cataclysmic

“Yes, that’s what the wings are for.” He said shortly, eyes focusing on what was in front of him instead of  of the other in particular. Minjae didn’t really expect him to help much, especially considering the tensions between their gangs at the moment. But he at least appreciated that he wasn’t pointing the finger at him. Sure his bother was second in command and his brother in law was the leader,  he was sure many of the snakes were looking to beat his ass up; hell- he wouldn’t have been surprised if that was who jumped him. He hisses as a finger is pressed up against his nose, eyes glaring at the other for a minute, before his threat gets caught in his throat at the other’s words, “Soohan— I swear…” He mumbles, fingers carding through his hair.

Really Soohan had every reason to kick dirt in Minjae’s face and just walk off but he couldn’t bring himself to do that. Too many of the lower level Lost Boys had violently denied their involvement. Which meant that even if Hansol and Minho had carried out the attacks they had only told a small number of their gang – Minjae could be one of them. It was very likely but Soohan’s gut could only tell him the opposite. “What? Am I not allowed to compliment a cute face when I see one? Damn, just take away all the joy from my life why don’t you.” A playful pout pulled at his lips as he stared at Minjae. The corners of his eyes creasing slightly as he attempted to hide a teasing smile. “But seriously. We need to get that thing fixed or you’re fucked.”

“probably not.. who even knows who we can trust anymore.” she sighed, pulling back then and taking his hand instead so start pulling him from the cafe. her apartment was probably her best bet right now, because as much as she trusted their headquarters, soonhee didn’t want to think about all the shit that had gone on their last night. she didn’t want to face it all again, despite it all being cleaned up– she couldn’t. so at least her apartment was in a hopefully safe enough place.

the fact that yulhee hadn’t gotten back to soohan though? that had her freezing a little instead, because if she hadn’t gotten back to him.. her mind went to the worst case scenario’s then instead. thinking about everything that could’ve happened to her– but if anything had happened then someone would’ve told one of them, right? unless she was kidnapped– but no.. she’d know, right? still, soonhee’s mind didn’t drift from the hell thoughts then until soohan was speaking to her again. “i hope so..” she muttered quietly, beginning to walk again. “if she gets back to you, let me know.. she hasn’t been picking up my calls or answering my messages right now. so i hope you gets back to you at least. or just one of us.”

“Each other.” He follows Soonhee obediently, hand clasping hers as his need for physical contact seems to go into a minor overdrive. “I know you’re probably going to hate me pulling the age card but I have been doing this longer than you. We just trust each other, we should keep the other gangs close but we can’t trust them…no matter who they are.” The words hurt for Soohan to say. Life really was easier when he was alone, his loyalties only affected himself but he couldn’t think about himself anymore. Even if his friends were in other gangs, even if people he loved were in other gangs as long as they wore different tattoos to him he couldn’t trust them. Not after this.

“You’ll be the first person I tell, trust me. I want her safe just as much as you do.” He rubs his thumb over the back of her hand comfortingly as he talks, Trying to calm them both down as much as he can. “We’d know if anything awful had happened to her. We would. It’s just working out where she’s gone.” Maybe he was being too optimistic but his brain wouldn’t let him be anything else. There were too many of his friends gone in one night, Yulhee couldn’t be one of them. She just couldn’t. He would know, no one would even have to tell him he would just know.

The breeze seemed to only make the sting of his injuries even worse and he wondered, as each car sped passed him how long he had been sitting with his back against the concrete wall that separated the sidewalk from what seemed to be a hill littered with trees. He found the stares and whispers of those who walked by to be amusing, but he wasn’t surprised that no one stopped to help and more so crossed the street before they could walk passed him. It was when he had caught someone crouching down out of his peripheral, that he dragged his head over to the side; recognizing the face almost immediately. “Not really bleeding out; feeding my gang.” He mumbles, clucking his tongue. Soohan wasn’t someone he found himself in the company of often, he proffered his own gang when it came to hanging out. “Tell me something I don’t know?”

With a soft huff he set himself on his butt, if the conversation was going to continue he might as well be comfortable. “Ah, so that’s what the wings are for makes sense now considering the size of your gang.” It would probably be considered rude and completely out of nowhere but Soohan didn’t think much as he reached out a finger to poke at Minjae’s nose. Grimacing as he got a better sense of the damage. “We should get you to someone who can set that properly or you’re not going to look half as cute anymore and that would be a tragedy.” Flirting was another thing that would most likely be considered out of place in a situation like this. Soohan couldn’t bring him to care though if he sees a pretty face than him flirts it was practically wired into him at this point in life. It helped that he found Minjae to be good company from the few times they had talked before.

the snap wasn’t what atticus was expecting.. but well maybe he’d been asleep longer than he’d needed to miss this whole fiasco that had apparently gone on. something that was confusing him because he honestly didn’t know what it was. but then again, he could’ve very well heard about it in passing maybe, but it wasn’t like atticus would remember a thing like that. he had a hard enough time remembering each day as it was, that remembering important instances as well? that could become fuzzy, as much as he didn’t want it to.

“you’re fine.“ he waved him off, shrugging because it wasn’t like he was bothered by it. apparently it was just more sensitive that atticus was aware of, and he wasn’t going to hold that to soohan. “but i think we both know i wouldn’t lie about not knowing something.“ he did need to point out, not wanting the older male to think that he was lying about this when he wasn’t. if he was lying, he’d probably be doing a poor ass job of it, because that was never atticus’ strong point. he wasn’t good with words, lies, or truth honestly. which wasn’t the best thing around here he supposed. but when soohan pressed, wondering if he really hadn’t heard, then atticus shrugged again. “if i have, i don’t remember. not gonna be a surprise, but i was out all night, and i’ve been sleeping in here most of the day until now.“

He winced slightly as Atticus explained himself. He was aware of the others memory problems and he probably should have taken them into consideration. Out of all the people, he could get angry at for being ignorant to the situation Atticus wasn’t one of them. “Don’t worry. I guess I shouldn’t just expect everyone to know. No matter how many people are running around gossiping about it.” And boy had they been gossiping. It was lucky Hyuk’s was a neutral territory or Soohan would have bloody knuckles by now.

“There was an attack o-on the Snakes.” He swallowed harshly to try and rid his voice of the shake. No matter how weak he felt in that moment he refused to show it to anyone outside of his own gang. “There’s only half of us left. As far as I know anyway. There might be less, there might be more, Soonhee hasn’t done a full body count yet.” Again his eyes drew themselves to boring a hole into the cheap table. The faces of people he’d spent the past year with flicking through his head. He wasn’t a stranger to death but it was hard to comprehend just how many were gone and just how close he had been to them. A shake of his head and he was looking at Atticus again but the grim expression refused to shift. “Apparently the Lost Boys did it.”

if soonhee had been anywhere near the incident when it happened, then she’d have stopped it as soon as she could. or.. have tried to at least, because the fact this happened under her gang was what effected her the most. the fact it was her gang, and members that she should have protected instead of let.. die, on her command. that wasn’t what soonhee had sworn to do. she’d said she’d protect them all, even if there were members that she didn’t like, she still wanted to protect them all. but she couldn’t, and now the fact half her gang had been killed was practically on her own hands. this kind of guilt– it wasn’t something she was used to at all. the guilt that they’d lost their lives, some teenagers that were too young for this life even, had died because she hadn’t been able to see it coming– it hurt. but at least there were some still here.

her own arms wrapped back around him quickly, sighing out in relief because it was at least that to be able to see soohan still alright. it was a relief to see any of them still alright honestly. but the question had her freezing up a little, before her grip tightened a little. soonhee didn’t want it to be true either after all. “i don’t know. i don’t know who it was, but it all points towards them, soohan.” she was just as quiet in her own reply then. “there’s no one else it could’ve been.” she didn’t want to think that some of her friends might’ve been involved in this, but it was hard to find any other suspects really. “come on, if we’re going to talk about this then we should probably find somewhere a little more private. and has yulhee contacted you? she won’t answer her phone, and i know she can handle herself, but i need to know she’s alright too. i need to know you’re both alright.”

His heart clenched at the answer he got and the answer he had been suspecting. It didn’t make sense but it also almost did. No one had ever been tricked into thinking that gangs got along but there was at least the pact. And none of them were dumb enough to think that someone wouldn’t try to break that pact at some point either but the Lost Boys? Soohan would like to say that he would look past it, that he could believe the Lost Boys saying it wasn’t them, could believe his friends, but it was hard when he had actually seen the bodies. He knew what a Lost Boy victim looked like and he had cleaned up too many of them that morning.

“Yeah. I’m not entirely sure if we’re safe here anyway.” He chose to leave off that he didn’t think they were safe anywhere now. Their own territory had been trespassed and used as an execution point after all. His eyes widen as Soonhee mentions Yulhee, pulling back until he can look her in the face and make sure she’s not lying. “Yulhee? I assumed she would be with you?” The same shot of fear from earlier went through him until he caught himself. No one had mentioned Yulhee. All the other Snakes he had spoken to would have mentioned if she was one of the ones dead, it wasn’t exactly a secret how close the pair were considering they referred to each other as if they were married. Someone would have told him and that had to mean she was okay. And if she was okay Soohan could make a guess at where she would be. “She’ll be with her family, I think. It’s the only place I can see her going after all of this…mess. I’ll call her to check.”

catching up on missed sleep in hyuk’s cafe wasn’t necessarily a new thing to atticus, and neither was the half full, now bitter and cold, coffee in the paper cup that was next to his arm. a futile attempt in trying to keep himself awake rather than succumbing to a few extra hours of much needed sleep. atticus was probably only a regular there for the fact that he slept a lot inside the busy place after all, mostly because nights filled with racing usually left him groggy for a little while and he found it hard to sleep after being pumped up on too much adrenaline. last night being a little more of a bumpy ride too, given that he was sporting small scrapes on his face from glass shattering from his driver side window mid race thanks to the asshole cheater jackass kid that had thought driving him off the road would be more fun instead. 

thanks to sleep and work though, atticus hadn’t heard the daily gossip of the on going issues in the other gang’s, specifically the newfound situation with the snakes featuring the lost boys as the suspects. if he knew about that, then he’d probably have been spending more time at his apartment safely than wondering if his own gang was about to get fucked next. but peeling his eyes open now, atticus’ vision was blurry a moment or so before he pushed himself up, figuring he should probably leave before he really does just pass out for the whole day here– but he’s stopped when he spots a familiar snake looking.. not so like himself? it prompts him over to where the other is.

“dude, you okay?“ atticus might not have been the best at catching on to things, but he could tell when something was off anyway.. “lookin’ a little on the gloomy side, bud. something happen?“

There were many ways people dealt with the tragic situation, or at least Soohan assumed there were and he couldn’t help but feel the way he was dealing with it was a tad pathetic. The Outlaw Bloods had been quick to try and solve who had trashed their gambling halls…not very successfully from the sound of it but Soohan had never thought highly of the gang so he wasn’t surprised, he’d heard that the Jung brothers were working hard to make sure the Nameless wasn't villainized any more than they already were, he wouldn’t be surprised if the Lost Boys already had sixteen different plans going on how to clear their name but Soohan wasn’t doing any of that. He’d helped clean up the bodies and now was just waiting- for what he wasn’t quite sure. Logically for Soonhee to tell him what to do next or, the more probable reason, he was just waiting for it all to go away. For everything to solve itself so he didn’t have to sit in a cramped café mourning his friends and fearing for his own life.

Soohan looks up with a small sound of recognition having to blink his eyes back into focus after staring at the table for far too long before fully taking Atticus in. He resists the urge to burst into laughter at the question. Something happen? Yes, everything was crumbling apart and he no longer felt safe in any way. “You’re kidding right?” Soohan’s words come out slightly more biting than he originally intended, shooting Atticus a sympathetic look only a moment later. “Sorry.” It doesn’t take long for it to hit him that it is likely that Atticus doesn’t actually know what just happened – it wasn’t very likely considering Soohan had heard people gossiping about the killings his entire time in Hyuk’s but not impossible. Soohan also thought he knew enough about Atticus to know that the boy wouldn’t go out of his way to make a comment like that if he already knew that half of the Snakes were nothing more than corpses now. “I- have you not already heard?”

THE GYM was probably the third place one would be likely to find him if he wasn’t at his apartment or his hide out. He liked working a Kinsenthetic workout and aside from his morning jogs, he figured there was no better place to do it at than the gym. He grew quite fond of the owners at a small one near the subway station and he figured his jog to and from the Gym was a great warm up and cool down. Keeping in shape was a big thing for him, considering the copious amount of sports he did in high school. He wonders if it would make sense for him to join some recreational soccer team or maybe a lacrosse team.– Did they even have those here? He never realized how truly ignorant  he was over his home country until he finally stepped foot on it’s soil.

He stops into a convenience store, looking for some type of protein and something to drink. Ironically, he chooses three different types of Samgak Kimbap, and a liter of water before taking them up to the counter and waiting behind some stranger in front of him. However, it’s when they don’t have enough to cover the costs, that Yeong throws down the remaining amount with his usual smile before setting his food on the counter.

Maybe he was a creature of habit, he wasn’t entirely sure, but ever since he had moved to Seoul all those years ago Soohan had lived in the same area in the same apartment and went to the same shops. It made him feel more at home he supposed. He’d lived in a small seaside town growing up and the community was tight, keeping himself in such a small part of the city and seemed to recreate the feeling. Like talking to the same convenience store owner for the past five years so they were on a first name basis.

Soohan was never sure if the owner actually knew just what type of crowd Soohan belonged to but he had always been understanding whenever Soohan found himself short of cash. It was that reassurance of knowing he wasn’t wasting the man’s time that he didn’t feel all too embarrassed when he found himself without enough to cover his purchases and got ready to leave empty handed. That was until someone was paying for it for him. He eyed Yeongseok for a moment before making his way outside of the store and waiting on the curb for Yeongseok to be done with his own transaction. “Well, thank you, white knight, for such a kind gesture.” His normal color wasn’t carried over in his words but Soohan had found it being absent since the attacks. A sarcastic and mocking grin had still been pulled onto his face now.

Bae: Are you trying to fight next time I see you???

Bae: Bc my favorite weapon is a lamp. Or whatever is nearby at the time idk

Bae: Is it true enough to where I should start charging you for it now :))

Bae: OK BUT WHAT IF I JUST WANT MORE ON MY BUTT. Kim is inspiring me. Her butt just got bigger and bigger and she ended up married and happy.

Bae: DONT YOU SEE THE LOGIC?

Soohan:...

Soohan: We ain't fighting if you're gonna fight dirty like that

Soohan: I pay for a week's worth of you time like every month!! I'm not paying more than that!! I'm not rich!

Soohan: What logic? There's no logic.

she was livid. anger showing as soon as she’d stepped onto the scene of the crime and seen the bodies, the way they were mutilated and ripped apart. her rage wasn’t a common thing to be shown, her attitude usually staying civil and calm– collected because if she was not that, then what kind of leader would she be? she had to be a calm leader. she had to be there for her gang. but how could she be there for her gang when this had happened, when nearly half her gang had been killed in a single night? she wanted to scream honestly, but she didn’t, instead telling the others to clean up the mess and secure their borders instead. to find out who the fuck had done it, because if there were no other clues to be found, of course she was going to pin it on the lost boys. how could she not?

but she needed to find those that she hadn’t seen yet. yulhee for one– and soohan. she had to find him, to see that he was alright too because if there was anyone she wasn’t losing, it was him and yulhee. they were her closest. so she starts to call them both, heels clicking off the concrete as she makes her way to anywhere she might find them. it’s as soonhee calls soohan though, that she spots his figure in the window of hyuk’s, and avoiding the stares she receives when she walks in, or the fact that she’s looking a lot less than her usually perfect self. “soohan-ah..” her voice soft as she got to him. “you’re alright.”

Soohan knew Soonhee hadn’t been hurt, the gang would be in an even bigger mess if she had, but he cared about her. She was important to him and knew that what happened must be tearing her up. The Snakes were family and they meant that, they looked out for each other and now half of them were dead. And Soonhee was the one who had to try and pick up the pieces. He let out a soft sigh of relief as he watched her walk into the café. Soohan wasn’t one to get sappy but right now all he really wanted was to see those he cared about. For a little bit, nobody else mattered.

“Soonhee.” He pulled her into a hug as soon as she was close enough. Leaning down ever so slightly to whisper into her. Even if they were in neutral territory he didn’t want to take the risk. “Tell me it wasn’t them. Tell me it wasn’t the Lost Boys, please.” Soohan wasn’t a fool. He had seen the Lost Boys killing style before and the bodies he’d found and cleaned up matched it but even then, he didn’t want to believe it. He had no problems with the Lost Boys – he was friends with a lot of them for crying out loud! – it didn’t make sense for them to just randomly attack. But everything pointed towards them.

“I’M NOT EMO…just shaken. But if you’re asking; animals. Specifically Misho but really I’ll play with any animal on the planet and enjoy it. They’re a lot less annoying and complicated than people. Plus they’re dumb as fuck.”

He hadn’t given himself any proper time process what had happened before carrying out his orders. It was easier to just get on with it but now he was having to face the fact that he wasn’t as safe as he thought he was. People he had considered his friends were dead, killed by the Lost Boys if all the rumours were true and he was trying to work out why he wasn’t dead as well. His feet somehow led him to Hyuk’s Café, he wasn’t entirely sure maybe because his own territory didn’t feel safe anymore. Hunched in the corner of the store as he spun his phone around hoping for Soonhee or Yulhee or anyone to phone him and tell him just what was going to happen now.

Bae naturally leaned into Soohan’s touch, although as soon as his gaze met the others- he couldn’t help but flicker down from his view. Although the escort considered himself an open book, full of confidence and never afraid to speak what was on his mind- whenever it came to his own issues and the chance of potential conflicts, Bae instantly shut it away. Anything that would save the chances of people getting upset or starting an issue that could be prevented. There was already too many concerns and dangers in the streets of Seoul, the last thing anybody needed to be doing was worrying about Bae’s small problems. Maybe if the weight of Taemin hadn’t rested on him so heavily, he would have spilled everything about what Dabin said to upset him without hesitation. Yet the fear of opening his mouth about one issue, and not being able to stop was enough to keep his mouth closed. He didnt want to kill the mood or their evening. Instead of answering, he tilted his head up and pressed his lips to Soohan’s cheek. “Dont worry about it alright? Let’s just focus on how it’s suddenly hit me that you resemble a puppy.” Bae grinned, his other hand sneaking around to pinch at Soohan’s cheek. “Now where’s that praise I was promised charming?”

Bae: *insert a game of thrones fighting gif*

Bae: 👀👀👀

Bae: Ok you only have to say that bc you get it free

Bae: IT CAN BE BETTER 😭😭

Bae: Like they would like suck fat from thighs, arms, and hips and then put it in my butt. So it's still my fat??

Soohan: Try me, you know I'll win

Soohan: 👀👀👀

Soohan: I say it because it's true

Soohan: Even a blind man would be able to attest to how great your butt is

Soohan: Tho I suppose a blind man can still feel how great your butt is