part B

r | chanyeol/xiumin
closer au series


What starts as a prank by sunbaes turns into weekly trips. The darkened alley ways and sketchy looking men of the red light district are becoming scarily familiar to Chanyeol. But Chanyeol has a bigger, more addicting goal in mind. He trudges forward to the unmarked door on one of the streets and pushes open the door.


"What's your name?" Chanyeol asks.

Xiumin smiles as Chanyeol slips a fifty thousand won underneath the elastic band around Xiumin's creamy white thigh.

"Xiumin, Sir."

"No, your real name... I want to know, please?"


Chanyeol looks up at the mysterious boy in front of him, pleading silently.

Instead of answering, Xiumin undulates his hips and rolls his torso with the rhythm of the music. It's a slow beat and Chanyeol has a nice view of the white flesh peeking out of Xiumin's outfit of the day.

Chanyeol's eyes are quite large and Xiumin can see his own face reflected in Chanyeol's pupils. Unfortunately, Chanyeol's puppy dog eyes don't work on Xiumin; he's seen all this before... Xiumin smirks, cocking his head to one side and turns prettily, showing off his black mesh tunic that just barely comes to the edge of his bare buttocks.




+++




One day, Chanyeol comes to see Xiumin with his guitar strapped to his back, which gets disapproving looks from the other patrons. He walks in, trying to make himself as small as possible as he walks through the doorway. He cringes as he sees the smoke curling around the middle-aged men with dark circles and yellow teeth. But the smoke seems to part and through it all, he sees the angelic face of the young man he's here for - Xiumin.


They enter the room and Chanyeol barely registers that the decor of the small room has changed. The lights are now a soft pastel green and Chanyeol only notices because Xiumin's hair also has been dyed a similar color.


Xiumin's fingers brush ever so lightly against Chanyeol's thigh. The pressure against his frayed jeans makes Chanyeol's eyelids flutter and once he comes down from that high, he notices Xiumin staring at the guitar case on the sofa next to him.

It's not a coincidence that Chanyeol has been bringing his guitar these days when coming to see Xiumin. It's embarrassing in more ways than one, being seen in the red light district with a guitar on his back, but Chanyeol has a purpose.


"Do you play, Sir?" Xiumin asks.

The fact that Xiumin asks Chanyeol a question first, gives Chanyeol a euphoria that makes his breath catch in his throat. Chanyeol swallows hard and nods. The corner of Xiumin's pretty mouth turns up ever so slightly.

"Are you any good?"

Chanyeol runs his fingers along the surface of the guitar case gingerly. He wonders if he should tell the truth but he's a little bashful and a little stubborn along with more than miffed about Xiumin still not telling Chanyeol his real name.


"I ... I wrote you a song" Chanyeol replies instead.






Xiumin can see Chanyeol's lashes fluttering as he silently puts his fingers down on the strings. And somehow, while Xiumin's focused on the light bouncing off of Chanyeol's lashes, the guitar is the last thing on Xiumin's mind.

"I'm sorry I can't get you better things..." Chanyeol says, strumming lightly. "Believe it or not, I spend all my money on meeting you...coming here."

Chanyeol laughs lightly. Xiumin watches Chanyeol's ear tips turn pink with embarrassment. But before Chanyeol can start his song, the ceiling lights blink, marking the end of their time together.

Xiumin turns around without another thought, though he has to admit to himself that he is a bit curious about Chanyeol's song.
Chanyeol hastily puts his guitar down, racking his mind to say something that will keep Xiumin there with him.

"Wait... I..."

But Xiumin's body is already half way out of the room. And before Chanyeol can reach him, Xiumin turns ever so slightly, not quite looking at Chanyeol.

"Thank you" Xiumin says softly, before he leaves.



+++




For a while, Chanyeol can't make it to the establishment where Xiumin works. He's run out of money and his grades have dropped. It's even come to the point where his slacker sunbaes worry about Chanyeol's academics.

Chanyeol works hard, trying not to think about how much he misses Xiumin. At the end of finals week, Chanyeol is exhausted but he knows where he wants to go. He straps his slightly dusty guitar on his back again and makes his way to the red light district. Things around this part of town seem oddly familiar - the scent of cheap perfume and vomit - and the unmarked door he sees at the end of the alleyway.



He pushes into the establishment. It's a little later than he usually comes in to meet Xiumin and so Chanyeol is anxious. What if Xiumin is with someone else? What if he sees Xiumin being intimate with someone else? His fingers are shaking with anticipation and lack of sleep from finals week. But no matter how much his eyes turn about the room, he can't find the angelic young man of his dreams.


He grabs another dancer going into the break room.

"Xiumin?" Chanyeol asks.

The dancer's face might have been handsome if not too thin. His skin might have been a lovely bronze if not for the ashy color it has taken from the smoke, lack of sleep, and maybe drugs. He looks weary and a flicker of annoyance passes his face before the dancer smiles, curving his eyes into half moons.

The dancer moistens his plump, but dry lips before he says, "Xiumin? Why don't you try someone else for a change?"

Fingers sweep down Chanyeol's chest, making goosebumps rise on Chanyeol's arms. Chanyeol steps back, a little intimidated by the smaller man.

"N-no, I ..."

But someone steps out behind a dark velvet curtain.

"Leave him alone, Tae. He's here to see me. I have dibs."

The voice is light, amused, and very familiar to Chanyeol. A chuckle comes from the dancer named Tae.

"Oh Min-"

But Xiumin puts a finger to Tae's lips, shaking his head.

"Dibs" Xiumin repeats.

And while Chanyeol frowns at the way Tae taps Xiumin's ass as he walks past them, Xiumin is wrapping his little fingers around Chanyeol's wrist and all other thoughts dissipate.



They're at the opaque curtains of a familiar round room, when Chanyeol's pulled back. No, to be accurate, it's Xiumin who's pulled back. Chanyeol's pulled back with him and when Chanyeol turns, he sees a tall broad shouldered man. The man has his large veiny hands wrapped around Xiumin's thin shoulders.

"You're booked with me" comes an inebriated voice.

The voice is gravelly and intimidating but that's not what freezes Chanyeol in his tracks. The look in the man's eyes is too familiar - is one he's seen in the mirror.

"Sorry big guy" Xiumin says, voice as soft as silk. "This guy is a regular and -"

But the man tugs again and Xiumin's threadbare outfit tears at the left shoulder. Xiumin's soft white shoulder is exposed and though Chanyeol has seen Xiumin in revealing outfits before, he has never seen Xiumin's skin without a barrier. Perhaps this is what helps Chanyeol snap out of it, but he does. His fist gets thrown before logic can stop it. The taller man is stronger than Chanyeol, sturdier, and more broad shouldered. But the element of surprise knocks him off his feet. As the man goes down, the rest of Xiumin's sleeve rips off and that's when the rest of Chanyeol snaps.





"Park Chanyeol!" Xiumin shouts.

And this is the last thing that Chanyeol registers before he sees all red.