Chapter Text
It’s been about twenty years since the virus swept through and killed ninety-nine percent of the population. Near the end, people started realizing that the only people unaffected by the virus were the gifted. Some began to rationalize that it was some mutant made virus to kill off the humans, leaving the world to the gifted. Yeonjun didn’t really believe that was the case, but he’s been wrong before. He mostly thought what scientists have been saying for some time, that a mass extinction was due anytime, and mother nature made the gifted immune for some reason.
The immunity caused some cults to rise up near the end, still ongoing but not as prevalent. These cults preached that the gifted were the new inheritors of the earth, and their immunity was a sign from god that they should rule. Which, even if that were true, all that were left were gifted; who is there to rule over except for each other? So the strongest, the smartest, and those who had followers before the virus began taking control of the fallen cities and areas. They turned into the clans that now don’t only control their respective cities, but roam the areas and wilds around, sometimes helping, but not always. Either way, gifted or not, human hubris and greed for power continues even in the apocalypse.
Gifted, mutants, superheroes, super villains; so many names for the gifted. They’ve probably existed as long as civilization, but it wasn’t until the early twentieth century that they began popping up like weeds. Some, with powers that couldn’t be hidden, forced gifted into the spotlight. At first, it was excitement; real life superheroes! For a short time, the world had superheroes and supervillains, and it was just like the comics. Then, unsurprisingly, fear set in when accidents started happening.
Even the ‘good’ gifted were still just people with untold powers, and some were so very hard to control. So the world governments came together and demanded gifted to be registered, and tested in middle school, when puberty was hitting most, which is when powers usually started showing. The jobs you could get as an adult were affected by your powers. Alot were ‘recruited’ by the governments and different powerful corporations. They became assets, property, only allowed peaceful living when being useful to some bigger force. There was hardly a simple life for gifted, especially those who couldn’t hide what they were.
Things were beginning to come to a head, when protests held by gifted began to pop up, and the counter protests. It felt like it was going to be an all out war. Then the virus hit. It caused organ failure so quickly, that you were dying before you even knew you had it. You can see why people were so sure it was created by someone as biological warfare. They barely had enough time to do any testing before the only doctors who were left were gifted. Within a year, the world was quiet except for the unfortunate new inheritors of the earth.
XXX
The sun beats down on his face. Even being only on his face for the few minutes it is, is far too warm for his liking. The loosened tarp he had stretched over the open window makes an annoying noise as it flaps in the wind. He wishes he could have slept longer, but he drapes an arm over his face, blocking out the sun to peek out into the abandoned building he’s taken as shelter.
Besides the tarp, the only sound he hears is the wind through the trees outside and the birds that so loudly scream into the air. Sighing heavily, he rises from his uncomfortable sleeping bag he had tossed over a mildewed bed and stretches his arms out over his head. He spends some time stretching, his normal daily routine. Then he begins packing up his belongings; rolling up the tarp and sleeping bag, putting them in his pack, checking all his tools and knives and his water skin to make sure everything is accounted for and nothing is left behind, holstering the pistol he keeps close at hand. Then he sets off on his journey.
Stepping out of the abandoned house, the street is quiet except for the ongoing noise of birds. The city is huge, and except for the middle where a small village sized amount of people have holed up, is empty. There are signs of other solo survivors and small groups that weave their way around the outer city, but they all keep clear of the center. Being on a clan’s turf is borrowed time if you stay too long or get caught. Yeonjun was not willing to get caught. Even the hunger wasn’t enough to send him closer in their direction. So he turns east, following the rumors that have sent him this far.
He travels for the better part of the day, keeping to side streets. It’s so quiet, that he keeps thinking he hears vehicles off in the distance. Maybe he does, but he knows half the time it's just the blood rushing in his ears that causes half the nervous reactions to noises. His fear keeps him moving, hand often lifting to rest on the handle of his gun. It’s fortunate that he hasn’t had to use it in quite some time, he’s fairly good at keeping out of trouble.
Coming up over a hill, he can see the edge of the city off in the distance. He’s probably a few hours out. Sighing, he purses his lips, thinking as he passes by house after house. Out in the wilds, he’d be able to hunt for food easily, or even fish when there’s a source nearby, but here in the city, you either have to get lucky in the mostly looted buildings, or steal. He’d rather get lucky than try to steal as a loner. The grumbling from his stomach decides for him, and he slips off the road and picks a house at random.
The first house he picks is a fail. There’s nothing left in the house, though it was well protected from the elements. Besides a lot of dust, it could be a comfortable place to rest if he decides to earlier than normal. Plus, there was a fireplace, which is very nice during a time with limited electricity. So he notes it in his mind and tries the house next door.
This one is beat up, the windows are broken in, definitely by human hands, and half the house looks scorched by some outside fire. What grabs his attention is the busted cameras and security system that is far more than what any other normal home around there would have. It’s the sign of a paranoid person most likely, which could mean hidden stashes. What does catch him as he steps through the front door, is that it looks like it was broken off its hinges and then replaced sometime later.
Slipping a dagger out of a holster at his hip, he gingerly steps through. He should just leave, in case someone has made this their home, but he could handle one person, and his stomach was demanding sustenance. Hopefully no one was home and he could steal a couple things without dealing with anyone. The real hazard is that a gifted is a lottery ticket of chance with what they could have at their disposal. He’s got no chance against anyone with mental gifts.
Moving through the house, he listens carefully as he steps through a messy, but obviously recently lived in house. It’s quiet as he takes in the clean-ish room, well, cleaner than the houses he visited in the area. Trash had been moved into piles and it seemed like people have sat on the couches. It is dusty, so it could have been a bit since someone had been in there. So he keeps moving through the empty rooms until he comes to a now unlocked basement door.
Narrowing his eyes at it, every instinct is telling him to turn around and leave, but he pushes on, opening the door slowly and looking down into the room below. There is a dim light, but he can’t tell if it’s from some kind of lamp or a window to the outside. This is such a bad idea, he thinks as he steps down into the basement. Reaching the bottom, he’s finding it hard to see, the only light is coming from a small window at the top of the far wall, but what he does see is the shape of cylindrical items on a shelf across from him.
Canned food! He excitedly steps forward, reaching out and grabbing one, pulling out his flashlight to see better as his stomach growls when he sees the mason jar filled with yellowish fruit. “Fruit, holy shit.” He mumbles, reaching out to place his flashlight on the shelf, unscrewing the lid and dipping a hand into it, pulling out gooey peaches and shoveling them into his mouth. He moans, eyes closing in bliss as the sweet fruit hits his tongue.
When his eyes open, the glint of metal in the corner of his eyes freezes him as the light from his rolling flashlight glints off the muzzle of a shotgun sticking out from the corner of the room. He now sees a dark form sitting on what looks like a long table in the corner, shotgun pointed toward his chest. The form sighs, and he can just see the head cock to the side.
“You know, most people don’t appreciate being stolen from.” The voice is male, but also seems from someone young.
First thing his mind goes to is where all his weapons are. The second thing is if this person were going to shoot him, they would have already. The third, is that he’s still alive. Pulling his messy fingers from the jar, and slowly reaches out to put it back on the shelf. “Sometimes hunger makes people stupid.”
The gun shifts to motion toward the shelf. “Turn that lantern on.”
Turning to see where he pointed, he sees a hanging lantern not too far from his head. Doing as he was told, he reaches out slowly and takes some time to figure out it is just a battery powered lantern and he turns it on from the switch on the bottom. As his eyes squint to adjust, he realizes if he were going to attack, he should do it now, while they both were adjusting, but he just returns his hand to the air beside his head.
Sitting at the edge of a cot is a young man, maybe early twenties, short cropped hair falling into his eyes. The eyes are large, wider than normal, set into a pretty face made more intimidating than they should be by the fierce glare and looking down the double barrel in his hands.
Sighing heavily, the boy narrows his eyes at Yeonjun. “Is it just you?”
“I mean, even if I say yes, would you believe me?” He tries to give a sheepish grin, but the boy just continues glaring, thinking over his words. Cementing his doom, the sudden noise of loud steps, and muffled laughter drifts from above. His eyes widen, and he waves his hands slightly. “I’m here alone. If they followed me, I’m sorry but I can hel-”
“Shut up.” He rises from the cot, and motions toward the stairs. “Under the stairs. If they’re with you, I shoot you first.” The boy raises an eyebrow. “If they’re not, you shoot them from behind.”
Surprised slightly, but understanding the situation at hand, he moves under the stairs, which puts him in twice as much danger, but the boy doesn’t make a move when he pulls out a couple daggers. He walks over and turns off the lantern just in time for the door to be pulled open, flooding the stairs with light. He watches as the boy quickly returns to his corner, lifting the gun above Yeonjun’s head.
Light footsteps land on the stairs above him, as someone moves down into the basement. Neither of them move as the person rounds the stairs, and taking a moment, he jumps out, reaching his arms around the neck of the intruder. Slipping a dagger under the neck, he begins pressing in just as the figure gasps out a name.
“Taehyun?!”
“Fuck. Don’t hurt him.” Just in time. He had already cut skin, but hadn’t gone deep enough to do any real damage. Yeonjun doesn’t let go as the boy, named Taehyun apparently, walks over to switch on the lantern, turning a narrowed glare at the form he was holding. “What the fuck are you doing back here?”
The slender form, who he can now see is another young looking man with long unruly black hair smiles sheepishly out from his grasp. “I see you’ve made a new friend, Tae.”
Rolling his eyes, he lowers the shotgun. “Let him go.”
Yeonjun obliges, and the boy steps away from him, sending him a smile. “If only I had been more aware of you.” He wipes at his throat, looking down at his hands. “Shit, it’s been a while since someone else made me bleed.”
“Enough jabber, what are you doing here, Beomgyu?” The new person beams over at him, shrugging out his shoulders as he walks over and sits on the edge of the cot. “Can’t I just miss my friend?”
Eyes narrow in his direction, hands still tight on the weapon in his hands. “Y’all left days ago. So who got hurt?”
Pouting, Beomgyu’s shoulders slump, as if scolded by a parent. “Kai might have broken his leg, we can’t really tell. He’s upstairs with Bin.”
Closing his eyes, breathing in deeply and holding it for a second, when he opens them and lets it out, he motions to Yeonjun with the shotgun. “This stranger just showed up, trying to steal food, and then you show up.” He looks at the awkwardly standing man. “He chose to trust me over the strangers upstairs thankfully.” He sighs, dropping the shotgun to his side, and sneers at the two of them. “Have the peaches, I don’t care.” He sends an annoyed look to Beomgyu. “Keep an eye on him, while I deal with Kai.”
“Sure thing, boss.” He beams, which causes an annoyed grimace on the other, who heads up the stairs, grumbling under his breath.
Feeling awkward, but still starving, he walks over and grabs the opened jar of peaches, slipping a piece out with his fingers as his eyes are locked with Beomgyu. The boy makes a face and rises, moving to another shelf and grabbing a fork out of a box, tossing it to him. “Is that what is mixed with my blood now, sticky fingers?” He grabs a discarded piece of clothing and wipes his neck of blood and peach goo.
The situation feels far less dangerous, and he can see himself walking out of here alive. So he relaxes and shrugs, happily digging into the jar. “Didn’t have enough time to worry about silverware.”
Beomgyu grunts, leaning back against the wall, lifting up his legs onto the cot. “This is why I didn’t want to leave him. You seem harmless enough, but that’s just if all of us were here.”
“He seemed like he could handle himself pretty well.” He thinks back to the horror show that could have been his brains if he had made one wrong move, or a less kind enemy.
Chuckling, he looks at the stairs. “He’s pretty handy with a shotty, but we should have been here.”
Now that he’s kind of a hostage, he decides to get comfortable, sitting down on the ground, leaning back against the shelving. “Seems like he and your group got into a fight?”
“Trying to get info on us so you can fuck us over later?” The boy throws back, raising an eyebrow at him.
Shrugging, he returns to his peaches. “Silence it is.”
Eventually, the only noise being the smacking of lips on peaches, the door is reopened and three sets of feet stomp their way down the stairs, led by a grumpy looking Taehyun. Barely giving him another look, he places the shotgun on a shelf and walks over to shoo Beomgyu off the bed, who raises his hands and moves to a ratty lawnchair in the opposite corner.
A tall young man, with a dark mop of hair, and a mischievous smile follows next. His t-shirt is barely a poncho with the sleeves cut off and the sides cut all the way to the bottom, showing smooth skin. Pretty group, he thinks as the boy walks over to lean against the wall next to Beomgyu, eyes locked on the stranger in their midst.
Last is a tall, lanky man with short dark hair, pouting lips, and long limbs. Dark eyes land on Yeonjun, and curiosity fills them, but the older man takes notice of the strain in his face. The bags under his eyes from either stress or sleepless nights are obvious to him. His intuition tells him whatever this man’s gift is, it’s a burden. The tall man moves to lean against the opposite wall from Yeonjun, crossing his arms and pursing his lips as he thinks.
“What are you doing here?” The boy beside Beomgyu asks, speaking up and breaking the awkward silence.
He holds up the empty jar and places it on a shelf to the side. “Hunger.”
The man’s eyes shift to the tall one, but he doesn’t give anything in return. “So you’re alone?”
Frowning, he wipes his hands on his jeans. “You’re worried I’m here to fuck with you, but telling you whether I’m alone or not puts me into more danger either way. Especially if you guys decide I'm a risk to let go.”
“So you’re alone.” The taller one purses his lips as Taehyun speaks.
Sigh. “Yes, I’m alone. I was passing through the city, stopped to go through some houses to see if I could get lucky with food. Didn’t get lucky enough to go unnoticed.” He rolls his eyes, returning them to the narrowed eyed look of the tall one. Yeonjun can’t tell if he’s the leader or not, but he can tell his judgment is what will decide his fate.
“Where are you going?” Beomgyu speaks up, leaning forward, seeming to enjoy this questioning, resting his chin on his hand.
Getting a little frustrated, he lets out a deep breath. “I’m not here to fuck with y’all, okay? It was just a coincidence that this was your hideout. Just let me leave.”
They share looks, and the man beside Beomgyu speaks. “What’s your gift?” vYeonjun hates this question. Giving up what your gift is is like giving up the card hidden up your sleeve. Plus, he hates his gift. It’s more like a curse. “It’s not helpful to you, or me.”
Eyes shift over to the tall man across from him, and the eyes narrow slightly. “You believe that, doesn’t mean it’s true.”
One thing that he was gifted with, and wasn’t his power, was intuition, and he just got a whiff of what that man’s power was. “Can you read minds?” The man goes stiff. Reading minds is a most sought after gift, it was also one of the most distrusted and disliked.
“I can tell when someone’s lying.” He gives it up with a sigh.
Turning to Taehyun, he motions to the two that came down with him. “Neither seems to be sporting a broken leg, so they came to you because you’re a healer.” Another stiffened body, and his eyes shift away, giving away the truth.
“Maybe his power is knowing powers.” The tall boy next to Beomgyu offers up. “What is mine?” They all ignore the boy, who huffs to himself, earning a small laugh from Beomgyu
Taehyun rolls his eyes at him. “We’ll send you off with food if you tell us where you’re headed.”
Looking at the food on the shelf above him, he weighs the pros and cons. They’re not going to harm him, that’s obvious. Plus, it’s been a while since he sat down with normal people and had a conversation. It’s probably been days since he’s even spoken out loud. Fuck it. “I’m heading to Seoul.”
The taller man frowns. “Bangtan Clan? You going to join them?”
He shakes his head. “I doubt it. There’s possibly someone there that I need to speak to.”
“Possibly?”
Shrug. “Just following rumors really.”
“What rumors?”
Yeonjun looks the man in the eyes, seeing the heavy lids and exhaustion behind the curious gaze. “Supposedly there is a man who can take away powers there.” This causes a stir in the group, and the tall man’s eyes widen slightly.
“Makes it really hard not to be even more curious about your gift when you say shit like that.” The man beside Beomgyu says, smirking.
Taehyun looks over at the tall man. “Bangtan Clan is supposed to be the most powerful, and also the safest for gifted.”
“Power and safety don’t often coincide.” The tall man chews on his cheek, watching Yeonjun and thinking carefully.
Beomgyu speaks up, shifting awkwardly. “That’s where we were going before we met you and Kai.” He’s speaking to the tall man, so that makes the one beside him Kai.
Taehyun’s eyes shift over to the two, catching with Kai’s before shifting away quickly, a shared awkward look on all three faces. Ah, add in relationship drama it seems. Yeonjun sees where this conversation is headed, and he doesn’t know if the end result is ultimately what he wants. Being solo is lonely and boring, but being in a group catches more attention.
“Soobin-” Taehyun starts before he’s cut off by the tall man.
“Yeah, I know. You don’t have to say it.” He sighs heavily, eyes still never leaving Yeonjun. “Being alone already, you probably don’t want company.”
“Groups attract attention.” He explains. “Especially ones that-” He lets his eyes shift over to the other three. “-have already seemed to have split before.”
Barking out a laugh, Soobin gives a knowing look over to the now embarrassed looking trio. “Well, we were listles before, but getting to Seoul and knowing each other is hopefully much safer when we get there-.” He trails off, sighing. “I’d like to at least see if the rumors hold up. It’d be nice not to be stuck in shitty clan territory anymore.”
Grimacing, he looks away at the wall, thinking it over. These people are strangers, but already he can see the honesty between them. He hasn’t had people around who had his back in a very long time. It isn’t something that is promised or will happen right away, but if all goes south, then he just leaves and continues alone. Fuck it.
“Fine.” Beomgyu smiles, Kai nods, and Taehyun seems almost relieved. “I just don’t want to be put into the middle of any issues. So whatever y’all split over, needs to be talked over before we leave.” The three all look in opposite directions, while Soobin lifts a hand to cover his smile. “We leave in the morning.”
Soobin gives him an amused look. “Suddenly you’re in charge?”
He stands, patting off his jeans. “I’m leaving tomorrow. With or without you.”
The others look between the two, watching, waiting. He just smirks, nodding once. “As you say-” he trails off, waiting for a reply.
“Yeonjun.” He turns to the others, motioning between the four. “Figure this shit out, I’m stepping outside.” This earns him a glare and an awkward look or two, but he doesn’t stay around to witness anything, climbing the stairs. He leaves his bag by the stairs as a show of trust and that he's not leaving.
This was probably going to be such a stupid idea.
XXX
The sun is setting, and unfortunately that means evening bugs as the screaming of cicadas fill the summer air. Throwing his legs over the edge of the porch as he sits, he pulls out an old metal container. He's interrupted soon after as the tall form of Soobin joins him, sitting down a little bit away and eyeing the container as he opens it.
"Shit, are those cigarettes?"
He nods, pulling one out and placing the butt between his lips. "They're expensive if you want one." Yeonjun holds out the cigarettes still, obviously half joking.
The man shakes his head though, waving them away. "Nah, never had one and not really worried about it. Just haven't seen any in years."
"Yeah, there's a clan in the west who is still farming tobacco. Shit costs an arm and a leg." He gives him a smirk. "Unless you're a good enough thief."
Raising an eyebrow, he watches as Yeonjun lights the end, taking a deep drag and letting out the smoke. "You've proven you're not a good enough thief."
He barks out a laugh. "True, I traded a piece for these."
"You traded a gun for nicotine?"
Shrug. "It was collecting dust. Knives are more my style."
"Beomgyu too." Soobin muses, looking out at the road, eyes darting, keeping watch just like the man beside him.
Looking over he smirks. "Speaking of which, what exactly is going on between those three? I caught the vibe, but-."
The exhaustion deepens, and he reaches up to press fingers into his temple. "God, I love them, but they stress me out so much." He sighs. "Taehyun and Beomgyu were traveling alone together for a couple years before meeting up with me and Kai, who had only been together for a few months. Seemed like one of those situations where nothing ever progressed while they were alone, but add in a horny third, and suddenly it's jealousy galore."
Grunting, Yeonjun takes a deep drag from the cig. "Can I change my mind and run away now?"
"I wouldn't judge you." He laughs, dropping his hand and smiling out at the setting sun. "They all care about each other a lot, they're just young and emotions are confusing anyway."
He raises an eyebrow. "You can't be much older than them. Sounds like you've got years on them."
"Guess I just understand things differently than them." He shrugs, swiping fingers through his hair.
Silence fills the air. It's oddly comfortable as they both sit and watch the street before them. Yeonjun doesn't feel like he has to talk, or explain anything more just yet. He's sure on this journey things will come out, but just in case the rumors are just that, there are things he should keep close to his person.
About half an hour of comfortable silence is broken as a pouting Kai stumbles out the door. "So fucking annoying."
Yeonjun raises an eyebrow at him as he sits on the other side of Soobin. He holds out the cigarette case. "Cig?"
"Please." He bows slightly as he takes one, reaching out for the lighter. Taking a deep drag, he lets it out and immediately drops his head into his hands.
"Went well then?" Soobin asks, looking over at his friend, a knowing look on his face.
The boy shakes his head, sighing. "I know why I get dragged into their shit, but it really is just between them." He looks up and sends the new person an apologetic look. "Sorry you dropped into something like this."
He holds up his hands. "I get it man. Feelings suck."
Soobin barks out a laugh. "Wish I could drink to that." vPatting him on the back, Kai smiles at his friend. "Seoul could fix a lot of problems for us."
The taller man nods, making tsk noise. "If we make it there alive and are welcomed like yall think we will."
"Don't be such a pessimist." He takes another drag, pointing at him after blowing the smoke out in his face, seemingly without thinking. "We've got to think positively." Both of the other two send him unimpressed looks. He nods, pursing his lips. "Right, guess we have two pessimists now."
Soobin chuckles, sending Yeonjun a smile. "I just think we're cautious."
He nods in agreement. "With these children, you have to be."
Kai narrows his eyes at them, but just stays silent, finishing his cigarette.
Eventually, as the sun has been set for about an hour or two now, Soobin rises and makes to go inside. "Finished or not, I'm tired."
"Now that I don't have to go back in alone, I'm heading to bed as well." Kai muses, standing as well. He looks back at Yeonjun. "Coming?"
He shakes his head. "Imma keep watch for a little bit longer, have another smoke." They don't question him and leave him to be.
The night brings a coolness to the air, just chill enough to make him think of a jacket. This group was young, and currently volatile. Soobin and Taehyun seem like capable people when it comes to the ability to read situations, while the other two seem like the more likely to make rash decisions. It’s probably why those two got close so quickly, from what he could assume. He sighs heavily, weighing his options still, wanting to be able to leave alone when the sun rises, but also not able to lie to himself that it doesn’t feel good to be around people again.
It’s nice to have distractions.
After sitting alone for another half hour, he stands and pockets his cigarettes, moving inside. He steps carefully, hoping not to wake anyone. When he returns to the basement, the lantern is on, but turned down, spreading shadows across three bodies in blankets and sleeping bags across the floor. Taehyun’s eyes glanced over from where they were stuck on the wall across from him. They share a long stare before a nod from the shorter.
Yeonjun grabs his own sleeping items from his bag and lays them out in the free space under the stairs, laying down and giving trust that a knife wouldn’t be in his chest when he woke.