Desire: Ch.1

A/N: And here I present to you the first chapter of our leader’s story! I don’t have much to say just yet, except that I’m sorry again if it starts off slow and that it’s only his POV atm.

Pairing: Hongjoong x Reader

Genre: action, angst, romance, outlaw!au

Word Count: 1438

Summary: Years ago, Kim Hongjoong took something important from you. Years of patience with a heavy grudge on your heart, you carefully construct a plan that you’ve already set into motion. With a series of events, you plan to exact your revenge on him and return the painful favor from years ago. What you don’t plan for, however, is your heart’s desire ultimately waging a war against you as he intricately weaves himself back into your life—and you find yourself matched up against a rival who is already ten steps ahead.

The sun has fallen lower in the sky, close enough that it hovers over the horizon, warning the oncoming end of another day. From beneath the brim of a black hat, light eyes scan the skyline with a dark expression. It’s not quite sunset yet—there’s still enough daylight left to keep moving. It’s a grim reminder, however, of how long they’ve been away and how little they’ve accomplished. 

When the night comes, Hongjoong will be left to wager a war against his own thoughts. To contemplate, to reevaluate. With each passing day he was left to his thoughts, the more irritable he became. “Hyung—” From behind him, Yunho’s voice is uncertain. Hongjoong can tell he’s not sure whether to question his leader’s actions or, as a friend, inform him of how ridiculous he was being. Luckily for all of them, Hongjoong was acutely aware of the latter, already. He lets out a long sigh, glancing over his shoulder at his members. “It’s fine. Let’s set up here for the night.” But as Hongjoong speaks to no one, he happens to make eye contact with Yunho. There’s a shrewd realization in his companions eyes—they’ll be setting up, but he himself won’t be staying long. As he had a few nights before when he’d felt so close to it all, he’d disappeared for the rest of the daylight hours, only returning back to his men at the first mark of dusk. Yunho doesn’t say anything though, not that he needs to. The other two will either figure it out on their own, or simply assume. “Right here?” San pipes up, his voice a mix of incredulous and whiny. “It’s a vantage point,” Yunho points out knowingly. As both a gunman and scout, he would know best. From the mesa they were on, they had a clear view of intruders below and a vast expanse of desert at their backs they’d become familiar with. As he speaks, Yunho makes no haste in dismounting from his horse, having already accepted their resting place for the night. “There’s absolutely no cover though, at all,” San whines. “Vantage point or not!” “Not like we haven’t slept under the endless stars before,” Mingi’s deep voice is added to the conversation. He’d been unusually quiet for the entire time, but when Hongjoong glances over, he sees that the younger is also dismounting his horse. Feeling his leader’s gaze on him, Mingi lifts his eyes to meet Hongjoong’s. He pauses in untying his small pack from his saddle. “Boss?” “I’m going to keep at it a bit longer,” Hongjoong declares, directing his horse to turn fully around so he can face them. “I’ll see if I can bring back some food, as well.” Before anyone can say anything, or dare change his mind, Hongjoong clicks his tongue and tightens his legs around his horse’s torso. Without a moment’s hesitation, his steed is at a full gallop. The small group is left behind in a literal cloud of dust, and Hongjoong can hear Mingi’s deep outcry of “Boss!” from over his shoulder. A part of him feels guilty for dragging the three of them along. This wasn’t their mess to be in, though he knew each one of them would disagree. It was his mess, and it was his to clean up. Not only that, but he felt as though he were stringing them along on a wild goose chase. They’d been out here for days now and had been riding in circles. Tugging the reins in his hands, Hongjoong clicked his tongue and let out a small shush as his horse pulled up short before stopping, turning in a circle as he did so. Hongjoong’s eyes carefully studied the horizon around him. Think. Just think. He knew this area like the back of his hand. Or rather, he should, so why was he having so much trouble now? Because it had been years since he’d been here? He had once been finely attuned to this desert and the land—the ponderosa forests not far off to the south, the entirety of the plateau and the grand Colorado that snaked through the lands. “The river…” The statement falls from his lips softly, a distant memory weighing heavily on the words that fall away with the gentle southwestern winds. Hongjoong’s gaze trails off towards the Colorado River, it’s not far off. They’d been using the river and the fall of the canyons it flowed through as a guide for the days they’d been traveling. He’d practically been a kid at the time that he’d left, it was no wonder the memories were difficult to grasp at within the depths of his mind. So many things had happened since then. But there was a calling here, Home. He’d felt like an idiot for days on end because he couldn’t find what he was looking for. Yet now he felt that much more stupid for forgetting such an obvious thing, when he should know the lands he once roamed. “Come on,” Hongjoong urges, pushing his horse forward at full speed. I need to make it back by sundown, he reminds himself. The thought is drowned out by the thunderous roar of his steed’s hooves below. He knows he’s pushed his poor mount more than the others have in these last few days, stubbornly insisting on putting in more time searching for what he was looking for and immediately repeating the process the next morning. But now there was an eagerness—he was so close. Looming overhead was also an incessant, dark worry. She’s going to be there… Hongjoong forced the unease down. That was, after all—the entire point. Her. It took almost an hour, plus some, of riding and searching before he laid eyes on what he was looking for. There, with the Colorado River off in the distance and vermilion and sandstone cliffs set as the backdrop, the desert still as expansive as ever as it melded effortlessly with the blue sky—memories flooded back to him. Hongjoong took a moment to take in the land before him. The ranchhouse still stood, though it was clearly weathered and old. Despite some patchwork needed on the roof and sides of the house itself, and the clearly worn wood splintering as it aged, the place looked good for its age. Much better than a few of the out-buildings that stood further off on the ranch. Or, rather, what was left standing of them—most were caved in and mere piles of firewood at that point. “Took long enough,” Hongjoong muttered to himself, dismounting from his horse. Taking lead of the reins, he walked across the arid land carefully, eyes scanning for any sign of life. But it looked abandoned, just as he figured it would. Something felt off though. For how far out this place had been, surely the land and the few buildings that still stood on it shouldn’t even be standing? Monsoon season was harsh here, summers harsher. Someone was definitely taking care of this place. Rather, they were taking care of it enough to keep it standing in case they needed to return. Hongjoong carefully tied his horse’s reins to what was left of an old fence, before surveying the property once more. If it’s not now, it’s never, he thinks to himself, stepping over the remnants of broken fence and into what was once the main yard. He crosses the expanse of the dry land, treading lightly and keeping his footsteps light, ascending two steps onto the porch. The old wood creaks beneath his feet, and he glances downward with a frown. Each step forward from there is the old wood complaining beneath his feet, attempts at walking lightly failed, the porch having not been walked on in who knows how many years now. Hongjoong lifts a hand to his waist, resting his fingers around the grip of the revolver at his hip. With his free hand, he pushed the door in front of him open and steps over the threshold. First wrong move, and he knows it. Despite this being his home, he knows better than to be this blind and stupid. He’s the one constantly instilling the lesson of always being alert into the others, practically beating it through their skulls. Yet, here he was—the one caught. The cool metal of a gun’s muzzle pressing to his left temple stops him right at the threshold of his old home. “Don’t. Move.” Hongjoong knows the voice all too well. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t listen to the warning. And, so, he freezes in his tracks, muscles tensed at the threat.

Desire: Ch.4

A/N: Sorry this took so long, the update was supposed to be yesterday (Thurday) according to my new posting schedule! But this chapter was actually only partially finished, and I had some personal stuff come up ^^;

Genre: action, angst, romance, outlaw!au

Word Count: 4339

Summary: Years ago, Kim Hongjoong took something important from you. Years of patience with a heavy grudge on your heart, you carefully construct a plan that you’ve already set into motion. With a series of events, you plan to exact your revenge on him and return the painful favor from years ago. What you don’t plan for, however, is your heart’s desire ultimately waging a war against you as he intricately weaves himself back into your life—and you find yourself matched up against a rival who is already ten steps ahead.

They were so close.

Still about two hours off, but close enough. Hongjoong was growing impatient in his saddle. Physically, he couldn’t push his horse any further or harder. The rush of hooves against the desert dirt below was stirring up enough dust that any person out in this barren land for miles would be able to see them, and probably be curious enough to cut them off and see what the rush was about.

His impatience was probably pulling them unnecessary attention. Maybe, anyway. There was really no telling. But even Hongjoong had to admit that this was the sloppiest he had been in a very long time.

They’d lost about a days time, though, on top of the lead that Jeanette had already gained from knocking the daylights out of him. He couldn’t push waiting any longer, it was a risk he wasn’t willing to take. Especially not after his concussion, an injury that refused to immediately let up, had caused him to fall from his saddle about halfway through the first day.

The dizziness had been so sickening that first day, the glare of the sun against the desert sands causing a whiteout to his vision. Even with the shade the brim of his hat offered, paired with him squinting, he couldn’t push back the nausea that rolled through him like waves; he couldn’t hold down the vertigo that dizzily snaked its way through his mind until gravity had taken over and the world had turned askew.

“Boss!”

“Hongjoong!”

The collective cries from the others rang in his ear, but sounded faraway in comparison to the ringing from the impact with the ground. Hongjoong coughed, waving away dust that floated up from the air, groaning and rolling onto his back. He squinted against the sunlight that beat down on him, blindly grasping above his head for his hat before a figure pulled up and shaded him, blocking the sun away.

“I’ve got the horse!” He heard Yunho yell. The thundering of hooves passed by where Hongjoong had landed, Yunho chasing after his mount.

“You fucking idiot!” It was San hovering over him, reaching down and grabbing one of his arms. Hongjoong, imbalanced, helped to hoist himself up as best as he could manage against San. He stumbled as he was returned to his feet, leaning his weight against San for a moment before a strange sensation passed over him.

“I’m gonna be sick,” Hongjoong muttered, shoving San away and turning around.

He stumbled, before he leaned over his legs, the retching raw against his throat. Bile was the only thing that came up, sour and uncomfortable. Bread and water were the only things in his system at the moment, and the bread was scarce. He’d attempted to eat while they’d ridden earlier on in the day, but hadn’t gotten but a few bites in before his stomach began to protest.

San’s hand suddenly slapped down on the back of Hongjoong’s back. He sputtered, coughing again, before straightening up.

“Okay, better—” He turns, ready to saddle up again. He’s ridden through worse than this. After another try, he’s sure he can handle the vertigo. Not far off he can see Yunho returning with his horse.

But San’s hand moves from Hongjoong’s back to his shoulder. Hongjoong flinches, hypersensitive to everything, as San’s fingers dig into his shoulder.

“If you so much as even put a foot back into the stirrup,” San growls, “I will be more than happy to give you a second concussion myself.”

Hongjoong hardens his gaze, though the pain from his black eye aches against the surface of his skin and he feels as though his usual glare isn’t as intimidating. “San, we really don’t have time—”

“Save it, Hongjoong. What we don’t have time for is you dying. You are going to rest. Two hours. We’re stopping here. That’s final. Mingi!”

Pursing his lips, his jaw set, Hongjoong scowls at San before glancing over his shoulder. His gaze, full of fire, turns to glare at Mingi. With unwanted attention on him, Mingi shifts uncomfortably in his saddle, his eyes darting between San, the doctor, and Hongjoong, the leader.

But even Song Mingi had an ounce of power in the group, being a co-founder and co-leader.

Mingi straightens himself up in his saddle, clearing his throat. “We’re stopping, Hongjoong!”

The declaration sounds more comical than demanding, and Hongjoong lets out a snort, shrugging San’s hand off his shoulder. He brushes past his friend, leaning down to retrieve his hat from the ground and dusting it off, before he moves off to one of the pinyon pines.

He sets himself up against it, much to his own chagrin, ignoring the others.

So, they had stopped that day, as demanded by both San and Mingi. The two hours had passed by much too slowly. San kept tending to Hongjoong as necessary, snapping fingers constantly in front of his face to make sure he wasn’t about to lose consciousness. It was as annoying as Yunho’s persistence in calling San a “quack doctor.”

“Why do you suddenly care now?” He remembered Yunho asking. “You already let him fall asleep with the concussion once as it was!”

Hongjoong couldn’t even be sure anymore if it was Yunho actually pestering San, still, or if he was truly upset about the whole matter. He didn’t dwell on it, though. All he could think about was Jean and her beautiful appaloosa, miles ahead of them and speeding through the high desert. It had added to the ache that already pounded just beyond his eyes from the concussion and nasty black eye she had given him.

Thankfully, the rest of the ride had passed without incident. He’d been able to stay in his saddle much better after giving his body just those two hours. Stubbornly, he decided he’d never admit to San that it had helped him, even if just a little. He was still upset about how much they were lagging, an intense worry building up within him the further they rode back towards Sundown.

Just on the horizon, Hongjoong can finally see the outline of the little base camp they’d set up.

He clicks his tongue, tightening his thighs around the torso of his horse, urging the steed onward for one last final push. Hongjoong and his black steed break ahead of the group, speeding towards the camp. Hongjoong leaves the others behind, his heard thundering in his ears and falling into beat with his horse’s hooves.

His worry, and his heart pounding in his ears, becomes explosive when his horse suddenly speeds into the camp. Hongjoong pulls at the reigns, turning his mount into a full circle as he takes in the sight before him.

The entire camp is upturned. Boxes of supplies were upside down, bags tipped over with their contents spilling out. The kitchen utensils that their only female member, Wooyoung’s girl, Rosette, often used were spread across the camp. Tents were ruffled, still standing upright, but they had clearly been knocked against.

Hongjoong clenches his jaw. What the hell happened here?

“Seonghwa!” He bellows. He’s still a bit dizzy, but he swiftly jumps down from his horse, darting towards his and Seonghwa’s shared tent. Hongjoong practically rips back the flap of the tent, staring inside.

It’s empty.

Seonghwa’s books, many of his bookkeeping and accounting notes—others some of his research material he’d started to note down through their travels—are scattered about a barrel he’d been using as a table, some toppled over onto the ground below. But otherwise, personal belongings are left untouched.

“Park Seonghwa!” He yells again, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes dart around the camp in a wild craze, taking in every detail that he’d had memorized like the back of his hand before his small troop had left to go after Jean. Hongjoong’s memory worked in ways that other’s didn’t—he could recall the way every little thing had been before they left. He could remember the smallest of details that others didn’t. He took mental notes of small things, things that people would often overlook.

No matter how hard he searched, though, he couldn’t make sense of anything. He couldn’t tell if this had been a struggle, or if everyone had left in a rush. Was this an inward or outward cause?

“Jongho! Yeosang!” Hongjoong turns away from his tent. “Wooyoung! Rosette!”

But no matter how much he calls, no one is there. He can feel the back of his throat becoming raw from shouting at the top of his lungs.

It’s about then, with Hongjoong standing listlessly in the middle of the camp, that the others pull in. Horses hooves pound against the ground before falling silent.

If they’d gotten here sooner, could this have been prevented? Was this the outward cause—Jean’s doing? Or was it inward… Wooyoung.

Ghosts of Wooyoung’s past were lingering in this town. Ones that had caused Wooyoung extreme torment in the past, and plagued him for quite some time after. Hongjoong could still clearly remember the night terrors that often overtook the younger, clenching uncomfortably against Hongjoong’s own heart.

It’s going to be difficult, he had told the other, accepting him and all his faults into his small family. They were all broken, in some way or another. We can’t help you, but we can support you. There’s nothing more than your own sheer willpower to get you out of this.

Despite the only words of comfort Hongjoong had been able to offer those couple of years ago, he could still remember waking in the middle of the night to Wooyoung thrashing about against an unseen enemy. There were many nights of blindly thrown punches, the taste of iron being spat out of Hongjoong’s own mouth as he took whatever Wooyoung threw at him, not knowing any better. Yelling at the others to get away when they attempted to help restrain Wooyoung.

Hongjoong had accepted him. Hongjoong was the leader. It was his responsibility to take the punches as they came. It was his responsibility to protect the younger boy.

He could remember, so clearly, a frantic San scrambling about, trying to calm Wooyoung against the demons; dependency on the drugs he’d been fed most of his life slowly and agonizingly forcing their way out of his bloodstream. There’s no easy way, Wooyoung. Just your own willpower. You can do it. I won’t leave you.

Hongjoong had promised Wooyoung that if he’d just wait for his return, he could take care of everything as he saw fit. Revenge, answers—whatever he wanted, they would stay long enough for Wooyoung to do so. They hadn’t been around these parts in quite a while, and the last time they had been here, the wounds on Wooyoung’s heart were still too fresh for him to handle. They’d gotten their supplies and provisions, and they’d left. Another time, Hongjoong had promised.

He’d said he wouldn’t interfere, no matter what Wooyoung decided to do, or how he handled it. But he needed to be here to oversee it. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Wooyoung—he’d witnessed firsthand the boy pull himself out of the darkest pits of his own mind. It was the others Hongjoong didn’t trust, those ghosts that haunted him. Wooyoung was brash. What if Hongjoong couldn’t protect him?

Did he not listen to me? Hongjoong bites down on his lower lip, narrowing his eyes and clenching his jaw further. He stays silent, mulling over that possibility, standing there as his eyes continue to flicker around the camp.

He glances up, a sudden thought passing through his mind, eyes settling on the sky and taking a mental note of where the sun rests. It hovers low in the sky, just as it had the day he’d come into contact with Jean after so long. Just an hour or so away from sunset...

For a long time, all that can be heard is the nickering and snorting of the horses, before, finally, San speaks up, “What happened here?” Bewilderment rings clear in his voice, followed by panic. “Where’s Shiber?”

There’s a sigh from Yunho. “Of all things, you worry about that damn hunting mutt, and not your members?”

Hongjoong lets out a controlled breath, ignoring the two of them as they begin to bicker. He moves past them to the fire pit at the center of the camp, leaning down and pressing his fingers into the small mound of ashes. Lifting his hand, he allows the powdery residue to fall from his grasp as he rubs his fingertips together. Cold. The last fire had probably been made last night or early this morning.

At the moment Hongjoong pushes himself back to his feet, standing, the world around him seems to reverberate. If not for the sudden eruption of sound—a deafening blast—resounding over his shoulder from the distance, Hongjoong would have thought he was losing his balance to vertigo again. Except, he’s not as dizzy any longer.

“Holy hell—” Mingi breathes out, and immediately San and Yunho both fall quiet. “That’s the town…”

Hongjoong whips around on his heel, eyes falling on the horizon. In the distance, black smoke billows from the ground up into the sky. It builds rapidly, higher and higher, staining the blue backdrop until it begins to block out the sun with a brown haze.

“It’s not time…” Hongjoong mutters, eyes immediately finding the position of the sun, as he had just moments ago. It’s too early. She said sunset. It’s nearly there, but still too early.

Something is wrong.

“Mingi, San!” Hongjoong spins back around. With an air of urgency and sudden determination, he takes long strides across the camp. “Scout the area, now—the entire perimeter of this camp, go a mile out, two miles if you have to. Find everyone, including your dog, San.”

The worry that had been piling up inside of Hongjoong is now overflowing. Where are his members? Where is Wooyoung? And most importantly, mixed with the worry is his anger, building up into a blinding rage. He’s pissed—how could she, of all people, not keep her word?

What game are you playing, Jeanette?

Pulling himself into his saddle, he turns. “Yunho, with me! We’re going to town. We all meet back by midnight at the latest!”

He pulls at his horse’s reins, one last time—he feels sorry for the animal, being pushed so thoroughly over these past few days. Luckily for him the horse has always been a hard worker, and loyal. Even luckier, he showed no signs of slowing down.

Hongjoong speeds out of the camp. Over his shoulder, he hears more hooves pounding as everyone breaks apart—Yunho following him, Mingi and San setting to work on their orders. They know better to question him when he’s upset about something, and though nothing makes sense at the moment, he appreciates the fact that they follow his orders without question.

There’s a difference in going against his wishes when he’s irritable from pain and injury in comparison to something clearly being wrong.

“Boss!” Yunho calls, riding just behind Hongjoong. “What’s going on?!”

As they ride, Hongjoong lets out a sigh. Yunho finally manages to get his horse to catch up, pulling up beside him. He spares a glance to his side briefly, before shaking his head once.

“I’m not sure. I have a guess, but I don’t know what’s really happening—” Hongjoong frowns, narrowing his eyes at the expanse of land ahead. The town is only about a fifteen to twenty minute ride away from their camp, they’ll be there in no time. As they ride, the smoke thickens and blocks out the the sun, which dips even lower toward the horizon.

Sunset, now, is really coming.

“Jean made a threat back there, before she knocked me out. Gave me a riddle, saying that the town of Sundown would go up in flames, at sundown,” he raises his voice into a shout over the roar of their horses’ hooves. “She’s after revenge, which you all know—trying to take from me what’s important, like she thinks I did to her.”

“That would be us, right?” Yunho inquires. “The only thing important to you besides that ring around your neck and Jeanette, is us. ATEEZ, your gang.”

“My family.”

Yunho glances over at Hongjoong in surprise, but he doesn’t say anything further. Family. The most important thing to Jean. The one thing she was lacking—the one thing he had gained.

“So she’s trying to kill us off?”

“Yes, but none of you are stupid enough to all go into town and leave the camp unattended—which is why I’m worried. I think Wooyoung may have taken matters of his past into his own hands, maybe dragged the others into it with him. But that doesn’t explain the state of the camp. There weren’t any signs of a struggle, it was just a mess. Seonghwa must have stayed behind,” Hongjoong sets his jaw, considering everything he’d taken in just from a few quick glances, attempting to work his thoughts around every piece of information he’d absorbed.

At one point, he remembered, someone had once called him a genius for his perception and deduction skills. He’d been highly sought after by every high ranking official in the army.

“Seonghwa is the most level-headed of anyone. Which makes me wonder—where is he, then, if the camp is like that and the town is now on fire? Jean said the fire would happen at sunset, and it’s well enough before that… did she break her word?”

“I only know your stories of her, but that doesn’t seem like her…” Yunho frowns down at the mane of his horse’s neck as he rides. “And honestly, Seonghwa-hyung wouldn’t say no to the others if they all wanted to go into town for a couple drinks and a night of music.”

“I know. Sundown has sheriffs, and the army lingering around, but it’s such a small post that no one really pays half a mind to it,” Hongjoong agrees. It was the perks of the small town, tucked away in an upper part of a state, close to the border of three others. The lack of care was one thing that Hongjoong liked about this particular place. Anyone of power was usually drunk out of their right mind. Unless a large bounty were to waltz into town, most wanted men were pleasantly ignored.

Shouting and screaming touches Hongjoong’s ears as they near the town finally. Clicking his tongue, he pulls on the reins, slowing into a trot. Yunho follows suit. The edge of the town is mostly fine, though the smoke hangs heavily in the air around them. Squinting through the haze, Hongjoong can make out the red and orange of flames traveling along rooftops, and further along where the smoke is most black, completely consuming buildings. Multiple buildings.

“She wasn’t kidding when she said the entire town, was she?”

Hongjoong scoffs. “She’d said to me, ‘When the sun goes down, the outline of the town blends with the sunset. From a distance, you can almost see through the windows of certain buildings, and the town is on fire.’ That was her warning. She was describing the way the sunset looks through the windows of the tallest buildings in the sunset, mimicking fire.”

“How’d she manage this, though? Even with that description… this is huge,” Yunho stares at the chaos before him, slightly awed.

“Her father was a firearms expert in the military. She’s good at making things explode,” Hongjoong dismounts his horse, glancing around and spotting a pinyon pine. The horses will slow them down, if the frantic shouting of the townspeople in the distance tells him anything. He hopes the branches will hide their mounts enough to keep them from being stolen, though he knows his own horse would never go with another handler, having once been a wild stallion. “Let’s tie up the horses.”

Yunho follows his lead, and the two of them disappear together into into the cloud of smoke that engulfs the town.

It’s not as difficult to see, moving through it, though Hongjoong glances around as flames engulf buildings, jumping to the next building with ease. Jean must’ve laced this whole place up with gunpowder, he thinks to himself, watching as citizens of the town, soldiers, and others frantically move to dump buckets of water onto anything on fire. Of course, the buildings were all made of wood and the town had been built in such a way that buildings hovered close to each other. The flames didn’t need much urging, even with gunpowder, to move along.

“It looks like it started at the saloon,” Yunho notes, raising a hand to point towards the center of line of buildings they traverse. The smoke is, in fact, darkest there. The flames that have enveloped the building climb high into the sky, following the smoke clouds.

Hongjoong pauses as they come closer, before he stops, studying the building as it burns. Some soldiers are running about, hovering just at the edge of the flames as they attempt to put the fire out. Narrowing his eyes, he studies the entrance of the burning building, watching as some soldiers come out dragging a person with them.

“Do you think they’re in there?”

“I sure as hell hope not,” Hongjoong says quietly, stiffening as someone in the distance, closer to the building, yells, “There’s more coming!”

A body stumbles from the burning building, and Hongjoong immediately recognizes the feminine figure. Without hesitation, he pushes forward, through the crowd of people that hover back precariously and watch as the building burn. He hears Yunho hiss his name before he disappears, worried that someone might recognize them.

Family. Mine. My own. He needs to reach her before anyone else does. From his peripheral, he sees others moving toward her. Hongjoong picks up his pace—

—with just enough time to spare. Rosette McGraw, Wooyoung’s girl, he often fondly referred to her, stumbles right into his arms as he steps forward. Someone that had been hovering nearby glances at him curiously.

“My sister,” he says, wrapping his arms around her protectively.

It was the first thing that popped into his mind. How else would he describe her? Just as much as she was “Wooyoung’s girl”, she was also his family, anyway. Back in California, they’d picked her up off a ranch. A trade—a debt on her father’s head, for her life. Servitude until the debt was paid off, or Hongjoong saw fit. Of course, he’d never once thought of treating her like a slave girl.

He had, however, pushed the responsibility of caring for her off onto Wooyoung with an air of indifference. Wooyoung had been the one that had been so insistent on trading the girl for the debt, despite Hongjoong’s threats toward her father and want otherwise. But it had been difficult to say no, at the time. It had been the first emotion Wooyoung had shown in a long time, since coming clean.

Hongjoong glances down at her when Rosette suddenly struggles against him. It’s a weak attempt to free herself, but the shifting has him realize something. Against his wrist, he can feel something wet and sticky.

She’s injured.

“Relax,” he whispers to her, voice firm.

He’s trying to keep his cool, but somewhere in the back of his mind, certain puzzle pieces fall into place. Wooyoung hadn’t listened to him—Rosette had been dragged into it, that much was certain from the fact that she was bleeding. The two of them worked together often. Rosette didn’t really have a specific position within the gang, but she was decent at gathering intel. It came with working alongside Wooyooung for so long. Hongjoong clenches his jaw. God dammit, Jung Wooyoung.

If he’d just listened, that stupid kid. But where were Jongho and Yeosang?

Against him, Rosette relaxes, her neck practically snapping back to look at him. She blinks back tears welling up in her eyes. He can’t tell if she’s been crying or if it’s from the thick smoke.

“Hongjoong…”

“Save your breath,” he commands, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. He really does need her to save her breath. The smoke inhalation, plus whatever she was bleeding from, meant that she needed every ounce of energy she could salvage. “Yunho.”

“Sir,” Yunho’s reply comes. He wasn’t sure if, after hissing out a warning note, Yunho had actually followed him to the front of the crowd. He’s relieved to find that the other, in fact, had.

“Get her attention.” Hongjoong shifts, carefully loosening his hold on Rosette. As he turns carefully towards Yunho, she stumbles just a bit. Yunho is there to catch her.

“But—” He starts, about to ask a question. As he does so, he easily picks Rosette up, snaking his arms under her legs and hoisting her up bridal style. At the sight of a stab wound on her abdomen, his eyes practically bulge out of his head. Hongjoong finds himself scowling at the sight of it.

Wooyoung, what exactly did you two get into?

“It’s fine,” he interrupts, before Yunho can finish. “Just get back to San and get her the care she needs. Help Mingi search for Seonghwa, instead. Be careful of Jean prowling about. I’ll handle Wooyoung. Give me until midnight. If I’m not back, then come for me. Understood?”

“Yes, sir…” Yunho’s reply comes reluctantly. He can see the questions, and the worry, swirling around in the other’s brown eyes. Hongjoong watches as Rosette’s head falls against Yunho’s shoulder, her energy slipping away. That seems to seal his decision, and he turns away partially. “Hongjoong-ah, be careful…”

Hongjoong studies the two of them, eyes lingering on Rosette. Sunset has bled onto the horizon, now, back-lighting everything with a hue of red as night begins to settle. “Always,” he states, finally, “Rosette. Get some rest. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

With that, he turns away, stepping towards the burning building.

Wooyoung is in there.

Desire: Ch.5

A/N: oof, sorry this was a long time coming! Things in life kept popping up and this wasn’t actually written yet. It’s a bit shorter this time because I’ve got some action planned next chapter, and there’s a bit of a time skip, but we’ve switched point of views around. I hope everyone enjoys!

Genre: action, angst, romance, outlaw!au

Word Count: 2737

Summary: Years ago, Kim Hongjoong took something important from you. Years of patience with a heavy grudge on your heart, you carefully construct a plan that you’ve already set into motion. With a series of events, you plan to exact your revenge on him and return the painful favor from years ago. What you don’t plan for, however, is your heart’s desire ultimately waging a war against you as he intricately weaves himself back into your life—and you find yourself matched up against a rival who is already ten steps ahead.

Overhead, the sun’s rays beat down on your backside where you crouch. The day is warm, the sunlight radiating heat around you as it reflects off the desert landscape surrounding. You rub at your brow, before anxiously running fingers through your hair, eyes flickering around the empty campsite before you.

It had only taken a couple of days to ride from your old ranch land—the land in your father’s name, in your name. In Kim Hongjoong’s name. At the thought, and many memories, you feel your jaw clench, a bead of sweat running down the back of your neck. You’d lost your temper, and now you felt exhausted as you stare around at the mess you’d made. The mess of their camp—ATEEZ’s camp—which you’d turned upside down in the process of attempting to find something that was rightfully yours. When it hadn’t turned up, you’d grown frustrated and vented out that frustration physically.

Where the hell is it?

Why isn’t it here?

You continue to stare blankly at the mess you’ve created, wondering where you’ve gone wrong—wondering how long until ATEEZ return and all of this falls to pieces. You’d planned everything so perfectly, or so you’d thought. To reach this roadblock is akin to reaching the end of a mesa—staring over the edge of a cliff and down into an abyss. You don’t know where to go from here. You hadn’t considered the possibility that what you were looking for wouldn’t be here…

Still with an empty void for thoughts, you allow your gaze to trail around the barren camp. You’d timed everything perfectly. You’d intercepted Hongjoong at just the right time. You’d set him off course so you might put yourself ahead. With a little urging towards your longtime friend Rosette, you’d dragged the rest of the members away from the camp so you could infiltrate. And, later on, your plan for revenge against Hongjoong’s new family would be exacted.

Everything should be perfect. Or, so you thought.

Everything wasn’t perfect, and you could slowly feel it falling apart at the seams. What about, after all this time of him having the upper hand—what about all that changing?

Somewhere amidst your search, you’d blanked out in anger. Sheer rage, upset that what you wanted wasn’t where you thought it should be. You’d thrown things about the camp in a fit, turning everything and anything inside out.

Double checking.

Triple checking.

And that’s when a familiar voice graces your ears, unwelcome and unwarranted.

“Any luck?”

The scowl on your face is almost instantaneous, and you snap your head to look over your shoulder.

Park Seonghwa stands there, just at the edge of the camp. He has his hands around his horse’s reins, leading the animal into the area. How you hadn’t heard the hooves behind you, you aren’t entirely sure. Although if you were to be honest with yourself, you knew it was because you’d lost yourself to your emotions; allowing the silence of your anger to smother you.

What have I always told you about letting your emotions get in the way? Hongjoong’s words ring, loud and clear, at the forefront of your mind. Even now, when he’s not even present—he’s exactly in the position he wants to be.

Ahead. Ahead of everyone. Always multiple steps ahead.

The second in command and co-founder of the ATEEZ gang stares at you coolly. You watch Seonghwa’s face, always so calm and serious, slightly surprised when he smirks. Although you don’t know him entirely well, you know him well enough to think that the expression looks out of place on his face.

“I didn’t think so. It’s not here. At all. But I’ll assume you know that, now.” He makes a point to glance around at the state of his camp.

Ignoring him, you push yourself to your feet, dusting yourself off. “You don’t even know—”

But before you even finish the thought, Seonghwa cuts you off, “The deed, right? You want the deed to the land. That’s why you specifically gutted my tent.” He gives a curt nod towards the aforementioned tent. “Makes sense, since I act as accountant and bookkeeper, that I’d have it. Or so, you’d think.”

He’s as sharp as Hongjoong, you mentally note, frowning. You try to keep yourself calm as he allows the reins to fall from his slender fingers, trusting his equine companion to not wander off. He takes a step closer to you, and then another. You’re acutely aware of him testing the boundaries; of the gun that sits at your waist. But you know if you reach for it, he, in turn, won’t hesitate to reach for his.

It’s Hongjoong that has the feelings for you, not the rest of ATEEZ. Seonghwa and Mingi were simply the boys your brother and Hongjoong would bring home occasionally when they visited home during their time in the army. They were the boys who could eat twice their weight in the food your mother cooked. You’d never made a point to get to know either of them, though you’d been friendly enough. The visiting time had always been short lived and bittersweet, the time spent with everyone never quite long enough. So you’d focused your attention on your family, not the two strangers that accompanied them.

You’re sure, if it came to it, Hongjoong would understand a casualty due to self preservation, or protection. If Seonghwa had to pull the gun on you, he’d be forgiven.

The deed to the land. Your parents land. The deed that, because your name wasn’t officially listed meant you weren’t, by any right, the owner. Kim Hongjoong, the traitor, was. You had every intention of ripping that right out of his hands, burning that goddamned piece of paper to ashes and taking back what was yours.

Why? It was just a piece of paper. It shouldn’t mean so much. Anyone else might think there was really no reason to go to such lengths. But it was the events that had led that deed to fall into his hands, that’s what pushed your forward. He knew this.

“The ring, too,” Seonghwa continues, stopping in front of you. There’s only a pace between the two of you. You frown, both at the proximity and the fact that Seonghwa has made such a bold declaration, though he’s not wrong. How many people, exactly, has Hongjoong told the wrong story to?

“They’re with him,” Seonghwa continues. “Always. Those two items never leave him. The deed is in his breast pocket, the ring on a chain around his neck.”

You blanch, though you try your hardest to cover up the slip.

“He’s never without them,” Seonghwa’s voice rings with a sentiment that wrenches at your heart silently.

There’s absolutely no way that could be true. You turn away from Seonghwa, not wanting him to see the gears working in your mind as you consider his words. How many people had he told the wrong story to? But could there ever be a possibility that Park Seonghwa was telling the truth? He and Mingi had always been with Hongjoong and your brother during their enlistment time. Was there a possibility you were the one who had been fed the wrong story? Something you didn’t know?

But you hadn’t seen the ring with him back at the ranch. Your gut twists, confusion swirling around within you enough that you want to second guess yourself—but you believe your own eyes, over everything. Hongjoong was a traitor. He was a thief, and a liar, and he didn’t care enough to keep something like that close to his heart. The Hongjoong that had returned from the army only cared about personal gain—about how something might benefit him.

Seonghwa was just soft, that was it.

If the items had been with him this entire time, was there any reason for all of this?

It was true, your revenge was important. You wanted to make him hurt as much as you’d hurt. As much as he’d hurt you, stabbing you in the back the way he had and twisting the metaphorical knife as he’d pulled it out. More than anything, though, you wanted your belongings back. You wanted the last remaining things of your mother and your father. Every day, you ached with regret over giving him that ring. The pain was stronger knowing he’d refused to give it back to you. Why?

Annoyance builds up in you as you consider things further, and you turn back to Seonghwa—but immediately freeze in your tracks, staring down the barrel of a gun.

“Shit,” you breath out, and Seonghwa just quirks a brow at you. Jaw clenched, you lift your hands up in a nonthreatening manner. As you do so, Seonghwa, keeping the gun pointed at you, carefully reaches forward and pull your gun out of the holster at your hip.

My emotions really are getting in the way, you silently concede.

“Anything else on you?”

You shake your head, watching as he tosses your gun aside to the ground. Then, you’re stumbling abruptly when Seonghwa grabs your arm and leads you a few steps to the barren fire pit, pushing you down to sit on one of the logs that had been set around it when the camp had been set up. He keeps the gun pointed at you, and you can’t help but glare over the barrel and up at him where he hovers over you.

“Start talking,” he orders.

“What’s there to say?” You quip, cutting your gaze away from him when he taps the barrel of the pistol against your temple. Sighing, you wrinkle your nose. “Rather, what do you want to know?”

“Hongjoong went after you, with intentions to either cut you off or meet up with you. I don’t doubt his abilities, but it worries me that you’re here in town before him and the rest of my members,” Seonghwa notes, narrowing his eyes. “And your meeting with Rosette the other night didn’t go unnoticed.”

You try not to react to his words, glancing back up at him with a small teasing smile. “I just set Hongjoong behind a couple of days, so I could get the upper hand for once.” You had to silently admit to yourself, though, that wasn’t going entirely well—you hated the idea of losing, of everything slowly falling apart. But maybe there were still a few things you could do right.

“If you were eavesdropping on my dear friend and I, though, why are you here and not in town with the others? They’re in trouble, you know.”

Of everyone, you had a feeling Rosette wouldn’t be able to convince Seonghwa to follow her into town for some nightly drinking and shenanigans. That had never been his personality, from what you’d gathered. You’d been holding out on the hope that maybe he’d follow along as a sort of supervisor, though, since he’d always been the observant and responsible one, even if he didn’t partake in anything. Wishful thinking, of course. You really should have known better, especially recognizing that you’d considered yourself lucky when he hadn’t been here as you’d stumbled into the camp.

“Did you know, most of us are aware of what you’re trying to do?” Seonghwa asks, and you can tell he’s the one trying to keep his expression clear as you narrow your gaze on him.

“What?” You hiss out. You’d only left clues for Hongjoong, this entire time. Things that only he would know and understand, things that hinted at your history together.

How could the others possibly figure things out?

Of course, anyone would be able to tell that someone had it out for Kim Hongjoong—whether it be her, or anyone else in the world. He had collected quite an array of enemies over time. The assumption that the rest of ATEEZ would be caught in the crossfire was an easy one to make.

Seonghwa glances up towards the sky. Briefly, you follow his gaze, taking note with him of the position of the sun in the sky.

“There’s still plenty of time. Even if Rosette makes a decision, Wooyoung is aware of there being danger.”

In the moment that he pulls his gaze back down from the sky, his attention distracted for a second long enough for you to strike—you do. Quickly, you lurch forward and snatch his wrist, wrenching the gun free from his grasp. There’s a struggle for a moment, him reacting as soon as your fingertips make contact with his skin. He tenses up immediately and tries to turn away from you, his grip tightening around the gun.

A shot goes off at random as he does so, and both of you flinch in surprise—he not intending to shoot the gun, and you not expecting it.

When you finally jerk the weapon out of his grasp, you turn and immediately point it at him, holding it steady.

The two of you are panting from the minor scuffle, staring each other down silently. He doesn’t raise his hands in any type of surrender, but he doesn’t dare move. His entire body is stiff, ready to react in case you do decide to shoot. Because your gun was discarded, and you were now the owner of his, he’s weaponless.

Looking back on it—you’re not sure why you don’t shoot.

“Jeanette,” Seonghwa starts carefully. His voice is low, still a bit short of breath.

You shake your head, not wanting to listen to anything he might say, now. In a few hours, Hongjoong will hopefully be hurting as much as you once hurt in the past. He will hopefully be hurting with the same kind of pain that you carry around, a burden at the bottom of your heart. Keeping the gun pointed at Seonghwa, you carefully begin to back away from him—away and out from the camp.

“Jean,” Seonghwa says again, watching you slowly escape. He clenches his jaw, before, like a broken dam, words flood out quickly and with urgency, “do you really think Hongjoong was capable of doing all that to you? To your brother? To your family? You all were his family! He loved you—loves you! He would have never—all he talked about in the army was returning home to marry you. That ring is still with him, because of it. He’s holding out on that still—”

You shake your head, more furiously this time, keeping silent. You’re almost afraid to speak, almost afraid that if you do you may give in to these fantasies and thoughts that for years you’d hoped weren’t part of the nightmare you had actually been living in this entire time.

“—there’s something bigger at work here, Jean. Please, help. Help him. He didn’t do it!”

When you’re far enough away, you turn your back to him—a mistake, and you know it. Another thing Hongjoong had always taught you not to do. Your horse is just beyond the treeline off in the distance, where the pinyons and junipers begin to cluster together. You begin to run. Whatever happens, at least your plan at town won’t backfire. Seonghwa can report everything to Hongjoong, and maybe you’ll have someone to tell you the story of how you’d broken down the man you once loved.

From behind you, a gunshot rings out.

A burning sensation immediately crosses over your upper thigh, making you yelp in both pain and surprise. You stumble in your run, going down. A knee immediately hits the dirt and rocks beneath you, managing to catch yourself just enough before fully collapsing. From under your arm, you glance at your right leg, taking note of the rip in your pants and the blood suddenly staining the material.

“Shit,” you breath out. The bullet had grazed you. Clenching your jaw, you glance over your shoulder, noting Seonghwa with a gun held up walking towards you. In a swift motion, you push yourself to your feet, teeth grinding against the throbbing in your leg as you put weight on it.

Wildly and blindly, you fire off a shot over your shoulder. Not waiting to see how Seonghwa reacts, not caring if it hits him, you turn and begin running back towards your horse again. The throbbing in your leg causes you to limp every few steps, but somehow you manage to find your dappled horse, and mount yourself.

You’re very good at running, you can’t help but think, considering these last few days.

Desire: Ch.2

A/N: This was a long time coming, lol, I apologize!! Things escalated rather quickly between these two... they’ve got a bit of a history they need to clear up.

Pairing: Hongjoong x Reader

Genre: action, angst, romance, outlaw!au

Word Count: 2047

Summary: Years ago, Kim Hongjoong took something important from you. Years of patience with a heavy grudge on your heart, you carefully construct a plan that you’ve already set into motion. With a series of events, you plan to exact your revenge on him and return the painful favor from years ago. What you don’t plan for, however, is your heart’s desire ultimately waging a war against you as he intricately weaves himself back into your life—and you find yourself matched up against a rival who is already ten steps ahead.

He stays unflinching, eyes directed straight ahead and muscles tensed, but poised for action. No matter how many times this situation might repeat itself, Hongjoong knows better than to test the waters of whether he can get out alive or not. He enjoyed danger, but he wasn’t stupid. He didn’t have a death wish. Despite himself, however, he can feel the corners of his mouth twitching as a smirk plays along at the edges. “This isn’t quite the homecoming I had in mind,” he mused aloud.

“This isn’t your home.”

“Really, now?” Hongjoong frowns in thought. “I’m fairly certain the deed to the land is in my name.”

Against his temple, he feels the gun quiver in reaction to his statement. It’s exactly what he wants, of course. He knows what these words mean to her and how deeply they cut her. He knows what he’s done, even if she doesn’t see it the same way—and how deeply that cuts her. In her eyes, he’s a traitor and nothing more. Someone who abandoned her and his own morals.

He waits, and there’s no reaction. Just the muzzle against his temple as she drowns in her torment.

Hongjoong raises his eyebrows, tilting his head down just a fraction as he considers his options. Calculating. It’s just the reaction he needs from her. That single moment of hesitation—

Faster than a snake striking, Hongjoong’s hand darts upward to snatch the wrist that holds the gun, quickly slamming it against the door frame where her hand hovers and knocking her grip of the revolver. There’s a yelp of pain paired with the thud as the gun hits the floor. As he moves swiftly and his surroundings fade around him, both become background noises that seems distant. In a fluid motion, Hongjoong pulls her arm, twisting and spinning her around.

All in a mere matter of moments, you find yourself pressed up against the wall, Hongjoong’s lithe frame pinning you there. Your wrist throbs wildly in pain, and your shoulder screams at you from the strain of Hongjoong’s armlock. You grit your teeth against the discomfort. He hadn’t been gentle in the slightest.

“What have I always told you about letting your emotions get in the way?” His voice is low, breath tickling against your ear. There’s a hint of danger dancing through the words. Both send a shiver down your spine.

Of course, he’s right. He almost always is. If you hadn’t hesitated in that moment, allowed your shock and anger to overcome you from that bold statement, you wouldn’t be in your current predicament. Things would still be in your favor, rather than his. You hated the fact that, even after all these years, he still had the upper hand.

That’s about to change, though, you remind yourself, just be patient.

Feeling him shift slightly to lean back, you turn as much as the space given between you will allow, glancing over your shoulder. Without answering, you glare at him.

There’s a smirk on his face, paired with an all too familiar set of raised eyebrows, smug written all over his expression. Hongjoong’s eyes flicker briefly, his smirk settling into a smaller smile.

“Ah, you’re still just as pretty as ever when you’re glaring at me,” to your annoyance, Hongjoong’s voice comes out lighthearted and teasing.

Thousands of memories from childhood come flooding back to you—that smirk, his telltale smug expression, the way his light eyes smoldered when he was up to no good. His constant teasing and banter, the countless laughs and his heartwarming, dopey grin. Unwelcome memories that you didn’t need right now. You didn’t need a distraction at that moment, let alone one caused by him.

With an exasperated grunt, you push the memories away and simultaneously push away from the wall, shoving your back into Hongjoong’s chest. He releases you almost instantly, having not been putting much effort into keeping you subdued. Considering you’d just been holding a gun to his head, intentions to shoot or not, you find it slightly surprising he hadn’t been putting in more effort.

But, Kim Hongjoong was notorious for playing things off and not taking situations seriously. In an ironic sort of way, he was rather gracious about his arrogance.

Despite as much, you take note that as he takes a step away from you—he gives enough space to clear himself of you possibly lashing out at him, something you’d very much like to do. With his step, he conveniently kicks the discarded revolver out the door. It’s kicked with enough force that you watch as it slides across the deck, before landing in the dirt outside.

He notes your gaze, and gives a tiny shrug. “Precautions.”

Notoriously overconfident and smug—but not stupid. Never stupid.

“What are you doing here?” You snap. Part of your irritability comes from the pain coursing through the entirety of your right arm, the other part from the unwelcome memories.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Hongjoong crossed his arms in front of him, meeting your glare with a level gaze. “You’re the one that left quite an obvious trail of bodies back in New Mexico’s badlands. Are you saying you didn’t want me to find you?’

While it had been quite dramatic, he was right. Again. When you’d decided it was time to put your desire for revenge into motion, you had needed to catch his attention, without drawing too much attention. You’d done the one thing you knew how to do—the one thing you were certain he’d recognize.

It was your mark to rob stagecoaches, burn after looting, and dismember the men of their ring finger. Then, you left them propped up against the burnt remnants of their belongings, before disappearing. While it was most definitely something you were infamous for—it was a blatant attack towards Hongjoong. He was aware of it.

A part of you had gotten lucky, of course. You’d only heard that the ATEEZ gang had been hanging around New Mexico as their latest source for cover. Grabbing his attention and leading him all the way back to Arizona had been another matter entirely. Word traveled slow when you were on the run. You hadn’t actually been certain how dated or recent the news of the gang had been until you’d caught a hint of Hongjoong on your trail.

As you think, Hongjoong watches you carefully. You attempt to not react to his burning gaze. There’s an intensity that surrounds him that, even in your youth, had always intimidated you. You refuse to buckle beneath it now, but you find it difficult to do so. Even after so much time has passed, he can read you easily.

“I thought so.” He’s matter-of-fact in his statement, though to your surprise he suddenly unfolds his arms and takes a step towards you.

At his proximity, you find yourself tensing, stiffening further as he reaches down to claim the wrist of your throbbing arm. You flinch as he lifts it, looking the back of your hand over.

“Hm,” Hongjoong tilts his head to the side, “that was a bit rude of me.”

You aren’t sure what he means until you glance down at your hand, just as his thumb grazes over the back of your wrist with a feather-light touch. Even so, it causes you to flinch again, and you attempt to jerk your hand back from his grip—one that’s firm and unrelenting, and doesn’t release you.

On the back of your wrist is a series of scrapes, some a bit deeper than the other, from where Hongjoong had knocked your hand against the aged, splintered wood of the door frame. You hadn’t realized that the throbbing pain wasn’t just from the bruise probably forming due to the force of his hit, and the strain he’d put on the muscles in your arm—but also because you were, to an extent, actually injured.

Hongjoong had a watchful eye for everything. No wonder he’d been melting you down with the intense stare moments before. You’d thought he had been gauging you for a reaction, but he’d been looking you over. Every little detail, matching everything up with previous memories and piecing together years apart.

“I’ve got a knife in my saddlebag. I can clean out the splinters,” Hongjoong states, letting go of your hand.

You pull your hand back to yourself sharply, about to turn down his offer with an even sharper tongue, before an idea passes through your mind.

Relenting, you purse your lips instead. “Fine. It’s the least you can do.”

Hongjoong tsks, “No need to be so haughty.” He nods, though, glancing around the old house once more before he turns his back to you and begins out the door. “Come on.”

You follow, albeit a bit more slowly. “Hongjoong.”

He pauses in the doorway, glancing over his shoulder to make sure you’re following. As you’d hoped, from his body language you can tell his guard is down.

“You’re in the town of Sundown right now, right?”

Something flashes through his eyes—a guardedness. You remind yourself to be careful, your heart suddenly pounding very loudly in your chest as worry passes through you.

“Yes,” he answers, his voice careful and smooth. He studies you for a moment longer than necessary, before he turns away from you.

A small breath you hadn’t been aware you were holding escaped from your lips.

You follow after him. With his back to you as he crossed the yard, back towards his horse, you swiftly and quietly swoop down to reclaim the revolver from the ground. Carefully, you hold it at your side as you walk, staring at Hongjoong’s back intently as you follow him.

Just before he reaches the fence where his horse is tied, you speak up again.

“Do you know why Sundown is the perfect name?” The words spill from your mouth with an urgency, suddenly anxious over your next actions. “When the sun goes down, the outline of the town blends with the sunset. From a distance, you can almost see through the windows of certain buildings, and the town is on fire—”

When you had retrieved the gun from the ground, you’d picked it up backwards. In your hand, you gripped the barrel so hard your skin was spread thin over you knuckles, turning white.

“—I hope you know how to put out a fire, Hongjoong,” you declared. Just as you finished your warning, Hongjoong sensed the danger and spun on his heel to face you. But just as he did so, you lurched forward, lifting the gun high in the air. As he turned, the grip of your gun connected with the side of his face—knocking him out clean.

Hongjoong’s eyes widened in shock, his hazel-green pupils connecting with yours. It was slow motion. You witnessed a multitude of emotions flicker through his eyes. Surprise. Realization. Anger.

Anger.

Your heart pummeled within the cavity of your chest. Hongjoong’s anger was one to be reckoned with. And was he going to be pissed when he woke up.

The slow motion scene didn’t last very long. Consciousness escaped him, and Hongjoong collapsed to the ground, a small cloud of dust rising in the air as he connected with the ground and his black hat falling from his head as his body slumped. For a moment, you stood there frozen—the gun still held in your hand and outstretched in front of you. To your surprise, your hand was quivering.

It wasn’t as if you had actually shot him. You’d knocked out people before, punched people before. There was a difference, however, in doing such a thing to Kim Hongjoong. You let out a shaky breath, staring down at Hongjoong’s unconscious form.

“Let’s race, Hongjoongie. For old time’s sake.”

And with that, you set into motion, your actions still a bit shaky and your right arm still sore. Turning the gun around in your grasp, you returned it to the holster at your hip and turned on your heel—away from the unconscious man from your past and back toward the abandoned home of both of your pasts. Leaving Hongjoong behind, you ran off around to the back of the house to collect your things and your horse.

To ride to the town of Sundown.