Once out of the barn Val lead him a little farther away just to be safe, pressing against his side as she felt his weight on her. She glanced around before nudging Min off and shifting back to normal. She coughed a few times, trying to relieve her lungs of the smoke before answering. "I called Ash to make sure everything was alright and he told me what happened. He told me you didn't move from the fire and that you were too dangerous for any of the other wolves to get close. So we switched places. he's with your mother while came here to get you out of there. I thought I told you to not to die." HS emend down, bracing her selves on her knees as she tried to cough out the rest of the smoke.
"Min what happened?" she asked softly, glancing up at him in concern "and don't you dare tell me nothing." she added with a slight growl
He wanted to help her with the smoke, but there was nothing he could really do. He was quite used to smoke in his lungs, so it didn't effect him quite as much.
"Val… why did you think that was a good idea?" he growled "if I were too dangerous for the pack of Wolves then what the hell makes you think I'm too dangerous to you?" he says holding back his harsh words. As he could have said a lot more. But he didn't dare. He wasn't going to let his anger take control of him. Not now.
When her final question came around he paused, feeling a bit threatened.
"what happened? You mean why I didn't move? Why I didn't flee out of the damn place? Because Val, I want nothing more than to die" he hissed, his voice genuin, sharp and full of pain as it cracked on the last word.
She sat down in the grass, needing to feel something cool against her “cuz you promised me you wouldn’t hurt me.” She said softly, knowing it was a stupid thing to trust.” She tilted her head In his direction when he said he wanted to die. “die? die? Min you’ve died before. You already had that terrible experience! You’re willing to do again for what? Cuz the world will be better off? Cuz you have nothing here to live for?” She pulled her legs to her chest and shook her head “you’re wrong. You’re dead wrong.” She narrowed her eyes at him “if you truest wanted to die you wouldn’t have let me take you out of there, promise or not. You would have fought your way to the grave.”
He scoffed, turning around to face the barn before whipping around back to the girl, clenching his fist.
"yeah maybe you're right. I don't want to die. I just want it to be over. I'm tired" he sighed, raking his bloody hands through his hair, though realizing what he had done and cursing under his breath. (the boy likes his hair Lol)
"I'm easily replaceable Val. Go find. Yourself another Vampire to fall in love with you" he says in a harsh tone, not really realizing what he had just said. He meant it though. He just…. Is dense like that.
"I want it to be over. I was going to die there if you didn't intervene. I was ready. Ready to go meet the Fucking reaper themselves. For the second time" he added with a sigh.
"why do you care anyway Huh? Why would you care for me? I'm this monster who kills for a living. Innocent people Val. For my own profit. So I can live. That's messed up and you know it. I'm a good for nothing peice of shit who deserves to die. So why won't you let me huh?"
She snapped her head to focus on him, her eyes sharp and wild, a low growl escaping her by accident “My feelings for you whether they are true to what you say or not have nothing to do with this.”
She stood slowly, now just as angry as him.”no one is replaceable Min. If they were so replaceable no one would care if anyone lived or died. you wouldn’t care if anyone lived or died. Your friend, your sister, your mother. Are they replaceable? Would you care if they died?”
She turned away from him and walked a few yards off, breathing becoming harder.
She could argue with him about the blood drinking, all vampires had to kill to live. There was no getting around that unless they were willing to drink animal blood.
“Why won’t I let you die? Same reason I told you before. There are those out there, despite what you may think, who do want and need you alive. Don’t believe me?” She shrugged, too tired to argue anymore. “Look around you Min. There are people in this world that care about you. You just have to open your eyes. I can’t do that for you.”
She walked off to meet the other, occasional coughing fits would rise out of her. Chire had joined them, having heard that Nathan was dead and was now at Val’s side, rubbing her back.
(so I was thinking maybe vampires cant drink animal blood and that's why they're forced to drink human blood? So it makes them a forced monster. IDK, I've always thought of them kind of like ghouls. Wait, have you seen Tokyo ghoul? If not that's fine too lol)
He stood still and listened to her, pursing his lips shut not willing to talk.
When she mentioned her feelings being involved he was a bit taken a back. He had basically said that he had fallen in love with her. Cursing himself under his breath when he realized, he had hoped she didn't think about his words much more. Because If she did she was sure to understand what he had meant.
He let the girl walk away, not believing a single word she said. He wasn't to believe it but he just couldn't. He wanted to so badly. It's not that he couldn't bring himself to Believe it. But he just couldnt.
Looking back at everyone else as he stepped their way, he nodded a thank you towards them and turned back to the burning building.
(oh ok! I see what you're saying, sorry about that. No but it on my list of anime to watchXD)
(Man I'm bad at picking up signals…XP)
Chire spotted him as Min stepped forwards and trotted to him, leaving val with the others once he had made sure she was alright. Shifting hallway to Min he slowed to a walk, following Min to the burning barn.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked with a tilted his head. He glared up at the building, amber eyes similar to his sister's flashing in the light of the fire
"My sister just pulled you out of that hell hole and you're planning to go back in? really." he glared playfully at him ad shook his head "she cares about you min. More than I've ever seen her care for an outsider. She won't say it to you, not yet but she does feel something for you. otherwise she wouldn't have helped, or would have left you alive this long."
He turned his cold gaze to him, his eyes still a burning red mixed with the reflective white.
"she didn't pull me out. I would have gotten out anyway. I didn't need her help" he shook his head. He wasn't about to tell this pissy pup that he was about to kill himself. (I love Chire, that's just what mins calling him I'm so sorry)
He stayed quiet for the rest up until the end. He was so confused as to why and how she cared for him. Since when did someone actually care for him?
But he covered up his emotions with the usual tsunudere mojo.
"oh please, even if she wanted to kill me she couldn't. I've taken down your kind stronger than her easy" he scoffed, rolling his eyes. He forgot that Chire didn't know the reason he killed one of his kind so he was a bit prepared to be punched.
(lol it's okay! and thanks!)
He shook his head "right, sure you could have. You could have also died in a fire, leaving behind a family and killing nathan off essentially for nothing."
He stopped short when he mentioned killing other wolves, the image of when he had found his mother trying to fight off a vampire playing clearly in his mind. But now, instead of his mother and a vampire stranger it was his little sister and Min. He shifted mid step and launched himself at Min, head butting him in the chest and pinning him to the ground. He let out a low, deep growl and dug his claws in Min's shoulders, hoping to cause some pain but not to fully injure him. He bared his teeth close to his face and growled again before shoving himself off and stalking in a small circle, trying to shake his more wild instincts off so as to not kill the kid. After a bit, he shifted back, eyes golden with flecks of green
"i don't know the reasoning if you have one behind that situation but never mention killing another wolf in front of this pack again, got it?"
He was fully expecting him to punch him in the face, not to launch himself at him. His head slammed on the ground making him a little dizzy. With all of these stab wounds already dealt to him, he was already bleeding out. He didn't need a wolf on top of him. But he didn't resist. Instead when the wolf got off, he stood.
"next time you do that I'll rip your arm off. Don't test me. I have my reasons for the things I do and the wolves I kill. If it were you, you wouldn't have batted an eye to do what I did." he hissed before coughing up some blood. Well more than some blood.
"go to hell" he says sharply before walking away casually. He really wasn't in the mood for this. His body already hurt enough and he needed to stop this bleeding before he actually did die.
"And I have reasons to do the same" Chire growled, heading the other way back towards his pack. "I probably wouldn't." he murmured under his breath as he nodded for the wolves to get ready to leave. He knew what other wolves were capable of doing, and some, he did admit deserve the fate that awaited them. He knew he shouldn't have attacked Min but he was never really himself when it came to someone attacking a wolf, even the near suggestion agitated him. he glanced back to make sure min wasn't going towards the fire again. he could hear distant sirens approaching and urged the group to move to the forest.
"Val can you call Ash to meet us back home?"
Val nodded and pulled out her phone, glancing back to where Min was before starting to walk off
He let out a sigh before turning around and looking at Val, catching her eye before he watched her turn her back and walk away.
He stood there for a bit longer, thinking over everything. What would his litter sister think of this? No way was he going to tell her that he hacked her step father to unrecognizable peices and burnt his body. Or what was left of it.
Before he could let her leave, he hollered her name "hey, Val!" he called over to her, staying where he was.
Val finished the call with Ash, telling him to return back to the woods once he was done talking with Mrs Youn. She looked back when her named was called then up at Chire. He glared up as well, cleaning not in a good mood before nodding to her. “Zizi will be waiting at the border for you.” He said softly, hugging her tight before catching up to the others and heading back to the territory.
She turned and faced Min but made no move to go towards him. She just stood there waiting with a small tilt of her head, her eyes shining bright in the fire light
He watched the interactions, not being able to still see them clearly because of the ash in his eyes. And man did it burn. Due to that his eyes naturally watered up, black and grey tears falling from his face. He decided that was the first thing he was going to do when he got home. Get this stupid ash out of his eyes.
When Val turned to him but didn't move, he just shrugged and took a step forward. Then another and another till he was in front if her. He was still a little awkward with talking to a wolf… But he couldn't do anything about it and he wasn't going to tell her his preference, so he kept his mouth shut about that.
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he shuffled his feet, taking in a breath to say something.
"h-hey?"new let out a small nervous laugh
She arched an eyebrow slightly and slowly reached up to wipe away a tear that was sliding down Min’s cheek. “Hey,” she replied softly. She tilted her head to the side. She took his hand in hers and tugged him into a walk back towards town. She didn’t say much, only pulled him along to the hospital. She smiled to the nurse and nodded in thanks as they allowed her back in again. She stopped by the door of Mrs Youn and peeked her head in. She smiled softly and turned back to Min. “Go see her,”
(wait, so are we just gonna say he cleaned himself up? Because blood is all over him and he has a multitude of stab wounds…XD)
He was a bit shocked when she touched him, wiping the tear off of his cheek then grabbing his hand. But he didn't let go of hers though, loving the warmth. He was going to say more, maybe a sorry or a thank you. Maybe a "you didn't have to do this" or something stupid and cheesy like that.
But they just walked in silence, his cold breath lifting into the night sky.
His eyes widened a bit when she nudged him towards his mother's room and he only stepped towards her. Pulling her into a tight hug, which was extremely out of character for him since he never liked hugs. But as Val most likely already knew.. He showed his affection with more his actions since he was so bad with words.
He held her there tight for a few seconds before loosening his arms around her so she could get out before his own dropped to his side.
"thanks" he mumbled, looking away though still holding her hand. It was obvious he didn't want to let go.
(Oh shoot…..I mean they're at a hospital so…..yeah?)
Val stiffened at the hug, unsure how continue. She wrapped her arms around his and squeezed back gently, resting her head on his chest, hoping she didn't hurt him or any of his injuries too badly. "I didn't do anything Min, but you're welcome." She pulled back when Min dropped his arms from the hug but kept her hand in his "do you want me to go in with you?" She asked softly, looking into the room again smiling at the woman.
I can stay out here if you want to talk to her alone. And no, I won't ease drop."
He offered a small smile, grateful to her for caring. "it's fine. I can take care of myself" he let out a soft chuckle before taking in a deep breath "but um, you can stay if you'd like. I probably won't be long. I still need to stitch myself up when I get home. I'm living off of thick bandages" he half joked. It was definitely going to be hard stitching himself up by himself and he would actually have liked some help but he wasn't about to tell her that.
She nodded and gave his hand a light squeeze "I'll be out there if you need anything." she said, pointing to the waiting room chairs down the hall. She laughed softly at his joke and shook her head "Thought you said you had everything under control, I wouldn't call this," she motioned to his injured body "as controlled." she rolled her eyes and fully pulled away, starting to walk back to the waiting room.
She smiled politely at the front nurse ladies and curled up on one of the seats, exhausted both emotionally and physically. He lungs still hurt from the smoke but they felt better than they had before." to keep herself awake, she pulled a book from her backpack and started to read a bit
He hesitated to let her slip away from him, but he reminded himself not to be dramatic. It wasn't like she was leaving forever.
He turned to the door and opened it to see the woman in the hospital bed. Frail and weak yet still so young. His heart just sunk even more than it had already, now a stone pit in his stomach as he forced himself to step up to her bed and clear his throat.
"Um, Mrs. Youn?" he says softly, trying to blink away the tears. No, no way he was crying. It was the ash. Right?
She opened her eyes and turned to the boy, a soft smile on her lips. "oh Min-Hyuk. I told you, you can call me by my name." she says taking his hand in hers. He didn't want to hold his mother's hand with the same ones he used to kill someone she loved so much.
"sorry.. Eun-ae" he says quietly. "Um, I just came to see if you were alright" he shrugged, struggling to blink away the burning tears. (even though he got the ash out of his eyes already) swallowing the lump in his throat, he took a shaky breath
"oh dear, you don't have to come and check on me. Though you are so kind to do so. How did you say we knew eachother again?" she asked, as she did every time he visited.
He clenched his teeth but mustered up the courage to force up a smile. "I'm your daughters friend. I've known her every since…well ever since I could remember" he says truthfully.
After they talked a little one of her nurses came in, telling him it was too late and she wasn't to have any visitors this week at this hour.
So saying goodbye and kissing her forehead, he left.
Closing the door behind him, he had forgotten about Val at the end of the hallway and how she could most likely clearly see him if she weren't asleep.
Sliding down the wall, he choked back a small sob, not daring to cry in public. Instead he rested his head against the wall, bit his lip and looked up to the ceiling as his eyes were heavily coated in tears.
Val glanced up when she saw movement over the top of the book coming from Mrs Youn's room and uncurled herself from the seat. She put her book away and slung the pack over her shoulder.
"Hey! how'd it-" she stopped short when she saw Min slide down to the floor and look up at the ceiling. She dropped her bag and ran to him, dodging nurses and doctor that passed her in the hallway. Reaching his side, she knelt beside him and cupped his cheek gently." I won't tell anyone if you cry," she whispered, brushing aside a few tears that escaped. "you're allowed to feel sad Min. You're allowed to hate the word and be angry. No one's going to judge you if you do." she said, shifting so that she was settled beside him. "Just as long as you remember to be grateful for the things it did give you, even if you think it's not that much."
He was just about to suck it up and leave when he was almost startled out of his wits when she cupped his cheeks and spoke to him.
His eyebrows stitched together in confusion yet sadness when she did. Once she shifted to his side he turned to her and leaned his head down on her shoulder, letting the silent tears fall onto her shirt, sniffling every now and then. Small chokes of cracked voice and a whimper as he did. He appreciated this a lot more than she probably knew. He was always told by his dad back in Korea before he died to never cry. He wasn't allowed to. Thats not what men did. You can't be strong and protect your family if you're weak.
Val wrapped her arms around his shoulders and ran her hands through his hair to try and comfort him.
She glanced around quickly and gently pulled away “if anyone asks, I’m a service..dog…” she cringed at the word but knew she needed a good cover “rare black husky and my name is Onyx. If they ask about Val tell them she went home.” She said softly, shifting and curling around Min’s position, her tail curling around her body. She nudged her head against his own head and buried her nose in his hair
He let out a soft laugh, a weak smile going with it when she spoke, not expecting her to shift but he was alright with it. Her fur was soft and her breath was warm. Her presence soothing to the core. He could honestly stay there forever. Visitors were allowed to sleep a night or two in the hospital but he doubted they could in the middle of this long hallway. Well actually, they were near the back end and they were starting to shut the unnecessary lights off for the night, including the one over the two.
He leaned into her once again "thank you." he whispered before shutting his eyes. No, he wasn't going to go to sleep. He still needed to get home, but he could stay like this for a bit longer.
After a bit later, he sat up and looked back down at his bandaged hands, about 3 or 4 hours ago they were covered in another man's blood. And he wasn't phased by it in the least. He only cared about the fact his little sister would be horrified and his mother heartbroken.
What was he going to do now anyway? Feel miserable for himself and admit to what he did?
Well he was damn glad he got rid of that bastard. But he wasn't planning on telling his sister.
He shook himeself of his thoughts and turned to Val, his hand going up to her head and running his fingers gently through her soft fur.
"we should probably go" he whispered with a sniffle.
She made a small rumbling in her chest as a reply, nudging her head against Min's head again and settling herself down, her paws tucked under herself for comfort. She found the darkness of the hallway comforting, even though the smell still bothered her quite a bit especially now that her senses were heightened. She managed through the smell and rested her head against Min, breathing in his lavender/bloody scent instead of the hospital smell. She closed her eyes so they weren't as noticeably bright in the hallway and focussed on keeping herself calm
