Just a little weird thing I started that I'd really like to continue...inspired by 'Drive' by theinterval on lj. I usually despise AU fics, but I'm realizing that as long as its not high school or vampire based, some pretty interesting stuff can come out of it.

Open to any suggestions for content or even a title, this one is temporary unless it sticks. Also un-beta'd so pardon any weirdness.

As a forewarning this is the first fanfic I've ever gotten far with and decided to post. I'm not much of a writer but I'm having fun with it. I hope you enjoy it too = )

SHINee, Super Junior, SNSD, etc belong to themselves and I'm just using their likenesses for silly fanfics.

Kibum was running, but he didn't know where. The festival lights were blinding, masks flashing by as he stumbled through the cobblestone streets. Everything was saturated in an orange haze from the lanterns hung on lines by the street side. He heard grunts and complaints as he shoved through the crowd, searching frantically for a way out. He was lost, adrenaline rushing through him, his eyes stinging.

He ducked into another side street, turned a corner, and slammed his shoulder into a solid brick wall. No. Nononono! He panicked, feeling the wall for any kind of handhold. The thumping of boots grew louder, and he hurriedly pulled himself up. His straw sandals scraped uselessly against the brick trying to find purchase in the wall, while his hands ached with the effort of pulling up his weight. He managed to pull himself up enough to see over the wall, to the dark forest just out of reach, when the guards yells came up behind him.

"You there, stop!"

Kibum pulled with all his strength but it wasn't enough. A hand grabbed his ankle, pulling him down. He yelped and his nails scratched against the stones, feeling his grip weaken.

But something hit him, a burst of wind that forced him to duck his head, and a dark shadow passed overhead. He heard a yell and his ankle was suddenly released. He looked down behind him, seeing the guard holding his arm which an arrow had pierced clean through. Kibum looked back up on shock, seeing a dark shape against the dark blue sky, making a roundabout back toward them.

"What the hell was that?" One of the guards exclaimed.

"Shoot it down!"

A few of them drew bows and fired at the thing, but it dodged them, coming closer fast. Another gust of wind hit as it came over them again, knocking all the guards off their feet. Kibum managed to hold on but another gust hit as the creature came directly above him. Just as he lost his grip and began to fall something grabbed hold of his arm and hoisted him up, brown feathers showering around him. He looked up past the bird-like creature to see a figure with blonde hair and goggles, face obscured by a muffler. They began to ascend and he looked back down, unintentionally letting out a scream of fear as the ground moved farther and farther away. His savior pulled him up to some kind of saddle, which he grabbed for dear life as they pushed off, dodging another wave of arrows from the guards. The man pulled Kibum's hand around his waist, so Kibum wrapped his arms around them held on, not caring who the stranger was. He closed his eyes tightly from the wind, feeling a wave of vertigo hit him and holding back nausea.

They moved further and further from the city lights until they were only a spot on the horizon, nothing surrounding them but a black forest and dark sky. As the adrenaline wore off he started to feel faint, the grip on his savior weakening. The man grabbed hold of his wrist though, jolting him awake.

"Just hang on a little longer, ok?"

Kibum blinked in surprise. The man sounded young, not much older than him. He nodded and felt them slowly begin to descend, moving toward what looked like a flicker of fire in a clearing. They circled it a few times before coming to land, the bird like creature flapping its broad brown wings a few time as it touched down onto the soil. The stranger leapt off the creature with practiced ease while Kibum took in his surroundings. It was a small, unassuming campsite with a makeshift bed and a few provisions. Kibum's vision was swimming a bit when a hand was offered to him, and he let the stranger help him off the bird's back and onto solid ground. But something hit him and he became lightheaded, feeling himself swaying. He heard the stranger say something to him in a muffled voice before he toppled over and his vision went black.

Kibum blinked blearily, not quite sure if his eyes were actually opening since whatever he was looking at was so dark. It took him a moment to realize he was lying on his back and what he was seeing was the sky, pitch black and starless from the overcast clouds. He slowly started to remember the clearing he was in, and the chase from earlier, as well as the stranger who had rescued him riding a giant bird. He heard a crunching sound and looked to his left, finding the creature nearby, ripping apart the carcass of what looked like a rabbit. Kibum grimaced at the gruesome scene, before hearing a familiar voice next to him.

"You're up. Are you hungry?"

He looked to his right, where the man from earlier was sitting on the ground in front of the fire, legs spread and knees bent. He was gnawing on some meat on a stick, and turned to look at Kibum, one cheek filled with food. Kibum sat up, pushing the rough blanket off his body. The goggles were gone so he could finally see the stranger's face. Like he thought, he was young, with large puppy-dog eyes and sharp features. His skin was lightly tanned, and his hair was brown and blonde at the tips. His body was lean, with thin legs, but his sleeveless vest revealed strongly muscled arms.

Kibum snapped out of his scrutiny of the man's appearance when a stick of meat was held out to him and he took it hesitantly. He inspected the unappealing brown meat, burned slightly at the edges. The loud crunching and squishing noises of the bird enjoying its meal made Kibum even less hungry, so he just held on to it.

"Umm…who are you?" Was the simplest question to ask, even though a million more were swimming through his head.

"Your savior, obviously."

The man smiled at him with a mouth full of meat, child-like and charming despite his arrogant words. Kibum frowned, and the man laughed, pushing himself to his feet and brushing the dirt off his clothes.

"My name is Jonghyun."

He moved over to a canteen of water, pouring some into a cruddy tin cup and walking back, handing it to Kibum. He motioned his chin toward the large bird.

"And that's Roo. "

The creature responded by cawing shrilly, making Kibum jump a little. Jonghyun reached into a sack and pulled out another rabbit carcass, throwing it to the bird, who caught it with its beak.

"What is it?"

Jonghyun looked surprised.

"She's a sae. You've never seen one before?" Kibum shook his head. "Wow. You city people are really sheltered…"

Kibum pouted as Jonghyun came back and sat down, leaning on one leg.

"What about you?"

"…I'm Kibum." He said cautiously. Afraid to reveal too much to the stranger, savior or not, he chose his words carefully. "Why did you save me?"

Jonghyun's eyebrows raised as he took a sip from his own cup.

"Because. I know what you are."

Kibum's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"What?"

"It's ok if you don't want to say it out loud…"

"What are you talking about?"

Jonghyun seemed to analyze Kibum's confused expression.

"…Unless you really don't know."

Kibum grew anxious. "Wait…do you know why those guards were chasing me?"

Jonghyun fiddled with the bare meat stick between his teeth.

" …It's not important right now. You'll find out later."

"Why not? How could you know anything about me?"

"I don't know anything about you. I'm not stalking you or anything."

Kibum fidgeted, annoyed by Jonghyun's dodgy responses.

"Then how do you know anything about me?"

Jonghyun sighed.

"Look, like I said, it's not important right now. Right now you should rest up until dawn so we can get going."

"Going where, exactly?"

"That's not important either."

Kibum wanted to strangle him at this point.

"How is it not important! Are you kidnapping me or something?"

"Hey, I saved your ass!"

"I don't even know why I was being chased! For all I know you set this whole thing up to kidnap me!"

Jonghyun yanked the stick from his teeth.

"Hey, for the last time I'm not kidnapping you!"

"Then why can't you tell me anything to prove it?"

Jonghyun pouted, mumbling under his breath.

"Jeez, you're difficult…"

"Hey!"

"Alright, alright, look. I'm not kidnapping you. I also can't talk about what's really going on because anyone could be listening."

Kibum straightened, eyes scanning the pitch black forest surrounding them. When they came back to Jonghyun, his expression was serious.

"All you need to know is your life is in danger. I'm sure you realize that by now. I'm trying to help you."

"And why should I trust you?"

Jonghyun turned back to the fire. " Because you don't have anyone else to trust at the moment."

Kibum blinked, eyes wide, and they both grew silent. After a few moments Jonghyun stood, grabbing a bucket of water and pouring it over the fire. He started walking to the other side of the clearing.

"Get some rest. We're leaving before dawn."

He plopped down onto a pile of shabby blankets, and Kibum lost sight of him in the darkness. He rubbed his arms from the chill in his body and settled back onto the ground, pulling the shabby blanket back over himself.