[M] Thistle and Weeds (1/2)

Rated M for violence. "I begged you to hear me, there's more than flesh and bones,

Let the dead bury the dead, they will come out in droves,

But take the spade from my hands and fill in the holes you've made."*** It is Tao who leads the group through the front doors of what remains of Elite Parfait, it is Tao who addresses a tall, stout man known as Shim that Yixing seems to flinch away from. Baekhyun does not like the look of this man. Chanyeol is too busy staring at the graffiti-covered walls and the overturned desks to realise the danger that seeps from this man and clouds the room.

“So, you found new recruits? It is good to see you once again, Yixing.” Shim states coolly.

The man walks across to Chanyeol, letting his eyes wander perhaps a little too long for Baekhyun’s liking. Baekhyun wraps a possessive arm over Chanyeol’s shoulder, earning a gasp from the caramel-haired teen. Shim raises an eyebrow, his fingers wrapping their way around Chanyeol’s wrist, pulling him towards him with nothing but terrible intent.

“So, what brings a gorgeous boy like you through my doors?” he breathes, hands running down Chanyeol’s body.

Chanyeol lets out a gasp as Shim’s fingers reach the band of his trousers, pushing him away as best he can with his damaged side. Shim takes Chanyeol’s finger and walks him across to a table, arms still wrapped around his skinny form.

“Test him,” Shim barks.

A needle is pricked into Chanyeol’s finger, and the teen breathes a sigh of relief when it reads that he is definitely imperfect. But Shim won’t let go. He pushes Chanyeol to the table, running his fingers down Chanyeol’s sides before propping himself right behind Chanyeol, far too close for comfort. Tao gives the man a sickened look.

“Enough,” he growls.

“Let’s skip the formalities. My sales are going down and I want to know why. I heard you have perfects in captivity, and I’d like to see them,” Tao growls at him.

Shim has to obey Tao’s every command. He does so gingerly, eyes still on Chanyeol.

Tao whisks Baekhyun under his arm and Shim raises an eyebrow. Shim leads the group down a corridor, eyes flashing every now and then onto Chanyeol’s form. He rests his hand on Chanyeol’s lower back, letting it roam far too low. Chanyeol lets out a squeak as he feels a hand tuck itself under his shirt, tracing his prominent hipbones and stomach.

“Stop!” Baekhyun screeches, stopping dead in his tracks.

Shim lets out a small chuckle before wrapping an arm possessively around Chanyeol.

“Stop what?” he asks, voice slick with lust.

“Stop touching Chanyeol like that!” he snaps.

Perhaps it’s that he himself touched Chanyeol inappropriately. Perhaps it’s that every time he sees someone touch Chanyeol he gets a twang of guilt and resentment, unless it’s Kris. It burns Baekhyun, right to his very core. He is ready to punch Shim right in the face, but he knows he will be overpowered, and Tao holds him back. He bites his tongue, seething.

“It’s only a little fun, isn’t it… Chanyeol, was it?” Shim asks.

Baekhyun growls.

“There is nothing fun about it.”

Shim merely shrugs, tugging on Chanyeol’s waist. Chanyeol lets out a hiss as Shim presses his fingers a little too harshly at his wound, body drooping as he sees flecks of colour race across his vision. Shim notices this, and uses it as an opportunity to reach his fingers higher in Chanyeol’s shirt, running them against is chest. Chanyeol hisses in protest.

“Stop!” Baekhyun screams.

“Would you like the same treatment?” Shim asks seedily. He manages to weave his way closer to Baekhyun; a finger resting on the younger’s hips. He lets a finger slide downwards and Baekhyun gasps, eyes widening in fear.

“Enough,” Tao cuts in, shoving Shim away.

What happens next feels like the blink of an eye for Chanyeol. He finds himself leaning against the wall with Baekhyun by his side, Yixing laying on the floor and clutching his side. Tao is midair, his leg poised out in front of him, eyes dark and wild. He’s upside down for several seconds before his foot comes into contact with Shim’s chest, thrusting out forcefully until Shim is slammed harshly to the floor, his breath leaving him.

Tao leans down and pulls a small revolver out of his trouser pants and turns it sideways, shaft of the gun pressed against Shim’s forehead.

“You’re going to regret touching my friends like that,” he menaces.

Shim has about two seconds in total for regret, before the bullet passes through his head and out the other side, the sound of a sickening thud filling the corridor as blood spurts and paints the walls. Chanyeol stands in shock.

“You…?” Chanyeol says, extending a finger out to point at the body, his whole arm shaking.

“Yeah, I killed him,” Tao grunts, walking over to Baekhyun before wrapping his arms around the shorter teen and pressing their lips together.

“I was angry because he touched you, Baek,” he says after the kiss. Baekhyun gasps as Tao presses his lips feverishly to Baekhyun’s forehead.

“I don’t know why I feel this way about you. Like you said before, we hardly know each other. But this feeling can’t be physical attraction alone. I… I’d be lost without you.”

Baekhyun blushes, his eyes scanning Tao’s. There is not a trace of doubt in his eyes, and Baekhyun marvels at the fact that such a loving expression could be directed solely for him. He shuts his eyes and moves closer to Tao, wrapping his arms around Tao’s shoulders before tugging their lips together. Baekhyun initiates this kiss, his tongue lingering on Tao’s mouth, fingers curling up in Tao’s messy hair.

When they pull apart for air, Tao turns to Chanyeol, giving him a small pat on the shoulder. Chanyeol is nervous, and he flinches away from Tao’s touch. Tao lets out a sigh of defeat, pointing down the corridor.

“Let’s just find your friends. I have a good idea of where Shim may have taken them… He was sick with power and I should have done it sooner. I’m sorry, Chanyeol. Baekhyun. I’m sorry you had to see that side of me.”

Yixing steps over the body, taking Chanyeol’s hand in his. He wills them both forward, though Chanyeol feels completely unclean with all the blood that is spattered on his cheeks. He wants to clean himself with scalding water though he has a feeling that even with the water burning his skin, it will never be enough to erase the feeling.

He shivers as Tao comes to an abrupt stop in front of him.

“Here,” Tao whispers.

He pushes the door open, incredibly surprised to find it unlocked. Tao steps back and lets Yixing push past him, eyes wild. He flicks a light on and the room fills with brightness, illuminating two familiar figures.