jalousied | switch

au; ot5 with onho hints; pg
1271 words
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a/n: this is based on this edit i made.

It’s the fourth day and they are starting to get used to the bright artificial lighting.

Yesterday, they had thought about why they had different switches embedded in them and they concluded that the type of switch they have on their bodies dictates the way they will die when it is switched off. They cannot prove it, for no one dare try it out with any of the members. But somehow it makes sense.

Kibum still doesn’t trust anyone, his back always against a wall in fear that someone will jokingly flip his switch. His type of switch is the easiest to move, making him the most vulnerable of the bunch. They concluded before that his switch indicates that he’ll be out like a light the moment someone hits his switch. It kind of irks Kibum that he’s considered the weakest link among them, and he refuses to ask for anyone’s assistance or help or plain companionship, opting to sulk in a corner and watching everyone with sharp, suspicious eyes.

Taemin is still hyper, his energy never dwindling as he walks around the cell, disguised as a small lodging with a garden, a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area. He inspects every nook and cranny in the hopes of escaping, and even looks for the hidden cameras inside the cell and tries to destroy them. Everyone’s worried that his little antics will put him in danger or accidentally move his switch. Thankfully, his switch is that of a wheel that needs to be cranked forcefully before it can turn (Jonghyun tried, much to Taemin’s panic. The kid never went near Jonghyun again). They have concluded that Taemin will probably die like he’s being gas poisoned, as if turning his wheel will inject some sort of gas into his system that can paralyze him. It won’t be as fast as Kibum’s but he probably won’t feel any pain. Despite learning about that, Taemin still remains nonchalant about the entire thing, bothering the others with mundane things and worrying about food, as if his life isn’t hanging in a balance.

Jonghyun sits on the dining table, humming as he writes down random words in his notebook. He usually talks with Jinki or Kibum when he’s not busy being a sappy romantic and writing out cheesy lines. His back is out in the open and anyone who passes by him can actually pull down his switch but it seems that he doesn’t care. They have concluded that he’ll probably die as if electrocuted, because his switch is like those in fuse boxes. Jonghyun doesn’t think much of it, but he does tell Minho when they are alone that sometimes his fingers feel numb, that maybe some of the electricity are already seeping in into his body without him knowing.

Jinki sits alone in the garden, head cast down as he looks at his own legs. His switch is also out in the open, but he is strong enough to pull away anyone who tries to get near his switch. His is made like a clockwork crank, and they have concluded that he is probably the one who will die the slowest. The crank, once turned, will turn around slowly until it fully stops. Jinki said he might die by asphyxiation, with the turning of the crank closing up his throat gradually. It’s gross, Kibum complained then but Jinki only smiled.

Come to think of it, Jinki is the only one who smiles a lot in the group. Everyone is overly jumpy or panicky or scared, but Jinki still manages to cheer them up, even with corny jokes, and talk with them whatever their worries are. Most of their worries involve their lost memories, and Jinki listens to them with understanding eyes and tells them that maybe after they get out of the cell, they can start looking for their memories.

It’s like a far too cheerful promise, but Minho’s willing to absorb any sort of optimism in their situation. He couldn’t remember anything at all except being stuck here with these strangers. Like them, he doesn’t fully trust the others, but he’s not so stupid to fight with them when there’s a vulnerable part of him revealed to them. Still, everything is making him restless so he decided to sit with Jinki and discuss their options. It is the fourth day after all—just how long are they planning to keep them here?

Minho sits beside Jinki in the garden, unspeaking and unmoving as he waits for Jinki to acknowledge him. But surprisingly, Jinki remains in the same posture, staring at his feet and heaving shallow breaths. It makes Minho worried that their usually cheerful leader is behaving this way.

"Hyung?" he asks, a bit unsure.

There is a long silence before Jinki speaks, looking up at Minho with clear eyes. “Minho-yah. I have a request. Will you do it?”

"I’ll do anything for you, hyung, because you’re probably the only one I trust here," Minho quietly says, making sure none of the others has heard. "What is it?"

Jinki swallows and takes a deep breath before smiling. “I want you to turn my switch.”

There’s a sudden pain in Minho’s chest as he blinks and grabs Jinki’s hand. “Hyung. Hyung! What are you saying?”

"There’s no point, Minho. No point for me to be here. If I’m going to die slowly anyway, I want to start it now."

Minho grips Jinki’s wrist. Sweat starts forming in his brow as panic rises in his chest. “You’re just frustrated. It’s because it’s the fourth day without any sort of report from outside. We all feel frustrated, hyung. But you don’t have to think like this.”

Jinki pulls away and shakes his head, slumping at the edge of the bench. “No, Minho. You don’t understand. It’s inevitable that one of us will die and I don’t want to see any of you disappear.” Tears start to choke the leader’s voice. “If…If I’m going to die slowly, I don’t want to die alone, Minho-yah. So please…”

Tears stinging his eyes, Minho slides forward to hold Jinki closer. “Ssshh, please don’t say this, hyung. Don’t make me do it.” He snakes a hand through Jinki’s hair. “Remember? We have to leave this cell unscathed and we’ll retrace our memories, right? Whatever those memories are, we’ll find them, right?”

Jinki grasps the sleeve of Minho’s shirt. “Minho-yah. This test…I don’t even know if I’m part of it or I’m here for another purpose.” He gulps a bit of air as he sniffled.

Minho stops running hands over Jinki’s back. “….What do you mean, hyung?” He tries to pry Jinki away from his chest to look at the older man’s eyes, but Jinki wouldn’t let go of his arms.

"It’s just that…the memories you lost," Jinki whispers as he buries his face in Minho’s shoulder.

"You mean the memories they removed from us? What about them, hyung?"

Jinki grips Minho’s shirt and pulls him even closer, if possible. The leader’s voice is soft and afraid.

"I still have them. Minho, I still remember everything…"

Minho stiffens for a bit, letting Jinki weep into his shoulder. Slowly, his hands slid towards the crank on Jinki’s back.

"What do you remember, Jinki-hyung?"

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