Chapter Text
“Ugh, you smell horrid.” On the couch Kihyun wrinkled his nose as steam wafted out of the bathroom behind him. Running a towel through his hair Changkyun felt his mouth curl up for the first time all day.
“Really?” He drawled, making a show of sniffing at the cloth, thinking about it then sniffing again. “Cause last I checked floral, citrus surprise smelled better than zombie guts and throwup.” He deadpanned. “Oh wait,” He sniffed again, dangling the end of the fabric right into Kihyun’s face so he’d either have to swat it away or move. “I think you’re right. I’m beginning to smell it now.” He nodded sagely before almost tipping over the couch.
Grabbing the offending towel Kihyun yanked, pulling him off balance and Changkyun let himself roll over the back of the couch and splay out, his head of perfumed hair falling damp onto Kihyun’s thigh.
“Disgusting.” The older boy huffs, his nose wrinkling. Tossing the towel onto the coffee table his leg bounces under Changkyun’s head. Neither of them move, too exhausted.
From the stairs Changkyun can hear the faint murmur of voices, Minhyuk and Jooheon speaking in hushed tones as behind the couch Changkyun hears the water in the shower turn on again. Hyunwoo no doubt. Finally getting to wash the gore from his hair. Hyungwon is the only one left who hasn’t cleaned up yet. He hadn't moved from the landing on the stairs where he’d sat down and curled around his rifle the minute they’d decided to stay. Changkyun doesn’t blame him, knows logically he should go over and DO something. Talk to his friend. But what is he supposed to say? He’s so tired.
His fingers itch after so long wrapped around a trigger and he reaches a hand out to the handgun that had become his over the course of the last twenty four hours on the coffee table. “Stop that.” Kihyun grumbles, smacking it away before his fingers can brush the cold metal. Changkyun’s groan turns into a whine when Kihyun starts petting his fingers through his damp hair instead.
“We’re lucky this place still has power. Don’t screw it up.” He chides and Changkyun sighs.
“Sir, yes sir.” He drawls giving Kihyun a mock salute, trying to wiggle out the hand that's still stuck between their bodies and the back of the couch.
“Brat.” Kihyun huffs swatting at his shoulder and Changkyun grins.
The day is starting to catch up with him and he feels floaty, inexplicable giddiness bubbling up in his chest. Without Kihyun’s hand he thinks, he might just float away. He can’t believe they’re both still alive. Rolling onto his side he presses his nose into Kihyun’s shirt to hide his grin. It’s something he must have found here and it smells all wrong, not like Kihyun at all. Distantly, Changkyun realizes he does get it. He really does.
Nuzzling his nose in he opens his mouth and takes a bite.
The response is immediate.
“Ah!” Kihyun’s whole body jerks. “What are you doing?!” He hisses, the hand in Changkyun’s hair fisting, dragging him away from the older boy’s skin.
“Just checking.” Changkyun hums, eyelids drooping.
“Checking what?!” Kihyun snaps incredulously.
“That’m not a zombie.” He slurs watching through aching eyes as Kihyun’s scowl flattens out into a thin line.
“Oh so if you were I’d be the first one you bit, is that it?” Kihyun grumbles but the hand in his hair has gone back to petting.
“You know it.” Changkyun tries to wink, failing when neither of his eyes reopen. “Wouldn’t last without me anyway…” He trials off.
“Excuse me?!” Kihyun squawks, shoving at Changkyun’s shoulder so he rolls over back onto his back. “Shows what you know.” He grumbles.
The last thing Changkyun registers before he falls to utter exhaustion is his hand getting pulled up and a sharp prickle at the pad of his thumb like little canines.
Some hours later, in the dead of night he wakes to someone shaking his shoulder insistently. “Did you turn out the lights?” Hyunwoo demands of either of them, Kihyun flinching back to consciousness at his side.
“No.” Changkyun slurs out and Hyunwoo curses.
“Then we have a problem.” He tells them.
Changkyun’s already up, scrambling for his handgun in the dark. From the stairs Hyungwon’s eyes gleam as he angles his rifle over the window ledge into the night.