Work Text:
“Cale-nim, Beacrox asked me to inform you that dinner will be served in half an hour.”
Choi Han approached the laying-down Cale.
Currently, Cale was laying down on a soft patch of grass, stargazing. Without taking his eyes off of the sky, Cale responded to Choi Han.
“I’ll be there in a bit.”
Choi Han, who was about three steps away from Cale, stood there quietly. He was looking at Cale. Choi Han’s gaze then slowly turned from Cale to the sky.
The two of them looked at the shining stars, one standing and the other laying down. The silence was broken by Cale after a minute or two passed.
“Stargazing is much more comfortable laying down.” Cale then patted the patch of grass on his left before adding on, “The grass here is pretty soft as well.”
Choi Han chuckled internally at what Cale was insinuating before moving to Cale’s left side and laying down about half an arm length away.
The two of them continued looking at the stars. The quietness was oddly comforting to Choi Han. Having spent tens of years alone in the nearby Forest of Darkness made him think that he would’ve hated this, but he’s enjoying himself quite a bit. Perhaps it is because his liege is right next to him or because he finally has a home, but Choi Han realized that stargazing can be quite fun when not covered in monster shit and trying your best to survive.
Choi Han took a quick glimpse at Cale. Whatever expression Choi Han had before looking at Cale, changed to a stoic expression.
The quick glimpse Choi Han took resulted in him seeing Cale just zoning out while staring up into the sky. Cale was so beautiful, even while zoning out.
Simply getting a second of Cale’s face was not enough, so Choi Han’s glimpse eventually turned into full on staring.
Cale got scared when he noticed Choi Han’s stare. He immediately closed his eyes to think about any recent moment where Cale did something to make Choi Han angry.
Choi Han simply saw this as Cale being tired. The war against the Indomitable Alliance, against the Empire, against Arm, must’ve been tiring. The battle against the White Star at Puzzle City and the Sealed God’s test must’ve been even more exhausting.
Choi Han, having been at the vanguard of most, if not all, battles, was tired, but he couldn’t imagine how Cale felt. Cale Henituse was the target of the White Star and the Sealed God, after all. Having this train of thought, plus Cale’s silent sigh, made Choi Han’s expression turn slightly grim.
Cale did not notice and continued thinking. As he felt himself getting a bit drowsy, he slowly opened his eyes. The moment Choi Han noticed this, his expression turned back to being stoic. He also returned to looking back at the stars.
Cale relaxed his body, which he didn’t even know was slightly stiff. He then heard Choi Han’s voice.
“Is stargazing something you like, Cale-nim?”
Cale thought about it for a second before responding.
“It’s not something I particularly enjoy, but it’s not something I particularly dislike either.”
He then asked Choi Han a question in return.
“What about you? Is stargazing fun for you?”
“I have no opinions about it.”
Cale just glanced at Choi Han. Cale already knew that Choi Han had spent tens of years in the Forest of Darkness and could only imagine what Choi Han had to go through. For this reason, he didn’t press any further.
The two of them went back to stargazing in silence for a brief moment before Choi Han asked another question.
“Have you ever done this with anyone before?”
“I have. With Soohyuk-hyung and Jungsu.”
“Mm.” A short, quiet groan came from Choi Han.
“What about you?” Cale asked back.
“I have once. Maybe when I was like 6 with my parents.”
Choi Han’s expression turned slightly grim once again, but Cale pretended not to notice. Cale then asked, out of simple curiosity,
“Never with a friend or partner?”
“Never.” Choi Han then thought about it a bit more.
His memory prior to being transported to this world is hazy, so Choi Han doesn’t remember much. Perhaps he did go stargazing more than once. Now that he’s thinking about it a bit more, he does recall a moment where he took some girl to a hill and the two of them stargazed. He just couldn’t remember if it was supposed to be romantic or platonic.
Regardless, he changed his previous answer.
“Actually, I have. With a friend once.”
He decided it’d be best to interpret it as platonic for the time being.
Silence then followed again.
. . .
‘This silence is suffocating.’
“How are the children? Have they calmed down?” Cale asked.
Cale originally came outside to escape the loud and rowdy children averaging 9 years old. He slipped out when he realized the three of them were no longer paying attention to him. Obviously Ron, Beacrox, and Choi Han noticed but simply stayed quiet. They all felt Cale deserved some peace and quiet after everything they’ve been through this past year.
“Beacrox gave them some cookies and they calmed down.” A small smile appeared on Choi Han’s face recalling the grumbling Beacrox trying his best to calm the children averaging 9 years old.
“That’s good,” is all Cale says in return.
Like always, silence followed the moment their conversation ended. Cale still thought the silence was a bit suffocating, but let it be.
About five minutes passed, but to Choi Han, it felt like five hours had passed. Within those five minutes, Choi Han thought about many things.
From thinking about his family, to Choi Jungsu, to the girl he brought to the hill, to relationships in general, and finally to his feelings regarding his new friends and family. He thought about a variety of things, but mostly about his feelings.
Choi Han thought about Ron and Beacrox. ‘Tsk. They’re alright, I guess.’
Then about Rosalyn and Lock. ‘We need to go camping one day.’ Choi Han thought Rosalyn and Lock would enjoy camping alongside him.
Choi Han thought about everyone he’s met. He thought about everyone he thought of as family. The last person he thought of was Cale Henituse, the first person who became part of his family.
‘Cale-nim… he’s an idiot to say the least.’ Choi Han quietly chuckled to himself out loud without realizing.
Cale heard and slightly flinched.
‘This vicious basta- punk.’ Cale still daren’t call Choi Han a bastard. Not even in his own mind.
‘Even if Cale-nim is a bit stupid, he’s a nice person.’
Choi Han thought about his current relationship with Cale. It was one of a liege and knight. It was also one of two friends who’ve been through life and death situations multiple times.
The more Choi Han thought about their relationship, the more he found himself wanting more than just friends or liege and knight…
Right that instant, he made up his mind.
Even if there were a few changes to their relationship, Choi Han realized that he needed to tell Cale his feelings. Choi Han has no clue when he started feeling this way. All he knew is that enough time has passed and with the present being peaceful, Choi Han knows he’s got to take the initiative. Peace doesn’t last forever, after all.
“Cale-nim.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think of me?”
‘What’s he on now?’
Cale was slightly shocked at this sudden and weird question, but answered nonetheless.
“You’re pretty strong. And you’re very empathetic.”
Choi Han turned towards Cale before asking another question.
“Want to know how I feel about you, Cale-nim?”
‘Maybe? I don’t know.’
Cale thinks he doesn’t need to hear Choi Han’s thoughts about him, but he’s also quite curious. If any other person asked, Cale would’ve just brushed them off, albeit they’d still state their opinion of Cale without caring. That’s how Cale’s new life has been up until now. But since it’s Choi Han… he wants to listen. No, wait. He doesn’t want to know. What if he thinks Cale is a horrible human being? Actually, why should Cale care? He’s never cared so why care now?
Cale doesn’t say his thoughts out loud and instead responds with a simple, “Sure.”
Choi Han thought on how to properly articulate his feelings for a few seconds. He then began speaking.
“I like you. I don’t know when I started feeling this way but I like you… romantically.”
Choi Han then turned his face back to the sky, a slight blush decorating his face.
Cale just stayed quiet while slowly turning his head towards Choi Han. Unbeknownst to the two of them, Cale’s ears started turning a slight pink. One may think it was because of the slightly chilly wind making Cale cold. It’d make perfect sense considering how pale Cale looked.
Cale just quietly stared, forgetting to answer to Choi Han’s confession.
So many different memories passed through Cale’s mind. Specifically, all the time he spent with Choi Han.
Cale thought about all the battles the two of them went through. He thought about all the times Choi Han carried Cale on his back, of all the times Choi Han was the one to take care of the fainted Cale. Cale thought about Choi Han’s personality. He thought of everything he knew about the current Choi Han. Everything and anything.
As all these memories played like a quickly turning book, Choi Han turned to look at Cale. Both their eyes locked and Choi Han could see Cale’s pupils slightly shaking. He then heard Cale’s voice,
“I…”
The blush on the tip of Cale’s ears spread to his cheeks slowly.
“Hmm… I don’t know what to say.” Cale then turned back to stargazing.
Another brief moment of silence passed by.
Choi Han thought that this answer was to be expected.
Choi Han knows Cale isn’t very adept at noticing emotions like sadness or love within him.
Choi Han knew he’d either get rejected or-
“Perhaps I like you too.”
Or his feelings would get reciprocated.
The blush on Cale’s cheeks turned from pink to a red that rivaled his hair color. Choi Han just took in this sight.
Choi Han felt like Icarus. Icarus ignored the warning Daedalus gave him and flew too close to the sun. You could say Choi Han ignored his own warning about potentially screwing up his ‘liege-knight’ relationship with Cale. But unlike Icarus, Choi Han managed to get his feelings reciprocated and did not plunge to his death. Unlike Icarus, ignoring the warning led Choi Han to be beyond elated.
Choi Han continued looking at Cale. He looked at his beautiful red hair, at his reddish-brown eyes, at his nice, fair skin, and at his lips that seemed soft. He thought Cale was pretty, handsome, beautiful, bodacious. He never knew he could feel all of this.
“Cale-nim, can I… kiss you?”
Cale looked at Choi Han in shock. Face still red, Cale spoke, stuttering while doing so,
“Uh, um, y-yes.”
This was so unlike Cale, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. Thinking about it now, he’s never been in a relationship before.
Choi Han found this to be cute. He then slowly moved towards Cale to close the half an arm distance.
Cale was pretty much frozen stiff as he watched Choi Han touch both their foreheads together.
“I’ve never done this before, so please take me through it slowly.”
“Okay, Cale-nim.”
Cale then closed his eyes after hearing Choi Han’s response. He was unsure about whether he was feeling anxious or nervous about this. All Cale knew was that he didn’t hate it. In fact, he liked the warmth Choi Han’s body produced.
He wanted more of it.
That’s why Cale was sure that he definitely wanted this.
Choi Han pressed his lips against Cale’s.
That’s all Choi Han did.
It was just lips touching against one another. No movement involved.
The two of them stayed like that for a few moments, unmoving.
Cale opened his eyes at Choi Han’s stillness just to meet Choi Han’s eyes.
Choi Han’s eyes were filled with so much love for his liege. He was making sure to take in Cale’s gorgeous face for all it’s worth, which for Choi Han, it’s worth all the suffering he had to endure in the Forest of Darkness.
With this gaze Cale, no, Kim Roksu hadn’t seen since the passing of his two precious friends, Cale subconsciously flinched. This prompted for his lips to separate from Choi Han’s, the distance between their faces being a finger's length away.
“Cale-nim…”
The way Choi Han called out his name was so gentle and soft. Cale felt something boiling up in him. He didn’t know what this feeling was. All Cale needed to know was that this feeling Choi Han gave him… this feeling was one he wished to never part with.
“Was that satisfying?” Choi Han asked, still in that soft and gentle tone. He spoke as if speaking any louder would result in Cale’s plate breaking again, as if speaking any rougher would make Cale feel pain again from overdoing it.
“Are you asking because you want more?” Cale responded, his lips curling up slightly. It was such a slight movement that only Choi Han would be able to see because of the close distance.
“Perhaps,” is all Choi Han says. “I’m a bit impatient, Cale-nim.”
Cale was a bit shocked at Choi Han’s cheekiness. He nonetheless responded.
“A hundred and some years weren’t enough to learn about patience?” Cale’s lips curled a bit more. A gentle smile adorned his face as he looked into Choi Han’s eyes.
“No,” Choi Han responded, now smiling cheekily, gaze still filled with love and warmth.
“Fine,” Cale says, almost in a sighing manner.
“I have permission to teach you, Cale-nim?”
“Yes.” Cale then proceeds to close his eyes. “You have my permission to take things just one step further.”
“Okay,” Choi Han says, quieter than his already quiet voice that only Cale could hear. It was very close to being a whisper.
Choi Han then lifted his upper body up and hovered over Cale. Cale swears he heard Choi Han call him pretty but pays it no mind. Well, it’s not like he can anyways when his mind goes blank for a second. He instead focuses on the lips that touch his own once again.
No movement once again. However, this only lasts half a second before Choi Han takes the lead.
Cale, no, Kim Roksu only knows what kisses should look like thanks to TV shows and dramas. Even the few plays he indulged in showed what a proper kiss should look like. Of course, he’s never kissed anyone so he’s unsure on whether the feeling he’s feeling right now is what a kiss should feel like. (I used feel too much 😭)
Even if it’s not the ‘proper’ way, he trusts Choi Han. He also trusts this feeling Choi Han gives him. Beyond that, he trusts himself, and he himself is saying this is right.
Proper way or not, Cale Henituse is most certainly enjoying the way Choi Han’s lips move against his own.
It’s such a sweet, passionate kiss. Choi Han moves like a single accidental bite will break Cale. He moves like he’s doing careful line art on a beautiful painting that he desperately does not want to ruin. He moves like it’s just routine and, oh, does Cale love the way Choi Han’s kissing him right.
Without realizing, Cale’s hands move to be around Choi Han’s neck. The once very fragile kiss turns into a slightly deeper kiss. This slightly deeper kiss Choi Han initiates after feeling Cale’s hands around his neck is one Cale leans into.
Despite it being such a passionate and gentle but deep kiss, the two of them pant quietly the moment they part. This kiss that seemed to last an instant yet simultaneously seemed to last forever, left the two of them out of breath. It may have lasted a minute or two, but those precious seconds felt like eternity. They both wanted more, but they also knew that that more could turn into something they aren’t ready for yet.
At the same time, as if both their souls were connected, Choi Han and Cale opened their eyes.
“Have you kissed someone before?” Cale says, in a teasing tone. Contrary to his tone, he has such a gentle smile that Choi Han knows he would faint if he wasn’t hovering over Cale right now.
“I don’t know. You’re the first I’ve wished to remember this badly.” This was Cale’s first kiss. Choi Han can’t even remember if he’s kissed someone before or not.
‘If I have, it wasn’t too important to remember. This kiss, though… this one I wish to take with me even after death.’
Cale and Choi Han touch their foreheads together again, staring at each other in the eyes, gazes so full of love and any subcategory under love. They stay like that. A few breezes pass by them. The likeliness of the three Elementals constantly by Cale’s side being the source of that wind are high, but Cale couldn’t care less right now.
Actually, thinking about it now…
“Pfft.”
“What’s funny Cale-nim?” Choi Han’s head tilted a bit to the right. Specifically, Choi Han’s right.
Cale closed his eyes before responding.
“I just realized we might not be alone.”
“But I don’t sense anyone?”
“Nevermind.”
Tree leaves rustle, the slightly chilly wind blows, and people talking (more like shouting from the children averaging 9 years old) in the distance.
“Pfft-”
“Haha-”
Choi Han and Cale burst out laughing at the same time. They didn’t know why, but laughing just felt like it was the appropriate thing to do at the moment.
It took them a bit to calm down.
Through chuckles and giggles, Cale starts speaking.
“Let’s head inside now.”
Cale tries to gently push Choi Han off. Choi Han stops hovering over him, but not before placing a quick peck on Cale’s forehead.
Choi Han’s the first to stand up. He lightly pats his legs before reaching a hand out to the now sitting Cale. Cale gladly takes Choi Han’s hand. He then proceeds to also pat his legs, alongside his backside, before pointing to the villa and saying, “Let’s head back home.”
As the two begin walking, Choi Han stealthily interlocks his left pinky with Cale’s right pinky.
“Cale-nim… May I be yours?” As Choi Han asked, he slowed down his pace.
Cale, now two steps ahead (I am always two steps ahead 😈), stops, prompting Choi Han to stop as well.
“I thought you already were my knight?”
Cale says, turning his head towards Choi Han. His expression seemed to be saying that Choi Han’s question was stupid.
Choi Han just quietly chuckled and the two started moving again.
They’re maybe 40 to 50 meters away from the villa when their hands interlock. This time, Cale took the initiative.
“Han Henituse doesn’t sound bad, does it? Or maybe Choi Cale sounds better?”
Choi Han can see Cale’s face getting even redder than his hair. Cale’s pale complexion worries Choi Han but, holy shit, does the redness suit him so much.
“What do you mean?” Choi Han asks, teasing very evident in his words.
“Don’t ask such useless questions,” Cale responds with a stoic expression. Of course, to Choi Han, the stoic expression combined with the very red Cale makes him fall deeper for his liege.
The rest of the way is pretty quiet. Unlike earlier, Cale believes the quietness in which they walk within is very soothing.
‘How’d my life end up like this?’
Even though Cale is questioning all his life choices, the ancient powers in him know he wouldn’t do anything to change the past. Yes, Cale Henituse and Kim Roksu have been through hell and back, but all seven ancient powers know Cale is content.
The moment they arrive back at the villa in Harris Village…
“Young master-nim, welcome… back…” Ron’s benign smile turns into a cold smile seeing Cale and Choi Han holding hands.
‘Why’s this punk holding hands with the young master-nim?’
He doesn’t ask it out loud, but Ron’s gaze is enough for Cale to start speaking. Cale speaks as if he could read Ron’s mind.
“He and I are together. Is there a problem with that, Ron?”
Ron isn’t shocked much, and by now, he really should be used to Cale shocking him, but this… this takes the icing on the cake. I mean, really. Cale and Choi Han being together wasn’t unexpected, but Ron wasn’t expecting Cale to just announce their relationship like nothing.
‘Even the punk seems a bit shocked.’
“Is dinner ready?”
“Yes, younger master-nim.”
Cale just ignores the expressions on both Choi Han’s and Ron’s face and leads Choi Han to the dining room, still holding his hand. Ron follows behind the two, viciously staring at Choi Han.
‘The punk’s dead if he hurts the young master-nim in any way.’
Hans happened to see everything that went on in the villa at Harris Village at that moment. When he was available to do so, he wrote to Duke Deruth and Duchess Violan about Cale’s newfound relationship.
When Cale would go back to the Henituse estate to visit his family, he’d be welcomed back in a celebratory manner for finally having a partner.
Cale was obviously grumbling about how ‘this wasn’t a special occasion to celebrate,’ while Choi Han just happily hung around his lover all day long, ignoring the vicious gazes that came from Cale’s parents and attendant.