my silly kpop non-idols au

The Abandoned Mall (❤️TVXQ)

Special Appearance: L/Myungsoo (Infinite)
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"You guys are crazy for coming with me," Changmin said, a hint of excitement in his voice. His friends, Yunho, Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yoochun, all exchanged glances in the dimly lit alleyway, their shadows dancing on the cracked concrete walls.

The mall, a relic from a forgotten era, stood tall and silent. Its once gleaming exterior was now a canvas of rust and decay. The neon lights that must have once flickered with life were shattered, leaving only the skeletal remains of a vibrant past. The overgrown weeds at its base whispered secrets to the wind, hinting at the mysteries that lay within.

They pulled into the indoor parking lot, their car's headlights piercing the darkness. The ramp descended like a mouth leading into a cavernous stomach. The concrete was cracked and stained, a stark contrast to the pristine asphalt of the outside world. A cold shiver ran down Changmin's spine as he stepped out of the vehicle. The air was stale, thick with the scent of abandonment and disuse.

Jaejoong, ever the bold one, stepped forward and grabbed the metal bar of the exit door. The sound of his grip echoed through the emptiness. He took a deep breath and pushed. To everyone's surprise, the door creaked open, resisting slightly before giving way to the outside world. A gust of cool air whispered through the gap, bringing with it a whiff of rain and the distant sound of the city's pulse.

They entered the mall, their footsteps echoing off the high ceilings and dusty floors. The skylights above them had long ago lost their battle with the elements, allowing shards of sunlight to pierce the gloom and cast eerie patterns on the ground. The mall was a ghost of its former self, its vastness now a haunting reminder of what once was. Each storefront was a tomb, the mannequins inside frozen in time, their glass eyes watching them pass with vacant stares.

To their left, a single store remained untouched by the ravages of time: a quaint little shop that sold keychains, fridge magnets, and other knick-knacks. The lights flickered erratically, as if the store was alive and aware of their presence. Changmin's curiosity piqued, he approached the window, and his breath fogged up the glass. The shelves were cluttered with trinkets that bore the logos of forgotten franchises and out-of-style cartoon characters. There was something unnerving about the pristine condition of the store in the sea of decay.

Yunho grabbed his arm and yanked him back, pointing at the floor. "Look," he whispered. There, emerging from the shadows, was the silhouette of a man. He was dressed in the faded blue uniform of a retail worker, complete with a name tag that read 'Myungsoo'. The man stepped out from behind the counter, his eyes wide with surprise, a dusty keychain in his hand. He looked as if he had been stuck in the same pose for years, waiting for a customer that never came.

"Hi," Changmin managed to squeak out, his heart racing. The others gathered around, equally as startled. Myungsoo blinked, looking around the group before his gaze settled on the logo on Changmin's shirt. "You guys...you're from the outside, aren't you?" His voice was rough, unused to the company of the living.

Junsu stepped forward with a tentative smile. "Yes, we are. This place is...different." He nodded towards the keychain in Myungsoo's hand. "Could we...maybe buy something?"

Myungsoo looked down at the keychain, then back at the group. "Take anything you want," he said, his voice carrying a hint of sadness. "It's been so long since I had any customers."

Yunho stepped up with a determined look in his eyes. "We're actually looking for something specific," he said. "Do you have any TVXQ merchandise?"

Myungsoo's eyes lit up, and for a brief moment, the years seemed to melt away. "Ah, TVXQ," he murmured, his voice filled with nostalgia. He disappeared behind the counter, and the sound of shuffling could be heard. When he emerged, he held out a dusty TVXQ fridge magnet and a faded keychain. "This is all I have left," he said, his smile a ghostly echo of happiness.

Junsu took the keychain with trembling hands, examining the tiny figures of the band members etched onto the metal. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with awe. "We're their biggest fans."

Myungsoo's smile grew a little wider. "Back in the day, everyone knew who they were. Their posters were all over the place, their music playing in every store. It's like they brought this mall to life." He paused, lost in a memory before continuing. "But times changed, people forgot, and now..." His voice trailed off, his gaze drifting to the darkened corridors.