When the message to get ready for his first rift with Tenebra appeared on Yunho's phone, he was as ready as he could hope to be.

His clothing arrived the day prior and Wooyoung already had him try everything on in case he needed to order a different size. In black cargo pants and biker boots, Yunho shrugged a black jacket over a matching shirt and put on his glasses.

As discussed, he found Jongho and a van downstairs. Some other espers and guides were already piled inside, all lower in rank.

"This rift is small enough that Tenebra will take care of it without Auresce's involvement, so you guys can relax," Jongho greeted them when they all found their seats. The guides found their weapons below the seats and readied up as the van took off.

Yunho sat with clammy fingers clutched to his knees. He barely heard Jongho's voice through the rush of his blood, but he tried to concentrate on the details.

This was a D-rank rift, which meant simple work. They brought an A-rank esper with electric powers just to be safe and everyone was positive to be done before noon and made plans for lunch already.

Yunho took a deep breath. This was nothing much. With everyone working together, no one had to get hurt.

"Yunho, I would like you to help set up the barricades and stay back. If an opportunity arises for you to test you skill, we move in, but otherwise we observe from a distance," Jongho ultimately addressed him and Yunho nodded jerkily. He rarely got car sick, but he felt like throwing up right now.

They arrived soon since the rift was so near to their headquarters. When Jongho thrust the doors open to shoo them out into the light, Yunho stumbled over his feet.

The rift didn't open yet, but another car with people already arrived and they started to assemble a fence around the area. Just as Yunho gathered his bearings and shuffled ahead to help them, the growl of another engine chased down a near alley.

A black motorcycle emerged with a smooth arch, curving around the barrier to come to a halt at a nearby building. The driver wore all black, including their helmet and gloves.

Yunho picked up a piece of the fence and pricked his ears to the mumbles near him.

"He is here today? What? But this is such a small rift?!" Someone hissed, both wary and excited. Since Yunho guessed it was about the rider, he peeked up at them when they swung a long leg over their vehicle. The helmet came off to unveil shining white hair and Mingi shook it out before he put on his sunglasses and stalked over to Jongho for a chat.

Yunho was just as stumped. Why was he here? He looked great today as well, standing out among everyone else with his special features, as if his healing attracted every tormented soul nearby.

"Should I get stabbed so he can fix me up?" Someone joked and Yunho kept his lips sealed, blending in since he wouldn't risk negative attention again.

The girls snickered as they finished setting up the barrier.

"Since he takes anyone..."

Yunho was glad to see them spread out when red filled the skies, and the rift opened. Jongho spawned next to him so they could duck into an alley, keeping their eyes on the emerging demons.

Tenebra spread out over the roofs and the corners hiding from the rift. All weapons were drawn and the buzz of the barrier kept away possible curious loiterers who hadn't found shelter yet, and would fry the demons upon touch.

Mingi had disappeared, but Yunho didn't ponder what he was doing. Too many horrors revived in his mind when gnarly arms reached from the hole in the sky, winding to break free. He felt the shots again, saw Bora's eyes before him when the claws sliced into her.

Yunho hadn't noticed how much he trembled until Jongho placed a hand on his back. His touch offered instant relief, sharpening the dull throb of Yunho's mind.

He had to concentrate. He was here, so nothing like that would ever happen again.

Shaking off the spell that tensed every muscle in his body, Yunho focused his gaze on the fumbling horde making their way out into the human world only to get struck right down. Their inhumane screeches rang in his air and their stench of fouling flesh would never leave his nose.

Jongho carried a gun and shot at a few demons from a distance. His posture was steady and not cramped, confident in what he was doing.

While every bone in Yunho wanted to run and hide somewhere, never look back to this harrowing life, he also admired the security of this guide. Even without super powers, he wanted to protect.

"Are you up for it, Yunho? Try to immobilise one," Jongho suggested when he noticed his gaze.

They spotted the same enemy and a beckon of Jongho's hand ceased the fire on it. Foaming around its massive jaws, it scrambled their way on all fours. Red eyes thirsted for guts and blood.

Yunho frowned when he strained on it. He felt its movements get heavier, his own pulse slow when their connection was made. Eyes locked to convey such differences.

But it wasn't Hongjoong who held politely still for him. At its violent screech and a sudden jerk on Yunho's limbs, he stumbled, losing eye contact. His own arm hit him in the face and his glasses went flying.

Jongho's shots banged through the air. Yunho knocked into a soft obstacle when he tried to regain his footing. Moments later, long fingers pressed his glasses into his hand.

When Yunho put them back on, he realised Mingi had wrapped an arm around him to hold him on his feet. And though Yunho was a huge guy who rarely felt small, part of him wanted to duck into Mingi's leather jacket to hide away there.

His voice was neither disappointed nor proud of Yunho.

"Go ahead, Jongho. I'll keep an eye on him."

When the guide dashed from their side to clear up the hubris and confirm the rift was closing, Mingi tugged Yunho away from the stench. His trembling was less severe than it should have been after what he went through. It was eerie how guiding eased even his trauma, but he needed to get numb to it to keep his sanity in a career like this.

"Glasses are a dangerous gamble out in battle," Mingi said when he nudged past the fence, energy crackling harmlessly over their human skin.

"I need them to see," Yunho mumbled, embarrassed that Mingi needed to spot that failure. Despite telling Yunho to take his time and build up trust, he would expect results. If he was truly B-class, Yunho shouldn't have issues restraining a single C-class demon.

"Have Yeosang prescribe you contact lenses. They didn't help you at all just now."

Mingi had a point, and it had happened in the past. Better wear contact lenses when anything could hit his glasses and make him near useless on the field. Not that it would stop Yunho from holding back allies from defending themselves.

Gnawing on his lip, Yunho followed Mingi to the van. The red glow let up as the wound in the sky sealed back up, too weak to sustain itself forever. No injuries, as far as Yunho noticed. Tenebra got busy cleaning up the mess and burning the bodies.

Mingi turned to Yunho and though he couldn't see through the dark of his sunglasses, Yunho knew he was getting scrutinised. He didn't feel as hysterical as he might have been without Jongho there, but he was still terrified of this life. Maybe he could ask Yeosang for some medication to take when he meditated. It worked best so far.

"You are anxious. Do you need guiding?" Mingi didn't hesitate to address it, and Yunho shook his head quick enough that his mind started spinning.

"N-No... It's so vulgar," he insisted, not giving in and perhaps he never might.

But Mingi chuckled with that deep voice of his.

"Way to make me look like a whore."

The panic that washed over Yunho was refreshing and soberingly frigid. He lifted hasty hands as an apology.

He didn't look down on guides. But his vehement refusal might just be taken as such.

"I didn't mean it that way! You do important work! Espers go crazy without you! But... I just can't," he sighed to himself. A touch was fine, but anything beyond that should be reserved for a relationship. Maybe if he met a guide naturally, and they started dating, maybe then... No. That would still mean making use of them.

Mingi took a bold step in Yunho's direction. His pleasant scent followed, clearing out Yunho's airways until he could breathe again. He gulped.

An arm leaned against the side of the car by his side. Mingi supported himself on his elbow, just the right height to do this to Yunho. Where his sleeve rode up, tattooed skin peeked between black fabric.

Yunho didn't dare move away, too scared to break some unspoken rule. A grin played around Mingi's lips, too mischievous to be genuinely offended. With Yunho trapped like a salt pillar, he hovered their faces close.

His breath smelled of toothpaste. Yunho's mouth was the Sahara desert.

"You don't have to make it a big deal. Love only your lover. But don't break yourself on needless values. This is no prostitution," Mingi rumbled, peering at Yunho over his glasses with eyes rimmed with dark liner to accentuate their shape.

Yunho might as well have frozen himself he stood so still. They weren't touching, but Mingi was so close in his black turtleneck, the pleasant scent and that attractive body that exuded confidence and healing.

"It's all a matter of practice," he purred, since Yunho lost his ability to move his tongue. He could only stare through his glasses with wide eyes, picking up on every strand of Mingi's hair and the buttons on his jacket.

"Do it with me if you hate doing it with everyone else. You know it feels good," was his next suggestion and poor Yunho flushed all over.

Mingi's laughter was throaty. His smiling lips trailed so close, never touching Yunho without his consent.

Yunho held onto his fists for dear life.

What if someone saw them and thought Mingi was doing something inappropriate? What if people would bombard Yunho with their obscene questions?

When he pinched his eyes shut with fear, Mingi stepped back. Taking away the tempting lure of healing. Yunho instinctively leaned in his direction, but he caught himself and fell back against the side of the car. His legs felt like jelly, and nothing even happened.

Was this a scolding?

"My contract forces me to take you against your will if you make yourself go so mad, you endanger the team. Do us all a favour and muster the courage. You know where to find me," Mingi suggested as he opened the back of the van and retrieved his helmet. He came back just when Jongho jogged over, glancing at the stuffed Yunho looking into nothingness next to the car.

"The area is secure. All demons have been neutralised," Jongho reported, and Mingi patted his shoulder.

"Good job. Get home and order some good food. No classes in the afternoon," Mingi dismissed them, and Jongho grinned at his retreating back when he made for his motorcycle.

Mingi looked at Yunho again, between taking off his glasses and putting on his helmet. Studying him with those eyes that knew exactly what he needed.

With a wry smirk, he turned. He kicked his machine on and zoomed off before the other espers could come running to gape at him. Some bummed-out groans quickly turned into cheers when Jongho relayed his message.

Yunho felt removed from reality on the way home, barely listening to anyone. This time, he wasn't scared. He successfully lost every panic about the rift at Mingi's bold offer. It tingled under his skin and whispered in his mind as if he were possessed by some demonic creature instead of his boss making a very reasonable claim about the importance of guiding.

Yunho buried his face in his hands, ashamed of himself and of needing special treatment. It was hard not to give in when Mingi was absolutely right and Yunho knew how good his guiding felt.

And damn if those stupid espers who kept making raunchy comments weren't right.

Mingi's ass had looked great on his motorcycle.