Promise (Ateez au)

Chapter XXIII

"San, listen to me!" Yunho lost his calm, looking at the younger who didn't even try to listen to him. It was annoying him so much that he couldn't help but get angry.

"I don't fucking care what you say! Stay away from me and everyone else. You're bringing us into unnecessary danger." San replied. It hurt Yunho, of course it did. He didn't understand why San was the only one acting like this. But he wouldn't care so much about his opinion, if it wasn't for Yunho always being there for him. He made him comfortable around the others and taught him everything there was to know about their kind. It was so unfair that such a stupid accident resulted in this.

"San, please. Don't ... Don't be like this. Have you forgotten everything I've done for you?" Yunho took San's arm, stopping him from leaving.

"Let go of m-me ... Fuck ... fuck!" San exclaimed, grabbing his head in pain. Only now Yunho noticed the ring around San's finger. It would be impossible for him not to recognise it and remember the previous owner if it.

"San, where did you find that? The ring I mean?" Yunho asked in a worried tone. He wondered how San found it, while he cleaned up that room himself. It was impossible that there was anything left of him there.

"M-my room. It was be- ... Behind boxes. F-fuck! Why does it hurt so much?!" San yelled, falling down on his knees, still in pain. A few pained words escaped his mouth, mostly swear words.
But then it was silent. Yunho looked at the boy, contemplating if he should ask if he's okay or just stay silent. He looked at San letting his arms fall down, letting go of his head. He was the first one to break the silence.

"I want you to promise me not to be scared, Yunho." San's voice asked, not turning around yet to face the older.

"First of all, it's hyung for you. Secondly, why? What's wrong?" Yunho obviously was confused. What had just happened?

"Promise me." The demanding tone scared the blonde. His mind went to a certain male, who had used that tone more than once.

"F-fine, I promise. But tell me-" He gasped after the boy turned around. His eyes not the usual brown colour, but neither red. They were a colour he knew all too well. "What is this San? Is this a joke? Do you think this is funny?" Yunho questioned, earning a soft smile from the younger.

"You know it's not San, baby." Yunho felt chills going through his body by hearing the nickname he hadn't heard in years. It couldn't be him ... It just couldn't.

"How? Why? San, this isn't funny okay. S-stop acting." Yunho looked at the brunette with wide eyes.

"I'm not acting, you know that. I was able to put my soul into this thing." He held up the ring which was slightly glowing the same pink colour as his eyes. "And why ... I wanted to see you again, baby." He softly let one hand stroke the blonde's cheek, but Yunho couldn't see anyone else than San. It was too much for him to let the younger touch him like that and he was sure San wouldn't want that either.

"D-don't Jongho. You're still in his body." He pushed the hand away, distancing himself from the other a bit more. "But how is that even possible? How ... Do you have to use his body in order to stay alive?"

"I do, until I've gained enough strength to get out of here. Who is this actually? I've never met him?"

"He got here a year ago. Mingi saved him after getting hit by a car." Yunho smiled, a sad undertone visible.

"Because he killed that human? Gosh, he has a weak heart." The man laughed, not the slightest empathy visible.

"How do you know he killed him? I mean, it's true but San lost part of his memories because of the accident. Did he remember? Why didn't he tell us?" Yunho was confused as to why he had hidden that from him.