ATEEZ Imagines

Yunho ✦ The Monster Within

Word count: 5,250

Y/n's monster form is described to be slender and gangly. This has no reflection of her human body type. You guys know I try to keep things vague when it comes to that

DO NOT read or interact if you're under 14

It was Halloween, a night you dreaded every year, as it was the one night you couldn't subdue your monster side, forced to transform.

Life was a struggle. Friends were kept at a distance, which is why you were never able to keep any, fearful of what might happen if they found out what you were. Relationships were out of the question, nothing more than an unattainable dream. How could anyone accept you? Especially when you couldn't even accept yourself.
A monster born into a world of humans. It was like some cruel joke the universe played on you. It was unfair, really, but it was something you couldn't change. It was a part of you whether you liked it or not.

You were uneasy the entire day, blowing off plans with a friend, Yunho, whom you'd developed feelings for over the last few months. He wanted to take you to a Halloween party, but you declined, making up some excuse that you weren't feeling well.
Yunho was perfect in your eyes. He was kindhearted, silly, and had this charm about him that drew you in quickly. He was the blueprint boy-next-door type. Friendly, approachable, and you were comfortable around him, obviously not enough to reveal your secondary identity, but he was fun to be around. You wanted nothing more than to go to the Halloween party with him, but you'd be risking exposing yourself.

You stood at your bedroom window, gazing out at the streets where children and teens donned their costumes, their laughter being heard through the glass pane. You longed to do that, to be a part of the crowd. Being a monster among humans was isolating. All you wanted was to be normal. To not have to suppress a side of you that you hated. To go out on Halloween and dress up, to party. Even just having a movie night.

Heaving a sigh, you sat on your bed, eyes closed and ears plugged with headphones. Listening to music was a tactic you used to distract yourself from the impending transformation. It didn't prevent it from happening, you'd tried that before, but it lessened the anxiety. You focused on the vocals, the lyrics, the back track, picking apart each layer of the music. Anything to take your attention away from the inevitable.
Your music was interrupted by a phone call, your ringtone playing through your earbuds. You grabbed your phone and glanced at the screen. Yunho. Why was he calling? You'd already told him you weren't feeling well.
Your finger hovered over the button to answer it, but you hesitated, shaking your head. No.
Setting your phone aside, you closed your eyes and waited until the ringing stopped and your music continued. Just a few seconds later, your ringtone cut off the song again.
"No." You groaned.

He wasn't going to give up. With a sigh, you took out your earbuds and grabbed the device, answering with a weary voice.
"Yunho."
"I know you said you weren't feeling well, but I'd hate for you to be cooped up at home alone on Halloween."
"It's alright." You brushed it off. "I don't mind it."
You were used to it, after all.
"Are you feeling any better?"
You shrugged even though he couldn't see you and made a little noise of indifference.
"Are you physically unwell or is it mentally?"
A little of both, honestly.
"I just... don't feel like myself is all." You let some truth slip through while being vague.
There was a pause.
"Do you at least feel well enough for some company?"
"Don't you have a Halloween party to go to?" You dodged the question.
"If you're not going, what's the point? It'll be boring if you're not there."
A small smile tugged at your lips, flattered that Yunho thought the party wouldn't be worth going to if you weren't with him.
"You should go anyway." You insisted. "You might end up having fun."
"Nah. I don't really wanna go anymore."
"But you wanted to go a few hours ago."
"Yeah well..." He trailed off. "not if you're not there."