Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cale wondered how he found himself curled up behind a bush on a beautiful august afternoon listening to cicadas’ singing. If truth to be told, he had no reason to complain. The fleeting sun’s rays passing through the green foliage softly caressed his face and time to time a mischievous wind would whisper to him the laughter of the children that were getting caught by his knight with jet-black hair. 

Ah. 

It seems like that Raon had just been eaten by the “big bad wolf”. This meant that he was the only one left. Mmh… Maybe it was time for him to ask the wind elementals to reveal his presence. Although his hideout was quite comfortable, his bed must be more suited for a nap. His thoughts dictated one thing to him, but he still had to find the strength to carry out his plan. The birds’ lullaby didn’t really help in his mission of staying awake. It shouldn’t matter if he closed his eyes for a few more seconds, right? It wasn’t his fault if the weather was so good today…

The hero with vermillion hair escaped for a moment in the land of dreams until a familiar smell tickled his nose. It was a fragrance of old bark and rusty sword sprinkled with a subtle scent of leftover apple pie. To be honest, it was a rather nonsensical description, but for him there was no other place where he felt safer than “by his side.”

“Cale-nim.”

The eyelashes of the young master flickered slightly at the calling of his name. Indifferent pearly red eyes met onyx pupils. 

“You’ve found me.” He muttered with a hint of tenderness. 

Choi Han simply smiled and reached out his hand. Cale accepted wholeheartedly the support, unfortunately his attempt to rise to his feet ended in failure. He stumbled forward like a newborn and was swiftly caught in time by his knight. 

“Sorry, my legs are a little numb.”

“No problem, let me help you.” The man replied with a small chuckle before putting his hands on his liege’s waist in order to assist him until he reaches the children in the middle of the garden.

When the duo arrived near the tiny rascals, they automatically stopped playing to peek at them. 

“You’ve taken your sweet time to come back!”

“Human why is Choi Han standing so close to you? Did you hurt yourself somewhere?”

“You will understand one day, Raon…”

The silver-haired teenager shook her head and let out a small sigh. The redhead wondered a brief instant about why she had such a peculiar reaction but decided to brush it off. After all, there was nothing strange that Choi Han helps him to walk or carries him when he was too tired to move by himself. It had always been like that. He had never given much thought to their proximity. It had become normal for him that he was there whenever he needed him. He removed the raven-haired man’s hands near his hips and remained pensive. 

Mmh… Perhaps he had grown too accustomed to his kindness.

What a hassle, he will leave that detail to his future-self if a problem ever arises because of it. One thing at a time. 

“Human, you’re the cat now!”

“Uh why?… Usually isn’t it supposed to be the one who was caught first?”

“No, we changed the rules. It’s more fun this way. Otherwise you won’t ever be the cat because you’re cheating!!”

“I’m cheating?…”

“Human stop playing mind games with me, we all know that you’re using your wind ancient power to shake us off!”

“No one said that it was forbidden. We just decided on no magic and aura.”

“Yes, but!!…”

Cale smirked. It was really amusing to poke fun at the little dragon with blue eyes. Well, it was enough teasing. He affectionately stroked his smooth, scaly head before continuing:

“If you want me to be the cat that much… You guys have one minute to find your hiding spot. 1 … 2…”

As soon as he started the countdown, the children jumped and scattered into the courtyard of Super Rock Villa. Even without opening his eyes, he was aware that a certain individual had not yet left the premises. What was this punk doing? 

“Choi Han, you too.”

“Ah, I’m still playing?”

The redhead waved his hand telling him to scram. The knight scratched the back of his head sheepishly before disappearing to find his own hiding place. He was too used to being at the side of his liege to ensure nothing happened to him, even after the battle against the White Star and the Hunters. It was strange how peaceful it was right now, he hoped deep down that it would last forever.

“58 … 59 … 60.”

The seconds went by and the young master opened his eyes. He swept his gaze around and sketched a satisfied smile seeing how well the mice had hidden their tracks. Nothing surprising though since two of them were disciples raised by Ron Molan, another child was the future Lord Dragon and finally the last one was a sword master. 

“Mmh… How am I going to find them?”

He pretended to be in deep thoughts as if he was facing a riddle. He should let them have the pleasure of watching him struggle just a little bit. After a few minutes, he felt that a pair of twins were beginning to get impatient and started to wonder if they should come out of their hideout. Maybe it was too difficult for the poor Cale! They should be more lenient with him, after all they had moved heaven and earth to drag him outside to play with them instead of rolling around on his bed…

“Ha… Should I give up?”

As if to respond to his nonchalant murmur, a leaf fell right in front of him. The trajectory was far too perfect for it to be a mere coincidence. The young man with vermillion hair raised his head wearing one of his best sly smiles. 

“Found you Hong.”

The ball of fur as red as an apple hidden among the foliage descended from the tree and regained its human form.

“I’ve helped you because you said you wanted to give up nya.” The boy tried to justify himself with a pout. 

“I know, I know. Thank you for your kindness Hong.”

Cale ruffled the kid’s hair and cleaned his face a bit with his handkerchief. He wasn’t going to tell him that he knew since the beginning that he was above him, perched on the tree. Letting the children have their own tiny victories (even if it was orchestrated from scratch) was his special way of teaching. He was aware of the admiration that the kids had for him, but he wished to remind them that he shouldn’t be put on a pedestal. Deep down, he was just a simple man.

“You’re really hopeless without us nya.”

On those words, a gray cat appeared out of thin air and rubbed against his leg, purring. The redhead smiled fondly and took On in his arms. 

“You’re right.” He answered with a nod. 

“Let’s go find our little brother and Choi Han together!”

“Yes, we are going to help you to look for them!”

The twins followed their paternal figure full of enthusiasm. Their boundless energy was almost contagious. If Cale hadn’t started to get tired as the time for dinner drew near, he would have happily continued the acting. Pretending not to know the children’s hiding spots was quite entertaining. However, the pins and needles in his legs were telling him it was time to go home.

Therefore he naturally went towards the deck chair where Eruhaben was lying down with his book. The beautiful dragon with his golden mane looked up and sighed:

“Do you need my help to find the two people left? Tsk tsk… Unlucky bastard.”

Cale just smiled so warmly that it made On shiver:

“Eruhaben, clothes off.”

“Wh— …”

The latter stared at him with wide eyes and wondered what kind of mess he had gotten himself into again. Seeing that his friend wasn’t quite cooperative, the redhead whispered something to the twins next to him. The duo nodded obediently and each grabbed an arm of their favorite grandfather. They exchanged a smile full of mischief before attacking the armpits of their prisoner. Beware of the Tickle Monster! 

“W-Wait both of you… Pfft-hahahahaha!!”

After one minute, the old dragon shouted forfeit and raised his hand, signifying the white flag. He lifted the hem of his long tunic slightly and murmured while trying to catch his breath:

“S-sorry kiddo, this is my limit. You’re on your own now.”

Under the cloth, a round head with blue eyes appeared first, then stubby paws followed. The young black dragon left his hideout and flew up to reunite with his human. His wings flapped joyfully. 

“Me too, I want to tickle Goldie Gramps!!” He shouted happily. 

Cale patted the head of the nine-year-old kid and gestured with his chin to go ahead and do whatever he wished. Raon joined his siblings in the competition of who would be the best Tickle Monster to Eruhaben’s great dismay. The young master let out a satisfied sigh and watched them having fun teasing the old man. 

“Let’s see… Only Choi Han’s left.”

To be honest, it was the most difficult part. Finding the knight that had learnt how to conceal his presence in the Forest of Darkness for decades it was like searching for a needle in a haystack: in other words almost mission impossible. There was no way to guess where he was unlike the children. Looking back, he didn’t know much about Choi Han. It was kind of unfair that he had the opportunity to take a glimpse of his past thanks to that damn God of Death, meanwhile he… 

For him Choi Han was… 

A blank canvas. 

Beyond the innocent smile and his awful acting skills, there were times when his knight with jet-black hair wore an expression that was unfamiliar to him. 

I wonder … where does your gaze land in the distance? 

Who is that deep sigh dedicated to, as if you were longing for someone all those autumn mornings when the maple leaves paint the ground?

Cale was bothered by the idea that he may have fabricated an imaginary portrait of his comrade. After all, he had never spoken to him about what lays behind his strange melancholy.

“Ah… But I have never asked him either.” He murmured, looking up to the sky. 

He managed to “move on”, leave his old identity behind, but it would be quite naive to think that it were the case for him as well. Everyone had their own way of mourning the loss of something. Perhaps he should ask him about what was eating him from inside or simply let him know that he would always be here to listen to him whenever he felt ready to share his sorrow. Cale sincerely thought that they could understand each other without exchanging words. After all, they went through hell together. No matter the rain or the sun, he knew that his back would always be protected by his loyal knight. Nevertheless, sometimes communicating certain things orally was more than necessary. Did he ever tell Choi Han how much he meant to him? He was aware that he wasn’t the most gifted at expressing his affection to those close to him.

What if one day he regrets not having said a nything?

“Pfft.”

The redhead sketched a smile, well after the game of hide-and-seek he will have a little chat with his friend. Proud of his tiny initiative, he went back to his search for the last mouse. It shouldn’t take much time, before he had found him quickly (of course it’s because Choi Han dropped hints to make the task easier for him.)

… 

“Nya, he’s not here either.”

.....

Rustle, rustle.

“Nothing behind the bushes nya!”

........ 

“No one hidden under these paving stones, Human!”

Um. Raon, not sure you need to check over there except if Choi Han turned into a polymorphic creature. 

Whatever, the problem wasn’t there. Cale passed his hand through his hair with a frown. Where was that punk? He searched every corner of the courtyard, but not a shadow of the korean. 

“Young master, the afternoon tea is ready.”

The hero lost in thought was almost startled by the sudden appearance of Ron by his side. What a vicious old man. He gave the permission to the children to go and eat the desserts first. He promised them that he would come and join them soon with Choi Han. The glutton demanded the pastries of Vicross. He clicked his tongue in response. He wanted to munch on some sweets too alright! 

After another dozen minutes of searching in the void, he put his dignity aside (and not because his stomach was crying out for food, got it?) and shouted: 

“I give up! You can come out Choi Han.”

He had never admitted defeat before, so he was a little bit grumpy about it. But hey, there was a first time for everything. He crossed his arms as he waited for a familiar figure to appear in the distance.

... 

Silence. 

No one in sight. 

The young man with vermilion hair furrowed his brows and decided to raise his voice. Maybe he didn’t hear him?

“Choi Han, I’m not playing anymore!”

… 

No reply.

It… It wasn’t normal.

Cale's heart began to quake with anxiety. He went back to carefully scrutinize every corner of Super Rock Villa's courtyard. His steps quickened as the minutes passed and a thousand questions flashed across his mind.

Where could he be?

Don't tell him that he was caught by a Hunter and abducted to another dimension?

Blood trail... Were there any signs of a struggle anywhere?

Was he seriously injured and unable to speak?

What if he succumbs to his injuries and they can't find him in time?

...

ᵃˡˡ ᵃˡᵒⁿᵉ, without even a member of his "family" to be by his side as he takes his last breath.

The redhead shook his head at the absurd thought. Nonsense. Choi Han must have fallen asleep somewhere because the weather was so great today. After all, he almost did the same earlier.

... 

Yeah, it must be that, surely. 

So stop trembling damn hands.

The young master buried his head in the sand and ignored the negligible panic that ate him away little by little. He clenched his fists so strongly to the point that his nails pierced through his skin. The fleeting pain helped him keep his lucidity. All of this was because his ability “Record” had decided to project the film of the last moments of his precious teammates Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo without warning. The bloody limp bodies of his two friends made his stomach churn. A familiar cold sweat broke out over his entire being.

No, no, no…

All of this, it’s over now.

Wasn’t him the first person to say confidently that it was all in the past?

—Calm down! Did you forget that the majority of the hunters was repressed by you. Even if there were a few left scattered across the different worlds. None of them would have a chance of victory against Choi Han!

—He’s right Cale, breathe and relax. Think logically.

The echoes of Super Rock and Fire of Destruction’s voices helped him to pull himself together. 

Haaa… 

He took a deep breath and opened his eyes again. He managed to put an end to the piece of memories. The blurry scenery before him slowly became clearer. His ancient powers were right, Choi Han was one of the last people he would worry about in a situation of imminent danger. He was strong, much more robust than him. Yes, he was. However… He couldn’t help but fear the worst. He wasn’t someone who would disappear without a word, even on the anniversary of the Harris villagers’ deaths he would always make sure to let them know before leaving. The deafening silence was suffocating him.

—We should ask if the wind elementals didn’t see anything!

Oh, right. The Sound of the Wind’s suggestion reminded him that he possessed an artifact that had already helped him many times during their adventures: the notorious whip. As he was about to seize it to clear his doubts, something grabbed his waist.

“Cₐₗₑ₋ₙᵢₘ.”

A quiet whisper reached his ears. In a split second, he pushed away his assailant with his whole strength. He turned around, ready to fire his ancient powers before freezing on the spot.

“Apologies, did I frighten you?”

The knight with ebony hair was standing in front of him with an innocent smile on his face.

Oh. 

It was Choi Han. 

… 

<ᴴᵉ ʷᵃˢ ᵃˡᶦᵛᵉ. >

This insignificant thought lifted all the weight off his shoulders as if it had never existed. However, something far more twisted trampled on this short relief. A feeling that he couldn’t describe. It was as if a bird had pecked at its insides, similar to lava, which burns everything in its path, leaving behind a terrible scar.

“You’re here. Since I’m quite tired, I’ll return to my room. Go enjoy the afternoon tea snacks with the children.” He said stoically.

He didn’t even take time to glance once at the individual in question and left with a nonchalant attitude. An apathy that actually hid a nameless fury. The closer he got to his room, the heavier and more uncertain his steps became. He was angry. He was angry but he didn’t know why. His friend was fine, therefore all was well in the best of worlds right? There was more fear than harm done. It was great. Super great.

BAM

The door banged shut and he didn’t care. Nevertheless, he still made the effort to lock behind him in order to be left alone with his inner turmoil. The redhead undone the first buttons of his shirt and threw his shoes into a corner of the room in annoyance. He then took refuge under his soft blanket.

“Silence, I’m tired.”

The worried chit-chat of his ancient powers quieted down. Perfect, no one will be able to bother him now. He could stay a potato forever. Cale tried to close his eyes and depart for the lands of dreams. He no longer wanted to pay attention to the strange emotion stirring in his chest that had been openly mocking him since earlier.

Chapter Text

███ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄▄ ▃ ▂

Tick tack… Tick tack… 

The hands of the clock made a full turn and sleep did not come. No wonder given that the images of when the young man with ebony hair was seriously wounded swirled in Cale's mind in spite of him. 

Stop it, he’s alive. 

ᴱᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰᶦⁿᵍ ᶦˢ ᵃˡʳᶦᵍʰᵗ. 

… 

But what if one day he is gone without you being able to say everything you had on your heart? 

Nonsense, this punk was going to live longer than him. 

He will always be there. 

ʳᶦᵍʰᵗˀ… 

His heart sunk at the idea that there was a chance that he… He didn’t even want to utter the “word”. Nobody could predict the future. Farewells have been without fail painful for him. He didn’t change at all. Whether it is for Kim Rok Soo or Cale Henituse… Growing fond of someone meant that one day, he had to part with them. Thus, sometimes he wondered if it wasn’t simpler when he was cursed due to the White Star schemes and had his original life stolen. At least the instructions were clear: he didn’t need to cherish anyone since no one could stay by his side.

Ah... 

It was ridiculous. 

ᵀʳᵘˡʸ ʳᶦᵈᶦᶜᵘˡᵒᵘˢ.

TOC TOC

“Young master, the dinner is ready.”

Ron, his loyal butler knocked on the door. He acted as if he didn’t hear anything and closed his eyes to drown even more in the depths of the labyrinth of his worries. After a few minutes, quiet footsteps told him that the old man had left. 
 
That’s a relief. 

He didn’t want anyone to see him in this pathetic state. 

TOC TOC

“Human, are you sleeping? You’re not eating dinner with us?”

“Raon, we already told you that he was tired. You’re going to wake him up!”

“Do you think it’s because we’ve devoured all the desserts and he’s mad at us?”

<I’m not. > It was what Cale wanted to retort, but for once he stayed quiet and ignored the children. He didn’t wish to talk to anyone. After a while, the group left, a tad disappointed not to be able to dine with their paternal figure. 

I’m sorry kids. 

Next time.

Tick Tack… Tick Tack… 

… 

Tick…

..... 

Tack…

....... 

Ah… When will the sandman deign to pay him a visit?

███ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄▄ ▃ ▂

TOC TOC

Someone knocked on the door again. Was it the middle of the night? Maybe. He no longer knew. Outside the windows, the stars had already decorated the sky with their discreet lights.

“Cale-nim?”

!... 

The redhead curled up instinctively under his blanket at the calling of his name by the one he dreaded the most: Choi Han. 

Go away. 

Leave me alone. 

He didn’t need him to torment his thoughts and bother him in the real world as well. He wanted to be a lone wolf for one fucking day. He didn’t wish to see him. Not now when everything was jumbled up in his head like a finished jigsaw puzzle that had been mischievously shaken to scatter all the loose pieces on the floor. 

“I know that everyone else came to ask if you could dine with us… But I wanted to try my luck too.”

No reply. 

“If you ever get a little hungry during the night, I am leaving your meal in front of the door Cale-nim.”

CLAK

... 

Why... Why was he still there?… 

The young man with vermillion hair waited a long moment, ears perked up to keep a close watch to when he will pack up and get the hell out of here. Unfortunately, it seemed that it wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

Hmf.

Whatever, he will just ignore him.

“I’m... I'm sorry.”

Haa… Why was this idiot apologizing? He had never heard Choi Han speak in such a weak voice before. He was in disbelief that he was somehow the cause of such sadness. He would brilliantly obtain the role of the big bad guy in a film. 

After all, he was truly a fool to steal the smile from the pure and innocent knight's face.

“Is it something I’ve done earlier?”

… 

Ugh. He was really the worst. 

“I don’t want my mistake to affect others.”

Silence.

The bedroom doorknob turned slowly.

CREAK

Through the slight opening, one could distinguish the faded silhouette of the young master. Pearly red eyes met onyx pupils that suddenly sparkled. He wondered why he was always so happy to see him. A lout didn’t deserve his candid affection. 

“Get in.”

“Cale-nim!”

He pulled the knight into his room by the sleeve then closed the door behind him. 

The duo stayed quiet letting the darkness of the night speaks for them.

What a real ordeal. 

The awkwardness that surrounded them was hellish. Of course Choi Han wasn’t going to talk first right? He was the one supposed to start the conversation.

…

He really didn’t want to do it. 

For once, the pretext of the man with jet-black hair being older than him was pretty convenient. It was up to the eldest to guide the youngest on the right path isn't it? So undeniably HE had to find a solution to lighten the mood before they both suffocate!

—That is um… Kind of petty.

… 

Yes thank you Super Rock. He was stubborn like a buffalo but he was aware that all of this were excuses. He let out a deep sigh. Maybe it was time to stop being a coward. He just had to tell him what was bothering him. It was easy as pie. 

“It’s not your fault.” Cale said indifferently, while tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. 

... 

..... 

Ugh. 

Alright. Was he allowed to run away? Close his eyes and pretend that nothing happened? His heart was beating so loudly that he wondered if the Vitality of Heart was working correctly. 

Hey the crybaby, are you doing your job properly? 

—I am! You’re in perfect health. It’s not my fault if you don’t accept your own feelings. The old man retorted in a sulky tone. 

…

If his ancient powers started to involve themselves in his private matters, he wasn’t going to make it. What if he jumped off the ship before it sank? Cale realized that it wasn’t such a bad idea. 

On the other hand, Choi Han observed his liege from head to toes. He checked carefully the state of the person in front of him and was reassured to see that everything seemed alright apart from the fact that he wasn’t wearing his pajamas (haa … had he been too lazy to change his clothes again?) Well, at least Cale-nim looked “normal”, way too much, to the point that it made him uneasy. 

At the end of the hide-and-seek game, it was obvious that the young master was feeling under the weather. After so much time spent together, it was not difficult to read his impassive face. Whenever something bothered him, he would put on his stoic mask and pretend to be indifferent. He was very good at this. However, patience was one of the raven-haired man’s virtues. Every time, he would gently dig the burrow in which his friend had hidden himself until the latter felt confident enough to open up.

Of course, Choi Han’s heavy gaze didn’t get unnoticed. Eyes similar to a sunset avoided instinctively pupils reflecting abyssal stars. 

“It’s complicated.” His liege continued, chewing on his lower lip. 

If there was a competition to see who could be the least clear about what they were saying, Cale surely would win by a landslide. Ironically, he was never good with words when it was about “himself”. The duo went quiet, neither of them knew how to engage the conversation. Nonetheless, the korean mustered his courage after a while and grazed delicately the fingers of his liege before holding his hand. Then, he gently rubbed the latter’s palm as if to reassure him. The redhead stepped back by reflex and hit slightly the wooden door, surprised by the tender gesture and the sudden proximity. The charming raven-haired man looked at him innocently, encouraging him timidly to continue confiding in him.

Badump Badump Badump 

Cale gulped. His brain definitely did everything to avoid the real ordeal, otherwise why would he pay attention only now to the beautiful face features of the “original protagonist” from Birth Of A Hero?! He couldn’t help but stay a tad too long staring at his perfect square-shaped jaw, straight nose and wonderful black eyelashes. Oh and did he already mention his discreet beauty spots sprinkled on his adorable cheeks?

Argh. It wasn’t good for his heart.

Should he ask the crybaby to stop pumping blood so he can pass out and escape this situation?

—W-What?! If I do that, my siblings will kill me!

Tsk. 

This roommate was so useless.

—You’re so mean, the old man sobbed.

—Cale, be honest… Just tell him what’s on your heart. If it’s Choi Han, he will understand, Super Rock commented gently.

… 

His ancient power was right, he just had to say:

< Oh sorry about my earlier strange behavior. I was afraid that you were DEAD, bleeding to death somewhere, but other than that I’M DOING GREAT! >

Yeah, no way.

He was never going to admit it.

Better take it to his grave.

Obviously he was aware that Choi Han wouldn’t judge him on his throes of fears. The problem was him. He felt ridiculous. Ridiculous to pretend to offer an attentive ear to his friend’s demons when he could barely overcome his owns. Perhaps it was the reason why he didn’t know anything about the jet-black-haired man; that he never confided in him: because he didn’t consider Cale as someone with whom he could share his sorrows. He surely didn’t want to burden him further.

After all, Choi Han was kind, way too kind. His total opposite. As for him, he was just a liar, a hypocrite that always put up a front. Faking to be “strong”, faking to be “apathetic”, faking to be “smart”. In order to survive, he had built a fortress that people could count on. However everything was a lie and the slightest misstep would make that ivory tower collapse. 

Deep down, he was terrified that someone could rip away his mask. And if that person happens to be Choi Han… Imagining the caring man realize one day that the “Cale-nim” he admired so much didn’t exist … made his heart grow heavy with guilt. What would be his reaction? Will his affection for him crumble in dust? Would he no longer want to stay by his side?

His doubts… He… He couldn’t disclose everything he hid in his Pandora’s box.

It would hurt “him” too much.

…

Cale slowly raised his head. Despite his inner turmoil, before him the onyx eyes similar to the night starry sky stayed the same: attentive and without any kind of judgment. He let out a dry laugh. Haha… Look at him, how could a person be so patient and understanding towards all his whims? Lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, all he had done was play mute. If it were him, he would have gone ballistic. Who would want to deal with a clown who could hardly express himself correctly? He couldn’t remember how much time had passed? A minute, two, or maybe ten? He had to say something, but what? 

“I…”

He hesitated, the warmth of the innocent knight’s hand made him feel weak. It was so comforting: it felt right. Unfortunately, it shouldn’t be the case. He was used to bathing in Choi Han’s overflowing affection that he hadn’t realized that he had crossed the line. Their relationship wasn’t a fair trade. It was always him first, him, him and him again. He had become way too greedy, wasn’t he holding his friend captive to keep him beside him like this?

... 

Ah… 

What was he even doing damn it.

It was unlike him to be so…

ˡᵒˢᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵛᵘˡⁿᵉʳᵃᵇˡᵉ.

“C-Cale-nim?”

One pearl.

Two pearls.

Soon, dozen salty snowflakes landed on the delicate pale face of the man with vermillion hair.

It was like a wave, no, a whole tsunami. Before he knew it, Cale was already in the middle of the tempest. He was overwhelmed by a hurricane of emotions and was drowning. And yet, true to himself, the stubborn young master decided to act like all was well in the best of worlds.

“U-Uh? Are you hurt somewhere? S-Should I call Ron?…” Choi Han stammered, startled to see his liege normally impassive shed tears. 

The redhead shook slightly his head and stifled a chuckle. He was not hurt anywhere. He was perfectly fine.

… 

Maybe it hurted a little bit here, inside of his chest, but it was a tiny detail. It will pass, it always does.

—Listen to him, that’s rubbish! A detail he thinks, the outraged Super Rock grumbled.

—I-I have nothing to do with it, I promise, the Vitality of Heart defended himself.

—Erm… Hey look Cale, I’ve found a new way to swindl—I mean to earn money quickly. Haha, you’ll see we’re going to fill our pockets, the Fire of Destruction tried his best to lighten the mood.

—I’m sure he’s hungry that’s why he’s so emotional. Someone bring a snack, hurry, hurry up, the glutton yelled in panic. 

“Shut up.” Cale mumbled between two drops of tears.

The voices inside his mind thankfully fell silent without him having to repeat himself a second time. His headache was already subsiding a little more. On the other hand, his sudden comeback had caught the raven-haired man off guard. The latter froze on the spot, unable to utter a single word.

“Not you.”

Why was he so foolishly considerate this idiot. Besides, it was because of him that he was in this state. All of this because he didn’t want to name the strange feeling he held for Choi Han, fearing that there was no turning back.

He weakly laid his head on the shoulder of the man in front of him and grabbed onto his shirt:

“When…”

Ah… It was way more effortless to scam people than to be honest with people dear to him.

“Earlier when… You disappeared… It’s stupid I know…”

His throat tightened against his will.

“I… I was afraid that something happened to you.”

The words were spoken in a quavering voice. It was pathetic.

!... 

As this thought crossed his mind, Cale felt strong arms embrace him. A rough hand sheepishly rubbed his back. The innocuous gesture tripled the dancing emotions in the young master’s interiority. He decorated the knight’s shirt with even more wet flowers.

Dammit! Didn’t he boldly say earlier that he wouldn’t take advantage anymore of his kindness? In the end they were back to the square one: he was just a selfish liege being spoiled rotten by his knight. Forget it. You would have to be a saint not to melt in the warmth of the charming black-haired man’s nostalgic scent. He closed his eyes a bit and let himself be lulled by the peacefulness of their respective heartbeats.

Badump Badump…

Until … someone came to disturb this short, intimate moment:

—Oh XXXXXX, who dares make our little one cry! Who do I need to hit? Is it Choi Han the culprit???? 

The Sky-Eating Water suddenly barged into the room, ready to beat to a pulp those responsible for their host’s sadness. Her excessive reaction and her more than reprehensible lexical field made Cale laugh. 

“Pff—C-Choi Han didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t hit him.” He muttered softly. 

Ah. The raven-haired man realized that since the beginning his liege was talking to his ancient powers. He felt a little embarrassed that he hadn’t understood right away. Obviously it made more sense when he thought about it… However a chill went down his spine by learning that one of them wanted to skin him alive. He admitted he was guilty for the current state of the person in his arms but he wished to apologize properly before being spanked by anyone!

Besides, it might be selfish of him, but when the sound of his dear friend’s sobs reached his ears … something peculiar sparkled inside his chest. Cale tended to keep everything in his heart and carry on his shoulders burdens that were far too heavy for one person alone. It wasn’t often that he got the opportunity to hug his liege to comfort him. It was quite the opposite, he was always there to reassure him about his doubts without asking for anything in return. It was time he did the same for him. Maybe one day he’ll allow himself to let his guard down and share all his worries with him. Meanwhile, Choi Han will stay by his side and watch over him. He was his knight after all. 

“I’m… I’m sorry Rok Soo-ah.”

A tender weak whisper tickled the young master’s ears. Then, chapped lips landed gently on his forehead. Cale wondered if he was a kid to be comforted like this… (Yes he was.)

“D-Don’t call me this way.”

Uttering his “old name” so softly … was cheating. Something intimate like this, he had to keep it for his future wife. Not him.

“Hae-il-ah.” 

He furrowed his brows. So he wanted to play this game? He knew damn well that his nickname from Central Plains created by Lee Hyuk Soo made him grimace. What a bastard. He kicked him lightly. 

 
“You punk.”

The latter just let out a small chuckle. Of course it didn’t make him budge at all, he bet he barely felt his foot. Damn block of muscles. Just for that, he was less sorry about the trail of snot he had left on his clothes. He must look terrible. If Raon ever sees him right now, he would say: <What happened to you Human? I’m going to destroy the universe! > Or something like that. Thinking about it, the whole situation was truly hilarious. He hoped with all his heart that no one would enter the room before they had finished their discussion.

“Han-ah.”

At the calling of his name in such an affectionate way, the knight’s cheeks blossomed into amaryllis . Ah, how great would it be if his liege called him like this every day of the year, he thought.

“Yes, Cale-nim?”

Cale raised his head slightly. Well, now that the he was already a mess, nothing stopped him from diving even deeper right? For once he was going to honest with his feelings. Just this time. 

“You… Promise me… Promise me you won’t die before me.”

Choi Han saw in the usual indifferent gaze a glimmer of fragility. It would be a lie to say that he understood why his close friend suddenly asked him such a thing out of nowhere. Nevertheless, the way his stomach twisted in anxiety at the “possible reason” behind his words was more than enough to turn the entire universe upside down in order to offer to his liege whatever he demanded to make him smile again. And if his happiness lied in such a simple thing, then who was he to refuse?

“I promise.”

The young man with flaming red hair slowly relaxed his grip. He lowered his head, amused by the answer. 

“Pfft. Don’t make empty promises.”

Cale brushed the cheek of the raven-haired knight with his fingers. Inside his onyx eyes shone a lovely inscrutable flame of naïveté. 

Choi Han... If you promise me such a thing, I would end up wanting to believe it. 

The man still accepted all his whims without any questions. He didn’t pay attention to the weight of his words as well as him. Unfortunately, it was a promise that he won’t be able to keep. After all, contrary to the Hunters that had tried to create an omnipotent god, they had accepted to go against the hazards of life and to stay simple humans. Their existence was so fragile and ephemeral. In a blink of an eye, the Three Weavers, the Moirai could decide to cut the golden thread and put an end to their peaceful daily life. 

“You know that I’m someone who can’t forget.”

I’m afraid… 

ᴬᶠʳᵃᶦᵈ ᵗᵒ ˡᵒˢᵉ ʸᵒᵘ. 

Don’t promise me something that will create expectations. 

He was someone who had grown up after being thrown into a cold and hostile world at a very young age. The people he was supposed to consider as “guardians” had ended up becoming persecutors. He naturally understood that if he had no expectations in the first place, he would not have to go through the “disappointment” stage. 

The redhead was therefore not used to all of this. It was the first time that he had shared his doubts so openly. Delivering words that contained a piece of his soul for everyone to see was a tough ordeal. However, a small voice in his head whispered to him that if it was the raven-haired knight he… 

He could be “himself”, without a mask, without artifices. Just Kim Rok Soo. No… Cale Henituse now. He was far from the hero praised by the whole East and West continents. He was a simple man with his fears and doubts. Someone … not defined by the imagination of strangers who knew him only through his glorified “achievements” told in novels.

He was selfish. 

Extremely selfish. 

It would be difficult to say when this peculiar idea had first begun to sprout in his mind, but one day he had found himself thinking how wonderful it would be if everything remained immutable.

Deep inside, he hoped for On, Hong and Raon to never grow up. He wished to drink Ron’s terrible lemon tea every morning, savor the tasty little dishes of Vicross and listen to Rosalyn’s rambles on her projects for the Magic Tower all day long. He wanted to continue to bother his hyung whenever he was bored, be spoiled by his family just because he was the eldest son, tease Hans and Mr. Hilsman and watch the wolf children become splendid knights alongside Lock. Even the idea of Eruhaben clicking his tongue and calling him an “unlucky bastard” until the end of time didn’t sound so bad. And to be honest … plenty, plenty of other things. It would be difficult to list them all on the fingers of one hand.

For example, observing discreetly Choi Han practicing in the morning at dawn through the window of his bedroom; watching him become ironically stronger when he could already destroy the entire earth with a snap of his fingers. Ignoring the curious flutter in his chest whenever he calls his name with a big smile or pretending to be too tired to walk by himself so that the charming black-haired man could give him a piggyback. Getting lost in this familiar fragrance of old bark and rusty sword sprinkled with a subtle scent of leftover apple pie when he whispers to him good night thinking that he was already asleep. 

These tiny starry sparkles of happiness, he wished sincerely to frame and cherish them so that they would never fade away.

However all of this… It was impossible right?

One day, these mischievous children will grow up and go their own way, seeking their independence. As for his loyal butler Ron, even if he was a vicious old man, he doubts that he could outgrow the life span of a dragon. It was the undeniable truth for everyone close to him. Perhaps Choi Han would also find someone dear to him as well and leave to start his own family far away from here. 

He was aware of it. 

Nevertheless, sometimes he liked to imagine that if that precious person were him, he wouldn’t have to live through another separation.

Ha. How preposterous of him to think like that. 

“Cale-nim.”

The young master felt hands delicately removing his fingers grabbed onto the dark shirt.

Ah…

Did he go too far with his nonsensical requests? Was he going to push him away after discovering how pathetic his “real self” was? Pfft. He was right to do so. He fully understood the reasoning. He would have done the same.

 ?... 

Surprisingly, contrary to what he expected, instead the knight left a tender feather light kiss on his hands before pulling them closer to his chest. Then, he rested his forehead against his. He was so close that Cale could feel his long dark eyelashes tickle his cheekbones.

“Until death do us apart…”

The redhead gulped nervously. 

E-Eh… Why did this punk adopt such a serious tone, different from his usual voice? 

“It’s nothing much, but… I promise to stay faithful, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health. Whether it snows, rains, or hails, please remember that I’ll be forever and always by your side.”

<Because I can’t recall a world before you. > Were words the korean failed to convey. It’s been too long. Way too long. His family, people close to him or even his parents’ faces… He couldn’t remember any of them. He couldn’t. The time he had spent in the Forest of Darkness had stolen a precious part of him. There was a period where he didn’t know anymore who he was but… Cale Henituse, this man gave him a new “identity”, a new “purpose” to continue living. He had taught him that red wasn’t only the sickening color of blood and the smell of death. It also had the signification of the warmth near the fireplace, something kind and gentle. Watching the falling maple leaves in autumn made him realize that his time was not frozen anymore. Seasons passed, the world moved on and he was getting older too. The color red reminded him of a stubborn young master always wearing an indifferent gaze who liked to proclaim that his dream was to be a slacker. It reminded him of “home”. His home now.

“I’m yours, forever and always.” He added with a sheepish smile.

On the other hand, our hero… The young man with vermillion hair … well… He had to take some time to digest what just happened. The poor man was short of breath and his cheeks blossomed into azaleas. His heart did a back-flip inside his chest. 

T-This… He… W-What… For god’s sake this idiot, he had no concept of limits. If he declared something like that, he … he was going to think that… 

Think that he… ˡᶦᵏᵉᵈ ʰᶦᵐ.

…

No… No, no way. Impossible. 

"You're aware that it sounded like wedding vows right?"

Cale hid behind a chuckle to lighten the mood and bury that absurd, fleeting thought. It was quite dark inside the room, perhaps he will be the only one to notice how much the tips of his ears have turned crimson red.

... 

..... 

...... 

It was... just his imagination, a misunderstanding. Then why did the person in front of him suddenly jump back with his eyes wide open?

... 

Oh, his face looked like gochujang. 

“Ah! I-I…”

Was there really a slim chance that he felt that “way” towards him?

The young master ignored the flush of heat that invaded his whole being after realizing that possibility. Instead, he decided that the best solution was to cover up his own emotions and throw the person in front of him off balance. If Choi Han was more shaken and embarrassed than him, he surely won’t notice his awful stat—

—He definitely adores you. 

Cale pretended not to hear Super Rock’s words. As far as he knew, he was the most suited person to properly distinguish the knight’s feelings. He irrevocably didn’t like him as a l-lov—AHEM. It was nonsense, it was absurd, it was stupid that this could ever—

—It’s fantastic how you can be in such a state of denial…

<Hell, I’m not! > He retorted inwardly. 

—Then ask him! If you’re so convinced, you’re on the wrong track.

Ha. This cheapskate thought he couldn’t do it? It was a piece of cake for him. Cale peeked at the charming raven-haired man, ready to— ready to nothing! Now there were two idiots that looked like gochujang in the room.

…

Geez, what? It was kinda like yawning it was contagious alright! Why the heck was this punk so embarrassed by his own speech even though he was the one who had started to utter all that silly nonsense.

Breathe in. Breathe out. 

Here he goes. 

Cale swallowed his saliva and asked in a nonchalant tone:

“Are you in love with me or what?”

Alright he sounded quite normal. Everything was fine … or not. Why was this punk gawking at him like this? Was it because there was still some snot left on his face? The redhead swiftly wiped his nose with his sleeve.

Mmh, it doesn’t seem like it…

Was it so hard to reject him? Was he thinking about how to formulate the right sentence in order to not hurt him? He didn’t need to walk on eggshells with him, it was fine he wasn’t a teenager experiencing his first love. He would survive. It was time for Choi Han to stop being so gentle, charming and kind with him. If he continued… He might get lost and venture a little too far in his greed.

“Well?”

“U-Um… I… A-About you…”

The knight stuttered comically a few words before stumbling over the shoes the young master had thrown earlier into a corner of the room. His liege stayed impassive but the corners of his lips were twitching. 

Ha. What’s up with that silly reaction? How could he expect him to keep his common sense if he behaved in such an adorable manner? He wanted to tease him even more now. 

“Mmh, what a shame because I think that… I like you.” He added with confidence. 

– Holy cow ! That was smooth. 

Thank you Super Rock, he was proud of how it came out too. 

“Romantically.” He clarified. 

Oh wait, did he just declare his love to the charming black-haired man in front of him? 

– You did.

Damn, screw it. At this rate better play all in or nothing.

“R-Romantically?…” Choi Han stammered with rosy cheeks. 

Cale slowly closed the distance between the raven-haired knight and him. He raised the latter’s chin slightly with his index finger. Maybe that was what it felt like when you were ready to get rejected. You were no longer ashamed of anything.

“It means that right at this very moment, I want to kiss you.”

His ancient powers were bewildered by how brazen his words were. Yes, he was quite shameless so what? It was Choi Han’s fault. After treating him with such delicacy all these years, what did he expect to happen? From the ordinary protagonist from a novel that he feared, he had become a friend, a confidant and finally… The person who had easily stolen his heart. What stopped him from being even more shameless and forward? He was a “trashy rich young master” after all. It was the best manner to reach the ending he wanted: attack him head-on with all his foolish love in one blow like a furious bull. He had to reject him so that he won’t cling to false hopes in the future. 

“Don’t close your eyes with duck lips, or I will kiss you for real.”

The shy knight put the back of his hand in front of his mouth, too embarrassed to look into his liege's eyes. 

“I-I thought that everything concerning love didn’t interest you.” He mumbled, troubled by the sudden love confession. 

“You’re right. It doesn’t interest me.”

Ah… How pure and innocent he was. It was very fun to tease him on this topic. He should have done this much earlier.

“You’re the one who interest me.”

“C-Cale-nim you!…”

Pffft—alright, alright. He was going to stop here. The young master with vermillion hair lost himself in a fit of laughter and gave the knight a small pat. 

“Hey, chill. You don’t have to stress so much over it. I don’t expect anything in return.”

Was he running away by joking around? Absolutely. Did he regret what he had just done? Not at all.

“I just wanted to say it out loud at least once.” He whispered with a hint of sadn—no he didn’t wish to name the emotion that churned in his stomach.

He mustered a smile that he hoped was friendly far from the melancholy that was overwhelming him. 

“Nothing will change.”

Yes, it was better this way. He lowered his eyes and— 

"Ha. Again, you're..."

The thread of the redhead's thoughts was suddenly cut by a dark murmur. The knight passed his hand through his hair and scoffed with disbelief.

"Cale-nim... You're really insufferable." 

He walked towards him with heavy steps. 

One step, two steps. 

"You always decide of what is the best for other people without asking their opinion first."

Choi Han approached him with such a vicious gaze that Cale wondered if he was going to get beaten to a pulp like the beginning of the novel Birth of A Hero. Before he even had time to blink, he found himself pressed against the wooden door of his room with no escape route.

“You’re always making sure we eat our meals properly, reminding us to take care of ourselves when you’re doing the exact opposite.”

The young master couldn’t read the expression of the korean hidden behind his dark bangs. His heart was pounding with anxiety: a mixture of apprehension and guilt. Because everything that Choi Han mentioned was the truth and for once he could not find any words to refute what he said. 

“You…”

The man stopped in the middle of his sentence and took a deep breath:

“You ask me... ask me to promise not to die before you when you know damn well how many times I had to watch you covered with blood, ready to be taken away by the Grim Reaper without being able to do anything.”

A dry laugh followed.

“Whether it was for the White Star or the Hunters, every time, every damn time I only could stay by your side in silence, powerless, waiting for you to wake up and desperately counting the hours.”

He tightened his fists so strongly that his nails slightly pierced the palms of his hands. He omitted the thousand scenarios he had imagined in his head in case Cale wouldn’t open his eyes ever again. In these ironically familiar “tragedies,” he remembered how he had lost himself in staring blankly at the limp body of his most precious person in the whole universe, and how he had bitterly accepted the fact that he might never have the chance to hear his voice again. However, before he could sink deeper in his regrets, each time the person in question regained consciousness as if nothing had happened. And Choi Han… Choi Han no more knew if he had to laugh or cry about the absurd situation. 

All those years, since he met him… From the rude nobleman to the fellow comrade from his native country… He … had taught him that he was someone qualified to “protect”, that he was not just a bloodthirsty murderer. Nevertheless, if he was unable to protect his liege… Could he still claim to be capable of “such a thing”?

Kim Rok Soo, or Cale Henituse… Was he always forced to put the happiness of others before his own? Even if it meant denying their feelings? Did he ever wonder if they desired the same things as him? Ah, he was a selfish man indeed. He may never fully understand him. He had accepted this fact with bitterness a long time ago.

“I accepted, because I didn't want to step over your boundaries. But…”

Choi Han raised his head, and whispered in a weak wavering voice full of emotion:

“My feelings… Can you at least allow me to do as I please with the affection I hold for you?”

<Don’t rob me of the right to cherish you and to love you, Cale-nim… ᴵᵗ ʷᵒᵘˡᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵗᵒᵒ ᵘⁿᶠᵃᶦʳ. >

Seeing the pearls of tears adorning the familiar onyx pupils, Cale’s heart sunk: ah he was truly a bastard beyond help. 

—Indeed, Super Rock confirmed.

—What did I tell you, the cheapskate sighed. 

… Ugh, alright he didn’t need them to rub it in his face! He hadn’t planned at all how deeply his words would hurt Choi Han. It’s just… It’s just that he thought that… 

“Did you ever wonder if I … wanted our relationship to change?”

That their feelings ʷᵉʳᵉ ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᶜᶦᵖʳᵒᶜᵃˡ…

“C-Choi Han?…”

The charming knight whispered something inaudible before getting dangerously close to his liege’s plump rosy lips. 

E-Eh?... what was happening?! Was Choi Han going to do what he thought he was going to do?!… He was convinced that the korean didn’t have much experience in this field since he arrived in the Forest of Darkness when he was only a high schooler. He was taken aback by how bold he was acting. 

Ah, screw it.

The young master closed his eyes instinctively.

...

.....

...... Mh? 

Already finished? 

All he felt was as if a feather had softly landed on his lips. He expected his knight to be more confident in his attempt. He slowly opened his eyes again and studied the expression of the innocent man. The latter was bright red up to his ears and stared shyly at the ground ashamed of his earlier reckless behavior.

Ah, adorable. 

“One more time.” Cale whispered fondly while hugging the neck of the sweet black-haired man to close the distance between them. 

He may have been hesitant at first but Choi Han didn’t wait to be told twice before complying to his liege’s orders. This time, the young master with vermillion hair decided to lead the dance. He enjoyed the sweetness he savored in the kiss they were sharing. Did they have apple pie for dessert at dinner tonight? Oh, it didn’t matter much. He liked how well their lips combined like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that fit together perfectly. He happily lost himself in the warmth that the knight gave him. After what seemed to be an eternity, the duo separated out of breath. 

  
“Again.” The redhead muttered almost like a plea. 

His liege’s words only ignited more the flame in the raven-haired man's chest. How could he refuse his will? Before him stood a person with such intoxicating beauty that it would be difficult for anyone not to feel their heart skip a beat at least once in front of those magnificent pearly red eyes.

"Cale-nim... I..."

The young man with ebony hair decorated the redhead’s pale collar bone meticulously of a subtle field of plum blossoms. Once his task’s done, he contemplated with a satisfied smile the result of his hard work. Nonetheless it didn’t seem to please the object of his attention. The latter frowned with a pout. He surely had to wear a turtleneck to hide his naughtiness if he wanted his dear knight to stay alive and not be killed tomorrow by his loyal servant Ron. 

“Not there, here.” He said nonchalantly by showing his lips. 

Choi Han looked at his liege with amusement before capturing again his precious treasure. He imitated instinctively what Cale had done before and it seemed like he was a pretty good student seeing how his beloved let out sighs that were delicacies for his ears. 

“H-hey slow down. We have all the time in the world. I’m not going anywhere.”

The young master hit lightly the shoulder of the knight that stopped immediately in his shower of affection. This punk… He couldn’t hold his breath as long as he did! Was he trying to suffocate him?

“Sorry Cale-nim…”

The latter apologized promptly with familiar sad puppy eyes… What was he going to do with him? Cale stifled a laugh and pecked him on the cheek to comfort him. 

“Stay here tonight?” He whispered softly by taking his hand. 

Choi Han showed a timid smile and looked at the pupils similar to maple leaves painting the ground on autumn afternoons. Where could he go when his beloved gazed at him so fondly? His love for the young man with vermillion hair went beyond any sophisticated speeches. If he had to explain why he adored him so much, he could only answer with: “Because it was him, because it was me.” Quite simply. And if the stars were kind enough to grant them their blessing, then he promised to brave against all odds to make Cale Henituse happy. Perhaps one day, in a distant future, the sweet affection that makes dandelions waltz inside his stomach will fly away and disappear into stardust; or the stubborn young master will get tired of him first… However for now … he will just cherish this fleeting happiness within his reach. 

███ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄▄ ▃ ▂

And rumors said that the next morning the entire family of Super Rock Villa found their young master with vermillion hair sleeping peacefully in his precious knight’s arms, entangled like koalas. No one had the courage to separate the innocent duo still in their outfits from the day before and let them rest until supper. Who knows what happened for them to be glued together like this. Only the gossips between elementals will be able to tell you. At least, what was certain was that the two “friends” had reconciled without a hitch. But Ron Molan kind of regretted being the mediator between the vicious punk and his adorable puppy young master behind the scenes… Never again!