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“Walk with me?”
The question had taken Man-bok by surprise as he was rearranging his clothes- dusty and teared by the latest kicks. He had been so engrossed by the pain that he had not heard Captain Ri coming out from his office. He still looks an angel, the very definition of a divine apparition. Man-bok does not dare speak and simply nods, his bloodied lip wobbling a little.
They walk in silence towards the nearby forest, the sound of the orange-faded leaves under their boots betraying their presence between the trees and the bushes. Man-bok limps a little from his still painful shin- there was only so much he could protect under the other officers’ abuse. If Ri Mu-hyeok takes notice, he doesn’t tell him, simply walks at Man-bok’s pace. He looks above, at the sky, at branches and birds happily chirping around them; lets the older man feel like an equal, walking side by side with him.
They reach the river and the breeze softly caresses their faces.
“Let’s stop here.” the captain offers.
They both sit down.
Man-bok eyes him, confused and curious. Having an ally- a friend - still feels new to him, he had forgotten what that meant long ago. He watches as the young man closes his eyes and hums happily at the sound of the water flowing not far from their feet, only the sounds of nature surrounding, the casern far away. No barked orders, no threats, no hits, just the peaceful woods.
“I like coming here.” He finally explains. “It helps me clear my head. And I thought like you could use that too.” He flashes him a smile and adds “I know you’ll keep my secrets.”
Man-bok lower lip wobbles again. For a second, he thinks Captain Ri Mu-hyeok is a fool. How can he not know the kind of man he is? How can he trust him so blindly? It’s not about the forest per se, Man-bok is sure it is just trivial although he already cherishes the place. It is… Captain Ri’s assured face, his honest smile reaching his eyes and the faint pink colouring his cheeks. It's about the trust he puts in him, knowing full well what he does on a daily basis.
He wants to say something, to thank this man- his angel- but he hisses in pain, covering his mouth.
“Don’t move.”
Man-bok opens his eyes to see Captain Ri kneeling by the river. He has something in his hand but he can’t make out what it is. Suddenly, Ri Mu-hyeok is kneeling beside him and taking his hand away from his mouth. He brings a wet handkerchief to his bruised lip. Man-bok stifles a grunt at the sudden contact.
“I’m sorry. It must be really painful.”
The captain is close, so close Man-bok can almost breathe his scent. He had never been so close to a man before, even in the early days of his military service, he had not mingled too much due to his quiet nature. There was no place for such thoughts anyway, there were rules written by their Great Leader and they had to be followed.
Captain Ri continues his careful ministrations, slowly wiping the dried blood away from Man-bok’s lips and easing the pain as best as he can. Man-bok can only watch him, transfixed, lest he thinks he is dreaming and the sight would soon disappear from his sight.
“There. That’s better.” Captain Ri finally says after a while.
The cold water has lessened Man-bok’s senses around the bruised area and indeed; it does feel better. And then-
Two soft fingers trace the lines around his mouth, the red patches of skins. Man-bok takes in a breath at the touch, so soft he isn't even sure he feels them. It doesn’t hurt, strangely.
“You have a pretty face, Jung Man-bok.”
The fingers trace the shape of his jaw and he is too stunned to say anything, to protest or oblige him. He just observes the captain with his mouth agape and his eyes wide.
“I wish the others would stop coming for you.”
He knows they won’t, he knows Man-bok doesn’t have a choice and doesn’t blame him. He is talking to himself more than to Man-bok it seems but the older man cannot utter a single word. A silent tear rolls from his eyes.
If it is a dream, let him never wake up; if it is reality, let him never sleep again.
How?
Captain Ri smiles, both sweet and sad, and slowly wipes the tear away, his thumb brushing Man-bok’s cheek long after the skin has dried.
And suddenly, Man-bok freezes again.
There, on his forehead, two lips soothe the lines of worry away. Two lips soothe the pain, persistent, clear and invisible. Two lips seal a bond between them, whatever it may be.
“It’s something my younger brother told me about. He studies music in Switzerland, you know? And there, he told me about people using the magic kiss. A kiss and the pain goes away. Did I do this right?”
Jung Man-bok looks at Ri Mu-hyeok, all sun and smiles, with his lips trembling again and his eyes misty. He says nothing.
He simply clutches to Captain Ri’s uniform and cries.
He lets him.