Requested by fellowatinyarmy

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When it came to distance, Jongho could never really cope. He found himself becoming more and more clingy as time went by, but he just couldn't help it. The idea of losing his loved ones made him stressed beyond belief, to the point where he had to beg Yeosang not to leave him for a business trip.

In the end, Yeosang ended up staying home, snuggling with the younger to make his troublesome thoughts fade away. Even if he meant he got one massive lecture from his higher-ups. He knew he couldn't risk missing any more outings yet didn't want to leave Jongho alone. Especially if their time apart made him so stressed.

So when Yeosang was offered a chance to leave town for a week (more so he was threatened on the grounds of losing his job), he had to do something. He needed to make sure Jongho was with someone safe, who could distract him enough to where he wouldn't notice where Yeosang had gone.

That was how he landed at the entrance of a warehouse that very night. The cold, evening winds intruded on his jacket, the breeze alone being enough to make Yeosang want to turn back. Yet after a single knock to the iron door, the gateway to the daunting building slid open, revealing a tall man covered head to toe in black.

He glanced over Yeosang with his cold, unfeeling eyes before shouting for someone. "Yeosang! Your lesser self is here." He muttered in a gruff voice. The man then walked off, looking back to see that Yeosang was still standing there. "Well...?"

It was then that he realised he was supposed to follow him. "O-Oh! Sorry..." His friend's dark counterpart rolled his eyes, before strutting away. I still can't believe that's supposed to be Yunho...He thought to himself. Yeosang shook his head to do away with those thoughts. There was no point in dwelling on past mistakes.

The warehouse was dark and oddly claustrophobic for the young blonde, although it was a rather spacious building. His hands gripped his arms for some semblance of comfort. In a place like this, hospitality was nonexistent. As the dark version of Yunho made no effort to chat with Yeosang and any other counterpart he caught a glimpse of either glared into his soul or ignored him completely.

So a warm welcome was clearly out of the question.

Eventually, the pair landed on the other end of the warehouse, faced with two figures. Yeosang was able to recognise them within seconds, grimacing once he made eye contact with his other-self. "What's he doing here?" Growled Hala Yeosang, moving the other version of Jongho off of his lap. This Jongho groaned at the loss of contact and decided to just leave. However, not before the blonde felt a hand grope his behind, earning a yelp from him and a snicker from Jongho.

"Not sure," Responded Hala Yunho. "Just finish your business and get him outta here. He reeks." With one final glare towards Yeosang, Yunho left as well. Being sure to purposely bump into the younger's shoulder on the way out.

"What a merry gang of campers you've got here," muttered Yeosang, placing himself down in the seat across from his peer. The halateez member looked at him as if this were the most heinous act he could have committed, a deep scowl now resting on his pale face.

"Cut the crap," he barked. "What the fuck do you want?"

"I need your help."

"Get out."

"Listen to me dammit!" Yeosang shouted, fist hitting the wooden table. His counterpart now looked at least a little more intrigued as he had laced his finger under his chin, tilting his head to the side. "It's Jongho."

"Ooh~ Interesting." Yeosang didn't like the look he was getting and he certainly didn't appreciate the way he licked his lips.

"Whatever you're thinking - stop it. I need you to watch him for me." The dark version sighed, grumbling his annoyance under his breath. "Yah!"

"What is he, a child? Can't he watch himself?"

"He gets scared and anxious. I don't like knowing he gets so worried just because I'm not around." Yeosang's hands balled into a fist against his jeans, head lowering at the thought of his boyfriend feeling uneasy, all because he wasn't there to hold him. Hala Yeosang, on the other hand, quickly became bored, rolling his eyes at this reasoning.

"Why is that your problem? Better question - why is it mine? I've got my own Jongho to worry about and unlike yours, he's not a pussy that cries because I'm not there to tuck him in at night. No wonder he hates that guy..."

"Shut up! You don't know Jongho at all. You only know the fake part of him. Jongho is considerate, caring and the sweetest person I know. Yours is the weak one." Yet again, Hala Yeosang remained unamused. With his chair leaning back, he gave the blonde a round of sarcastic claps.

"So sentimental," He jeered, face growing evermore disdain. "You're a puppet to your emotions. It's amusing, honestly, it really is."

"I didn't come here to listen to your pretentious readings on my life. Will you do it, or not?"

The flagitious man pursed his lips in consideration, his eyes told Yeosang nothing. Other than whatever choice he took likely had some sort of ulterior motive.

~~~

Jongho awoke the next morning to feel a pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist. The blinding sun laying outside his drapes didn't bother him, as he buried his face closer in his lover's chest, happy to know that he was still here. "I thought you had to go on your trip?" the brunette remarked with early morning dreariness.

"Well, there was a little change in plans." The moment he heard that voice, Jongho's eyes snapped open. That's not Yeonsang.

He flinched back, attempting to remove himself from the bed yet the other man refused to let go, smirking at the way Jongho struggled. "Let me go!" He shouted. "Where's Yeosang? What did you do to him?"

"Relax babe, he's fine."

Jongho glared at him. "Don't call me babe." This...thing wasn't Yeosang. His features were dark, deadly in the way his crystal eyes scanned over the younger. The fluffy blonde hair Jongho would love to play with was gone in favour of the pitch-black shade resting on Hala Yeosang's head. And the warm, loving aura of his boyfriend that he had grown accustomed to was no longer in sight.

"You're not Yeosang!" Hala Yeosang rolled his eyes at the way Jongho squirmed in his hold. Every desperate movement met with more apathy than the last, though he did find the brunette's struggle to be rather cute.

Eventually, Jongho was able to wiggle out of the duplicant's grip but only because he was allowed to. If he so desired, Yeosang could have kept him there for as long as he pleased. Yet he grew weary once the younger hit his face and simply decided to let him go.

Without a moment of hesitation, Jongho leapt out of the bed to reach for his phone in hopes of calling someone for help. Yet his device was flat. "Dead phone?" Said Hala Yeosang, a broken, black charger laying in his hand. The wires were all out of place, each one sticking haphazardly out of its casing. Jongho's eyes went wide. Hastily, he pushed back the taller man and ran straight for the door.

For some reason, no matter how hard he pulled, it just wouldn't open and when the dark shadow of the man behind cast over Jongho, he realised why. "It's called a lock, sweetheart. Surely you know what that is?"

Jongho's fist tightened around the doorknob, a bead of nervous sweat making its way down his face. It looks like I'm stuck with him... "Looks like you're stuck with me," Hala Yeosang spoke from behind.

No no no! This can't be happening!

"And as unfortunate as this is for the both of us, it's happening."

I can't do this! I have to get out of here and find Yeosang!

"Good luck getting out to find your precious Sangie, he's long gone."

"What are you? A fucking mind reader?" Shouted the trembling boy, figure still frozen at the door. It wasn't long before Jongho could feel someone breathing down his neck, an arm wrapping around his waist and gently taking him from the exit.

"Relax, love." His voice had changed, shifting to a softer, quieter tone that was much more akin to the one Jongho had grown accustomed to. The comforting sound alone had his shoulders sloping down with a new feeling of tranquillity.

He nearly hummed in content, yet before he could appreciate the peace, was suddenly lifted into the air, tossed effortly into the older man's arms, only to be thrown onto the couch just mere moments later. Hala Yeosang stood over the shaken boy, arms crossed and a deep frown resting on his face of contempt.

"Alright, listen here kid," The pure facade of his voice, the one Jongho was so drawn to, had disappeared. Welcoming back the alter's previously harsh tone. "I'm only here to make sure you don't kill yourself with a toaster or something, not because I actually want to be."

"B-But...Where's Yeosang-"

"Business trip. Told me to watch you while he's out. Look, I don't care what he's doing or why. Just know that I only have to keep you from doing anything stupid. That's it."

"So you destroyed my charger and bolted the door?"

"Extra precautions." That, and the fact that he genuinely enjoyed watching him squirm with fear. Of course, Jongho found it much less pleasant. His eyes shifted constantly, searching for any possible exit. There were none. He was truly trapped with him.

Hala Yeosang must have gotten bored staring at Jongho's horror-stricken expression because he simply walked off, striding into the kitchen with a bit of a shrug. Jongho jutted his lips out, still greatly uncomfortable with the thought of this man being in his house but it wasn't like Hala Yeosang cared, or noticed for that matter.

The dark entity only went about his business, pulling out two pans and a couple of bowls as well. While Jongho watched him curiously, Hala Yeosang took out a pitcher of orange juice and poured it into a cup. "Here," He said, pushing the container to the other side of the counter. "Yeosang said you like orange juice in the morning with scrambled eggs and french toast. Gimme a bit to get it done."

Even at this nice gesture, Jongho still furrowed his brow. Cautiously, he moved away from the couch, scanning the glass in fear of some dangerous, unseen element. "It's not poisoned." He was told, lifting his head to meet Hala Yeosang's gaze. "Do you have any idea how much shit Yeosang would give me if I so much as breathed on you?"

Even still, Jongho remained wary. His look of uncertainty earned nothing but an eye roll from the older. He returned to his cooking, whisking the eggs and preparing the extra amenities like syrup and butter. Every action was done with care, finding no need to rush through the process. It was a quality Jongho often saw in Yeosang. Such a thing made him frown.

Around ten minutes or so later, the pair were submerged in silence. The only sounds being from their forks and mouths digging into the meal. Jongho was never one for quiet but whenever he attempted to strike up a conversation, he was shot down with a single glare.

"You can't keep doing that," Jongho muttered. "If you're gonna be here, then we're going to have to talk to each other."

"I disagree."

Silence.

"Look-"

"Nope."

More silence.

It was so unnerving, that eventually, Jongho just groaned. "You're such an ass..."

"I told you, I don't want to be here anymore than you want me to be. Complain to Yeosang about it for all I care but keep your mouth shut while I'm here." It was strange how he referred to Yeosang as a completely separate entity as if they weren't technically the same.

Jongho cocked his head to the side, laying it against his hand. "Why do you talk about him like that? You guys are sort of the same person," Hala Yeosang's hand clenched into a tight fist, going unnoticed by the younger. "So why do you refer to him like that?"

The other man's eyes had grown dark, a frightening glare burning through his gaze that made Jongho flinch. "DON'T compare me to that lacklustre shell of a man!" He bellowed. "We are not the same, and I'm embarrassed to have come from a pathetic thing like that!"

"Don't say that!" Jongho tried to yell back. Yet when Hala Yeosang stood over him, leaning threateningly over his smaller body, he lost his confidence. "Y-You don't know anything about him..."

Then, Hala Yeosang chuckled. Deep in his cynical delivery. "That's where you're wrong. I'm part of him. I'm the real him. Just like all the others! Just like Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Mingi, Wooyoung, San and you. You know nothing, you pitiful, little boy." He was shaking at this point. Too petrified by the other man to even think of moving.

And when Hala Yeosang began to circle around the table, towards him, Jongho knew he had to get away. Before the dark figure could lay a hand on him, Jongho pushed him away, sprinting off to his bedroom, barely giving him the chance to retaliate.

The other man furrowed his brow when he heard the door slam. For just a brief moment, he felt a slight pain in his heart. His hand twisted around the knob, realising it was locked soon after. Hala Yeosang let out a huff. He thought about telling the boy that he had a key to every room in the house but decided to just let it go. "Less work for me..." And began cleaning up the kitchen.

By the time Jongho had poked his head out of his room again, it was around half-past five. Wiping his tears, the brunette slowly crept into the living room. He had spent most of the day wondering where Yeosang was, if he was safe and when he was getting back. The mere thought of being alone with this imposter caused Jongho's anxiety to spike in every possible direction but couldn't do much about it.

The dim glow of the television was the only thing brightening the room, as the blinds had been closed. Hala Yeosang sat on the couch wearing a pair of sweatpants and a black hoodie, a cup of coffee resting on the side table. His comfort was what irritated Jongho the most. You don't own this place.

Eventually, his presence was noticed by the dark entity. "Why the hell are you just standing there? Do you need something?"

"No..." Whatever will Jongho had for doing something had been washed away just by Yeosang's gloomy expression. Why force himself to be someone who hated him just for existing? "You guys were such mistakes. God, I wish we never did that stupid ritual..."

Hala Yeosang just so happened to pick up on what he said, eyes narrowing in his direction. Not long after muttering this, however, Jongho turned to go back to his room. Locking the door once again. Yet this time, Hala Yeosang wasn't going to leave him be.

He stormed up to the room, removing the key from his pocket and forcefully shoving it into the lock. He didn't take a moment to consider the way his aggression frightened the other male just beyond the other side of the door but he didn't care. "What the fuck did you say?" He yelled.

"L-Leave me alone!" Shouted the brunette, cowering under his blanket. "Go away! Where's Yeosang? What did you do to him!" He could have sworn he heard Hala Yeosang chuckle.

"I thought you said I was Yeosang, huh? Fucking bitch, what are you crying for!"

"G-Go away...please...just go away!" Hala Yeosang could see the tears peeking out from his face. "Yeosang... Yeosang... Yeosang..." He was panicking, each breath he emitted more frantic than the last.

There was a brief moment of silence. The only sounds coming from Jongho's stuttering cries. Yet they began to stop once he felt Hala Yeosang slide into the bed next to him, arms wrapping protectively over the younger's body as he rubbed his back in an attempt to soothe him.

"It's okay, Jongie. I've got you, I'll hold you..." Jongho knew it wasn't his Yeosang. He shouldn't have allowed himself to be tricked by the comforting tone of his voice and yet there he was, calming himself down.

"You sound just like him..." He whispered, curling up to the older, who only hummed in response.

"He told me to be gentle if you ever got upset or started crying. He gave me this whole speech about how much he hated knowing you would be sad without him. Bleh." While Hala Yeosang rolled his eyes with a distasteful groan, Jongho found himself giggling. Yet it wasn't long before his eyes began to well with tears once again. "What? Am I not holding you properly or something?"

"No no...That's not it. It's just that, Yeosang does so much for me. He knows me so well and loves me so much but I feel like I've been holding him back. Sometimes I think I depend on him too much, I can't even spend a week alone without worrying about him. I just can't help but wonder, am I being too clingy?"

"Yes." Was his blunt reply, earning Hala Yeosang a pair of big, devastating eyes. "But so what?" He continued. "There are worse things than being clingy. It just shows how much you care about him. You love him, don't you?" Jongho nodded.

"More than I can put into words..."

"So don't think that you should stop holding him back. Think of it more as you want to give him the space he needs. If you think you're being too clingy, try a few days apart, just to see if you can cope."

"Who would've thought you had it in you to be helpful," Jongho chuckled.

"Hey, I'm not an asshole all the time."

"You're right, just most of the time." Hala Yeosang stuck his tongue out at the younger, a playful gesture Jongho returned.

For the remainder of the night, the two shared a pizza and entertained themselves with a movie. Gradually, Jongho felt himself growing more comfortable with the other male as the days carried on. There was still the fact that he was his boyfriend's alter ego leaning over him, but as the days followed, it became easier to ignore.

Hala Yeosang awoke one morning to the sound of the front door sliding open. Careful not to wake the beauty dozing just beside him, he managed to slip out of bed and greet the blonde awaiting him. "Where is he? What did you do? Is he al-"

"It's too fucking early," Grumbled the dark counterpart, rubbing his tired eyes with a yawn. "He's still asleep, so keep your voice down, will you?"

Yeosang grew sceptical, eyes narrowing in the other man's direction as he crossed his arms. "You care?"

Hala Yeosang scoffed. He turned around, grabbing the clothes he had arrived in and throwing them over his shoulder. "Nope. The little shit's gonna start whining if you don't shut up though."

Just before he reached the door, Yeosang called out to him. "Hey," He held up a black fedora, handing it to the gang member. "Thank you for watching him...I owe you one."

"Damn right you do." Those were the final words he spoke before his alter ego disappeared. Yeosang sighed to himself as he watched him go but his spirits were lifted when he tiptoed off to his room.

He slipped off his shoes and slid into his bed, mindful of his lover who stirred at the movement. The brunette's eyes began to flutter open when Yeosang gently caressed his soft cheeks, greeting him with a smile. "Sangie!"

"Hello love. I missed you."