내색하다

@urianius

daniel doesn’t say anything. kihyun is often a ball of chaos so he doesn’t need to. in all the time they’ve lived together daniel can pick up on cues, on motions and definitely on the sound of scrambled steps and slammed doors. put kihyun and ahyeon together, and ahyeon’s typically collected state also becomes chaos. he’d barely had a word spoken to him since he’d walked in because they were flying across the apartment they all shared.

‘i’m gonna kil you.’ ‘if you kill me you won’t make it on time.’ ‘i’m gonna kill you because i won’t make it on time.’ ‘newsflash no one cares about attendance.’ ‘let’s see if your mother feels the same way.’

daniel’s sigh puts a noticeable ripple on the surface of his coffee. he’d arrived early enough from tour to set his things down and make coffee but not quite to introduce himself. he knew ahyeon would be up and about, but he didn’t expect the chaos to unfold as they awoke and ran out their rooms. then again, what really should he expect from the two of them anymore. she hasn’t quite noticed him yet, and he’s too amused to be hurt about it. he hasn’t been gone too long, but khiyun’s grown out his hair, and his suit’s are starting to fit better. and ahyeon, well, she doesn’t have to do much to take his breath away anyway.

“babe, your work bag and everything is on the counter, it was still on the coffee table. kihyun, your briefcase is by the shoe rack, you keep throwing it there when you get home.”

both culprits stop in their tracks, seconds from the other’s throat, and that’s when ahyeon graces him with a smile.

‘you’re home.’ “i’m home.”

she doesn’t however, get to him first because kihyun is launching himself at daniel’s frame. these days daniel swears he’s getting taller - or something, then he realizes midway into kihyun throwing arms around him:

“you’re wearing my boots - to work?” daniel knows kihyun’s mom has been more than thrilled that he’s taken over the curating at one of their bigger galleries in seoul, but kihyun’s still kihyun at the end of the day. that had been the trade off. so he goes with questionable fashion and fashionably late as his directing style.  ‘thanks for leaving them for me to borrow.’ even as they’ve grown kihyun is still as unashamed as ever. and daniel isn’t phased by it, instead he’s pulling the younger from his body so he can give the hug and kiss to the person he’d be waiting to. ahyeon falls into his arms with an audible sigh, and he can feel the smile against his t-shirt when his kisses fall to the top of her head. she’d just finished showering and clearly was in too much of a rush to fully dry her hair. nevertheless.

“stop wearing my cologne.” ‘as if—’ “not you, the one trying to sneak out with my coffee.” ‘not enough sugar and cream but thanks anyway, you’re the best!’ kihyun is out before daniel can grab him by the suit jacket. ahyeon’s giggle follows the sound of steps tumbling down the stairs of their flat.

‘hard to tell who’s happier you’re home.’ “your mug and lunchbox is already done.”

ahyeon’s eyes light up, though she often tries not to show how daniel’s home habits have translated into their relationship he can still catch a glimpse of the butterflies he knows are tickling inside her. it’s worth moments like this. and having kihyun around is also a way to see her light up and animate in ways she might not be so inclined if it were the two of them. but now it is and daniel’s been gone for quite a few months touring with a newer band and doing festivals. he’s home for a bit and really, truly:

‘don’t you take a step closer, you’re going to make me late.’ “aren’t you already late though? what no kiss or anything?’ ‘if you make me late you’ll be kissing your grave.’

she’s always so much fun like this. that’s why daniel hasn’t stopped moving closer, hasn’t stopped from resting his hands on her waist and lifting her right beside the lunchbox he’d prepared for her leave. 

“yeah? i can still get a few more in before i die.” their noses are inches apart, she smells fresh from her shampoo, and the blush across her nose is starting to become more noticeable. daniel’s smile is immediate, and wide, enough that he’s sure if he were closer his cheeks would brush hers. but he holds himself steady, hands now resting on the counter instead of her.

‘you two better not be doing anything in there!’ the front door bursts back open and daniel sees the two options fly past her face. one, tuck her face in his shirt all embarrassed and cute like - or and thank god for his reflexes. her eyes land on her mug full of steaming hot tea and he grabs it before she can hurl it at their flatmate. 'gasp, daniel you never lift me on the counter like that!’

“sleep with one eye open kihyun.” ‘i’ll leave my door cracked tonight!’

ahyeon’s groan echoes through the entire room. daniel laughs and moves back to allow her to slide down and grab her mug. 

“i’ll drive you to work how’s that?” ‘on your motorcycle?’ “no, i brought the company car - hanna - has the motorcycle…” ‘your sister has the —-’ “she told me some boy was offering to pick her up for dates on one - so i taught her to ride it a while back, and lent her mine.” ‘you lent your sister the motorcycle!’ “we’re going to be late babe!” ‘you lent her the motorcycle and not me?!’ kihyun’s voice comes ricocheting from the batroom. “keep talking and i won’t drop you off either kihyun.”

lee donhyuck is a lucky boy. a really lucky boy.

for one thing, ahyeon's realized that there are many things that irk her, cause the little twitch in her eyebrow that her members often tease her for. she's not a difficult person but she's got pretty - picky standards. that's at least what her sister says. she's got high standards and it's quite hard for her to settle for things that don't meet those standards. for instance, when her members take breaks when they've still got so much to cover, when they talk a little too much about hyuck, when they forget to wash their hands before eating the food she's cooked after practice - that irks her.

when interviewers ask her about what she's wearing or what idol boy groups she's freaking out about instead of the hours her leader put into their recent song or the new level of choreography they'd had to learn from foundations. that irks her.

when people act like they know her when they see a curated version.

and above all, when minjae has that shit-eating grin on his face. the one that makes her fists curl, her lips pull in and her teeth almost bare like she's an animal. she hates that he always has something coming out of that smart-mouth of his and even more than her face starts to look like a fox when she can't hold back what she says back.

donghyuck is a lucky man because he's not slick enough for her to miss the same grin crossing his face - but she decides she hates minjae's much much more. he's lucky because she happens to find that damn grin on his face cute, even when it's burying in the pillow. even when it's hard from him to hide as he pushes - shoves minjae out the bus and he's turning to her.

and really - really, ahyeon should've expected this. it's her own damn fault. sleeping over in their tour bus - has she lost her mind? of course he has that look on her face.

because despite the look on his face, how she tries so hard not to grin, with his hair sticking in different directions and looking like a fool in that old cartoon t-shirt she'd bought for him as a joke souvenir ( the same one matching the one she's wearing and oh god - minjae is going to have something to say about that later ).

ahyeon scowls at the very thought and that's when hyuck actually lets a little chuckle leave his lips.

"shut up."

there's no malice in it honestly when did she get so soft.

'i didn't say anything.' he's making his way over to her and ahyeon knows better than to let the distance close because it'll mean she can't get out what she needs to.

"i'm going to kill your bandmate, better find another fan favorite." 'you wouldn't kill minjae.' "you're right. i'd hire a sasaeng to do it for me. string him up by his little toes."

hyuck gives her a moment - maybe because he's processing what she'd said. he blinks and ahyeon considers that he's just letting residual sleep leave him so he can respond properly - not end up on the end of whatever this is. whatever emotions have her face still screwed up and folding her arms.

'did he really get under your skin?' "he did not." ahyeon's tongue pokes into her cheek because how dare he. hyuck is unfazed, dare she say he looks intrigued by the words leaving her mouth and she can't help but add - "he's always in our space." but it's small and comes out more like the pout that's making its way to her lips.

a pout.

she doesn't pout.

it's ahyeon being lost in her own disbelief that allows hyuck to step closer, this time expertly hiding the laugh he wants to let out and seamlessly laying his hands on the edge of her knees.

'he's always what?' "nothing." 'didn't sound like nothing.' "let him back in i'll show you what it sounds like. god - can't a girl get some alone time with her boyfriend!"

lee donghyuck has the nerve to smirk.

'you're angry.' "i am not angry." 'then...?' "i just want time with my boyfriend." 'you've got all the time now.'

she lets her eyes finally rest on him - lets herself process how close to her he's gotten, how wide awake he looks and how she walks to fix the parts of his hair that are starting to fall over his eyes. especially because when it gets that low and covers his face and he's this close - ahyeon loses her breath. but she's angry and she has a point to make and he has no right to look this handsome.

'you look like you want to punch me.' "you look like you're enjoying this." 'i just think there's other ways you can use this energy.'

now ahyeon starts to come to her senses. now she starts to take the moment for all that it is. hyuck and where he is, how close he is - how close they'd been all night, where they are and where they should be. how scandalous they've been and his words - minjae's words be damned. ignoring how red she's sure her face is getting, she has the nerve to let her eyes narrow - like a challenge.

"you are enjoying this." 'you're kind cute when you're mad.' "so you want to die first i see." 'only if you do it personally.' "lee donghyuck-----"

she doesn't even get the words out - not really. because he's still got that grin on his face and she's been disarmed - enough for his hands to reach her waist and his lips to reach hers and ahyeon decides -

she'll kill him later.

@urianius

In hindsight, there might’ve been other ways to express herself. Ahyeon is not usually so – insistent, nor is she usually so reckless. If this could be considered reckless. As far as her track record went, both in the group and within the space of her family, this was out of character. Still – there were many things about her life that had become unorthodox since she’d met – the very man she was barreling through to see right now.  

She hadn’t planned it out, not really. All she knew ( vaguely ) was she had a good chance of spotting him if she coordinated right and if she begged – begged their manager to let her spend her free time in the city away from the girls. She’d get an earful for it later; they’d ask if she wanted to spend any quality time with them and that pictures posted by herself would look suspicious if all the other girls were together. Ahyeon knew for sure that they weren’t all spending time in the city together, what she did know was that a certain male was less than excited to spending his night in this city, in a waiting room going over details.

[ sms from: ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ ] I don’t see why we have to be here when we could be exploring the city, we’ve just been sitting through briefs

[ sms from:   ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ ] is the stage made of air? are we dancing on water?

[ sms to: ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ ] ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ

There were so many groups in the city tonight, on account of a weekend long concert that hosted several different groups. Her group had been chosen as a surprise guest for Sunday, but Hyuck’s group had been here since Friday, and he’d given texting her all the updates on how tired and annoyed he was. Nothing unusual.  

She’d enjoyed how often they’d been texting each other throughout the entirety of the tour she’d been on. Due to the tour, the company almost thought they’d have to decline the invitation to perform but decided at the last minute that the girls could make it. It involved quite a lot of rushing and flights, and a shit ton of jet lag to deal with during practice but they were prepared for the concert tomorrow and Ahyeon was sure Hyuck was thoroughly unprepared to see her. 

Especially with how he’d been slyly adding in messages how he’d rather the two of them be home, on their favorite rooftop spot. Ahyeon is really playing with her luck, it’s late and she’d taken that as her advantage, but she had nothing to prove that the boys were still at the arena they were scheduled to perform at. She would also risk – well any cameras that’d still hung around hoping to catch a glimpse of them but at least there was little chance of fans that could sneak back here.  

Given that she was another artist, it wasn’t hard to flash a badge, one that the girls had been given prior, and get access backstage, where the waiting rooms were and where soundcheck and stage entrances were. The girls would have their rehearsal tomorrow, but they’d also been allowed backstage to view today’s concert if they managed to make it on time. The concert was far from over, the cleaning crew busy getting things clean and then allowing groups with hectic schedules to practice and run through what they needed to. Hyuck’s group was one such group, their schedule even more packed recently than Ahyeon’s own.  

She’s well bundled regardless – and no one should suspect it’s her even if they suspect a girl. Her group was supposed to be in another country. Her knuckles wrapped against the door, thanking her luck that the weather in this country favored colder winds in the nighttime so her being bundled wouldn’t be quite as conspicuous. From the last message they were still holed up in the waiting room, waiting for further instructions. He’d said it’d be quite some time before they could go anywhere. So Ahyeon is praying, silently, that she’d gotten the timing right, or else this would be a rather awkward meeting.

‘Ahyeon?’ She blinks, unaware she’d even had her eyes closed. It’s not – unwelcome person but she’s sure she’d rather come face to face with any other member of the group than the demon spawn of hell Minjae himself. The male looks at her, like he’s fresh from a photoshoot as always and the grin that finds its way on his face makes her want to curse. Though – there isn’t a look that could cross Minjae’s face that wouldn’t make Ahyeon want to punch him anyway. She’s got a lot of opinions pent up about him, so really, he should count himself lucky that she’s on a time crunch.

“Is - is Hyuck here?” Even as the words leave her lips, even though she knows there’s really no other reason she would be here, her face heats up.   ‘Oh? You’re looking for Hyuck?’ Minjae is so damn smug, the way he puts emphasis on Hyuck’s name, the way he has no reason to really repeat it except to embarrass her. Ahyeon understand her sister’s compulsion for liking to get her point across with her fists.

“Yes Minjae, is Hyuck there?” ‘Whatever would a lady need with my friend this late at night? You wouldn’t be sneaking him out to do—unsavory things-’

‘The only unsavory thing will be what I’m going to do to your face.’ Minjae’s words are cut off by Hyuck appearing, not from behind Minjae in the room, but from behind Ahyeon, a soda in his hand and annoyance on his features. He makes a show of pushing Minjae so far into the room that the door frame and his body block Ahyeon from seeing, and really hearing anything the male has to say.

She’s almost missed the way his eyebrow twitches when he’s clearly annoyed with his best friend. But that’s quickly overshadowed by how much she’s missed him in full. Even when he looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here and the sleeplessness in his eyes shows more than she thought. Hyuck’s yelling something inaudible toward Minjae that results in laughter and howls from the rest of the members, but Ahyeon’s too focused on him. They haven’t seen each other in well over six months – and once his eyes fall on her – really fall on her, she’s at a loss of words.

Hyuck too – seems to have forgotten that leaving the members to face her meant he was facing Ahyeon and not just another friend. Ahyeon – and all that her name carries in its meaning to him, and their relationship. The way she’s sure her heartbeat triples when he smiles, shy and a surprised.

‘You’re here…’ “Bad time?”  

‘No! No, I was -’ Hyuck pauses as if he needs to take a moment to come back to earth and remember what was happening. As if Ahyeon’s presence makes him forget everything around him, it makes her stomach flutter. ‘I was getting an energy drink.’ The said drink sits rather awkwardly in his hands, Hyuck’s so caught off guard that he thinks he should hold it out to her.

‘You’re not gonna invite your girl in?!’ Whatever move Hyuck was going to do, is overshadowed by his reaction to Minjae’s words. That is, effectively throwing the energy drink in the room, slamming the door and grabbing Ahyeon to drag her far, far away from Minjae and whatever he likes to insinuate. Ahyeon lets her laughter glide through the breeze that passes her as Hyuck pulls her wherever he wants. She didn’t have a plan for where they would go, what they would do, hell she didn’t even know how much time they had. Just the fact that his hand is in hers, she lets him pull her anywhere.

It turns out to be rather far up on the arena, past the higher bleachers where no one would be able to spot them unless they’re looking. Hyuck didn’t let go of her hand, except to pull some hot chocolate from a vending machine even though she insisted she was fine.

“Tour diet – I have to watch the sweets.” ‘Gonna be hard to do if you’re with me isn’t it?’

Her brain short circuits at this and Ahyeon’s struck with the fact that this might be a very, very bad idea. There’s something about how she gets when she’s around him, how silly and calmly she lets her say things that aren’t characteristically her. How easily she becomes someone less shy, bold in what she wants and how she responds and even more bold in how she lets these things show on her face. Because she’s sure her face is warming up when the implications of the words settle in, and she’s grabbing the hot chocolate from him, diet be damned. It’s still useful in hiding the way she flushes at every damn thing this boy does.  

“You’re still annoying six months later.” ‘I’ve gotta remain the same guy you fell for right?’ “I - what - who said I fell for – Lee Donghyuck.” ‘I hope you don’t sneak out to see just any boy.’

That effectively shuts her up. For a moment. He’s right though, she wouldn’t even offer to speak out with her own members when the option came. She would barely entertain Areum’s many messages to ditch practice and spend time – yet here she is. She’d been so quick on her feet after their practice ended, everyone had thought she’d just been excited to explore the city. Ahyeon truly wouldn’t sneak out for just anyone. She’s sure though, that she doesn’t need to confirm it for him to know, especially with how easily he smiles and says it. There’s a surety to that, it makes her glad that she’s been able to express herself in such a way that he can have that, and she knows she has it as well.

“You’d sneak out for just about anyone?” ‘Yeah, but I wouldn’t ditch my members for just anyone.’

They’ve perched against the backs of two arena seats, with all of the stadium spread out before them. Hyuck’s presence is a warmth she knew she missed but didn’t know she missed this much. Ahyeon’s fairly certain she doesn’t need to be bundled in such a heavy jacket if she could just spend her coldest days with Hyuck by her side.  

“You’re awfully cheeky tonight.” ‘I’m just making up for lost time.’ “That’s a cute way to say you missed me.” ‘You sneaking out is your way of saying it right?’

There’s a small amount of his cheeky responses she can take in person. It’s easy over the phone, when she has time to think, to recover and give a good comeback. It’s not the same right now, when she’s bare and she doesn’t have enough time to both hide her face and formulate a quick response, things she used to pride herself on. She wants to shove him away with how his shoulder is bearing against her own and how she can practically hear his smile in his words. She’s struck with a reminder then. A reminder that – as they’re standing overlooking the stadium, both putting themselves at the mercy of their members or managers if they’re found out – they risk these things because they don’t have to hide.

Hyuck’s long since been able to tell Ahyeon’s mood from whatever shape her mouth forms when he sees her, and now even more so by how she responds to his messages. All because he’s determined and she’s allowed it. She’s put herself in these situations where she feels vulnerable and warm all over with nowhere to hide and nothing to deflect it on because she wants to. Because she feels safe.

She’d nearly ran here at the prospect of seeing him because she wants to. There are very few things these days that she’d wanted to do. But she had wanted to see him and she figures that should be something she stands proud on.

“I did miss you.” ‘Yeah yeah, say you didn’t all you w- want…’ “I did miss you. A lot.” This time when she says it she faces him fully despite how she knows the burn in her cheeks is escaping the cover of her scarf. Hyuck’s face is blank for a moment, in that dumb face he makes when he processes things and Ahyeon has to will herself to look away or she’ll do something stupid. What’s so wrong with her being bold all of a sudden - god he makes it seem like she’s declared her love or something.

‘Hey.’ 

Stupid things like kissing him when she turns to the sound of his voice. And she does anyway, because Hyuck’s voice is always holds a promise of something that’ll leave her smiling or with butterflies at the end of it. Always. Something sweet and gentle follows it and it continuously has a way of disarming Ahyeon in a way that feels more like a hug, a hand in her own. She sighs into the kiss and is immediately overwhelmed with how warm she is all over. She’s struck by the fact that his hands are no longer pressed against the chair but one is pulling her closer, the other is against her cheek and that – that is enough to consume her completely. 

Lucky for Ahyeon, she’s always sure in the fact that whatever she feels, Hyuck despite all his show always feels it tenfold. So to make matters worse, she doesn’t shy into the kiss, she leans in, lets her hand rest by the collar of his jacket. That - short circuits him for sure because when he pulls away his eyes are wide and his cheeks are red.

Payback.

‘Didn’t know you missed me that much.’ “I’m leaving -” She’s not, and even if she was - she can’t go anywhere with how quickly Hyuck’s arms move to wrap around her. Her back pressed against his chest and his chin on her shoulder.

‘Who knows the next time I’ll get to annoy you in person.’

She can’t argue with that, and she also won’t admit how much she’s missed being this close to him. On their rooftop, in their little own bubble that they can magically create within moments. Tomorrow, they’ll be back to their obligations and their dreams but right now the only future they’re thinking about is one where they can remain this warm and this at ease.

“Give Minjae a punch or two for me.” ‘Anything for my girlfriend.’

“what am i looking at here?”

usually, no one bothers kihyun. and quite frankly he prefers it that way. that way he’s well aware that when someone is barging into his office, it’s for a specific reason. someone is bleeding out, someone’s lodged metal somewhere they shouldn’t or in addition to the holes in the ship getting patched there are some holes in bodies to stitch up.

he’s never doing too much when he’s cooped up in his office, other than studying up on all the things he has yet to learn. since deciding to leave the source of his instruction he’s found their excursions to be fruitful in gathering more and more information on medicine. he’s not an expert and he’s hardly qualified to be a physician or a doctor, but he’s got the most knowledge on the nastiest things that have hit their ship. 

that’s why hwan insisted he stay around, and jongho didn’t oppose it. kihyun keeps to himself and because he keeps to himself he rarely answers to others. it’s because their lives so easily rest in his hands and it’s not as if he holds the fact over their heads.

it’s because he doesn’t need to say it for them to know.

so it’s with an even tone and a measured gaze that he’s able to look at the ship’s third in command as he ushers one of their youngest crew members in the door. the boy is shaking, covered in water, eyes blood red and skin pale. kihyun is confused, he sees no blood, nothing of immediate concern. he does further inspection to realize he recognizes the crew member as yeonjun but that’s about all he can identify. 

“did he fall overboard?” ‘i suppose he wishes he had.’

daniel’s sense of humor is - interesting. though it’s probably closer to his than jongho’s own. it’s quite dry, sarcastic but it’s simple, jongho always feels like there’s underlying tones in his jokes, and kihyun can often pick up on them. daniel also doesn’t joke much, he’s not a serious guy though, he’s neither in between either, he’s just situated around in grey areas. he doesn’t take himself too serious and he doesn’t let himself be too loose, he just is and without such expectations is why he can easily step into kihyun’s abode.

“so - what am i looking at?” ‘jongho dunked his head in sea water.’

kihyun deadpans. the kid downright shivers.

“…dunked?” ‘submerged…’

that sounds more like it.

“i don’t deal with petty squabbles.” ‘it was my fault sir - i - i disobeyed an order.’

the kid is chattering the apology out. kihyun would almost forget his presence if he wasn’t shaking and dripping from the edges of his hair. he’s like a lost wet dog beside daniel who is calm, collected, face barely visible from under his headband and the hair that falls over it. kihyun will have to ask about the incident later. though he has half a mind to ask jongho himself if he gets a kick out of threatening their ship with scurvy and pneumonia. 

“that so …. sit on the table. daniel grab a spare shirt or something will you?” without much fuss daniel is leaving to answer the request and kihyun is out of his seat, rummaging through his closet for a rag. he’s handing it over to the younger when he finally makes his way over to the table. kihyun’s not the tallest of the team, but he’s a veteran, and that status alone has allowed him to see a lot and understand a lot.

“first time getting punished by jongho? dry your head don’t just stare at the rag.” ‘he - daniel told me earlier and i didn’t listen and then - yeah. yeah…’

he waits patiently until the kid thoroughly scrubs his head dry and hands him a canteen of water as well as a mug of a clear mixture.

“drink all of that. throw it up and i throw you out. drink all the water after.”

he waits again, uses the time to make necessary observations. breathing patterns, the color of the eyes, response time. there’s only so much he can do when the incident only happened a few moments before. he’s not a fortune teller but preventive measures to things like this have always proved better safe than sorry. still - at worst the kid will get a cold, kihyun’s not sure why daniel brought him here. there’s some pitiful coughing, that he helps knock out with some pats to he back but other than that the kid looks fine. frazzled but - that’s to be expected.

“well - if jongho had to do it sounds like you need to be smarter. jongho doesn’t deliver if it isn’t deserved.” brutish as the man can be. it’s quite interesting given the man’s stature, and his overall appearance at first glance, but most of the ship has seen his strength, and his aggression, like the flip of a switch, firsthand. 

‘i gave some water to a prisoner…she was getting heat stroke…’

kihyun pauses, and lets another sigh fall from his lips before he’s delivering a rather rough smack for good measure to yeonjun’s back. he’d heard all about the prisoners, had the pleasure of meeting them to check if they’d sustained any wounds as well as the men who had decided a little scuffle with her guards was necessary to capture her. it was unpleasant and he finds the whole kidnapping task rather exhausting. but he understands the politics of it, understands the importance of supplies as well as hierarchy better than most. 

“you’re lucky i don’t throw you overboard.” yeonjun shrinks, akin in the way a scolded puppy would. kihyun can almost see the naivety in his moments and can’t find himself to find too much fault in what jongho did. still, he’s young, impressionable and at that point, any form of punishment would have made an impression. 

‘these are the open seas kid, not a docked merchant ship. if you’re in the business of saving unfortunate souls, you’re in the wrong profession.’ “right on time daniel, the sea water’s all but soaked up the shirt completely.” daniel ignores kihyun’s comment in favor of tossing the new shirt to yeonjun. he catches it, albeit clumsily and kihyun wonders if there’s a screening process for who they allow on this ship now. that’s not his concern though, nor is it his job. neither is babysitting. 

“worst he’ll get is a few sniffles - send him down if you catch a fever.” he doesn’t get much of a response aside from a grumble that he understands and daniel’s head nod giving him the answer more than anything else. he beckons his head and yeonjun is quick to hop off the table to follow him to the door.

“mind telling me - what the fuck you thought you were doing?”

the silence on the ship doesn’t add to the tension. so thick and dense as the clouds they’ve been sailing through, able to cut with a knife. or even with jongho’s gaze that is now admonishing and slicing through the crew member tied to the main mast post. the one directly before the captain’s quarters and the navigator’s deck. the mast that had previously held the princess and had kept her maid secure and suffering in the sweltering heat. 

said maid was now pulled aside, daniel with a firm grip on her ropes. and jongho, jongho hand was currently wrapped around a spare rope he’d found to keep from wrapping around the swab’s neck.

he was a young one, not the youngest they’ve had but young to the sea. naive as most human boys are, slaves to their instincts and emotions. daniel had only just chewed him out earlier in the morning for wasting their good water, water that kihyun had explicitly reminded them was off-limits unless cleared by the captain, kihyun himself or the cook. they had no idea how long they’d have to avoid land while they outran the military ships and hit a safe zone. until then rations were of the utmost priority.

so jongho is thoroughly confused, having thought the kid would’ve learned his lesson this morning. he’s confused as to why that same kid, was caught scooping that fresh water to the very maid they’d had tied to the mast. the prisoner. daniel had yanked him from the ground with the speed that rivaled the speed in which the news was delivered to him. as quickly as jongho stepped in lifted the kid and let all the water spill to the deck as he flung him into the mast and gave the order to tie him up. it’s one look exchanged between the two of them and jongho assumes responsibility of the task. 

jongho had made no comment, preferring to keep his eyes on their crew mate, shivering from the amounts of water that’d he’d thrown against him. cold and brought up in barrel from the very sea they traversed. 

the rest of the ship had gone silent against his words, knowing better than to stop their duties but sneaking glances at the interaction. 

“i asked you a question yeonjun.” ‘i was - she looked like she was starving - i was giving her water.’ the words chatter from the boy’s lips. jongho’s gaze hardens, he feels his teeth dig into his cheek, finding the composure to not move, thumbs digging into his palms. blood seeps between his lips.  “you decided to give the prisoner water? our supply? to the prisoner? tell me if me repeating these words is hinting why this wasn’t a good idea.”

‘sir - she was going to pass out.’

these fucking kids. these goddamn humans.

she wasn’t going to pass out. daniel had been keeping a good eye on her. he’d heard from both jongho and hwan what the deal was with tying her up in the front. scare tactics, an attempt to get something out of her brute of a master, the real prisoner down int he bottom. it was in the business of piracy, reputation. daniel wouldn’t let the girl get heat stroke, he was much too tired to deal with kihyun chewing his ear off for having to spare time to deal with a case of heat stroke, especially a women. jongho trusted that much of their third in command.

their work is only as dirty as it needs to be. and in the case of the maid, it was merely for show. he had it under control. what he won’t have under control, is the lowered supply of clean water they have - and a disobedient subordinate. it’s why - under these circumstances he’s taking over handling it rather than daniel who’d already dealt with reprimanding earlier. 

“that water wasn’t yours to give away.”

silence again, he stares into eyes that quiver, that want to look determined, resolve in their mistake but all jongho sees is foolishness. youth. it angers him even more. this ship doesn’t run on that. he reaches over to another barrel and squats, level with yeonjun for the first time. 

it’s all in the business of the reputation.

his hand snakes behind the younger’s hair, he sees some shipmates look away and hears daniel snap at them to pay attention. jongho’s lips curl into a smile despite his best judgement. 

“do you know how precious water is? was daniel not clear earlier?” ‘no—no he- he was cle—clear s-sir.’ “really? because after wasting our clean water, you gave it to a prisoner.” ‘sir she——’ ‘please, please stop. he was just helping me.’ jongho’s gaze meets the maid almost immediately. he surveys her and then watches the look she’s giving yeonjun. and he gets it almost immediately. 

jongho is tired.

his hand lurches forward and yeonjun’s head meets the saltwater in the barrel, submerged and thrashing. the rope tying him to the mast only allows for his legs to kick and his head to shake as water bubbles over, the sound of sputtering, struggling and choking starting to reach their ears. he glances around the ship, at the working that’s stopped, at the eyes that are on him, at those that try to avoid the struggling of the kid under his mercy, of the maid whose eyes are wide with shock. fear. hwan who hasn’t moved or made much of a reaction yet. daniel who looks too tired to deal with this right now.

jongho adjusts his grip and pulls the kid’s head out the water, as he hears the gasps of the little lady he’d tried to help and those same noises increase tenfold. 

fucking humans.

‘sir…’ there’s gasping, pitiful as he feels water slide down his arm. “do you know how precious water is? would you rather drink this for a week?” it takes a second for him to get his bearings, a water out his lungs and nose to speak properly but jongho hears it well enough. ‘no……no sir.’ “then listen the first time someone is reprimanding you. and don’t ever waste your crew or your captain’s water again. understand?” words aren’t exactly possible but he gets vigorous nods so he lets go and stands up, shaking the saltwater from his hands. upon his movement all the work on the ship shifts back into action and jongho regards daniel who gives orders for everyone to resume and someone to drag yeonjun to clean up.

“i think - he deserves time out on the mast don’t you? he should take her place.” daniel is already in the process of untying him and handing the maid’s shackles to two others. ‘i think kihyun doesn’t want a pneumonia patient and you don’t want to deal with kihyun.’ 

that’s true. 

areum’s not particularly emotional, ahyeon was more of a firecracker than her, she just had more determination. where ahyeon wouldn’t bother with much, with questions and such, areum was always curious, and prepared to see it through. it’s what led her to soonyoung and it’s what allowed her to keep him. 

over the time they’ve spent, she’s grown used to his time away. or she thinks she has. recently it’s been a little harder. recently she’s held him a little longer.

“you’re going to be late.” soonyoung’s laugh is a rumble against her stomach, as pleasant and startling as when their child likes to kick every now and then. he’s taken to hugging her bely quite often, something she’s often seen happening with other women around the village during their time. she can’t quite understand it, but she remembers things similar to it. like the echo felt in the ocean as sea creatures call back, like the purr of playful turtles when she rubs their back. something to be protective of.

his hands are always on both at the same time, one on her back hugging her, with his ear and another hand pressed to her stomach, kneeled against the floor and the chair she’s usually in.

‘just a few more minutes.’ “a few more and you’ll hear the horn to hoist the sails.”

there’s a beat of silence and she knows her husband, she can feel him sigh against her. she knows what troubles him and on instinct her hand moves to run calmly through his hair. 

“you won’t miss it my love.” ‘but what if i do.’

she’s not due for a few more months but - it can be tricky, the circumstances are still tricky. unpredictable. soonyoung’s expressed his worry about missing the birth of their child, and areum has tried not to think about it. at least not when he’s here. she’s tried to steel herself about what she’d do, she knows that if need be there are people she can call in the village. but she knows if it comes down to it, with the mystery surrounding it, she’ll drag herself to the cove and call on her family. although she’s building one here, without him around it still feels like she’s a stranger. it makes when he’s left a bit harder, but there’s a part of him with her now. she holds onto that.

her joy. their miracle to be. 

she holds onto that too. 

‘he’s kicking!!!!’ soonyoung’s breath is quick and pressed further against her stomach. “i know my love, i can feel it.” areum is so fond. so fond of his excitement, his acceptance, his lack of fear. so fond that she almost wants to hug him closer, keep him closer and tell him not to leave, not to miss anymore. she’s never been that selfish. they operate on an understanding of what life calls them to do, and for her for a long time it was calling her to the land and for times on end it calls him to the sea. it’s a painful irony but she makes it work. she stills her hands now, removes them from his hair lest she hold too tight, and lets them rest on her belly.

“also - he or she.” ‘definitely a he, all that energy.’ “guess he takes after you.”

her chest bursts at the thought. she uses the next seconds, when soonyoung hums and looks up at her like that - to do her best to usher him out the door. he seems intent on making it hard for her and she won’t stand it. “go on now, i won’t hear the end of it for delaying sail.”

‘for my family, worth it.’ his hug is something gentle, always careful because of the changes she’s undertaking but always with as much longing that he knows the days will pour into her. always with all the love that he pours into a kiss, and a hand in hers. it stalls with a whisper to her lips. ‘i won’t miss it.’ “you won’t miss it.” ‘wait for me little guy.’ 

one final kiss to her belly, a lingering hand before running out. 

“or girl!” ‘or girl!’

said with a grin and the same smile that she’ll hold onto as she hears the calls to hoist the sails and waits for the cannons that will inevitably announce the arrival. 

@urianius

jongho felt indifferent to docking. he understood the importance of it, and admired the ability humans had to choose between life on sea and then life on land. it was a luxury for sure. it was only a matter of time before they found a way to take to the skies. still - being surrounded by water was always far more appealing than being surrounded by land and even with his legs he always grew a little irritated when that became the option.

as if he wasn’t already a little peeved to begin with. 

the chain of events that followed the capturing of the princess had brought him nothing but headaches. losing her more than incompetent escort through the waters, dealing with her ever present attitude and following a punishment of one of their crew members ( not to mention his crew tip-toeing around him afterwards ) he’s tired. it’s all in a week’s worth of sailing so it’s nothing too crazy but he could do without the hesitance it takes some of them to respond to orders the past few days.

and he could do with attitude from their surgeon. if there’s anyone jongho doesn’t like having to deal with it’s the ship’s surgeon. the man has no fear - and for a man such as himself, jongho finds that appealing. it’s fair, he’s seen his fair share of deaths the way jongho has seen the depths of the sea. both are hell in their own right. but it’s what allows kihyun to do things like he did earlier, drop a bag of supplies at jongho’s feet as he was ordering the crew to go ashore and behave themselves.

he’d looked the quartermaster straight in the eye and explained the list of things jongho should get if he was so ‘determined to give the soldiers pneumonia’ and walked back towards his quarters. the list was extensive and with all jongho’s knowledge he wasn’t familiar with medical terms that humans had, he also wasn’t as well known as the surgeon in certain shops, so he had to smile and play nice with those particular merchants. medical merchants are a pain in the ass and he’d like to see them sew up a hole in their chest for how cheeky they are. they seemed to get a kick out of playing cat and mouse with jongho, and the reputation he’s gathered as the quartermaster of hwan’s crew.

exhausting work playing around with humans.

either way the bag’s full and he’s taken to indulging on his own, the story leaving his lips as he swirls some random ale in a jug.

they’re not the only ship docked here, it being a pirate port and neutral waters. he half expected to run into hoyeon’s crew, the infamous red tigress’ crew always found their way around their sails. if it was intentional or fate, jongho doesn’t bother with those thoughts. he does however, enjoy the time he gets to pick the limits of the captain’s navigator. 

jin is like him in one way but far unlike him in others and its oh so fascinating. jongho finds himself in the same bars, seeing that patch of hair from meters away and all of his exhaustion leaving for the moment. 

‘sounds like you have your hands full.’

liquor doesn’t make him loose in the way it makes his crew. he knows he should check around and make sure they’re not up to nonsense in the other bars, but if it’s a big problem and daniel can’t handle it, he knows where to seek him. the three of them, daniel, hwan and jongho know where to find each other, and if they don’t agree with it, knowing is all that matters. he knows he would take a peek down the beach and follow the steps to the closed off shores his captain frequents with the very captain whose navigator he’s hoping to tease some reactions out of.

“i think you mean something else by that.” ‘if you think your captain’s tongue is loose it isn’t, you guys made quite the mess avoiding that naval ship.’

jin is always so uptight, shoulders square and eyes straight when he talks to jongho. and the quartermaster knows why, knows of the lineage they come from. he knows how easily it was to bend someone of jin’s status to his will. even if those etiquette levels don’t apply on land, jongho still loves pushing the limits to see if the man will break. where he left out of curiosity, he knows jin left for salvation. if his attitude is anything to go by, life under the sea wasn’t exactly pearls and talking fish. still - there’s something about being around someone who knows, who might understand. 

“i know my captain didn’t say anything, though i’m sure he’s discussing with yours right now.”

he knows what buttons to push and he’s seen the way her entire crew lights up in anger at the mentioning of her - thing with hwan. it’s quite hilarious. he sees jin’s shoulder stiffen and his brows furrows as his gaze finally meets jongho’s. his eyes narrow and jongho oh so loves to see the colors that swim in them and remind him that jin’s of the same horrors he is. 

so many sailors come ashore to feel home again - so what does that mean for him, who always comes seeking jin. 

‘if you’re annoyed with your crew, take it out on someone else.’ “i’m not annoyed with them. just tired of their ….antics.” ‘someone who’s tired doesn’t laugh when they rant.’

jongho stops at that, the glass in his hand now empty. the sounds in the bar coming back to him. everything about the pub opening up around him and making the hairs on his body raise.

“no - i suppose they don’t.” ‘legs have made you soft.’

jongho’s often here - in this space with jin - to test limits, to push his luck and get a laugh and he finds that maybe jin isn’t as different as he thinks. because this time when jongho looks at those eyes, he sees the smirk, the grin and the picking apart that makes the crew shrink away from him when they don’t want to be told apart verbally. he sees the same push and pull, the same tug of words for reactions in jin’s words and he can’t help but laugh again. jongho moves then, his hand lifting to snake around the back of the navigator’s neck, a familiar position. despite his position leaned against the bar counter and jin’s height standing tall, he manages quite easily to get a grip and convey intentions with his smile. 

“would you like to test that theory?” ‘not a theory - you could’ve killed him.’

but he didn’t. and jongho’s heard that from one other person and it’s made his blood boil for reasons he couldn’t explain. for the same reason that he just holds jin’s gaze. holds the gaze and thinks about what comeback he wants to give and finds he doesn’t have one. not now at least.

must mean it’s time to leave. his grip doesn’t leave, not yet.

“you guys staying docked for long?” ‘maybe.’ jin’s eyes leave him at those words, shoulders tensing up once again. jongho grins, always enjoying the reactions he can get out of the younger and finally lets go so he can stand up to his full height.  “don’t tell me. i know where to find you.”

looking back, hyun is sure yunho had said those words with intent to spark the divide going on right now. he’s positive. there are ways to share secrets, there are ways to speak things meant for two people, meant for one ear and no one else. yunho had done such things, he’s whispered things when he sees jaehyun too close, or when he thinks the others aren’t watching, or even when they’re watching too hard. 

yunho knows how to whisper secrets, in ways that makes the currents underneath hyun’s skin dance with expectation when they feel the other’s presence close in. hyun’s often told him he doesn’t like the proximity, it makes his skin crawl, makes him clammy but the elder does it anyone, laughing and citing nerves.

‘do i make you nervous tae’ well - nervous isn’t quite the right word, but it comes close. then there’s the itch of anger whenever he hears the nickname too. anger might be too harsh a word but there’s definitely some dislike there. because he’s told yunho to stop calling him that, to no avail. 

so here hyun is, knowing full well that yunho could’ve whispered those words and chosen any other time than when everyone was gathered in his cramped living room to utter the words: 

‘i think you should leave, move in with us.’ 

a couple things happened at once, joowon who had been playing a match with him visibly stiffened, hyun could feel the muscle tense against his own shoulder, taut through the sweater separating them. jaehyun who was busy in the kitchen, talking through something with hyemi, hyun heard the clatter of the ladle, the voices over the bubbling of the soup stopping immediately. things have been - amicable. jaehyun shows himself more around hyemi and hyun thinks hyemi finds him more tolerable than joowon and yunho together. he’s glad, he’s been glad. he’s been calm and the space around the apartment hasn’t erupted into anything reminding him of who he is.

then there’s this. 

hyun hadn’t even had the chance to properly register them, what with his character immediately winning an unfair match, jaehyun hissing yunho’s name from across the apartment and hyemi’s very audible:

‘excuse me?’

yunho maintains his spot above the top of the couch, where he always resides when hyun’s playing games, so he can rest his hands on the younger’s shoulders, head, anywhere he can grasp. then to laugh when the contact makes hyun lose a match or drop his controller. its unsettling. 

just like the air after the words, to how casually yunho says it and how hyun almost knows there’s a grin on his face.

‘move in with us.’ this time the air is different. this time there’s that strange lure, the color that yunho’s voice takes on that makes huyn want to scoot over but his currents cling. they push him closer to the elder’s frame, like static clinging, like they can’t help it. when he’d first said it there was a thought, a hum like it was an idea, now when ti’s said it sounds like a command. hyun’s mouth dries up, a response sits at the edge of his lips, on his tongue and he’s got the slightest idea where it’s from.

“su—–”

‘he has school. where do you guys even live? you still haven’t confirmed if you’re his actual guardians. why should he just up and move in with you guys? why would you try to up root him like that when you know how he gets?’ hyemi’s voice is a fire, directed at yunho though she uses words to encompass them all, and instead of shrinking, hyun finds his shoulders rising at the words, finds warmth as quickly as they come and spread over him to their target. the words die on his tongue, and he tears his gaze from the floor, from joowon’s wince, to her figure at the kitchen. he moves past jaehyun’s own look, probably fixated on yunho, to hyemi, shorter than the male, smaller in build significantly but with the ladle firm in her hand and fire in her eyes.

‘it was just a suggestion.’ yunho’s response is petulant, a huff, like candy stolen from a child. ‘keep your suggestions to yourself.’ hyun keeps the snicker down, but joowon releases it for the both of them. releases it and picks the controller back up to restart their game. only then do hyemi’s eyes fall on him, and hyun shrinks, sheepish from the events but the smallest of grins on his face. 

ocean vuong, ‘my father writes from prison’

“so…..what’s our next course of action?” it stands to say, inhabitants of the room are not as involved with the question as they should be. jongho poses the question because he has to, because how else would he get these fools to focus if not.

especially when their captain hasn’t stopped admiring their recent haul since they’ve docked ship in a port near an eastern hub for the kingdom. the cascade islands are always quite the trip for sailors and it took jongho a signifiant amount of energy to remember every nook and cranny that involved dodging traps, his own kind and finding the right treasure. treasure that would satisfy their prince. and then treasure that was worth the tales and the lore surrounding it.

still, he couldn’t look any more disinterested, even with the jewels that line the table he’s rested his hands on. even with the couple rings that he refused to part with and a single pearl around his neck. the cup of wine from their last night festivities sits untouched, freshly tamed nails tapping against his face to show to both friends, especially their captain that he’s waiting on an answer.

daniel, of course is of no help either, leaning back in the chair at the edge of the table and damn near asleep after helping navigate them out a particularly treacherous storm.

jongho had told them the beasts of the islands wouldn’t be too happy about them stealing their treasure and they were still in the midst of figuring out what treasure was worth it. between gathering funds for the expedition ( as neither man wanted to confront estranged family members about money ) jongho left the staggering task of finances in his care. and there’s only so many ports that take jewels and gems as forms of payment, gold coins are easier to barter with, that and promises of status. 

wealth has to be transferrable, and though the last trip was one for the books, the next one’s going to need to cover some bases. that being said, their captain is still draped in new silk and admiring the depths of jewels he’s never seen adorned on a sword before.

‘do you think the sea mistress would care for such a sword?’ ‘do you have a thing for her putting you on your ass?’

daniel’s chuckle moves his figure in the seat, a gentle creak against the table that reminds them they’re docked and not at sea. jongho isn’t about to discuss the pleasantries his captain engages with another fearsome and tiresome captain of the seas they plunder, especially not before dinner with others listening near. his - spelunking - with the red tiger’s captain is none of his business. she’s got a few cute lackeys so seeing them is never too troublesome. so jongho throws the conversation and all it contains to the wind, ignoring the look anyone is giving him. 

“inputs daniel?” of course there’s but a grumble of a response. daniel sits with his hair grown so long it covers his eyes, his hat even lower and the guitar still in his lap, his only consolation prize really. jongho’s heard him play that’s why he tried so hard to find the detour that would have it rear it’s ugly head. no jewels or anything but carvings and such. 

‘i hear the eastern kingdom is teaching their princesses swordsmanship -” and the sentiment is broken as both eyes turn towards the prince. jongho can almost hear the sound of daniel’s fingers tapping against the wood of the instrument, ‘how about we pay a visit to their princess - the one named after a flower.’ he heaves a sigh as a dagger lodges itself in the back of the captain’s chair, their captain too busy laughing to give a care. 

‘you must have a thing for being strung up by officers, huh?’ daniel’s words don’t hold malice, just as the dagger throw was aimed with little threat, just general annoyance. his sister is his soft spot and they all know, despite his words the prince respects it to. he knows the man’s made offers to kidnap the young princess, who’s but a few years younger than him, but significantly younger than daniel and jongho. 

“focus. we’ll be strung up if we don’t have proper funds to pay the crew and the mouths we keep quiet. as well as repair funds and any treasures you so happen to desire again.”

‘so kidnapping is out of the question? even if the ransom would cover this trip five times over?’ the prince’s sudden presence behind him, elbow in jongho’s shoulder does the opposite of startle him. it assures him that he’s being listened to now, seriously. the biggest thing to admire about him is when he gets his business done, it’s as serious and thorough as needed. he doesn’t throw ideas out for no reason which is why jongho heaves a sigh as his eyes scan the map he’d been hoping to address the entire time.

“kidnapping isn’t - completely out of the question.” ‘wonderful - once these are inventoried, it’ll cover most costs, then we set sail.’ “set sail for where exactly?” daniel’s hat is back on his head, body leaned back to accept the inevitable and jongho’s grin is immediate at the look the prince gives them. 

‘you first-’ ‘no you first—’ ‘no - you first.’

they’d been at this for ten minutes. they weren’t particularly quiet about it either, yichen was surprised they hadn’t been spotted yet. though perhaps - that was the trickery of it all. they’d been down this path before, soonyi leading them down a winding array of the underbrush past a park they’d been fond of hanging around. they - meaning soonyi, meixi and unfortunately yichen had taken to frequenting the park after yichen’s afternoon classes, stopping only at the convenience store to pick up the snacks meixi had grown attached to after failing another exam.

late night sessions turned into a habit and turned into ideas and explorations. that’s how soonyi - excited and fluttering about had told them about the portals that exist beyond the eye. yichen hadn’t the slightest idea what she’d meant until meixi had spent four hours in her study room and blew a very foul smelling dust into his face. it’s the same dust that had surrounded him when she’d changed the structure of his body into faerie wings. 

he’d walked around campus for hours until he realized no one could see them, but a few creepy eyes between corridors and pillars had watched him with curiosity. that’s when soonyi explained the nature of enchantment while yichen explained his - discomfort. he wasn’t afraid no - but! but. it was hard to get used to eyes in places no one else noticed or would dream of.

they were connections to the fae world and soonyi seemed more than delighted that he’d been able to see them, it meant the spell worked or something.

apparently, the fact that he was still alive meant the fae folk hadn’t thought him a threat. or they would’ve kidnapped him by now for his sight. as much as it’d freaked yichen out - it’d made them smile so he’d let them keep their excitement at the expense of his sleep. looking in the mirror and seeing the strange structure of bone and tattoos adorning his body had been enough for one day. 

as it stands - this might be too much for him too, but he hasn’t chickened out yet. this being - soonyi bringing them to a particularly active portal to the fae realm. yichen can see them now, not as clearly as soonyi but he can see the ripples and he’s not once thought of peeking his head in since his body’s been changed, though they’ve encouraged him too.

they won’t bite! yeah like he’s taking that chance. 

still, she’s brought them to a particular one deep in the forest, for secrecy apparently and though they’ve seen a flurry of different people - fae - scurry in and out, neither of his friends seem too keen on entering first, both of them nudging the other forward. 

“months of talking about this and now you guys chicken out?”

maybe it’s the lack of sleep he’s been getting. maybe it’s the slight discomfort still in his shoulders from the wings or the fact that he has wings period. or it’s just the slight fear peeking in and the fact that they can’t just jump forward and get over it - but meixi nor soonyi look amused at the outburst. both turn to him with looks that could kill and yichen swallows any other resentment that might’ve come forth. 

‘if you think it’s so easy - you do it!’

he huffs, a reaction that moves his entire body. and maybe it was a little insensitive, even if they haven’t mentioned it much yichen knows his friends well. he’s seen the excitement as well as the anxiety whenever meixi performs a spell, and the wavering hesitation whenever soonyi mentions her realm. things is - the anxiety is something he probably deals with more than them - given his chosen line of work. that might be why this is so easy to him now that they’ve made it this far. that and he knows it’s something they really want to do, despite their reservations.

there’s no point asking why they’re showing anxiousness now but it’s because he shouldn’t have to ask that yichen is the one stepping forward, garnering a few looks from the fae passing by but nothing else. without stopping to turn back he holds both hands out to his friends.

“come on.”

there’s no telling where this faux bravado comes from, but when it comes he doesn’t question it. he runs with it. maybe among al the magic and the confusion - that’s where he fits in with them. he feels the hands fit in his own and steps into the ripple between the trees.