up, it'll likely be fine, and it doesn't seem deep enough to scar, but letting it bleed freely probably wasn't his best idea.

initially, he hadn't noticed the quiet, though now that he's sitting here with baby, it does hit him: it's blissfully silent in his head and there's no voice ringing in his ears.] It is.

[he moves a hand to the side of his head, touching his ear, his head shaking afterward then he forces himself to stay steady so baby can clean up his face. it only hurts a little, thankfully, and sitting still proves easier than he'd thought it would be.]

But it can't be, right? [this would be one sick joke if that's what it's supposed to be.] We shouldn't be here. [and yet here they are.]

( briefly, baby's hand hovers over mystery's cheek, pressing into the gentle touch until the pain forces him to back off. it helps ground him, continuing his examination of mystery's face once most of the blood is gone. )

I don't know. ( nothing makes sense, and it unnerves him in a way that baby doesn't like. ) We can stay here until things calm down, and then...

( there's the slightest shrug.

his job in their little boy band hadn't been strategy or making orders. he'd been (mostly) content to follow them when they'd been given, only pushing back when jinu got too bossy or abby decided to be a dick. it has him thinking about the others, romance too, and he wonders... would it be so bad if they were dead? if he and mystery are the only ones left without any consequences to what they'd done, then... what?

what does that mean for them? )

I'll get something for your face.

( but before he does, he leans forward long enough to press a kiss to the corner of the other's mouth. grateful, for whatever reason has them there, that he isn't alone. )

[with most of the blood cleaned off, it's easier to see that the cut is mostly superficial, aside from where it starts on his left cheek; that spot is a little deeper and continues to bleed a bit longer than the rest of the wound.]

At least we're safe here. [nobody but them knows about this place, so they can take comfort in that.

mystery isn't too sure what else they can do from there, but he does know that if they're going to survive, they'll have to figure something else out too. jinu isn't there to tell them what to do anymore and it's a bit confusing, having to think for himself, though he has a feeling they can make it on their own if they put their heads together. they're not incapable, just lost, and given the chance to regroup and recuperate, mystery believes they'll figure it out.

until then, he's going to continue to be confused and let baby take care of his face, it's the only thing that makes sense right now.]

Thank you. Bring enough for yourself, too.

[and whenever baby leans to kiss him, he lets it happen, his hands gently resting on baby's shoulders for a moment before he reluctantly lets go again.]

( in the other room now, some space between them seems to help clear his head.

the discomfort he feels is superficial, steps a bit more even as he searches the bathroom for supplies – ointment, gauze, tape – and then ransacks the bedroom for clothes. all they can do is strive for some kind of normalcy in the chaos, dumping everything he's found onto the kitchen island before proceeding to strip down.

take care of himself. help mystery.

baby has to focus on that. )

I don't like this, ( he grumbles, mostly to say something, tugging on a pair of yoga pants and ignoring the bruises beginning to form over his thighs and lower belly. no wonder walking had felt uncomfortable. ) What do you think we should do?

( probably nothing. what could they do? besides take care of each other, baby has no real thoughts, his movements automatic as he tends to the worst part of mystery's wound after changing his clothes. )

[while baby is in the other room, mystery takes the chance to start going over plans in his head. maybe he isn't the leader, but someone needs to take the reins here and he doesn't mind trying.

he goes over things in his head: they're both here, they're both free of gwi-ma, and they seem to be the only ones alive. how can that be? how can they be? there are too many questions and not enough answers for his liking. as it stands, the only thing he can think of is they somehow avoided being sealed by the honmoon, but he has no idea how that's possible yet. his head shakes, one hand lifting to his temple, fingertips pressing against the skin before his attention is drawn back to baby, who returns with an armful of things.

mystery looks over everything then glances down at himself, as if suddenly reminded of his all black attire. he strips out of the first layer and tosses it aside, moving to stand so he can finish removing everything else down to the pants.

somehow, he's avoided bruising as badly as baby, but there are a few littering his torso in places on his front and back. when he sees the marks on baby's skin, his expression falters and he reaches out, gingerly touching the bruises on his belly, his heartbeat skipping.] I think we should lay low for a little bit. Maybe only leave for what's necessary.

[the only reason he withdraws is so baby can finish tending to his wound, which has become a dull ache now. mystery frowns lightly whenever the bandage is put into place, his hand raising to touch it, swiping along the tape that's holding it in place. he really doesn't like how it feels but he's just going to have to deal.

instead of focusing on that, he turns his attention back to the wounds on baby's neck and takes the rag to clean them up, that way he can work on getting him bandaged up as well.]

( baby's trying not to think about it too hard. if he does, it's going to make him crazy, and the last thing he wants to do is work himself into a frenzy with no outlet. so, all he does is move automatically in attendance of the other demon.

he sucks in a harsh breath at the abrupt touch of mystery's fingers to his stomach, hating the tenderness of his skin. )

Yeah, me too.

( because what else is there to say? what else should they do? if the other saja boys are alive, it's difficult to anticipate where they might be or their condition. and really? baby doesn't care about them. he doesn't care about anything except mystery, his attention turning back towards him when he begins to clean the scratches dug into his skin.

it stings, but he doesn't stop him. instead, he steps into mystery's personal space and gently twists his fingers into his shirt. )

I can get whatever we need. Your face – ( he frowns to himself. ) It'd be too noticeable like this.

[ordinarily, he'd pull away with a reaction like that, but he can't bring himself to do so whenever there are so many bruises on baby's body. if there's one thing he wishes, it would be that he could heal him (and himself, maybe), yet there's no way for that to happen and it only serves to frustrate him even more. so, he tries not to think about it too much.

rather than focus on that, he pours his attention into making sure baby is patched up too, knowing full-well that he has plenty of time to worry later.

he isn't even really thinking about the other saja boys at the moment because if he does, that means wondering what might happen if they come across each other and he doesn't know if that would be a good or bad thing right now. mystery does his best to be gentle, even though he knows baby can handle it, that doesn't mean he wants to hurt him further.

once baby steps into his space, he finishes bandaging his wounds first then he lowers his arms and hooks them around the other demon, holding him close, a light scowl coming across his face as well.

not because of his face, but because he doesn't want to send baby out there by himself, despite knowing that he's right.] I suppose it would be. [and maybe it's petulant, he doesn't seem to care either way.] But I don't want you to have to go alone...

( baby can sense it in mystery's words as soon as they leave his mouth: they're fussing over each other.

but it's not like they've made any specific promises to one another, even if mystery is the only one baby tolerated for the longest time before they got intimately involved. now, it's almost like an addiction. he can never get enough and always thinks about him. he thinks about him now, allowing mystery to pull him in against him and feeling his entire body relax the moment there's contact between them. )

It's not like we're in some weird part of town, Myst. ( gentle ribbing, trying to assuage the situation. ) Nothing's going to happen.

( he doesn't actually know that, but he doesn't say it. mystery's probably already thinking it anyway, trying to get ahead of it by gently cupping his face in his hands and looking him in the eyes. )

Let's rest for a while. Then we can decide.

( and he seals it with a gentle kiss. )

[maybe it's silly to worry, they're both fine for the most part, but after everything that had happened before this . . . well, he doesn't want to take any chances.

baby's right, though. with his face bandaged up, it wouldn't look too good, and people might ask questions that they don't even have answers for themselves. he lets himself relax marginally, his head leaning forward so he can rest their foreheads together; it feels better like this, at least, and he is relieved that they're together.

how do you know? is what he wants to say, except he recognizes the teasing and can't help smiling faintly in return.] No, you're right. Everything will be fine. [and yes, he's thinking it, but as long as they have each other, he feels a little more secured.

he blinks lightly when baby takes hold of his face, his shoulders slumping even further, the faintest nod following that.] Okay. That's probably for the best, anyway.

[the kiss is reassuring as well and he wastes no time kissing him back, gentle and slow and careful.]

( 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

for mysteriousness

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject