Archive of Our Own

Staring out at the large mansion before him Choi Han can’t help but let out a sigh. He’d honestly rather be anywhere else. But circumstance has led him back to the Henituse territory. With the whales discovering the source of the Mermaid's sudden increase in strength, they enlisted the help of Choi Han and his friends. 

Unfortunately Choi Han also has the crown prince in his ears, and Alberu demanded he come get silly things like permission. To enter the Forest of Darkness. He digresses though. 

Looking at Rosalyn confidently walking next to him into the estate Choi Han lets out a sigh. After input from Ron, it was decided that instead of just Choi Han going Rosalyn would also come with him to talk to the count, because of ridiculous notions such as ‘Choi Han has a bad track record when dealing with Henituse’s’ and ‘It’ll be better if someone went with him.’

The guard they were following to the Count’s office stops before a door, opening it and allowing them entry into the Count’s office. Entering the room Choi Han looks out at the Count, who looks even more tired than the last time he saw the man two years ago. Granted the last time he saw him it was after beating up his son, and the man looked absolutely furious. But it seemed like something was weighing on his shoulders more than usual.

When Choi Han makes eye contact with Count Henituse, something in the Count’s demeanor shifts, his tiredness disappearing as Rosalyn explains the purpose of their visit.

As she finishes speaking the Count lets out a bone weary sigh, the admission that some organization is most likely using resources from his land weighing on him even more. Granted the land was a forbidden region, but even then it was his responsibility.

“I will allow your group entrance to the Forest of Darkness… on one condition.”

“And that is…?” Rosalyn leads off an eyebrow raised at the count.

“I want you to take my son Cale with you.”

As soon as the words were stated, Choi Han’s body tensed up, staring at the man with far more alertness than before, his eyes narrowed. “And why would that be? Considering… previous interactions.”

“I have my reasons, however, I can assure you that should a fight come about Cale is fully capable of holding his own.” As soon as Deruth finished speaking he called in a butler from outside the room in order to go fetch Cale. As soon as given his orders the butler shoots Choi Han a confused glance, practically spelling out in the air what in the actual fuck. Before turning away and following through with his orders.

Unfortunately, this left no room for the protests Choi Han would very much like to say. The fuck is this count thinking?

—

Anytime Cale remembers waking up from his impromptu coma, a slow simmer lights up in him again. He doesn’t think he’s ever been more angry than at that moment. That after all this time and effort to protect Basen, the one time Cale is indisposed Basen gets hurt.

Was it out of his hands? Yes, but if anything that seemed to make the anger worse. That he was utterly helpless to the circumstances. So when his Father ordered him back to training in the spear, he gladly took it up again.

It won’t affect his reputation that much if he picks up learning again, so long as he’s still actively an asshole. His father had essentially told him he doesn’t give a shit what Cale does with his time, so long as he picked up the spear again. (Which admittedly hurt, but Cale has gotten used to the disappointment he feels when interacting with his father. It’s simply one failure after another.)

So when Cale first picked up the spear again, after years away from his training, he picked it up naturally, like a bird taking flight. He took back to training full force, going until he was told to stop, and then he would head to the bar of choice that day. Constantly keeping up his never ending role. 

He will admit to enjoying the training, it felt nice to fully apply himself to something again, most of his interests outside of drinking having been sidelined since he was 15.

So he trained everyday for two years, ignoring the growing whispers among the guard of the hidden prodigy that was the lout. Afterall outside of that no one had anything good to say about him.

So he would train, drink, and return home to the two cat children he took in after his incident.

(Both of Deruth’s sons got majorly injured back to back, what kind of father is he if he doesn’t give them the ability to effectively defend themselves. He already failed twice, but he refuses to do so again)

——

Waiting for the eldest Hentinuse son has Choi Han feeling antsy. 

All he can think about is the last encounter he had with the red head. Primarily the subsequent anger of the moment, and the ever imposing despair that still follows his steps. 

So in an effort to… not do that, he starts recalling the red heads appearance of that night. Drunk and stumbling around with a heavy flush covering his cheeks. As well as the never leaving sharpness in his eyes, something akin to a knife poised to strike. 

That very knife is why he thinks he beat the man that night. The sharpness that made it very evident he did know what he was saying. And that he also meant every word of it, in order to hurt and destroy. 

With these thoughts in mind, a new scowl overcame his face (though most probably couldn’t tell the difference). Only breaking him out of his thoughts when Rosalyn touches his shoulder. Looking at her she gives him a soft comforting smile, somehow aware of his inner turmoil like always.

He lets out a slight smile in response, a small breath levying his lungs, calming his raging thoughts. 

Just as he took a break from his thoughts the doors opened, the firm set of heels entering the room.

“Father you wanted to see me…” the voice trails off, right as Choi Han turns and meets the red head gaze.

Instantly Cale’s eyes went from a light interest to a hard glare looking hard into Choi Han’s eyes, the knives stabbing at him once more.

In response Choi Han instinctively glares back, observing the tense redhead, most importantly the changes in the man since last he saw him.

The most apparent thing is Cales body, he has filled out more since last Choi Han had seen him, his muscles are more apparent. In addition to that Choi Han is able to sense a growing power within him, making it clear Cale has taken up training since their last encounter.

The next thing he notices is that Cale’s hair has grown out, now reaching just past his shoulders, being held back in a low ponytail with a light gray ribbon. 

The last and most notable thing however is the light flush on Cale’s face, his breath coming out in light huffs. That paired with a loose white shirt clinging to certain parts of his body, shows that he has likely gotten called away by his father, whilst in the midst of said training.

Focusing on the level of power currently in Cale, Choi Han can at least assess that bringing Cale into the forest of darkness with them is actually quite viable. Without a doubt Cale would be able to hold his own.

Suddenly the Count let out a bone weary sigh, “Yes, Cale I have an order for you.”

At the word order Cale’s demeanor suddenly changes, going from a slight hunch with a glare in his eyes, to standing at full attention. His gaze unwavering, a cool sheen sheathing the knives.

The Count goes on to explain the situation to Cale, as the count goes on the more Cale’s body seems to tense up. His shoulder tightening to an uncomfortable degree, even his jaw clenching tighter.

As soon as the count finished explaining the situation Cale turned back towards Choi Han, the knives in his eyes visible again. Choi Han tensed minutely prepared for absolute bullshit to be sprouted from that mouth once again, however all Cale does is sigh.

Choi Han’s head tilted slightly when Cale closed his eyes, his hang moving up to rub at his forehead. (Trying to be professional is a pain in the ass.)

“When do we leave?” Is all he asks, his hand moving down so his eyes stab into Choi Han’s once more.

“Sunrise tomorrow” Choi Han says quickly, ignoring the side eye from Rosalyn. Like come on he knows he's being petty but you don't have to point it out like that.

He expects some reaction from the infamous trash, at the very least a groan or a role of the eyes. Anything that would have him expressing displeasure. Except he gets none of that. 

All Cale does is nod his head and turn to look back at his father, “Is that all, if so apparently I have some packing to do.” Not leaving any room for his father to respond. 

Resigned, the Count nods his head, allowing Cale to turn around and swiftly leave the room, not sparing a glance to anyone or anything.

As soon as Cale leaves the room, the resigned look in the Count’s eyes vanishes as he turns to look at Choi Han, His eyes hardening.

“While I’m aware that the Forest of Darkness is a highly dangerous place, if any harm comes to my son from you or your companions, there will be no more kindness from the Henituse territory spared. I’m sure His Highness has informed you how dangerous of an enemy we can be.” 

His eyes never leave Choi Han’s, pinning him in place with his gaze, strict, yet at the same time worried, understanding of the risk he is taking. An understanding is passed between the two as Choi Han silently nods. Even though Choi Han doesn’t care for Cale, that doesn't mean nobody does. The least he can do is respect it and keep an eye out for Cale.

At the very least he should make sure the bastard doesn’t kill himself.

—

Returning to the inn left Choi Han slightly nervous. Mostly from the glares Rosalyn keeps sending him.

As soon as they arrive they quickly gather everyone in one of the inn's rooms informing them about the sudden change in plans.

“Tomorrow we’ll head out at Sunrise, as soon as Cale Henitnuse joins our group.”

At the name both Beacrox and Ron tense up, exchanging worried glances. While Beacrox doesn’t mourn leaving the Henituse estate, he does have mixed feelings on the red head. He remembers how Cale used to follow him around and call him hyung, and he also remembers when it stopped. When Jour passed, he watched the light fade from that boy, the pressure of his father also abandoning him. Just to come home with a whole new family.

He remembers seeing a withdrawn boy, who at one point snapped under the pressure. And that is something he does mourn. He can’t help but regret leaving that boy.

While similar feelings sprouted in Ron, there was one major difference. A raging feeling of guilt. He practically raised the boy himself after the passing of his mother. He knows better than anyone how he deals with loss. (He refuses to acknowledge his leaving, this is the third time a parent has abandoned him, at least not yet.)

Disregarding the saddened sigh Lock let out when Choi Han said they were getting up at sunrise, Lock was mostly wary. The look in Choi Han’s eyes were a little scary, and dare he say feral looking. Like he’s not one to judge Hyung but really please tone it down a little, for the sake of their sanity.

Meanwhile Witiria and Archie took the news fine, unaware of the particular history with one Cale Henitnuse. To them it made sense the Count would send someone to work with them, whilst investigating inside of his territory. Even if it was a dubious choice like his own son.

After the news was shared and plans made for the next day, they all headed off to bed, afterall someone decided they had to get up at sunrise even though they were teleporting to location.

—

A red and gray cat lay on a bed watching as Cale paced back and forth, running his fingers through his hair.

“He’s been like this for an hour.” Hong points out to his older sister.

In response, On lets out a sigh before standing up and transforming into her human form, Hong quickly following after On.

Approaching Cale, On starts pushing him to the bed in the room, while Hong climbs into his arms. Finally registering the change, Cale quickly plants his feet on the ground, looking down at the two children.

“Wha-” 

In response Hong puts a pawn on Cale’s face, while On proceeds to keep pushing him to the bed.

“You’re stressing yourself out”

An offended noise escapes Cale’s mouth as he gets shoved to the bed.

“I’m not-” he cuts himself off at the dual unimpressed looks being shot at him, his eyes veering away from the kitten's glares. 

“...I just have a lot to think about.”

“Things that can be thought about tomorrow now sleep” On says finally pushing the man into the bed before transforming back into her kitten form. Both her and Hong then lay on Cale’s torso, curling up to go to sleep. 

After a minute of silence Cale opens his mouth again, “But I still have to-”

A red paw hits his face, “Shhhh, Sleep.”

Sighing at the ceiling, Cale’s eyes veer down to the two sleeping kittens on his chest. A soft smile comes across his face as he sets his hands on both of them, petting softly. Closing his eyes he gives into the call of sleep.

—

The next day as the sun was right on the horizon the group was outside the inn preparing to head to the count’s mansion to meet up with Cale. Just as they were about to depart, they saw Cale walking towards them, holding two kittens in his arms.

As they approach, visible surprise is on everyone's faces. Choi Han looks at the approaching redhead, noticing his clothes, a loose white top catching his attention, the sleeves fluttering in the wind as he approaches. A black cloak resting on his shoulders flaring out behind his every step, framing his figure. A pair of brown pants that while tight looking comfortable, are very form fitting. 

Looking at Choi Han, Rosalyn lets out a sigh before smacking his arm with a light glare in her eyes. Huffing in response, Choi Han looks away.

Standing in front of the group Cale and the kittens just look at them visibly unimpressed. At one point Cale makes eye contact with Ron before something quickly flashes in his eyes and he looks away.

During the silent stalemate, Lock makes eye contact with the kittens, the three of them staring holes at the other. The longer he looks at them the more he feels something is off.

Looking around at the awkward group, Rosalyn lets out a sigh and steps forward. 

“I’ll be teleporting us right outside of the wall to the forest.”

Cale nods and they all group together in order to teleport.

As the light cleared around them they could see the wall in the distance. Before that though is a ruined village, slowly being reclaimed by nature

At the same time, two different bodies tensed looking at the ruined village in front of them, both for different reasons. 

Rosalyn glances at Choi Han, seeing his tense body her eyes soften and she places a hand on his shoulder, “You can have a moment with them, we did leave early enough anyway.” 

Nodding Choi Han heads off towards a rougher patch of land, the only untouched stones resting on it. At the same moment a red haired man split off from the rest of the group, heading to a tree with red leaves in the distance on a hill. 

Watching Cale leave the group, Ron’s eyes sharpen following after the red head.

Approaching the tree, Cale rests his hand on the tree and leans his head on it, the two kittens approach the redhead and rub their heads on his legs, a reminder that they’re there for him.

At the bottom of the hill standing in the shade of a broken down house stands a father and son. Beacrox looks at Ron and the man watches Cale and the kittens at the tree, a fond yet saddened glint in his eyes. 

“He’s changed hasn’t he.” Ron’s eyes turn to Beacrox and he silently nods his eyes trailing back to Cale.

 “He’s calmed down at least, it’s… nice to see he’s grown.” The moment grows quiet as both gaze at the red head, a quiet fondness present even to the less aware of the two.

Choi Han, Rosalyn, and Lock regroup with Ron and Beacrox. Choi Han’s eyes noticeably a little reddened, Lock shooting worried looks at him as they walk.

Looking up the hill Choi Han sees Cale leaning his head against the tree, curiosity fuels him and he starts walking forward

Choi Han goes to move up the hill, they do still have things to get to after all. Right as he passes Ron, Ron grabs Choi Han’s arm, “He didn’t bother you when you paid respects, don’t bother him as he pays his”

Choi Hans attention catches, pay respects? What in Harris Village could he have respect for when he berated it so openly?

Choi Han looks up at Cale once more, noticing the sunrise in the background, the colors painting the sky’s matching Cales hair swirling in the wind. The tree’s red leaves complete the picturesque scene. With the swirls of color and the glow of the sunset it looks like something straight out of a painting. 

Suddenly Cale finally moves after what was probably 10 minutes of leaning against a tree, His hand on the tree clenches suddenly and with a shake of his head he takes a step back, scooping up the kittens in his arms before turning around and walking down the hill towards the group.

Approaching Choi Han, Cale nods and starts to speak, “We need to get moving now we’ve spent enough time here as it is.” 

The only thing Choi Han can do is nod his head and utter a quiet “Yeah,” as he focuses on Cale’s red rimmed eyes, visible streaks still going down his cheeks. As Cale finally walks past him and approaches Rosalyn, all he can think of is Ron’s words earlier, looking back at the tree at the top of the hill… just who did Cale lose?

Once they all regroup, Rosalyn uses flight magic for them to cross the wall, beginning their descent into the Forest of Darkness.

After a few hours of walking suddenly the red cat in Cale’s arms starts struggling before hopping out of Cales arms and starts running towards a plant before promptly taking a bite off of it.

Choi Han panics, he’s learned a lot in his years in the forest of darkness, one such thing being that most things that grow in this area are highly poisonous and now there’s a cat running around eating every plant around. 

He runs to stop the cat, attempting to pick it up, the cat in response claws his hand and hisses at him until he lets it go, which, fair but come on I’m trying to help you little dude.

The cat upon being let go looks at Choi Han before it tosses its head, the symbol of sass. Before walking up to Cale and promptly scaling him and resting on his shoulders like a scarf, glaring daggers at Choi Han.

“Cale-” Choi Han gets cut off, “He’ll be fine don’t worry about it” which causes Choi Han to glare at him. Fine? That’s a poisonous plant, does he want his cat to die? Bastard. 

Cale, sensing Choi Han’s ire moves further away from him, conveniently to a hiding spot that happened to be behind Rosalyn. ( That bastard Choi Han thinks to himself, seeing Rosalyn’s disapproving expression shot towards Choi Han)

Choi Han was so close to starting another fight, but instead he let out a deceptively innocent pout before continuing on leading the group towards the black swamp.

Unaware of the blood dripping from his hand due to the cut, they continue onwards.

—

After a few more hours of walking Ron whips his head around, hearing the distinct approach of something large, as soon as he pulls his daggers out, big wolf-like creatures pounce from the darkness. Too soon to count everyone is engaged in a fight with the large wolves.

As soon as the wolves started fighting the group, Cale sends On and Hong to aid Ron, knowing they would compliment the assassins fighting style the best. This unfortunately leads to Cale fighting one of these large wolves alone.

He quickly brings a finger to his mouth, cutting it on one of his teeth, bringing the bleeding finger down to a ring on a necklace around his neck. As soon as his blood touches the ring it starts to glow. Transforming into a spear. 

As soon as the spear was in his hands, a slight red glow illuminates the spear, not an aura just yet, but close. He engages the wolf close, showing clear skill and understanding of how to fight. 

In an attempt to get a killing blow, Cale ends up on the wolves back trying to stab its neck. In order to get Cale off its back it bucks up, leading Cale to grip on its fur to stay on, his spear flying out of hands at the sudden movement. 

Thinking quickly he reaches behind his back and pulls out a dagger, stabbing it into the wolves back, trying to stay on. His grip stays firm on both the dagger and the wolf's fur as it stands on its hind legs. 

As soon as it settles back on all four legs, it retreats back into the woods, heading deeper and deeper into the Forest of Darkness, Cale still on its back as it races away. As soon as Cale notices the sudden change in scenery his thoughts are consumed with curses.

“Oh shit,” he says, holding on for dear life, as the wolf races away.

Upon the Wolf’s abrupt retreat, everyone else either killed their opponent or was close to finishing it off, so when the only relatively unharmed wolf broke away and ran, with a distinct redhead on its back, clinging for dear life and eyes wide, it did not go unnoticed.

First there was a yell of two new voices to the group “CALE!”, the two cats with abilities apparently, broke free from where they were aiding Ron. At their yell, Choi Han’s head whips around, upon seeing the redhead getting kidnapped by the wolf he breaks into a sprint chasing after the red head, while yelling ‘YOU DUMBASS’ ( hearing this from a distance Rosalyn snorts quickly finishing off her own wolf, ‘Hypocrite’ she thinks.) 

Choi Han is trying his damndest to catch up with this wolf, but the thing is fast and it is doing its damn best to get the red head off its back while it runs, at one point trying to slam him into a tree, which makes Choi Han question, how the fuck is Cale still on this things back.

After what’s basically a thirty minute high speed car chase, Choi Han starts to feel an encroaching exhaustion, one can only run full speed for so long. As a latch ditch effort to catch up he focuses his aura into his sword, willing it to shoot at and hit the wolf.

The shot of pitch black aura, hits the wolf’s back leg, sending it flying to the ground, and the redhead on its back flies off, rolling on the ground before slamming into another tree, as this happen Choi Han slightly cringes before instantly deciding he doesnt care and rushes at the wolf attempting to get back up. 

Quickly approaching the wolf he slashes the wolf’s throat before approaching Cale, who is still slumped on the ground and slightly curled around his midsection, though the groan coming from his mouth at least tells Choi Han he’s alive. 

Ok maybe he should care, Choi Han thinks as he approaches the redhead who is undeniably in a lot of pain after getting slammed into multiple trees by an overgrown wolf. Crouching down next Cale, Choi Han sighs before asking in a tilted voice, “Ya need help?”

Cale finally turns his head to look up at Choi Han, a slight glare in his eyes as he just groans in response. Raising an eyebrow, Choi Han sighs before picking up Cale, resting him on his back. Cale, not expecting the help, quickly tenses, 

“What are you-” 

“Picking you up, do you really expect I’d just leave you here after chasing after you.”

 In response Cale just sighs before resting his head on Choi Han’s shoulder before closing his eyes. Despite his earlier groans of pain, Choi Han notices no matter how much he moves the wounded man around, no more groans or exclamations of pain or discomfort come out of Cale.

Looking around their surroundings Choi Han sighs, unfamiliar. It isn’t necessarily surprising considering the repetitive nature of the Forest of Darkness, making it endlessly easy to get lost within its confines. Turning in the direction he knows they came from (the destruction of the wolf trying to get the redhead off its back easily made some form of visible path).

He starts to walk the path of panicked destruction trying to find anyform of landmark to help lead them back. After traveling for a bit he notices how Cale’s body has slowly relaxed, fitting nicely on his back. The warmth from Cale making carrying him a very comforting weight. 

‘ Wait-’ Suddenly Choi Han feels a breath on the back of his neck, as Cale’s head moves closer to his neck, his breath brushing the nape of his neck.

‘ This is fine’ Choi Han thinks to himself, the unfamiliar feeling making Choi Han shiver. His thoughts quickly spiraling out of his control, his body simply moving on autopilot. 

At some point in his loose train of thought, Choi Han’s grip on Cale’s legs tighten, as he comes to a conclusion. He finds Cale very physically attractive. (Take that Rosalyn he can be honest to himself no denial in sight)

It’s not that bad of a conclusion, he thinks to himself, sure he finds him physically attractive, but his personality still makes him want to punch the redhead more than anything else. ( Some where Rosalyn is simply sighing to herself shaking her head)

Choi Han proudly nods to himself, ignoring the red hair that brushes his skin, sending another shiver down his spine. Happy to come to this conclusion, just so he can promptly ignore it.

Suddenly what had seemed like a very asleep Cale tenses on Choi Han’s back, quickly shooting his head up. Suddenly alerted by Cale’s actions Choi Han looks back at Cale. Cale is pointedly looking somewhere to the right, his eyes deep and confused.

“What-” Choi Han goes to ask before Cale puts a finger to his lips, “Sush,” he says, eyes still pointedly staring to the right.

This little fucking bitch, Choi Han eloquently thinks to himself. Feeling the finger against his lips, ignoring the slight heat he feels on his face, Choi Han makes a split second decision.

“OW YOU FUCKING DOG!” Exclaims Cale, quickly removing his finger from inside of Choi Han’s mouth, “DID YOU FUCKING BITE ME.” 

Unphased Choi Han simply stares at Cale’s offended face, a smug grin on his face, growing the longer he watches Cale’s face burst into various shades of red.

Scoffing Cale turns his flustered face to the side, before pointing in the direction he had been looking at earlier.

Raising an eyebrow in response Cale tugs at his sleeve, “Over there.”

Choi Han’s eyebrow ticks in response “What am I your horse?” 

Cale just raises an eyebrow at Choi Han before tugging on his sleeve again. 

THUD

“YOU-” Cale starts looking up at the smiling Choi Han, before groaning and getting up, “Whatever it’s not like I want to be carted around by someone who probably has rabies.”

“Rabies?” Choi Han repeats, baffled by the audacity of this bitch.

As soon as Cale is on both feet and somewhat stable, he starts walking in the direction he was looking at earlier. Choi Han watched as Cale walked off before sighing and following him, the least he could do is make sure he doesn’t die.

After about a minute of walking they enter a clearing Choi Han had never seen before even in all of his years within the Forest. In the center of the clearing was a giant boulder, a small crack forming on it with every step they took closer. 

With no hesitation Cale approached the quickly widening crack, placing his hand on top of it.

As soon as he touched it the boulder seemed to vibrate the crack opening up to a staircase going down into the ground.

Alarmed Choi Han quickly grabs Cale’s shoulder, breaking Cale out of this trance he found himself in. “Wait a fucking second,” he starts, “What is going on? Why did that boulder react to you?”

Cale seems to hesitate for a second, his eyes still seeming slightly hazy like all of him isn’t actively there, “I don’t know how to explain it but it’s like I’m getting pulled in this direction, at the very least I’m like 60% sure nothing bad should happen.” 

“60%- 60% isn’t exactly comforting,” Choi Han hisses after the already leaving Cale.

Cale simply shrugs his shoulders before turning his head back towards Choi Han, “You Coming?” he asks. In response Choi Han glares at Cale, and pointedly doesn’t think about how good his hair looks when it moves ( It bounces he practically squeals in his head to his inner Rosalyn, said Inner Rosalyn shakes her head with a fond grin on her face.)

Shaking his head, Choi Han quickly follows Cale, who is already disappearing down the long staircase.

Suddenly Cale freezes.

 -You also seem to be a child of this land.

“Hey Choi Han,” Cale suddenly asks, “You didn’t happen to just hear a voice in your head right?”

“Hear a what in my head?” Choi Han asks, baffled. Cale simply nods, “Ok, ok, this is fine ” He then continues on walking. 

Choi Han stares at the red heads back in a stupor, “I feel like that’s a sign we shouldn’t be going.”. His complaints fall on deaf ears as Cale continues onwards.

-I much like you were born of this land, but you seem to share a connection with it much like I did, though it doesn’t seem like you have the same power I did.

“Power?” Cale mumbles, “What Power?” (Behind him Choi Han is getting more panicked, partially out of concern partially because of the thought that why is it always the hot ones that are crazy)

 -I was born with a deep connection to the Earth, specifically to my hometown, the place I sacrificed so much for.

“Sacrificed?” Cale asks out loud, the word somehow making him pick up speed to get to the end of the staircase. 

“Did you just say sacrifice? What the fuck are you doing?” Choi Han asks in valid concern, speeding up after Cale. (Please don’t be crazy cause if it does end up with some sort of sacrifice Choi Han’s gonna have more issues then the fact it is always the hot ones that are crazy)

-There were people that threatened my hometown, and I would give everything to protect it.

“And did you?” Cale asks, finally approaching the end of the staircase.

-At the cost of myself, yes.

As soon as the voice said that Cale reached the bottom of the staircase, instantly freezing upon reaching the opening. In front of him is a giant villa encompassing a cave, truly a piece of art. 

Choi Han quickly comes to a stop next to him, taking in the sight with a gasp of shock. ( he tries not to think of how this giant villa had been under his feet through all his years of suffering, somewhere he could have thought of as a home, when he was so far away from his own )

- I watched all my friends sacrifice more and more of themselves, and all I ever wanted to do was protect them. In the end all I could do was protect their legacy.

Staring out at the villa Cale breaths out, “Legacy? Was this their legacy.”

-It’s what I could gather of it, their Legacy can be found in rooms within the Villa. Their powers too left a remnant on this world.

Finally Cale starts walking forward towards the Villa’s entrance, Choi Han quickly following after him. With every step Cale takes he feels like he’s falling more and more into a trance, the details getting fuzzy around him, the only thing he can focus on is the voice in his head and the unmarked path forward.

-I will ask of you one thing, if you ever find the people who now wield my friends' remnants, to bring them to this place. I made this villa so those who followed their paths could hopefully one day reclaim their legacy.

Silently Cale nods his head, finally heading up the stairs, floor after floor becoming more blurry in his vision. 

Choi Han watches Cale’s figure getting more and more worried with each passing second. He’s getting less concerned with the possibility of Cale being bat shit crazy, and more worried something else is at play as with every step Cale seems to take it seems like a fever is overtaking him. 

Cale’s face is heavily flushed, visible sweat on his face, his hair sticking to his neck. His eyes are pointed dead straight ahead of him and are massively dilated. ( Choi Han is trying his damndest to not think about how hot he looks, he really is he promises inner Rosalyn stop staring at him like that ) 

- I have a question for you Child of this Land, what would you sacrifice for your home. 

Reaching the fifth floor Cale’s vision finally centers on a pedestal in the middle of the room, a rock on top of it. “Everything,” Cale says, “For my home, for my family. I would sacrifice everything.”

Hearing his words Choi Han tenses behind him, there’s a difference between the sacrifice Cale mentioned earlier and the sacrifice implied here. The thought of what he solely thought was a self centered man saying such words with a ringing sense of conviction. While his opinion of Cale Henituse might be negative, it brings other things into a new light. ( A part of him remembers Ron’s earlier words, words that signaled loss and grief, comparing those words to Cales words now, it paints an ugly picture to say the least.) 

The voice sighed at his response

- Then I’ll do my best, go forth to the pedestal and eat the rock on top. In return, my power will ensure you never will have to sacrifice yourself.

Hearing the words Cale seemed to hesitate for a second, something about his noble sensibilities getting offended, but he realized he’s put worse things in his mouth, and got on with it. (It was a cheap whiskey after a bad argument with his father, now that was vile. )

Choi Han was watching Cale with the eyes of a hawk, his earlier words ringing in his ears. As Cale approached the pedestal, mentally preparing to tackle the man if something even hints at an actual sacrifice.

What.

Did he just eat a rock???

While Choi Han stands there baffled, Cale suddenly collapses like a puppet with its strings cut, suddenly gasping as he comes back into full awareness, the state of his body hitting him full force.

Despite his fevered state his thoughts are clearer than they have been since he felt the presence of something pulling on him in the direction of the boulder.

As soon as Cale fell, Choi Han instantly ran to his side, concern he honestly can’t help anymore visible on his face. As soon as he got to Cale’s side he dropped to his knees helping Cale sit up slightly. His eyes while still dilated seem clearer then before, he seems more present then before, which is a minor relief at least.

Looking at the gasping Cale, Choi Han quickly spreads his senses around him trying to sense anything in their vicinity that could be considered a threat. Finding nothing he picks Cale up in a bridal carry, looking around the room they found themselves in he finds a bed on the other side of the room. 

He quickly brings Cale over to the bed trying to set him down on top of it, however as soon as he starts to bring himself back up after setting Cale down he finds himself unable to, feeling a tug on the front of his shirt. Looking down Choi Han finally notices that Cale had latched onto the front of his shirt while he was carrying him.

He looks back up at Cale’s face, seeing his eyes closed while still puffing out heavier breaths, his face heavily flushed. Sighing Choi Han grabs Cale’s hands trying to loosen the red haired man's grip. If anything Cale’s grip seems to tighten however, his unconscious body refusing to let go of Choi Han. 

“Are you kidding me?” Choi Han asks the unconscious Cale, his face a complete deadpan staring at Cale’s sleeping face. Choi Han then attempted a second time to loosen the redhead's grip. Then a third time. And a fourth. And finally a fifth, before he lets out another sigh, once more looking at the redhead's face.

“You better not complain to me in the morning.” Choi Han states, before picking the red head up again. Quickly Choi Han adjusts the blankets on the bed before laying down on the bed, Cale in his arms.

As soon as he is settled in the bed he quickly adjusts Cale to be more on the side of his body instead of just directly on top of him, pulling the blankets on the top of the both of them.

As soon as he was completely settled Choi Han mutters to himself, “I can’t believe I actually did this.” Before closing his eyes, falling to sleep quickly, the events of the day catch up to his body, slowly pulling him into the all encompassing sea of a deep sleep, free of any worries or concerns.

—

The first to come to the next day was none other than Cale Henituse himself. He woke up slowly, feeling perhaps the most comfortable he has felt in years . Said thought though is what jolts him awake. 

The oddly comfortable pillow, turns out less a pillow land more like a hard chest that he’d had his head on while sleeping oh my god-

His face that had been rid of the remnants of his fever now is painted with varying shades of red once more. 

While Cale had spent many of his formative years drinking himself into oblivion (and still does today but that's besides the point), he has never ever taken another person into his bed. 

So waking up memories fuzzy of the previous night with only a vague recollection of a conversation about, sacrificing?? apparently?? (he has multiple questions regarding that one but he’s ignoring it in favor of waking up with another man in his bed, and fuck he’s gonna explode )

Quickly Cale throws himself out of the bed, or more accurately he tries to, a weight on his waist keeping him in place, and a tightening grip making it hard for him to even try to wiggle out.

After what feels like 10 more minutes of screaming at himself in his head he turns his head around, finally looking at the face of the person he found himself in bed with.

Upon seeing the face is Choi Han, all thoughts freeze, until one thought finally breaks through the silent static of his brain, ‘ What the fuck.’

First of all Cale has many questions, but all he seems to be capable of doing is increase the color in his face and squirm like a schoolgirl.

After what was probably 30 minutes of trying to wiggle out of Choi Han’s iron grip on his waist, Cale finally succeeds, breaking free of his grip and quickly standing up on the floor.

As soon as Cale’s feet touch the ground though he hears a very quiet noise from behind him. His thoughts freezing once more for what could be the 100th time that morning.

He whined, Cale thinks his thoughts somehow taking a desperate tone to them, He actually whined. 

Acting quickly in regards to Choi Han’s apparent complaint to the lack of Cale’s presence in his arms (And wow is that a thought), Cale quickly grabs one of the many pillows on the bed quickly placing it within Choi Han’s arms.

Choi Han instantly takes the pillow into his arms and cuddles it closer, though a slight frown mars his face, seemingly noticing that it’s simply a replacement and not the source of warmth he previously held.

Quickly shaking his head and slapping his cheeks, Cale finally resolves to look around the room, and finally explore the underground villa he seemingly found somehow the previous day. 

As soon as he resolves his inner thoughts he suddenly hears a familiar voice in his head again.

-Oh good, you’re awake! Really worried me when you got my power yesterday and fainted. While my power by no means can qualify for healing, I was able to reinforce your body a tad, so hopefully it should get better faster! Honestly you need to be more careful young man, the amount of damage on your body was quite extensive, taking my power on top of it was a terrible decision.

Cale Trips.

Dear lord the voice is still there

Ok. Ok. He can deal with this. This is fine.

-Oh my are you ok, you really need to stop falling over, your body is already hurt enough as is.

Yeah he can deal with this. Quickly getting back up and moving away from the bed that Choi Han is still sleeping in (that he slept with him in oh god- )

Soon he approaches the pedestal from the rock he ate? Apparently? What was he thinking? Finally sighing releasing all the pent up emotions of this morning (He wishes, he’s gonna be scarred for the rest of his life, god he’ll never be able to look Choi Han in the eyes-)

“So you’re still here?” He asks the voice in his head, which god thats a fucking sentence Saints save him.

-It appears so yes, and I don’t imagine I’ll be leaving any time soon after all you did consume my power.

“Consume? You mean the rock I ate? That was you?”

-In a sense yes, it was what held my power, by consuming it that power now became a part of you, and with the power me as well it appears.

“So you were a person? I’m gonna guess you died now right?”

-That would be correct, I believe I would be called an ancient power in today’s context.

Hearing that Cale let out a gasp, even though he knew his mother had an ancient power, the overall details of ancient powers are still mostly unknown to him, and most of the world. 

“So by consuming your power I am now in possession of an ancient power huh. Then what exactly does your power do?”

-Ever since I was a child I had the ability to control the earth, to make spears from the ground, summon giant boulders, and make the ground shake with every step if I so wished.

Hearing this silence consumes Cale’s mind, unintentionally comparing this power to the only other ancient power he’s aware of, his mothers. 

The comparison then makes him shiver, compared to this behemoth of a power he found himself  in possession of, his mothers seems weak. Still undoubtedly useful, but compared in scope of utility, the amount of power that it holds. There only seemed to be a singular question on his mind. 

Why, Why him. Why did this behemoth of a power call to him to such a degree?

“Why me?” He utters aloud finally after five minutes of silence. “Why did your power call me here, why did it essentially choose me for this, J-just Why me?”

The ancient power then humm’s seeming to think about the question.

- Do you recall what I said when you first arrived, that we are both children of this land.

Trying to sort through the fuzzy memories of the previous day Cale finally nods, vaguely recalling the words.

- It seems while you weren’t born with any power, both me and you have a connection to this land, more accurately we would both give up everything in order to protect it, and more importantly, those who reside in it.

“I see” Cale says eyes unblinking while he stares at the pedestal once more, it does add up unfortunately, he does know enough about himself to know that he really would give up everything to protect his home ( He’s already done it once for Basen, and he knows he’ll do it again and again if they can stay safe. He refuses for his family to be hurt and he’s not there for them ever again. He did it once with his mom and he did it again with Basen after the incident in the Capital. He refuses to allow it to happen again, it's why he started training again after all. It’ll be why he will be determined to master this behemoth of a power)

(Unaware to Cale, the power is now a part of his soul, even if it can't read his thoughts it can gain major impressions. Said power sighs and shakes its head, it doesn’t wish to see anyone else sacrifice anything in order to protect, he gave his life to that, he doesn’t want future generations to follow the same path. The power resolves to be there for the boy, he can’t have the boy follow his steps.) 

Sighing out of his thoughts Cale asks the power one last question, “Well now that I know you’re staying at least, I should probably have a name to call you by.”

-That’s fair, I was known by many names throughout my life. Most of the world knew me as ‘The Scary Giant Cobblestone’ Which I will say is quite a rude assumption about my personality. But by my friends whose legacy I gathered, I was known by another name, ‘Super Rock.’ I wish for you to call me that as well.

“Super Rock huh. Well I suppose it’s nice to meet you, and let’s work well together in the future.

Super Rock let out a huff of laughter in response before stating,

-Let’s

Suddenly a new voice spoke out loud right behind Cale, “Super Rock? Are you still hearing the voice in your head?” 

Cale yelps, whipping his head around at the suddenly very awake Choi Han. A furious blush overtaking his face in an instant. 

“I- You-” struggling to formulate a response Cale can only let out a groan, Falling to the floor and covering his blushing face with his hands.

Unbothered by Cale’s apparent embarrassment, Choi Han drops to the floor next to Cale, quickly touching his forehead muttering, “You don’t feel as hot yesterday, but the fever might still be slightly lingering. Are you ok?”

Cale then lets out a very dignified and upstanding and not desperate at all whine, before slapping Choi Han’s hand away from his face, quickly standing up and backpedaling away from the dark haired man.

“R-Right the voice, yes the voice is still there.” Cale finally responds, some of his brain returning to him. However his response did nothing if not encourage Choi Han. Choi Han quickly stands putting his hands on Cale’s shoulders and leaning in slightly. Looking Cale up and down he quickly overviews the state of the Redheads body.

He has a full body flush, which concerns Choi Han greatly knowing untreated fevers can be very threatening. Looking down Cale’s arms, and slightly exposed midriff he sees blooming black and blue bruises all over his body. Nodding to himself Choi Han then pick’s Cale up again, knowing the man should have no right to be moving around with the state of his body.

Cale on the other hand has lost his brain again. First his shoulders and he leaned in. And now he’s being picked up and carried by Choi Han back to the staircase that brought them up to the fifth floor of the villa in the first place. 

Choi Han traveled down throughout the entire villa, and was already reaching the staircase that would bring them up to the surface when Cale finally was able to slightly wrap his head around what was happening.

 “W-Wait, where are we going-” Cale finally manages to stutter out.

“We still have to get back to the rest of our group, we’ve been gone for too long. Plus we did come here for a reason, we should still try and complete it.”

Gaping at Choi Han, Cale’s thoughts finally start to make sense again, the main one being, who knew this barbarian could actually reasonably think. Then another thought hit him, 

“But the Villa!” he exclaims.

“What about it?”

“I need to look around it. It might be important for learning more about Super Rock.”

“There's that again, are you still actually hearing a voice in your head, I was really hoping it was some strange fever induced hallucination.”

“What- did you actually think I was hallucinating?!”

“You were clearly out of it, and talking to something that wasn’t there ”

At that Cale stops, that's fair actually, he supposes from an outside perspective of someone who couldn’t actually hear Super Rock, and saw the state Cale’s body was in, it was a fair assumption.

Sighing, Cale leans his head forward, his body still aching miserably from the previous day’s events, and rests it on Choi Han’s Shoulder before speaking again. 

“Well the voice is very much not a hallucination, and in fact is an ancient power.”

“An ancient power?” These words make Choi Han pause for a second before continuing his trek up the staircase. While he has heard of ancient powers before, he doesn’t know much about them. The only thing he truly knows about them is that that bastard Toonka is in possession of one that he doesn’t even use. And that supposedly you can’t wield one and magic at the same time. 

“Yes, I’m quite surprised I found one, and that it called to me in the first place. That call is what I can best explain as my trance-like state I was in yesterday. The.. rock I ate was its trial of sorts in order to gain the power. The person who built that villa was Super Rock, he built it for his friends, who I assume also became ancient powers, as he called them remnants much like himself.”

Humming in response Choi Han tries to take in the overload of information. 

“It appears that I’ve now gained this ancient power and can use it myself if I so wish.”

“So what does this ancient power do exactly?” Choi Han asks, curious and slightly wary of what it could be, after all even if it’s clear by this point that he probably isn’t gonna beat Cale into a pulp again, and Cale is actually a lot more passive than he originally thought. They do still share a past of Choi Han literally beating the red head into a coma, and reasonably there should be some form of a grudge for that. (He also thinks that he should still be holding a grudge on Cale for his words, but even that reason is slowly falling apart, the picture he’s slowly unfolded of what could lead to Cales perspective of that night, while it doesn’t make him forgive and forget, it’s making him keep an open mind. There are still many questions he has left unanswered.)

“The best way to describe it is essentially full control over the earth.” Cale says

Choi Han stumbles slightly, “Like complete control?” 

“I can’t say for sure since I haven’t used it yet, though Super Rock did say it’s currently reinforcing my body to help encourage it to heal slightly faster. But he did imply that even if it isn't complete control it is undoubtedly powerful, something about how he could make the ground shake with every step he took if he wanted to.”

 Choi Han pauses at that, What kind of main character bullshit? That seems way to OP? And Cale Fucking Henituse got that power?

“I’m actually kind of looking forward to trying it out, I might even be able to make a spear with it, which would be useful after losing mine in the fight with the wolf.” 

Finally at the entrance of the boulder Choi Han finally stops, “Wait you lost your spear?” 

“Oh yeah, during my fight with the wolf, before getting SR the only thing I had was my dagger that I used to stay on the wolf.”

That makes Choi Han really pause, the knowledge that without Choi Han present Cale would be virtually defenseless, it bothers him, more than he thought it would. While Cale has undeniably improved as a fighter, and can hold his own. Being in the forest of darkness with nothing to defend himself but a dagger, something that forces a longer range fighter to closer range, it's a deathwish. Choi Han can’t find it in himself to not care about the fact. (And if his grip on Cale’s legs tighten a little, his back going a little straighter, well that's not for anyone else to know)

Silently Choi Han continues forward, traveling back to the path of destruction they were originally following before Cale started getting pulled towards the ancient power.

After walking in silence for about 10 minutes, Choi Han finds himself breaking it, he’s been thinking non-stop about what he possibly knows about Cale’s past, and it’s starting to wear on him. Finally he asks, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” and Cale really didn’t have to, after all some topics are harder to talk about then others. “Who did you lose that left you at the tree in Harris Village for so long.”

In response at first Cale’s body tensed, his grip on Choi Han’s shirt tightening. He’s silent for another minute before silently whispering out, voice pained “...My Mother.”

Pieces in Choi Han’s head start to connect, but not all of them, some pieces are still visibly missing. The loss of a mother is something that Choi Han knows intimately, being abandoned in this world when he was just 17, forced to grieve for his family and to focus only on survival survival survival, for years. The fact that Cale who seems so visibly pained by the loss of his mother, and that it was apparently in connection to Harris Village, it does makes sense that he has at least negative feelings towards Harris Village.

Sighing out loud, Cale starts speaking again, “I supposed I should tell you, especially with our first… meeting, in mind. To tell you the truth, I hate Harris Village, not the people, I could never truly hate someone in my territory. But the place itself, the land, that's what I hate.”

That… makes sense, but it also makes Choi Han curious, the fact that the trash of the territory says that he couldn’t ever hate anyone in his territory, despite his reputation as a hateful man. It shows more that there is more to Cale, a lot more than he first assumed. 

“As a child I was closest to my mother, my father there and loving but still distant, always preoccupied with his duties as count. So I spent all my time with my mother… she was- she was my entire world. One day when I was 8 years old my mother left for a trip to Harris Village. I- I remember feeling off that day it was storming, and I remember begging her not to go to stay here, go another day. But she was determined, she held me tighter then she ever did before, and she left. It was the last time I saw my mother alive.”

As Cale spoke, his grip on Choi Han continued to tighten, he buried his face more into his shoulder. His voice was quiet, barely a whisper but Choi Han heard every pained word. (And if he ignores the growing wetness on his shoulder, no one has to know.)

“The next time I saw her was in a coffin at her funeral, they said it was a carriage accident, but somehow she was the only one injured. Something about that explanation always bothered me though, something always felt missing at least. In the end I lost my world all because she wanted to visit some- some village on the border of the forest of darkness.”

“After the funeral, I was alone. My father buried himself so deep into his grief he couldn’t even bear to look at his own son, just because I resembled my mother so much. He ran away and I was left alone. Eventually he came back with a new wife and son, and told me they’re my family now. It had barely been a year since I lost my mother, and he could still barely stand to look at me, and he expected me to- to replace her like he did.”

“I had already disliked Harris Village, but when it took my mother, it took my world, and it took my family. It festered into hatred I suppose, and I still can’t find it in myself to like the place even after it's already burnt to the ground.” A bitter laugh comes from Cale’s mouth, filled with a range of sadness and grief, as well as anger. (Whether it’s anger at the village, the actions of his father, or simply himself. Who’s to know?)

“I suppose I should apologize for my words at our first meeting, but if I were to say sorry it would be a lie. While I’m not sorry for my words, I do apologize for the timing. I know what it’s like to lose everything, and I won’t lie and say the alcohol in my system may have played a slight role in my actions that night.” Even if Cale does have a high tolerance that doesn’t mean he can’t get tipsy here and there.

Choi Han stops, in the middle of the path, his eyes widening at the fact Cale even apologized in the first place. Knowing at least the slight context behind the words, the picture being fully painted. Choi Han can’t hold Cale’s words against him, does he still disagree with the redheads words, of course. But he finds himself building this bridge in his mind. While he may not agree with Cale’s words, he finds himself.. Lighter after Cale’s explanation. 

Nodding his head Choi Han finally starts to speak, “Well consider the apology accepted at least, and I’m sorry for the whole beating you into a coma thing. It wasn’t my finest moment either. I- I understand the feeling of losing everything, I’ve gone through it twice myself, so I really do understand where you’re coming from.”

Cale’s hands shake, his head shooting up looking at the back of Choi Han’s head, tear streaks visible on his face. Surprise painting itself across Cale’s face, not so much at the fact Choi Han understands, but because he apologized. Confusion blossoming in his eyes, one question on his mind, Why?

“...Right,” Cale says, mentally deciding that's a later problem.

Choi Han nods his head, a happy smile on his face, now that he thinks about it he feels quite giddy. Maybe because it’s finally been cleared up?

After that they continued walking, filled with peaceful discussion, Choi Han sharing moments between him Rosalyn and Lock on their journey, explaining how he had formed a family with the two. Cale shared stories of On and Hong, how he found them (or more like how they found him) and how they’ve learned to look out for each other. (And if Cale tells Choi Han how he thinks of the two as his own kids, well Choi Han won’t share.)

It was peaceful, a bridge that had previously seemed burnt and broken beyond comparison, coming back together from the mutual work and reconciliation of two people. 

As Choi Han walked laughter and grins were shared from the two, a disconnect from the tears shed earlier, and fragments were healed. They simply grew to understand each other, the stories shared making the others own family closer to their hearts. 

It was a peaceful walk, a mutual feeling of healing filling their souls, a rarely felt happiness encouraging the forward step in their relationship.

It’s a shame how peace can’t seem to stay for long in their lives, but one day, it will. They’ll make sure it does.

Eventually they get to a place where the destruction of the wolf seems to decrease, less panicked. 

“We’re probably getting close.” Cale says looking around.

“Yeah we’ll probably be where we separated from the group in the next 15 or so minutes.”  

“Ok,” Cale says before he starts struggling in Choi Han’s hold. In response to the struggle Choi Han tightens his grip trying to readjust Cale, thinking the man is just uncomfortable.

“Put me down would you.”

Cale got a raised eyebrow in response, Choi Han’s eyes disapproving of his apparent desire to stand on his own two legs.  Scoffing and letting out a glare (Choi Han thought it was more akin to a pouting child though). “I don’t want to worry On and Hong if we return to them with me on your back.”

Choi Han’s expression softened slightly in response before reluctantly letting Cale down on his own feet (And so what if he missed Cale’s warmth slightly, his inner Rosalyn is disappointed now he can feel it) , “I’ll let you, but you better rest as soon as we get there. Your body is too bruised to be moving around so much.” 

Rolling his eyes Cale goes, “Yeah yeah I will no need to worry.”  before continuing the walk back towards their group.

Choi Han trailed behind Cale watching his movements for any signs of pain. When Cale suddenly stopped tilting his head quietly gesturing at Choi Han to stop moving. Listening to the silent instruction Choi Han stops walking, pausing to listen. Somewhere nearby there was undeniably the sound of fighting, while quietly listening they suddenly heard a voice shout, 

“Duck!”

Choi Han and Cale make eye contact, eyes widening, slight panic visible, before they both start running in the direction of the fighting. 

Adrenaline running through their veins they both arrive at the same time, to see a wolf bigger than any of the ones they were fighting earlier aiming for a lone figure on the ground.

Ron was standing out in the open, right in view of the wolf. Something so out of the ordinary compared to the man's usual fighting style that you could tell something was wrong. 

Soon it made sense when he sees a small redheaded boy running away from the fight, an unconscious white cat in his arms, tears falling from his eyes. 

Watching this scene something snaps in Cale, hatred burning in his being at what happened while he was gone. As if responding to the rising anger, the ground shakes.

Suddenly Cale is shooting forward, Super Rock reinforcing his body with every step he takes, willing his body to just go faster. A step behind Ron, a spear breaks through the ground, coming to a stop in Cale’s hands.

As soon as Cale is in front of Ron a wall of rocks shoots up blocking the swinging claw of the giant wolf. 

Standing tall in front of Ron, Cale launches the spear from his hand into the wolf’s head, instantly piercing through its skull; the only thing left to fall to the ground is its corpse. 

The glow of the sun travels between the redhead’s locks, blood raining from the corpse onto those who were fighting it. 

Quickly turning around Cale looks Ron up and down before nodding his head to the man, a silent question to make sure he’s ok. Nodding in response, Cale is off again to the small child in the distance, quickly falling to his knees next to the boy and embracing him with such desperation, one would think he truly was the boy's father.

Choi Han stands there for a minute, dumbfounded by Cale’s actions, and the speed and efficiency. But most importantly, just how hot that was what the fuck. Who gave this man the right??? God??? Hello???

So in Choi Han’s defense he was a tad preoccupied, eventually his thoughts caught up to him, and the fact that all of that was done by an injured man . (Which debatably makes it more hot but that’s not his main concern right now) Rushing over to the still kneeling man, his heart melting a bit as he takes in the sight of Cale comforting the sobbing Child, a white cat slowly coming to in his arms.

Approaching Cale and Hong, Choi Han slows down, taking a closer look at Cale’s body Choi Han notices how tense it is, looking at Cale’s face, finally happy and relief visible on his face at On waking up and Hong’s subsequent happiness, he notices hidden pain in his eyes, sweat starting to dot across his neck.

Nodding to himself he approaches Cale again, quickly getting in the man’s face, a hand reaching out to Cale’s forehead trying to check if a fever is reappearing again. In response Cale flinches slightly, but quickly gives into the others touch, a slight flush appearing on his face. 

(Hong stands there looking back and forth between Choi Han and Cale, making notes of it to tell his sister later, something doesn’t feel right here) 

Soon after Choi Han starts to pull Cale up to his feet, stumbling after the sudden movement Cale stutters, “W-What are you doing?”

“I'm picking you up, what happened to taking it easy? ”

Scoffing Cale rolls his eyes in response to Choi Han, “I’m fine Choi Han.”

(Super rock is in the background yelling at Cale about how his body is very much not fine . Cale thinks he's being ridiculous) 

As Cale starts trying to take a step away from Choi Han, his world suddenly tilts, he starts quickly falling to the ground, a suspicious wet cough coming out of his mouth as he curls up covering his mouth. 

Quickly grabbing Cale’s arms Choi Han holds him steady as the man lets out an increasingly worse cough. After a solid minute of coughing Cale finally stops, looking up to Choi Han before lowering his hand. “I might take you up on that offer on second thought.” Choi Han's eyes follow the lowering hand, his pupils shaking at the sight of blood.

Gasping Choi Han quickly pick’s Cale up, putting him on his back, gesturing with his eyes to the rest of the group, to Hong. Hong, whose hands were shaking at the sight of his guardian, quickly nodded his head running over to the group, On still in his arms. Choi Han quickly follows the boy, making sure Cale is as comfortable as he can be on his back. 

As soon as he gets to the group he rushes to Rosalyn, “You have healing potions on you right?” As soon as he asks, Rosalyn's eyes widen, her hands going to a spacial bag on her hip quickly taking one out and bringing it over to the obviously injured Cale. 

It really tells the state of Cale’s body when he gratefully drinks the potion, instantly letting out a sigh before dropping his head onto Choi Han’s shoulder. After a second of letting the potion take effect, Cale mutters out a quiet thank you, eyes closing as he settles himself more on Choi Han.

For those observing they all pause at the sight. A single thought on their mind as they watch how obviously comfortable the two are in the other’s presence. When the fuck did that happen they were gone for a day?

Choi Han then turns towards Witiria and Archie, “Are you fine with delaying our arrival one more day? I think it’s best to let ourselves rest before we continue forward.” 

Smiling towards Choi Han and his obvious consideration Witira nods, “It’ll be fine, rest well.”  She then turns towards Archie gesturing away from the group, where they then go to set up a tent.

Getting the group in order to set up camp once more, as soon as Cales tent is put down Choi Han goes into it with Cale setting him down and getting him comfortable. During the whole process Cale is completely silent staring at the dark haired man in contemplation. 

Once Cale is settled Choi Han sits down next to him, his eyes on the entrance unmoving. 

“You can rest as well. You don’t have to stay here.” Cale says, staring at the statuesque man. 

Choi Han shakes his head keeping his eyes pointed to the entrance of the tent. “Just sleep, I’ll be fine.” 

In response Cale gives Choi Han a rebellious glare before sighing and turning his eyes away from Choi Han.

After a few minutes the entrance of the tent shuffles, Choi Han’s body tensing before two cats walk in, ignoring the man and laying down next to the redhead man’s side, opposite of the side Choi Han was on. 

At the sight Choi Han can’t help but smile looking at the two cats cuddling into the red haired man’s side. After a moment of indulgence at the sight Choi Han turns his eyes back to the tent's entrance.

Soon noises of the camp settle down around them, the only noises to accompany the dark haired man being kitten snores and the chirping cicadas in the forest. 

After what must have been hours Cale lets out a frustrated sigh turning his head back to the ever vigilant man. 

Choi Han turns to Cale, noticing the tired look in the redhead's eyes, concern lighting in him. 

Cale should be asleep already, maybe another coughing fit is coming? The memory of blood coming out of the redhead’s mouth comes back to him, fighting off a shiver.

Glaring at Choi Han, Cale grabs Choi Han’s wrist pulling him towards Cale. 

“What-” Choi han whispers out. 

“If you are so determined to stay by my side, no matter how unnecessary, you should still get some sleep. Now lay down or so the gods help me and I will start walking to the damned swamp myself right now.”

Staring into Cale’s eyes, Choi Han sees the determination in them, and the slight clench of the man’s jaw. 

Staring at the sight Choi Han can’t help a slight flush that rises on his face, grateful to the darkness surrounding them knowing Cale can’t see it. (Unknown to Choi Han a white haired cats’ eyes are glowing up at his face seeing the blush, huffing On turns her head, it’s too early for this. She does make a mental note to talk to Hong later, because if Choi Han does anything wrong they need to discuss poisoning methods.)

Staring at Cale’s face Choi Han let out a huff of amusement before smiling at Cale, “Fine.” He says. 

Cale’s eyes betray his face as relief bleeds into them before he pulls Choi Han down. As soon as Choi Han lays down both of them notice a new problem.

As they both lay on their sides facing each other's faces, staring into each other's eyes, they both find themselves flushing the longer they stare at each other. 

Cale is the first one to break the moment (and it was a moment even if he doesn’t know what to label the moment) letting out a slight cough and looking away from Choi Han’s gaze. 

“W-we should sleep.” He says avoiding eye contact from Choi Han.

In response Choi Han just hums continuing to stare at the flustered Cale, a slight smile decorating his face. 

Having enough of Choi Han’s staring Cale sighs before closing his eyes, making an executive decision called, he’s going to sleep now thank you very much. That is now a tomorrow him problem. 

Watching Cale, Choi Han can’t help the fond amusement building itself up in his chest. Soon he also closes his eyes, drifting off to sleep.(As he fades away into the darkness of sleep all can think of his hand still gripping his wrist, never having let go since Cale pulled him down to lay next to him.)

The next morning as the sounds of the camp waking and getting up and moving surrounds the tent, two sleepy cats get up looking at their guardian and the dark haired man, literally cuddling into each other, their arms wrapped around each other, Cale’s face being hidden between Choi Han’s neck and shoulder. 

Staring at sight, On sighs, shaking her head before heading over Hong and pushing him towards the entrance, joining the group outside that is preparing breakfast.

As the cats appeared and started helping the group started to notice the lacking presence of two individuals. 

Staring at the tent the two individuals entered from the previous night Rosalyn starts to walk over, grabbing Lock’s arm as she walks past him dragging the teenage boy behind her. (Ignoring the cries of “N-Nonna what-” We have to expose our brother Lock look at the bigger picture )

Pushing aside the hanging fabric to enter the tent Rosalyn looks down at the sleepy men and instantly starts cooing.

Lock standing awkwardly next to her looks at her face and then at the two men before sighing and looking like he’d rather be literally anywhere else.

“Lock Lock, Look at them” Rosalyn whisper-shouts at him. 

Letting out a large sigh Lock speaks “I see them Nonna”

“They're cuddling. ”

“I’m aware nonna” 

As Lock tries to inch away from the cooing women he feels a grip tighten on his wrist. Looking back up at Rosalyn’s gleaming eyes he sighs again. 

A groan coming from a dark haired man makes them both tense instantly looking at the now slowly waking man. 

As Choi Han comes to slowly, the only thing he registers is the warmth engulfing his body, particularly on his side wrapping around his waist. The second being the whispered voices of two very familiar voices. Either inner Rosalyn has gained an Inner Lock, or they are standing right over his sleeping form. 

Memories of the last time these two had been next to his sleeping form, and the ice cold water that was poured on his head seeped into his body, the sheer trauma of the incident making him bolt up as soon as he registers they are not in fact the voices in his head.

Except of course as soon as he moves his body upward the only things stopping him from standing up are arms that are tightly gripping his waist, and his own arm being trapped under the body next to him. 

Quickly grasping at strings in this situation Choi Han looks up seeing Rosalyn giving him a shit eating grin, (which rude inner Rosalyn would never give such an expression, due to being a faceless entity in his head but he digresses) and Lock looking like he just died a little inside. 

Looking at Rosalyn’s grin reminds his sleep-idled brain that there is a body next to him, and he turns his head looking towards it, having to uncover the truth of this mystery he’s found himself in.

Oh my god that’s Cale fucking Henituse, he was cuddling with Cale Henituse . He just admitted to being physically attracted to this man; he's not mentally prepared for this. ROSALYN STOP STARING HELP-

Watching Choi Han’s inner panic, and subsequent blush, Rosalyn’s grin only grows (After all her dongsaeng has his first crush how adorable ) Lock seeing the growing blush on his Hyung’s face cause him to let out the loudest groan known to man, his head dropping into his hands at his apparent mortification of this scenario. 

“I- Did I-” Choi han stutters out pointing at the still very asleep Cale, who in response to his heat generator being moved away from him has gained a slight frown on his face, his arms tightening on Choi Han’s waist.

Feeling this the flush on Choi Han’s face deepens as he continues to stare at the sleeping man’s face.

In response to Choi Han’s flustered question Rosalyn starts laughing. Full from her chest hysterical laughter. The noise caused the slowly awakening Cale to groan and curl his body more into Choi Han, resting his head behind Choi Han’s back, pulling the man close. Like Choi Han will somehow cause all the noise and distractions to go away so the man can continue with his peaceful sleep. 

The best way to describe Choi Han’s face at this moment is the most panicked and flustered ‘help’ on repeat. Every portion of his being screaming out in flustered agony. 

If anything all this does however is worsen the hysterical laughter coming from Rosalyn. Lock, looking like he’s gonna cry if he stands there any longer, lets out a sigh and grabs Rosalyn’s hand, pulling the hysterical women out of the tent.

Watching the duo leave Choi Han feels the deepest betrayal a man can feel. In his moment of need his nonna laughs and his dongsaeng abandons him. The horrified look on his face at having to deal with an awakening Cale on his own, seems to send the leaving Rosalyn into a second round of hysterics. 

As the flap of the tent closes once more behind them Choi Han finds himself frozen in place, the slow breath’s from Cale brushing against his lower back causing goosebumps to rise across his body. 

In Choi Han’s brain the only thing going on is panic, staring at the slowly awakening man. (It doesn’t help inner Rosalyn seems to be reflecting real Rosalyn’s reaction of laughing hysterically YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO HELP INNER ROSALYN NOT LAUGH AT HIS PAIN )

At one point his brain trying to fixate on something fixates on Cale’s hair, one of his most glaring features, and with the thought the overwhelming urge to touch it. 

After what is 10 minutes of pure panic Cale finally opens his eyes looking up to Choi Han, a soft smile instantly painting his face, his voice quietly muttering “You stayed.”

In response Choi Han’s face heats up more, paired by Cale’s soft smile and his morning voice. Help???

Completely flustered, Choi Han simply nods his head, trying to keep his face completely still. Seeing this Cale lets out a light laugh, dropping his head back down on Choi Han’s lap, hiding his face in Choi Han’s stomach, “5 more minutes, then we get up ok.” Cale says, seemingly fine with waking up cuddling Choi Han. 

“O-Ok'' Choi Han responds, resting his palm on top of Cale’s head, giving in to the urge to touch his hair. It’s so soft, he thinks to himself, unconsciously starting to pet the redhead. 

In response to the touch Cale relaxes even more into his lap, digging his head deeper into Choi Han’s abdomen. Hiding his own glaring blush at the situation.

Unbeknownst to Choi Han, Cale’s thoughts are also racing, though not for the same reasons as him. He actually stayed, Cale thinks, see throughout his life only one thing remained true, and that was that people left. First his mom and then his father soon after, and given enough time Ron and Beacrox left him as well. 

It’s a thought he’s so used to, and the thought that Choi Han stayed, even for one night, after Cale asked. It makes him happy. Irrationally Happy , he thinks to himself, reminding himself that it probably won’t last cause it never does. No matter how much Cale wishes for people to stay, they always end up leaving him in the end. 

Taking a glance up at Choi Han’s face, Cale finds something soft fluttering in his stomach. Even if this doesn’t last he’s gonna take as much as he can get, he thinks before hiding his face once more, closing his eyes. 

-I’ll stay with you

Super Rock breaks through Cale’s thoughts, his voice light, but also pained by Cale’s thoughts. In response Cale hums, the smile on his face growing a tad more.

5 minutes becomes 30, and eventually Choi Han convinces the sleepy Cale to get up. 

Standing up Cale finds himself leaning against Choi Hans back, arms still gripping around his waist.

Choi Han upon seeing Cale standing and clearly still being tired, starts overthinking Cale’s body state. 

“What if I carried you again today?” In response Choi Han just got an affronted look, which rude let him care goddamnit (And the thought of him truly caring for one Cale Henituse has shivers being sent down his spine, good ones somehow .)

“You can’t tell me your fine after you body was put through a meat grinder for two days straight” Choi Han deadpans at the offended Cale, who has the audacity to look more offended before sighing and hopping on the mans back, looking every direction then at Choi Han himself, a slight blush on his face.

Done with Cale’s bullshit, Choi Han heads out of the tent. Upon leaving the tent with Cale on his back he’s met with gagging noises from Lock, looking at Choi Han like he insulted his mother. Next to Lock was Rosalyn looking at Choi Han and Cale wiggling her eyebrows and giving Choi Han a thumbs up.  

Choi Han proceeds to not think about it thanks a lot Rosalyn.

Moving his eyes literally anywhere else Choi Han’s eyes land on one Ron Molan, who is glaring at Choi Han with more viciousness then the man has ever seen. Upon noticing Choi Han’s attention Ron draws a line across his neck before turning around and helping Beacrox help in making breakfast. 

Just what- Choi Han thinks before he feels something crawling up his leg. Looking down he sees a red kitten’s golden eyes dare him to stop the cat as it proceeds to climb up his body, eventually settling itself on the still sleepy Cale’s shoulders.  

Choi Han then looks at the white kitten, who in response to his stare snorts before leaping up and landing on Cale’s head. To Cale’s credit the man is unphased at being used as a perch by the kittens, which if anything points to how frequent this happens.

——

As the group treads through the forest of darkness, there is a certain redhead getting more progressively done with everything. 

Slap ‘how much longer?’ Slap ‘Does he have to deal with this’ Slap

Seeing the downside of actually sleeping the previous night, Cale doesn’t have a rational reason to hide his face away in Choi Han’s neck. (No matter how much he wants to) 

So instead Cale has to sit here and suffer while the branches keep slapping his face after Choi Han brushes them aside.

Slap

Alright that's enough, if this continues Cale will actually have a mark on his face, and he has no desire for that. Sighing Cale drop’s his forehead back onto Choi Han’s shoulder, unaware of the slight breakdown the action insights.

Choi Han upon feeling Cale drop his head onto his shoulders instantly tenses. His thought racing, Is he still injured? Lower energy levels may be because of that. And omg omg omg. Feeling Cale’s breath on his nape again, Choi Han’s face instantly takes a slight flush.

Behind them a certain Assassin is glaring daggers at the duo. 

Rosalyn watching this only seems to have an ever growing smile. Seeing this Lock lets out a groan once more hiding his face in his hands. He really does not want to be dragged into his nonna’s shenanigans, so much so he’s actually considering praying.

Seeing Lock’s dilemma two kittens lay a paw on his foot looking up at him with understanding. Lock smiles at the other beast children. The kittens then take the smile as an excuse to climb up the teens body, settling themselves on his shoulders and in his arms.

Tensing Lock looks up at Rosalyn, an expression screaming for help. Looking at Lock Rosalyn lets out a soft smile, a stark contrast to the previous devious look in her eyes. Nodding at Lock to know it’s ok, Lock’s expression settles, his arms tightening lightly on the red kitten in his arms, unknowing of On nodding her approval at Rosalyn.

By the time the sun was at its peak in the sky the finally arrived at the searched out swamp.

Looking out at the desolate swamp, reeking of death, Witiria lets out a gasp. The entire group looks around, astounded at the pure amount of dead mana and poisonous water.

While most of the group was staring at the swamp, a red kitten was munching on leaves, Lock and On hovering to make sure he doesn’t eat anything he’s not supposed to.

In contrast to the surprised noises, one Cale Henituse was quiet, suspiciously quiet if you ask Choi Han.

Hearing Cale intake a breath Choi Han slowly turns his head, an exasperated expression painting his face. Looking at Cales face Choi Han instantly recognizes the hazy look in the man’s eyes.

“Cale I swear to whatever God is out there-“

Cale elbows Choi Han in the face and instantly starts running towards the very dangerous and poisonous swamp.

Holding what in all honesty might be a broken nose Choi Han swears “Mother fucker-”

Instantly Choi Han is sprinting after the absolute menace that is Cale Henituse.

Right as Cale approached the poisoned swamp his steps didn't hesitate, a rock meeting his first step into the swamp, and the next, and the next. 

Every step Cale takes a rock bursts from the swamp, a path made only for him.

Skidding to a stop at the swamps shoreline, Choi Han’s breath catches watching Cale’s confident steps guide him further and further to the center of the swamp. 

“Shit- Fucking- AGAIN!” He shouts after the slowly distancing Cale. 

Running after Choi Han, Rosalyn and Ron stop watching the redheads distancing figure. 

“What do you mean again!?” Rosalyn shouts at Choi Han, who in response gives her a tired look.

“While we were separated we found an underground structure. Cale had this fucking hazy look in his eye and he just- kept walking until he ended up eating a rock?”

Seeing Rosalyn open her mouth, Choi Han cuts her off, “I don’t know why all I know it gave him that power he’s using now.”

“So this happened before?” Ron asks, an alarmed expression painting his face. 

Nodding his head Choi Han looks back at Cale's slowing figure. “It did, after he gained the power, he instantly fell to the ground and passed out.”

Ron’s eyes widen looking back at the poisonous expanse under the red head, “Shit-” 

Rosalyn starts preparing  flight magic, right as a raging earthquake shakes around them. 

The still figure above the poisonous swamp holds out a single hand, unaffected by the shaking earth. 

-It’s definitely that kid's power.

Hearing Super Rocks Voice, Cale’s eyes clear slightly.

“That kid?” Cale murmurs

-There was a kid I protected during my time in this world, he constantly described his power as something ‘good for scams’ 

“Scams?” Cale asks, his eyes lighting up, his lips twitching up into a grin.

-I never understood why he only described it like that, but the idea does have its merit.

Nodding his head, Cale reaches his hand forward, the earth around him shaking while he stands unphased. He concentrates on the feeling pulling him forward, similar but not as strong as Super Rock.

In Front of Cale, the black swamp starts to break up, a white skeleton making itself known. As the skeleton rises to the surface, black sludge and liquid pour off it in masses, a rushing noise accompanying it. 

Gasps ring out in the air as a giant dragon's skeleton slowly reveals itself. Resting under it are stacks on stacks of boulders, making an island in the middle of the swamp.

As soon as the ground stops shaking the redhead takes a step forward, his arm staying outstretched. Approaching the dragon's bones, stones move to form steps up to the top of the dragon's head. 

Touching the white crown resting lopsided on the dragon's head, a bright light swirls around Cale’s body, Seemingly kicking up a breeze, his hair flaring out around him. The bright light flashes to a glowing black before ramming into Cale’s chest.

Choi Han’s eyes sharpen with the fading light, quickly looking down at the essential stepping stones Cale made for himself to get to the middle of the swamp, “Fuck it,” He utters before jumping to the first stone, speeding up with everystep as he watches the redhead slowly falling backwards. Willing himself to be faster just a little more, A black blur shoots out catching the falling redhead, landing on the rocky platform.

Tightening his grip on the now passed out Cale, Choi Han lets out a relieved sigh.

Splash

‘Ah shit-’ Is all Choi Han can think as the boulders beneath him suddenly decide to start simply giving out because of course they do .

“CHOI HAN!” Rosalyn shouts, the air around Choi Han thickening and instantly sending him careening in the air, flying back to the group. 

Choi Han tightens his grip on the unconscious Cale as their bodies get slammed into the ground, safe from the black swamp.

Groaning Choi Han starts to get up, his grip on Cale never loosening. The Group runs up to the two.

“Hyung are you ok?!”

“Cale nya!”

“I’m so sorry for the rough landing, are you ok?”

Standing tall Choi Han smiles at the group, “I’m fine”

“How’s Cale?” On asks, perched on top of Lock’s shoulders, Hong in his arms.

Looking down at Cale, Choi Han sees his soft breathing, with a slight flush on his face. As though noticing the stares even in his unconscious state, Cale leans into Choi Han’s chest even more, hiding his face. 

Letting out a huff of amusement, a fond smile on his face, Choi Han looks up. 

“He’s fine but, we should probably deal with the swamp, I think we’ve been in the Forest for long enough.”

Rosalyn nods her head, her lips tilting into a relieved smile. “That's fair, I suppose I should take care of it then.”

Hearing this Archie looks at Rosalyn, “What do you mean- WHERE DID YOU GET BOMBS?!”

Shaking her head Witiria grabs Archie’s arm, “Never question what a women does and does not have.”

“ What the actual fuck does that mean-”

Ignoring Archie, Rosalyn starts manically laughing as she sets the bombs up.

Sighing Choi Han walks away from the chaotic group before finding a safe place to sit down, carrying Cale the entire way.

Following him are two kittens, right on his heels. Right as he settles on the ground, On and Hong jump up. Hong on Cale’s mid section, and On on Choi Han’s shoulders.

Looking Choi Han straight in the eyes, Hong starts, “We don’t trust you.” 

Choi Han’s eyes widen, “What-” On’s paw covers his mouth before she speaks taking over for her brother. “You hurt him badly before, we don’t trust you. But considering the past few days it's undeniable you two have some form of fondness for the other.” 

“Wait-” Choi Han’s voice comes out muffled.

“Let me finish. You seem to like each other enough now to not beat each other up, but if you do anything to harm him again no matter how minor, you will be hearing from us and you won’t know until it’s too late.” On’s eyes bore into his own, driving home the threat.

“K?” Hong’s voice calls out, the joyful tune contrasting harshly with the serious look in his eyes.

Nodding his head slowly Choi Han utters “..K” the noise still muffled from On’s paw on his mouth.

Nodding satisfied, the kittens jump off Cale and Choi Han, running back to Lock. 

Staring dumbfounded at the kittens' retreating forms, Choi Han looks back down at the sleeping Cale’s face, focusing on the light blush painting his cheeks, little strands of hair escaping the low ponytail and attaching to his forehead and neck. 

“Fondness?” Choi Han mutters to himself. “Just what-”

Right as Choi Han was asking what they meant Cale cuddles into his chest even more, a light noise escaping his throat as he nudges his head into Choi Han even more.

A fluttery feeling encompasses Choi Han’s body, unconsciously he brings Cale’s unconscious body closer to him, curling his legs to make it more comfortable for Cale. 

Sitting there all Choi Han can think as his brain makes the needed connections was, ‘is this right though?’ Ever since he got dropped into this world, everything he has and knows has slowly been taken away from him. His family, Harris Village, if you really want to get into specifics, his childhood too. 

By this point he’s given so much for this world that trying to take something from it, feels wrong, forbidden. While he’s trying to carve something out for himself in this foreign world, like Rosalyn and Lock. He can’t stop the fear of losing everything again.

The thought of reaching out to another person so wholly it… scares him. More than he wants to admit. After all, what's to stop this world from taking another person so dear to him away. 

—

-He should wake up soon, right?

-He should… granted his body took way too much damage and then he pulled that whole stunt to get you. But his body is finally getting a chance to heal now, so hopefully he’ll be fine to use us in the future. 

-That’s fair I suppose, it’s just been too long in my opinion.

-Kid he’s been asleep for a day, let him rest

-Yeah Yeah I will, it’s strange though

-What is?

-How can he hear us? Usually with our powers we’re not able to reach out to them, usually it’s completely silent.

-Is that so?

-Yeah, fair you wouldn’t know though, this is your first time being another's power right?

-It is.

-Hmm. Still, it's interesting nonetheless. Whoever this kid is, he’s different from others. I wonder what made him like this.

—

In a silent room, a groan comes from a figure laying in bed. Eyes slowly opening the first thing Cale Henituse sees upon awakening is an arm outstretched over his head.

Finally registering the feeling of a gloved hand on his head, Cale’s eyes grow cloudy, both in confusion and longing.

“Ron?” Cale mutters out.

“Young Master.” Ron responds, a fond smile on his face.

Ron starts to pull his hand away from where he had been petting Cale’s hair, but before he could Cale let out a little whine. 

“Don’t- Don’t go, not again please.”

Resting his hand back down Ron smiles at Cale, “I have no plans to go elsewhere young master.”

Nodding his head, Cale closes his eyes once more, already fading back into the darkness that is unconsciousness.

Watching this Ron frowns a little more, seeing the everpresent flush on Cale’s face. It seems his fever hasn’t broken yet. Sighing, Ron closes his eyes, keeping his hand on Cale’s head. 

Hearing Cale still ask him not to go even two years later makes something in his old heart ache. While he doesn’t regret following his son, he does regret leaving his other son behind.

Opening his eyes Ron looks back to Cales face. 

“I won’t leave him behind again.”

—

Cale slowly came to once more, despite feeling worlds better than his previous bouts of consciousness, the overwhelming appeal of staying in bed and not getting up just about won. 

Right as he was closing his eyes to go back to sleep, he was jolted awake at the sound of a thud on the other side of the room.

Quickly sitting up, the blankets ringing out around his waist, Cale makes eye contact with the wide gray eyes of Choi Han.

Letting out a light confused smile Cale lifts his hand waving.

 “Hi?”

In response Choi Han can’t help but let out a snort, devolving into little laughs, covering his mouth with his hand, just leaving his eyes crinkled at the corner’s to observe.

Looking at the laughing man, Cale feels butterflies rise in his stomach, a light blush painting his face with one thought on his mind. How cute… his brain coo’s. 

Finally breaking free of his spontaneous amusement Choi Han lowers his hand, an amused smirk still decorating his face. “Asleep for two full days, and that’s what you open up with?”

Still flustered but not one to deny the challenge of a verbal debate, a cocky smirk crosses Cale’s face, “What can I say, I happen to live for the surprise factor.”

Letting an amused huff, Choi Han walks up to Cale, sitting on the side of the bed while putting his hand on Cale’s forehead, “Well it seems your fever broke at least, how are you feeling?”

Non-responding Cale’s eyes center on the hand touching his head, the flush on his face deepening further. Realizing he’s taking too long to respond he quickly clears his throat pointing looking away from Choi Han, “I-umm I feel fine! Yep totally fine, best I’ve felt in years actually.” 

Ending it with nervous laughter, eyes still refusing to look at Choi Han.

Choi Han leans in closer, observing Cale’s face even more, “You sure, you’re looking really flushed again.”

Eyes snapping back to Choi Han’s face, Cale laughs nervously. “I’m- I’m fine I promise,” his voice lowers to a quiet mumble, what normally would be too quiet to pick up from normal ears, Choi Han’s sensitive hearing picks it out instantly, “You-You’re just a little close, like really really close.”

As soon as he said that Choi Han’s hand fell, his entire body snapped up as quickly as possible, standing up next to Cale’s bed. “I-I sorry, I-I’ll just go now, OK BYE!” 

Turning around, quickly trying to leave the room, Choi Han feels a burning heat rise to his face. Seeing the dark haired man’s quick retreat, Cale’s body shoots out half falling out of the bed, catching Choi Han’s wrist.

“It- It’s fine, shit- I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable, I just well- fuck .” Trying to think quickly and say something is failing in the most horrid way possible. Especially when Choi Han turns around, facing Cale once more. His entire face is red, and getting darker by the second, his eyes completely wide. 

Cale was made absolutely speechless at the sight of this man and his flustered glory. His own face bursting even deeper into varying tones of red. His grip on Choi Han’s wrist tightening. 

“I- fucking- damnit- I don’t- don’t really mind?? Like I don’t hate it or anything. So just don’t- don’t leave.” The more words that came out of Cale’s mouth the more he died inside, refusing to meet Choi Han’s gaze once more.

In response to Cale’s words Choi Han steps closer into Cale’s space, using Cale’s grip on his wrist as leverage to pull him closer. Despite the raging blush on his face, and the absolute disbelief at the whole situation. Choi Han grabs Cale by the waist, pressing their bodies closer together. 

“Is this fine?” Choi Han mutters out, sending prayers to any of the gods that may exist that please let it be fine, please let him have this one thing and don’t take it from him. He doesn’t think he can deal with losing anymore, not for a third time.

In response to Choi Han’s question, Cale quickly cuts off Choi Han’s thought process, with a press of his lips to the other man’s.

It was soft, nothing quite like the burning intensity the both of them are feeling, but despite that, the softness of it simultaneously destroyed both of them, while building them back up with this whole and encompassing feeling of rightness .

Slowly Cale pulls away, his flush lightly painting his cheeks. Just as he opened his eyes he looked at Choi Han. 

Choi Han was staring at Cale with wide adoring eyes, something so unfamiliar to the redhead he couldn’t help the spike of nerves throughout his system. As soon as Choi Han saw Cale’s eyes open a wide smile etched itself in his face. 

Suddenly laughing Choi Han leans back into Cale’s space lightly kissing the corner of his lips, more so on his cheeks. As if he was free from his bindings Choi Han starts showering Cale’s face with kisses. Taken aback at the situation and the sudden flood of affection, Cale slowly loosens his tense body soft giggles leaving his mouth.

Slowly the pair moved towards the bed, before they both lay down next to each other, the flood of affection not pausing once. Laying next to each other, Choi Han’s grip never leaving Cale’s waist. They simply lay there, enjoying the others presence, the sheer novelty of the situation burning within them.

Slowly Cale’s head drop’s his forehead resting on Choi Han’s chest slowly closing his eyes. A content sigh leaves his mouth, his mind buzzing from the pure amount of happiness in his being, the thought of someone truly wanting him for him , it’s simply addictive.

“What are your plans after this?” Cale finds himself asking, despite not wanting this to end he can’t help himself but try to gain more information, to figure out just where this could actually go.

“We’ll probably head to the Capital and meet with Prince Alberu, we came to your dad instead of just going straight to the forest on his insistence, so we should at least tell him about the results of the whole situation.” 

Cale hums, a quiet noise, “That’s fair at least.” 

Silence reigned between the two of them for a minute longer before Cale leaned his head back looking at Choi Han, finally breaking the silence, “Do you- Do you think I could maybe come with you?” He asks, his eyes avoiding Choi Han’s.

Eyes widening from the question, “Pardon?” Choi Han asks.

Quickly panicking Cale starts rapidly speaking, “W-Well I mean that, I- well, I just think it’d be nice? I like this, with you, us. I like it a lot actually and I don’t want it to be just this moment ya know? I want to try, I want to experience this to the fullest.” 

Staring at Cale with slight disbelief, Choi Han starts to lightly laugh, pulling Cale even closer to him. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.” He states. And it’s true, from that sentence alone Choi Han feels like fireworks are alighting with his heart, a happy and adoring grin on his face. 

“So is that a yes?” Cale asks with a smile slowly lighting up his face.

“An overwhelming yes,” Choi Han responds. 

Hearing Choi Han’s words, the grin on Cale’s face breaks out in full force. His head leaning back onto Choi Han’s chest, his arms gripping the back of Choi Han’s shirt with a burning intensity.

While they had more to talk about more to experience, this right here and now, was perfect, and they’d rather have it no other way.