fire of unknown origin

There was something inherently guilt inducing about sneaking around, desperate to stay unseen. Over the past year, Seungbin had only just come to terms with the idea that one of his closest friends was, in fact, a celebrity ( and that he, too, possessed a modicum of notoriety).

For no reason in particular, the young man decided against hiding himself around those he should not appear to be so ashamed around. ( Of course, there would be the occasional exception. ) His first venture in months without the black mask concealing his identity was to meet with Sangwoon for a much needed day out. Particularly between their hectic schedules.

message sent to bf(f) sw♡

ㅡ hey handsome

ㅡ im waiting outside for u xoxo

Perhaps he appeared somewhat of an eccentric lingering around a lamp post with a coquettish grin crept across his lips.

STARTER PROMPTS ㅡ accepting

There came a time when the dam surrounding Bin's heart was bound to burst. He toed the precipice of melting down. The thin line faltering feet balanced on ran short of the other side ㅡ where sparks scalded the surface. This fire began in bursts; the sort near impossible to put out.

And now he sat, leaned against the wall outside one of NightBlue's practice rooms, streaks hidden amongst the sweat. His body throbbed from his toes to the heart pushing up his throat. He should have known better than to allow his soul to crack under the pressure. He should have done as well as the past month told him. It was too much to bear on shoulders already weakened from the weight they carried for years.

The approaching sound if footsteps prompted him to hide his face, an apology immediately following. "Sorry, I was just resting up."

Then the familiar voice emerged, quelling the need to rebuild walls around him. He found no strength to stand, his limbs exhausted from overwork, trembling as they reached toward the steady pillar hovering over him. "That's a stupid thing to say. Don't practice your drama lines on me," he mumbled the words into the fabric of Sangwoon's pant leg. Bin did not have it in him to muster grateful words, even if the cheesy line brought him a glimmer of solace.

he turns around, his face (or more like his lips) was covered in ice cream. slowly, he puts down the ice cream cone and stares at bin with wide eyes. austin waits for him to at least finish the sentence but the pause was a bit unbearing at the moment. he purses his lips slightly as if deep in thought before taking another bite of his ice cream.

“what do i do if…”

finishing off his ice cream before staring blankly at his empty hand that once held his ice cream. taking a minute or two, he realizes that he had finished his ice cream. austin looks up at him and smiles at the other.

“i had another ice cream? is that what you’re trying to ask me, bin?”

It took every fibre of Seungbin's being not to reach over and slap the now nonexistent ice cream out of Austin's hand. For the proper effect, he placed his own half finished one in his grip and promptly did so. The cone shattered on impact much like his expectations for the friend sitting across from him.

"Austin, you ignorant slut." He struggled to keep a straight face, electing to dramatically leaning against the table to spare his sanity. So much for keeping his cool facade. ( Although when was he truly such a thing? Especially in the presence of one of his best friends. ) "You fool."

STARTER PROMPTS ㅡ accepting

In one fell swoop, Seth's statement managed to become the straw that broke the metaphorical camel’s back ㅡ to no fault of his. It was fortunate Seungbin fancied himself a patient man. Had he been any younger, fingers curled into white knuckled fists would be clutching at his shirt, shaking him, pleading him to explain why such a thing could have occured. Why the laws of nature continuously decided to betray him in such s cruel manner.

He detested the line across his own face dressing his lips in a cocky smile. ( Unaware of what he found so amusing. ) He resented the lack of sleep coursing through his veins and making his head throb.

STARTER PROMPTS ㅡ accepting

Confusion reflexively laced Bin's brow. He searched Yerin's face with a shred of scrutiny, focused on the indicative nuances of someone who had become far too tired. Not unlike himself, she had the tendency to drag her feet up the stairs of their apartment building around the same time.

Rarely, if ever, did he have the tendency to pry into the girl's life. He felt he had no right to do so ㅡ until their lives became gradually more intwined. His judgement urged him to dredge deeper now that he found himself sitting across from her in his own living room. ( Over handmade food, of course. He would never allow any guest to leave with an empty stomach. )

"What do you mean by that? Not a fan of getting back home at ass o' clock in the morning?" Immediately, he snuffed out the statement with a mouthful of rice. "Just kidding...

ㅡ

❝ i— ❞ she straightens herself before pulling their linked hands backward enough to see his face. her eyes scan his features with a hint of concern before she breaks into a smile again. ❝ i don’t have any problem getting food. but, i think you’re far more interested in trees. ❞ she mimics the voice he uses when he teases her. her freed hand knocks on the bark. ❝ i mean, if you want to get a meal with her, go ahead. i’ll happily surrender. ❞

The hopeless romantic hidden in Bin's mind swam to the front of his head in an endless barrage of thoughts ㅡ things to say. He knew it was best to keep them locked away for the time being. Fortunately they were more inclined toward the positive end. There was little room for doubt to wedge its way between them. ( Though it would certainly try its damndest. He felt the flames of it starting where their palms brushed. )

"Hey!" a laugh, a genuine one. "don't be mistaken! As beautiful as she is..." He paused to smile brightly, knocking on the bark in the same location. The leaves looming overhead seemed to sway as if acknowledging the compliment. "I'd much rather go out with you... go somewhere with you."

His hand tightened around hers again, as if he feared she would disappear at any moment. ( He imagined he had the right to feel so afraid given the lines of history etched into his heart. )

Allowing his eyes to flicker over her smile once more, he turned to guide her across the street to a quiet place he frequented often before practice. Calming, typically free of large crowds ㅡ the ideal place he thought to bring Hyunbi to for a brief breath of relative peace. If he knew they were to part ways so soon, he would need the momentary reassurance.

ㅡ

❛ do your magic…oh but let me know what i need to do? i want to help you if i can. ❜　

Perhaps it was the older's family situation that led him to squeeze into such a role in Hyemin's life ㅡ among other younger friends. Although he certainly felt he possessed little right to. She had older siblings of her own, after all; and he only hoped they wouldn't mind taking her underneath his wings for just a small amount of time, this little bird. ( A compulsive need to guide, support, and be someone comforting had the bothersome tendency to overtake him in her presence. )

"First we need to bleach our hair," He examined the instructions one final time before taking the precaution of slipping on gloves ㅡ and then handing a pair to Hyemin. "I did it successfully before but there was another trainee who came in with, like... green fried hair. Like cabbage..." It was then he visibly winced, mixing together the blue substance with the application brush. "Uh... dont worry though, I wasn't the one who made him like that, I promise."

ㅡ TRAINEE PROFILE UPDATED !!

ㅡ

❝ i admit i didn’t think that far and just ran here because i just wanted you to know… but, ❞ her once fidgeting hand stops as it scopes the hand he offered. her smile stretches upward as she offers him a hopefully comforting grin. ❝ i… you asked what i wanted and well… ❞ she stops, rethinking her course of thought. ❝ actually, nevermind. lets get going! ❞

It was proven useless to keep his attention away while she spoke. From behind straw colored bangs, he carefully examined her face, going over each nuance of the soft features as if it would be the last time he would ever see them. His eyes visibly softened, aware her words rang true. "That's another thing I like about you, you know... You're honest." Halfway through the response slipped an embarrassed laugh ㅡ as if he was appalled of his ability to say it out loud.

He was appalled how quickly his insides turned the consistency of applesauce once her fingers brushed against his. Gone, for the moment, was the Seungbin who relentlessly teased the girl for the smallest thing. ( Although he was sure to make a return once hearts were partially settled. )

"Then, well... Let's just go wherever stuff takes us. I think that's been working so far?" He couldn't help but glance every which way out of habit. To stifle the loudness of his creeping anxieties, he tightened his grasp around Hyunbi's hand. It was warm, comforting ㅡ and yet it still made his heart pound against his ribcage. A sensation he would grow to welcome into his life once again. Maybe. Hopefully. With spontaneity to match her own, he tugged the girl along without so much as a warning. To put it simply: he trusted her to trust him.

The flustered boy managed to mumble, "Food... food and we can sit down outside andㅡ" With his brain in a fog, it proved difficult to fabricate the perfect place to be with her. "God, I feel like an idiot right now. Am I an idiot?" he paused, not realizing he unconsciously vocalized his thoughts.