Metal

99%

It's a curious business, sitting alone in the dark. He has a few hours to spare, he knows. An infinite amount of time to ponder anything and everything.

The first hour is spent playing with the knives. He enjoys the tricks, even the cool feeling against his palm as he rests the flat of a blade on his skin. He contemplates taking a cut to see a dash of red. But he pulls it away at the last second. He doesn't want it to sting later. Yi Fan gets the kill, but he could get the satisfaction, the privilege, of holding them still.

The second is spent resting his eyes. He's an insomniac at heart, but he closes his eyes for the sake of effect anyway. There's nothing to think about when you've thought of it all. He knows that behind closed lids, anything could be happening. He doesn't want to witness it. Only be in the presence of it.

The rest of his time is spent preparing. He's bound to get the call soon. He had come early on purpose, after all.

A ring from his pocket alerts him of the time.

"Yi Fan. You've kept me waiting," he says quietly, meaning more than what touches the surface. There could be people outside this room and he doesn't want to warn anyone of his presence.

A chuckle. "It's time, Yi Xing."

"Well, why else would you call me?"

He could almost hear Yi Fan's smirk. "We're expecting your move first."

"I got it." 

"Good luck." It sounds almost mocking.

"And to you." He hangs up. 

Tapping his fingers against his chin, he whispers, "Hmm... Now, which one was it again?" He glances over the room, excitement building, at the boxes and lights.

Blades back in between his fingers, he claws his hand over a set of wires. It's a delicious feeling, slicing through the cords. He licks his lips at the crackling sounds. He can already imagine the gasps from the innocents. It's beautiful. Here, he has a source of power from his destruction. He could get used to this.

"One more to go." His hands come down again.

----

Now, more than ever, does Tao not take for granted his past experience. He had felt Sehun fall asleep hours ago, but he himself cannot. He simply couldn't, and can't. He had tried closing his eyes, settling in, and taking deep breaths, but it hadn't worked. Even now, he's wide awake. But there is one main reason behind this.

He had just heard a sound.

At first it was nothing. A scratch from outside. It could have been a tree branch or something; they are a couple floors up from the ground, after all. But then it sounded again some minutes later, a little louder than the first time. Closer.

He's waiting for it. Deep in his stomach, he can feel that it's going to come again and, though unfortunate, they would have to leave.

There it is. A knock from the outside. He's not sure from where on the outside, but it's there. Louder than before.  

He can't ignore his paranoia anymore. It's too much. He's starting to breathe faster, his heart is starting to pound harder, and the nerves in his body are tingling. He can't stay still. 

They have to leave before the sound can get any closer. 

With a smooth flip, Tao frees his way out of Sehun's arms and off the bed onto his feet. He'd looked over the room last night. Right below the window is the fire escape. 

Behind him, Sehun moans, a sign of his awakening. 

Tao lifts the window open and immediately, the sounds of the inner city reach their ears. It causes Sehun to groan louder.