You Call Me Monster

No one spoke, as if a word might awaken them all from their dream. Sehun couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything except stare into Nari’s frightened eyes. His breathing quickened and his heart rate skyrocketed, making the room go fuzzy. His thoughts were one large swirl, undefinable by his brain.

“Sehun,” Nari gasped, breaking the spell. She stumbled forward and D.O caught her, letting his own gun fall to the floor. She kept looking at Sehun, pushing D.O away. She mustered her energy and propelled herself into Sehun’s arms.

“I’m so...you were right...it was…” she started crying, leaning into his chest. Sehun came to himself suddenly and wrapped his arms around her. He couldn’t form words, just sighs of relief as he held her.

The others swarmed them, whooping and asking a million questions. Sehun ignored them, stroking Nari’s head gently as her tears subsided.

“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away slightly. “It’s not like me to cry like that.”

“How did you get out of jail?”

“What about Chul?”

“Are the others out?”

Nari waved her hand, immediately silencing the men. She was calm and collected again, though her tears still shone on her cheeks. “I was released due to lack of evidence a couple of hours ago.”

“Hours? Why didn’t you come straight here?” D.O demanded.

“I...I went by Chul’s warehouse.”

The men swore angrily. “Do you realize how much trouble we went to to get you out? And you went back?” Suho asked incredulously.

Nari’s lip trembled, but she didn’t cry. “It’s a good thing I did. There were a lot of people there, like they were having a meeting. I think Chul’s planning a retaliation of some kind, against us and possibly even the police. We need to prepare.”

“For what, another gang war?”

Nari looked over at the couch. Lay was standing, resting most of his weight on his good leg. He had a smile on his face and tears on his cheeks as he looked at her.

“Lay! You’re injured!” Nari exclaimed, coming over to him. “You shouldn’t be up on that leg,” she said sternly, pushing him back down onto the couch.

Lay let himself go down, never once looking away from her face. “Don’t worry, it barely even hurts,” he said softly.

Nari inspected the wound. “This is neat stitching. Baekhyun?”

Sehun nodded. “He removed the bullet and sewed it up last night,” he said, finally finding his voice. “You taught him well.”

Nari frowned. “This looks inflamed. He may need antibiotics.”

Lay shook his head. “No, I’m fine.”

Nari relented, but raised an eyebrow that said the discussion wasn’t over. “Let me make my report, sir, and you can bring me up to speed,” she said, standing up.

Sehun shook his head. “That can wait a little while. You need a shower and fresh clothes first. I can’t have one of my lieutenants looking like a drowned ghost.”

Nari dipped her head respectfully.

“D.O, Xiumin, find a way to contact the others. Suho, get as much information about the police station as you can - guard shifts, exit locations, all of it. All of you report back immediately after.”

The men bowed and left, snatching up coats and weapons on their way. Nari turned back to Sehun. “Sir…”

“Later,” he said, waving her away. He was himself again, and his wheels were already spinning as he looked at her. “Go get cleaned up.”

Nari bowed and obeyed, leaving the room. Sehun went to the dining room and leaned on the table. Lay was silent in the other room, dozing on the couch.
Sehun bowed his head and began to sob, great shaky sobs that squeezed his chest and burned his eyes.

Oh thank you, thank you, he thought, not knowing or caring who heard his prayer. Seeing her standing there, whole and mostly unharmed lifted an enormous weight off of Sehun’s shoulders. He sank to the floor, crying with relief.

Thank you.


* * * * * *

Baekhyun lounged in the empty bathtub, watching sunlight filter in through the frosted window. His tee shirt and shorts were rumpled and in need of changing, stained with alcohol and Lay’s blood from the surgery only hours before. He lifted a half-full bottle of whiskey to his lips again, sipping dully as he watched the dust motes spin in the light.

He had already been tipsy when he overheard D.O announce the news about Kai and the others. Now he was determined to get utterly, blackout drunk.

“Baek?”

He looked around blearily. Someone was bending over him, her eyes wide with concern. Baekhyun smiled. “Nari. Did they get you out?” he asked, his head lolling back against the tub.

Nari smiled back at him. “I was released. How long have you been lying here?”

Baekhyun shrugged. “Don’t know. Everyone was gone this morning and I didn’t have anything to do, so I…” he trailed off, smiling and waving his bottle around carelessly. He slopped some whiskey on himself, the dark liquid staining his shirt again.

Nari reached out and gently pried the bottle from his hand. He didn’t resist, watching her set it on the floor. “I saw Lay’s wound. You did a good job with it.”

Baekhyun laughed. “Only because you’re a good teacher,” he said, his words beginning to slur.

Nari held out her hand and Baekhyun took it, pulling himself up slowly. He almost lost his balance on the slick porcelain, but Nari caught him, steadying him with her strong grip. He laughed again. “I’m glad you’re safe,” he said, looking down at her. They were the same height, but the raised floor of the bathtub gave him an advantage, making him feel powerful and manly.

Nari nodded. “Me too. Why don’t we get you to bed and talk later?” she suggested. Baekhyun considered this, then nodded. It took him a few attempts to step over the side of the tub, but eventually he did it. Nari guided him to the room he shared with Suho, Lay and Chanyeol and helped him get into bed. Baekhyun sank down into the mattress while Nari pulled a blanket over him.

“Thanks,” he said, his eyes already starting to close. An important thought broke through his haze just before he drifted off. “I missed you,” he whispered, and sleep finally took him.


* * * * * *

Nari finished pulling the blanket over Baekhyun and sighed softly. Why does he drink so much? she wondered, not for the first time. He whispered something, a phrase that almost sounded like “I missed you”. She smiled, stabbed with a blend of tenderness and pain. I missed you too.

She returned to the bathroom and turned the shower on. She shed her filthy nightgown and examined herself in the mirror. The bruises on her abdomen were large and more angry looking, and the burns dotted all over were only just beginning to heal. She sighed and tried to comb out her hair before stepping into the shower. She kept the water cool to soothe her injuries, though it was freezing outside.

Sehun can’t see these, she thought, wincing as the gentle streams washed her. It will send him over the edge. She remembered the look of shock and relief on his face and let more tears fall, mingling them with the tepid water. My poor, tormented brother. He would never have peace again.

She gingerly washed her hair, once more attempting to detangle it. The water sloughing off of her skin was brown and dull, and she washed her hair three times before the water ran clean. She used a washcloth to clean the undamaged parts of her body, hissing every time she accidentally brushed her wounds.

She finished bathing and turned the water off, the bathroom resoundingly quiet after the noisy shower. She stood there for a few moments, the only sounds being the water dripping off of her. She was already in pain from the effort of showering, but she summoned her endurance and reached for a towel. She patted herself dry and brushed out her hair before dressing. She chose loose clothing that wouldn’t irritate her injuries as much and tied her hair up into its standard chignon.

She looked one last time in the mirror and a small, unusually pale girl stared back mournfully. Shoving her pain-riddled thoughts away, she left the bathroom and rejoined her brother.

Notes