The Demon Next Door

9

Kyungsoo wasn't sure how many more times he'd be able to use his Have-Jongin-Carry-Me-Home card.

If he actually had one, the blasted thing would probably be covered in stamps from previous uses, and this one. Because, once again, Kyungsoo found himself in Jongin's arms.

He didn't feel the least embarrassed. He sought comfort, and Jongin's arms around him gave him exactly that. Whenever he was lifted off of the ground by the younger, Kyungsoo felt like he was safe from all of the world's troubles.

As for Jongin, well, Kyungsoo was sure the younger man had acquired a lot of muscle after having to carry a drunk and high Kyungsoo home many times.

The older came down from his high in a short while after inhaling since it was only one capsule. His previously closed eyes opened to find the night sky as their view.

The stars were moving. Jongin's heartbeat thumped against his chest at a calm rhythm into Kyungsoo's ear. The older tried to remember what had happened after he'd tried Jongin's ecstasy.

God, was that some epic shit. Kyungsoo wouldn't exactly say he was planning on inhaling again, but he could account for many people when he said you felt 'alive' after one dose.

He shifted in Jongin's hold, and the younger immediately looked down at him through the holes of his party mask. Chocolate eyes flooded with a concern Kyungsoo wanted to disappear. He didn't like people fussing over him.

He pulled his own mask off. It had dug into his skin so much that its outline was imprinted in his flesh. Kyungsoo scrunched his face after the cardboard face piece was off.

Jongin smiled down at him. "Awake, I see?"

"Don't ever give me anything like that again," Kyungsoo warned. "What happened? I can't remember anything after you gave me that shit."

"Watch your language, Egghead." Jongin stopped walking for a moment to adjust his grip on the older boy. "You practically fainted. Why do you think I'm carrying you again like Cinderella?"

Kyungsoo smiled, remembering Tao's reference to them being Prince Charming and Cinderella when Kai had carried Kyungsoo into the vice president's room.

"So you're taking me home?" Kyungsoo asked.

"Yeah. My place."

"Why yours?"

"Why not? Are you scared?" Jongin gave him a wicked smile as they rounded the corner onto their block. "Are you afraid I'll put Tao's hypothesis to the test again?"

"No. I just want to know why you're taking me to your house."

Jongin halted underneath a streetlight momentarily so that the two of them could see each other's faces clearly. If Kyungsoo didn't think he was hallucinating, he would absolutely claim that Jongin's tan skin was becoming red.

"Since we had to leave the party early I thought we could continue it at my place," Jongin explained. "My parents aren't home. Besides, you've never been in my room."

"With good reason."

"Do you want to come over or not? We can just forget about it."

Kyungsoo pondered with the offer for a moment before speaking. Going to Jongin's house again and actually visiting the younger man's room, seemed very tempting.

He nodded. "All right. Your place."

Jongin beamed brighter than the streetlight before continuing on his way.

They made their way into Jongin's house through the back after seeing Mr. Do's car parked in the driveway. Kyungsoo's panic attack led Jongin to assume that going through the front door would be a terrible option, considering the older's parents would be able to see him going into Jongin's house.