Author's Notes: Ok, Hwoarang gets a little OOC near the end of this chapter, and I’m sorry, but I’m too lazy to fix it. Oh and I was going to introduce a new Character in this chap but I changed my mind, and decided to give the new character a whole chappie for themselves… As soon as I figure out who I want the new char to be. See that’s the fun of not planning. Even the author gets surprises!
**Disclaimer**: Tekken is owned by Namco and not me. I just manipulate the characters for entertainment purposes.
Crossfire
Chapter 5 - Loneliness Is Worse
If she had only listened. If she had only backed off and trusted that he wasn’t doing anything wrong. If she had done all those things that were asked of her, would it have come to this? Would they be on a landslide to certain destruction if things were right to begin with? She killed the magic. Sucked the life out. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. So when would it end? When would she find out the truth and leave him? When would the demon that haunted him grow bored, and find some other beautiful human to fuck with? When would the world fall apart? It was so close. So very close. All it needed was a little shove.
Nothing good was on TV. Hwoarang sat upside down on the couch, with his head hanging off and his feet up against the wall. A harmonica was in his mouth and he was breathing a bluesy tune through it. Julia didn’t like his guitar so he kept it at a friend’s. The harmonica was just as well, but it was hard to play a good old-fashioned rock song on it, so he stuck with blues. It suited his mood better anyway, especially with his blood rushing to his head like that.
The channel was a music station and there was a teeny bopper band on with eleven members. Of course the volume was on mute, but still he watched them, wondering what a bunch of privileged adolescents would have to talk about during all those months of being on the road together. Gardening? Health? School? Or maybe they’d just make out and grope each other the whole time. Hwoarang grinned at the idea and considered joining a pop band. That was one way to make Julia proud.
The sound of a door opening caught the Korean’s attention, but not enough to make him get up. He blew loudly into his instrament in order to greet the newcomer with the most irritating noise he could create with that thing. As usual, the attempt worked. Success was obvious in the annoyed sigh that resulted. That sigh was so familiar, and so easy to get from the American woman, not to mention fun.
“We have a visitor, honey,” Julia announced as she came around the corner.
It was an unexpected surprise. As Jin stepped into the room behind Julia, he tilted his head and quirked a brow at the upside down Korean. Hwoarang’s eyes widened and he rolled off the couch, and to his feet. What was Jin thinking? Oh well. Baek Doo San had taught him the joys of improvisation, and that was the perfect chance to put those skills to good use.
Hwoarang glared at Jin, “Julia, what the fuck has gotten into you, bringing this demonic bastard into my home? I hope you don’t expect him to stay for dinner.”
“Well… I… He… Hwoarang! He just came in to see if you were ok. He said he was concerned that something happened to you. Don’t be so rude!”
“Rude?” Hwoarang laughed bitterly, “Now why on earth would I be rude to my fucking rival? What do you take me for? Some sort of punk-assed Korean rocker?” He rolled his eyes and nodded toward the kitchen, “I would like to speak with you alone for a moment, ‘honey’.”
Jin stepped back awkwardly, “Uh, maybe I should go.”
“I don’t think so, pal. You ain’t getting away that easy. I’ll deal with you when I’m finished with her,” Hwoarang growled as he ushered his girlfriend through the door, and shut it behind them. It wasn’t so easy thinking up something to say now that he had her alone, but it wasn’t impossible. “Why are you so bent up on making me friends?”
Julia pouted, obviously feeling bad. Julia Chang didn’t pout often. “I thought it was sweet of him to worry about you, and after he went through all that trouble to try to help you yesterday, I thought he at least deserved to be let in out of the cold. I’m sorry.”
She wasn’t making it any easier.
Hwoarang crossed his arms and leaned against the fridge. “This has got to stop Julia. I know you know better. I know you know that I hate that man, and yet you still insist on trying to make us hug and make up. He ruined my life! I don’t give a flying rats ass what he’s worried about. I want that man dead, and I want his blood on my hands. If you don’t like that, suck it up.”
“That’s a horrible thing to say, Hwoarang. I want you to go out there and apologise to him, right now.”
“What the fuck is that? An order? I don’t take orders from you. Quit trying to fucking mother me. Yes ok I’m crude, and annoying street trash, but that’s who I fucking am. How many times do I have to tell you to stop trying to make me better. I’d rather skin myself with an orange peeler then become the kind of man you want me to be, so give it the fuck up, or get out. Do you understand me?”
Julia stared at him in shock, “I’m not trying to change you, I’m trying to make you see your full potential. I want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy the way I am.”
“But you could be so much more.”
Hwoarang shook his head, “That’s it. Get out. Now.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but it only came out as a squeak as she choked back tears. Without another word, she spun around and ran out the door. Hwoarang listened in silence until he heard his front door slam, and then he hopped on the table and laid down, bringing the harmonica back to his mouth. Success #2! He was on a roll.
The kitchen door opened and Jin walked in, troubled. He listened for a few moments to the tune the redhead was playing, but eventually spoke, “What did you say to her? You’re ok with the way she ran out like that? What if she doesn’t come back?”
Hwoarang snorted and tossed the harmonica at Jin, “Julia? Not come back? You’re a funny guy, Kazama. No. She’ll be back. She doesn’t give up on her projects that easily. I know I can hardly compare to one of her trees, but I still seem to be in need of her green thumb. So… You hungry? We got some crap in the cupboards somewhere… I think there’s some strawberry chocolate sticks in one of those mushroom jar things. She says those mushrooms remind her of a garden, but I think she’s a stoner at heart.”
“I thought you were going to deal with me. I half expected that I’d be the next one to run out of here in tears.”
“No, you’ll be limping,” Hwoarang winked.
Jin sat down and looked at the Korean, quizzically, “Aren’t you mad at me? You seemed pretty pissed off when you left the dojo yesterday.”
Hwoarang sat up and shrugged, “As long as you don’t ask stupid questions, I’m cool. Now let’s see…” He turned and slid to the edge of the table so that Jin was between his legs. “Where did we leave off the other day?”
A nervous look was presented o the Japanese features. Obviously Jin wasn’t comfortable with his rival so close to him. He tried his best not to allow his eyes to go where they wanted to, but it was hard with the Korean right there, legs open. It was frustrating yet extremely embarrassing. Jin was almost positive his face had turned at least 5 shades brighter.
“What’s wrong?” Hwoarang smirked, knowing exactly what the problem was, “Why are you being so shy, baby? I know you want me. Just admit it so we can get to the fun part, already.”
Jin glared up at him, “Should you be talking like that? What if Julia comes back?”
“Pffft,” The Korean rolled his eyes, “I’ve been telling her since we started going out that I’ve been cheating on her, so its not like I’ve been lieing. She just doesn’t believe me.”
“I’m serious, Hwoarang.”
“You wanna touch it,” the redhead teased.
Jin stood up, “You’re so full of yourself.”
“I bet you wanna be full of me too.”
“Stop it,” The young Japanese warned, “This isn’t funny.”
“Yes it is.”
A threatening silence responded instead of words, but of course, the attempt at intimidation was much less effective when he was blushing. Jin tried to look angry, but he was never very good at faking anger, and he probably just made himself all the more less convincing. There was one other option. Something he normally avoided, but it was an emergency. Subject change. “I didn’t know you played the harmonica.”
Hwoarang laughed, “Fuckers cost a quarter in the states. Who can pass up a deal like that? Now get naked.”
He’d have to try harder, “Well I think everyone in the world has owned a harmonica, but that doesn’t mean they learn how to play it.”
The Korean frowned, “Kazama, if you don’t want me, all you have to do is say so. It’s insulting that you think you can distract me by making me talk about myself. I’m not that arrogant… Well… Ok maybe I am that arrogant normally, but right now I’m a bit… well, you know, so either do or don’t. It’s your choice, man.”
Manipulative little jerk, ain’t he? Jin chewed his lip, regretting coming to check on the man. He hadn’t expected this to happen. He figured since Julia was there, it was safe, and he could see that his rival was all right, and then get yelled at and then leave. Why couldn’t things go the way they were supposed to? Why did that man have to twist everything around, and make things complicated?
“I don’t… know how,” Jin admitted quietly, turning away from the other man in shame, “I’ve never done anything like… you… before.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Hwoarang smiled, “You’ve gotta start somewhere. Now don’t worry about it, Jin-kun. You know, despite popular belief, I was not born a sex machine. No. That came years after I was born. Now I’m not here to judge you. Relax.”
Jin rubbed his arm nervously, and glanced around the room. He shook his head, bewildered, as he searched his mind for an excuse to get out of the situation. There was only one way. Honesty. “It’s not that I don’t want you, Hwoarang. It’s that I don’t trust you. I am aware that you saved my life, and for that I am in your debt, but that still doesn’t change that I don’t know if I can believe a single thing that comes out of your mouth.”
A shrug was what came in response. “I already told you I wouldn’t lie to you again. You have my word, and I never lie about my word.”
“In that case,” Jin turned to face his rival, “Why are you doing this?”
The question came as more then a shock, but Hwoarang hid it well. They locked eyes for a few moments, allowing the silence to thicken. He studied the Japanese coolly. What could he say if he didn’t know the answer? Was it safe to avoid the question or would that just anger the man? There was nothing to do but be honest. Damnit! Why did that guy have to ruin everything?
So the truth it was. Hwoarang sighed heavily, not being able to think of a way to manipulate his answer so that it helped his situation. “I don’t fucking know, Kazama,” He said as he got to his feet, “If anything, I should loathe you. My own girlfriend has been in love with you since before I even got with her, and what’s worse is she’s been trying to mold me into your clone. There are so many reasons for me to hate you, and I’ve tried so fucking hard… And now you’ve ruined it. I’m not horny anymore.”
Jin approached the redhead cautiously, stopping only inches away, “Why are you still with her?”
Hwoarang frowned, and wished that he had thought a bit longer before giving his word to his rival. Lesson learned! He shrugged and answered as simply as he could, “Loneliness is worse.”
It was a sad admittance, and Jin felt bad for asking. There was one way he could make it up to the neglected Korean. Jin pulled his own shirt off and smiled at the confused eyes roaming his body. Men were so predictable. He stood there on display, waiting for his rival’s confusion to be replaced by realization. He didn’t have long to wait either. The corner of the Korean’s mouth quirked in a faint grin and he licked his lips as if they were parched. Jin would have never guessed that his rival would find him so attractive. But the way Hwoarang responded was almost adorable.
Hwoarang hadn’t expected that to happen, but was glad it did. He stepped past Jin and out of the Kitchen. He only paused to give the other man a side-long glance and explain, “There’s a lock on my bedroom door. You coming?”
Well, It was no mystery what that Korean’s top priority was.
Jin shook his head, smiling and followed the redhead into the bedroom.
Once the boys were both in the room, the door was closed and locked. The Korean slipped his arms around the bare waist before him and pulled the other man into a wet kiss. He sucked on the lush Japanese bottom lip, running his hands over the firm back. They moved backwards until Hwoarang’s legs hit the wooden bed frame. He let himself fall back onto the mattress and he winked at Jin as he pushed himself further on the bed.
Jin crawled on top of his rival, straddling the lean hips, and dipping his head to steal a kiss. It was still difficult to believe that he had tasted his rival’s mouth. That man had wanted to beat him into a senseless, submissive pulp not months ago. But he was glad it was at that point because he wouldn’t rather be anywhere else in the world at that moment. It was the first time in a year that he had missed a day of work. A good excuse would have to be thought up later.
When Jin made a move to take of Hwoarang’s shirt, the Korean grabbed his wrist to stop him, and shook his head, “No…”
“Why?”
Guilt and fear clouded Hwoarang’s face. He looked down at the sheets. When he spoke, his voice was low and barely audible, “Because you’ll leave me. You’ll hate me. And though I probably don’t deserve you, I don’t want to lose you before I even have you.”
What was he talking about? “I don’t understand.”
“I…” Hwoarang frowned and took off his shirt, revealing the dried wound on his chest. He sighed and looked up at Jin, “I’m sorry.”
There was a moment of silence before Jin shook his head. The Japanese did not move from his position on his rival. “When, and if we start dating, I will worry about that. Hwoarang… I care about you, but unless your life is in danger, it is none of my business what you do with your time.”
The Korean’s frown morphed into a smile and he tossed his shirt across the room. What had he done right to get someone like Jin Kazama on his side? Whatever it was, hopefully he wouldn’t screw it up any time soon. “You’re amazing.” He laughed, “What the hell are you doing wasting your time on a jerk like me?”
“You’re not a jerk,” Jin smiled back as he stole another kiss, “You’re an idiot, but not a jerk.” He squeezed Hwoarang’s hand, looking down curiously at the wound, “Does it hurt?”
Hwoarang nodded, eyeing his rival’s body. Too much talking, too little action. He reached up with his free hand to feel the muscular abs, “Like hell,” A quiet laugh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes and added, “I like it that way… You feel so good, Kazama. Don’t make me wait. I hate waiting. Don’t be cruel.”
The young Japanese man laughed and bowed to lick his rival’s lips. Those delicious lips tasted like some strange exotic fruit that he couldn’t get enough of. The fiery hair decorated the black comforter so naturally as if it was the way they were supposed to be. As Jin teased the Korean with his tongue, he blindly removed Hwoarang’s typical tight jeans, not having to remove more. It looked like someone was a fan of Commando. The unveiling was a pleasant reality check. If he had trouble believing before, the doubt had deserted him. Hwoarang was within his grasp, and he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle such a rare privilege.
Hwoarang tugged clumsily at Jin’s slacks until Jin finally removed them. The Korean grinned and snapped the elastic on Jin’s boxers. Another obvious hint. The ebony-haired man hesitantly took off his boxers. Hwoarang pit his arms around his rival’s neck and hungrily drank from his mouth, absently grinding their bare hips together as the kiss persisted
Jin gasped at the unexpected grinding. It was rather strange. Hwoarang seemed so desperate for the Japanese, acting like an animal in the wild, feeding. So defensive as if expecting something to come and steal its meal. The behaviour was flattering in a way. It was nice to be wanted by a wild animal like The Blood Talon. Although, in another sense, it was sad that Hwoarang would be so instinctively defensive. So Jin had to say something, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Hwoarang paused before letting go completely, and covering his eyes with his arms. His chest rose and stopped as if he was holding his breath. Jin couldn’t see, but he knew that his rival was fighting back tears. Something was seriously wrong.
“I’m sorry,” Hwoarang whispered, swallowing hard.
An apology again? Jin kissed Hwoarang’s arm and whispered soothingly, “It’s ok… I know it’s none of my business, but I’m here for you if you want to let it out.”
“It’s all falling apart. You might as well leave me now. You’re going to eventually, and so is Julia, and so is Kazuya, and so is Zekkai… I’ve watched enough TV to know that I’ll lose everything if I can’t make up my mind, but what if I do and I make the wrong decision? I can’t. I won’t… I’m scared, Jin. I don’t want to be alone, and I don’t care how much I deserve it.”
How long had that been eating at him? Jin sighed and pushed the Korean’s arms above the head of red hair, so that he could look him in those glistening eyes. “I’ve never been a fan of being the other man. Especially if I have to share with my father, but you know you can be without Julia and not be alone. She may be a nice girl, but I don’t think your relationship is healthy. I don’t understand why you’re with her in the first place.”
“She says she loves me,” Hwoarang said aloud, but mostly to himself. He turned his head to stare blankly out the window as he continued, “But how will I ever know? Certain words grow old.”
“Do you love her?”
Hwoarang looked up at Jin, curiously, “Nobody has ever said they love me before. Even if it is a lie…”
Jin repeated himself, “Do you love her?”
“No.”
“Do you love Kazuya?” Jin regretted the question the second he voiced it. He feared his rival’s answer more then he feared the devil gene itself. What if Hwoarang did love his father? What would he do? How could he react to that?
But Hwoarang shook his head, “No.”
“Do you love anybody?”
Hwoarang tilted his head, quizzically, as he studied the other man’s face, “If you are trying to help me work out my problems, don’t bother. I’m already too far in. I know what kind of things to consider when I try to pick. I don’t need anyone’s help. I just… wish I had a time machine…”