Chapter Text
Soonyoung lets the coldness of the evening consume him. Well, it’s not like there’s anything he could do now because honestly… he would rather prefer that than to have the company of any other at this moment.
The beam of the limelight is bound to dim at some point then it would just become a nuisance rather than something that could help out in the dark. Unfortunately, the dimming of his own also comes with the weight of reality for Soonyoung. Further to his misfortunes, despite his exceptional social skills Soonyoung has learned far too many times that trust in this industry is not as easy as it was to gain a friend in a playground.
This is getting out of hand. I should be able to think of what to do. Soonyoung almost screams to the void of the night. Maybe the talk of loneliness has gotten into me.
The moon and the stars are uncharacteristically so clear this evening despite the city’s active life. Albeit a little questionable, Soonyoung chooses to enjoy the serenity of the evening– cool February air, soft light of street lights, and low number of people out tonight.
His walk continues without a hitch until he reaches a part of the park he hasn’t been to for more than a decade– the nostalgia accompanied by something that almost breaks within him. His feet trace the familiar pathway, yet, his memories fail to recall now most of his surroundings.
“A brand new day, I guess.” He whispers to the cold air of the night, continuing to stroll.
Only when he reaches a part that’s now unfamiliar to him does he notice the cats around the place. Now that he’s looking around, he’s sure two to three might have been normal, but having at least four directly looking at him from a bench is a little more… weird at best.
There are rules and regulations regarding stray animals for the public's general safety as well as the animals, Soonyoung is sure of that. Especially since he makes sure to donate to some organizations that ensure these strays at least get proper shelter when the weather is not so kind. Yet, there they are; accompanying Soonyoung silently, feline eyes sharp as they watch him try to count them.
Soonyoung takes his phone out and the time reads 10:36. Still early, he thought. “Thank you for not letting me feel alone, I guess.” Soonyoung tells them and chuckles.
Slight movement in a lit alley catches his attention and upon seeing the lone cat that sits under one of the lampposts— so calm, so composed, and so mysterious with that air of arrogance felines seem to carry with them everywhere.
Soonyoung looks around at the other cats surrounding him once more, then at the lone white cat by the alleyway. He walks near the white cat despite the voice in the back of his head screaming at him to go back, well, he never really had a good sense of survival anyway. Given that, he is still able to live up to this point so maybe, everything is just… there. To make his life more exciting.
“You don’t look like a stray.” Soonyoung comments with a frown once face-to-face with the cat. There's arrogance, yet there’s more. Like how Soonyoung feels when meeting people he isn’t allowed to talk to alone… For security purposes. “You have pretty eyes too.” Soonyoung’s smile widens at the two different colored eyes of the feline still observing him closely.
Soonyoung bends down to give the cat a pet and feels a collar around its neck. He scratches more until the cat then stands up and walks back and forth to have its back scratched by Soonyoung’s fingers. The idol smiled, feeling it starting to purr under his touch and he let the cat do its thing for a while before checking if the collar had a name on it. Soonyoung’s smile widens, seeing not only a cat but a return message.
Chaos it says on the name tag and on the back it reads: When invited, please return to the Bookstore.
“Well, I do feel invited by you, little chaos.” Soonyoung finally picks it up and hears the first meow from the cat. “Now where’s the bookstore?”
He just saw the cat turn its head further into the alley as it extends one of its front paws as if giving him directions where to go and he chuckles.
Specialized shops aren't as common these days and if you manage to find one in the city, they sure as hell would be expensive and in either a run down street or somewhere so secluded only a few people would know. There is an appeal to it, and Soonyoung is sure he read it somewhere that there are certain niches that people have to be in the know to find them.
The shop is mostly silent aside from the nostalgic sound of the grandfather clock on the left side of the shop where he sees other unmoving clocks. Although the second hand is moving, it seems like the hour and minute hands indicate the same time when he last checked his phone. He shrugs and figures the clock’s mechanism may not be as well maintained as it is on the outside. Aside from that one shop in New York that has a dedicated space for vintage items, Soonyoung can’t say he had seen anything like this one.
Rows upon rows and stacks of books that may seem, no, definitely older than him. Expensive looking in their vintage covers; some of them he can see with yellowing paper. Further into the shop Soonyoung can see some other trinkets that may not be all of Asian origin, there are also some vases and delicate looking displays. So far, every single part of this establishment looks like it could bleed Soonyoung dry of his finances if he makes one wrong move.
So he does what his manager always tells him when they attend an event where he’s invited: stay still and look pretty.
Just like what the cat’s tag said, this shop literally has no other name and no other signage aside from the flip sign on the door that reads WELCOME TO THE BOOKSTORE.
“Please sign your name on the logbook.” Soonyoung startles hearing someone from behind him. He immediately turns around making the cat meow angrily at him with a pointed look.
“Sorry.” Soonyoung apologizes to the cat before he turns to the man again. “Hello.” This time, Soonyoung sees the man’s features and takes note that although he heard him speak in Korean a while ago, he does look more foreign than local.
“Hi.” The man greets back. The expression is still passive, but his eyes are still on Soonyoung. “Sign your name on the logbook, please.”
“Right.” Soonyoung smiles before going back to the podium near the door, the cat still in his arms. Once done, he turns around and sees the store attendant, but stops when he sees the man frowning at him then looks at the logbook then back at Soonyoung.
“Kindly sign with your real name.” The man says with a tone as if reminding a child to be truthful.
The raised eyebrows and the stance of the nameless man has Soonyoung turn back to the logbook. However, he frowns seeing the empty space where he had previously written his name– well, his stage name. The time and date are still there, though.
“The book does not…register any name written by a person that is not given upon birth.” As if sensing the confusion in his mind, the man explains. Still, his demeanor is as icy as the silver of his hair.
“Oh, I see.” Soonyoung nods and proceeds to write his full real name. Thinking it’s just another registry technology he isn’t fully aware of.
Once done, Chaos finally leaps off of his hold and walks to someone on the right side of the bookstore– just standing there by the unknown trinkets with his arms crossed, just watching Soonyoung. Despite the blond hair of the third person in the room, Soonyoung was not able to see him.
The cat purrs more prominently this time, looking up at the blond.
“I know there are not a lot of…” The blond pauses and looks pointedly at Soonyoung. “People out there, but why him?” He asks the cat, blatantly pointing at Soonyoung.
“Sure, no offense.” Soonyoung answers, ready to fight the blond.
“No, you should take full offense.” Another voice speaks and everyone turns to him. Another one, this time a brunette man.
He gives Soonyoung a smile and continues to walk where he still stands, simply observing. He extends his hand upon reaching near him; still smiling, however devoid of any warmth a smile should carry.
“My name is Chan.” The brunette introduces himself.
Soonyoung takes the hand offered and politely shakes it. “Hoshi.”
The latter chuckles just as the blond snickers with a low, “Oh he’s still going with that.” And joins the silver-haired behind a glass counter containing a few books on display, Chaos following him and leaps on the counter.
“That one is Vernon.” Chan points to the silver-haired and the other gives Soonyoung an acknowledging nod. “The one who seems to hate you is Seungkwan.” Seungkwan rolls his eyes at them.
“We appreciate your returning Chaos to the shop, Hoshi.” Chan thanked him, saying his stage name as if it’s a secret they share.
“It’s nothing. I was on a walk anyway.” Soonyoung, although starting to feel unease, stays polite and shifts a bit.
“Oh no. That’s not nothing.” The brunette assures him and invites Soonyoung to where the other two are. “We are babysitting, you see. This little chaos is more important than our lives combined.”
Soonyoung smiles at the thought. He too has a fur child at home that he loves more than anyone. He looks at Chaos and like their first meeting, the cat is sitting there– observing, calculating, looking so elegant. So calm that Soonyoung can hear his sister telling him it would probably be annoyed at his energy.
“Do you read?” Vernon asks, expression still unreadable.
“I’m sorry, what?” Soonyoung, confused at the question asked first. Then, as he remembers where he actually is, he audibly gasps and laughs lightly. “So sorry. I don’t get the question everyday.”
“Shocking.” Seungkwan comments flatly. “Name one book.”
“Uh…” Soonyoung racks his mind and says the first thing he remembers. “The Bible?”
Soonyoung's answer makes Chan crack a laugh, however he can see Vernon shift, and Seungkwan, if it’s possible looks more annoyed at him, as if Soonyoung is an itch he can't just find.
“Hey!” Seungkwan calls at Chaos. “Are you sure? Him?” The cat meows with the same annoyance in its tone. “Fine, fine. But if he ends up incompetent it’s on you.”
“Hey, I don’t know what your problem is, but I know how to read!” Soonyoung finally retorts back and hates the way Seungkwan smirks at him– as if he had finally broken into Soonyoung’s psyche.
“I apologize for the agitation, but,” Chan interferes again. “As you can see, reading kind of is the foundation of business.”
Soonyoung nods in understanding, of course. Still, Seungkwan’s hostility feels a little uncalled for and the other two are not really stopping the blond whatsoever. He looks at Vernon again and nods.
“Yes, I read.” Soonyoung confirms once more. The silver-haired hums and nods once in acknowledgement. Only then he notices the black book in front of Vernon.
Leather, it seems. Soonyoung walks opposite to where the silver-haired. Now that he’s standing by it, Soonyoung can clearly see the details on the cover of the book– the gold embossed linings and the corner accents are littered with small cuts of red stones that seem to reflect the light in the store. This makes Soonyoung think it must be from a time when gold and precious stones were abundant. He looks at Vernon who is still holding the spine of the books then Seungkwan who is watching him like a hawk, lastly at Chan beside him.
“What do you think of that?” Chan asks, his Cheshire smile still on his face as he points at the book on the counter.
Soonyoung hesitates, but continues to inspect the book– turning a few pages. It’s definitely aged if the brush strokes of the writings and a few illustrations are any indication.
“It looks like it's old, but definitely well taken care of.” Soonyoung starts, then looks at the three. “Whatever you guys do to keep it like that,” he then looks around before regarding Chan once again. “You guys do it well.” He adds, focusing on politeness rather than the intimidating prospect price of the item at hand.
“We do have a specific… craft.” Chan chuckles. “Yeah, it is a craft, isn't it? Keeping this place running.” Soonyoung notices a faint smile from Seungkwan and Vernon as Chan looks at them. “And of course, keeping everything in here,”
“Safe.” Seungkwan supplies bluntly, crossing his arms.
“We're really thankful you returned Chaos to us.” Seungkwan, for the first time that evening, talks to Soonyoung softly. “Please accept this as our gratitude.”
“It was really nothing.” Soonyoung smiles nervously. Looking at the book, he's sure his accountant will definitely give him a lecture about accepting expensive gifts again. “I'm glad to get Chaos home to you, but I can't accept this. It's too generous.”
“We can provide you with a receipt and letter of authentication if you would need to explain financially how you've come into possession of this.” Vernon offers, as if reading Soonyoung’s internal hesitation. “As we mentioned, this cat’s life is more than ours combined.”
“It's not an exaggeration, you know.” Chan coaxed, stepping closer to Soonyoung. “Please, accept it. Only for our peace of mind.”
Soonyoung shivers at the sudden cold that went through his spine. It was so sudden that it felt like water flooding his lungs suddenly. He catches his breath, feeling like he had just been pulled out of a pool after nearly drowning and holds onto the glass case counter, steadying himself.
He closes his eyes, counting to ten and lets go to try and stand on his own before he takes a look at the three. Odd, they may be. However, nothing is more odd than them just watching him–unmoving as he tries to fill his lungs with enough air.
The brunette beside him asks if he's all right and nods at Chan. “Okay.” Soonyoung takes a deep breath. “I accept the book.”
“The Book of Chaos.” Seungkwan softly insists.
Soonyoung looks at the blond and this time, the other is regarding him with the same Cheshire smile of Chan. “Okay.” He nods. Odd, the thought once again covers his mind. “I accept the Book of Chaos.”
Once the last word is out of his mouth, Soonyoung feels an icy feeling back from within his bones now enveloping him and constant ringing in his ears before an unknown voice keeps repeating to call their name. “Call my name, Soonyoung.” The voice pleads. Flashes of fire around him fill his brain, yet the temperature keeps on dropping. Behind the smoke and fire there is a face and they're calling onto him. Again and again, begging Soonyoung to call their name–reaching out their hands as blue and green fires still ablaze between them. Soonyoung tries to reach out as well, only to be audibly overwhelmed by the screams once again.
He staggers back once and twice, hands on his ears, eyes closed before he feels three sets of hands on him to keep him steady. Just as how everything started all at once, they're also gone all at once.
“Almost lost you there, Hoshi.” Vernon comments as if whatever happened is something they're used to witnessing.
“Oh my God.” Soonyoung gasps, catching his breath as if he had been held underwater for a long time. “What the hell was that?!” Still panting, he keeps himself steady with his hands on his knees.
They guide him to sit on one of the plush settees nearby as he gathers his consciousness and catches his breath. The moment he closes his eyes to will his mind to focus the face of the blond that accompanied his vision is there once again– distressed and covered with blood and dirt.
“Such an odd combination.” A voice cuts through Soonyoung’s thought. “God and hell.” Seungkwan giggles, as if the thought is as amusing as a child babbling.
“Here's your book.” Vernon offers a small paper bag to him. “Thank you, again for returning Chaos.”
Still heaving, Soonyoung stands up and takes the paper bag from the silver-haired with a nod. He notices that it seems heavier for a book and sees something else aside from the book. “Thank you and uh… Sorry about that.”
“No worries.” Chan assures. “You take care.” He motions for the door.
Soonyoung nods, blushing. He looks at the grandfather clock once again and notices that the hour and minute hands never moved from their places despite the second hand continuing its round. Despite this, he realizes that he has overstayed his welcome already. Thinking that he had probably weirded out the three men with what just happened.
He bows at them once again, holding the paper bag with the book and leaves. Thinking now that at least, he could have something to read waiting for the doctor because after that, he definitely would schedule an overall check-up.
Once again, Soonyoung finds himself walking the path under the moonlight. Only this time, the colony of cats that accompanied him earlier is now nowhere to be seen.