Sweetheart (Minsung)

2. Thank the Hero

TW: Smoking

***

Jisung walked behind Eun, head down and fidgeting with his hands. His boyfriend was the complete opposite, head held high, smug smile and waving at everyone around them.

"Eun! Over here! Smile for the camera!" Someone with a camera was yelling at them making the elder pose for a second. A big flash caused the younger to flinch.

"Now, now. I have to go to the news station to report on this terrific achievement! Please, go home and watch me on TV!" He announced to the crowd. Everyone cheered for him again before quickly scuttling away to their homes, no doubt to watch their hero on the news channel.

Eun turned around, stepping forward and cupping Jisungs face to make him look at him. He smiled, a sickly-sweet smile that would fool almost anyone.

"You should go home baby. I'm going down to the news station for an interview, so I'll be home late." He spoke. Jisung nodded, and Eun pecked his lips quickly before letting go and starting toward the news building, disappearing into the growing darkness.

The younger sighed, turning around and walking back down the empty street. Something in his gut felt off. Sure, they had finally defeated him, but why did it still feel so wrong? He pushed the feeling away, speeding up as the first drops of rain started to litter the ground.

He entered the house quickly, the door flying open from the strong wind. He shut it, leaning against the door for a moment before walking to the bedroom and changing out of his wet clothes. He stopped at the mirror, turning slightly to see the big, purple bruise forming on his shoulder. The boy grimaced, poking it slightly and checking his body for any other wounds.

Jisung then rushed through the shower to wash off the cold that had settled on his skin, finishing and making his way to the kitchen.

Once there, he opens the freezer, grabbing out a tub of ice cream and a spoon. The boy settles himself on the couch, flicking the TV to the news channel. His lover soon enters the frame, sitting down on a couch near an old woman.

"So, I heard you finally caught that criminal, is it true?" She asked, making Eun laugh.

"Yes! We chased him to a cliff, and he tripped and fell off!" He exclaimed excitedly. She matched his enthusiasm. 

"How did it happen?"

"Well, I was chasing him down the street and through alleyways and all sorts when he stopped. I was about to grab him when he jumped in a car and started speeding off! I was able to catch up for just a second to place a tracker on the back of it. Then, I went to my own car and started to chase him in this high-speed car chase. When we arrived at the cliff, he looked at me with fear in his eyes. I started approaching him, telling him he was under arrest and stuff. He was backing up closer to the edge, and before I even realized what happened, he tripped on a rock and plummeted to his death. I will never forget the blood curdling scream he let out as he fell." Eun finished, feigning sadness over the last part. 

"That must have been hard for you." She sympathized.

"Yeah, it was. But anything to save the city." He smiled at her, and cheering could be heard from an audience off camera.

"What a load of bullshit." Jisung mumbled, turning the TV off. He padded back to the kitchen, washing his spoon and putting the empty container in the bin. He began to wash other dishes, whistling a tune to himself. He looked outside, a black blob in the night catching his attention.

Jisung stopped moving, squinting at the figure. It was leaning against the wall of a house next door. The boy shook his head, convincing himself he was seeing things. He turned his attention back to the dishes, trying his best not to look up.

But he did, breath hitching in his throat as he froze. A small flame was flickering from a lighter, stunning compared to the grayscale of the world around it. Slowly, the fire was lifted up, illuminating the end of a cigarette between red lips. Lips that should belong to a dead man.

Jisung gasped, hand flying to his mouth. He could see a smirk in the small light before the lighter turned off. The person took a long drag, blowing out wispy smoke into the sky. The other snapped out of his trance, rushing to the door and shoving his shoes and coat on.

He ran out the door and around the house. Where the figure once was there is now nothing. The boy looked around frantically, another person across the street catching his attention. He bolted towards the figure, turning up behind him.

He grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry! I thought you were someone else!" The man looked at him weirdly, turning around and continuing on his path. Jisung looked around again, hands reaching in his pockets for anything useful.

He pulled out a flashlight, turning it on and illuminating the road. He ran, the beam bobbing up and down as he did so. He pointed it at the buildings and bushes around, eyes wide and ears alert.

He stopped moving the light when it landed on a man walking into an alleyway with a cigarette.  His feet moved as fast as possible, sprinting to where he disappeared. When Jisung turned into the area, there was only a wall and a blue dumpster but no sign of anyone.

He let out a frustrated groan, trying to think of where he could've gone. An idea came to his mind, and he stepped towards the old dumpster up against the wall. The boy lifted his leg, pushing with his hands and stepping up onto the lid. From here, the wall was now up to his shoulders.

He looked over, shining his torch beam and just catching the back of someone walking around another corner into another street, a wisp of smoke lingering in the air.

"Hey! Wait up!" He yelled grabbing the wall and pushing his foot against the bricks to his right to pull himself on top. Now crouching, he turned and held the wall, dropping down carefully and landing with a light thud on the concrete.

Jisung walked around the corner, being met only with the air. He leaned his head against the wall, knocking it a few times. The boy leaned his back to the wall, sliding down and hiding his head in his knees.

Something scurries nearby, making him snap his head up. He points the torch at it, flicking it on to be met with a few weak flashes before stopping completely.

"Oh my fucking god!" He yells, standing up quickly and throwing the torch against the wall, causing it to smash into pieces. He scrunches his fists up, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. 

He climbs back over the wall and makes his way home, angrily kicking a few ricks around. Without a torch, he almost bumps into a few walls and poles but eventually makes it to his house relatively unharmed. 

Jisung enters, collapsing on the couch with enough time to turn on the TV to a random channel before slipping into sleep.