The Staggering Fall of Youth (sequel to SBA)

9 - Fuck Research Papers

"I'm going to assume werewolves don't heal that fast?" Junmyeon asked, watching Minseok prod his healed skin. "Uh, Xiu?"

"How?" Minseok murmured, alternating between staring at the bloodied rag and his healed arm until realization hit. "You," he said, looking at Junmyeon. "You did it."

Junmyeon frowned. "Do what?"

Minseok looked at Luhan, who was watching them from the doorway. He, too, had been surprised. "Tell me you can sense it," he said, lifting up his arm. "Tell me you can."

Luhan opened his mouth but couldn't think of the right words to say. "I thought he didn't know how to use his..."

"Use my what?" Junmyeon asked. "Like angel powers or something?"

Luhan and Minseok looked at each other silently. Normally Junmyeon would appreciate them maintaining eye contact without fighting or crying, but considering the circumstances, he had no time to think about that now. "There's angelic energy radiating off his arm, meaning an angel's power was used," Luhan explained. "Well, demi-angel, anyways-"

Minseok got up and grabbed Junmyeon's arm. "We have to figure out what's going on," he said. "And guys? We need to keep this a secret."

***

"This is supposed to be a secret," Junmyeon was telling Baekhyun. "But you get secondary rights since you're my best friend."

Baekhyun smirked, fixing his legs so that he could be sitting criss crossed. "Damn right I do, as your number one best friend, I deserve everything including naming rights to your first child."

"I'm gay, Baekhyun, I can't have a child," Junmyeon reminded him. "Adopt, sure, but not naturally."

"Excuse me, do you not see what condition I'm in??" Baekhyun grabbed the pillow behind him and wacked it on Junmyeon's head. "I'm the exception, bitch."

"That's magic and it's different," Junmyeon said. "Do you want to hear the secret or not?"

Baekhyun huddled the pillow close to him. "I'm all ears."

Junmyeon took a deep breath, trying to think of how to explain it to Baekhyun without him practically exploding and bombarding him with a rate of 1000 questions per minute. "I think... okay, you remember how I'm not exactly... human, right?"

Baekhyun nodded. "Mom's an angel, I remember."

"Yeah, so..." Junmyeon paused. ""How do I explain this, uh...." he cleared his throat. "So Minseok had a wound on his arm, right?"

"Oh, I know where this is going." Baekhyun laid down on the bed, arms stretching. "Healing powers."

Junmyeon's eyes widened. "How did you know that?"

"I pieced it all together when everyone discovered you were half angel," Baekhyun explained. "You really didn't know?"

"Baek, when have I ever done something that technically isn't humanly possible??" Junmyeon asked, confused. "I'm pretty sure I would know."

"Don't you remember how you were always good at taking care of my injuries?" Baekhyun reminded him. "My cuts and bruises always went away faster when you tended them, and you 'faint scar' remedies always made me have no scarring. Granting, some won't consider it healing per say, but it's not like you know you had angel in you." He sat up again; Baekhyun was always moving whenever they talked, that's how restless he always was. "What happened with Minseok, though, I'm curious."

"Minseok's case was completely different to yours, though," Junmyeon argued. "Like he had a deep knife wound and I made it all disappear in seconds by complete accident. That's totally different than what has always happened with you."