Chapter Text
It is not uncommon for Zen to have psychic dreams. He knows this, and the RFA knows this. They happen only once in a while, but eventually, they come true.
Some of them scare him.
Tonight was one of those nights.
He had some awful dream he could barely remember. It was him, dressed in some royal regalia, reciting lines about a prince and a princess. A premonition about a future acting role? Possibly, except that he felt sick to his stomach watching it from a third party perspective.
He woke up gasping, the details beginning to slip as he came back to consciousness. It was only when his breathing went back to normal that he realized he wasn’t alone.
There was someone in the bed next to him. He could only see ruffled dark hair since the person was turned away from him. They slept soundly.
Another dream? Zen wasn’t sure. It felt like he was awake. He reached out to wake the other person.
Just as his hand gripped the shoulder beside him, his vision doubled, seeing both the figure in the bed as well as his bedside table. He squeezed his eyes shut, and a brief moment passed where he felt like he was spinning, before he opened them again.
He was in his own bed, his hand outstretched to grab his phone on the table.
He laughed, feeling silly almost believing that it was anything but a dream. He set his phone down and went to sleep.
This dream became reoccurring. Almost every night, when he fell asleep, he’d wake up to a dark-haired figure in bed next to him - and then he’d actually wake up at home. It was always disorienting when he’d truly wake up, since this dream always felt so real.
He wondered who this person could be. A future lover? He thought so. Why else would this person be in bed with him?
He could imagine a beautiful girl, running his fingers through her short, soft locks. He’d have to keep an eye out for anyone like that.
And he thought he found her in MC.
The new member was magnetic, to say the least. She drew everyone in. She seemed to fill the role that Rika left behind - not to say she replaced her, but to say that she brought them together again.
However, it became clear she had an affection for Jaehee over the guys. Zen wasn’t upset about that. He barely knew their new member afterall, and he couldn’t help but be happy that Jaehee found someone. MC had a surprising effect on her life. Jaehee quit from her position as Jumin’s assistant, and there’s talk between the girls about opening a bakery. A plan for after the party.
Zen had hope that things for himself could get better, but things started to pile up one after the other, and his hope dampened.
He had been in the midst of the Echo Girl scandal, and that shitty situation couldn’t be over soon enough. Reporters had been stalking him to get his side of the story, but Jumin had advised him not to say anything until they had evidence. Seven and Yoosung were working on that part.
He was constantly frustrated at this point, and even though he insisted on taking the cast off, his ankle still had an ache despite working fine. He believed his ankle was only still injured because of how stressed he was. Normally, it would be better by now.
He was looking forward to seeing his dark-haired beauty, when that had to be ruined for him, too.
He slipped into the dream as always, except this time, his partner was awake. He was laying away from them, with their arm wrapped around his waist. He could feel their body pressed against his - and that neither of them were wearing much.
He also realized something he probably should have known about sooner. The person spooning him had a fairly masculine arm. They also lacked some distinct female parts, he noticed of the body pressed against him.
Not that it was a problem. A part of him knew long ago that he had an interest in guys. It just officially confirmed to him that MC was not this person.
It didn’t really matter. He had looked forward to this and gotten more than he expected. He relaxed into the embrace, sighing as they kissed softly on the nape of his neck.
Then that deep, all-too familiar voice rang out and shattered his illusion of peace.
“Your healing ability is too incredible, Hyun,” The voice murmured against his skin and dammit if it didn’t make him shiver. “The marks I left on you are already gone.”
He couldn’t have heard what he thought he did. It couldn’t have been…
“Jumin?” Zen asked, quietly, terrified.
The man sat up to try and see his face, but Zen kept his gaze forward at the wall. He did not want to look and see possibly a half-naked—
Stop .
“Hmm? Anything wrong?” Jumin spoke beside him.
He reacted the way anyone would when waking up next to the guy you’ve hated for years. He elbowed Jumin in the side, then began moving too fast to feel bad when he hears the pained grunt in response. Zen scrambled to get out of bed, falling to the floor with the bedsheets tangling him, and then he was just falling.
He had a brief moment where it felt like he was in a never ending sky, colors and images passing him by too fast to make sense of. Then he was gasping, gripping at the bedsheets surrounding him, and realized with relief that he was back in his own bed. Alone.
He had his phone in his hand. He read the string of texts on screen and groaned in despair when he realized he’d been texting Jumin. It was weird enough he just dreamt about him, let alone sleep-texting him.
ZEN: Jumin???
ZEN: Whe re r yo???
ZEN: Im hving tha t nighgmare again;;;
What the hell was he even thinking? He was about to reply with an explanation (a lie, but one that was less weird than the truth) when Jumin sent a reply.
Jumin Han: What are you talking about?
Jumin Han: What nightmare?
He decided to make up an excuse and hoped it was believable.
ZEN: Sorry, I guess I’ve started sleep-texting people lol
Jumin Han: You were dreaming about me?
ZEN: I said it was a nightmare
ZEN: Jerk
Jumin Han: You texted me first.
ZEN: Didn’t mean to!
ZEN: Sleeping now
Jumin Han: Goodnight.
He felt enough frustration at the man that he didn’t bother replying. He tossed his phone aside and attempted to sleep, trying not to think about Jumin’s arms around him or the light kiss he pressed to his neck…
-
[New Chatroom]: Echo Girl
MC has entered the chatroom.
707 has entered the chatroom.
ZEN has entered the chatroom.
ZEN: Have you found anything yet, Seven?
707: im working on it;;;
707: ><;
707: My resources are a bit limited…
707: But I’m doing my best!
ZEN: Thank you.
MC: It’ll be over soon enough, Zen!
ZEN: This whole situation sucks.
ZEN: It feels like I’m slowly losing everything.
Jumin Han has entered the chatroom.
Jumin Han: The situation will take care of itself.
ZEN: You could do a little bit more to help, you know.
ZEN: She’s trying to destroy your reputation too.
Jumin Han: This is not a new rumor. If I ignore it it will die down on its own.
707: Ye but rumored to be gay and rumored to have assaulted someone are two different things.
MC: It’s not the same thing for Zen…
ZEN: Yeah! You have money, at least.
ZEN: This could ruin my chances of getting acting roles.
ZEN: You know, the only thing that’s keeping me fed???
707: Zen’s angry;;;
Jumin Han: I’m sure it will blow over much in the same way.
ZEN: That’s easy for you to say.
ZEN: You can rely on your wealth, no matter what the public thinks of you!
ZEN: I only have the public’s opinion.
ZEN: First my ankle…
ZEN: And then this whole scandal….
ZEN: And now I keep having nightmares!
Jumin Han: The ones about me?
ZEN: Will you stop thinking about yourself for one minute?!
MC: Zen, calm down;;
ZEN: Fine.
ZEN: I’m going on a motorcycle ride.
ZEN has left the chatroom.
Jumin Han: Luciel?
707: Ye?
Jumin Han: I’m transferring some funds into your account.
Jumin Han: Use them to find whatever you can about Echo Girl.
707: Really?!
Jumin Han: Yes.
MC: I hope he doesn’t hurt himself…
MC: Any idea where he could’ve gone?
Jumin Han: I have an idea of where he could be heading.
707: You do?
MC: Could you go check on him, Jumin? Maybe you can talk to him.
707: Idk if that’s a good idea after all this…
Jumin Han: I’ll give him time to clear his head. Then I’ll see if he’ll listen.
MC: Thank you, Jumin!
Jumin Han has left the chatroom.
-
By the time he got to his secret place, a small, hidden area with a great view of the city, his head had mostly cleared. He was no longer angry, but still had the smoking embers of that feeling inside him. Speeding by on a motorcycle had a way of sapping those strong emotions out of a person.
By the time he reached the railing and looked out at the view below, Zen realized he was tired. Completely tired of everything that had gone wrong.
Despite the awful discovery in his dream, he missed the peace he felt there. He was completely comfortable, laying in a bed that wasn’t his, next to a person he wasn’t in love with. Despite the unfamiliarity, it felt like everything was right where they should be.
He couldn’t explain it.
Footsteps approaching snapped him out of his thoughts. Zen turned to look, only to roll his eyes as he saw Jumin approaching. He turned back to the view and waited until the man leaned on the railing next to him.
“I expected to see you with a cigarette,” Jumin said. “I’m surprised.”
“I’ve been thinking of quitting,” Zen said, and it wasn’t a lie. He wished desperately he had one right now, though. “What are you doing here?”
“Checking on you,” Jumin said.
“And who told you to do that?”
“MC,” Jumin said. “But I would’ve sent someone to check on you anyway.”
“Why would you do that?” Zen asked, scoffing. “I thought you hated me.”
“Hyun,” Jumin said, and Zen had to fight not to shiver, remembering the last time he heard the man speak his name. “I never hated you.”
“It’s Zen . And why not?” Zen challenged. “I’ve always rejected your offers. I’ve called you Trust Fund Jerk for years.”
“You annoy me, sure,” Jumin said. “But I don’t hate you.” He sighed, fixing the button on his sleeve. “Speaking of, I have a new offer for you. Nothing to do with cats, so you don’t have to worry about your allergy.”
“Wait, you’re still going to offer me a job?” Zen asked. “Even with all this Echo Girl stuff? Won’t that be bad for your company?”
“I really don’t care about that,” Jumin said. “The company is well-off. I’m not worried.”
“What would your dad think?” Zen asked.
Jumin grew suspiciously quiet. Zen cast him a glance, and he found Jumin glaring off into the view, but it was clear he was thinking of something else.
“I don’t particularly care what my father thinks,” Jumin said, and there was heat behind the words. “Hyun, I consider the RFA to be my second family. And one thing I’ve learned growing up, is that no matter what mistakes they make, you never turn your back on family.” He turned and looked Zen in the eye. “No matter what happens with Echo Girl, I will always have an offer at my company for you.”
“Wow,” Zen said, breaking his gaze away as nerves began to bundle in his gut. “Uh, thanks. I don’t talk to my family anymore, but like you said, RFA is like a second family. I’m happy to have people who have my back no matter what.” He grinned at Jumin, who spared him an amused glance. “You’re actually a pretty nice guy sometimes.”
Jumin chuckled. “I think you’re the first to call me nice.”
“Only sometimes, I said,” Zen replied, and for the first time it seemed like their jabs were for play rather than annoyance. He liked this change.
Zen had a question now, however, after seeing Jumin’s emotions bubble to the surface briefly. “Did something happen between you and your father?”
The small smile on Jumin’s face fell, and he sighed, fixing his cuff buttons again. “My father has not been making the smartest decisions lately. His newest trophy wife has managed to convince him that I need assistance.”
“Assistance with what?” Zen asked.
Jumin closed his eyes, gathering himself before he continued. “My father and Ms. Choi has grown concerned over the rumors Echo Girl has spread about me. They’re trying to set me up with Ms. Choi’s student, so I will marry soon and bear children to further the company.” He opened his eyes and looked at Zen, who met him with an incredulous look.
“An arranged marriage?” Zen asked. “Seriously?!”
“He’s only thinking about the future of the company,” Jumin said, as if trying to justify the action. “I rejected, but he insisted I’d think about it.”
“You’re not going through with it?” Zen asked, his earlier anger flaring up again, but now redirected the Chairman.
“Of course not,” Jumin said. “I just have to make my father realize it’s not the end of the company if I don’t marry.”
Zen took in his expression, how he tried hard to maintain the stone-like face, but a scowl managed to slip through anyway. He asked a question suddenly without thinking of it.
“Do you ever plan to marry?”
Jumin raised an eyebrow, the scowl finally lifting into a smirk. Zen felt a blush come on from embarrassment, but he admitted to himself that he preferred the smirk over the scowl.
“One day,” Jumin said.
Zen nodded, unsure how to continue. This is the longest they’ve gone without bickering.
He found he liked it this way.
He was staring out at the horizon when he started to feel like he was tilting. His vision seemed to double, and he grabbed the railing to steady himself. He was swaying as everything around him felt like it was spinning.
He blinked, and found a warm embrace from behind. He looked at the same horizon, but familiar arms circled him. When he looked down, he found himself gripping tightly onto those arms. A silver band on his ring finger stood out the most to him.
The Jumin holding him said something, but he was already disappearing again. The strange vision vanished, and he woke up back to his original spot, a white-knuckle grip on the railing in front of him. His Jumin was not holding him, but had taken a step closer, gripping his shoulder.
“Hyun? What’s wrong?” Zen swore he heard two voices.
He shook Jumin’s hand off him and took a deep breath, grounding himself. “It’s Zen. And nothing. Just got lightheaded.” How would he even begin to explain that?
Jumin looked him up and down. Assessing, Zen realized.
“Perhaps we should head home,” Jumin said. “I’ll give you a ride.” Jumin began to head in the presumed direction of his limo.
“What about my motorcycle?” Zen asked, hurrying after Jumin.
“I’ll have someone come pick it up for you,” Jumin said with a wave of his hand.
“I can drive it back,” Zen insisted.
“And what if you get ‘lightheaded’ while driving?” Jumin asked.
Zen couldn’t argue. Whatever that was, it would not be good if it happened while driving.
“Fine,” Zen relented.
In the limo, they settled on opposite sides, gazes out the window. Zen took a glance and found Jumin, brooding.
“I think I’ll take you up on your offer,” Zen said.
Jumin glanced at him and nodded. “Alright. The commercial is about teacups--”
“Not that one,” Zen said, speaking quick before he can regret his words. “The cat food one. Just be prepared for a lot of outtakes because of my allergies.”
Jumin stared at him for a moment, just long enough for embarrassment to set in, and Zen was preparing to take it back when the man began laughing. It was a pleasant, deep laugh, and so rarely heard that Zen blushed at the sound.
“You’re surprising, Hyun,” Jumin said, and Zen saw the way the man smile delicately, faint dimples in his cheeks and his eyes bright with something Zen couldn’t place.
“Zen,” He corrected weakly. He kept his gaze out the window for the rest of the way home.