Guardian || Chapter One [ChanBaek]{Enmortals}

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Title: Guardian

Rating: T

Pairing(s): ChanBaek; various background ships

Genre: Urban Fantasy AU

Summary: Baekhyun finds him and is compelled to protect him. Others wish to bring them both down.

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It was unseasonably cold. The chilly October wind pierced through the morning like a dagger: shocking and painful. It was too early for the sun just yet- the sky was turning a pearly gray. The full moon was just sinking out of view, like a pale marble vanishing from the clear sky.

A young man staggered through the streets, pulling his jacket tightly around him. He shivered as he glanced at the sky in resigned relief. The city was quiet this early; even the earliest risers were just beginning to pick their way on to the roads. No one to pay any mind to the young man- he preferred it that way.

Byun Baekhyun had some qualms with being out so early. Not that he could help it. He just felt so sleepy but soon he would have to venture out on his usual day. He frowned, thinking wistfully about his bed.

I bet it’s super warm too...

The sudden barking of a dog jolted him from his thoughts. It wasn’t unusual to hear such a thing so early. Baekhyun often heard dogs from his own apartment be it day or night.

But it seemed off.

This sounded frantic, panicked and wild. With a heavy sigh Baekhyun quickened his pace, following the sound of the barking. This was the absolute last time he investigated why random dogs were barking. Especially after the time with the fettuccine.

As he turned a corner, a large German Shepherd jumped against a chain linked fence shaking it from the force but otherwise remaining quite enclosed. The deep vicious barks didn’t phase Baekhyun; he was used to loud sounds. The dog diligently followed him to the edge of the fence, sending him off with a final growl.

Another dog was barking further down the street. It was quieter and more muffled than the last. The dog was probably inside somewhere, but no less going as wild as the shepherd. As he strolled past a building, the tiny fluffy head of a puppy could be seen peeking through curtains.

Baekhyun rounded another corner into a dark alleyway. There was a overwhelming stench around it; something he knew had nothing to do with typical city smells. An extremely dim light flickered, not really serving any purpose. Bags of trash lined the small alley, perched precariously on top of more bags. He walked further along, surprised by the quiet sniffling nearby.

There was a large human shape huddled against the furthest corner. Baekhyun moved closer, whimpering becoming more audible. A shredded gray hoodie hung around it, shivering in the cold.

“H-hello,” he called, not nervously but cautiously. He never knew what could be lurking in the city.

The shape recoiled, attempting to wedge itself out of view. Baekhyun walked forwards and crouched besides it. His breath caught in his lungs, the unpleasant burn of bile rising through his throat.

The shape, now definitively human, was a young man not much younger than himself. Dark hair stuck out at odd angles as though he had been in a fight. His face was streaked with a combination of dirt, blood, and tears, the last of which continued to trickle down his cheeks. Bright bloodstains dappled the ruined hoodie, the source of which was a still bleeding gash on his chest.

“Holy...are you okay?” The man shook his head. Baekhyun reached out, but he jerked away violently. More tears escaped from his eyes as he squeezed them shut.

He reached out again deliberately at a snail’s pace. The man tensed, but relaxed as Baekhyun’s fingers brushed against his skin. He was very warm- most definitely feverish.

This was the third time he had seen something like this in the past few months. The first two had been women- older than the man before him. Of course, both of them had been dead when he arrived. His heart began to sink.

This was bad.

“Can you tell me what happened?” The man responded with a hoarse croak he couldn’t understand. It didn’t matter. He already knew. Baekhyun wiped at the man’s face. He didn’t care about the grime. This was too unusual.

“Ok, I’m gonna get you some help, ok? Well...I’ll take you to some help,” he amended. Baekhyun slipped out of his jacket, pressing it against the stranger’s chest. It wasn’t an optimal solution, but it would have to do for now.

He carefully hauled the man to his feet. He was taller than Baekhyun but that didn’t stop Baekhyun from draping him over his shoulders in a pseudo piggyback. He started out of the alley, briefly glancing at the grotesque blood soaked ground. The stench had begun to work its way back to him; it was making his stomach churn violently. Unease prickled at his spine. It was time to go.

It was easier than Baekhyun expected. The man was a lot lighter than he looked. He could feel the eyes of other pedestrians as they walked; it was impossible not to, the city was beginning to wake up.

They probably think we’re some gang that got in a fight.

While untrue in most aspects, Baekhyun couldn’t fault them. There was a little truth to that. He grit his teeth, steeling his eyes forward. The man trembled against him. It was probably the cold and shock. Baekhyun hoped so anyway.

~xx~

He knocked twice. He waited two seconds and knocked one more time. There was a thunderous stampede on the other side of the door, the door nearly being ripped from its hinges as it opened.

“You’re ba- the hell?”

“Where have you...shiii-“

“Out of the way,” Baekhyun ordered. The two stepped out of the way, ushering him inside. “Where’s Kris and Yixing?”

“Uh...I think they’re still asleep,” the black haired man mumbled. He looked down at his feet awkwardly.

“Go wake them up. Please Jongdae.” Jongdae scrambled off, banging on a door while shouting obscenities. The door swung open as Jongdae ducked a flying pillow.

Yixing stumbled into the hall first- wearing an oversized shirt Baekhyun suspected wasn’t his- rubbing his eyes. Kris followed moments later, letting out an exhausted yawn.

“What is it,” he grumbled.

“I think he needs your help,” Baekhyun said bluntly, gesturing to the man on his back. Both of their eyes widened as any sleep left in them dissipated. They rushed forward, easily lifting the man off of Baekhyun. No words were spoken between them as they carried him from the hall, leaving a trail of items ejected from their guest’s pockets.

“What the hell is going on,” Jongdae asked, more concerned than angry. “You’re gone all morning and now you come back with...” Baekhyun silenced him with a look. There was a time and place for that. He leaned down, picking up the small black wallet beside them. He opened it, glancing at the license. He sighed.

Park Chanyeol, you’re lucky I have the best healers in this city.

Unfortunately there was only so much treatment a financially unstable werewolf pack could provide. But Baekhyun would see to it that they would do the best possible.

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#chanbaek