Archive of Our Own

Prologue

The moment Kun opens his eyes, all he sees is destruction and chaos.

Humans have invaded his home, torches and axes in hand. He looks around at plants and trees near him burning, his fellow nymphs trying their hardest to put them out. A strong gust of wind blows past him and sends some humans flying backwards. Kun stays frozen in his spot, his panicked breathing and the faint yelling of humans were the only things he could hear. He turns behind him and sees a distressed woman with a baby swaddled in white cloth in her arms. The baby wails, small hands grabbing onto the woman’s clothes as she holds him tightly. 

“Kun! What do we do?! I-I think they’re here for Johnny!” The mother asks him, tears streaming down her face. Kun hurriedly wraps his arms around her, eyes scanning the forest for a safe place to go. Everything around them was in flames, axe marks on almost every tree they passed by. What used to be a sanctuary for nymphs had been ruined and destroyed by the monsters they feared the most: humans. 

Amidst the chaos, a familiar nymph spots him and the woman. He runs towards them, enveloping them into a hug, his breath shaky.

“You’re both okay, thank the heavens!” He grips Kun’s shoulder, his eyes shiny. ”Kun.” His gaze shifts to the woman. “My love.” He cups the woman’s cheek and looks down at the baby. “Is our son okay?”

“For now,” The woman replies. “Junseo, what do we do?! Where do we go?!” 

Before Junseo could reply, the visceral sound of a chainsaw was heard in the distance. The three of them turn to see a human approaching an old tree with it. Junseo frantically comes up with a plan. “I need both of you to run.” His eyes dart to Kun. “I need you to hide in your tree. Bring her and Johnny to the highest branch and hide them in the leaves. Don’t come down until I come back for you.”

“But Junseo-”

“No! We don’t have time! Kun, take her and run, now!”

Kun obeys, taking the woman and her son to his tree and lifting her to climb up the branches. The sky above them turns grey and the sound of thunder echoes in the forest. Once they were safely hidden, Kun leaves to look for Junseo. Rain starts to fall from the sky when he sees a man swinging the chainsaw towards an old tree.

Kun’s eyes widen. That’s Junseo’s tree.

He quickens his pace, sprinting to where Junseo and his tree was. Junseo tries to stop the man, grabbing his arm to stop him from swinging the chainsaw. The man elbows him and shoves him to the ground. And Kun went mad.

“Hey!” A bolt of lighting strikes the ground. “Get the hell away from my friend!” 

The man jolts at the sound, frightened. He immediately swings the chainsaw towards Junseo’s tree and slices through the bark. More lighting bolts hit and shake the ground, each one inching closer to the man. The sounds of thunder and rain rumble, and it scares away most of the humans. They flee back to their boats and swim away. But the man with the chainsaw didn’t leave.

The chainsaw was halfway through the trunk when Kun dashes towards the man and punches him across the face. The man falls to the ground and Kun continues to punch him, blood dripping from the man’s nose and mouth. Junseo yells at him to stop, pulling him backwards. 

“Kun! Don’t do this! Just leave and hide!”

“No! I couldn’t! I-” 

The man makes a run for it, and Kun doesn’t bother going after him. Junseo hits his shoulder.

“What are you doing?! You’re supposed to stay with them!”

“They’re safe in my tree, don’t worry. I-I just had to come back for you.”

Both of them catch their breaths. All the humans have fled and left the forest in ruins. They look around at their home, most of it burned to a crisp. Junseo panics when he sees that many other old trees have been cut down.

“No…no no no.” His voice trembles. He tries to get up, but he feels weak. His knees hit the ground and Kun holds the sides of his arms.

“Junseo, what’s happening? Why are you-”

There is a sound of a crack behind them. Kun turns around and sees the huge scar from the chainsaw on Junseo’s tree. It continues to crack, the trunk slowly leans to the side until the weight becomes too heavy. The tree falls down, its leaves rustling when it reaches the ground. The dust settles, and Junseo clutches Kun’s shirt as he weakens.

Kun holds him, his head leaning on his shoulder. Both of them sit on the ground with Kun cradling his friend in his arms. “Junseo! No! Please…” Tears fall down from his cheeks onto Junseo’s face. “Stay with us, please…your family-”

“No…I deserve this…” Junseo says in between deep yet unstable breaths. “I…because of my foolish actions, I’ve…endangered everyone. You, our home, our friends, my girlfriend, my-” He chokes up. “My son…I’m sorry, Kun.”

“N-No! Junseo, please stay with us! They need you…”

Junseo looks up at Kun and grins. “My dearest friend,” A single tear falls down to his neck. “Thank you.”

Junseo’s hand lies lifelessly on the ground. 

________

Kun jolts up, clutching his chest to check how fast his heart was beating. His forehead drips with sweat, he quickly wipes it with the cuffs of his sleeves. He leans back on the trunk of his tree, catching his breath. It’s the fifth time he’s had this dream. This nightmare. The memory of Junseo’s death like it happened yesterday. His closest friend. 

It’s been 27 years since his death and yet, Kun hasn’t had the time to heal.

He lets out a deep sigh. He looks up at the stars lighting up the night sky, twinkling in all its glory. It eases Kun a little. It’s a shame no one else is awake to admire the view he’s been blessed with. The only other person who would be awake is Doyoung, who is either in his castle or down by the beach with Yuta.

The scent of fresh herbs wafts through the air, and it leads to the one person Kun can confide in.

____

“Another nightmare?” Ten asks him, mixing in herbs and other ingredients in his pot. “The same one?”

“Yes,” Kun sits down on the wooden chair next to a table. “I’ve been having it for a while now.”

Kun relaxes on the seat and Ten gets a cup and pours it halfway full with the mixture from his pot. He slides it gently towards Kun. “Here, this might help with the nerves.”

Kun takes the cup and brings it to his mouth. He drinks the mixture, tasting a bit of lemon balm in it. It soothes him, his lips curl into a grin as he looks at Ten. “Wow, this is good. It helped.”

“Of course it does, I made it.” Ten replies slyly. “You always like what I make. I’m starting to think you’re lying.

"Why would I lie?"

"I wouldn't know, you lie about being okay when you're obviously not."

Ten's words seem to pierce Kun's chest. Not because he was hurt or offended, but because it was true. A truth Kun had been avoiding for decades.

Ten notices Kun's gaze shifting and sits down on the table facing him. "Kun, look at me."

Kun doesn't want to, but he eventually meets Ten's eyes. He looks at him with so much concern that it makes him feel guilty for even telling him about his nightmares. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything at all.

"Be honest with me." Ten says sternly. "Are you okay?"

Kun's mind goes blank. How could he possibly respond to that? It wasn’t a simple yes or no question. Ten patiently waits for his answer. Whatever he was feeling, he couldn’t articulate into words. But for Ten, it’s worth a shot.

“I…don’t know.” Kun starts. “I thought that…maybe with time, the wound would heal. But…I think seeing Johnny all grown up since then made me realize that…it’s still there.” Kun looks down at the empty cup in his hands. “And I don’t know what to do with it.”

Ten brings the small lit oil lamp from one side of the table and places it near Kun. He gets a better look at Kun, his eyes hide so much sadness and pain. Kun has had his share of memories he’s plagued to live with, but he doesn’t show it. A leader the creatures on the island rely on, calm and wise. His aura reminiscent of a clear sky or a current flowing effortlessly through pebbles. But no one sees when the sky goes grey and rumbles or when the river overflows and floods. 

No one except Ten.

“Look, I…” Ten adjusts himself on the table. “I know you don’t really like talking about…things like this. But I really appreciate that…you talk to me…about it.” 

Kun looks up at Ten, his face lit up by the oil lamp. Ten’s hair has grown a lot in the last couple months, his bangs reaching his defined cheekbones. Ten tucks his long black hair behind his ear and Kun is rendered speechless. The light reflects in his brown eyes, blinking at him as he waits for his response. Kun takes in his sharp yet delicate facial features. His gaze travels down to his loose brown shirt that’s quite tattered at the bottom hem.

“You’re wearing that shirt.” Kun points out.

“This old thing?” Ten touches the hem, thin threads sticking out. “You remember?”

Of course I do. Kun thinks to himself. It’s the shirt I found you in.

Ten takes Kun’s silence as a signal to talk again. “Can I ask something else?” Kun nods at him. “Ever since that day, have you ever…stepped back a bit?”

Kun stares at him, confused. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”

“Have you ever taken a break?”

Kun still doesn’t get it. “A break? What would I need a break for?”

“Oh my god…” Ten chuckles in disbelief. “You’re worse than I thought.”

Kun playfully hits his leg. “Hey! What do you mean?!” 

They both giggle, making sure they weren’t too loud to wake anyone else up. Kun likes to pretend that he doesn’t enjoy these moments with Ten, bickering late at night with only the oil lamp lighting up Ten’s humble abode surrounded by fresh herbs and potions, but he always comes home to a fluttering feeling in his heart that he doesn’t understand.

“I mean,” Ten continues, getting up from the table. “You work almost everyday, making sure everyone’s happy and safe and cared for, but have you ever thought you needed that for yourself?”

Kun freezes, his smile disappearing. He feels tears forming in his eyes, but he holds it in. He stands up to answer. There’s a lump in his throat when he tries to speak. “I…

I don’t know.”

Kun wants to run back to his tree and hide, frustrated that he can’t give Ten a straight answer. All these decades of keeping it in that when someone asks him, he wants to burst. Like a needle popping a balloon. Kun could write paragraphs of how he feels yet nothing substantial would be written. It feels pointless to even try.

Ten notices Kun’s blank expression. He’s unsure about what to do. He carefully approaches him, concerned about the nymph. He catches a glimpse of his eyes, dark under circles seen in the dim light. He must have not slept well in a while. 

He cautiously wraps his arms around him, patting his back. Kun doesn't utter a word or move. Instead, he simply buries his face on Ten's shoulder, sobbing. Ten rubs his back, his voice low and soft as he's soothing him. "It's okay, Kun. It's okay."

Kun doesn't remember the last time he's felt this vulnerable. Bare . Like Ten's mere presence and words stripped his layers and accepted him bone and flesh, even if he was wounded and imperfect. 

It drizzles outside Ten's hollow tree. Kun pulls away and wipes the tears off his face, noticing the wet patch he's left on his shirt. "Sorry."

Ten shrugs his shoulders. "Don't be, this shirt has had worse days." He sends Kun a comforting grin.

Silence fills the air. Kun takes a couple of deep breaths, observing the drizzle dissipate. Ten and Kun take in the scent of the air after rain, the sounds of their breathing and the crickets outside calm Kun. 

"Hey, um…" Ten is the first to speak. "How about…we do something together? To take your mind off of things?" He gazes at Kun expectantly. "How does that sound?"

Kun tilts his head. "Do we not spend too much time together?"

"Uh- yes, I guess we do." Ten says shyly, crossing his arms. "But what else do you do in your free time, if you give yourself any at all?"

"...You have a point, witch." Kun ponders on it. "What do you have in mind?"

"A picnic!" Ten answers rather quickly. "Have you ever gone on a picnic, Kun?"

Kun giggles, amused at how fast Ten answered. "Of course I've gone to picnics, what do you take me for?!"

"I- aren't you a bit of an old soul?"

Kun rolls his eyes at the witch. "Do you really think in all the centuries I've lived, I've not been to a single picnic?!"

Ten stays silent for a while before changing the subject. "Whatever, it's probably been a while, we should have a picnic!"

"What exactly will this do, Ten?"

"Give you a break." Ten says while going to the sink to wash his pots and Kun's cup. "Now tell me what food you want and I'll force Taeyong to make it for us."

"If I enumerate everything, I'd be here until sunrise." Kun laughs. "Just surprise me."

Ten watches how Kun lights up, teeth on full display as he continues to giggle. There are still evident tear stains on his cheeks, and it takes everything in Ten to not wipe it off for him. He quickly looks away once Kun notices him staring, reverting his attention to washing the pot and cup. Ten prays that Kun doesn’t see his cheeks turning pink in the dark night, biting his lips in frustration.

“And if I tell him to prepare us a bunch of food you hate, would you curse me, Kun?” Ten asks, smirking.

Kun chuckles, walking closer towards him. “I could not have the strength to do that, Ten. Not to you.”

Ten turns to Kun, their faces inches away from each other. Ten opens his mouth to say something, but he looks into Kun’s eyes and instantly melts. He looks a bit more hopeful now compared to when he first came. He grins at Ten, his dimples showing. Their gazes linger on each other’s faces, faintly lit from the oil lamp. 

“I…” Kun says slowly, then clears his throat. “I should head back.”

Kun quickly turns and heads towards the exit. He looks back at Ten and gives him a warm smile.

“Whenever you want to have a picnic, I’ll be happy to come.”

Kun leaves, and Ten is left to figure out why his heart is about to jump from his chest.

____

"Wait, Ten, I- could you run that by us again?"

"Kun came over last night and he said he had a terrible dream so I gave him a drink and we talked and I suggested that he should take a break and we hugged and I don't know what sort of spell came over me because I invited him to go on a picnic with me and he was really cute and he said he'll come whenever I wanted to-" Ten stops before he forgets to breathe. Taeyong, Doyoung, and Yuta have been watching him pace back and forth rambling about Kun, it's surprising how he hasn't run out of things to say. 

"Okay, breathe first, Jesus." Doyoung says, sitting on the couch.

"So…you technically asked him out?!" Yuta exclaims, his legs swinging while he sits on Taeyong's kitchen counter. "It's about time, Ten."

"What?! No…no it's not a date. It is simply a way for Kun to have a break." Ten replies, calming down. "Just two creatures…sitting on a picnic blanket…sharing food and having deep conversations…as very good friends ."

"Sure," Taeyong chimes in. "As if the other times you two have been alone together don't already count." He crosses his arms. "I'm sure he's such a wonderful… friend ." He emphasizes the last word and smirks.

Ten's face is too red to try and lie. At this point, his friends know all too well that he's head over heels for the nymph. An incredibly embarrassing crush. He wishes that he hid it from them, but he runs his mouth so much that it eventually slipped out. Even Johnny, who doesn't even live on the island, is aware of it.

Kun somehow hasn't figured it out. It would have been obvious from the way Ten is more timid and shy when he's with him, or that he's the first creature he shows his new spells and drawings to. Maybe Kun is too preoccupied with taking care of the island to notice. Ten thinks to himself. 

But his three friends say otherwise.

"So…" Taeyong says. "When are you going on that picnic?"

"I don't know," Ten buries his face in his hands and whines. "I didn't think I'd get this far."

Doyoung rolls his eyes. "Oh come on! You two have been pining for each other since the day he brought you here, don't act like you're not seeing it."

"Seeing what?" Ten looks up at Doyoung cluelessly.

The vampire sighs and mumbles something to the mermaid. Yuta scoffs and gets off the counter. He grabs Ten's shoulders and looks him right in the eye.

"We'll help you plan. Make you look pretty for it if you'd like. Maybe clip your hair a bit." He turns to Taeyong and asks him to get the glittery white bobby pins he gave him when they went to the New Year's Eve party on the yacht. Yuta whispers in Ten's ear. "Oh, and if you think your crush on Kun is embarrassing, just remember Doyoung liked me for decades before making a move."

Doyoung throws a small cushion at Yuta, hitting his head. "Shut up, love." He says affectionately.

Ten cringes. "Thank god I'm single, I would hate to be as cheesy as you and Johnny and Taeyong."

"That could change!" Taeyong exclaims, holding a box filled with clips and bobby pins. "And for the record, me and Johnny are not cheesy! We're more…" He thinks of the right word. "...domestic?"

"Says the fairy who couldn't get over him after sleeping with him once and vowing to never see him again." Doyoung remarks. Taeyong walks closer to the sofa and his wing lightly slaps Doyoung in the back of his head. "Ow!"

"Oops." Taeyong shrugs his shoulders.

"Oh, and um-" Ten remembers. "I told Kun you'd make the food."

"My god, are me and Johnny the only people who can make food here?!" His wings flap rapidly. "I understand we don't need to eat much, but you have pots, why don't you do it?!"

"They all smell of herbs and liquids you do not want in you!" Ten grasps Taeyong's hands together and practically begs him. "Please! I won't ask you again after this! I want Kun to eat well…"

Taeyong takes a deep sigh and reluctantly agrees. "Fine. But you have to make it super romantic and cute or else my efforts will be for nothing."

____

It's morning when Kun heads out to join Ten on his picnic. He's quite confused as to why Ten decided to have it in a more secluded area of the forest which was farther away from his tree, but he did not mind the long walk. Being too busy with tending to everyone has made him forget how breathtaking the forest is. Fall is arriving, and the leaves are tinted with orange and brown. The air has gotten a bit chilly, but nothing too cold for a nice picnic. Rays of sunlight hit the trees and their shadows sway on the ground. Kun treads along, watching brown leaves slowly descend from the branches as the seasons begin to change.

After walking for a while, Kun spots a red gingham blanket set up underneath a large tree, its branches and leaves giving it shade. Kun's lips curl into a grin when he sees the witch holding a basket full of strawberries and grapes, Taeyong most likely gave those to him.

"Oh," Ten abruptly stops in his tracks when their eyes meet. "Hi!" He lights up, his eyes forming crescent moons. 

Kun finds it adorable and waves. "Hi."

"You're here early, I'm not done setting it up." Ten sets the basket down and flattens any creases he sees on the picnic blanket.

"What do you mean?" Kun tilts his head.

Ten sighs. "Since I made Taeyong do most of the food prep, I have to make this worth all his trouble." 

"But Ten, I-" 

"Sit down first, I'll be right back!" He rushes off to get something.

Kun does what he's told and settles down. The basket Ten left sits daintily on the picnic blanket, the nymph peeking into it and attempting to resist the fruits. It doesn't last long as the witch doesn't return for a while. He picks up a strawberry and takes a bite, letting the sweetness swirl in his mouth. Creatures here don't eat as often as humans do, but fresh fruits always satisfy their cravings. Kun is no exception.

"Couldn't wait for me?" Ten says, walking towards him with another basket and holding a notebook and pen.

"Too slow, witch." Kun smirks. 

Ten scoffs and sits down, placing the basket next to him and opening his notebook. Only after Kun finishes his strawberry does he notice the glittery white bobby pins clipping Ten's dark hair away from his face.

"...Nice clips." Kun points out shyly.

A light peach shade spreads across Ten's cheeks. "Thank you, Yuta suggested I wear them." He grazes the clips with his fingers and turns to Kun with a teasing grin. "Am I a pretty witch?"

"Yes, you're very pretty." 

Kun's genuine answer seems to catch Ten off guard, his cheeks becoming redder by the second. It confuses the nymph as to why the witch is flustered, fumbling with the notebook in his hands. Either way, he finds it endearing.

"I came up with some new spells." was Ten's way of diverting Kun's attention away from his blushing face. He opens his notebook and tilts so Kun could see. The notebook's pages had turned light brown with age, filled with doodles, written spells, and herbs taped to them. Ten has spent practically his whole life mastering witchcraft, drawing up new spells almost every other day. Kun admires how he's able to do it so effortlessly, like nothing could stop him.

Ten picks up the pen and draws a flower on his palm. He shuts his eyes and blows on it, rubbing his palms together until a peony appears. He offers it to Kun and he takes it fervently. "Another party trick?" Kun asks, smelling the peony. "Tell me, are you a witch or a magician?"

"Whatever you want me to be." Ten grins.

They open the second basket, Ten brings out the pancakes and toast Taeyong made, thinking Kun didn't have breakfast. Kun awes at the food and reminds himself to pay the fairy a visit to thank him personally.

They eat in silence for a while, a cool breeze passing by. Kun takes it as a sign that nature is resting along with them, leaves flowing past their bare feet. Ten is mindlessly scribbling on his notebook next to Kun, his nose scrunches and it lets Kun know he must be incredibly focused on drawing. Usually, he would not bother the witch in this state, but he had been curious about something.

"Can I ask you something, Ten?"

Ten looks up from his notebook and nods.

"...Do you ever miss the life you had before you came here?"

"Good lord, no!" Ten chuckles. "I'm more than glad to be here, I don't think I would have survived a day longer if you didn't find me."

Kun agrees. Ten was homeless, hungry, and broke, stationed at an secluded alleyway with only his spells and insects as company. He had no other place to go, and when Kun found him and knew he was a witch, he invited him to the island without a second thought. It would be heartless of him to walk past a creature in need, let alone watch him starve to death on the streets.

"The few people who saw me looked at me like I was crazy." Ten recounts. "Some gave food or money out of pity, but it never lasted more than a week. I'm pretty sure I would have been jailed if anyone saw me doing my silly little spells."

Ten continues drawing. "What about you, Kun?"

"Hm?"

"Do…you miss the life you had before…Junseo passed away?"

Kun goes quiet. It takes him a while to properly form his thoughts and Ten starts to regret asking, a concerned expression on his face.

"Nevermind, you don't have to answer."

"...A little." Kun replies softly. "A little bit."

Kun sighs and lays down on the blanket, his head resting on his hands. Ten follows suit, lying next to him and clutching his notebook to his chest.

"The island was…much brighter when he was there." Kun starts. "It was like a blissful paradise, away from anything that could harm us, until…"

He looks up at the rays of sunlight streaming down from the shade of the tree, casting shadows on him and Ten's bodies. It was similar to Junseo's tree where they would stroll and talk until the evening. He couldn't handle the deafening silence months after he passed, only the rustles of leaves would entertain his late night thoughts.

"...What made you plan to…take other creatures in after that?" Ten inches closer, curious.

"I…didn't want more creatures getting hurt." Kun takes a deep breath. "All I knew is that humans are dangerous and full of hatred, and that if a being was in danger because of them, I have to bring them home." He gulps. "I couldn't save Junseo, I can't let anyone else be harmed again."

He laments, a tear falls onto the side of his cheek. He feels a sleeve wiping it off, looking to his side to face Ten.

"That is too big of a burden to carry on your own." Ten says, gently tucking Kun's hair behind his ear. "You've been carrying it for too long."

Kun looks back up and wipes his tears, sniffling. "I know." He calms down. "...But I don't regret any of it. I met so many new creatures that I thought I'd never interact with."

Kun adjusts himself, lying on his side to meet Ten's gaze. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being here. By my side today."

Kun eyes dart to Ten's mouth, and in the depths of his mind, he wonders how strawberries would taste on Ten's lips. Was this just curiosity or a genuine urge to know? Kun couldn't tell. He had been wondering for a couple months now, perhaps the constant nightmares have driven him insane to the point where he'd think such impossible things, like how Ten's lips would feel on his or how his body fit perfectly in his arms.

Ten must have noticed his staring, he sits up and clears his throat. "I-I'm glad you enjoy my company, Kun."

Kun blinks, snapping out of his daze. He's about to sit up when Ten orders him to stay in his place. Kun tilts his head in confusion.

"I want to draw you." Ten says, opening his notebook to a new clean page.

"...Since when have you liked drawing?"

"I've always liked it, I just…only had time for it recently."

Kun gets into a comfortable position, lying back down on his back while Ten starts sketching. He gazes at Ten again, but he catches him and hides his face in his notebook. Kun couldn't tell if he was flustered, but it didn't matter. This is the most relaxed he's ever felt.

"...Am I doing a good job?"

His sudden question gets Ten to return his gaze, lowering the notebook. "At what?"

"Taking care of everyone?"

"Kun, we're all fine here. You should be more worried about yourself right now."

"...What about you?"

Ten's eyebrows furrow. "What about me?"

"Do you ever get overwhelmed with assisting me?"

Ten thinks about it for a while. Kun gulps, trying to guess his answer.

"No, not really." Ten continues drawing.

The nymph doubts him. "Are you sure? I do tell you to come with me a lot."

"I don't mind it, honestly." Ten's lips curl into a grin. "It doesn't feel like a chore if it's with you."

Ten's eyes widen when he realises what he said. He buries his face in his notebook again, mumbling to himself. Kun could barely hear, but he sounded embarrassed. Why?

Kun inches closer to Ten, attempting to catch a glimpse of his drawing. Ten notices and closes his notebook before he could see. There's a sly smile creeping on his face while Kun bites his cheek in annoyance. 

"Show me."

Ten shakes his head.

"Why not?"

"Do I need to?"

"You said you wanted to draw me, let me see!"

Kun tries to grab the notebook, but Ten is quick, putting it behind his back. "You may be able to tell everyone else what to do, but not me."

All of a sudden, Ten gets up and begins sprinting. 

"Oh for god's sake." Kun sighs and runs after him.

Ten giggles as he runs away from Kun, like he had stolen something from him. Kun speeds up to try and close the distance between them but Ten zips through the forest effortlessly. Kun pants and yells after him but to no avail, the witch shows no sign of slowing down soon.

Droplets of rain start to fall from the sky, their feet stepping on the damp soil. Ten finds the biggest tree shade he could find, and it so happened to be Kun's tree. Tired, he leans himself on the tree, waiting for Kun to catch up. Kun eventually does and scolds Ten for running in the rain. They are both heaving, Kun leaning back on his tree to catch his breath.

Ten looks over at Kun, his head is against the rough bark and his wet hair drips onto the sides of his face. Even if he was exhausted, the nymph looked…happy. Kun meets Ten's gaze and beams at him, his dimples on full display. Ten is so distracted by them that he doesn't realise Kun had taken his notebook.

"No more running." Kun says breathlessly. He opens the notebook and flips through the pages until he finds where Ten's drawing of him is.

He pauses. It makes Ten's heartbeat quicken. Does he like it? The witch's mind races. Does he hate it? I must have done terribly.

Kun lifts his hand and grazes his fingers over the drawing. Ten captured his features and pose perfectly, it's astonishing. "Holy shit." 

Ten's eyes widen at his language. "I've never heard you curse before, is it that bad?

"What? No! I love it! It's just…" Kun hesitates. "You make me look way better on paper."

Ten rolls his eyes. "I only drew what was in front of me."

"...Is this really…how you see me?"

Kun never thought he'd be this beautiful in someone else's eyes. He thought everyone saw him as this strict and kind leader, always here to help a creature in need. He never considered that one could admire him this much.

"Kun, I think the world of you." Ten answers like he read his mind. "And it hurts when you don't treat yourself the way you treat the world."

Ten inches closer to Kun, his shoulder against the tree. 

“I would do anything to make you feel better, lift the heavy burden you’re carrying.” 

Ten breath brushes against Kun’s cheek and it makes him shiver. Kun shifts his body so he could face him. As he’s looking at the most gorgeous creature in the world, his mind is scattered with questions and doubts. Would he truly accept me? All of me? Even if I overflow like the river or surge like a thunderstorm? Would that be too much?

Would I be too much?

So many things he wants to say to him, yet only one question comes out of his mouth.

“Would you kiss me if it could make me feel better?” Kun gulps as his face gets closer to Ten’s. “Only if you want to.”

Ten lifts his hand to caress Kun’s face, the nymph melting into his touch. “Who am I to say no to that request?” 

His finger strokes his cheek, and slowly, he presses his lips onto Kun’s. It feels soft yet unsure, but Kun kisses back, wrapping his arm around Ten’s waist and lightly gripping his damp clothes. As the kiss becomes more passionate, the sky starts to clear. In a matter of time, rain droplets stop falling and the sunlight shines through the forest, coloring the soil in gold. 

The two of them pull away, their foreheads pressed together as they breath in sync and their cheeks flush pink.

“Did that help, Kun?” Ten beams, both of his hands cupping Kun’s face. 

“You have no idea,” Kun chuckles. “I think I feel a little less heavy today.”

Kun leans in to kiss him again. Ten obliges, his arms snake around Kun’s neck. Ten shifts their bodies, gently pushing Kun’s back against the tree while he smiles into the kiss. Kun grunts, refusing to let go of Ten.

“Ahem.”

Both of them turn to the sound of the noise and find a fairy with a blank expression on his face.

“Taeyong?” 

“I was gonna check up on you guys but you know what? You seem fine, I’ll head back.” Taeyong stares at Ten and raises his eyebrows.

“Thank you for the food by the way! What can I do to repay you?” Kun asks.

“Hang out with us next time! But don’t make me cook.” Taeyong says politely. “I’m sure Ten will be much happier if you’re there.”

Kun looks at Ten, his face even more pink than earlier. “Sure, I’ll make time!”

Taeyong waves them goodbye and leaves. The nymph and the witch make eye contact and laugh. “God, I should’ve picked a spot where we could be alone for sure.”

Kun playfully hits his shoulder. “You ran to my tree! Can’t help but be close to me?” He teases.

“Shut up.”

Ten sits down on the grass and leans his head against Kun’s tree. Kun follows suit, grabbing Ten’s hand and stroking it. Ten scoots closer to Kun and rests his head on his shoulder. 

“I’m glad you gave me this break, I really needed it.” Kun tells him.

“I needed this too if I’m being honest.” 

Ten sits up to face Kun and uses his finger to lift Kun’s chin. “Let’s do this more often?”

Kun answers by giving him a peck on the cheek and whispering in his ear. “Of course.”

They sit together until the sky turns dark, relishing in each other’s presence. And the pain and chaos seated in Kun's heart settles, even just for a while.

_________

Epilogue

When the sky and the rest of the world rests in the night, there remains creatures and beings wide awake. Under the depths of the ocean, a siren swims through, clutching his sides as his bleeding wound colors the water scarlet red. Desperate to feed, he heads towards the surface near the beach. He smells food, humans, sitting by the shore. The scent travels and it makes his senses go insane.

With the remaining strength he has, he slowly approaches the shore and prepares to attack.