TIME ─ JAEYONG

005⸰

— maybe taeyong was trusting jaehyun too fast but for the first time in a long time, he felt safe

✿

"i don't need help." taeyong handed jaehyun back his bottle and started to take off where he entered from. when jaehyun gripped taeyong's arm he retaliated, shoving the taller male to the floor.

his friend yuta glared and went to take a step forward when jaehyun stopped him. he stood and held yuta back as he looked at taeyong apologetically.

"i shouldn't have touched you. please forgive me."

"you should leave handsome. this isn't a place for you."

jaehyun cleared his throat and released yuta. "that doyoung kid, you gave him your time. why?"

taeyong chuckled, almost darkly. "you shouldn't be asking me questions like we're friends."

yuta nudged jaehyun. "let's go jae. he's nothing special." taeyong let out a puff of air as he smirked.

"i'm leaving now," he announced.

"tae please." jaehyun pleaded. taeyong's eyes widened at the sound of his name. "let me help you like you helped him out."

"just let him do it. he came all the way out here for you."

"i didn't ask him to." he challenged.

"i'm not leaving until i help you."

"why?" taeyong felt his anger rise. "is it because you feel sorry for me? or is it because you're actually a filthy rich kid who wants to impress others by saying you helped some poor bastard on the streets?"

jaehyun was at a loss of words. he didn't want this to seem like some pitiful act. he wanted to help, especially after what he witnessed. he saw the good in taeyong like yuta did with that sicheng kid.

"no–"

"you don't know shit about me so why risk your life for the likes of me? huh?"

"listen punk–" yuta started.

"no. you fucking listen. get your rich asses out of here. don't ever think about coming back. especially you." he pointed directly at jaehyun's chest. jaehyun crossed his arms over his chest and took a step closer to taeyong, his gaze just as cold.

"i'm doing this because i see the good in you tae. and if you would like to know, i am a rich kid but unlike others, i don't flaunt it. i want to help..."

figures. of course someone as beautiful as him wasn't poor. he's just a dumb rich kid asking for death.

taeyong didn't know what to do. he didn't want to get caught up in this kids mess but he made it clear he wasn't going to leave him alone unless he got his way. typical rich kid move.

taeyong gave in easily for two reasons he never thought would be possible. he could sense a faint resemblance to his past lover and he knew jae wouldn't leave without getting what he wanted and the longer he was here, the chance of him getting hurt got higher. taeyong didn't want him getting hurt. he absolutely hated watching others get hurt.

"and how exactly can you help me, jaehyun?" the dimpled smile was back causing taeyong to roll his eyes, although in his dark times it was the prettiest thing he has seen.

"do you have a place to stay?" taeyong thought about mark at first but remembered his parents came back today. he thought about his alleyway which was nothing so he shook his head no, fingers messily pulling on his shirts loose strings.

"let's get you a motel room in the decent part of seoul." taeyong shook his head almost immediately.

"those are way too expensive. one down here in the slums are high priced as well."

"just trust me ok?" jaehyun held his pinky finger out. taeyong shot yuta a confused look. the male simply shrugged, he was used to jaehyun's childish ways.

taeyong connected his pinky finger with jae. and for the first time in months, he felt safe.

✿

taeyong led the two out of the bad areas with ease. jaehyun gagged at the sight of freshly dead bodies that popped up in random areas. taeyong and yuta paid no attention as they trekked on, ahead of jae.

no one should have to go through this. jae thought.

the streets grew cleaner once they entered the middle-class area. "how much farther?"

"not much. it's about a block up." and so they walked the block in silence. the motel seemed decent enough as they approached the entrance. hesitantly taeyong walked up to the front desk, ringing the little bell that was for assistance.

a balding man with a beer belly came out from the back room with a bat in his hands. "get out of here you poor bastards! this place is only for middle-class man!" when taeyong went to turn jaehyun's hand pressed onto his lower back, keeping him from moving.

"sir, we have time. what are the prices for a night?" the man set his bat down and pointed his stubby finger over at the bulletin board.

'1 night = 3 months
'2 nights = 4 months, 2 hours

and the list steadily grew. "we'll take the one night deal." taeyong let out a mumble of incoherent words as he looked at the time on his arm. if he paid for one night he'll only have a little over 6 months to live.

jaehyun sensed his nervousness. "trust me." he whispered into taeyong's ear. he shivered as he held his arm out for the man.

once the transition was complete the man smirked and handed taeyong the silver key. "i see what's going on here." he made a gesture towards jaehyun's hand on taeyong's lower back and yuta's hand protectively holding jaehyun's free one. "you lot are gonna have a threesome! you'd be surprised how many men come here with just enough time to get it on and then die after it's over."

all three of them had different facial expressions upon hearing that unnecessary fun fact. yuta seemed impressed, taeyong was disgusted and jaehyun was shocked, his jaw hanging.

the worker let out a hearty laugh before retreating into his room. "come on." taeyong muttered.

the room was your everyday motel room. a single queen sized bed, mini table with a chair and bathroom. "can i see your arm?" jaehyun lifted his sleeve. taeyong gaped at all the time jaehyun had on his forearm.

he had never seen so much time on anyone before. "i'm going to return the time you lost." the boys connected arms. taeyong breathed a sigh of relief as his time went back to his 9 months.

"taeyong, you should shower." yuta suggested. taeyong's offended look made yuta shake his head and hands. "not in a bad way."

"i don't have another pair of clothes." he shyly confessed. he didn't know why he felt shy to state the obvious. it was clear he didn't have extra clothes, let alone extra of anything.

"don't worry. i'll go solve that. jaehyun are you safe staying here while i leave?"

jae took a quick glance at taeyong before nodding. "i'll be safe."

"okay, i'll be back in no less than 30 minutes. call me if something happens." with that, yuta left the room leaving jae and taeyong in complete awkwardness.