Monster

19

A few days later, there's a knock at the door. Before Jinyoung can even get his hands dry, Jaebum emerges from his office to answer it, still dressed in one of his many fine pressed suits, hair slicked back. Jinyoung looks at him curiously, but ultimately ignores it. Maybe they were expecting a delivery.

"Jiho, welcome" Jaebum greets him, opening the door wider to let Jiho inside. Jiho greets him back, beginning to untie his boots.

"Wow, this place is fucking spotless" Jiho says looking around the living room. He slips on the pair of guest slippers Jaebum gives him, taking a step away from the landing. "Shit, did you clean it just for me? Now I feel special" He laughs, his low voice booming off the walls.

"Hardly," Jaebum rolls his eyes as he leads Jiho towards his office. "Jinyoung keeps it this way"

"Jinyoung? I don't know if I've met him" Jiho pauses, looking into the kitchen where Mark is messing around on his phone, Jinyoung cooking silently behind the counter. He banged a pan against the stove on accident earlier and Mark snapped at him, so he's being extra careful. "Mark, you beautiful bastard, come here!"

"Jiho!" Mark exclaims standing up to embrace the younger man. "How are you? No Jaehyo today?"

"No he stayed behind, stuff to take care of" Jiho winks, finally gazing over Mark at Jinyoung. Not a difficult thing to do since there is about a six inch height difference. "Is this Jinyoung?"

Jinyoung perks up when he hears his name, pausing as hes cutting the plastic away from the once frozen meat. Jiho looks him over, smirking. "Nice apron"

Jinyoung looks down at his frilly apron then back up at Jiho. Is he joking? Jinyoung can't tell, so he bows offering a small smile, hoping that Mark doesn't find such a simple gesture offensive.

"Can he talk?" Jiho asks Mark, suddenly unsure.

"Yeah, but he never has anything interesting to say" Mark answers, waving his hand dismissively.

"Mark." Jaebum warns "Yes, he can talk, Jinyoung introduce yourself, this is our friend Jiho"

"Hello..." Jinyoung says uncertainly, looking Jiho over. He's freakishly tall, like Yugyeom but very skinny, with jet black hair, shielding one eye. He's wearing a knee length black coat and he's sporting several necklaces, piercings decorating his ears. A pair of thick sunglasses are hanging from his ring covered fingers and his big feet are awkwardly stuffed inside a pair of bright green guest slippers, throwing his whole appearance off.

"Huh. The house looks very nice, I need to get someone who can clean like you" Jiho laughs,

"Yeah? You want him?" Mark asks, zero mirth in his voice. Jinyoung blanches.

"Seriously?"

"Mark." Jaebum warns again, voice darkening "No, not seriously, don't get excited, Jinyoungs here to stay"

"Well.. should you ever change your mind..." Jiho has trained predatory eyes on Jinyoung, making him squirm.

"I won't" Jaebum assures him gesturing towards his study in a 'let's finish our conversation anywhere else' kind of way, Jiho turns to follow him, sending Jinyoung a suggestive wink first.

"Well well well, look who it is" Jackson says, stepping through the garage door. Both Jaebum and Mark sigh. Just their luck.

"Jackson, my boy, you look so different in your work clothes, so homely, especially with the brown hair, nice!" Jiho compliments Jackson's jumpsuit, opening his arms for a short hug.