there's only one king

Offering comfort is not Dane’s strong suit. The feeling of Minkyu’s tears on his skin is a foreign one, and he tries to adjust himself to it, to adjust their bodies so that he’s held as close as he possibly can be. He begins to rock him, slowly, and he reaches to stroke his fingers through his hair in a comforting gesture that he knows always helps him when he’s this upset about something. It isn’t often that he has to cope with feelings of grief, of sadness, if only because he refuses to allow his mind to go in that direction. He refuses to allow himself to feel. 

“Kyu.” Dane murmurs it, and he moves a hand so that he can tilt his chin up towards him. He searches his face as he cradles his chin, and he thinks the tears sparkling in his eyes are more beautiful than the masked stars above. Grief can be beautiful, in its own way. “There aren’t words…” It’s all he can say, and he trails off at the end. Nothing he can say will make it better, will take it away or fix it, so he just doesn’t say anything at all. Instead, he leans to kiss the tears from his cheeks, slow and with gentle intent. 

When he pulls away, it isn’t very far. Empathy is hard to experience for him, but he does feel something for his sorrows, even if he can’t exactly call it that. Losing someone you love is very difficult. “You seek revenge.” 

It’s one thing to be held when they share a bed till morning, it’s another thing entirely to be held when Minkyu is as fragile as he is right now. Had it been any other person, he would’ve run and never looked back. But this is Dane and Minkyu feels as safe as he can be. He turns back towards him, looks at him with big, wet eyes. Every touch feels gentle, soothing. It brings warmth to the hole in his chest. He scrunches his nose up and uses the sleeve of his sweater to wipe the tears away from his face.

He doesn’t say anything, instead focuses on getting his breathing back in order. He leans with his side against Dane’s chest, rests his forehead against the other’s cheek while his hands slip under Dane’s jacket. His arms circle around his waist and he holds onto him tight. In the distance there’s a police siren yet all Minkyu can hear is the other’s steady heartbeat. It’s like a song that calms him down. Tears still fall down his cheeks, though his breaths are slowing down once again. Finally, he nods.

Things between them are strange, unique in a way that he hasn’t experienced before. They are such different beings that sometimes it’s hard for him to see a way that they can meet in the middle of their two extremes. Minkyu wants things that Dane doesn’t, and Dane wants things that Minkyu doesn’t — they are conflicting, and if anything isn’t going to work out in the end, then it’s this. Still, he finds himself holding onto it, and holding onto Kyu, his arms snug around his waist and his lips grazing against the shell of his ear. He smells good, like soap and like him, and he inhales just for the sake of it now. They are only going to hurt each other. This is only going to end in disaster.

Dane finds that he doesn’t care.

“What happened to your sire?” Maybe that’s an inappropriate question to ask, but there’s a vulnerability between them right now that makes him brave enough to do so. He wants to know everything that Kyu is willing to tell him, and in return, perhaps his own honesty will come through.

As memories start to flood his vision, all Minkyu can do is focus on his own breathing. Focus on the breaths that leave Dane’s lips, the way they brush past his ear. Focus on the soft breeze of the wind on his cheeks. He blinks, tries to keep his gaze steady on the night sky far above them. He swallows, again and again before finally, he sighs as the tears start to roll down his cheeks. After it happened, he had allowed himself a single day to grieve. It wasn’t long enough, maybe that’s why he still struggles whenever he thinks of that day.

It takes him a while to respond, moments pass by as he opens and closes his mouth, tries to think of the right words to say. His tears fall down his chest, some fall on their hands but he doesn’t reach up to wipe them away.

Finally, very slowly, he manages to find the words to say. He speaks word for word, pauses in between every single one, makes it sound like he might stop speaking in the middle of a sentence-- however he’s only trying not to break down any further.

his stare made her nervous, she had to admit. but she had also been prepared to stand her ground. “I’m only outside because of the cat,” she defended. though she wouldn’t be able to deny the fact that she would have left if she needed more information that she couldn’t gather just from books and reports. “it’s not…” her frown deepened at his continuing thought, something that had briefly crossed her mind and she decided to wait for before coming up with a plan. “it’s not about killing them.” no matter the brave face she put, her insides still squirmed at the thought of that blood on her hands. “it’s about knowing. I get it. I’m new. ‘young and foolish’,” the words of the elders who didn’t know she had been listening. “and I don’t know much about how the rest of you operate. the coven has their secrets-” she made sure to not mention aleksander by name. “-as is expected. but I’m the fledgling and I’m the one at risk here. if there is danger out there, if it was a lycan who did that, I have to know how to stay safe other than just hiding.”

THE GRIN ON SINCLAIR’S FACE finally did dance across his lips — minkyu played it smart . minkyu played it just as close to the chest as he did . oh , was there anything ( other than one zaiden hendricks ) that he loved anything more than a good game , across from another experienced player ? clair was glad to know it , to see that his age hadn’t left him too arrogant to consider his moves carefully . the expression on his face met his eyes , & hopefully his appreciation translated through what he knew was a shit - eating expression . 

he placed his empty glass down on the near - by table with an audible clink , his cigarette dangling between his lips precariously , the cherry bobbing slightly in his reply . “ vampires live long , long lives ; aleksander more than most of us . journaling isn’t just a hobby , it’s necessary for someone who wants to be able to remember it all , especially someone of his age . i’ve got a good eye for the all things hidden , & i’ll bet you all the blood i’ve ever drank that he has one , or several , & that i could find them . ” he inhaled once more on his cancer stick , killing it in a long drag , putting it out in his glass after not seeing an ashtray anywhere . he made a point to blow his hit to the side over his shoulder before he continued . “ if you had , i think you wouldn’t be in the position you are in now . perhaps it’s the recent events , & his lack of action around them — but i’ve taken note of the way you’re much more present & visible within the coven since the murder of our dear fledgling… ” like a politician preparing his move , was left unsaid . minkyu would come to that conclusion on his own .

sinclair took that half step closer , having to widen his stance so the toes of his well - shined shoes didn’t clip the toes of minkyu’s . his gaze danced with his own amusement , lips twitching slightly as he considered how to say it , his tone deliberately calm & docile & non - confrontational — “ you’re in no position to be upset that i don’t want to spill my personal reasons to you . i would never expect it of you , hell , i wouldn’t even think to ask .  anything i find , no matter the reason why i’d like to find it , would be useful in spinning distrust . you haven’t snatched at anything because you want it to be given to you , a graceful yet astoundingly manipulative sentiment . ” clair paused , fingers fumbling with his designer watch , & the buttons on his long sleeve just below it as though it was bothering him , just to provide a visible pause . “ i can deduce quite a lot with very little information , which i remind you , have given me none of . i sought you out of my own volition , & trust me when i say , i’m not tempted in the slightest to cross you . when you lay out all the facts nicely on the table , my offer & my plea for very minor assistance on your part , seems overwhelmingly fair . plus , my ‘ i - owe - you’s ’ are a bit more valuable than the average vampire’s…”

the tilt of his head , the way his shoulders slumped down slightly to meet minkyu’s gaze in full from his standing position screamed mischief , like a child that wanted to a good game of tag ,  antagonizing their friend until they give in & play .

The world is loud-- the music is pounding, the lights are flashing. Everyone is having a good time and they’re focused on their own pleasure only. The moment Sinclair opens his mouth to further explain himself, Minkyu feels his own world shift and slow down until it comes to a full halt. He watches him curiously though with a bored expression at first. As he continues, the older vampire lets his gaze drift away from him and towards the dance floor below. He leans with his chin on his fist and it’s difficult to read him, to guess what he’s thinking-- knuckles come to cover his mouth. Minkyu isn’t thinking much actually, he’s letting the other’s words bounce around in his mind until they’ve lost their power. They bounce around for quite some time.

Ever since Minkyu became a part of the coven of the new world, no one dared to talk to him the way Sinclair is doing right now. To be so direct, to read him and to tell him what’s what. No one except for Aleksander and oh, how much he hates it when that cockroach talks down to him. The only thing he has over him is his bloodline and how little that even means. Minkyu’s free hand balls into a fist in his lap and it trembles for a second before he lets go. He drops his hand away from his face, lets it rest on the armrest of the sofa he’s on and when he’s about to turn back to face Sinclair, he sees how close he is. Minkyu swallows and looks up at him. For some reason he doesn’t hate this-- feels quite the opposite, actually.

Seconds tick by where he just stares at him, in awe or disbelief of what just happened. “Right,” is all he manages to say with a curd nod, lets his gaze drift away again to the crowd below. He picks up his drink from the side table and takes a quiet sip. He wonders if Sinclair practiced this speech or if he just came up with it in the moment. Wonders how he avoided him for so long when it’s so obvious how good of an asset he can be.

@kingminkyu· // kyu

roo was working a double today for a lot of reason, the main one being they needed the cash to pay the rent they’re behind on, also it was a great excuse to ignore basically anyone trying to contact them as they just didn’t feel like dealing with their friends today. something in roo’s mind was poking and itching making her grumpier than normal which was good for keeping the snot nosed little brats out of their bar, not so great for customer service. she got sent out to take out the trash for their attitude and they supposed it could be said that it was deserved. she stalked out the back door trash in hand, tossing it into the dumpster and when they turned again they caught a familiar infuriating face. “’sup leech, what the fuck can i help you with?”

it took a lot more than emiko would like to admit for her to stop the wince that threatened to surface with his tone. the disappointment forced her walls to build up, a built-in reflex to keep her standing. she should have grabbed the paper as soon as he picked up the cat. her research was out of bounds, she knew, but she was good at this kind of work, at details and inspections. “this isn’t for anyone,” she protested. “I mean..” a deep breath to think carefully before she continued, “I know this isn’t my job. but if it’s going to be dangerous for fledglings out there, I deserve a right to know what happened. after all, I am one too and I want to know how to keep myself safe. I know I can’t do much-” yet, she added silently in her mind. “-but I can’t just sit still and wait until I’m the next one.” if her voice shook ever so slight by the end of it, she pretended to not hear it. two years ago, she would never see herself ready to get into another round of argument with minkyu of all people. but with questions that teetered her faith in the coven, she found that she must make her point and defend it. 

hulk: which approach to conflict do you prefer: analytical or physical?

“Analytical. There’s no need to get physical if you can eliminate your opponent without moving a muscle.”

bucky barnes: do you have any hidden talents?

“No.” Or he would rather not say and keep them hidden.

nebula: do you believe a person can truly change?

send  one  of  these  in  to  see  my  muse’s  reaction. [ hold ]  -  your  muse  holds  my  muses  hand.

The atmosphere seems to change all-at-once. Softness melts away for wariness, and while Dane doesn’t find himself expressly regretting bringing it up, he does find that he steps a little more carefully now. Kyu’s stance on what the coven is doing seems to be at the polar opposite end of his own, and he doesn’t know the best way to approach talking about it that isn’t going to make him sound sanctimonious. He’s never worried about that before, but impressions left on the older vampire are more important to him than he’s used to. It makes him feel a little uncomfortable, and he looks away from him, off into the night. It’s easier than seeing his face when he’s trying to collect his thoughts, not send them scattering again. 

“I do.” From all of the information that he has, it would seem that the vampire’s reign over the lycans should have come to an end a long time ago, and the fact that they’re rebelling now is more than justified. Retaliation for reaching for their freedom is death and destruction at the hands of an older, more powerful institution — and it isn’t right. None of this is right. Dane has never really bothered himself with worrying about telling right from wrong, but some things are too blatant to be able to overlook them. Some injustices are worse than others.

I’ll leave once I’ve completed my mission. Lips parting, Dane flits his gaze back to him for just a moment, lingering to search the set of his features. “And what mission is that?” For some reason, he doesn’t expect to get a very good reply from him. If he hasn’t picked up on his grand scheme yet, then his secrecy is probably far more important to him than baring his soul to one such as Dane. He doesn’t think of himself highly enough to imagine otherwise. 

A single nod to Dane’s answer and Minkyu closes his eyes for a few moments. He expected this, thought it would be so way before this conversation started. He doesn’t get to act surprised now, though his heart does ache. How he longs to have someone by his side who thinks like him, someone to share things with and someone to fight side by side with. The more he gets to know Dane, the more he wants him to be that person — and the more he realises that he can’t be.

Kyu shifts in the other’s lap, turns away from him and leans with his back against Dane’s chest, lets his head fall on the other shoulder while he stares up at the stars. First he hugs himself around his waist, but then he reaches for Dane’s arms and pulls them around himself, holding on tight. As he gazes on the few stars visible from the center of the city, he thinks about the question still hanging in the air. He wants to be honest with him, he wants to tell him everything. But he also knows that it’s not a good idea, especially because they think so differently of things.

Minkyu has always liked living dangerously.

despite how much sinclair wanted to settle into the vibe of the environment around him , he couldn’t fully until business was taken care of . he could practically feel the displeasure at his insistence rolling off minkyu in tangible waves ; but this outing has a specific goal . otherwise , clair has no business clubbing with someone who wasn’t zaiden , & the thought kept nagging at the back of his mind ; leaving his muscles tight & tense as he followed the older vampire across the floor & up the stairs . he couldn’t help but wonder how many lies deep his journey to the truth was going to force him to go…

lips met his glass & finished off his whiskey in one healthy swallow , wishing he’d had the forethought to order a second one in tandem . he didn’t come to sit next to minkyu , instead taking a beat to light up before sticking his free hand in his pocket , his posture screaming his discomfort . sinclair wasn’t someone who asked for help , in any capacity  — & he was always so careful with his planning , right down to the word - for - word back & forth of a simple conversation . eyebrows pinched together as he thought as he debated on just how much to say , gaze trailing up minkyu’s form from his feet until he met those eyes , on him , waiting . clair took a breath , blowing the plume of smoke down his chest with a purse of his lips before he found his words . “ straight to it, then… i’m thinking it’s time you & i help each other . i need to get into our king’s , ” the word was said with so much sarcasm , “ personal effects . he’s got to have a private office in his wing of the manor… all i need for you to do is to create an opportunity for me to sneak in . i need enough time to be able to sift through his records , & if i find anything that could be of use to you , i’ll gladly hand it over  ; which , i have a feeling , is a definite possibility .” when he said it outloud , it sounded so simple . he hadn’t let on any personal reasons for the traitorous intrusion , & presented his request in such a way where minkyu would have to do very little , but possibly reap a large reward . he had the inclination to smile to himself — he was good when he wanted to be . eyebrows lifted slightly , his head tilting to the side as he watched minkyu closely , almost daring the older vampire to deny his request . 

As Minkyu waits for Sinclair to tell him whatever it is that he wanted to tell him, the older’s gaze drifts to the crowd below. He watches for a while, not at anyone in particular. He has his legs crossed and his foot bounces up and down in the air. When he finally looks back at Sinclair again, it’s obvious that his patience is wearing thin. It’s like bringing a child into a candy store and then telling it that it can’t touch any of the candy. Minkyu waves some of the smoke away with his hand, he can’t have his clothes stink of tobacco.

Finally -- after what feels like a decade, at least -- Sinclair starts to talk of ‘his plan’. Frankly, it’s a joke of a plan and Minkyu knows he’s withholding information. All of this seems way out of the blue and it doesn’t make any sense. Still, he wrinkles his nose at the word ‘king’, as if Aleksander has ever been worthy of such a title. He takes another sip of his drink and takes his time to form a reply. After he places his half full glass on the small table, he leans back again and stares at the younger vampire, his hands clasped together in his lap.