Work Text:
Fwish
"Cale nya."
The warmth underneath his palm and the softness of the paws climbing over his lap was what reached him first.
Pat, pat
"Why aren't you resting?"
Cale looked down towards where he supposed the child's gaze was. A blindfold covered his eyes, raven in shade.
"I was resting, though."
As far as he'd known he'd been sitting motionless on the couch for hours. Did that not count as slacking off?
"…"
But because he couldn't see, he couldn't understand if Ohn was eyeing him with doubt or believing his words.
"You look tired, nya."
Pat, pat
"Really?"
The child leaned into his palm. Cale's hands shook briefly. He didn't understand why.
"Where's Hong?"
Raon had gone out with Eruhaben and Rosalyn, trying to find a cure even when Cale had argued otherwise, but he didn't know where Hong was.
"He's with grandpa Ron, nya. You skipped lunch too, so they're preparing apple pies for now."
"Mm."
It wasn't needed, but he didn't want to say that to a child. If it was an apple pie, Cale supposed he could take a few bites at least.
Pat, pat
Cale leaned back against the cushions just as he felt Ohn curling up comfortably on his lap.
Whooosh
A brief warmth flickered over his face. Judging by the breeze as well, Cale guessed it must've been sunny outside, clouds drifting aimlessly alongside a quiet wind.
"…"
He didn't understand, but it felt odd.
The Top's Whip lay secure in his pocket. Cale didn't pick it up, and instead stared into nothingness.
****
It wasn't particularly hard to eat, he'd discovered.
Mostly because Ron would already cut the steak into even smaller pieces, and the children wouldn't let him eat without asking every two minutes if he needed more sauce or anything else. Cale could mostly tell the arrangements thanks to the wind elementals—while it was odd that they stuck to his side all the time now, the redhead was mostly grateful—but it was easier to hear Raon's eager voice than grabbing the Whip to 'see' things again.
Beacrox prepared soups and stews more often than not these days, something that wouldn't require him to use a fork and a knife. Because of that, even when his stomach churned and nausea lingered in his throat, Cale tried to finish everything. It wasn't the children's fault he was like this. Neither was it the chef's, who tried catering to him in his own ways.
Tap, tap
Cale quietly resumed eating, feeling a breeze ruffle his hair. It was from the wind elementals, who clearly wanted to blabber as usual but couldn't do so because he was eating.
Tap
Clink
He could feel his butler's presence standing behind him, a little to the right.
Shuffle
It was because of the sound of a shuffle, the brief tap of his steps over the marble floor. Cale didn't understand if it was intentional, or if he was simply more sensitive to sound now that one of his senses had been blocked.
Tap
The children weren't present, because it was nearly evening when he was having breakfast. It wasn't because the redhead had overslept; he simply didn't feel like eating much these days.
Tap
Clink
Did it show on his expression, or was it just a habit?
"Young master."
Fwish
Cale quietly took the cold glass of water from the other, unsure still.
The sense of incongruence grew, but he could only wait for the days to pass.
****
Whooosh
A complete, complete void. Rather than a shade of black, or a constant darkness, it felt as if he saw seeing nothing. Cale felt as if he was staring into a void, an endless pit of emptiness, from the moment he woke up till he was shaken awake yet again by another nightmare.
"Get to the rear!"
"Choi Han, now!"
"Raon, stay close to me!"
Boooom!
Kwaaaang-
Tap, tap
Cale blankly tapped the armrest. The images passed as a 'memory', so his sight wasn't particularly needed.
"Cale-nim."
He felt the other sit beside him. Cale didn't need to see to know that Choi Han was probably staring at him, concerned perhaps. What need was there to be concerned anyway? It wasn't as if he had permanently lost his sight.
"Have you been well?" Cale asked instead, sensing the other's hesitation.
"…Yes."
It was a short reply, but the redhead nodded in satisfaction nonetheless. The swordsman had nearly lost his arm, when he had tried to move the redhead back to the rear. It was right after the blinding explosion that had maimed his eyes, and Choi Han had been right beside him. In hindsight, he felt as if he should've grabbed someone else. But the White Star was there, the enemies were, and Cale had never felt a fear as vivid as he did when his vision had turned entirely black.
"What about Mary? Is she doing okay?"
Mary, who'd been supporting the two mid-air, had lost nearly half of her bone dragons right after the explosion. If it wasn't for Rosalyn and Raon's combined shield, the latter would've been gravely injured as well.
"Mary is healthy too, Cale-nim. It's a relief we didn't have to call the healers."
Cale nodded in agreement. Since Mary was a necromancer, normal healing potions wouldn't work on her, so it would've been trouble if she had been hurt gravely.
Tap, tap
'How are the rest of them doing?'
Not the ones who watched him stagger, clutching his eyes as he fell, but the ones who'd been informed afterwards of what had happened.
Tap
Whooosh
It was because Cale remembered the voice, the tone of Alberu as he had asked first and foremost whether it still hurt. If there were any other problems, if his eyes hurt, if he was in pain again. He'd asked the same question so many times during the same call that Cale didn't know what to reply, by the end of it.
It didn't hurt in the least.
The moment he'd stood unblinking in front of a booming explosion, in a fear that the ones behind would be hurt if he closed his eyes even for an instant. It hadn't hurt even then—it was mostly a burning sensation, then numbness, the ringing in his ears.
It didn't hurt.
Cale wasn't in pain, though he felt odd at times.
"…Cale-nim."
But it was like this.
Was it because his other senses were enhanced now, more alert and sensitive? He felt as if he could keenly hear the worry in Choi Han's voice, the subtlety of a fear that made his own body go cold.
"I'm fine."
He hadn't once faced the direction where the other was seated.
Whooosh
Cale stared into a void, feeling a breeze seep into his clothes.
"…are you, really?"
It was like this.
The sun shone bright over his face, yet his arms only shivered with a chill he couldn't quite pinpoint.
****
The misunderstanding had started mostly because Cale had been dazed, blank, completely unaware of his own words.
"It'll heal," he'd said with an unusual certainty.
The royal healers had shaken their heads right outside the door, their faces tainted with despair.
"It's not permanent," the redhead had muttered, almost as if he was speaking to himself. His hand had touched the blindfold over his eyes right then, wrapped around to prevent light from straining his eyes until he adapted.
"I'm fine, Raon."
Cale had patted the child's head. His arms had shivered, as if uncertain of where the dragon really was.
In the haze of his mind the redhead hadn't realised he'd missed out explaining a crucial part behind his reasoning—that it wasn't him who believed it would heal, it was his ancient powers who assured him of the same. Because his plate had been shaken from overexertion, it would take time to recover his vision, but the crybaby had assured Cale that the loss wasn't permanent. That he'd be able to see his children and wipe the sauces off their faces soon enough.
"Raon."
Fwish
Pat, pat
So he had patted the child's head, over and over, feeling the scales underneath his palm quiver, the sobs too loud and clear in his mind.
"Raon," he'd repeated, softer, gentler, as if the name could soothe the child, the 'joy' in its meaning bringing back his own vision. The child had cried himself to sleep. Cale hadn't been able to see, and because of that, he hadn't recorded anything. Still, the redhead could tell. The sound would be etched in his mind, the quivering, cold scales underneath his palm would never truly wash away.
****
"Eruhaben-nim."
Cale lightly grabbed the Whip in his palm, to see if someone else was present.
"…Cale."
Tap, tap
The ancient dragon wasn't present the time he had been hurt, instead aiding the others in the Eastern continent in a similar ambush. It had been planned, though the extent of a simple explosion was something Cale hadn't expected either.
Tap
"…You unlucky bastard."
Fwish
Cale felt something ruffle his hair.
"…?"
Eruhaben was patting his head, the disgruntlement too obvious in the action. It wasn't uncomfortable, though Ron would have to tidy his hair again.
"Why are you always getting into trouble?"
"…"
He wanted to know that too.
"Hmph. Don't worry too much."
Cale stared, or well, tried to look in the direction the voice was coming from. It was quiet, and softer than usual. Was Eruhaben hurt too, or was it simply exhaustion?
"Dragons don't go back on their words. I'll find a cure, so don't worry and just rest."
"…"
It didn't need a cure. But the redhead had already explained the same many times, so he simply nodded. It would be fine after the crybaby managed to heal him, Cale concluded.
"Here."
Fwish
"There's stairs ahead."
The redhead didn't grab the Top's Whip again. It was because Eruhaben was holding his hand now, the grip not too firm.
"…"
It was odd.
It wasn't as if he couldn't climb the stairs, even without the help of the wind elementals.
Tap, tap
But his eyes were closed, and his chest felt more hollow than usual. A lethargy weighed on his steps, so Cale let himself be guided, only until the end of the staircase.
****
Tap
"Dongsaeng."
Whooosh
'Hmm?'
The wind elementals-
'Ah.'
Cale realised belatedly that he'd let go of the Top's Whip, lost in thought. Because of that, he hadn't been able to tell when Alberu was at the door.
"Your highness."
"Hyung."
"Yes, hyung-nim."
Tap, tap
A soft breeze brushed past, as Cale felt the other sit beside him. He didn't know if it was intentional, but it helped him to hear the sounds better when someone sat near. Cale wouldn't admit it, but it was awkward to sit in silence when he couldn't even see the other's expression. The wind elementals helped, but the motion had grown tiresome now. He wanted to see, not hear.
Cale wanted to see the sway of nearby branches rather than feel the breeze seep into his clothes.
Tap
Was it because he hadn't been sleeping well lately? He felt more tired than usual.
"Tea?"
"Mhm."
It was odd that the future Emperor entered the redhead's room freely and started brewing tea on his own, but it was almost a routine now for the two. Alberu had started visiting him often, rather than hearing him answer he was fine on a distant call.
Clink
Tap
"Did you fall from your bed last night?"
"...?"
Was his face bruised or what?
Cale absentmindedly touched his own face, only realising what he had done after he heard Alberu's surprised laugh.
"I mean that you look like you haven't slept a wink. The children told me you haven't been eating properly either."
"I am eating, though."
"Really? What did you have for lunch then?"
"…"
Wasn't it some soup again? He couldn't recall.
"What about breakfast?"
"…"
'Lemon tea…'
But it wasn't that. Ron hadn't served him bitter tea even once since he had lost his sight.
"What about dinner last night?"
"…Mhm."
A quiet sigh caught his ears. He imagined Alberu holding his temples. It made him smile for no reason.
"…what? You're laughing?"
"I'm not."
"Unlike you, I can see well."
"Mm."
He hummed simply, knowing it would irk the other more.
"Haaa…"
Clink
Alberu sighed but held his palm as he handed him the tea cup. It was only filled half, Cale could tell from the weight. Was it so he wouldn't spill it, like he had done a few days earlier, burning his arm?
"…Thank you."
It was sweet. Sweeter than what Ron made, which made him feel better.
"Cale."
Tap
The redhead blankly swirled the cup in his grip. It was warm, warm.
His breath hitched briefly, the fabric against his eyes feeling tighter than usual.
Tap
It wasn't that he was waiting, but Alberu didn't speak anything aside from that. He took the cup from the redhead when it was emptied, and even though Cale hadn't asked, he filled it again, handing it back with the same caution as before.
"…"
Tap
Cale thought it was good.
He couldn't meet the latter's gaze anyway, so he thought it was good his eyes were blindfolded.
His stomach turned and his eyes began to sting anew, but he made sure to finish the tea the latter had prepared so carefully.
****
The nights were such a blur Cale could hardly tell if he was alive.
"Raon?"
The children weren't there. He'd sent them away for a while, wanting to sleep alone.
It had slipped out of his mind. The slow realisation burned, the silence did.
A void covered his vision.
An entire night passed like that, unblinking, mute.
Cale had only lost his sight, but he felt as if he had left behind something far more valuable, something he couldn't pinpoint but only feel before the break of dawn. When the curtains stood still and his breath echoed. And when the ancient powers called him out and Cale could only lay, still as a corpse, hearing the shaky tones of his loved ones repeat in his ears.
****
It wasn't a change, not quite. Cale had hated moving around already, so when he started holing himself up in his room, it wasn't such a noticeable difference, not in his perspective.
Hours would pass as he'd lean against the couch, as if practicing the same habit he used to do when he could still see.
Cale would stare out of the window, his head facing in the direction of the wind, and an entire day would pass like that.
He would remember a few names, his own hands patting something warm briefly, a hand ruffling his hair and familiar steps accompanied with a concern he could always feel.
The blinding light would always linger in the back of his mind, the sound of screams so vivid he'd lose sleep over it.
No one had died, thanks to his shield materializing in time.
The fear wouldn't leave his veins, a feeling that'd crawl out only during the nights he'd kneel on the bathroom floor, searching for nothing in particular.
It wasn't a big difference, not really.
Not in his perspective, at least.
****
'Super Rock?'
—Just a few days more, Cale.
It wasn't that he was impatient. There weren't any immediate threats now, so he didn't have to jump into battle immediately.
It was just that his hands shook so bad now that the cup would tip from his grip, nearly falling again.
'Why?'
Cale didn't understand.
It was temporary. He didn't even feel pain.
'What for?'
But the feeling remained, his heart raced and his ears rang, too loud for his comfort.
'A few days more'.
Cale repeated the words blankly in his mind, like a chant. Sleep didn't come, like usual, but the throbbing sensation in his head had lessened by the time morning came.
****
It had been a quiet morning, the usual kind ever since the children had started hearing their guardian's voice even less often now.
That was, until Cale decided to eat with them.
The children's faces had brightened immediately, their eagerness clear even to the redhead who couldn't see. It was not because Cale had been avoiding eating with them; it was because he had been avoiding eating altogether.
Tap, tap
Raon had cut the apple pies into such minute pieces Cale could simply swallow it without chewing.
The children were happy, overjoyed, watching the redhead's food more than their own.
Tap
The quiet chatter had been going on, until the children heard a shuffle.
"…?"
"Cale nya?"
Fwish
The redhead took off his blindfold, opening his eyes slowly.
"Human? What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"Young master-"
Fwish
Cale quietly took out a handkerchief from his pocket, ignoring the children who were alarmed.
Then, meeting their gazes-
Tap
"Your faces are all messy, huh?"
Fwish
Cale quietly wiped the sauce from the child's face. His blindfold, taken off, lay over the table.
"…!"
"…Uh…"
His lips curled upwards at the slow realisation dawning in the children's eyes, and in his butler's as well.
"Human!"
"Cale nya!"
Fwish
And before he'd realised he found himself laughing, patting the heads of the children who had tears in their eyes but bright smiles across their faces. Cale recorded the sight upto the minutest details.
He recorded his butler's smile too, not quite like usual, something more softer and relieved.
"Young master."
Tap
A platter had turned over and two glasses tipped; the breakfast table was a jumbled mess of giggles and assurances and gazes, soft, relieved.
Cale looked at the sight, at his children's paws stuck to his shirt.
"Thank you," he uttered in a whisper, caressing their heads. If his voice shook no one commented on it. After all, it wasn't just him. None of them had seen Cale smile as brightly as he did after what felt like ages, quietly humming back in reply to the children's relentless chatter.