Chapter Text
Epilogue: Requiescat in Pace
White sheets slid to the ground, crumpling into a heap. Machines beeped consistently and lights flashed on screens. Four pairs of eyes fluttered and squinted, breathing regulated by an oxygen mask. Figures in white ran over with clipboards and stethoscopes in their hands, worried looks on their faces under unruly hair. Fingers twitched over smooth linen, eyes focusing on plain ceilings and heartbeats raced. Yifan was the first to sit up, fingers pulling off the electrodes attached to his body, arms shaking as he desperately tried to climb off. Jongin's eyes glanced from side to side at the men and women at the side of his bed, his eyelids sliding closed once again as he fell back to sleep. Jongdae sat up with a yell, his hand going to his side as he tried to grab at the bow he would carry in game. Luhan woke screaming, thrashing on the bed, waving his arms and kicking his legs to defend himself from the nightmares he would have experienced right before he fell into the coma.
It took doctors about an hour just to calm Luhan, the poor man a complete wreck as he hugged Minseok tightly and babbled nonsense. Yifan and Jongdae were easier to look after, the two becoming very quiet as they let the doctors perform their checks. Jongin just stayed asleep, occasionally rolling over in his bed to cuddle the pillow.
"Where... is Joonmyeon?"
The workers took a deep breath, glancing at each other before Minseok and Zitao gave them nods, allowing them to explain that the mage was still within the game. Yifan tried to get up, his weak legs wobbling before he crumpled to the floor.
"We need to go to him."
Jongin was roused from his sleep, his puffy eyes squinting and his lips pulled into a pout like a sleepy little bear. They were all eased into wheelchairs, pushed out by members of staff to the last pod where Joonmyeon was still inside, the green light blinking to show its connection. Jongdae turned to look at Zitao who typed furiously into his phone.
"So what exactly is happening? Why isn't he waking up?"
"We don't know what is happening right now since our video line cut right after Kyungsoo became the fairy--"
The explanation was cut abruptly when the pod in front of them hissed, the glass fogging with the pressurized air as it lifted up. A mist drifted and faded, revealing the man inside. His eyes were open, a smile on his lips under the oxygen mask. Joonmyeon looked over at the people around him, glad to see them alive and a twinkle sparkled in his eyes as he waited for the attendant to remove the electrodes from his body. Before he could even speak, Jongdae cut him off.
"Who is Kyungsoo?"
"Well, that's where it gets complicated..." Joonmyeon chuckled, his voice raspy from disuse.
The sky was clear and bright blue, the sun radiating a gentle warmth that was accepted and appreciated by the people that walked through the streets. A series of black vans pulled up at a small town cemetery, people nearby pausing in their work to watch curiously. The doors rolled open and a group of people stepped out.
Zitao stood at the front, sunglasses shielding his eyes and his now black hair swept neatly over his forehead. A shorter figure stood behind him, orange hair parted in the middle and formed into waves that framed his round face. They were both dressed to impress, not wanting their reputations ruined if media were to catch them in plain jeans and a t-shirt. White shirts buttoned to the top, looped with a black tie and a light jacket hung over their shoulders. They both had expensive belts with buckles that glinted in the light, holding up pristine pressed trousers which fell over polished shoes.
Their employees were dressed almost the same, all of them standing around like guards as the door of the last van opened. A head of brown hair appeared first, sunglasses hiding the eyes beneath thick angry eyebrows. Yifan wore a simple white shirt with a black collar, tucked neatly into black pants. His shoes were a little scuffed but they completed the outfit to give him a more sophisticated feel. Right after him, a backwards snapback poked out from inside smiling eyes twinkling behind a playful frame of fake glasses. Jongdae wore a plaid shirt, the red and white striped material tucked into dark blue jeans and held up with suspenders. His shoes were plain leather shoes, similar to the ones worn by students.
Whining about Jongdae's slowness, pretty hands shoved him out of the way. Expensive boots landed on the sidewalk, the top half covered by blue jeans with a pink shirt tucked into it neatly. It matched well with the man's cotton candy-colored hair that was parted suspiciously like Minseok's. Luhan beamed and bounced over to the CEO and wrapped his arms around him, much to Minseok's dismay. Joonmyeon was next, choosing to wear proper formal wear to such an event. He had on a light blue shirt, tucked into black pants and feet covered in shiny, black leather shoes. On top of that, he had on a light jacket made of the finest midnight blue material that was as light as a feather and as smooth as silk without the shine. Jongin had to be roused from his nap in the car, the young man almost stumbling and falling on his face as he exited the van. Since he was young, the best clothes he could find was a white t-shirt and dark blue jeans with tears at the knee. His feet were in black sneakers and black headphones hung around his neck, soft music playing from the earpiece.
When everyone was ready, the group of people entered the cemetery. Their target was a small tombstone close to the edge of the block, looking out towards the open sky and the ocean. The stone had a small picture embedded, carvings of mythical creatures surrounded it and painted elegant colors. Do Kyungsoo was only seventeen in the picture, his most recent school photo showing him with neat black hair and a shy smile.
Joonmyeon looked upon the grave with a heavy heart, now knowing the full story of how the younger man had died and couldn't help but feel that he was somehow responsible. One by one, the workers went up to place small wreaths or bouquets on top of the grave, the colors becoming like multi-colored confetti piled on top of the stone. When they had all finished giving their messages, the employees retreated to the vans to give their boss and the team some privacy.
Zitao stepped up first, his fingers holding onto a single rose. He placed it under the photo with a bow of his head.
"Kyungsoo, even though you gave us a run for our money, in the end you just wanted to keep the places safe. Thank you, for returning the players to us."
Stepping up next to the detective, Minseok placed down a small bouquet of glass snowdrops.
"I am deeply sorry for your loss, I would like to dedicate a special event and a whole new patch that will open the mountains and have your story as the legend that surrounds it. I hope that your memory will live on like the snowdrops."
"Uh, yo." Yifan awkwardly tripped on a pebble, stumbling up to the tombstone like a flailing noodle to place a wreath of white roses. "So uh, now that I know the story, I understand why you had to do those things so...no hard feelings, yeah?"
Jongdae and Luhan nudged each other as they fought over who would go first, their flowers suffering as they were used to hit each other. Jongdae's tulips won out and he offered them to the tombstone like a sacrifice.
"I know you killed me in game and put me into a coma, but honestly you should have just told us or someone about it. I think we would be happy to help somehow--"
"Ignore him, he's not good with his words. Right, Jongdae?" Luhan elbowed the younger man to the side, putting down a bouquet of various flowers. "I wished we could be friends though, you seem so nice."
Joonmyeon had to nudge Jongin towards the grave, the boy jerking awake from his nap while standing up. He placed down a handful of daisies, wrapped in a crumpled and wonky decorating paper like he had done it himself.
"I was the first to go in the team, so I don't know exactly what you did to the others...But I wished we had more time with each other, I really like you and maybe you could have taught me some new skills... I'll promise not to sleep on your lessons."
Everyone let out a soft laugh, knowing how much the other loved his sleep. Murmuring to each other, they all stepped back for Joonmyeon to have his own time with Kyungsoo's tombstone.
"Is there really much to say to you here when I can see you again soon?" He chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. "I guess, you shouldn't have sacrificed yourself this way just to wait for me. I know I promised to come back for you, but you shouldn't have done this to yourself... we could have met for real, you know? You should have just called for me, I would've come back eventually."
The man wiped away the tears that stung at the corner of his eyes, sniffling slightly as he reached to clip a crystal forget-me-not directly under Kyungsoo's photo. The clip fit snugly onto the edge of the frame and sparkled in the light as Joonmyeon stepped back to smile weakly.
"I'll see you in a bit, Kyungsoo. Wait for me, I'll bring the others along."
With small bow, the man turned away. The wind suddenly picked up, rustling through the grass of the cemetery and ruffling everyone's hair gently. It whipped around Joonmyeon like a small cyclone, fluttering butterflies brushing past his cheek like a gentle caress of soft hands or the fluttering wings of a little raging fairy. Smiling, he sped up to reach his team of players who also doubled as his friends.
"Hey guys, I have something to tell you..."
In loving memory of Do Kyungsoo, a smart child and loving son.
"Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you until we meet again."
12 January 2078 - 12 January 2095
FIN
Author's Note: Please feel free to contact me via Twitter or Ask.fm if you have any questions about the story or you just want to talk! I promise I won't try to bite you :O A special thank you for all my precious readers! I hope you liked it, though I am still not happy with some points of the story, I will be re-editing this for a long time before I am totally satisfied. Thank you and I love you all!