Sooo... this chapter is kinda cheesy and cliched, but I love it nonetheless! :'D
Disclaimer: I DONT OWN JIN NOR TEKKEN
The King of The Iron Fist Tournament
A Devil's Promises
Jin Kazama/Hwoarang
IX
-"Jin…,"- Hwoarang murmured to himself as he picked up a black feather from the ground and twirled it in his hand, remembering the night the devil walked towards him with its black wings dispersed, -"You were here. What the hell happened?"
A massacre. That's what happened.
Hwoarang was literally surrounded by corpses, with slit throats and holes in their heads, and a pool of blood.
-"Excuse me, sir,"- Someone called from behind the red-head. Hwoarang looked over his shoulder at a police officer, -"Civilians can't be in the middle of a crime scene. Police business only."
Hwoarang wanted to smack the officer, but he nodded instead, albeit reluctantly, and tucked the feather in his pocket, -"Yeah, yeah, just 'bout to leave."
He wanted to investigate more, to find more clues, but with the mass of police guards coming in, Hwoarang won't be able to find anything. He had to make do with what he had.
A feather.
Hwoarang groaned and smacked his head against the brick wall.
-"Damn you, Kazama,"- He cursed, clenching his hands into tight fists and punching the wall, -"Why're you always so hard to find?"
Hwoarang didn't know what to do now.
Following feathers wasn't exactly a bright idea, but it's the only one he could think of. Both Jin and his exterminator-for-hire follower left no other traces to pursue. Hwoarang was at a dead end.
He could ask around.
Bingo, he thought when he spotted the witnesses of the murder being interrogated by the officers.
Hwoarang waited for one of them to finish. A young girl was the first to leave and Hwoarang followed her until they were out of sight from the officers.
-"Hey, you."- Hwoarang called.
The girl gasped and jumped to look at Hwoarang, startled. She looked afraid, almost paranoid that someone will attack her anytime. Witnessing Jin murdering those thugs must've scared the living shit outta her, Hwoarang thought and, to some degree, could even understand her. He also witnessed Jin in his weird, demonic form and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't at least a tad bit scared.
-"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. I only wanna ask some questions."- Hwoarang tried to appear calm, to ease the girl's anxiousness, but he was impatient. He couldn't waste another second. Jin was out there in danger.
-"M-more questions? But I just answered them,"- She eyed Hwoarang dubiously, -"And you're no cop."
-"No, Sherlock, I'm not,"- Hwoarang sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in guilt, -"Look, it's just one question."
-"Is it about… that thing?"
Hwoarang scratched his nape and looked away from the girl's curious gaze as he nodded slowly, -"Yeah. It's, uh… really important."
-"Why would you chase after him?"
-"Er, to kill 'im, 'course. Got a score to settle,"- Hwoarang replied quickly with a shrug and a nervous laugh. He wasn't exactly lying, -"Why else would I?"
-"A score to settle?"- She repeated, -"With a demon?"
-"Yeah, I was attacked by him."
The girl regarded him once more before sighing in defeat, -"Fine, what do you want to know?"
Hwoarang tried to hide his excitement, -"Where did he go when you last saw him?"
She pointed somewhere in the distance, -"That direction. There's a swamp over there and I heard hunters talking about dead monsters. Must be your guy."
-"Thanks,"- Hwoarang turned to leave until he remember one peculiar question he couldn't pass up, -"By the way, just for curiosity, did anyone else approached you looking for answers too?"
-"I thought you said it was only one question."
Hwoarang sighed in annoyance. Chill, Hwoarang, the red-head told himself. The girl was traumatized, after all. She didn't exactly wanted to talk about the topic, -"It's important, remember?"
-"Aside from the cops? Yeah, just one guy with a weird accent. Said he was an expert in slaying beasts like him,"- She turned to leave, waving her hands at him, -"If I were you, I'd quit. The guy means business. Besides, no amount of money is worth risking your life for a thing like that."
Hwoarang didn't agree with her. Moreover, he doesn't know the meaning of quitting. He didn't think that risking himself for Jin was a waste of time. He's been following the taciturn man most of his life and never once he thought it was worthless. In addition, the situation Jin was in makes Hwoarang's journey all the more important. The people didn't know that, however. That's why they're scared.
Blood Talons gripped his rucksack tighter and turned on his heels to the direction the girl pointed him to. The best course of action would be to find a place to pitch in and prepare himself before heading into the swamp, but Hwoarang was impatient and reckless. He didn't want to spend another minute loitering when Jin's in trouble. For all he knew, that so-called expert in slaying demons might've found Jin by now.
Hwoarang ran as fast as his legs could take him, driven by the frightful idea, and was a bit surprised when the pungent stench of stagnant water hit his nostrils. Hwoarang felt nauseated. He had found the marsh.
And a lot of insects.
His legs were already crawling with leeches. Hwoarang yelped and trashed his legs to rid himself of the vile bugs.
He had thought, for a split second, that the girl was lying just to get rid of him. He didn't actually wanted to cross through a noisome bog.
The things I do for you, Kazama, Hwoarang complained mentally, swatting away bugs from his face, you better pay me back.
Hwoarang ran through the bog, which resulted to be a bad notion when he alerted nearby creatures that started chasing after him for dinner, -"Argh, I don't have time for you!"- Hwoarang shouted in vexation and spun to kick a monster of mud in the face. A giant moth attack next and Hwoarang flipped through the air to land another kick on its wings. The next monster to oppose him was tougher to beat; it had a thick outer layer of wood and moss that rendered Hwoarang's kicks useless. He had to find something else to defeat it with and he was glad when he found an axe on the grass. Without wondering why there was an axe just waiting for him, Hwoarang rolled away to evade an attack from the monster and picked the axe up to swing it at the slippery creature, cutting its armor. The monster stepped back, tripping over a rock, and Hwoarang was quick to straddle it and smash the axe on its wooden countenance continuously. When it stopped moving, Hwoarang exhaled in victory and stood up.
-"Fuckin' loser, you made me waste five minutes on you."- He said, kicking the monster before picking his rucksack up. He observed the axe in his hand and deduced it must be from one of the hunters the girl mentioned before burying it in his bag.
Hwoarang picked up his pace once more until he reached a trail of recent slaughtered monsters. Jin, he quickly thought, noticing the wounds on each creature as he trotted through the trail. They were too grave and extensive to be caused by any normal hunter. At the end of the trail was the biggest snake Hwoarang has ever laid eyes on and it was sliced into two parts. Jin must've had a rough time passing through the swamp.
Hwoarang's chest clutched nervously as he came to the realization that he was getting close to finding Jin. His heart began to flutter in his chest as a peculiar thought floated to his head and he couldn't stop it from distracting him as he walked.
Jin was always more than a friend to Hwoarang, but he has been denying it since the feeling first rose to his heart. He has been putting it off all this time, but now that he's closer to meeting Jin again, it was impossible to keep it out of his head.
It was stupid. How he could he have something like a girly, frivolous crush on someone like Jin? Hwoarang was his rival, not some love-struck girl. He hated it. It made him jittery and distracted. Every time he chased after Jin for a fight, which wasn't the only reason he followed him (he denies that too), the damn feeling would always come up and made him rethink the whole meet-up.
He has slept with countless mates in an attempt to forget the reticent man and his absurd feelings towards him, and it worked, but sooner or later, without fail, it reappeared.
The problem wasn't the fact that Jin's a man, Hwoarang has slept with men too, the problem was… well, that it was Jin, out of all people on Earth. They were rivals, friends, and he even considered him a brother. How could he love someone like that? Hwoarang was disoriented.
Hwoarang thought Jin returned the feeling, but it was hard to tell, considering how reserved he was. That's why, when Jin visited and told him that he didn't meant to hurt anyone, specially him, Hwoarang was further befuddled and, regrettably, hopeful. He hasn't stopped thinking about that night and those words.
Fuck, I shouldn't be thinking about this now! Hwoarang slapped himself several times back to reality.
The taekwondo fighter was relieved when he heard cars honking in his vicinity, not too far away. He rushed towards the sounds and found a town just across a quiescent road. The people were dismounting their respective vehicles to join a growing crowd.
They were watching something unfold.
Then Hwoarang heard yells and cheering along with a familiar, shrilling, metallic and void howl.
Jin!
Hwoarang swam desperately through the crowd, pushing without mercy however got in his way, and came to face with the spectacle itself.
It was the expert demon exterminator he was told about, the one who infiltrated Jin's home and followed him.
And there was Jin, under the exterminator's boot and with a missing, severed wing dumped on the ground.
-"Kill it!"
-"Burn him alive!"
-"Break his other wing!"
The exterminator was laughing aloud, standing over Jin's transformed body with a triumphant pose, as if he were a sculpture to be praised at, while he tugged Jin's feathers out of his remaining wing, -"Shall I slice his other wing and listen to his cries?"
The crowd cheered again.
The exterminator's cruel grin grew, -"Then it shall be done!"- He stomped his boot on Jin's head and grabbed the near-to-be featherless wing to tear it out of Jin's flesh.
Jin relapsed a loud, ear-piercing screech that made the citizens pluck their ears.
It made Hwoarang's heart shatter as he saw Jin writhing and spasming violently on the ground, wailing and crying tears. He was desperately trying to escape, but he had some sort of golden cord around his body that was burning through his skin, making his flesh sizzle and fume. Hwoarang could see his blood seeping from his body and pooling beneath him. He was a total wreck, but the worst wound he could see was the large, deep gash where the now lifeless wing once was.
Hwoarang began to seethe in anger. Jin didn't deserved to be punished like that. No one did.
But specially not you.
-"Hey, you bastard, stop it! That's enough!"- He yelled, storming towards the exterminator with his fists clenched and teeth grating.
The man gazed at him with a surprised expression. He wasn't expecting him, -"My, my, my, look who we have here,"- He began to clap his hands as he descended from Jin's body, -"If it isn't Hwoarang himself, the belligerent taekwondo combatant. I was, most definitely, not expecting your arrival."
Hwoarang halted his stomping to glower at the man, -"How the fuck do you know my name?"
-"Why, because of him, of course,"- He gestured at Jin, how laid motionless and feeble on the floor, -"I am sorry to inform you, but… this man is not the one you seek."
Hwoarang looked at Jin. His eyes were empty, his skin dead, and his mouth agape as he snarled, showing his sharp teeth. No, it wasn't Jin. It was the devil that attacked him.
-"I'm afraid your friend is unreachable,"- He extended an arm to Hwoarang, but the red-head wasn't having it. He knew the guy was lying, pretending to be amiable and kind, someone he's clearly demonstrated he's not, -"Join me, Hwoarang. You, along with many others, has been victimized by this demon. You have as much reason to exterminate these vermin as we do."
Hwoarang scoffed, -"Cut the crap, princess,"- He barked with a shake of his head, lifting his fists, -"I'm not stupid. Let him go, now."
The citizens began to murmur in disbelief.
-"Why is he defending that thing?"
-"Is he crazy or what?"
-"Just kill him too!"
The Italian exterminator dropped his hand in disappointment, -"Oh, I see how it is,"- As Hwoarang thought, the man's pretense fell and his latter friendly expression morphed into disdain, -"You see, I have a duty to complete and I can't allow anyone to hinder me. You either leave or join him in hell."
-"Hell seems much more welcoming than you, pal."-Hwoarang argued wittily.
-"Very well then. Have it your way,"- The exterminator approached him, dusting his cloak and tugging his white gloves, -"Before we start, allow me to introduce myself,"- He bowed courtly, -"My name is Claudio Serafino of Ita-"
-"I don't care, jackass,"- Hwoarang snapped, interrupting Claudio, -"I'm here to rescue my friend and kick your ass for hurting him."
Claudio straightened up and laughed aloud, -"Rescue this thing, your friend? I hardly think th-"
Hwoarang punched Claudio in his nose out of annoyance, hearing the satisfying crunch, -"You talk too much, princess. Are we fighting or what?"
Claudio staggered and scrunched his face with fury when he found his footing, -"You miscreant…! I will teach you some manners!"
Enraged, Claudio was the first to attack with prompt jabs. Hwoarang focused on his moves and evaded all his punches, parrying the last one to counterattack with a kick to the head, followed by another to the chest.
Claudio bent at the impact and straightened up to summon two swords of a strange blue light that hindered Hwoarang's vision, -"What the fuck is that?"- He muttered, hovering his hand over his face.
-"Sirius' magic. Although it was originally created to exterminate demons and paranormal phenomenon, it is still effective against humans and naughty boys like you."- Claudio replied with a sly smirk on his face before he attacked with the swords. It was effective all right. The exorcist, in the quick slashing of his swords, managed to cut through Hwoarang's clothes and graze his skin.
Fuck, he's fast! Hwoarang cursed, dodging the swift raid of his opponent's swords. At the last second, to finish his onrush of attacks, Claudio summoned a hammer and swung it in Hwoarang's direction, cracking the floor beneath the weapon.
The weapon made his foe slower, in consequence, and when Hwoarang rolled out away from the hammer, he saw an opening and executed a low sweep with his leg, knocking Claudio off his feet. Hwoarang stood quickly and stomped his foot on his opponent's head.
-"How do you like that, huh?!"- He yelled, spitting on the wriggling fighter.
Claudio unsheathed a dagger from his pocket and stabbed the red-head's shin. Hwoarang yowled and hitched his leg up to hop away with the other leg. He was tackled to the floor with a steady lock on his neck, -"You, ruffian, have tested me enough!"- He punched Hwoarang's face several times, -"I cannot comprehend why you risk so much for that demon, but it doesn't matter! You shall die together!"
Claudio pulled his fist back to punch Blood Talons again, but the latter caught the fist with his hand, -"I don't think so, jackass!"- He jostled Claudio's arm and kicked his chest with both legs, making the Italian grunt and fall back.
They both stood on their legs again and continued to wrestle, all the while surrounded by a crowd of spectators who cheered on Claudio and booed Hwoarang.
Among the buzz, Hwoarang heard Jin bawling again, and when he looked at him, he saw Jin in a tighter pinch than before. Whenever Jin attempted to wriggle out his escape, the golden cord tightened more around his body, further burning, and mincing his skin.
-"Jin, you dumbass, stop moving! I'll get you outta there after I handle this guy!"- Hwoarang shouted, but Jin ignored him and continued squirming.
Claudio laughed and jabbed Hwoarang's chest, rending the red-head a little breathless, taking benefit of his distraction, -"He can't hear you, witless one! That is not your friend!"
-"Shut up!"- Hwoarang had enough of his nonsense, kneeing his opponent's stomach and kicking him several times in a row.
Claudio dodged and parried his kicks, -"You're skilled, I'll give you that!"- The exorcist rose his hand and created a small, but irking, bright ball of light that temporarily blinded Hwoarang. In that lapse of time, Hwoarang was kicked and shoved against a wall, then pinned with blue arrows that pierced his shoulder. Hwoarang grimaced and gripped it to tug it out, but it didn't budge.
The Italian exorcist approached him, arms behind his back and clicking his tongue while shaking his head in disillusion, -"Such a shame. This is not as enjoyable as hurting a demon,"- He grinned from ear to ear, grasping the arrow and twisting it, making Hwoarang grunt and grit his teeth as his wound squelched, -"You have not a single idea how much this made your friend over there cry. You should have been there to see him shedding tears like a little boy."
The image came to Hwoarang like a maelstrom and his chest heaved painfully as he watched Jin convolving and bleating. He could barely move by now.
-"I did not wanted to do this, but you have given me no choice, little Korean,"- Claudio wedged the knuckles of his index and middle finger between the narrow place of Hwoarang's ribcage, right on the spot Devil Jin had broken his bones, making the red-head dart his head back and yell in pain. His initial instinct was to clasp his hands around Claudio's and kick his legs, but the exorcist somehow knew where Hwoarang was weakest and exploited him, -"Before I kill you, just between you and me, of course, that friend of yours has a really soft spot in his heart just for you. I could not believe it when he broke free from my magic when I threatened to torture you next. For a moment, I thought I was going to die!"
-"Wh… what are you… saying?"- Hwoarang sputtered, feeling his heart reacting strongly against his chest at the mere idea. Not this again…
-"That he loves you, fool. Can you believe such barbarity?"- Claudio laughed mockingly.
-"How… how do you…?"- Hwoarang shook his head briskly and frowned at Claudio, -"You're lying again!"
-"Oh, come now, why would I?"
Hwoarang was about to argue when he looked past the exorcist's shoulder at Jin, who was bent against the ground, head scraping the rugged surface, and building up energy in the red eye on his forehead. He mouthed something, showing his sharp, ghastly teeth, before firing the red laser, aiming at Claudio's leg. After a few seconds, the cord around his body stiffened and Jin howled as his flesh began to protrude.
-"What the hell are you doing, dumbass?!"-Hwoarang complained, -"I'm the one supposed to save you, goddammit!"
The Italian screamed and hurled forward to clasp his hands around the wound. Hwoarang didn't delayed a second to part his body from the wall and force himself out through the arrow painfully. He lunged at his opponent with a swift set of kicks before he could compose himself. Claudio managed to dodge the first few, but Hwoarang's moves were too quick for him to follow with his wounded leg and was stunned for a moment. The taekwondo combatant quickly executed a kick that threw the exorcist into the air. Before he could touch the floor, Hwoarang sprinted and jumped for a powerful kick that landed on his opponent's stomach and flung him into the plaza's fountain with a splash.
-"Stay down already, goddammit!"- Hwoarang complained and began trudging towards the exorcist's motionless body with an arm around his chest. He knelt once close enough to dig out the man's dagger. Before he could touch it, the owner snapped his eyes open and grabbed Hwoarang's hand.
-"Don't… free him…,"- He stammered with a weak tone, -"He will… attack you again, mark my words. Remember what I-"
-"Oh, shut up,"- Hwoarang socked him again, ultimately knocking him out, before he could start blabbering. With the dagger in his possession, he staggered towards Jin, who was completely still due to the magical cord. He snarled when Hwoarang fell on his knees before him, making the feather around him waft, -"Chill out. I'm just gonna free you, dimwit."
Jin relaxed, though he still glared at him.
As Hwoarang neared the dagger to the cord, the Italian's words resonated in his mind and he stopped.
He is not your friend.
He will attack you again, mark my words.
Hwoarang gulped and bit his lips as he watched Jin's hostility; he was scowling and growling at him, waiting for his move. He won't do it, Hwoarang thought, I trust him.
-"I know you won't do it, Jin. You wouldn't hurt anyone, specially me."- Hwoarang said, remembering Jin's words, and the second the words left his mouth, he felt his chest tightening.
Hwoarang finally sliced the cord and Jin immediately shot up with a hoarse roar, his back humped and arms hanging loosely at his sides. He had blood splattered all over his chest, and some slipping down his arms and dripping from his fingers to slosh on the ground.
-"You again."- He spoke, making Hwoarang shudder as he stood his place, never parting his gaze from his friend. Jin was bleeding endlessly, and despite missing a wing and the other being near featherless, he soared through the air and straddled Hwoarang to the ground.
Hwoarang took a deep breath before speaking, looking deep into his uncontrolled friend's eyes, -"It's me, Jin. Your friend, Hwoarang. I know you're in there, somewhere, and I know you can hear me,"- Hwoarang reached for Jin's face and wiped a single tear that escaped his eyelid, -"This isn't you. I know you're hurting, but you can't let this thing control you all the time. You're not alone anymore, Jin. I'm here. Let me help you. Let me be the… friend you've always deserved."
Yeah, a friend. That's what you've always deserved from me. Nothing more.
Jin stared at Hwoarang, his expression soft and mournful, until it suddenly hardened and Jin swatted Hwoarang's hand away aggressively, -"Jin is dead, and this time, I will make sure you die too!"- The devil yelled, clenched his fist and pulled his arm back for a powerful blow aimed at Hwoarang's face.
I trust you, Jin, and I believe in you, Hwoarang thought as he kept stationary and calm, waiting for the blow to come.
But it didn't. Only a strong gust of wind and Jin's red glove met his face. Only the tip of his knuckle grazed the peak of Hwoarang's nose.
The familiar, low and soft tone of voice that Hwoarang had missed all this time reached his ears and he exhaled in utmost relief, -"H-Hwoarang…?"
Jin lowered his arm and stumbled back onto the ground in a heap, coiling and shaking as the horns and wings from the devil gene sifted back into his body. In exchange, his grave injuries resurfaced and were clearer than ever.
-"Oh, crap,"- Hwoarang cursed and crawled to Jin's side, hoisting his head to his lap, -"Hey, hey, hey, are you with me? C'mon, don't die on me."
-"H…Hwoarang…,"- Jin spoke in the weakest and faintest tone Hwoarang has ever heard and it broke his heart. The injured fighter fluttered his eyes mildly open and looked up at the red-head with an eased expression, -"I'm… so glad to see you."
Hwoarang jaw ached and he gulped several times in an attempt to swallow the knot in his throat, -"Yeah, I'm…. I'm glad I found you when I did, but we need to go. Now. You're… you're…"- He didn't want to say it.
-"It's… alright, Hwoarang. If I die, then-"
Hwoarang unintentionally slammed his fist on Jin's chest, -"Shut up! Don't say stupid crap like that!"- When he heard Jin grunting, he winced and yanked his hand back to look down on Jin with an apologetic look, -"Shit, sorry! Didn't mean it! Just… please, please hold on a bit longer. I'll get you outta here and find somewhere to crash. I'll… I'll take care of you!"
-"Hwoarang…"
-"Promise?"- Hwoarang didn't let him speak. Don't die on me, Kazama, or I'll never forgive you.
Jin's eyes widened a bit, glinting with a dim spark of hope, before he nodded slowly.
Hwoarang reached for the unconscious exorcist's white coat and wrapped it around Jin's body, immediately soaking it with his leaking blood. He made to pick up his wounded friend until he noticed they were surrounded by citizens, and by the looks of it, they weren't planning to let them pass.
-"What the…? Are you blind or what? He's wounded! He needs help!"- Hwoarang snapped, holding Jin to his chest.
-"Then let 'im die! You saw what he is!"
-"He almost killed you!"
-"But he didn't!"- Hwoarang argued.
-"You knocked the exorcist out of his ass so now it's your job to finish him!"
-"Why're you defending that thing?"
-"You hillbillies wouldn't understand!"- Hwoarang was losing his temper over the clamor and he had the urge to plunge his foot on each of their rears, but Jin was in critical condition. He couldn't waste another minute arguing with peasants. He stood up with Jin in his arms, -"Get outta the damn way!"
But one of the denizens dared stand up to him and push them, causing Hwoarang to lose his balance and drop Jin. The fallen fighter groaned on impact.
-"You wanna fight, huh!? Is that you want?"- Hwoarang shouted, gently positioning Jin leaning against the fountain's base, before facing the crowd of dwellers, -"C'mon then, shitheads! I'll fight you all!"
-"Hwoarang… what are you…?"
The red-head looked over his shoulder at Jin, -"Trying to save you, stupid. Just stay put. I'll handle this."
Hwoarang fought many of his adversaries. He was surprised most of them dared to face him; the others stood in the distance, murmuring to themselves or filming the whole ordeal. Blood Talons defeated them with ease; these civilians had no experience whatsoever in the art of combat.
The taekwondo combatant dusted his hands in satisfaction as he watched the rest running away, -"Yeah, you better run,"- He spat the floor, -"Fuckin' jerks."
-"Hwoarang…"- Jin's voice was fainter. Hwoarang could barely hear it.
-"Comin', comin',"- He replied, trying not to panic, and quickly turned to pick up his friend in his arms, -"Saw that?"
Jin could only muster a weak smile, gazing up at Hwoarang with unfocused eyes. He looked paler than usual. Hwoarang had to find someplace to bunker in, fast. Jin didn't had much time.
-"Don't worry. I'll get you outta here."
I'll think of something, Hwoarang thought as he started trotting around town for a safe place to rest. Staying in the same town after what just happened, however, was too dangerous to risk. For all Hwoarang knew, that exorcist could have buddies searching for Jin too. Then, on the other hand, Jin didn't had much time. He was getting lighter to carry each passing minute.
Hwoarang was panicking, but he was mad simultaneously; not one in the thousands of people that saw or passed by them offered help. Hwoarang thought it was for the best, considering their situation (or Jin's, specifically), but it still bothered him.
He couldn't go home; first, it was too far, and second, Baek will kill him.
Jin was near death's doorstep when Hwoarang found a rather isolated and small motel on a barren field just past the town's outlet. It looked deserted and derelict, with withered flora, a stagnant fountain in the middle and abandoned vehicles. Hwoarang hoped no one would suspect of them residing there. He rushed inside and tossed almost all of his money on the receptionist's desk, -"How long can we stay with that amount?"
The old geezer ignored the man in Hwoarang's arms as he skimmed through the money with his creased fingers, -"I'd say for a week, more or-"
Hwoarang snatched the first key his eyes caught, labeled 02, and sprinted up the stairs before the old man could even finish. He stormed in the first room he found, without reading the label.
He regretted it.
Hwoarang nearly squealed when he saw two men shagging shamelessly on the bed, -"Holy fuck! Lock the damn door, will ya'?"- He spun around and kicked the door close.
He ignored his accelerated heart rate and the heat on his face as he barged in the room opposite of him. He unlocked the knob, with a bit of difficulty, and stepped in, closing and locking the door behind him.
The room was narrow, unkempt, and the air was stale. It was clear that it hasn't been cleaned in a long time; there were spider webs on the corners and dust everywhere. At least it had a kitchen, a bathroom, and… one double bed.
Hwoarang decided not to wallow over that now.
It was a measly and scarce room; Hwoarang didn't approved of it, but when it reminded him of Jin's previous place, he closed away his ungrateful thoughts and turned his attention to his friend.
He placed the bleeding fighter down gently on the double bed and searched for his medical kits in his rucksack. It wasn't much, but he hoped it was enough to at least stop the bleeding. He hastened the lid open and tugged the bandages along with a small bottle of peroxide. He soaked the bandages with the liquid before shrouding Jin's wounds and pressing his hands on it, but it wasn't enough. He needed more bandages. Jin's injuries were too much.
Hwoarang's friend winced as the liquid seeped into his wounds. Hwoarang didn't know exactly what he was doing, or if he's doing it right. He was going with what his instinct told him. Jin was curling and twisting erratically and Hwoarang tried to keep him in place by gripping his stout shoulders, -"I know it hurts like hell, Jin, but I need you put up with it."
Hwoarang wasn't sure if Jin even heard him.
Blood Talons ripped the fabric of his shirt to cover the rest of Jin's injuries. He was lucky he had thought about packing a second set of clothes before heading out to find Jin.
It took him a while, but Jin finally relaxed under the pressure of Hwoarang's hands on his injuries. By his discern, Hwoarang was successful on stopping the blood leak, for now. The sheets of the bed had smudges of blood tainted on it, however. He'll have to find a way to clean it up later. He doesn't want anyone to think he was murderer.
-"Christ, I thought it'd never end. How do you…?"- Hwoarang gazed over his friend and gasped in horror when he saw Jin paler and with his eyes closed. Hwoarang jolted him desperately and hovered the back of his hand over his mouth. His heart clutched anxiously when he felt a weak puff of air drift through his finders. His pulse was weak too; he could barely feel it.
-"No, no, no…,"- Hwoarang repeated, both hands on his hair, -"Don't die on me, you stupid… bastard!"- His jaw began to ache again and he chafed his hands over his eyes. I'm not gonna cry, not yet, -"You have to fight, Jin. Please… for me?"
I can't lose you.
All Hwoarang could do now… was wait for Jin again.
I'm going on a little holiday for 3 days, and I doubt i'll have wifi over there, but when i come back i'll update as soon as i can.
Also, next chapter is probably the last one. Noy quite sure yet.
Anyways, thanks for reading!
