Title: To Love You Is To Save You

[trinkdufreak]

Title: To Love You Is To Save You
Pairing: OnHo
Rating: PG-13 some language~
Warning: character death! my first one also...
Summary: Because all Onew ever wanted was for Minho to be alive.
A/N: my first character death...idk what the hell I was thinking. hope you enjoy!

~To Love You is To Save You~

Time: 8:00 am

Place: South of China

Death Day: 1,098 (3 years and 3 days)

They were supposed to be safe here. They had finally stopped running, for only three days.  Only three days and barricaded in an old Chinese temple of some sort. The walls were thick and high. Everything seemed to be okay for a bit. But of course it was too good to be true.

~At the beginning I saved you~

After the zombie outbreak three years ago, Onew had not hesitated to run across his school to the freshmen classes and grab his one and only crush, and his best friend. He remembered seeing the school’s walls rush by his eyes and storming in to Minho’s classroom. He had been out of breath, but Minho seemed to understand. The whole school had just watched it on the television. The government had warned to stay inside, to not let the walking dead inside, to stay calm. And Onew knew. He knew that he wanted, that he needed to save Minho. The two best friends had held hands as they ran out of the school. Ignoring the teacher’s protests and the student’s scared stares. Onew needed to keep Minho safe. That was all he needed to do.

The pair had made their way to their homes, being neighbors since they were young. But to their horror, it had been too late.

Minho had to swing his aluminum bat at his own father’s head to try and get to his young brother who they heard crying from his bedroom. They rushed Taemin out of Minho’s apartment and with tears; Onew had let Minho beat his mother to a bloody pulp. Onew and Taemin armored themselves with Minho’s other bats he had stored in his room. Not wasting time to see if there other neighbors were okay.

~In The middle I loved you~

A year passed. And the three boys moved from city to city. He hated it, but Onew learned to quickly hack off a few heads, or knock them down long enough for him and his two companions to run. All he knew was that he needed to keep Minho safe. He needed to keep Minho alive.

It was at the end of the first year that they ran in to two other boys and one girl. Jonghyun was very good with his axe and crow bar, Key was good at taking care of Taemin and his younger sister Sandara. The pair worked well together when it came to quickly reacting and protecting the others.

Somehow, the group decided that Onew was the leader, as Kibum had put it, “you are the oldest, I mean I should be leader because I’m a better fighter than you, but whatever.” And that was that. The six children continued to travel and make their way to nowhere. But they stuck together and kept each other safe. All Onew knew was that he needed to keep Minho alive.

Onew wasn’t sure when it had begun, but he found himself holding Minho’s hand more often. It was sometime in the second year that he noticed it. The only time the two had ever held hands was when he had gotten him from his classroom at the beginning of the apocalypse. After that he couldn’t recall them touching again. But somehow, one day after they had rushed in to a deserted hospital to gather what they could, he noticed how he ended up holding Minho’s hand. It was because he had been flanking the younger boy as he made his way in to the hospital’s cafeteria. Key suggested grabbing small snacks that were easy to carry, and as many water bottles as possible. So the pair had volunteered to head toward one way while the others headed the opposite direction to look for anything and everything.

Minho had stepped in to the large cafeteria and had quickly and cautiously looked around. He motioned for Onew that it was clear. So the older stepped in.

And his heart thumped when he laid eyes on the walking dead that was heading toward Minho. But Minho didn’t see it. He didn’t see it emerge from around the corner, because he was looking at Onew and asking the older boy a question. The thing was walking toward Minho, and it was not far off. He could see its fingers reaching out to grasp Minho’s flesh. He rushed at Minho and pushed the younger out of the way. He savagely brought his crow bar down on to the zombies head with a fierce grunt. He repeated the action, until the dead thing’s head separated from its body.

Onew slowed his breath and calmed himself. The eerie quiet surrounding him as he stared down at his victim. The flesh was gray and rotting, the eyes had been yellow and blind, but the teeth were brown and yet sharp. He could see how the molars were thicker and sharper than the living. He jumped at something touching him, immediately raising his crow bar to swing. But he stopped in shock; Minho had just reached for his hand. When Onew showed signs of recognition and lowered his bar, Minho fully intertwined their fingers and strongly grasped the older boy’s hand with all his might. They didn’t speak, but Onew could see it in Minho’s eyes. The affection that lay underneath the fear that was not for himself. Minho had been afraid that Onew would have been bitten, or eaten. Minho had feared for Onew’s life in that moment, and not his own. Onew knew that feeling. Because all Onew ever wanted was for Minho to be alive.

It was supposed to be safe in this temple.

~At The end I saved you because I loved you~

It had been over three years since the beginning of the end. A year since Minho and Onew had mutually known they were in love with one another. But they dare not say it out loud. This world was too fragile to admit such feeling. They needed to focus on surviving, not dyeing, and keep one another safe. But they held hands more often. Onew happily found Minho leaning on the older’s shoulder when they were resting. Onew found it easy to gently run his fingers through Minho’s silk locks. They were in love, and they had never admitted it. That was because they could see it in one another’s eyes. Sometimes Onew would catch Mino just gazing at him. His stare always screamed that he was so happy that Onew was still alive in the world. And Onew’s soft stare back usually meant that he felt the same way. 

There was a night when they found a place to sleep, and Jonghyun and Key were busy making out against a wall somewhere, that Onew finally voiced his feelings, without saying them at all.

“I’m glad I got you out of that school.” He whispered one night, with Minho’s head laid on his chest.

“I’m glad you came to get me.” Minho murmured against his shirt.

“I wouldn’t have…wanted to get anybody else out that school.” Onew said carefully. The couple chuckled at his words. Silly but sweet.

And then a feeling settle in to Onew’s chest. A great set of panic unleashed in his chest, a wave a fear that he couldn’t control. The feeling that something terrible was coming, something that he couldn’t stop. Something that would separate them…he hated the feeling. It echoed through his body and caused him to clutch Minho much closer to him than usual. The younger boy didn’t protest and wrapped his arms around Onew’s waist with equal force, not sure why the older boy held him so tight but enjoying it nevertheless.

“I…I…would save you again Minho. I would save you again and again if it meant we got to be together…here…in this moment.” Onew’s voice was horse and weak. He was fighting back his tears. The feeling was strong. God he knew it was soon. He felt it in his bones.

“I would only save you Minho. If I had to pick between saving the whole world from this death…” Onew’s voice chocked, and he felt the hot tears escaping down the side of his face.

“I’d pick you. Every time.” Onew breathed. Minho didn’t think anything of it. But he looked up to Onew, and gave him one of his stares. One of his steady stares that said he was so happy to know that Onew was alive in this world.

“I know Jinki.” Minho smiled as he said Onew’s true name. Onew’s heart clenched. He loved him. He loved him so much. But he couldn’t say it out loud. Their fate was too fragile to make such promises. So they held each other closer, trying to mold their bodies in to one, trying to stay one being for as long as possible. Because Onew knew that they didn’t have long. He could feel it in his bones. And all he knew was that he was going to make sure Minho stayed alive.

In the morning he knew things were not okay. There was something very wrong. He sat up abruptly and listened intently. It was quiet. Too quiet.  He knew what that meant. He jumped up from Minho’s side and rushed to the temple gates.

And then he stared in shock. The gate was unlocked. It was cracked open, and beyond that the small sound reached his ears, that small whisper that crept up to his senses. It was the small moan of the zombies as they approached slowly but surely. Oh god someone had forgotten to lock the gate when they first arrived! Onew dared to peek out of the gate doors, even though he knew what he would see. There were thousands of them, trudging toward where they smelled life. And they were far too close for him to lock it now. They would only knock it down.

If the temple’s front gates had been locked properly, they wouldn’t have smelled them. And they would have been safe. The temple was supposed to be safe.

Onew panicked for a second, watching as the ocean of dead bodies sauntered towards the temple walls. He didn't know if there were more of them surrounding the whole place, he didn't know of any other exits, he didn't know if he could save Minho this time.

He rushed away from the gate, slumming it shut and locking it. He had to try and by them sometime just for a bit. He ran over to where his companions still lay asleep. He couldn't stop himself from screaming for them to get the fuck up! To look for an exit! To find a way out or they were all going to be eaten the fuck alive. Jonghyun and Key rushed to the other side of the temple, Taemin and Sandara quickly gathered their belongings, while Minho and Onew readied themselves to face whatever zombies got through the gate first.

His heart stopped when the first thud boomed against the large doors. He felt his muscles coil and tense. The adrenaline unleashing itself like a shock of electricity. He was fully aware of everything, he could take on everything, he would fight for Minho if it meant losing everything.

“There's a back exit!” Jonghyun came running back in from one of the far halls.

“Where?” Onew asked, his crow bar gripped in his hand.

“Just down the—“ BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

It was like they were knocking. Onew could hear their fingers clawing at the doors, their bodies pushing against the thick wood.

“Barricade it!” Onew yelled and the three of them ran to push against the gate. Jonghyun immediately ordered for Taemin and Sandara to go meet Key at the back, and the two young children ran as fast as they could out of harm’s way. The three boys braced themselves against the wood with all their might. There was nothing else to barricade the gate with, no dressers or sofas in sight. They had nothing but their back strength to try and stop the walking dead from getting in and being able to eat them all.

“We should all let go on three and run for it!” Jonghyun yelled. Minho immediately agreed, and so did Onew. So Jonghyun quickly counted down from three, and when he said one, they quickly backed away from the gate as the wood gave a loud groan against the pressure. They all backed away...except Onew.

“Onew?” Minho skidded to a halt. He realized that there wasn’t a tidal wave of dead zombies chasing him, and he stared back at the boy he loved who was fighting with all his effort to keep the gate shut. His face filling with confusion as to why Onew had not let go of the gate. Why would Onew stay there and use himself to hold back the gate? Of course he knew the answer...but he did not want to believe that.

“Onew, come on!” Minho ran back to the gate, trying to pry the man he loved away from the death that knocked at the door. Onew shook his head. He had to make sure Minho could stay alive. If they all let go, they had no chance to even get to the middle of the temple before they were dragged down and eaten alive.  Which meant Minho didn't have a chance. And Onew was not letting that happen.

“I can't, go with Jonghyun. Get out.” Onew's voice strained as he pushed back against the wood, bending his knees to get leverage.

“I am not leaving you!” Minho gripped Onew's shoulders, his own form of panic was settling over him. He was not going to be without Onew. That just wasn’t possible.

“Jonghyun!” Onew called out, and Minho began to finally freak the fuck out. He was not going leave this man behind. He had grown up with him, they had been neighbors. They had been best friends. He was in love with this man. He could not leave this man behind. 

He desperately fought Jonghyun, who came back to tug Minho, trying to pull the younger boy away. No, not yet. Not like this. 

“Jonghyun, get him out of here!” Onew roared, his feet skidding as a much stronger force thrust in to the gate. He just needed to make sure Minho was safe. 

“Come on! If he doesn’t want to come we can’t save him!” Jonghyun was strong, but Minho’s love was much stronger. 

“NO! PLEASE!” Minho ripped away from the strong male and ran back to Onew. His arms instantly encasing the older boy in his hold.

“I don’t want to leave you.” Minho sobbed, his body shaking as the thoughts of not having Onew around scared him, “P-please come with me. Onew, please!” his cries radiated in to Onew’s neck, his tears wetting his shoulder. 

“No.” Onew answered with strength. He needed to do this. It was the only way. “I need you to keep going.” And he steadied his legs so that his hands could let go of the gate for a minute. So his hands could grip Minho’s face and make the younger boy look in to his eyes. With that gaze of his, just one last time. 

“I need to know that you are out there, somewhere, living Minho. I need that. Do you understand me?” Onew’s teeth clenched in restraint. He was trying to hold back his tears, trying to hold back death from erupting through the gates. 

“No.” Minho let out a pathetic whine. His fingers digging in to the older males shoulders. Not like this. He did not want to live in a world that did not have Onew. Desperate to keep Onew with him, just for a bit longer, he kissed him. Like it was the end of the world. Because it was, this was the end of his world. He knew he couldn’t convince Onew to leave with him. But he would still try. 

Onew gasped when Minho’s lips left his, the action sending a jolt of confirmation that this was the right thing to do.

“Let me stay with you. Please? I don’t want to live without y—“

“NO. Go now, hurry up!” Onew growled and tried to push Minho away. 

Minho felt abandoned, he felt lost. He feared the future. With no Onew, what was there to live for? As much as he wanted to stay with the older boy, as much as he wanted to cling to him and never let go, his feet began to drag him slowly away. His body turning away slowly and making him walk in the direction he never wanted to go. Away from Onew. 

“Minho?” his heart leaped at hope, as he quickly turned. Onew was still braced against the gate, still holding it closed. But he was looking at Minho, with that look. That look that said he was so happy that Minho was going to live. 

That he loved him. 

“I—I—still wouldn’t of saved anybody else. Always you. I’d always pick you.” Onew’s hot tears slowly fell on to his cheeks. He hoped from that distance that Minho couldn’t see them. That he didn’t see his strong protector breaking down. 

On the other hand, Minho was choking, sobbing, wishing that this was a horrible nightmare. He didn’t want to lose Onew, he felt like he could never lose Onew. And yet the reality was right there. 

He was never going to see him again. Ever. 

“I love you too.” Minho breathed, trying to wipe away his tears. Just one more look, he told himself. That was all he needed, was on more look. 

And there he was, his Onew. The little boy who had offered to help carry his backpack home after school, the boy that had first taught him how to smile when things got tough. The guy who always stumbled down their apartment steps, who would happily gobble down a chicken sandwich without a second thought. The man who had burst in to Minho’s classroom, who had come to save him. Out of the entire world full of people, Onew had ran across the school, just to save Minho.

Because he loved him. And he wouldn’t dare say it out loud. Because their fate was too fragile to make such promises. There he was, with his light hair, and soft skin. With his full lips and gently eyes. 

Onew looked up from the ground, to meet Minho’s gaze. He smiled. 

Minho loved that smile. And he would never forget it.

He felt his heart thud in his chest, the panic break out on to his skin in a sweat, his sobbing turn in to hyperventilating as he ran away. 

“I love you.” Onew finally whispered when Minho was long gone. “god I love you.” 

And he stepped forward, away from the gate, to answer to death as it came knocking. 
~End~



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A/N: so yeah...that was the most terrible thing I've ever written...no...second worst thing. i dont know whyyyy I decided to bust a zombie fic...ayjayajay. forgive me. hope you tried to enjoy that, comments are appreciated whether they are to tell me I sucked or not lol. still working on my other fic. alot of actual thought going in to this one but I think I'll be able to post the next chapter by next week. thank you to all who have supported me thus far :)