Chapter Text
“Every time I close my eyes, it's always been you—”
ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ˗ˏˋ ✸ ˎˊ˗ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ
The sun rose—caught in a loop of shining and dimming. Yet, Alberu Crossman could not help but drift back to sleep as the bed welcomed his embrace.
Lost in the comfort his blanket provided, a sudden pair of fingertips brushed gently through his hair, disturbing his slumber.
Through that action, Alberu could not help but frown.
'How dare someone disturb his nap?!'
But then—
'Wait—fuck, don't tell me!'
Alberu's eyes flew open wide when a sudden face appeared mere inches apart from him. However, despite the shock the person gave him, he maintained his usual stoic face and muttered,
“You're finally awake, my shining sun.”
Cale softly hummed, wearing a grin Alberu would love to smack—if it weren't for the fact he had just woken up.
And just like that, Alberu's chaotic morning started with a shout:
“Seriously, Cale?!”
Still, it cannot be denied—
The sun shone brightly the moment he saw his annoyingly delicate flower.
“Ouch, my ears, hyung.” Cale complained, a frown forming between his eyebrows.
Again, it cannot be denied—the eyes reflected warmth, warmth solely directed at Alberu, who could not help but let himself get lost in the moment.
Noticing how dazed Alberu got lost in a trance, Cale could not help but chuckle at his shining sun. In one swift motion, he leaned closer to his 'hyung,' determined to wake this person up completely.
Alberu, still caught in that trance, suddenly felt a soft touch press his forehead. It was brief—barely a second—yet to him, it took an eternity that made him halt his breath from the warm sensation it left behind.
Realizing what Cale had done, Alberu could only panic internally as he tried to hide his flushed face behind both palms.
'Shit. I'm this down bad that it's embarrassing.'
As if he couldn't handle it anymore, Alberu embarrassingly said so.
“Seriously, Cale? It's still morning!”
In a grumble, Alberu heard Cale laugh, which only made him want to bury himself deeper into the bed—to hide his every pathetic little act.
“Hyung, come on. Shouldn't you get used to this?” Cale said in a teasing tone.
“Ugh, shut up.”
Still hiding his face, Alberu noticed a shuffle in the bedding. Wondering what Cale was about to do, he was just about to take a peek—
When he suddenly felt a weight on top of him.
His eyes widen in shock as he pulls his hands off his face and looks down, only to find a face is lying down against his chest—comfortably so.
'The audacity of this delicate flower to lay his hands on the crown prince!!!'
Yet unlike his thoughts, Alberu's lips were quivering from the satisfaction he felt from Cale's cute little acts.
As he sighed in satisfaction, Alberu couldn't help but wonder why Cale was acting so lovely.
'No. He doesn't even do this often. He rarely acts like this… so why?'
Confused, Alberu decided to ask the person who had stirred up his morning.
“So, why are you here, Cale?”
“Wow, hyung. Did you forget what date it is today?” Cale gave him a deadpan look as Alberu encircled his arms around Cale's waist.
Yet, that only made Alberu more confused than ever.
Cale, noticing that clueless expression, couldn't help but grumble—earning Alberu a quiet 'tch'
In the end, Cale's eyes narrowed before finally deciding to give him a hint on what he wants for today.
“It's m̶̙̺͙̑́̕γ̷͇̥̼̄̀͠ ̴̡͍͔͐̿͗b̷͙̘̱́̀̊ɘ̸͙̝̘̐̔̐ɒ̴͍͕̻̈́̋͝Ɉ̵͓͚͐̅̋͜ʜ̴͍̝̜̿̕͠ ̴̧̣̝̏̂̽ɒ̴͕̜͕̿̒̑ṅ̴̥̘̰̋̓n̸͕̠̥͛͌̀ì̵͓̗̀̇͜v̸̪͇̲͛̈̕ɘ̴̪͙̮̊̔͆ɿ̵̩̭̩̎̉̀ƨ̶̻̮̤̓́̉ɒ̶̢͉͕̔̃̐ɿ̶̙̱͈̉̿͛γ̴͈͓̳̂́̄ Valentines day, Your Highness”
Cale mumbled as he slowly broke away from Alberu's embrace and rolled to the other side of the bed, lying cozily.
Alberu lifted himself up and sat, never taking his eyes off on his delicate flower. He waited for Cale's next words—
“Let's date, hyung.” Cale continued, looking straight into Alberu's eyes.
It was so endearing—so unbearably lovable—that Alberu couldn't help but smile gently. He lowered his head toward his delicate flower and replied,
“Sure, my dearest.”
And with that, he softly pressed his lips against Cale—full of warmth, carrying silent depths of love that couldn't help but shine brightly for the sole flower beneath him.
“Then get ready already, my shining sun.” Cale mumbled as he slowly lifted his hand—reaching toward Alberu's cheek and caressing it gently.
With such acts, Alberu leaned into the touch, cherishing every moment he had with Cale, and thought,
'Ah… I hope this moment lasts for a long time.'
May I bathe myself in this fleeting moment,
To drown in those reddish-brown eyes I'll forever cherish,
At this point in time—where my fingertips can reach you,
Yes, you—who now seem untouchable,
To feel your lips against mine…
May I continue to shine solely for you, and only you,
Even if it's just for today, my delicate flower.
A destination where one's identity could be freely shown without the public's eyes reflecting disdain—the two of them went to a place where Alberu could finally be himself.
The Endable Kingdom
Despite wearing cloaks in a place where he no longer needed to be in disguise, Alberu stood in his true form—the dark elf he had always hidden for years.
Yet, Alberu couldn't help but question his lover's choice of location.
'Of all places… why here? There is nothing romantic about this place.'
To add to his confusion, Cale had been adamant about coming to this place, even when Alberu kept suggesting better spots to enjoy their time together.
Now, as they wandered through the place, Alberu—who had been wondering the entire time—finally asked Cale.
“Cale, of all places, why here?” Alberu inquired, looking at his lover, who continued to face straight ahead despite knowing Alberu's gaze was fixed on him.
Instead of answering directly, Cale held his hand and mentioned,
“Hmm, isn't it nice, hyung?” Cale stoically said and finally turned toward Alberu, a playful glint appearing in his eyes.
Alberu's eyes softened as he absentmindedly traced Cale's fingertips.
Was it because of the atmosphere?
Or how he was captivated by those playful gaze?
Whatever the reason, Alberu found himself replying,
“… It is nice.”
A soft smile formed on his lips.
Yet, at that moment, Alberu realized why Cale's words sounded so familiar—as though he had heard them before.
'Huh?'
“Wait a minute, did you just recreate the time we came here back then?”
Flabbergasted, Alberu's eyes widened.
Meanwhile, Cale nodded and responded back with:
“Wow, hyung. Your mind is finally working.” Cale shrugged as though he had merely stated a fact that left Alberu speechless.
Still, what could he do?
He knew well why Cale chose this very place. That's why he could not help but shake his head and sigh.
'Geez, Cale Henituse. You are driving me crazy.'
“Seriously.” Alberu rambled as he stopped in his tracks.
Because of that, Cale had no choice but to take a halt and glance back at his grumbling lover.
“What?” Cale asked, confused as to why he was standing still in the middle of their walk.
However, instead of answering, Alberu suddenly pulled Cale into his embrace.
Then he gazed into the reddish-brown irises he would never tire of losing himself in.
Cale chuckled while his eyes shift towards Alberu's ears seemingly reddened—the color of a ripe apple, tempting enough to make anyone want to take a bite.
'I want to touch it.'
Suppressing the urge to reach out and play with those ears, Cale simply smirked and gazed at Alberu's face before commenting,
“First of all, hyung, you're handsome.”
Alberu immediately replied,
“I know.”
The answer came with a face full of confidence that Cale could not help but return to his usual stoic expression with a thought,
'Well, can't really deny it. Ugh.'
“… Let's just dine here, come.” Cale said with a sigh and pointed toward the place where they once had dined together as Naru and the oh-so-famous nickname Bob, the 'Crown Prince proxy.'
Alberu glanced at the dining place and laughed.
“Fine, fine.”
Set to finally eat, the two enjoyed their meal in peace.
Munching away and smiling in contentment, Alberu watched his delicate flower, who seemed to be satisfied with the dessert they are currently sharing.
As Cale's pale hands sliced through the cake, his fork carefully lifting a piece before slowly bringing it to his lips—Alberu found himself unable to look away from Cale's lips.
'Ah… that looks tasty'
It was a moment he wished would last until his last breath.
Distracted with those thoughts, Alberu failed to notice Cale glancing his way.
Only when their eyes met did he flinch, as though he had been caught staring at something he shouldn't have.
Still, Cale ignored it—instead, he questioned,
“Hyung, remember when I said this?”
Setting down his fork, Cale extended a hand toward him.
Alberu tilted his head as he offered his hand and asked back,
“What?”
Cale held Alberu's hand with an unusual tenderness.
It was a rare gesture, even after all the time they had spent together.
As Cale stared into his eyes with a firm gaze, he stoically said,
“Hyung-nim. Please become a king.”
Those words left Alberu speechless.
Who wouldn't be?
And who could ever forget that moment?
It was the day Alberu thought that bringing Cale there and revealing those secrets had to be one of the best things he had ever done in his life.
'So how dare I— to even forget that moment?'
Alberu chuckled and responded exactly as he had back then.
“Of course. I must become king.”
For a moment, neither looked away.
Staring at each other, savoring this exact moment, Cale stood up for the first time and slowly leaned toward him.
Using his free hand, Cale gently brushed a lock of Alberu's hair aside and murmured,
“See, hyung? You must.”
With that, Cale pressed a gentle kiss against Alberu's forehead.
It was sweet.
Far too sweet.
Sweet enough for Alberu to yearn for more than he could.
However, do things truly go the way he wanted?
Alberu closed his eyes and silently savored the moment—the feeling that seems so bittersweet up to this point.
As the kiss ended, Alberu finally opened his eyes and stared at Cale.
Cale, who slowly let go of his hand, muttered the words he always loved to hear.
“I love you, my shining sun.”
(Starting here, listen to 'A Thousand Years by John Michael Howell' as you slowly read it for a better reading experience)
The moment Cale said those six words— his eyes shone full of devotion, his tone touched with an indescribable tenderness, his smile beaming with fondness—
…
'No… Already?'
Alberu's eyes wavered. The sun who seemed to shine the brightest once again flickered, dimming in sorrow.
'Why?'
'Just why? I never wanted this to end.'
But what could he do?
No…could he even do something?
'Pathetic'
Alberu could not help but laugh at the inevitable end of this moment.
He knows—resentfully aware that it was finally time for this agonizingly sweet, brief period of time to end. A moment—a past memory he barely got to savor.
'Seriously…'
The sun gradually descended, until the surroundings little by little went dark.
Embracing the darkness that swallowed the moment he never wanted to lose, Alberu slowly opened his eyes to another morning—
He knew Cale wasn't there, yet he still reached to the side of his bed.
It was empty.
another day—
He tightly shut his eyes and shift his eyes at the side of his bed.
He wasn't there.
another moment without a warmth next to his bed, next to him—
It only tormented Alberu.
It was agonizing.
It was never easy.
It would never be easy for him.
another morning without him.
Yet, the dimming sun mournfully smiled and finally whispered the response he wasn't able to say towards his beloved flower,
"I love you too, my delicate flower."
It wrecked him in a sickening degree. It was still insufferable—such a cruel way to greet the day.
Yes.
What a way to greet his death anniversary.
“I love you, my shining sun.”
And with that, tears overflowed down the face of a mourning sun.
"Ugh… Cale."
Cale.
My delicate flower.
My Henituse.
Come back.
The Sun and The Delicate Flower