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Rang would never let go.
He grit his teeth, biting down against the pain. His knuckles had turned white, bleeding around the wooden spool. No matter what happened, no matter what he heard, he only held on to it tighter.
The last link between here and wherever his brother had disappeared to.
“Rang, let go of the thread!”
Rang shook his head, ignoring the voice’s commands. “Shut up!” He yelled back, struggling to retain his focus.
“You must let go to live!”
Lies. Nothing but more lies. Rang wouldn’t fall for it again.
“Cut the silk thread!”
“Stop!” Rang pleaded. “Stop it already!”
Rang stared down at his hand, now blood-soaked and numb, wondering what the point was any longer.
“Why... why can’t I let go of this?” He asked himself, knowing there was no one to hear.
Rang exhaled slowly, allowing his eyes to close. He was reminded of a time long ago, when he’d been left for dead, before meeting Yeon for the very first time-- an encounter forever etched into memory.
What had he said to Rang, all those years ago?
“Whether you live as a human or a fox, it’s your choice. but remember this, kid:” Yeon turned to him, a smile on his face, walking backwards as he spoke. “There’s no salvation for those who don’t save themselves.”
There. Those were Yeon’s words. A sentence Rang had lived by ever since.
Rang had to keep fighting.
He had to.
He wouldn’t stop until his brother returned.
“Wait for me!” Rang had cried out, running to Yeon’s side. “Wait for me, hyung!”
Rang smirked, more determined than ever. With his trusty axe in his free hand, he continued to defend the spot he stood in, even if he was outnumbered and outmatched.
“I won’t let go…” Rang declared to the demons around him. “Try all you want. I won’t ever, ever let go!”
Rang would continue to fight.
He’d never yield.
Not now.
Not when Yeon had come back into his life.
Rang would never lose him again.
Rang knew it was worth it.
Yeon was beside him, injured and exhausted from the confrontation he’d encountered, and narrowly avoiding his own untimely death. Rang held him close; pulling one arm over his shoulders, and the other securely around his brother’s waist.
When Yeon hadn’t returned, Rang hadn’t hesitated to jump through to save him, determined not to allow Yeon to leave him without his final say.
Mu-young was just as distrustful as Rang had first thought. He couldn’t understand how his hyung could be so careless like this, friend or not. Rang’s apprehensiveness to trust even those closest to him was how he’d lived this long.
But with Mu-young’s words lingering in his mind, Rang no longer knew what to believe. He didn’t care if it was true or not. Rang was well aware how limited his time was, especially as a half-demon.
Now that Yeon was by his side, Rang wasn’t going to waste any more time.
With that thought in mind, the hand around Yeon tightened a fraction.
Rang had felt a shift between them, ever since they’d crossed paths, and spent the last few weeks together. The hatred that had seethed within his heart had shattered apart, and from within it, a love long since dwindled had now reignited.
But it was different from before. Rang wanted more than this; the bond between brothers. There was a new feeling, brought to Rang’s attention after spending time with the mermaid. The love she felt for him was unable to be returned, and for Rang, that same love in his heart had eyes for one, and one alone--
Lee Yeon.
Rang hated himself for it-- for allowing his feelings to get the better of him, to allow them to grow to such a dangerous degree. It was his greatest weakness. His brother would never feel this way, and even if he did, Yeon would leave him again, tearing apart his heart to the point where Rang wasn’t sure he’d be able to recover again.
He didn’t want any more pain.
All he wanted was to be loved.
“Rang-ah…” Yeon said, snapping him back to the present. “Thank you.”
Rang didn’t respond at first. He returned his focus to his brother, caring for his wounds now that they’d returned to their room. Conflicting thoughts and feelings were lingering, plaguing his mind.
“I didn’t do anything.” Rang brushed him off without a second thought. “I knew he couldn’t be trusted. You’re far too trustworthy for your own good, hyung.”
Yeon sighed, averting his eyes. “I had my doubts, but… I had hoped I was wrong.” After a moment, he turned back to Rang, almost studying him. “What did he say to you?” He asked.
“Nothing.” Rang shrugged again. “Nothing that made sense.” He was becoming irritated the more he recollected his fate, and whether or not it was true. “But I don’t want to waste any more time,” Rang admitted, finally pulling away.
“What do you mean?” Yeon caught his wrist, urging Rang to remain close.
“Hyung… Now that you’re here, now that we’ve--” Rang bit his lip, unsure of himself. “I don’t want you to leave me again.”
Yeon’s lips parted, but words failed him in the wake of Rang’s request.
“Take me with you,” Rang pleaded. “Don’t leave me behind if you must return there.”
“Rang-ah, I can’t--”
“You don’t want to, do you? Why am I… so disposable to you, hyung? Everything you’ve said to me, the way you treat me-- I knew it was all too good to be true.”
“No, that’s not it. I can’t leave, not anymore. I don’t-- I don’t want to go back.”
“Why? What’s changed that’s made you want to--”
Rang paused, reminding himself of his future, and the death awaiting him. It all made sense now, his hyung’s actions-- how Yeon was overjoyed to see him when they’d reunited. He was from the future, a time after he’d died. It was the only sane explanation.
Yeon didn’t want to leave him because he didn’t exist anywhere else. He could see the tears threatening to leave Yeon’s eyes, breaking his heart. Was Yeon overcome with guilt and grief, or did he truly care for Rang enough to want to change his fate?
“You know now, don’t you? If I leave, I’ll never see you again.” Yeon smiled, failing to mask his pain. “Rang-ah… I can’t live without you. I can’t return to that nothingness.”
Rang couldn’t live without Yeon either.
Why were they torn apart like this?
“Then don’t, hyung… Stay. Stay here. With me. Don’t-- please don’t abandon me again. Don’t go where I can’t follow.” Rang hated hearing himself beg, but he couldn’t stop himself.
“If I do that, if I stay, then… I can’t promise to be your brother anymore.”
“But--”
“Rang-ah.” Yeon cut him off, eyes piercing his soul. “Seeing you again, being close to you like this… Nearly losing you again, I--” A hand travelled to Rang’s cheek, cupping his face delicately. “I don’t want to let you go, now that you’re here with me. But… I want more than you’re capable of giving.”
Rang shook his head, placing a hand over Yeon’s. “I’ll give you everything,” he offered, bearing his soul. “Anything you want. Please, hyung… tell me what you want.”
There was an unfamiliar hunger in Yeon’s eyes, and Rang startled when he noticed it. But then, Rang understood. Yeon’s fears were similar to his own, his desires just as passionate. They both wanted the same thing long since considered impossible to them both. Rang had to take a chance, to hope that he’d interpreted Yeon’s desires correctly-- and realising that at this point, he had nothing to lose.
Rang swallowed thickly, slowly but gradually closing the distance between them. Their eyes never swayed from one another, and Yeon’s expression softened, even a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. When Rang hesitated, so close yet so far, Yeon took the initiative-- leaning forward until their lips finally met.
The feeling was entirely unknown to Rang. Yeon’s lips were soft and tender, warm against his own, causing him to melt beneath his brother’s touch. All of Rang’s worries dissipated, and he had to remind himself this was no longer a dream, but a reality. Yeon felt the same, returning his feelings and desires, and Rang wanted to cry-- overcome with joy that he was no longer alone.
Yeon pressed further, wrapping a hand around the back of his neck, deepening the kiss with newfound urgency. Rang moaned around his lips, not wanting the moment to end, wanting more-- wanting everything-- a request that his brother was more than willing to provide.
As Rang dragged Yeon down with him in a mess of passionate need, doubts disappeared from their minds-- no longer worried for the future now that they were in each other’s arms.