MEETING WITH DARKNESS

A human who lives in the supernatural world. That's what Yui was.

He was a regular human, well with the only ability of healing. But he wasn't able to heal a lot at once, or else he'd faint and be rendered useless.

It was ironic that he was weak like that, when everyone else around him was able to do incredible things.

Humans weren't naturally allowed in the supernatural world. They stayed in the normal world, had their own policies and government, among many other things.

It was the same for the supernatural world, except you'd see monsters and demons roaming the streets.

"Yui!" A voice called to the young man who sat in the library reading. He was now the human age of 21, and his birthday was that current day. He usually was alone on days like this, that was until he was accepted into a supernatural university.

Now he had a friend named Siwoo, one supernatural that had the iconic super strength. He was also looked down upon by other supernaturals and deemed an outcast, so he and Yui became good friends.

"Yui, I have come with the greatest news," he sat down next to his friend and was shushed by a couple supernaturals around them, and he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"What is it?" Yui asked, he placed his book down on the table after bookmarking it.

"There's going to be a banquet hosted at our college in two nights. I heard that there is going to be some of the most highly desired supernaturals there," Siwoo stopped to take a breath, "aaaand, they are going to be holding a 'magic show.'

A magic show in the supernatural world was a way to showcase powers that were extraordinary. Whether they had been awakened before, or in come cases after the individual was showcased, they held immense power and talent.

"A magic show..?" Yui frowned, "I do not have any extraordinary powers."

"What do you mean? Most of our talents are causes of destruction. Yours is that of restoration. That is already a skill we supernaturals do not posses." Siwoo patted his friend on the back, realizing that it must be hard to be a human adjusting in this world, "well look, since you're 21 now in human years, do you want to go out with me tonight? It can help you ease your nerves for the party we are 100% going to."

"Um..I don't really want to—"

"It's your birthday! And it's what humans call one of the most important ones, which is your 21st birthday!" Siwoo smirked when his friend sighed in defeat. A night out was just what the both of them needed.

———

"You've been in the bathroom for an hour, Yui. Just let me see the outfit I picked out already!" Siwoo called out, "don't make me break down the door!"

Yui sighed in defeat once more. He knew his friend was serious from the many other instances where he broke their door, and campus begrudgingly gave them a new one and told them to be careful.

"Al—alright, but I think I look rather silly.." Yui stepped outside of the bathroom and came out in a two piece grey blouse and pants. The blouse was cut short so his stomach was slightly revealed, he felt utterly self conscious just from that, and then the pants hugged his waist tightly and slowly loosened at the bottom. Yui was a rather slender boy, he had soft facial features as well as a dusty brown hair. He had dyed it a lot in the past, but gradually had been letting it grow back to the natural color. Siwoo smiled upon seeing his friend's outfit, the one that was hidden in his closet for this exact occasion.

"Oh my, you look gorgeous!" Siwoo then pulled Yui by his arms to the bed and sat him down. "Now, we should do your hair and makeup."

Yui nodded, accepting his fate for the third time that night.

———

The place that Yui had been dragged to was a nightclub. He frowned upon seeing the drunken supernaturals all around. They had a much higher alcohol tolerance than most humans, so he was already afraid of what the night had to behold. Yui had already regretted every decision up to this point. His friend was a supernatural, he had nothing to worry about in a place like this. Yui was a human. He had many things to worry about.

"Don't you dare think about running," Siwoo pulled his friend close when Yui glanced at the bus that was driving past, "you won't make it far without my help anyways."

Siwoo led him into the club, promised they wouldn't split up, and then within two minutes of walking in the club, Siwoo had disappeared.

It was bound to happen in a place like this. Too many supernaturals in one place, things were bound to get messy.

Yui snuck himself into the bathroom. And then noticing every stall was occupied, he sadly trailed himself back out into the club.

———

He still couldn't find his friend. He texted him a million times, called him, walked all over the club trying to locate his friend, and increasingly became worried. He worried even though his friend was very much capable of handling himself, what with his super strength and all.

Yui sat at a stool of the bar, accepting that his friend would just come find him when he's ready to leave.

"You seem to be a little lost," a voice from next to Yui chirped up, and he got startled upon hearing someone speak to him.

He turned to see well, probably the most handsome man he's ever seen. Possibly the most handsome. He had short cut silver hair with curtain bangs, and dark crimson eyes. His suit must have been incredibly expensive when Yui saw the designer brand logos on them. It was also a dark grey with a crimson red shirt underneath it.

Yui couldn't find it in himself to speak at that moment, so he awkwardly opened his mouth and made a garbled noise. He quickly shut his mouth and turned away seconds after; realizing how dumb he looks.

"I'm—I'm not lost," Yui muttered, "I'm just looking for my friend..."

"So, your friend is lost, then?" The man questioned, he was turned to Yui, one hand on the drink in his hand, and the other sat on his leg.

"No.." Yui wasn't too sure what to say. He couldn't find Siwoo, so he probably was lost.

"Then you're waiting for them?" The man asked.

"Yes," Yui turned away from Haejoon after a couple seconds of silence, assuming their meeting was over.

"Can I help you find them?" The man spoke out again, his eyes still very much on Yui at this point.

"O—oh.." Yui wasn't too sure if he should be alarmed with how this man was trying to hold a conversation with him. Maybe he was just being friendly because he noticed how anxious Yui looked— it was probably nothing more than a kind gaze. "I—I have this picture of him.."

Yui picked up his phone and went to his photos. The only one he had of Siwoo that was not embarrassing was a photo that also had him in it. He hesitantly showed it to the man.

"This is my friend, Siwoo..." Yui leaned closer to show the man; who equally leaned in to gaze at the picture.

"Siwoo," the man confirmed, "alright. I'll help you look for him," the man stood from the stool which Yui thought was making him taller, but when he touched the ground his height did not change. Yui got off the stool and lost about five inches of the height he had. He barely made it to the man's chest.

He forgot how tall some supernaturals could be. 182 centimeters was the average height among supernatural men, and he felt self conscious at his height of 167 centimeters. This man was surely above the average height, maybe around 185 centimeters.

"Um.." Yui nervously held his bag. He wasn't sure how to progress, "I'll look this way.." he pointed in the opposite direction of himself, and the other man seemed to frown, but nonetheless nodded.

"Alright, I'll look the other way," he handed Yui a card, "you can reach me at this number if you need my help."

———

It had been about a half an hour of searching from Yui. He had not contacted the other man, mainly because he was intimidated.

Yui had checked every bathroom, gone up and down the lobby a million times, called out to his friend, and still to no avail.

A ping signaled a message on his phone, to which he opened and saw one from Siwoo.

‘Ya\~\~ Yuuu. I know you're looking for me right now. Enjoy the night and have some fun! I'm in a private room with a cutie right now ;))’

Realizing his searching was pointless, he felt embarrassed by all of his concern. Of course Siwoo was doing adult things—they were adults after all. His face heated up at the prospect of his friend doing that sort of thing.

He headed back down the steps to the bar once more. That was, until he ran into a large bulgy man with a bad smell and crooked teeth.

"Yo, look at this cutie!" The man grabbed Yui's arm, "this is my bitch for the night," he commented to his group of equally disgusting friends. He then pulled Yui down on his lap, and Yui felt immediately alarmed by the situation.

"I'm—I'm not—"

A large hand was placed on his face. One that was not kind. The bulgy man's hands were round and fat. They had callouses and dark hair on their fingers.

He proceeded to stand up with Yui in his grip, of course he had no issue carrying him. He tried to wriggle out of his arms, but to no avail. The man carried him away from his friends.

"Stop squirmin,' you bitch," the man growled, and Yui hated how the bulgy man looked at him. The man carried him toward the private rooms—

"Let—let me go!" Yui cried out, no, he didn't want to do anything with this man—he wanted to go home—

A sharp noise pierced Yui's ears, and then the bulgy man carrying him fell to the ground. Yui quickly crawled away from him, trying to catch his breath from the near attempt situation he was just in.

He heard someone walk up behind him. He was scared to turn and see if the bulgy man was looking at him.

"Excuse me," it was a familiar voice, Yui turned his head a little to glance at the figure, and he saw the man from earlier! "Are you alright?"

Yui nodded, "um—yes...I'm okay.." he hadn't noticed the tears falling down his face.

"You're crying," the man crouched down to Yui's height, placed a hand on his shoulder, "you're not okay."

———

The man introduced himself as Haejoon. They were sat in a far away what seemed like a private dining room, like the karaoke rooms they had in Seoul.

The man smiled at Yui, it seemed he was full of those. 'At least there's one kind person here,' Yui thought. He hadn't tried to traumatize or hurt him in any way.

"And your name is?" Haejoon asked, he took a sip of the alcohol in his hand.

Yui had been given a couple drinks that night as well. He had only drank a couple times before—and each time it was as if he became a less shy person and more outgoing and spoke out against issues. He didn’t like to cause a scene, so he tried to not drink.

"Oh.." Yui looked down to his folded legs, "it's Yui.."

"Yui," Haejoon commented, "what a lovely name."

"Thank you.." Yui blushed and nodded. He wasn't really sure if that was a compliment toward him or not, but Haejoon seemed to smile again after that.

A sip of alcohol to fill the awkward silence.

"Are you from around here?" Haejoon asked, he seemed full of questions that evening.

"Oh no, I'm afraid I'm not a supernatural," Yui shook his head, "I'm just a human..."

Another sip.

The man seemed surprised with this information, "And you're here at a supernatural club because..?"

"Oh!" Yui realized he must seem very dumb because of where he is right now as a human. "Well, I came with my friend Siwoo who is a supernatural..."

“It’s dangerous for your friend to leave you here alone,” Haejoon didn’t seem quite happy with the prospects of Yui being left alone in a dangerous club. “Don’t you think that’s irresponsible of him?” This stranger, who had just met Yui, was already taking more care of him than anyone had in his entire life. Yui didn’t like how Haejoon acted like they were close in that regard.

“I am an adult. I don’t need to be babied, sir,” Yui spoke in a direct but respectful tone. He didn’t want his friend to seem like a bad person. Siwoo was by no means bad—he was just a flawed person. Like every human and supernatural out there.

He took another sip.

“Of course you don’t,” Haejoon smiled for what was probably the millionth time that night, and chuckled, “I just don’t believe your friend treats you in high regard to not worry about your well being.”

“My friend treats me just fine, sir.” Yui frowned, “he is not a bad person.”

“I don’t believe that’s what I said, Yui,” Haejoon lifted drink up and took another sip. “You mustn’t put words into other people’s mouthes.” He sat himself back in the chair, forcing a dominant and domineering aura from him.

Yui finished his drink at this, and stood. Legs wobbly.

“If you hadn’t helped me twice this night sir, I would believe you are trying to provoke me,” Yui glared and pointed his finger at the man, “And I do not appreciate the way you talk about my friend. You speak as if you have known me for a long time, but we are not familiar.”

“I don’t wish to provoke you, Yui. I just want to chat—and I do believe you should slow down on the drinks,” Haejoon confessed, he stood up as well, taking away the shot Yui had just put in his hand, and noticed the signs set in already. He was probably a light drinker as a human as well.

“I am an adult,” Yui took the shot back, taking the sip with ease. He sighed and glared once more, “Don’t talk to me like I’m a baby, I can handle myself.”

“I understand that, but you are drinking to heavily. Supernatural alcohol is different from your own.” Haejoon motioned toward the men that stood in the back, and they swiftly removed all signs of alcohol from the table. Haejoon worridly looked at Yui.

Yui then turned and excused himself from the club—fine. “If you’ll excuse me sir, I’m going to cut my night short.” Give him drinks and then take them away. He was not going to be treated like a doll, he was an adult after all.

Yui texted Siwoo that he was leaving; and that he would message him when he got home safely.

What he didn’t know is that it was not the first time he had met the man—and it certainly was not the last.

———

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