Work Text:
Oh no… It happened again…? He was sure it would work this time. Confused, the wizard shakes the bottle. It’s mostly frustration, even though talking about anger would be right too. He runs a hand in his black hair, now thoughtful. What did he do wrong? He just followed what was in the book. Nothing more, nothing less… More? Maybe he should add something? Yes, but what thing? His fingers now run on the different jar’s inscriptions. Anything can do the trick; however, all results would be different from another. Why is it so complicated? He can feel hands on his waist and hear a whisper:
“Quartz or amber.”
The wizard frowns. Yes, maybe. Maybe. He leans his head on a side, answering with the same secret tone:
“I’m not looking for a weapon.”
“As if peace was still an option.”
“You don’t know that, Kyungsoo.”
The knight sighs, sitting on the empty chair of the wizard’s chamber.
“What I know, Baekhyun, is that they are already at our doorstep.”
The black-haired mage shakes his hands in front of him. As if he tried to chase away a fly or a bad thought. No, nobody will die. He can save them all. The entire Kingdom. But he has to find a way to change their fate. The Astral plan would be too unstable for survival. But the Lunar… He can’t let him die. He won’t let him die. Not again. Not. Again. He came back so many times. He came back to that day so many times that he lost count. And that day always ends the same way: Kyungsoo dies, fighting for his King. Baekhyun tried everything. Running away, fighting, hiding, diplomacy, frontal, ambush, betrayal. Everything. And he still dies at the end of the day. He can’t live this anymore. He can’t see him die one more time. Today he will-
“Wait…” He murmurs when the soldier was about to leave the room. “Stay a bit longer.” The knight was about to refuse, so Baekhyun continues: “Please… You still have time. We still have time.”
They don’t. But he’s the only one who knows it. Today he will be selfish. Today he will only save them. Today he has to protect that “us” he loves so much. Nothing else matters anymore. They don’t need a Kingdom. They don’t need no banners, crowns, people, misery and wars. They just need each other. That’s what he said…? This is what Kyungsoo said. He only needs him to be happy. So does the wizard. He only needs him. The knight comes sit in the chair again, looking at his lover. All right, he can stay a bit longer. For him.
“Baekhyun… I always come back to you… What nonsense are you-”
Even if the magician only shows him his back, he can clearly see him shaking. It’s fear. Kyungsoo is sure of it. What is going on? What Baekhyun doesn’t tell him? He back hugs him, nestling his face in the wizard’s neck. Something is wrong. Baekhyun muffles his sobs in his hand. The smothered sounds of his pain tear apart the soldier’s heart. He never wished for the mage to suffer this war. That’s why he has to end it tonight. That’s why he has to fight: for him. To stop all those tears. And his precious wizard will finally be able to breathe and wander the land looking for this or that plant again. No more killing. No more struggle. Just him watching the Kingdom’s Wizard. He doesn’t need his protection, but he loves to pretend he is useful. Even if he doesn’t understand a single word that comes out of the scholar's mouth, he loves it. He loves him. He wants to turn back time. Go back to those peaceful moments. Meaningful little adventures. He wants to go back to his comrades who used to laugh at the way he smiled stupidly every time the wizard burst into the garrison, calling him as if it was a matter of life and death when all he needed was help opening a jar.
Kyungsoo wants to turn back time to the moment Baekhyun was still shy and blushing when the knight was flirting with him. To the first night they spent together. To his lively laughter when the soldier told him about the battalion's latest stupid exploit. All this seems so far away now. Almost like a dream he had that is slowly beginning to fade in his memory. He holds him tighter as he kisses his shoulder.
“It will be fine, Baekhyun. I will come back to you.”
“What if … What if you don’t?”
“I won't die tonight. I promise.”
“I can’t live in a world where you’re not anymore.”
A fond smile on his face, the knight asked to the wizard to look at him. He cups his face with his hands, wiping his tears with his thumbs.
“I know you will not let me go.”
“Kyungsoo… You die tonight.”
The knight frowns. He can’t doubt the wizard’s words. He’s serious. Baekhyun probably saw it. How many- How many times did the love of his life lived that moment? How many times did he promise him he’ll come back and never did? How many times?
“How?”
“You just… No matter what I tried… You just go back to fight.”
“Did you tell me this before?”
“No. I was too scared it would give you more reasons to leave me.”
“Did we win the war?”
The wizard closes his eyes, in all the future he saw: they never won. The knight’s heart stops beating for a second. He faced that terrible future alone? Maybe that’s the problem… He’s trying alone.
“Maybe we should try together. Now I know. We will just try together. We will find a way! I promise you, Baekhyun. We will turn back time again and again. You’re not alone anymore. We will find a way.”
Baekhyun kisses him. They have to find a way.