Jihoon took Shane back to his apartment. He had finally caught up with him.
Shane should have declined. He wanted to keep running until the city and all his problems were far behind. But he was too tired.
Tomorrow, he'd figure out what to do about Jihoon Tomorrow, she'd wonder if he'd ever been the future king of hell. Tomorrow, she'd worry about the mess she'd made of her life.
Tonight, he was too exhausted.
Jihoon unlocked his front door, holding it open for Shane to walk through. Neither of them had spoken in what felt like hours. Shane wondered if he even knew how anymore.
The entranceway was small, littered with shoes, and barely big enough for both of them to stand. Jihoon toed off his sneakers and bent down to place them neatly beside the shoes lined up by the door.
Shane stared stupidly at the knotted bows of his oxfords. His whole body ached. Just the thought of bending down to untie them hurt. Shane flexed his hand, still sore, but already mostly healed.
Without a word, still kneeling, Jihoon untied them. Shane watched as he carefully undid the knots of his right shoe. He pulled on the heel and Shane dutifully stepped out, resting her hand on Jihoon's shoulder. He left it there. Holding on to the warmth of Jihoon against his palm.
It lent Shane a balance when his whole world was tilting. Who would have thought such a simple gesture could feel so intimate?
Jihoon moved to Shane's left foot. His fingers danced over his skin, light as air but twice as soft. He took his time stepping out. He wanted to concentrate on only this. On Jihoon's hands pulling on his ankle until it lifted. On Jihoon's careful fingers holding his heel, sending tingles racing up Shane's calf. Too soon, Jihoon was done, taking Shane's shoes and meticulously placing them beside his own shoes.
Then he stood until they were face-to-face in the entrance of his apartment. For three breaths neither of them moved. Maybe because once they did they'd have to face the trials they'd just run from.
A series of rapid-fire barks broke the moment. A tiny ball of fluff ran down the hall, making a beeline toward Shane. Jihoon scooped the small dog into his arms before she reached her target.
"Lily, stop it," Jihoon chastised.
"Dogs hate me," Shane mumbled.
Jihoon took Lily down the hall. Shane heard a door close, muffling her barking.
"Where's your family?"
"Downstairs, closing up," Jihoon said. "Sit. I'll be right back."
Shane glanced around the living room. A lumpy couch took up the middle of the space. Photos crowded the walls, which were yellowing with age. And there was a stain on the bamboo mat covering the floor.
Shane loved it.
He could spend all day looking at this space that held so many signs of life. he glanced at the front door and the bright yellow books that framed it. he stood halfway out of his seat. Goosebumps rose on his arms.
Jihoon returned, holding a basket filled with random first-aid supplies. He followed his glance.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" He tore half a dozen down in one swipe.
"Thanks," he said, then gestured at the basket. "What's all this for?"
"Your shoulder," Jihoon answered. Shane then looked at his shoulders, it had been bleeding.
"I don't need it. "
"I know," Jihoon said with a sigh. It seemed his calm had been a facade as well. Now, with nothing to do, Jihoon looked as tired as he felt.
"Give them to me." She held out her hand.
He lifted a brow in question.
"Your leg will get infected if we don't clean it." Shane gestured toward his blood-soaked pants.
"Oh, it doesn't hurt." He crossed his legs to hide the wound.
"Don't be a baby about it," he said, pulling on his knee. Shane yanked his pant leg up, and he let out a hiss of pain. The imprint of a scythe was almost a perfect curve in the flesh of his leg.
"How did you get that?"
Jihoon didn't reply. He had no such memory of it. Shane was confused as well as he didn't remember about it.
"I know you're a grim reaper," Jihoon confessed, he didn't want any more secrets between them. Shane widened his eyes in surprise, looking up. Jihoon chuckled.
"Yeah, I found out, that's why I tried to warn you since Detective Roger was gonna patrol around."
"Sorry for that," he muttered. To hide his embarrassment, she got to work, dabbing disinfectant on the gash so liberally that Jihoon yelped.
"Sorry," he said again as she began wrapping the wound.
"It's fine," he said, but his voice was a squeak of poorly concealed pain.
Jihoon stopped Shane when she started to pack everything away and pulled him to the couch. "Will you be okay?"
"I don't know." Shane settled beside him, "But I feel pretty vulnerable at the moment."
"Vulnerable?" Jihoon asked.
Shane sighed, it was better for them not to have any more secrets as well.
"I am not just a grim reaper, Jihoon-ah, I am 'The' grim reaper, the child of Time and Death. I know it was you that saw me that night. I just felt unprotected in case you tried to reveal who I was."
"I would never . . ." Jihoon trailed off, but Shane just nodded in understanding.
"I should never have let it come to this." Shane laid his against the lumpy back of the couch and closed his eyes. "I should have listened to my sister."
"Will she come after you?" Jihoon asked.
Shane shook his head. "But she'll come for you because you know our secret. She will find out soon."
"I'm not scared of her."
"Then you're a fool."
"Well, I'm a fool who has you to protect me." Jihoon grinned.
Shane didn't return the smile.
"My sister has lived for a long time because she's smart. She will come after you, Jihoon. You need to leave town."
"Is there no other option?" Jihoon asked.
"It's safest."
"Because it's what you'd do?" Jihoon asked, and Shane didn't like the accusation he heard in his voice. "When things get hard you run, don't you?"
"It's the safest option," Shane repeated. "For everyone."
"But not the only one," Jihoon said.
"Please, just listen to me. I know better than anyone what my sister is capable of. She's a child of Fate, the most powerful being."
And I don't want you to get hurt, he thought, but couldn't bring himself to say it aloud. Shanee had no right to care about him when he was the reason Jihoon was in danger.
he slumped down on the couch. His aching body reminded her he needed to take Jihoon's soul or face the consequences.
Everything seemed so desperately ruined, like fine silk shredded to pieces with no hope of repair.
"If she loves you, she'll come around," Jihoon said, breaking through Shane's thoughts.
Shane heard his doubt but appreciated the effort. Jihoon usually didn't lie, so it was nice that he tried to for him.
"She just hates me. She used to be the only person who loved me."
"You're wrong," Jihoon said.
"You don't know her as I do," Shane insisted.
"No, not about that. You said your sister was the only person who loved you. You don't stop loving people, you just forget ways of loving them." His tone was deep. So heavy, it weighed him down.
"Don't." It came out as a plea. Shane couldn't hear this when his heart had already been so battered tonight. If he did this, Shane was afraid it would shatter.
"Why not?" Jihoon frowned.
"You can't feel that way. It's only been two months."
Jihoon grinned. Not what Shane had expected. "A lot can happen in two months. You can meet a guy who seems angry and secretive and learn that it's all just a front for a kind heart that's been hurt too many times. I know what it's like to need to hide your bruises behind a mask."
"You don't know what you're talking about. I'm not kind."
Jihoon chuckled. "I know you don't see it, but you're a kind soul. You helped Seojun when he was being bullied. You forced me to make up with Minjae because you knew I'd regret fighting with him. And you saved me, multiple times. You're my hero."
Shane laughed. "People often mistake gratitude for deeper emotions."
"Fine," Jihoon said, his voice sobering. "Then I'll say it simply."
For the first time in her life, Shane felt like the unsuspecting prey. Jihoon's irises were dark. Too dark. Like they'd swallow the world, Shane himself included.
"I love you."
Shane let out a shuddering breath. Tears fell, hot against his cheeks. Jihoon wiped them away with his thumbs.
"You're such a foolish boy."
His dimples flashed. "I take that to mean you believe me."
"Yes, I believe you."
Jihoon brushed the hair from his forehead. Shane held her breath as Jihoon's featherlight touch ran down to his ear. Shane never knew an ear had so many nerve endings. Every cell in his body vibrated. And he was no longer exhausted.
Jihoon leaned closer.
"I've never kissed anyone before." Shane squeezed his eyes shut, mortified. His cheeks burned and he tried to push her hair forward to hide it.
Jihoon stopped Shane's fluttering hands.
Shane kept her eyes closed as Jihoon ran his fingers down the line of his cheek and into his hair. He tucked the tiny wayward strands behind Shane's ears carefully. She waited to feel where his hand would trail next.
Jihoon's movements were slow like he wanted to savor this moment as much as Shane. The small moments that built and built an intricate weaving maze. Branches snaked into every crevice until it latched on to all of Shane. And he could no longer hide anything because now Jihoon held it all.
Shane felt completely exposed. But he didn't pull back. he wanted Jihoon to see. This was who he was, without artifice or carefully erected shields. For the first time, there was a person who knew all of him. And accepted it.
Jihoon's cupped Shane's cheek, his fingers curling through his hair.
The first brush of Jihoon's lips on his was so soft, Shane wondered if he had imagined it. Then came the second, a deeper exploration, but just as quick. The feel of Jihoon's skin made her fingers tingle and he fisted them in the lapels of his shirt. When he kissed him the third time, Shane pulled on his collar, dragging him down so their lips crashed against each other.
He gasped at the pressure, but the hands holding him trailed back to cup his neck until it was unclear who held who.
Shane tilted his head to deepen the angle. A hum sounded in Jihoon's throat—a vibration that traveled from his lips into his own and down his spine.
A thousand lights burst behind Shane's closed lids. Energy shot through his fingertips, warming his previously chilled body.
Jihoon's arms wound around Shane's waist, pulling closer. If Shane was close to Jihoon already, Jihoon made sure, there was no part of Shane's that was not attached to him.
Shane had read books that said two lovers' hearts could race as one. This wasn't true for Shane. His heart chased Jihoon's, speeding in a breakneck sprint to catch up.
he wanted to absorb the feel of his skin, the scent of him, the taste of him. His heart had been emptied tonight, and she wanted to fill it again with only one person.
The mortal named Park Jihoon.