Apocalypse ✦ Nomin

79

"You won't kill me. You still want me to join you," Jeno says with a cocky smirk as he tests Yuta's willingness to harm him for the sake of proving a point.

"Don't mistake me trying to convince you to go down the right path as proof of me being unwilling to kill you. No, killing you is still very much an option, it's just a final resort. I don't plan to do that unless you force my hand. Remember, my son, it may not be my first choice to kill you, but you're still replaceable. As I've told you before, I could have another son. One that isn't as weak as you," he corrects Jeno, "So. You can either join me or I can incapacitate you so that you're forced to watch your precious little angel and those you call friends die painfully. Continue to disobey me, and I'll make sure you join them."

"So why don't you just replace me, then? Huh? Do it. Kill me."

Jeno!

He hears Jaemin's thoughts, but he tries to ignore them.

"You already know I'd never join you, especially not if you plan to separate me from the people I care about," Jeno goes on, "And if you kill them all, I'll have nothing left to live for, anyway. So do it. Kill me now while you have the chance."

Jeno, stop it! Please! Just do what he wants! We'll find another way! We always do! Please! I can't lose you!

Though Jaemin's suggested plan is simple enough, it leaves too many unknown variables. Surely it would be nearly impossible for the two to ever escape the clutches of those who have a hold over them after their last stunt. And besides, regardless of if Yuta were to make Jaemin and Renjun soulmates, Jeno was certain that Renjun would have a hard time letting him go if the two ever did cross paths again. The situation was far more complicated than for them to just 'find another way'. Worse yet, Jeno knows the only way for them to truly be free and to live any sort of happily ever after together would be if both Yuta and Taeyong were to cease to exist. Especially the former.

"So that's how you want to be, hm? I have to say, your eagerness to defy me is ironic considering the position you're currently in. You are not in control here," Yuta snarls as he presses his sharp nail deeper into Jeno's neck and manages to draw blood, "I won't ask again. Put. The sword. Down."

Jeno takes a second to consider if it were possible to manage to stab his father without alerting him that he was up to anything. Unfortunately, it would be incredibly difficult to harm him at all.

Not unless Jeno were to sacrifice himself and impale the both of them at once.

"Drop the goddamn sword, already!" Donghyuck cries out as he stares at Jeno with wide, horrified eyes.

"Just do what he says. This isn't worth it," Mark chimes in.

"Don't be a fucking idiot. You can't win this," Xiao hisses.

Jeno's sights settle on Jisung. Chenle whispers something in his ear, and the taller nods slightly.

"Jeno, you're going to get everyone killed. Put the sword down and listen to him," Jisung adds calmly, causing Jeno to be taken aback that he was in support of him obeying Yuta. This earns a dark chuckle from Jeno's father.

"You heard them."

Jeno stares at Jisung in confusion.

But Jisung...I can kill him if the sword pierced through the both of us. I can end this right now.

Jisung shakes his head.

Throw the sword and get the hell out of the way! Now!

Though he knows his plan is a sure fire way of getting rid of Yuta, Jeno abandons it. Jisung and the others needed him to cooperate to do something. He just had to trust them. Without much hesitation, Jeno chucks the Ares sword across the floor. It hits the ground with a loud clatter, distracting Yuta enough for Jeno to grab his wrist and produce an intense heat that burns his thick demon skin. Yuta bellows out in pain as he retreats from his son. Jeno bounds toward the sword, but his body is suddenly thrown across the room like a rag doll. The side of his body slams harshly into a stone wall before he drops to the ground.