San took a deep breath as he rolled his neck and circled the ring opposite of Jongho.

"You're light on your feet, that's good." The younger praised, nodding his head while lifting his fists up to cover his face.

"Why is that good?" San asked, mimicking Jongho's movements. His eyes flashed to where Yunho  was watching from the corner of the room while nursing his coffee. He didn't know why, but he really wanted to do well and impress him.

He wanted to show that he could fight his demons and belong here. He had slowly been improving over the last month, and he planned on getting even better.

"Because it means you will be quicker than the heavier guys out there. While they may stronger, if you can be faster then you can win, or at least gain an advantage. But you have to be prepared for anything." Jongho said, then he took San by surprise by throwing a couple of punches.

The older ducked under them easily, as if it was an instinct, and stuck an arm out straight. Jongho stumbled into it and fell to the ground, clutching his stomach, but laughing.

"That was good! See? You were faster than me so you could catch me mid swing when I was off balance." Jongho smiled as he took San's offered hand.

"Where did you learn to fight like this?" San asked, as they started to circle each other again. "You're really good at teaching."

Jongho gave him a shy smile and lowered his hands, glancing at Yunho before biting his lip. "I was bullied a lot as a kid. I was behind the curve, size wise, so I was smaller than my classmates. I really didn't start growing until high school, and once that hit I had a huge growth spurt. But by then it was already too late. My parents were never really around, so I didn't have anyone to turn to." Jongho rubbed the back of his neck.

San tilted his head, curious as to where this would go. He was slowly finding out that everyone had a broken past like he did. But at least they could remember theirs...

The door opened and Yeosang came walking in, heading straight for Yunho.

Jongho didn't seem to notice as he continued. "So I started teaching myself how to fight. I would read all the books in the library and do my research, then practice in secret. It was a good way for me to get my anger out too. I didn't want to be the person who turned to violence, so it started as a form of self protection."

The younger turned to glance at Yunho again, then paused when he saw Yeosang standing there watching him. He let out a harsh sigh.

"I ended up taking it a bit to far one time when I was cornered by one of my bullies..." Jongho turned his head away so he didn't have to look at anyone. "I killed him with a brick..."

San covered his mouth and fought the urge to take a step back.

"It was an accident. Sort of. I tried to use it to get the guy off me, but then when I realized I had the upper hand, I... I couldn't stop. I was seventeen at the time, so I was tried as a juvenile delinquent, but the case got dismissed as self defense. It doesn't stop me from feeling guilty ever day though."

San flinched when he felt a tug at the back of his mind. Not now. He was doing so good. He would not give in now.

"I didn't want anyone else to have to feel my pain, so I started a school for self defense. It was small at first, but word got around and more and more people came. Things may have taken a turn to the illegal side," Jongho blushed and turned to Yunho, who was just staring at him with an amused half smile. "But I swear it started out as a way to try and get more money for my gym. And I would coach the fighters before and after the match."

Yunho chuckled and came forward. "I don't know why you are trying to defend yourself to me. All has been forgiven, remember?" the taller ducked into the ring and placed a hand on Jongho's shoulder.

The younger stood a little straighter. "Thank you."

Yunho just waved him off and walked by San to ruffle his hair before heading to the door.

San felt his heart leap out of his chest as a bright smile crossed his face at the contact. Then he was left feeling slightly empty as Yunho exited the room.

He watched the taller go, wanting to follow him.

Don't be pathetic. You're acting like his dog.

"No I'm not..." San hissed, turning his back to Jongho and shaking his head. "Get out of my head. I don't want you anymore!"

But you want him. What can he give you that we can't?

"Everything." San said, scrunching his eyes and focusing his mind. He pictured locking the voices away in a room.

They started to laugh. Don't be a fool, San. We love you. You need us.

"No, I don't." San pushed the shadows in his mind behind the door and envisioned a key locking it.

Then he waited.

And waited.

"San?" Jongho asked from behind him. "Are... You ok?"

The older lifted his head up and turned to look at Jongho with a smile. "I did it!" He cried out then ran for the door, leaving Jongho to stare after him with a confused look on his face.

"Yunho!" San shouted, looking up and down the halls as he passed them. "Yunho!"

"San? What is it? What's wrong?" The taller asked, running down a side hallway with a panicked look on his face.

"I did it!" The younger shouted. When they were close enough, he jumped to close the distance between them.

Thankfully Yunho thought quickly and caught San as their bodies collided together and San buried his face into the taller's neck.

They stumbled back and Yunho was pressed into the wall as he looked down at San. "You did what?"

San looked up at him, smiling wide as he hopped up and down in place. "I locked them away! They came out while Jongho was telling his story... But I fought against it and envisioned locking them away, just like you told me to."

He felt himself growing even more excited as he took in the proud look on Yunho's face. "That's great! I know it's going to take some practice, but this is a good first step! I'm so proud of you."

At those words, San held onto Yunho tight and smiled against his chest. "Thank you for taking a chance on me. I know I'm the last person to deserve it, and I've done horrible things that I can't even remember... But thank you. I promise I'll do everything I can to make it worth it."

He felt Yunho relax into the was as he brought a hand up to cup the back of his head. When he spoke, his voice seemed a little hesitant, but it was kind and gentle at the same time. "You don't need to thank me, San. I'm just glad I could do something to help this time."

The younger wanted to ask what he meant by this, but he also didn't want to ruin this moment. His heart was pounding as he shifted forward to get a little more contact.

This time Yunho tensed a little, but he didn't move, which was enough to start with as San hugged him. He could feel the older shifting his fingers slightly as he rubbed the back of San's head.

"Thank you." He whispered again.

He felt so light and free right now. He wanted this to last and make the others proud of him too.

.

.

.

.

As Yunho stood there, braced against the wall, he couldn't get his thoughts straight in his head.

When San had been yelling for him, his panic mode had turned on and thought something had gone wrong. That maybe San had snapped and done something to Jongho.

He wasn't prepared for San to come barreling into him and tell him that he was getting better.

It warmed his heart so much to see the younger happy, but it also confused him too.

Deep down, he didn't want to get attached. For multiple reasons. The main one being he still had some feelings for someone else, but those were slowly going away thankfully.

Maybe that was partially to do with San? Could he be the one helping?

But Yunho didn't want that to be the case... Because he was too afraid of getting hurt again.

So after standing there for a few minutes, he pushed himself off the wall and patted San's head. "You should get back to Jongho and keep practicing. I have a few things I need to do." He said, forcing a smile.

San just beamed and said, "Ok!" Before spinning around and running back to the gym.

Yunho shoved aside the empty feeling creeping its way in as he watched San disappear.

Sighing, he turned around and walked to the main office, hoping to find Hongjoong. He wasn't there... Yunho sighed again and was about to page him through the bracelet when he looked at the calendar.

The ground seemed to vanish below him as he tried to take in the date he was looking at.

"No..." He covered his mouth as his heart started to beat irregularly. Had he really been that busy that he missed it?

Without another thought, he ran to the garage and grabbed the keys to his blue sports car. As the engine roared to life, he opened the garage door and backed out, his tires squealing.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." He said over and over, trying to fight back the tears as he wove in and out of traffic. He even cheated the system and used the device he had to change lights so he could make better time.

"I'm sorry..."

.

.

.

.

"Have either of you seen Yunho recently?" Hongjoong asked, poking his head into the gym. He smiled when he saw San and Jongho drop their fists, both covered in sweat, and turn to them.

"He was here a few hours ago." Jongho said.

"He said he had a few things he needed to take care of." San added with a smile.

Hongjoong pursed his lips. "He's not answering his bracelet. I'll have Yeosang check where he is."

At those words, San's eyes widened and he slipped out of the ring. "Yunho's gone?"

"I'm sure he's fine." Hongjoong turned to head to the hacker's room, and chuckled when San fell into step beside him. "You can keep training San. I'm sure everything is fine." But the younger just shook his head and kept following him.

"Really? You're just going to leave me?" Jongho called out from the gym.

"Yes!" San yelled back, a small giggle followed it.

Hongjoong felt his eyebrows raise in surprise. San was really improving. Whatever Yunho was doing to help him must be working. He couldn't remember ever hearing San laugh before.

But he couldn't focus on that. There was something nagging at him, and he couldn't figure out what it was. That's why he wanted Yunho. He was always good with dates and appointments and such. So why wasn't he answering?

When they got to Yeosang's room, he was laying on his bed reading a book, but he sat up and quickly closed it.

"Yeosang, can you tell me where Yunho is? He's not answering me when I call him." Hongjoong said, trying to not sound worried for San's sake, especially when he saw the younger wringing his wrists.

"Sure thing." Yeosang jumped up and hurried to his computer. After a few quick strokes of the keys, his forehead furrowed and he turned his head toward Hongjoong while keeping his eyes on the screen. "It says he's here. In the garage..."

Hongjoong rubbed his head for a second, then his eyes fell on the date on Yeosang's screen. "Is that accurate?" He asked, leaning forward suddenly and making both San and Yeosang jump.

"Of course, why?"

"Fuck. I messed up big time." Hongjoong said before sprinting from the room.

He went straight to the garage and the first thing he saw was Yunho's car missing. The next was his bracelet sitting on the table by the door...