Are You There - Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Changkyun sighs as the time finally rolls around, the chilled October night proving the same as it had been months ago. The sun has set already, and all the mortal is to do now is wait. Chae Hyungwon will arrive at any time now. His book, read through many times before, cannot hold his interest. The clock cannot tick by fast enough.
The bell over The Fourth Wall's entrance tinkles with a new patron, and the hair on Changkyun's arms stand all at once. He can sense the shift in the air even without his vampiric abilities. He knows that his Master has just entered the shop.
Straightening on his stool, Changkyun peers over the aisles of comics and mangas. Sure enough, the silvery head of hair is seen, this time accompanied by a second form just beside him. Changkyun's lips curl into a crazed grin as he recognizes his older brother, a man who surely has seen their Master's mind by now.
"Minhyuk!" Sliding from his stool, Changkyun rounds the counter and crosses through the store to meet the pair before the New Releases standee. Unable to control himself, the mortal wraps his arms around the blonde nurse, warmth flooding his chest at the familiarity of it.
Though Minhyuk stiffens, he lets the darker man remains wrapped around him, unsure of how to take this gesture. He had in fact been told all about his Master's claimed memories from the day before, and he does recognize the man before him. Yet he doesn't know Changkyun. "Uh, yes that's me."
Hyungwon, beside himself for an instance, smiles quietly before clearing his throat. The memories he gained from the mortal before him have given him a gentle fondness, one he's not experienced since his first few decades of life. Of course he's had his soft-spoken telepath, Minhyuk, for several years now and calls him closer than any other, but this is a new sort of close. This is a close he does not know personally, yet does all the same.
"This is the vampire?" Minhyuk's nose curls a bit as he stares down at Changkyun, unable to read him even from only two feet away. "Is he broken?"
Changkyun coughs a bit, thinking back to the meeting he'd had with Hoseok just this morning. The fae had been all but terrified to hear that one of his dearest friends was about to sell his soul away for some vampire, but was more than content to plant a wall as best he could in Changkyun's mind. Hoseok had nearly fainted when his status as a creature of the night had been pointed out with nothing more than a pointed finger and a bold, "Hey, so you're fae, right?"
"I had my friend build a wall for me, just in case you were around." Minhyuk doesn't much like hearing this, glancing towards his Master as if in question, but he nods anyhow.
"I suppose if you feel safer with me out of your head, that's fine."
Changkyun smiles a bit wider before meeting his Master's eyes for the first time since yesterday. "I have some conditions this time around." Hyungwon's eyes narrow, though thin originally.
"I'm not sure you're one to bargain here."
Chuckling, the youngest shrugs before replying. "Maybe that's what you think but you're going to commit a crime just by creating me, and I'm kinda supposed to save your life so..." He trails off, smiling just the slightest bit wider yet. "Basically I've got the money in my corner, so lemme make a request or two."
Hyungwon's eyes roll skyward, his chest heaving in a dramatic sigh. "Out with it then. If you plan to be turned within the next day, we'll need to begin sooner rather than later."
"Don't claim my friend Hoseok this time." Minhyuk flinches at the words, having shouted in fright after catching that memory from his Master's mind. "And neither of you are allowed to screw with Jooheon's mind."
Changkyun's phone vibrates in his pocket with a new text, and he prays that it's from the man he hates more than any other. Lifting a hand in pause, he slides the device from his trousers before checking the notification, relief a swift flood on his shoulders.
From Kihyun: Tf are you talking about? I'm with Jooheon if that's why you're asking. Neither of us are gonna be dead any time soon.
Holding his phone out to Hyungwon and Minhyuk, Changkyun's voice nearly shakes as he continues. "I need you to claim him and keep him protected from the Counsel. He's an incubus, and he's going to be sent to death in a few months, unless he's under your protection."
Hyungwon, with a hand to his chest, scoffs. "You're making dangerous deals with a man the Counsel would love to kill."
Changkyun mirrors his Master's actions, a hand slapped to his jacket zipper and a puff of air past his lips. "And you're assuming the Counsel will kill you when you've got me under your Claim. Don't worry about it, nobody will die if you listen to me."
Minhyuk, skeptical of the man before him, lets his voice waver as he asks, "How would you know?  Plenty of innocents have been killed before the Counsel just for the fun of it."
Tapping his temple, Changkyun smiles again. "I've seen it. When I rewound time, I didn't lose everything, and I've seen the new path ahead of us all."
Hyungwon smiles genuinely now, proud to know that the man before him will soon be under his Claim. "I suppose you don't intend to have any of these demands disregarded." Changkyun nods, firm in his needs. "Then your wish is my command." Minhyuk scoffs beside his Master, defiant mostly because his shift at the hospital began twenty minutes ago and he's wasting time here with some mortal with a block in his mind.
"Minhyuk." Changkyun's voice is soft as he reaches for his brother, beckoning for his pale hand. "You won't trust me easily this time around, but believe me when I say that I will do anything for you once turned."
The wall crumbles just a shade and Minhyuk can see the truth behind Changkyun's words. Memories that have yet to happen, moments that will change his incoming forever. Instances that will alter his life in every way. "Alright," is all the telepath says, a slight nod as he steps away from the soon-to-be newborn.
"Shall we, then?" Hyungwon gestures towards both the men, holding his arms out for a swift fade from the store.
"Yeah, lemme just make one quick text."
Stepping away from the men, Changkyun smiles to himself as the flashes of his last October life hit him. He had texted his best friend for help months ago. He had left in a rush of a fight and begged for aid the next day. This time, he ran off in a terror and did not even bother calling to make it up to the blonde. He intends to do everything right along this timeline.
To Joohunnit: Make sure you have fun tonight. Love you bud, I'll stop by your place tomorrow night after work :)
He does not get the immediate reply he would love, but he is content anyhow. As long as Jooheon is not spiteful tonight, the soon-to-be-newborn will remain untroubled. As long as Hoseok watches over the blonde. So long as everything goes swell tonight, Jooheon -and nobody else- will die.
"Alright, Master." Changkyun pockets his phone once again, a heavy sigh shoving his shoulders down towards the floor. "I'll close up shop and we can go. I'm ready."
The trio each smile for differing reasons. Hyungwon because he knows just how much his new disciple will change his life. Minhyuk because he knows that the best moments of his life are now sure to come.
And Changkyun because he knows that though he is about to die, his life is only just beginning. All over again.