Chapter 9 - Time Passes Slowly

"You will learn your place in the world and in this group again, if you must."

 Regardless of the tense last meeting of the angels and the unknown presence of the dark demon they hunted among them, the month passed by as all months do. Bayne collected more and more souls by the night, though no trace was left with the girls. Some humans peg soul collecting as killing the body, but really the body can survive without the soul.

Fortunately for the demon, no one paid much attention to his nightly conquests. The girls walked away weak and disoriented, but alive. What happened afterwards is anyone’s guess. But the month passed, quietly and slowly. The cold harsh winter had finally given way to spring. Romance floated around the city and the promise of a budding relationship hung in the air. Though we kept watch, no sign of demons appeared during March.

Time passes slowly…but it was only the beginning of our troubles—and theirs.

-Raphael

~~~~

Once his cell phone clock read 7:39, JaeSuk nearly threw his posh office chair into the glass window separating him and the producers from the soundbooth. “First it’s that big-eyed idiot, now the leader.” He gripped the back of the chair, temple vein pulsing. “Whoever’s late next time is going to get their ass sawed off and hung on my wall.”

Not for a second did Changmin nor Junsu doubt his threat.

Yoochun leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. “…hyung.” He never used the honorific unless he had a reason to be formal. The other singer looked up from reviewing the lyrics. “How are things at your apartment away from the rest of us?” His accusing tone made the older man raise his eyebrow. “Have anyone of interest over lately? Like, I don’t know…maybe a girl?”

“Instead of beating around the bush, just ask if Yuri’s been over.” The subject appeared to be of no interest to him, as he lazily examined his fingernails now. “And she hasn’t.”

Junsu inched away from him, determined to stay out of any argument as Yoochun acidly replied, “So does that mean you’ve been to see her?”

“There has been no contact for a while,” Jaejoong said coldly. “Keep out of my business.”

“Where my little sister is concerned is my business, thank you very much.”

Changmin glanced between the two as he devoured the buffet laid out for them yet again; he looked ready to tackle someone to the ground if the situation called for it. Jaejoong flexed his arm muscles, looking like he very much wanted to pound in Yoochun’s face, but the moment passed, and he straightened in his chair. “Yoochun-ah. Be mindful of what you poke your nose into, lest you…get yourself into real trouble.” Everyone could not help but notice the looming threat in his voice. Junsu once again moved farther away while keeping his eyes on the two quarreling men.

“I can’t help that I care about a friend,” Yoochun spat in response.

Jaejoong locked gazes with him. “Yuri and I are casually dating. If anyone has a problem with that, I strongly suggest you shove it up your—”

Just then, Yunho burst into the room, looking much more haggard compared to their last recording session. “You!” He pointed a finger at JaeSuk. “I get a voicemail that basically tells me I’m going to die a slow and agonizing death if I don’t show up within the hour. I went over my calendar, and we’re not supposed to meet until eight!”

“Oops.” JaeSuk checked his phone again. “My bad.” He held back a guffaw at the man’s alarmed appearance. “I was wrong.”

“So then why did the rest of us think we had to get here at seven?” Changmin wondered, mouth full of a bagel.

Junsu ruffled through his lyrics, where he had hastily scribbled their next meeting time. “Yunho-hyung is right. We were supposed to meet at eight. Wow, we’re stupid.”

~~~~

As Changmin and Junsu finished off their parts, Yoochun stalked off to find coffee somewhere (or so he growled after everyone had asked) and JaeSuk overlooked the completion of the background vocals in one of their new songs, “All-Stars.” Jaejoong was hunched over his cell phone, busily texting away, when Yunho approached him. “Yah.” No response. “Yah.” Nothing. “Yah, Kim Jaejoong!”

“Yes?” he answered without looking up from his screen.

“What’s going on between you and Yuri?”

His fingers stilled. “At the moment, absolutely nothing, though I hardly see why it’s any of your concern who I am interested in.”

“Ever since we five got back together, you’ve been acting a lot differently.” He roughly pulled out a chair and sat down, elbows on knees and stern expression on his face. “You pick up three girls a night and take them over to your apartment and do Heaven-knows-what with them. You have this cocky, arrogant attitude that was not with the old Jaejoong—”

Jaejoong slowly shook his head while laughing. “Oh, Yunnie, Yunnie…when will you ever learn?” He slipped his phone into his pocket and drew himself to his full height, glaring down at his friend. “The old Jaejoong is old news. I’m not going to be walked all over anymore. I’m tired of being used. So you better accept this new Jaejoong, or else take your shit somewhere else.”

Yunho was not intimidated by his stance, for he rose up in front of him, standing taller by an inch. He allowed himself to exude a bit of the power that lay behind his calm exterior; it worked, for Jaejoong took an automatic step back. “You will learn your place in the world and in this group again, if you must,” Yunho whispered almost inaudibly to avoid detection from their manager. “I don’t care how much money you’ve earned without us or how many girls you can take at once. Respect the other members, respect JaeSuk-hyung, and respect me.” His voice lowered even more. “And God help me if you hurt her.”

The other man did not waver. “Is she your girlfriend?”

Memories of the last time he and Yuri had met came to mind, causing his tone to be extremely harsh. “No, she is not.”

“Keep your fat mouth shut, then,” Jaejoong advised, turning away from him. He headed toward the exit but paused in the doorway. He looked back once, and Yunho was startled to see something dark and sinister in the singer’s eyes. “Yuri wants to date me. I strongly suggest you keep your temper and your jealousy in check.” He swept out the door, lightly punching the threshold.

~~~~

“What news have you brought me?” Lucifer sighed as he lined the pool stick up with the cue ball. He aimed the white ball towards a group of solids and managed to sink in four. “Have you picked up the scent of the prophetess, or is this visit merely a pleasure one?”

Jaejoong sneered and picked up his stick. “I ask that you don’t talk to me like I’m one of your dogs.” Behind him, Tablo and Junho growled and snapped, teeth completely barred.

Lucifer leaned against the table as his lieutenant took his shot. “Am I wrong? Have you not traced the girl?”

“I have not,” Jaejoong admitted. “The members of that wretched boy band have been keeping too close of an eye on me lately. One of them has been noticing the frequency of my…” He exchanged smug looks with Junho, whereas Tablo kept his glare on his shoes. “…late-night appointments.” When Lucifer raised his eyebrow, he explained, “I have been inviting women over.” He straightened up as his boss sunk another two solid colors in. “I don’t think I’ve ever collected half as many souls as this past month.”

“Ah…good, good.” He motioned to Tablo, who handed him a small cue. “Continue on with that, but do find that girl. I would like to return to the home office sooner rather than later.”

Junho removed himself from the wall and approached the pool table. “Sir.” He bowed. “If you don’t mind, I would like to leave for patrol earlier than scheduled.” He held Jaejoong’s eyes; the other man had stopped smiling and looked suspicious. “Your eminence would surely like me to continue the mission that you had sent me on previously.”

“Do as you wish, though I ask that you remain in the general vicinity.” Lucifer lined his pool stick up one last time and sunk the final balls into the corner pocket. He straightened up and tossed his stick to Tablo, who put it back on the rack. His eyes swept the room; his expression showed only boredom. Finally, he settled his jaded gaze on Jaejoong. “Off with you. Next time you pay me a visit, tell me something a tad more worthwhile than soul collection.”

~~~~

Everyone and their grandmother decided to hit up the supermarket, Zell thought in annoyance as yet another cart crashed into the front of hers. The mother steering the cart seemed to be more focused on reading a soup can’s ingredients, since her young son wailed right under her nose. “Uh, ma’am? Can you please move?” When it became obvious that the woman would not move soon, Zell sighed and weaved around them, almost scrapping against the jars of jelly to the side.

“HOT, FRESH GARLIC BREAD!” a young man yelled, passing by the head of the aisles with a cartful of bread bags. He stopped occasionally, giving out loaves to anyone who flagged him down. “Best bread in the country! No home-cooked creation can beat our loaves!”

Zell stifled a laugh. What supermarket ever claimed their bread was the best in the country?

“Free nacho samples!” yelled another vendor set up by the chip aisle. She handed Zell a small bowl, and the girl immediately dug into the cheesy delight. Every now and then, she parked the cart to grab whatever Taz had written on the list; her sister’s neat handwriting saved her from numerous phone calls inquiring about whether they needed soy milk or not. Poor Taz. She hasn’t fully recovered from that last vision. I’m still wondering how on earth Jaejoong figures into the whole shebang.

She closely examined the sugar count in one of her favorite gummy snacks and shrugged before tossing it into her basket. Oh, well. Not like I have anyone to impress. Her eyes brightened when she remembered their recent coffee expedition. Those guys are so freaking awesome. I still can’t believe I got to meet them!

“Coupons for shaving cream and razors! Come get them, folks!” a tiny old woman rasped out to passerby, waving pieces of paper in their faces.

“Jagiya~” Holding a box of granola aloft, a teenage boy shoved people aside to get to his girlfriend who waited patiently by the cereal display. “Did your mom want these?”

Two little girl whizzed past her waist, giggling and shrieking about some new toy they had spotted an aisle.

I really like coming here, Zell thought cheerfully as she pushed forward, determined to get to the bakery section for a few donuts and pastries. Maybe a few chocolate donut holes will cheer my sister up. The headaches can’t be cured by anything sweet, but her mood can certainly be kicked up a few notches! “Oops!” Not watching where she was going, she had collided with a small cart around the corner of the aisle. “I am so sorry!”

“No, no, that’s okay,” the other girl apologized, bowing deeply. “I was the one at fault…”

“…eh?” Zell snapped her head up, forgetting about the dreaded 90° bow of apology. “Are you…you’re Taeyeon! From Girls Generation!”

The kid leader (…or ex-kid leader? Did she step down? I can’t remember) smiled endearingly at her. “Ah, yes. That is I.”

“Do you think…I mean, may I have your autograph?” Zell blurted out.

Taeyeon nodded and accepted the small slip of paper and pen the young girl fished out of her purse. With a flourish, she signed the paper and handed it back to Zell. “Sorry for ramming your cart.” She bowed again and resumed her grocery store trip, appearing to be very interested in the choices of bread available.

Zell almost kissed her new autograph. She spun around in excitement and made to place it carefully in her purse, but something caught her eye. She controlled her fangirling and held the paper close to her eyes. Hmm…that’s weird. I thought she signed a lot more bubbly than this. She rotated the autograph. Yeah, I’m sure the one I have on that SM Town poster back at home is a lot different than this. She glanced up; Taeyeon had disappeared. Why did she change her signature?

~~~~

The deli around the corner from the main SM Entertainment building was crowded by the time Krystal and Siwon arrived. Some people looked around in interest at seeing their idols sitting amongst them; a few brave souls, ignoring the heavyset bodyguard right next to Krystal, approached their table and asked for a few autographs and pictures. As soon as things settled down again, they finally placed their drink orders and waited for the waitress to return for their food orders. Once she did, they began to chat about random things, such as the newest Super Junior album scheduled for the summer.

“Ugh, I can’t believe I’m eating spicy Italian,” she complained once her lemonade appeared in front of her. “My thighs are gonna get fat.”

“Then you should have gone with a salad,” Siwon said lightly, sipping his Coke.

“You shut up,” she teased, waving her fork at him. “I meant to ask you—how’s the job coming along?”

He stared at her, perplexed. “You know how it’s coming along. We train side by side.”

“The other job,” she groaned, holding her forehead in her hand.

“Oh! The other job.” He winked. “Near completion. I just found a new model for Yuri that is sure to be powerful. Yoochun and I wandered across it just last week. With an optional infrared scope and hollow shells, there is no chance of him escaping alive. He is going down!” He ended the sentence with a hearty fist-banging move on the table.

Krystal looked around quickly before yanking on his chain, pulling his face close to hers. “Idiot!” she snarled. “Why not give them all our address, invite them to dinner, and tell them our deepest secret as well?!”

“No one heard,” Siwon replied unconcernedly. “Besides, they can’t even hear us. Think about how quietly we’re talking.”

“I don’t care if you’re mouthing the words to me. Try to stay incognito. Metatron would have our skins if he found out we leaked everything.” She leaned back in her chair and smoothed the front of her blouse as the waitress returned with their sandwiches. “Hurry up and eat your damn lunch.”

“Watch your language,” he reprimanded; he grinned smugly when she complied and fell silent completely.

~~~~

“Galloping gargoyles!” Taz muttered in anger as she stepped out of her now-totaled Toyota. The irate driver that had T-boned the side of her car stomped and raged in the street, resembling a slightly taller (only slightly) Rumplestilskin. “I do believe you owe me a freaking apology,” she yelled as he kicked one of his tires.

He rounded on her. “You stupid girl! Did you not notice the freaking red light? You ran a red!”

“I ran a red?! You ran the red!” She thrust her finger into his chest, poking him hard. “You even sped up!” She waved her other hand to the two eye witnesses who idled in the gas station’s parking lot. “I have people who can tell the officers how you tried to beat the red and slammed into me as I was making a totally and completely legal left turn! It doesn’t even say yield on green! Look! Arrow! I had the right of way!”

“Oh, bah humbug!” he spat. “We’ll let the police decide for us!”

“What’s going on?” asked a horribly familiar voice. Taz slowly revolved on the spot to find herself facing none other than Jung Yunho. He had parked right behind the culprit and now stared down at her with concern. “Taz? What happened to your car? Are you okay?” He brushed her hair behind her shoulder, checking to see if she had any injuries to her neck or face. “You look fine…but have you been hurt? Do you need an ambulance?”

“Give me a break,” the old man grumbled.

When Yunho made to reach for his phone, she grabbed his arm. “No, I’m okay, oppa.” Jeez, it feels so awkward and wrong to say that, but I have to show respect in front of his blimey old codger. “He ran the red when I was turning and hit the passenger side of my car.”

“You positive?” He chewed on his lip. “I’ll wait with you until the police get here. Have you called a tow truck?” She shook her head, and he whipped his phone out. “I know someone who won’t charge you since your car looks totaled. He’ll offer you a decent price for the scrap metal. I’ll lone you one of my cars until you can find a new one.” He silenced her attempt at speech with a finger against her lips as he dialed his friend. She held her breath and waited for the phone call to end. He finally pressed the End button and started pushing more buttons. “Manager-hyung needs to ready the car.”

She became flustered and started waving her hands around wildly, knocking his arm aside. “No! You really don’t have to do that!”

“Consider it a favor from a friend,” he chuckled, smiling brightly. His sincerity knocked the wind out of her and she had to lean against him. He immediately grew concerned. “Taz! Are you okay?”

“Fine,” she squeaked breathlessly. “Give me a minute.” One of his arms loosely wrapped around her as the sound of a siren approaching reached her ears. She felt like she was floating on air and was about to tell him that she needed to sit down when the world slipped away from her. As the blackness settled, something flashed to the front of her mind—an image of Yuri and Jaejoong embracing passionately, lips locked together and eyes shut tightly, as if trying to block out reality. How…weird…

From far away, she heard someone yell her name.

~~~~

A/N: Just a heads-up: Raphael/Yoochun’s intros to the chapters will not be every chapter, and they will vary from information about random characters in the story—demon or angel—or almost like a diary entry, which is what I went for in this chapter.