❇ ⁞  rooftop

@○ ⁞ sehun o 。 /thanks you when you buy me the coffee, the contrast between us is already obvious with just in the way we speak to others, though i don't mention it since, even after all this time, its just second nature to me
/even without my quirk, i can tell that you're just putting it as kindly as you can for me, considering how you were ripped away, i'm not surprised life hasn't been all that easy on you since you were stolen from my side
clearly we were meant to find each other again
but i always knew i would see you again, hyung
/and its believable, how i say it with such conviction, its painfully obvious that i believed those words, not just now that i'm seeing you, but all those years, through the decade you were gone
me?
/lifts one of my hands and rubs the the back of my neck as i earnestly think about the things i've been up to since you were gone, and suddenly it feels like not a whole lot has really happened, though i wonder if you'll think different when i tell you
i finished my education. went to uni and got an honours in classical art
while i was attending, my art began to be featured in small galleries and now i have pieces overseas
which... is kinda cool i guess?
/shrugs my shoulders as i try to be as nonchalant about it as possible, its kind of a big deal but i'm embarrassed about my own achievements
/looks down at my coffee, gently nudging the ice cubes around with my straw before i clear my throat, tucking myself closer to the table on my chair as i do so
had some jobs here and there between studying and after. now i'm here, hoping i can learn to use my powers to be of more help?
...i don't necessarily want to be some big hero, i just-
/my gaze lifts just then, i know its our past and the things we've shared, the things i saw you do that has brought me here to this moment, this decision, at least in part and how i failed to help you
... just want to help people who need it

@○ ⁞ seokwoo k 。 i guess it makes sense, kind of, i just wasn’t expecting it
/the rooftop cafe was one of my favorite spots around here, even though i wasn’t much of a coffee drinker, for it messed with the balance of things
/i liked being able to sit at one of these tables while the wind gently caressed my cheeks and played with the tresses of my hair, here i could enjoy a cup of tea alone without ever feeling lonely
/after ordering an iced tea shake for myself and paying for both our orders we sink down into the antique yet comfortable chairs placed in the corner, a little secluded from other guests yet provided with a scenery worthy of instagram pictures, it was a popular place because of it
/folding my legs one over the other i raise my gaze towards you, the view already etched into my brain ages ago, but there was something so surreal about being together again, after ten whole years, yet i still considered you as my best friend, that had never changed
/mirroring your smile at the worker, though mine a bit more stiff and less sincere, i too thank for our drinks, reaching out to stir the shake using the bright red straw that came with it, keeping my fingers occupied while listening to the soft tenor of your voice, trying to not let it show just how much i’ve missed it
/and for a moment the silence speaks for itself, when i don’t immediately respond to your question, rosy lips pursing just a bit as i drop my gaze, because i don’t know how to lie to you, i’ve never really been able to
i’ve been well, yeah, healthy and all
/it’s me avoiding the real topic, for as much as i’ve been hurting a part of me always knew that i deserved it, that i wasn’t a good person and those shouldn’t be a part of society, they should be excluded and taught how to better themselves, it was only fair
/yet there’s a pang of guilt, a cold hand gripping the back of my nape, when you say that you’ve been thinking about me too, we’d been too young, too in love with our friendship to be separated at such a young age, for you to have witnessed what you had
i missed you too, rowoon-ah, it’s really good to see you again, never thought i would
/with that i finally raise my gaze, sincerity piercing my words as i peer over at you, sitting up a little straighter as i raise the straw to my lips and takes a few sips of the pomegranate and blueberry drink, cold and refreshing
my life’s been boring
tell me about you, how you’ve been? what you’ve been up to?

@ʙ ⁞ jieqiong z 。 he hums quietly in agreement to her musing, enjoying the chill of the night and the openness of the rooftop. everything feels so freeing up here, like a little private bubble where one can sit and feel at peace, away from the worries and cruelty of the world. lightly drumming his fingers against the mug in his hands, he appreciates the comforting presence of jie sitting next to him. she is someone he has come to associate with kindness and warmth, something he welcomes whole-heartedly, although with well-placed caution.

so when her hand comes to rest upon his arm, he finds solace in the gesture, guarded heart surrendering for the moment. there is much minho knows he can not trust, but jie he believes he can. she is safe.

following her movements with his gaze, the pause has him holding his breath, unsure of what to expect next. when she finally does speak, he finds himself standing before he says "i'd like that." taking his own spot by the railing, he brings the mug in his hands to his lips, looking to his side for jie.

@○ ⁞ sehun o 。 did you think i would stay shorter than you forever, hyung? of course i had to get bigger
i see your language hasn't gotten any better though
/murmurs with my own smile still in place as i watch you turning back into your own room to go and put down your clothes, hesitantly following you but only enough steps i can see you still
i'd love to get coffee
/glances around at the belongings on display, everything seems to have its place, neat, orderly and that was like you before too, but there's something about the piles of books and order of things that makes me feel not everything is as it seems
oh wow, a few years?
wow..
/repeats as you mention the time you were taken away, it seems a bit unfair, unceremonious how they snatched you away and then put you here when they couldn't do much else with you
/i remember exactly why you were taken away though, i've been unable to forget it and i doubt i'll be able to for the rest of my life either
oh yeah
something like that. i just know its been too long
crazy we're meeting again like this though. but... kinda makes sense?
/given the world we're living in and the general attitude toward people of our standing when it comes to powers, its not all THAT surprising we should end up in the same place eventually
/following you easily i seem like a magnet drawn to your aura like i first was all those years ago - it seems not much has changed at all
/as we make our way to the rooftop i look around and lift my hand, shielding my eyes from the afternoon sun while i look over the rooftops and land around, enjoying the sight of it before i remember i need to order something, just having a simple iced coffee
/sitting down at one of the tables with you i thank you for the drink before i look up when its brought over, smiling warmly at the worker before i turn the same kind eyes on you
have you been well, hyung?
i missed you
and thought about you often of course. i always hoped you were doing better

@ᴄ ⁞ minho l 。 "it's nice here, huh? the silence can be so comforting sometimes." she muses with a hushed voice, more to herself that to her companion. chestnut orbs wander through the view of the city in front of them as she lets the silence sit comfortably in the space that divided then two. she holds the warm ceramic between her fingers and takes a small sip, the chilling breeze upon them forming clouds with her every exhale. she'd figured he liked it here just as much as she does, albeit for a different reason.

jieqiong casts another glance to the male beside her, and the cup he held between his own hands. it pains her, the thought that he, too, must have been longing, aching for warmth. there was simply no rest for their kind, no sense of normalcy to be acknowledged.

and so, she takes a warm hand and gently places it atop his arm, the soft skin resting above the fabric of his sleeve. oddly enough, she'd never been good with words. what she hopes to convey, the nurtue she wishes to emulate, she can only do so with touch. her gaze wanders off once more before she stands up, and pauses for what seems like forever.

"hey, wanna go closer to the railings? we'll have to stand, but the view is definitely worth it."

@○ ⁞ jieqiong z 。 "come sit beside me." it's such a simple, harmless offer that should not require much thought, yet it makes minho's heart ache with an indescribable feeling.

he is hesitant to say the least. he wants to reject jie's offer, one of the voices in his head telling him he doesn't deserve it, doesn't deserve to have any sort of kindness extended towards him. it tells him it's all an act, that he will eventually find himself face to face with that same fear-stricken expression he's all too familiar with. another tells him she'll soon leave just like everyone else who ever had the misfortune of meeting him. more clamor about in his mind to be heard, threatening to pull him apart once again. they're all different, but the message is all the same.

painful reminders of his dreadful existence.

yet there's one voice, small and timid, searching for solace amongst all the chaos of his mind. it aches like the others but is also different. it yearns for companionship, somewhere to rest his weary soul. it's a quiet, tiny voice, but greater than the rest combined. he realizes then that this is the feeling that caused the unusual ache in his heart. it feels pathetic, desperately searching for such a thing. this isn't him, or maybe it is, and it only took until now for him to realize it.

carefully, he ventures from his place by the railing to sit a comfortable distance next to jie. he's not sure what to do with himself now as his hands tightly grip the mug in his hands. he fears that if he moves even the slightest bit that the illusion will fade away and he'll be left alone again, but no. jie is still here, gentle and so very patient, looking at him with so much care in her heart.

with a shaky exhale, minho allows himself to relax a little. one step at a time, he supposes. "thank you," he says so softly, only meant for jie to hear. a short, vague response, but it's the one that feels right.

@○ ⁞ minho l 。 jieqiong didn't have to so much as glance to sense his discomfort once the words slip from him; yet, alas, all she could do was offer a small chuckle that was apologetic at best.

she knew it, she'd recognized it – the silent fervor beneath his bones, the lurking depth of the abyss left within the soul of a man who lives in paralyzing dread. it was as if the mere few of her monsters recognized his many own, were immediately acquainted and began their twisted, unending waltz.

there seemed to be an implacable energy that clouded him with uneasiness, which she'd only hoped to relieve by offering him a seat. "here, there's still space beside me." she mumbles, ever so softly, with a wistful tune she used to have reserved for her mother and sisters. despite herself and the ache she felt from their memories, a delicate simper bloomed still upon her lips. minho, he was family to her, and so were all the others. she figured she could take care of them all the same.

"do you want some coffee? i havent had a sip yet, you can have it if you want, baobei. come sit beside me."

@○ ⁞ jieqiong z 。 it's nights like these that minho dreads the most where his mind makes everything more turbulent as the endless sea of thoughts threatens to pull him under, suffocating him with relentless voices, passing visions of fears, the ever-present weight of his ability. for once, he'd like to be able to have no worries and know what it's like to have some semblance of normalcy. yet he's here, stuck in a place specially designed for people with quirks. of course, normal doesn't exist for him. it never did.

he quietly slips out his shared dorm room, coffee mug in hand. he needs some fresh air, some open space, just so he can think clearly. his wanderings lead him to the rooftop, and as he gently pushes the door open, the cool night air makes him thankful for the hot beverage he brought along. it isn't until he spots jieqiong also up, apparently with the same motive as him, that he realizes how he feels with his true eye colors exposed. if it's any consolation, at least she can't look him directly in the eyes.

"i... sure." he opts to stand, leaning across the railing as he looks out to the night sky. he didn't expect any company up on the rooftop, but he reminds himself that it's jie, kind and caring jie. she wouldn't hurt him. ... right?

@○ ⁞ minho l 。 gazing pensively across the metal railings of the balcony, jieqiong couldn't help but reflect on where she is right now– what lead her here, how the circumstances had summed up for her to be here, right now, sitting atop a wooden bench on a rooftop in a cold july night. she hums a familiar tune, the melody wafting softly in the atmosphere that surrounded her. pale, ghostly fingers cling onto the coffee mug in her hands in desperate search for some remaining warmth it may still have. nearly lost in trance within her own thoughts, the quiant sound of the door opening behind her halted the rumbling inside her mind. instead, her eyes dart to the familiar figure walking over, careful not to meet his eyes as she offers him a small smile. "hey minho. come join?"

@○ ⁞ wonwoo j 。 The vector then moves from Wonwoo's nose to his cheek, as if Jeonghan's tracing the outline of his face, trying to search for a warmth his invisible hands will never feel. Jeonghan watches Wonwoo with interest glinting in his eyes, watches as Wonwoo laughs. "Does this make you uncomfortable?" Jeonghan asks, though another vector moves to touch the other side of Wonwoo's cheek, pinching both and stretching them lightly. Normally, people would have been uncomfortable with this. After all, no one likes being touched by things they can't see (unless they're into that, but Jeonghan doesn't quite want to think about that yet). "Do you want me to stop?"

The ranked hero hums. The answer he wants to hear comes slow, and when it does come, he raises an eyebrow. "My everything?" he asks, and this time, he takes several steps closer to the other. If one can see his vectors, they would know that the vectors have put Wonwoo into a small cage, long enough to serve as bars and prevent the other from getting out of his hold, but only Jeonghan is aware of it. "What does that mean, Wonwoo?" And there's no hostility in his tone. Just pure, utter curiosity, because the human standing before him suddenly becomes more interesting than the rest. "... Do you want something from me? People usually do."

@ᴀ ⁞ jeonghan y 。 The strands of hair Jeonghan had let go of brushes against his forehead and obstructs his view, but before he could comb it back with his hand, a chill runs down his spine when he feels a light, ticklish touch making its way down his nose. He blinks instinctively at the sudden tap on the tip, startled. He attempts to dismiss it with a lighthearted laughter, as if he isn't having a hard time recovering from the physical contact they just shared. He pretends that it didn't hurt him the slightest bit — it's unfair how he makes an exception for Jeonghan when it comes to physical boundaries, letting him do whatever he wants with his hair or nose, whereas Wonwoo just had to feel guilty for even thinking of reciprocating his touch. It might be just him overthinking it, but if he were to be honest with himself, he doesn't mind indulging in Jeonghan's curiosity or whatever it is that made the other man mess around with him, and Wonwoo would /love/ it if he didn't stop.

He blinks a second time, realizing that he has gotten lost in his thoughts for quite a while, and clears his throat. "You and the other... high ranked heroes." Wonwoo wasn't particularly invested in Jeonghan — no, Phantasma — when he was doing his research, but tonight has changed how he views the other man compared to everyone else. It feels different somehow, and it's driving him nuts. "It's just... your..." The words escape his mouth before he could stop himself. "Everything."

@○ ⁞ wonwoo j 。 Hearing Wonwoo's answer doesn't exactly surprise Jeonghan — Jeonghan's name, or well, his alias, is known throughout the industry, as much as he doesn't care about his status. But what piques Jeonghan's curiosity is the way Wonwoo answers his question; the way Wonwoo decided to drop all attempts at bluffing and speaking with transparency. There aren't a lot of people who aren't as unnerved as the majority when it comes to Jeonghan. He's supposedly human, but there's always something about him that makes him seem less so. And that's what he's used to. This man, however, doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

"Me?" Jeonghan repeats quietly, eyes narrowing a little at the other's visage. His actions don't stop despite Wonwoo realizing that Jeonghan's playing with him, and one of the vectors playing with Wonwoo's hair moves to slide down the bridge of the later's nose, tapping the tip almost too playfully. "And what have you found that made you interested in me?"

@ᴀ ⁞ jeonghan y 。 Wonwoo feels something else tugging at the other side of his hair, completely debunking his theory of the culprit being the wind. He tries to recall everyone he has ever seen in the academy and their respective quirks. He vaguely remembers reading internet theories about someone having invisible limbs, possibly a highly ranked hero...

And then it clicks.

"It's just you," he says, sounding a tad too stupid. He blames it on his exhaustion and how the person he was trying to save just happened to be Jeonghan. He raises his hands up slowly, wanting to know what his extra hands feel like, but his icy tone certainly does not feel like an invitation to get all touchy with him. In fact, it sounds like a subtle warning, telling Wonwoo to be careful with his words and action around him. But the rebellious side of him hasn't given up yet — he wants to close the distance between them, and he would have to work for it. "I did my research before coming here." Would Jeonghan appreciate his transparency? "That's how I found the academy... and you."

@○ ⁞ wonwoo j 。 Perhaps this is where Jeonghan is supposed to smile — Wonwoo's reactions are rather amusing — but he doesn't. Instead, he only raises an eyebrow, as if unaware of what Wonwoo is talking about. "What do you mean?" And another vector of his moves to play with another side of Wonwoo's hair. Jeonghan doesn't know what it feels like, doesn't know if it's as soft and fluffy as it looks like, can only feel the strands trapped between the so-called fingers of his vectors. "We're alone, aren't we?"

Wonwoo's answer surprises Jeonghan a little. Such tact is something that is rarely ever given to him. Curiosity is understandable, of course, but he isn't one to entertain such questions regarding anything about himself. He lets his hand fall to his side, and he leans against the railing, his other vectors continuing to hover around Wonwoo. "That's nice," he says, and his eyes and tone are cold when he continues, "I wouldn't have answered you if you had asked." He his head a little to the side. "How do you know my name?" There are a lot of ways Wonwoo could have possibly learned his name, one being that Wonwoo's done his research on the ranked heroes currently in the Academy.

@ᴀ ⁞ jeonghan y 。 The light touch on his hair causes Wonwoo to shudder. He lets out a breath of air through his mouth, eyes glued to the other man, but both his hands are nowhere near him, let alone his head. He tries to dismiss it as the night breeze blowing on him, but he only feels a small tug on a few strands of hair, as if someone is trying to pick them up. He looks back, hoping that it was someone else pranking him, but a quick glance is enough to tell him that they are alone at the rooftop. "What's that..." he whispers. "I feel something touching my hair."

He turns his attention back to the horns on Jeonghan's temple. He would be lying if he said that he hasn't wondered what exactly they are. He assumes that it was a quirk, but come to think of it, he has never seen or heard about a quirk that manifests as a facial feature. "I thought it would be rude of me to ask," he answers cautiously. He freezes at Jeonghan's assumption, his mind scrambling to think of an excuse but he ends up spilling the truth with a defeated sigh. "Yes. I know your name."

@○ ⁞ wonwoo j 。 Jeonghan's quite surprised. The lad — Wonwoo, as he introduces himself (and it rings a small bell in the back of Jeonghan's mind, the image of Wonwoo's name and picture in one of the files he's stumbled upon once or twice before) — can see Jeonghan's horns from the ground, but he doesn't seem to be aware of the vectors that are hovering around him. For experiment, one of Jeonghan's vectors moves to Wonwoo's head, lifting a few strands up rather delicately. Jeonghan watches it instead of focusing on Wonwoo's face, before he realizes that he should probably reply to the student instead of toying with him without the other's knowledge.

Jeonghan raises a hand to touch his horn lightly. They're quite small, though not as small as Jinsoul's, he thinks. "I'm surprised you can see these," he says, before he meets Wonwoo's eyes. "Aren't you going to ask me about them?" He speaks as if he's genuinely surprised, in the small change of tone his voice takes, and he blinks, the falter not missed. "You seem to know my name. Do you?"

@ᴀ ⁞ jeonghan y 。 Wonwoo takes a step backwards, his feelings hovering somewhere between intimidation and being a little starstruck. In front of him is someone he had always admired ever since he entered the academy, and while he has seen him in the school grounds every now and then, it's his first time seeing him up close. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful the other looks despite the lack of lighting on the rooftop. His mouth parts slightly without him realizing it as he captures each and every detail of his facial features, engraving it deep in his memory.

He snaps out of his thought when the questions directed at him breaks the brief moment of silence. "I, uh, I saw your horns peeking out from the ground and I thought you were about to fall..." he says frantically. "I'm Wonwoo, and you're..." he trails off and decides against saying his name, afraid of coming off as a creep.

@○ ⁞ wonwoo j 。 Jeonghan doesn't flinch when the rooftop door suddenly bursts open and his vectors move to surround him in alert, but he only realizes he's leaning too far into the railing when he turns his head to face the one who dares to intrude on his peace. He finds himself looking at a not particularly familiar face, though he knows he's seen this face once or twice before. He doesn't have a name attached to this face, however, and he can only tilt his head a little to the side. Curiosity glints lightly in his eyes, but his countenance shows none of this. Instead, his vectors only move a little closer to the other student, hovering around the other's figure.

"Who are you?" Jeonghan asks, voice soft yet there's a certain icyness to his tone that isn't exactly hostile, but not cordial either. His horns protrude from his temples, his long locks framing them. He finally takes note of the other's almost tired state, and he raises an eyebrow. "... and what made you think running up the stairs is a good idea?"

@ᴀ ⁞ jeonghan y 。 The can of soda drops down from the outdoor vending machine with a thud. Wonwoo waits for the machine to give him his change before bending down to pick both items up and gets up with a small grunt. He pops the can open and takes a few sips, letting the fizz dissipate slowly inside his mouth. He looks up at the night sky out of habit with his telescopic vision, hoping to catch a constellation or two, but the skies are too hazy and polluted for him to see. These days he would be lucky to even catch a glimpse of a star.

He takes one last look at the area around the rooftop, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight. He sees two identical pointy objects peeking out of the railings. They look like horns — someone else’s horns — and whoever is up there might fall any second now. Panicked, he rushes back into the building and climbs the staircase, spilling his drink everywhere from careless handling. He’ll probably get detention for it, but someone’s life is in danger. Detention can wait.

Wonwoo busts the rooftop door open and approaches the figure, panting as his legs struggle to support him after running up a flight of stairs. “Hey, it’s dangerous up—” he comes to a halt when he takes a closer look at the other’s face and recognizes him almost immediately. “Oh.”

@ʙ ⁞ jinsoul j 。 "no," comes jeonghan's quick response without even glancing at the other people. he came here for one reason and one reason only: it was jinsoul's request. he only averts his eyes from jinsoul, finding the skies suddenly much more appealing than any of the other humans in this place. "i won't even last that long," he says, and this isn't spoken with any sort of emotion. it's just a matter of fact, a truth that he believes in. "what would i need them for?" he questions quietly.

@ᴀ ⁞ jeonghan y 。 truth be told, he was right. she does say and do some random things when tired. but in that moment, she was simply feeling a little appreciative of him wanting to spend time with her. and though she wants to respond with a better answer, all she really does is sigh, deciding it best to save the conversation for another day and turning to lean against the rooftop's railing and better look at the other. "ready to get socializing?" she asks with a nudge of the head toward the other people on the other side of the roof. "before you say no, keep in mind that you have to have a friend besides me at some point."

@ʙ ⁞ jinsoul j 。 jeonghan doesn't glance at jinsoul when she speaks, only to find himself a little surprised when jinsoul leans in to press a kiss to his forehead. the suddenness of this moment makes jeonghan raise an eyebrow, and he tilts his head a little to the side. those words are foreign to his ears, if he were to be honest, and he can't help but look at her with quite an empty expression. "why this all of a sudden?" he asks, perhaps with a tone a little blander than he means. "when you're sleepy, you really do say some random things, soul."

@ᴀ ⁞ jeonghan y 。 it's well past curfew and all she's doing is staring out at the city in the distance, long carton of "milk" in hand as she sips from her straw. some rando student decided to have a little get together on the rooftop to watch the sunrise, and as surprised as she was to be invited, she found herself doubly surprised when jeonghan agreed to come with her. especially considering the two of them spent most of their time on the opposite end of the rooftop. "you know," she mutters into the air, head lolling to the side to glance at the man beside her with a tired sense of tranquility and a yawn that shows it. but after she leans over to press a tiny smooch to his forehead, she looks at him with all the seriousness and wakefulness she can muster at the moment. "i'm... i'm really glad to have you, han... i mean it."

jieqiong looks out onto the fields with a hand perched atop the cold metal railings, a cloud materializing from her every exhale as she attempts to clear her head from a nightmare she'd gotten. she'd never been one to be particularly expressive, favoring recluse over spontaneity especially when vulnerable. yet, if having two blind sisters taught her anything, it's that the lack of good company might very often lead to things far worse than misery. and so, to the invisible audience accompanying her, she sang of a song dear to her - a song that celebrated her beloved father.

"starry starry night, paint your palette blue and grey..."

zhou huolei was more than an artist. his craft spoke beyond the boundaries of tangible expression, and if you'd look closely, you might just be able to see every tear, every laughter, every memory that has led to the creation of his masterpieces. he was, above all, what jieqiong always wished she could become. but fate is not kind to those who are special like them; no amount to reverence or fame protected him from being ousted and imprisoned for having powers. they day they took huolei was the same day that would haunt jieqiong forever, not only because they took her only support and her greatest mentor, but because she knew she would one day suffer that fate as well.