A Punch and a Drink

[esp_dragonv2]

Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Min-gyu was used to keeping a low profile to not draw attention, but he now has the attention of someone who seems completely on a different level compared to everyone else he's met before.
Notes: Bartender!M-21 and bouncer!Kentas AU.
Was going to be another snippet collection, but this might be a standalone for how M-21 first came to the bar and I make a different snippet collection afterwards.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: General
Word count: 4,816
Status: Work in progress



Min-gyu tried to draw air into his aching lungs, his shoulder throbbing. Yeah, he was a half-werewolf with enhanced healing, so the wound was already gone only leaving slashed fabric and dried blood to prove the attack had even happened, but the area still hurt.

"Get back here, lil pup!" echoed around him, and he gritted his teeth, pushing himself faster as his lungs burned. Smoking had hid his scent from others who could identify him by smell, but he'd smoked enough over the years that even his werewolf healing was starting to give up on his lungs. "You think you can get away after trespassing on our territory?"

There wasn't any other way to mask his scents that worked. He'd tried them.

He dashed down an alley, hoping-

A dead end.

Fuck.

It wasn't quite a dead end, a fluorescent purple sign declaring Dark Spear glowing in the darkness. Maybe he could hide in there for a few minutes. He glanced at his torn clothing. He would stand out, but maybe he wouldn't be bothered considering what area of town he was in.

The door was open and he ducked in.

A bar greeted him.

And it was completely empty.

He couldn't hide anywhere here.

"The bar is closed right now."

Min-gyu span, focusing on the bar again. There was a blond man there behind it, cleaning a glass. He had been so still, that must have been why Min-gyu had missed him at first glance.

"Uh. Sorry?" What else was he meant to fucking say? To have a normal conversation after what he was in the middle of felt like he'd stepped into another world. Should he leave now? Had enough time passed?

The door behind Min-gyu slammed open. "There you are!"

Min-gyu backed up a couple of steps. Three werewolves squeezed in through the door. Shit!

"Can I help you?" floated behind Min-gyu from the bartender.

What kind of fucking - it was so fucking obvious what was happening!

"You can be quiet and let us do our business," the one at the front snarled.

Couldn't transform here. Not in front of a human. Min-gyu wasn't part of the supernatural world properly, but he knew some of the rules at least.

"Yes, well, rowdy patrons aren't allowed in here, so you will be removed."

Like that was going to fucking work!

The second werewolf scoffed. "Who by? You?" She slammed a fist against a table. "Go ahead and try!"

In the silence that followed, Min-gyu swore he heard a sigh from the bartender, and he had to be imagining things.

Except the lights above them flickered, one by one shorting out.

No.

Only the ones over the werewolves, plunging them into darkness, while Min-gyu and the bartender were left surrounded in a halo of light.

But...the shadows were wrong. Too dark.

It was only a couple of feet away. Min-gyu should have been able to see where the lights had gone out, but it was like a cloak had just wrapped around him, completely blocking his vision from anything outside of the light.

Then the werewolves started screaming.

It wasn't just screaming. A cacophony of cackling surrounded Min-gyu, as if the room was filled with hundreds of people. There was the sound of wet tearing meat and a splatter of blood appeared at his feet. He took a step back, but made sure to stay within the light.

The screaming stopped as soon as it started, and the silence rang in Min-gyu's ears over his pounding heart and his harsh breathing. What the fuck had just happened? Magic? He thought it was flashier than that.

"Now then," the bartender said, his voice still light and measured as if that was a normal occurrence. Maybe it was for him. "I do believe we should have a chat."

Shit.

Min-gyu eyed the darkness. There was lapping noises coming from it now, like... Yeah. He couldn't go that way.

From one danger right into another.

At least this one hadn't tried to hurt him.

Yet.

If the bartender wanted to Min-gyu would have less chance of getting away compared to the werewolves.

Min-gyu walked towards the bartender and sat at one of the stools in front of the bar. "You're not human," Min-gyu said. That much was obvious.

The bartender chuckled as he set down his glass. "I'm very much human."

What? But he'd just - done whatever he'd done.

"But I am involved in the supernatural world."

The dark lights flickered purple and then came back on fully. Min-gyu looked back at where the werewolves had stood, but there was no sign of any violence there. The area was clean.

The only evidence left was the spots of blood where Min-gyu had stood.

The clink of glass hitting the bar counter. "Do you want a drink?"

Min-gyu wasn't sure. A drink sounded good right now after everything that had happened, but was he actually allowed to refuse? "Yeah. Give me whatever." He needed it.

The bartender smiled. "Excellent." He starting mixing something, his movements so smooth Min-gyu ad trouble keeping track. if the bartender slipped anything in there he wouldn't know until it was too late.

"I'm Frankenstein."

"Min-gyu," he said, watching Frankenstein pouring out a light blue-looking liquid from the mixer.

A spark and then purple flame floated on top of the drink before Frankenstein pushed the glass towards him. "Considering your entrance here, I take it you have no interest in joining a wolf pack."

Min-gyu grimaced. "No." He wasn't a full werewolf and he had no interest in taking or keeping territories. He blew out the fire, the glass already warm to the touch.

The drink was fruity, only burning slightly after he'd swallowed.

"Then would you like to work here?"

Min-gyu stared at him. "What?"

"Would you like to work here?" Frankenstein repeated, cleaning down the counter. "I can offer certain protections if you do."

He'd had worse proposals. "Nah," Min-gyu said, setting his glass down. "I'd just bring more trouble to you." Like he did with everyone. His hand drifted to his shoulder, checking it again.

Frankenstein's eyes followed his hand. "As you've seen, I can quite perfectly look after myself and the bar."

"What...was that?" The bar looked normal. No sigils across the walls or anything glowing out of place.

"That is Dark Spear." Frankenstein smiled again.

...Right. The name of the bar. Maybe there wasn't any sigils because it was the bar.

"I have spare shirts in the back if you want one."

Another offer. "I don't have any money for it." Enough for a drink, but that was stretching his limit already. He braced himself for what Frankenstein wanted in return.

Frankenstein chuckled. "I would have to be a rather shoddy business owner if I couldn't afford spare clothes."

Business owner. This was his bar?

"...I'm good." He could get another shirt. He glanced back at the front door. Would he be allowed to leave if he didn't take the top though?

"All right." Frankenstein nodded. "You can return whenever you wish if you change your mind about the job." Frankenstein paused. "Or even if you don't. This bar is a safe haven for those of the supernatural world, so long as you don't cause trouble."

Min-gyu narrowed his eyes at that phrasing. "And what if I bring trouble instead?" Like he'd just done.

A sharp smirk grew on Frankenstein's face. "As I said: this is a safe haven. I have little tolerance for bullies."

That much was obvious. Min-gyu's eyes were drawn to the door again and the-

The blood spots were gone. "Uh. Okay. I'll...go now."

"I hope to see you again."

Of course he did.

With every step closer to the door, Min-gyu stared at the lights, waiting to see if they would flicker or turn off.

They didn't, and Min-gyu breathed a sigh of relief as he closed the door outside behind him. It was dark here too, but he could see shapes, light glinting off sharp corners and puddles. It wasn't a total darkness here. That was safe, wasn't it?

Maybe.

He shook his head, moving again.

There was probably more werewolves in that pack roaming around.

* * *
Min-gyu tossed and turned in bed that night, but his mind didn't settle, going over what had just happened.

He'd always avoided joining a pack, but this felt different. It didn't involve werewolves, for a start.

He'd been tricked before though.

He should scope out the place more before he decided.

* * *
It took a couple of nights before Min-gyu entered the bar again. He'd gotten turned around while trying to run away that night with the werewolf pack and it was task in itself to find the bar.

Even before he opened the door, he could already hear people inside.

People were dotted around, each table occupied by at least one person, a gentle murmur filling Min-gyu's ears.

Frankenstein wasn't behind the bar, a younger man there instead with black hair with one white stripe. From across the room, Min-gyu could see his beaming smile.

That wasn't the only thing Min-gyu could see from across the room.

The bartender was semi-transformed, triangular ears sticking up past his hair.

And no-one else seemed to notice. Or care.

Frankenstein had said the bar was a safe place for supernaturals. To be physically safe, and they didn't have to hide from humans?

The bartender noticed him, flashing him a bright smile and waving for him to come closer.

He didn't like drawing attention, but he'd already been seen and he was going to end up at the bar one way or another, to ask information and to be a paying customer, so he went over. He could feel eyes on him as he walked past, his hair prickling, but he kept moving. He wasn't seen by werewolves, and that was what mattered. Maybe there were werewolves there, just ones that didn't want to start a fight. Or they hadn't sniffed him out yet.

Min-gyu patted his pocket for a packet of smokes out of habit at the thought.

"Haven't seen your face around here before, stranger. I'm Tao." Somehow the bartender's smile was even brighter close up, his fangs showing as well, slitted eyes clear against his light blue eyes. "What're you having?"

"That's because I don't hang about in bars." Too risky of getting sniffed out. "How's your boss?"

Tao stilled, his expression freezing for a second. "He's good! Pays well, entertains all the ideas I have and-" He trailed off, sniffing the air.

Ah, fuck. When was the last time Min-gyu had smoked? He should have done it right before he entered the bar.

"Dooo you wanna meet him?" Tao peered at him through his hair, finger tapping on the glass he was holding, his sleek twin-tipped tail flicking behind him.

Min-gyu shook his head. "I already did."

At that, Tao relaxed, ears flicking in a circle before staying upright again. "Phew! Okay, cool, I thought you were gonna try and start trouble. Takes ages to clean up the mess." Tao wrinkled his nose.

That was weird. "I thought..." Min-gyu glanced around in case someone was close enough to overhear. There wasn't, but he lowered his voice anyway. With supernaturals, it was hard to tell what could be overheard. "It was taken care of?"

Tao frowned. "No? Well, it is by us, but if you mean like-" His eyes widened. "Were you alone?"

"Yeah." ...Right. if there was anyone else in the bar at the time, Dark Spear would have probably killed them too.

Tao nodded. "He calls on help when it's like that since it's cleaner and less mess. He usually deals with things himself."

"...But he's human." A regular human wouldn't be able to stand up to a supernatural themself.

Tao snickered, ears quivering. "Boss might be human, but he's definitely not normal."

No, he wasn't.

"So what're you havin'?" Tao asked, tossing his mixer between his hands.

Fine. He had to be a paying customer to stay, and Tao had answered his questions.

* * *
Min-gyu bounced his foot off the floor, reaching for his pocket again.

He'd known about places where supernaturals gathered but had never found any - he'd assumed it was invite only, knowing the right people or be the right species. Not somewhere someone could just walk in from the street.

The bar had gotten busier since he'd first entered, more people coming up to Tao to order, fighting to be heard over anyone else. Enough to see more people dotted around who weren't hiding what made them stick out as not human. Or they were the ones who weren't able to hide what they were.

More people were glancing at him too.

He'd already went out for a smoke but how long ago had that been?

Long enough.

It didn't matter if he was feeling cravings or the others were starting to smell him - he needed a smoke.

He should leave anyway - he'd gotten the information he wanted.

* * *
Min-gyu couldn't sleep again, staring up at his ceiling.

It had been weird in the bar, being surrounded by supernaturals and none of them caring he was there. Probably because they didn't know what he was.

He didn't really belong in either world. He knew too much and saw too much, his reflexes and strength too different from a human's to be normal, but too human and too weak to be a proper werewolf, and others were worried about him starting a fight as soon as they found out what he was. Or he got jumped instead.

Between looking weird for a second against waiting for the next fight to start, it was better if he stayed amongst humans.

It had worked for him so far.

* * *
Min-gyu zipped up his jacket against the chill after he left work, fingers already digging into his pocket. That had felt too long and he'd been counting down the minutes until the end of the shift.

He was free now. He just had to make it home and-

He lifted his eyes as he lit his cigarette, seeing three people down the street. They were stood there, waiting. The wind shifted, blowing behind Min-gyu and he saw them tense, turning around to look at him. As soon as they saw him, they starting coming over.

They passed under a streetlight, revealing their faces more. Shit.

They were a couple of the werewolves who had chased him last week!

He span on his heel and ran, dropping everything, already hearing the werewolves chasing his heels.

"Hey! What the hell did you do to our mates?"

Shit.

They'd tracked him down to his work? Or they'd just found him?

Didn't matter. He needed to get away.

A howl behind him.

Calling for the others.

How the fuck was he getting out of this?

He wasn't.

Normally, he'd just leave the territory, find somewhere else to live.

This time werewolves had died.

And the last time they'd been seen was chasing after him.

He was fucking dead.

Should he go back home and get his grab bag? Was there any point?

He might still make i-

"There you are!"

A blur in his periphery and then a hand grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking him back hard enough to lift him off his feet. He slammed into a wall and if that hadn't already knocked the wind out of him, he was pinned in place by the werewolf's aura.

"Where's your pack?" the werewolf snarled, close enough Min-gyu could see her slitted eyes, wrapping a hand around Min-gyu's neck. "There's no way you took out even one of them by yourself!"

He wanted to laugh. How the fuck was he meant to answer if he couldn't fucking breathe, and one person had taken three of them himself!

He hissed instead as the werewolf squeezed, claws digging into his skin.

The werewolf had transformed. There wasn't anyone else around.

Min-gyu transformed, slicing his claws through the werewolf's wrist. He was dropped with a yelp and Min-gyu shoved his shoulder into the werewolf's chest as soon as he touched the ground, making the werewolf stumble.

That gave enough space for Min-gyu to dash away.

He got a couple of steps before he felt the werewolf's aura pressing on him, just before he threw himself to the side. The werewolf's slash on caught his arm instead of his back. Or his head.

This was fine. He could still move.

Min-gyu gritted his teeth, forcing one leg in front of the other. He had to put as much distance between them as much as-

He span around a corner and slammed into someone.

Shitshitshit!

Heart thundering around his ears, he tried to recover, but he heard more werewolves jumping down behind him, and the person hadn't moved when he ran into them so it had to be another werewolf, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as he tried to bolt past them.

He was trapped.

"My, my, it is loud here, isn't it?"

That wasn't a werewolf.

It was Frankenstein.

"Get lost, human," one of the werewolves behind them said. "This is werewolf business."

"And it's my business when you're causing such a ruckus in my neighbourhood. My 'territory', as it were."

Frankenstein was staring down a bunch of werewolves without hesitating. He couldn't control Dark Spear here? ...Could he? What kind of human was he?

His territory. Did a human's territory matter to a werewolf? It might if it was a human who could kill them with ease.

Frankenstein's arm was still around Min-gyu, and should he try to run now? Leave Frankenstein to deal with them?

"Tch." The werewolf at the front with pink shoulder-length hair lifted his lip, baring his fangs. "We were chasing him off our territory a couple of days ago and we haven't seen a few of our packmates since then." The werewolf focused on Min-gyu. "His pack must have done it."

He didn't have a pack! It had to be obvious!

"Oh, no," Frankenstein said with a laugh. "That was me. As you see, this is my business and I'm directly involved.

He was just - he was just admitting that?

And yet, the werewolves weren't jumping to attack Frankenstein.

Frankenstein stared them down, still smiling. "They were being disruptive in my bar and. Well." He curled his own lip, baring his teeth. "You know I don't like that."

A chorus of low growls surrounded them, but none of the werewolves stepped forward to challenge him.

How strong was Frankenstein? None of the werewolves wanted to fight him?

"Now that's been cleared up," Frankenstein said, turning around, steering Min-gyu with him, "you can go now."

Min-gyu didn't know if he should pull away or keep going with Frankenstein, hating that he had his back to the werewolves.

One step. Two steps. Stop. Frankenstein looked over his shoulder at them. "Please remind the rest of your pack of what the rules are in my territory, and how to interact with others, hm?"

Min-gyu stared at him. Was he seriously chiding their behaviour?

"...We will."

Min-gyu heard the werewolves leave, but Frankenstein didn't let him go, walking again.

"Uh. Thanks." Because what the fuck else was he meant to say after all that?

"No," Frankenstein said with a sigh, "I should be the one apologising."

What.

"I caused this mess," Frankenstein continued. "It's my fault the werewolves were targetting you, and for that, I apologise."

Min-gyu stared at him. Did Frankenstein really think it was because of him? "No." He shook his head. "They'd go after my anyway."

He glanced around. It seemed empty right now. "I should go before they come back."

Frankenstein still didn't get go of him. "They won't, but I won't let you walk around with injuries like that." His eyes drifted to Min-gyu's arm.

"It's fine," Min-gyu said, shrugging. He barely felt it. "It's mostly healed now." Frankenstein had to know what he was, right? But if he was human, he wouldn't be able to smell what Min-gyu was.

"'Mostly'," Frankenstein repeated with a raised eyebrow, making Min-gyu look away. "You may be physically healed, but it still hurts, yes?"

"Well..." Min-gyu trailed off and then sighed. "Thanks, but I shouldn't stay near you." He tried to push away but Frankenstein's grip didn't slip. "I'll keep bringing werewolves to your door. They'll always sniff me out." Eventually he would be too much of a burden to keep around. It was what always happened.

Frankenstein hummed. "Then what if they can't?"

At that, Min-gyu barked out a laugh. "I've tried everything." Everything he could think of and anything he could get his hands on.

"I may have something that works for you."

...Frankenstein wasn't going to accept a 'no'.

"Fine." May as well play along until he figured out how to get away or Frankenstein realised how much trouble he really was.

* * *
Frankenstein's office was spacious, books lining the walls, though Min-gyu couldn't think why a bar owner would have that many.

The chair didn't squeak when Min-gyu sat on it, and he felt out of place, everything too clean and neat. He checked his arm to make sure he wasn't dripping blood on anything.

"Can I look at it?" Frankenstein asked as he set a tray down on his desk. There was antiseptic on the tray on one side as well as bandages; on the other side was a plate of food.

Min-gyu shrugged. "Nothing to look at - it's healed over." He pulled back his sleeve, showing off unbroken skin.

Frankenstein studied his arm anyway, lingering on the scars that dotted around Min-gyu's arm. There had been a few fights where the werewolves' claws had gotten in deep and his healing wasn't as strong. He covered his arm again, pulling it away from Frankenstein's eyes.

Frankenstein cleared his throat, handing him the plate. "To keep your strength up."

Min-gyu would have refused but his stomach was a fucking traitor and rumbled at the smell. He hadn't smelled anything like that before. There hadn't been time to eat at work and healing always drained him. "Thanks."

While he inhaled the food, Frankenstein searched through one of his drawers. He brought out an unmarked glass bottle of what looked like cologne and set it on the desk with a soft 'thunk'.

Hm.

"This can help to mask your scent so that you won't have to keep smoking instead."

Seemed too good to be true, and that was usually the case.

Min-gyu took off the lid and sniffed. Nothing. That didn't mean anything. It could just be water in there for all he knew.

"Try it on your food."

Min-gyu narrowed his eyes at the bottle. Was that safe? Was he poisoning himself?

There was no reason for Frankenstein to do that though, if Frankenstein could make him disappear with no trace left.

Min-gyu sprayed his food. There. He'd done it. He breathed in and-

Nothing.

He could still feel the heat rising from it, still see the food, but it was like the food itself was gone.

Frankenstein was waiting patiently at his desk when Min-gyu looked up again.

"Yeah. Okay. It works." If Frankenstein had this, was he really human? Was he hiding what he really was?

Frankenstein beamed.

"You just had this lying around?" Why else would Frankenstein have it unless he was using it?

"Oh no, I made it." The smile turned proud.

He... Frankenstein made it. He just knew how to make a potion or whatever this was that could hide scents? Who the fuck was he? "Why?" Min-gyu asked, sniffing the food again. Still nothing. The smell wasn't coming back. It seemed normal.

"I figured you might need it."

Min-gyu stared at him. Frankenstein...had made it for him...? After meeting him once?

Was it that obvious how desperate he wanted to hide?

Min-gyu slumped, setting his chopsticks down. "What do you want for it?" What did Frankenstein want him to do?

He couldn't step away from this, if there was a chance he might actually be able to hide from werewolves.

"I don't want anything for it." A 'favour' then. Something that couldn't be tracked back to Frankenstein. "Though it would be easier for you to pick up refills if you stayed within the city."

Frankenstein didn't want anything for it. He was giving it to Min-gyu for free?

"My offer is still open for you to work here though," Frankenstein continued.

Min-gyu couldn't think properly, trying to understand what Frankenstein was wanting, how Frankenstein thought. None of this made sense. "Why are you doing this...?"

Frankenstein's features softened. "Because you need help and I have the ability to do so. Working here means you're under my protection, and even without this-" Frankenstein nodded towards the bottle. "-werewolves will leave you alone."

He made it sound so simple. So easy.

"I've never worked in a bar before," Min-gyu hedged, poking at his food again, a waft of its scent coming through. Only the top layer was affected. How long would it last for? He couldn't eat it though, not when he was figuring out what was happening. He didn't know what was done in a bar.

Frankenstein chuckled, pouring out two drinks and Min-gyu watched the liquid flow and settle in the pristine glass. "Everyone starts something completely new - I wouldn't expect you to know everything, especially when I've thrown it at you so suddenly."

Then what...?

"There are a number of jobs here you can trial, and I have a few administration roles somewhere else. You can try each one until you find something that suits you."

"You don't know me," Min-gyu said, frowning, suspicious thoughts rising again. "I could be completely useless working here. Or try to steal something." He have to be fucking stupid to do that, but there were others who were desperate for other reasons and be willing to try. "You didn't ask for references." This place looked like it asked for that.

Frankenstein tented his fingers together, peering at him in a way that made Min-gyu feel like he was seeing right through him.

Min-gyu squirmed.

"And if I were to ask for references?"

"...Fuck." Min-gyu wouldn't be able to give any. Not when he moved every couple of weeks or months, dropping out of contact or never being in contact in the first place.

"As for not knowing anything about you, hmm..." Frankenstein trailed off, his eyes drifting. He started counting off his fingers. "You're resourceful, being able to stay out of being forced into a pack or killed, as well as using what you can to your advantage to stay hidden."

...Okay, put it that way, that sounded like a good trait. But he'd had to do that so he wouldn't be killed.

Another finger ticked off. "You're quick thinking under pressure."

Again, he needed to be to survive.

"You know when to ask when you're not sure and how to get more information."

How did he - was he talking about when Min-gyu had gone to the bar and met Tao? Had that really looked like-? But he needed to know more! Which was exactly what Frankenstein was saying.

Another finger. "You're open to trying new things."

More like because he wasn't allowed to leave and he was desperate for protection.

But Frankenstein had allowed him to leave before, so probably would have let him again if Min-gyu had asked.

"And," Frankenstein said, "you know your manners and how to interact well with others without resorting to threats or violence." He smiled. "Overall, I think you'd be a good fit here."

And that was apparently the most important ability here.

Min-gyu stared at him, turning over everything Frankenstein had just said.

"Do you disagree?"

Min-gyu exhaled, running a hand through his hair. Where had Frankenstein been when he'd been trying to fill out application forms?

It didn't sound like him. What Frankenstein said was right, but he'd never span it out like that. Those were just things he did.

"I...guess I don't." He agreed with the traits, but not the reasoning. Or if he'd really proved that.

"Then welcome to Dark Spear." Frankenstein lifted his glass, smiling.

Min-gyu hesitated and then picked up the other glass Frankenstein had poured out for him, feeling the edges of the cut glass. He clinked Frankenstein's glass and drank.

He wasn't sure what was going to happen, but... It would be nice not to be on the run for a while.