masked | hyunchan

-four-

HyunJin groans as he rolls onto his side. He rubs at his eyes and slowly sits upright. The wind that had scared him last night died down while he slept. Now all that's left as a reminder of it all is the faint bruise that still adorns his wrist. His gaze shifts to his other hand to see a thin scar—just barely visible as it blends its way into the lines of his palm. He searches the room for Chan but comes up empty. He must've slipped away in the night.

HyunJin carefully pulls his blanket back and gets to his feet. He closes his eyes tightly as he's overcome with dizziness. He takes a few shaky breaths before he manages to push through it. A light tap on the door sends him toward it. He tugs it open—expecting Chan to be on the other side—but comes up empty. Instead, a slender girl much short than him bows her head and holds out a tray of food for him. HyunJin takes it from her while looking behind her in search of the boy.

"The King shall be coming with your supplies. He wanted to make sure you ate first." The girl explains before quickly scurrying away.

HyunJin sighs and closes the door. He sets the tray of food down on the table and falls down behind it. He picks up his chopsticks and begins to poke at the food. He truthfully doesn't feel like eating. His stomach is a bit uneasy. He doesn't want to push it and make himself sick, but he also doesn't want to waste the feast they prepared for him. It's not often he gets to partake in such glorious meals. His meals back home aren't terrible—much better than most people to be honest—but this is even better than what he's used to. He knows that if he doesn't eat it all it'll just go to waste. He can't let that happen.

HyunJin lifts the food to his lips and takes a bite. He knows it'll taste good, but he's not sure if it'll taste good to him. He's not used to overly seasoned foods. He's familiar with the plain and lackluster food he's grown up with. He lets out an annoyed sigh as the food fails to satisfy him.

A light tap on his door sends him back onto his feet. The lady had said that the King would be coming by with his painting supplies—it must be him—but he hasn't even had enough time to take a second bite. The door opens in a rush and Chan slips in. HyunJin's heart races in his chest as last night floods through his mind.

"I don't know why—I just—I can't stand being away from you." The words fall from Chan's lips as he stares at HyunJin. His eyes never fall from the younger's face.

"You shouldn't be here." HyunJin shakes his head as he licks at his lips nervously. He swallows hard and glances toward the closed window a few feet from him. Should he open it? Would it warn him of the King's presence so he can hide Chan? Or is it pointless? Is he bound to die at the hand of the Prince's greed?

"I can't help it. If I'm not here I'm pacing back and forth questioning why I'm still alive. I'm planning ways to save myself from my own misery. I'm cursing the Devil for saving my life. I'm overcome by anger and frustration—my parents just couldn't let me die like I was supposed to—instead they forced this all upon me and torture me every blood moon in hopes of creating a better me. With you it's different—I don't feel different—I feel like a normal human being. You didn't fear me until I gave you a reason to. You saw beauty in my deformed face and frightening eyes. I need you." Chan states boldly as he reaches up to lower his mask. He's never felt so comfortable with someone before. He doesn't even show his face to his father, yet with HyunJin he can't help it. He feels the need to show the boy everything he is.

HyunJin can't deny the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about Chan either. He can't look the boy in the eyes and lie to him. He can't find the strength to push him away. He, too, wants to be around the older boy.

"Let me stay with you. I'll hide when others come. I'll protect you if something goes wrong. Paint me—then once my father is content—run away with me. Take the money to your family and leave to some faraway place with me." Chan begs as he takes HyunJin's hands in his. He holds them tightly yet carefully. He doesn't want to break the porcelain boy.