Chapter Text
Chapter I
“Calm down!”
The words just make you more angry and redolent to leave much faster than your heeled feet are taking you.
“Get in a fucking car Y/n!”
It’s a funny picture really: Johnny is standing in front of his Mercedes, screaming at you right in front of the Versalles, a huge up-scale Seoul restaurant of French cuisine where you were for your friend’s birthday until you cheating ex came and ruined everything.
“No way am I getting in a car with you asshole!” You breath out but somehow he hears it.
Because of course he had to follow you. “And what you gonna do, huh!? It’s night and your phone is dead.” There’s this sarcastic haze to his words that you hate the most about him, this arrogance that you’ve usually overlooked over the duration of your short relationships but definitely not going to now.
“I’m gonna use the subway. Anything but your car.” You spit out in his general direction.
“Fine!” He’s unnerved; nods curtly to the side. “Go ahead. Get in.”
On the right, the place that he pointed with his head, you see the subway sign.
You don’t do subway and he knows it. Especially when you’re dressed in half nude dress with a man’s dress shirt over it as a part of your number for tonight.
But sitting in Johnny’s car right now you’d hate more. You’d despise it more.
So you turn and make your way to the subway entrance.
“You’re an idiot Y/n! You’re a fucking idiot!” Johnny’s words echo off of the walls of the underground station entrance as you walk in determinedly.
At this hour there are not too many people, you’d say a few. You get a one-way ticket from the ticket machine and spot glances from people who are obviously wondering why a girl on Prada heels and with pair of diamond earrings is on the subway all together and at this time of night in particular.
You trade your way down to the trains. Thankfully it’s not long till yours come because it’s pretty cold underground and the fabric of the dress shirt you’ve draped over yourself does little to keep you warm.
The carriage is almost empty. Just a guy sleeping on one of the seats and an elderly man with a big plastic bag occupying the two seats at the front.
You position yourself strategically in the middle as the train moves forward.
First few stops everything seems alright, quiet. You unconsciously take a look at the screen of your phone as if to make sure it’s still off. The side of your head touches the cool window glass and you close your eyes for a for a moment sighing.
There’s a commotion in the next carriage but you can’t really see what’s going on until the automatic doors between the carriages open and a group of three burst in. The one in the front has reddish hair, he’s not too tall, you wouldn’t even say too memorable but…he just looks dangerous, looks unpleasant. The other two behind him don’t really catch your attention.
You turn your head, trying to stay quiet and not look at them.
For a moment you think they just passed. But no..there’s this weird energy right behind you and somebody’s eyes on the back of your head, you can feel it, it makes you shiver how uncomfortable it is.
“What does your kind of bird doing on a subway this late at night?”
Turning your head, you come face to face with the red-headed one and you have to lean back slightly since there are only a couple inches between your faces. You hear his sidekicks crack from behind him.
“My kind?” Your voice is surprisingly levelled when you speak.
He smirks. “Yeah, you know, high flying thing with very expensive things.”
“Didn’t know they had restrictions on subway based on how much a person makes.” You offer.
Why can’t you keep your mouth shut?! And this is not the first time you’re asking yourself this question.
The man’s smirk grows. “Our bird has a mouth.”
You gulp down but don’t respond.
“Maybe we could talk more, huh?” His voice is melodious but you of course know it’s a trick to lure in the prey. “Somewhere the public transportation is not involved.”
“Sorry, I’ll have to decline.” You get up, or try to get up but strong hands press on your shoulders with much more strength than you thought this man possesses and you’re forced to slump back into the seat.
“Yah!”
At the sound of a loud voice resonates through the carriage and bounces in your chest and off your ribs.
There’s another group. This time four men, all in their late twenties seemingly. The one in the front, the one who has yelled out, is rather tall and buff, has dark hair that’s falling over his eyes and curls at the ends. If you’re honest he’s gorgeous. But most of all he has kind eyes. Deep chocolate kind eyes.
The three man behind him are actually very handsome too. If you’re completely honest the ones that are harassing you are not bad-looking also, they are just assholes obviously. That leads you to your next thought: are all men who ride the subway late at night look like them??
You know all those invasive thoughts are in your head at this particular moment because you’re scared and you’re trying not to think about what’s scaring you but about something else… anything else.
“Fuck..” You hear the one behind the redhead curse under his breath.
“What are you doing, Byun?” The man in front of you asks, his eyes sliding to you and then to the hands on your shoulders.
“S.Coups, my man! Nothing much, we’re just having a conversation with my new friend here.” The Byun guy announces, one of his hands pets your shoulder but doesn’t slide away staying there.
“A friend?!” The tall man who is on the right from the one that was called S.Coups wonders incredulously. He has a huge chest and shoulders but he does remind you a little bit of a puppy.
“And what’s your friend’s name?” S.Coups asks next, eyes burning into the man who still has his hands on your shoulders.
“That’s birdy.” He replies almost proudly.
You sigh deeply through your nose.
“I don’t think she wants too be your friend.” The other man says determinedly.
“Why do you always have you nose in my business?” The Byun guy is getting annoyed as he stands up but his hands are still pressing your shoulders.
“Because your business is always dirty.” S.Coups replies with a scowl. “Why don’t we ask her if she wants to stay here with you or come with us, shall we?”
The man behind you presses his thumbs painfully in the back of your shoulders and you let out a hiss.
“Sweetheart?” Somehow the other man’s voice is softer when he looks at you.
You look up and your eyes meet. It would be a transcendental moment were you not in this particular situation with some loony holding you hostage.
“Do you want to stay here or come with us?” He asks you.
The other man is pressing even more into your covered skin as if commanding you what to say but you don’t care. You don’t know these men, any of them but your intuition knows exactly where you have a better chance of survival.
“You.” You breath out, not interrupting the eye contact.
He nods at you. “Well I believe the lady has said her word.”
With that he starts walking towards you and the man he’s called Byun, and his two friends.
And the hands on your shoulders waver.
“What’s up Sehun, scared already?” Another one behind S.Coups, a lean one who looks younger than the other three asks looking at one of the guys behind your back.
“You wish Vernon.” Comes a curt reply but the voice of the one who speaks doesn’t seem to actually believe in what he says.
“Hands off.” S.Coups says as soon as he’s next to you and that’s not a request.
The man holding you obviously is thinking about his options but seeing as the opposing group is bigger he raises his hands in mock surrender with a maniac giggle.
You jump from your place and S.Coups uses his hand as a shield to back you behind him to stand between him and his friends. The one named Vernon smiles at you, nodding encouragingly as if trying to tell you it will be okey from now on.
“It’s not the last time I’m seeing you birdy.” The redheaded man points a finger at you and you don’t like how his eyes glint but the view of him is suddenly blocked off by S.Coups’ imposing back.
“Leave Baekhyun if you don’t want something more than your perverted pride damaged.” He barks.
The man, Byun Baekhyun as you now know, scowls so hard you’d think his otherwise handsome features will stay frozen in that grimace but then you hear “let’s go” and when you crane your neck next to look, you see the three leaving the carriage.
Once the man in front of you makes sure the other group is gone he turns to you and all of a sudden there’s his smile - it's gentle and bashful and even shy. And you…you’re just lost for a second forgetting where you are. Only the screeching of the train coming to a stop rouses you out of the stupor.
“Thank you,” you say finally and turn to the other boys too. “Thank you to all of you.”
“No problem!” The one that looks like an enthusiastic puppy smiles with all the teeth showing. “I’m Mingyu.”
“Nice to meet you.” You can’s help but smile back at him since his so contagious. “I’m Y/n.”
“And this is Vernon.” Mingyu introduces and Vernon gives you a small smile again. “Behind you is Wonwoo.”
Wonwoo is a tall man with glasses, dressed in all black and wearing a beanie over his dark hair. He nods politely at you and you sum up he’s the quiet one of the group.
“And this…” Mingyu starts but is interrupted by the man who obviously saved you tonight.
“Seungcheol.” He tell you his name.
You want to try it on your lips but don’t dare to.
Instead you say: “So are you guys some kind if ninja vigilante or something?”
They laugh, even Wonwoo chuckles.
“Not really.” Seungcheol replies with a shrug. “Maybe just a little.”
“I…sorry this is my stop.” You look at the sign of ‘Seoul Forrest’ in your view. “Thanks for the saving again.”
“Wait, we’ll walk you.” Seungcheol says as they all follow you out of the train.
“You sure?” You look at him and he again holds your gaze for longer than necessary.
“Of course!” Mingyu nods behind him. “What kind of gentlemen would we be if we let a girl walk alone at night.”
Wonwoo nods swell, Vernon seem to agree.
They really seem like nice guys so you agree. “Okey, come on then, gentlemen.”
On the steps on the subway leading outside you feel a pleasant weight on your shoulders and look down to see Seungcheol’s leather jacket over your shoulders.
When your look up at him, lips ajar slightly, he shrugs again and just mutters: “You seen to need it more.”
It’s a sweet light banter about everything and nothing while you reach the exit to the street.
You don’t want to act like a 12-year old school girl but you feel like you are when Seungcheol sends these gazes at you when he thinks he’s being discreet. It’s…very cute.
Another trouble comes when you’re out of the subway. Today is just not your day apparently.
“Are you fucking nuts?!” Johnny is standing next to his car at the entrance to the subway.
“Me? If you weren’t following after me I wouldn’t have to get on the subway.” You reply back, your mood dropping down to a zero.
“And who are these people?” There’s so much disdain in his voice, you feel ashamed for him.
“These people, who have names that you don’t bother to ask because you’re a pig, helped me big time when some idiot tried to crop a feel on the subway!”
“Get in the car Y/n, it’s twenty minutes on foot from here, I’ll drive you.” He grabs your elbow.
Now to these the boys who previously silently watched cannot stay as still anymore.
“Hey man why don’t you let your friend go. See, I don’t think she really wants to go with you.” Vernon says while Mingyu’s hand falls on Seungcheol’s shoulder, stopping him from whatever he wanted to do. “And behave nicely, you know.”
“I think I’m gonna talk and behave the way I want to.” He bites back rudely.
You sigh. “For god’s sake Johnny…”
But he turns to you with such anger you’ve never seen before, making you recoil. You know he can do stupid now, it’s not gonna end well if he continues to act like this. “Shut the fuck up!” He raises his voice even more at you and is still holding your hand.
You’re thankful Mingyu has his hands around Seungcheol because the other man is seeing red right now, you see it in the way he bares one side of his teeth.
“Dude calm down.” Womwoo steps forward and his calm exterior now looks very imposing and scary. “Now next couple minutes might go very differently depending on your ability to make right decisions. You can apologise for your behaviour and a physical abuse of your friend or girlfriend or whoever she is to you, we’ll all accept and be on our way. Or you can choose to keep acting up like the little bitch that you obviously are and see how quickly it will take even one of us to beat you into a pulp.”
Your mouth falls a little open impressed.
It’s a moment before Johnny turns around, letting go of your hand, and steps to the car, opening the door: “Come on, get in. I’m not letting you walk alone.” He says, this time softly.
“She won’t be alone, we’ll gladly walk her.” Vernon sing-songs.
But you see Johnny’s expression and realise this can go badly or not and this one will be on you.
So you shake you head, taking a couple steps closer to where Seungcheol stands now without Mingyu’s hands to chain him and take the leather jacket off.
“Nah,” Seungcheol tells you, placing it back on your shoulders softly. “Keep it. It looks better on you anyway.”
You let out a breathy laugh, realising that you really want to stay here with people you don’t really know and whom you feel so much more comfortable with. “Thank you.”
Before getting in the car you turn around looking at the four of them with a grin: “Thanks again guys. It was …interesting.”
They give a laugh as well.
“We should do it again!” Mingyu winks.
You wink back with a laugh and get in.
Through the window you see Vernon and Mingyu waving at you and Wonwoo patiently waiting for them.
Your eyes meet Seungcheol’s once again and he nods with a small smile, you smile back and there are stupid butterflies in your stomach.
When the guys are gone from your view and you see Johnny holding the wheel so tight his knuckles are white, you turn your head to look outside into the night and burry yourself into the leather jacket that smells like wet wood and something else you can’t describe. But you like it.