#kun fluff

Right now, it was a masculine Soul.

His tails swished lazily as a soft snort left his snout.

“Where am I?” They questioned.

As always, the answer was the same.

The Soul shifted, glimmering restlessly as they held onto the edges of the bowl and drank it all with an urgency that proved unusual.

He got to his feet with an ignited sense of curiosity and followed behind the wisp of silver as it travelled through the system of the city. It came to a stop at the centre of the city, materialising in front of the ornate scales and the feathered pen that would determine their fate.

The podium itself was carved from premium jade, each curve and contour of the engraved design created by the talent of the celestial. Images of the river, of the capital, Youdu, and the Heavenly gardens that Kun called home were depicted with faultless clarity.

The Soul could not see him as he could see it.

Kun stood beside the podium and read the details that emerged with every precise brush of onyx ink. Details changed and adjusted for the individual whilst adhering to the rigid structure that all must follow: ‘Reincarnation cycle number. Noteworthy deeds. Filial Piety. Misdemeanours. Final Sentencing.’

It was with this structure that all creatures with consciousness were judged. During life, unlawful actions may remain unwitnessed and unpunished but in this realm, under the ever-watching eyes of all and nothing - the divine and the damned - every action will be accounted for.

This cycle was not new to Kun. He understood it like he understood the clink of coins in a purse, like the taste of good fortune that forever lingered on the tip of his forked tongue. It was by the hands that governed these innate laws that he was created.

‘He has struck his starving child dead and consumed him for sustenance. His until-death repentance is sincere and will be taken into consideration.’

For a moment that lingered for a touch too long, Kun could not believe his eyes. He blinked. Plumes of smoke barrelled from his nose and melded with the acrid dark unique to Diyu. Surely, this could not be-!

‘500 cycles are to be completed in the 11th layer.’

A mere 500 iterations…

The ink that adorned the silk was sourced and processed from the bark of the Heavenly tree rooted in the utmost layer of Tian. Any suggestion of a mistake regarding this was akin to blasphemy.

Yet… Kun was unable to forbid himself from thinking as such.

Humans had been sculpted from clay - every feature lovingly crafted and shaped into perfection through the vision of their creator. However, like clay, they embodied the imperfections of their material. There would always be cracks, hairline splinters in the ones that could not shoulder the pressure. Faults may be glazed over but their scars would not fade - such was the folly of allowing free will.

To him, this was the worst of mankind.

Murdering a child was a crime so abhorrent, so decidedly evil that the punishment of being slowly, suffocatingly crushed under the weight of stone boulders was almost too merciful. Even if bones splintered, broke through skin in haphazard manners and punctured airless lungs, taking a life that had no chance to mature beyond the nest of their parents made this consequence too light.

Kun did not see sufficient atonement. A single week of repentance was not enough.

He was a Heavenly creature - the protector of Souls and good fortune. If he did not seek justice for the Soul of this child, he should not dare to align himself with righteousness.

He stepped forward, shadow eclipsing the podium, and usurped the pen. For a moment, it resisted - bound by principle - until he tugged again and it relented.

His tails held the pen tightly.

‘Additional 500 cycles within the 7th layer must be completed.’

Layer 7: For those who have killed dishonourably, a mountain of sharpened knives that begins from the deepest floor of Earth’s ocean and concludes at the very edge of Heaven’s lowest layer must be climbed.

Kun stepped back, relinquishing the pen.

It hovered and analysed what had been added. Finally, it confirmed what was written with a flourish and a stamp of the Jade Palace to conclude.

The next Soul appeared.

He extended his wings, the crimson tipped feathers catching the stagnant air before he was airborne. With every beat of his wings, the breeze became clearer, fresher. His body was not bound by the constrictions of the realms below, as was clear by how he had graced the gardens of his home within seconds.

With a shake of his body, he rid himself of the last traces of melancholy and began to ponder on how he should spend the rest of his day.

I have not visited Dongtian in quite some time. The grottos are supposed to be quite beautiful at this hour.

Ink spilled from the end of his tails, marrying the perfect blade of grass that it fell upon.

Underneath him opened a chasm.

What followed was a sensation so blinding that Kun could only scream - beg for mercy that he was not afforded. Fur ripped from tender tissue - muscle torn from bones. The tendons of his heels were severed, the taste of his own blood so foreign and so foul that he thought it akin to drinking sewage-

He could not breathe.

For the first time in his long life, he was experiencing pain.

Only seconds ago, his wings had the authority to pass through the heavens and let him nestle amongst the clouds. Now, every single bone within them was shattered and mangled. They contorted, twisting inside out until he could not distinguish feather from flesh.

Golden blood rained down on Earth as he plummeted with no recourse.

Falling. Falling. Falling.

He hit the ground.

Crusted blood flaked off his skin when he finally found the strength to sit up. It dripped slowly from the wounds that had yet to scab, dribbled like liquid stars over the blades of sunburnt grass that had been flattened by his body.

Kun crawled, his scraped knees unable to withstand the pressure of holding his entire body. He crawled, and crawled, and crawled with a lameness that had him thinking that he had been cast into his own circle of hell - damned to drag his limbs behind him for a reason unbeknownst to him.

The pool of condensation was murky, vastly different to the sublime clarity of heavenly water bodies. In those, it was as if he had been looking into a mirror - able to see the powerful face of a dragon born from hardship, and the rigid body of a lion that moved with deadly swiftness.

Now… he saw features he did not recognise.

A human visage stared back at him, almost offensive in its foreignness. Kun was not a human, had never considered himself to be within the same realm of classification. His essence was light and justice - fortune incarnate. Being human was the antithesis of all he had groomed himself to be.

Yet, these big brown eyes reflected back at him, bore into the frayed nerves that pulsed rhythmically.

Not all had changed, evidently. The antler on the right side of his head remained as it always had. All his teeth remained elongated and sharp, poking out from under his lips to graze against warm toned skin.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for his wings.

Once broad, the wingspan six times the size of his body, they now hung limply at his back. The feature that he had treasured the most was destroyed. Each hour he had spent meticulously preening himself was in vain, his efforts tangled within the mess of blood, cartilage and bone.

There was no restoring them. (He didn't want to admit it). Without them, he could not fly home.

His fingers trembled as they reached out towards the sky, the cloudy endless expanse too far out of his grasp. These mangled limbs would not carry him back, and these foreign ones would not aid him. There he lay, cast from the heavens for a transgression that he was not privy to.

Was it so easy to be exiled? To be stripped of all he had known and live as the ‘other’?

What dare he do other than plead, extend and stretch his five fingered hand for the faintest touch of hope?

It was fruitless.

Moisture seeped into the back of his clothes, the beautiful silken hanfu stained with soot and dew. Fabric clung to his skin - skin that felt so much more frail, so much more mortal.

Kun wobbled on his feet, grass and mud squelching between his toes in a manner so unpleasant he winced. Every stagger and stumble propelled him forward, along the barren expanse of the hills that laid out before him.

Faintly, the thought that even Diyu was more prosperous crossed his mind.

No matter how far he walked, how many times he limped towards the endless horizon, he found that he could only go so far, doomed to circle the same thousand acres of land: barren, untilled and operable.

Days and nights passed overhead, light filtering through the sparse branches of the trees. It was a small kindness that he could not feel the blistering cold of the night, that he could lay beside the stream and see the ripples of water - however less magnificent than that of the gardens.

Though, it did little to quell the wrath that raged within him.

How was he, a being embodying all things holy, cast down to this realm with no respite? No warning nor reason? And why could he only reach so far before that same decrepit and listless hut fashioned sloppily from clay and sticks marred the skyline?

After 3 days and 3 nights of wandering, he found himself at its door.

No longer was he unsteady on his feet. The wounds of his wings had begun to scab over.

The door yielded with the lightest touch, crumbling at the splintered hinges. Inside, the odour of raw dirt and mildew overpowered. It was hardly big enough to house any animal, yet the bed of hay and feathers that rested at the furthest left wall spoke of this being a human residence.

‘What a pity,’ he could not help but think, ‘to live in such dismal conditions.’

A scroll too neat and too proper stood out sorely against the backdrop. Despite sitting on a table embedded in dust, it remained clean and delicate. There was no resistance when he unfurled it.

‘Qian Kun.

Your act of arrogation toward the ruling of Souls is certainly unjust. You have damned a Soul to further 500 cycles of turmoil for a reason that was neither discussed nor expressed. Your place lies within the 3rd layer of Heaven - of which does not give you the authority to overstep.

As all things are judged, you will be, too.

Your constitution is unique, hence, your punishment will reflect this. For the undue suffering you have signed on, you will toil the lands for 1000 cycles and reap what the Soul could not. Only when the Soul has passed their 1000 cycles, you shall also be forgiven.’

So, that was it. How cruel.

He was being punished for overstepping, irrespective of how justified it was. A parent who devours their own child was not deserving of gentleness in his eyes, for they had not extended it to their own kin. Sympathising with the child was deserving of exile, was it? He could not forgive this.

He shouted until his voice was hoarse, held the scroll in his tight fist until crescent moons from his clenched fists blossomed in his palms.

There was no answer (and, deep inside, he knew that there would not be one for 1000 long years).

१००वर्ष (0200)

The presence of fresh dirt was hard to forget. It was pervasive, clinging to all that it soiled with a pungence that he could only be rid of through scrubbing with dried honey locust seeds and leaving it under the sweltering sun.

He did not pause. Rather, he worked in spite of the mud that thickened on the soles of his shoes and rooted into the hem of his oversized clothing. At first, he had tried to work in his hanfu but no amount of hubris could deny the ruin that the fabric underwent and it became obvious that tilling in larger, hemp clothing was more suitable.

Fortunately, time was unlimited and whatever hours he didn’t spend outside was spent on either sewing or working on the abode he had built. And, after two hundred years of work, he might dare to call it somewhere adjacent to home.

Kun knelt by the upturned soil, dropping seeds that he’d collected from nearby plants. If there was one thing he desperately missed, it was the sprawling gardens that greeted everyone the moment they stepped foot within. Heaven had flowers that would never grace the dirt of the mortal realm, the kind that glowed a gorgeous pink in the day and luminescent teal come night. Such flowers could not survive on the tumultuous level of nutrients here; he would be surprised if they sprouted at all.

So, he settled for expansive orchids of fruit trees and meadows of flora that he had cultivated throughout the seasons. The animals that he’d nurtured in his boredom seemed to take to the surrounding nature, and he could enjoy some sort of company amidst the silence that otherwise dominated. Mostly, they had migrated by themselves and been incentivised to stay. He did not mind: he was far fonder of them than humans.

Gloved hands patted the mounds of soil down, continuing along the dozens of rows before he rose to his feet before watering each plot. They would take four days to sprout seeds and within a few weeks they’d become saplings.

In the distance, one of his precious cats, Gui, wandered out of the door with her tail swaying leisurely behind her. Her mewls were soft, too spoiled to put any volume behind it because she knew he would tend to her every beck and call.

She was right.

With a clap of his hands, the excess dust fell into the wind. The gloves were dropped and he came closer, scratching under her chin and stroking her tortoise-shell patterned fur. Her purring was loud, vibrating through the skin of his hand before her nose pushed against his palm.

“How greedy you are,” Kun chided, tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth. “Gui. This entire orchid may be harvested for your appetite, and you will still nudge me for more before it’s settled in your stomach.”

Gui meowed as if in agreement.

“Hm. Come this way.”

Her little legs followed at his feet into the timber and brick house, the bamboo floors glistening from the coat of oil he’d varnished them with. In their brief journey, the other two cats, Yue and Hua padded over - intelligent enough to know that once their master was headed to the kitchen, their stomachs would soon be full.

Satisfied with one dried fish each, they tended to themselves and cleaned up every bone and scale.

No matter how short their lives were, Kun found a certain fulfillment in caring for them. They were gentle creatures that scarcely begged for attention and didn’t withhold affection; he far preferred them to dogs. He’d housed a pekingese dog, a creature so small that he wondered how it hadn’t died partway in its climb up the hills, and vowed never to do so again. It was a needy thing, whimpering when he was away and barking when he was near. Though, its one redeeming quality was how obedient and lively it was.

Kun continued his work outside, leaving the felines to their treat. The front garden would not remodel itself.

It was as he worked, arranging white stones along the border of the plants, that a thick, putrid stench wafted toward him.

Yet another? This was becoming a far too common occurrence!

Kun thought to ignore it and let it fester - just until he had finished his work. There were only a few meters left for him to decorate and then-

The panicked bleating of his goats had him dropping all stones unceremoniously.

How bothersome. A place so remote shouldn’t have a problem with malevolent spirits and miasma - there were no humans around to stir such things. And somehow, he had seen more of them manifesting along the borders, disturbing his livestock and killing the flora he’d laboured for.

Yes, there were the one or two travellers that he saw making their way across using the paths at the very back of his domain, but they were hardly enough to justify the trouble he was having to quell. Maybe they’d passed away along the route and their essence was stuck in a state of limbo…

Either way, it was not his concern.

This one was particularly shapeless. It clung to the fence, oozing along the wooden posts in a coagulated, purple mass. The skin trembled as it moved, shivering and pulsing with every slow inch along the ground towards the bleating goats.

Decay filled his nose, catching in the back of his throat. A grimace crossed his face when it trudged towards him.

Bones dislocated. Joints cracked and popped. His mouth opened, jaw unhinging from the taut corners with his forked tongue unfurling - flickering in the air to taste the level of toxins. Rows of sharp, pearlescent teeth shone in gruesome warning, the soft hum at the back of his throat drawing it closer… closer...

Kun swallowed it whole the moment it fell into a lull. The taste was sour in the moment but washed away moments later.

It seemed to have been festering for a while, only now growing large enough to try and claim one of his animals - as if he would ever let such a thing happen.

Kun turned to his animals, making sure that they had their food and were not injured before returning to his stones.

As was his life for the last two centuries - this routine he had cultivated out of nothingness and the knowledge that he could not stew in filth for millenia. Perhaps by the end of it, he would see the rise and fall of all the earth around him, or maybe it would stay the same as it always had. He knew every inch of soil, stream and road, what species could prosper and what would wilt.

The only thing he didn’t understand, and didn’t care to, was the occasional trotting of humans passing by. They never came closer, and he half wondered if they were able to perceive him.

Regardless, Kun would see it from beginning to end, and he would do it in the now peaceful quiet of this mountainous land.

३३३वर्ष (0333)

How strange.

The influx of malevolent energy had been surging the past few years for a reason that he hadn’t been able to understand until very recently.

The number of humans that travelled along the dirt road had steadily increased from one a year to two, perhaps three, and now - all of a sudden - it had become tens of people per week. Of course, there was a reason that Kun was not privy to. Still, it was bothersome to continuously exorcise the amalgamations of resentment and scum.

“Gezi,” he addressed his grey cat, a descendant of his late Gui. “Stay inside for now, my sweet.”

She mewed in a tone so achingly similar to her great grandmother’s, her paws under her body as she resigned herself to another languid nap. Good, he thought, he didn’t want her to be caught in any misfortune.

Kun closed the door, hand brushing against the protection talisman he had hammered into the thick red wood.

This odour was pungent, like the decay of rotting meat that had been left to sit in its own melted fat and juices. Kun’s nose twitched, acclimatising to it.

The source resided at the path - just as expected.

Even so… he’d never seen one so large.

Purple swallowed the leg of a man, digesting it with crimson oozing from every orifice. The man’s face was waxy, pale with perspiration that glittered along his forehead. If he didn’t have the ability to sense the fragility of a Soul, then he’d have thought the man as good as dead.

They spoke in a language unfamiliar and unheard of to him. They were talking about him, looking towards the stranger in clothes far different than theirs and an expression that told nothing.

“You… help?” One of them managed to ask, tones sharp and grating to his ears though understandable.

Kun simply nodded.

The faint shimmer of glamour glistened in the air, unrecognisable to them as anything other than the catchings of sunlight. It masked the way his jaw split open, how his skin stretched over every bone and muscle with enough strain to tear. This was his small mercy to them - that they did not witness the true horror of exorcism and the nature of what was consuming their companion.

This one lingered on the way down, as if trying to crawl back up his esophagus.

It dissipated into nothing before it reached his stomach. The muscles of his mouth stitched back together, presenting a normal, familiar, humanoid figure.

“He will recover,” Kun informed, words stilted and unwelcoming; they did not notice.

Their friend was cradled, held in their arms before placed gently on the cart with a bed of straw amongst the tawny bags.

“Thank you! Thank you, Mister!”

Coins pressed into the palm of his hand despite his reluctance to accept. They would not let him return it, and he thought it better to accept than to argue with foreigners. There were plenty of uses for melted down metal, after all.

He turned to return home. The job was done.

The horses and cart drew into the distance and out of bounds. Kun made his way along the path, intending to branch off closer to the house when something called out.

“Mister! Mister!”

Midway through his step, he paused. The inflection of this voice was unlike anything he had ever heard. An accent thickened it, similar to the men he’d just bid adieu, yet it held this feminine lilt he’d only experienced one before when dealing with the spirits of Heaven. The skin between his thick eyebrows pinched together.

“Please help,” she pleaded, countenance shadowed by the hood that covered her eyes. The cloak covered her from head to toe, simple floral embroidery decorated the hemlines. However, the most striking aspect was the thick, heady scent of aromatic spices that clung to her body.

Hadn’t he dealt with enough humans already? His only option was to relent.

“What is the matter?”

“Come this way.” With a small gesture of her jingling hand, he followed her lead. Kun did not stare unduly at her, his gaze resting at her feet so he could see where she turned and the pace of her steps so he would not overtake. However, the soft tinkling of her steps were hard to ignore, the flicker of jewellery against her ankle briefly catching his attention. “Here. They are with blight.”

Ah…

The scene was filthy, the remnants of resentment having faded away but the effects lingered. Men laid with opened eyes and gangrened limbs, shock etched into the rigid muscles of their faces. They had been caught at a weak moment and paid the ultimate price.

“There’s no saving them. They have passed on.”

She hummed in soft acknowledgement. “Please help me bury. I will compensate.”

All arguments he had were swallowed, kept lodged in the soft spot within his sternum. Had it been a male, he may have been less inclined but it was a young woman. Despite adhering to different laws and social dynamics in his home, he inhibited a male body and understood that he held an advantage of strength.

“No need. I will help you.”

“Thank you. I created burial sites.” Her hand lifted as she motioned towards the plots of land she’d painstakingly carved, the more delicate fingers sore from the manual labour. She had accomplished the hard part with only a shovel that lay propped against the cart he presumed was hers.

Did she have no companion?

“Is your escort elsewhere?” Kun asked, uncharacteristically curious. In all 333 years he had resided on the moral plane, he had yet to see a woman - and even then, he was well aware that they did not travel without a male present.

“Yes. He is ahead.” So they had separated.

The bodies were cold, warmed only at surface level by the sun that had begun to set. The cloth wrapped gently around them, covering their dignity. In his arms, the bodies were light.

He did not waver because of their weight, or the dangling limbs that caught in his robes. Rather, it was from the subtle frown of her lips.

Was the way he handled them displeasing?

“Are you acquainted with them?”

“I am not,” she replied. “I happened upon.”

“Are there certain things you want me to do, Miss?” Kun persisted, unwilling to unintentionally disrespect a body. “I will follow your lead.”

“No. This is enough.”

He obliged, placing them within the graves. When he moved to the next, she covered them with soil, patting it down smooth with her bare hands.

The actions were done in silence - no idle chatter amongst them. Orange turned to hues of pink and purple, darkening until the last rays of the sun dissolved into inklings of night.

The last of the three men had been tended to.

“Mister. Your compensation.”

A small pouch of coins was held out; Kun accepted wordlessly.

Her companion had not yet returned and the night would only deepen. Leaving a woman without protection left behind a heavy feeling, and he found his tongue moving of its own accord.

“Will he not return for you?”

“He will,” she confirmed. By now, her entire face was shrouded, only the faintest shadow proving that she was tangible, living. “Does Mister know a- how to say…?” Her tongue clicked against her teeth. “Inn?”

Not for a long while.

“No.”

Once more, the chiming commenced as she moved her arms. “I see. Then, thank you.”

Swaying stalks of grass tickled his legs, the midnight breeze and beginning of cricket chirping. Something within him was churning, unable to let this woman go without being certain of her safety. Humans could not see in the dark, and many of the creatures that lurked within its shrouds knew this.

When her stallion stood to its full height, snorting and stomping its feet, Kun could not bear it a moment longer.

“Leaving in the dark is a death sentence.” When he stepped forward, he took care to keep a distance from her. “I have a cabin at the Southernmost section of my land. Your stallion and cart may be left in the stables.”

She did not move.

“Miss,” he implored. “I harbor no desire to harm you. Should your escort come to look for you, I will direct him to you. But I cannot, in good conscience, let a lady leave without offering a safe bed for the night.” What followed was more silence, punctuated only by the everlasting sounds of the night - a hum that he turned to background noise until this moment where it had become harrowingly loud.

Then, she took the reins of her voice and gently tugged her horse towards him. “You are most kind, Mister. I believe you.”

During the last century, Kun had begun construction on a smaller version of his home at the base of the land. At first, it had been a passion project, mostly to give him an idle hobby that was in close proximity to the stream. Fashioned in a style emulating his own dwelling, the little cabin would be comfortable - if a little small. He came to a standstill in front of it, lighting a fire in the pit. The flames flickered, their shadows dancing to its rhythm.

“When you lock it from the inside, it cannot be opened from the outside,” Kun informed her, hoping to reassure any doubts. “I will take you to the stables.”

Her voice was stark against the quiet backdrop, almost startling him when it broke through. “It is only you?”

What was the purpose of her question? “I live here by myself, yes.”

“It is so far from others.”

Well… he was aware. Kun had spent centuries conversing only with animals and himself. Humans were not interested in aimless chatter with a creature far removed from themselves, similarly to himself.

“It is.”

There was nothing else said on the matter.

The horse brayed, quietened by a gentle rub of its muzzle and the guidance into a warm, wooden stable. Her cart was left in the far corner.

“This is board.” Copper coins reflected in her palm.

“Board?” He repeated, unsure of what it meant. “Keep your money. I have no use for more.”

“You don't want it?”

“No.”

“I insist.”

Kun turned to leave, her figure standing against the light of the flames before she entered the cabin.

Humans were strange beings, and human women even more so.

“The baby is really healthy. Just make sure that you will avoid stress. Also, eat more healthy food.” The doctor advised as you and Kun went to the hospital after the ultrasound.

You nodded.

“Also, Mr. Qian Kun, just expect some pregnancy symptoms from your wife. Don’t panic if she’s having an intense mood swing or.. weird pregnancy cravings.” The doctor chuckled.

“Noted on this, doctor. Thank you.” Kun answered.

The two of you happily went out of the hospital. Kun held your tummy and smiled.

“Baby, shall we go home now? Or do you want to eat something before we go?” Kun asked.

You wondered, “Hmmmm. Baby, I want pizza. And a milkshake.”

Kun agreed.

You went to the nearest cafe and Kun almost dropped his jaw while looking at you. Kun ordered two pizzas and as they were served to you, Kun cannot talk to you anymore because you are eating non-stop.

“Babe.. Uh.. Calm down, you might choke on your food.” Kun said.

You wiped your mouth, “Baby. S-sorry. I was just happy eating this. Lately, I felt like I need to eat all the time. I always feel hungry.”

Kun smiled, “That’s fine baby, but please slow down while eating okay?”

You nodded like a kid.

Kun was staring at you and he was almost teary eyed while eating. He anticipated this situation but he was excited to serve you throughout your pregnancy journey.

While driving home, you slept in the car. Kun is holding your hand and he is kissing it repeatedly.

That night, Kun lets you take some rest so you sleep for almost 5 hours. While you were sleeping, Kun cleaned the whole house. He also cooked dinner so you would not worry when you woke up.

He also cleaned the living room. The sound of the vacuum woke you up. Kun stopped cleaning when he saw you approaching him.

“Hi baby! How’s sleep?” He asked and kissed your lips.

“Hmmm. Super fine baby.” You answered and hugged him.

“I cooked dinner already. Shall we eat now?” He asked.

“Oh.. baby. Uhm.” You showed him your puppy eyes.

“Yes baby?”

“I want ramen with chocolates in it.” You happily answered.

“You- WHAT???” Kun asked in confusion, but he chuckled.

You poked his dimples, “I want that baby, can we go to the nearest convenience store?”

Kun kissed your forehead again and hugged you so tight, “Okay baby, as you wish.”

Kun anticipated it. Weird pregnancy cravings are finally coming up. You just walked to the nearest convenience store near your house. Good thing, there are still people in the streets. Everyone was either going home, or going to a bar to party since it’s Friday. While the two of you are holding hands while walking, savoring the cold breeze of that night, while your tummy craves for something weird.

You and Kun happily entered the convenience store. You started to pick the big cup of ramen and some chocolate bar. Meanwhile, Kun just got some corndog and a drink.

As you sat down, Kun stares at you–who is happily eating ramen..with chocolate.

You stared at him and smiled, “Thanks, Baby.”

Kun smiled because a chocolate was stuck in your teeth. For Kun, that was the cutest thing he has seen today. 

He got some chocolate and bit it, then he smiled and a chocolate was also stuck in his teeth. You laughed because of his cuteness. The two of you took a cute photo, smiling like kids without one tooth.

As you go home, you still choose to eat his cooked dinner because you do not want to waste his effort.

And the weird pregnancy cravings continue. There are nights that you will wake up Kun in the middle of the night just to eat potato chips with smores. There are mornings that you crave for ripe mango with catsup. 

There are afternoons that you ask Kun to cook some bacon because you want it dipped in chocolate syrup. There are midnight snack times that you search for cookies in the kitchen and Kun prepares some mayonnaise dip because you want it that way.

As a chef, Kun always follows the kind of dishes that you crave for. You always crave for something weird but Kun will always cook for you.

But most of all, you craved for Kun’s tender love, care, and affection–and he never failed you.

In the midst of weird pregnancy cravings, there are waves of exaggerated tears whenever you watch you favorite series. One time, Kun caught your crying while you are watching the last season of Attack on Titan. He hugged you so tight because you are crying hard.

There is a night where he caught you smiling while doing some bracelets and keychains with beads. There are days that you were afraid, with non-stop vomiting, and morning sickness in betweens.

The journey was hard, but again, Kun never gave up.

And when your little sunshine finally arrived, all those hardships turned into joy.

Keanna Loie almost has the same features as her father. She has dimples, thick lips, chubby cheeks, and a joyful smile.

When Keanna arrived in your family, Kun loved mornings even more. Every morning, you always see him carrying Keanna, in front of your house, to get some sunlight.

He permanently stopped working in his former company and did some remote freelance jobs so he could be a hands-on father.

He never failed as a father and husband.

“Damn Kun, she got all your facial features. What about me?” You joked, while staring at your kid who is heavenly sleeping in the crib.

Kun chuckled, “She will surely get your humor and intelligence.”

“But you have that too!” You protested.

“Nah. You are better than me.” He smiled.

You looked at Keanna again and almost got teary-eyed. All the cravings, mood swings, and dramas turned into beautiful sunshine.

Days stretched into years and Keanna is now a seven-year-old kid who excels in her education. She is a consistent first honor student and awardee in their class. Just like her father, she also loves singing and she learned to play the piano at an early age.

One time, you and Kun visited her school because there is a family day program. The parents are invited, of course, to witness the talents of their children.

As you enter the hall, the teachers and other parents are greeting Kun. Some of them whispered that he is really a handsome dad. 

Keanna held her dad’s hand and it was pretty cold.

“Dad, Mom, I’m nervous. I hope you’ll like my special number later.”

You carried Keanna in your arms, “Baby, do not worry! We will be proud of you no matter what. Just look at us in the crowd, okay?”

“You’ll do great just like Daddy.” Kun added.

The two of you kissed her cheeks.

The program gave an opportunity to showcase the talents of the kids. Every student, whether in group or in solo, has a special number. 

When it’s Keanna’s turn for her special number, she slowly walked on the stage and took a seat in front of a piano. Kun gets his phone and took a video of his child.

You were almost teary-eyed when Keanna played a beautiful piece. Everyone was quietly listening to your child. You want to stand up and cheer for your kid because of how great she was.

When she finished the special number, she bowed in front of everyone. Everyone was so amazed and clapped their hands for your kid. Kun looked at you and smiled. You smiled back.

You got home in the afternoon and just ordered some lunch from a fastfood chain. Kun’s parents visited you.

While having lunch, the grandparents asked if they can borrow Keanna.

“Your auntie and uncles want to see you too, Keanna. They have gifts for you since you are doing great in school. Can you come with us?” Kun’s mother asked.

“Yes granny! I would love it too!” Keanna enthusiastically answered while raising her hands.

“Kun, Y/N, thanks for letting us borrow Keanna for a while. Do not worry, we’ll take her home on Sunday since she has classes the next day.” Kun’s father asked.

The two of you exchanged glances. No Keanna means..

“Enjoy your alone time mom and dad!” Keanna said as she walked to her bedroom to pack her things.

That night, Kun was on his phone sorting the photos of Keanna on a separate album. Every time he’s sad, he always looks at these photos.

You entered the room after taking a half bath. Meanwhile, Kun glanced at you because you look so sexy in your lingerie. Kun stole a glance and swallowed.

As he brought back his attention to his phone, you lay down beside him and hug him.

“Smells good, baby.” Kun said.

“Thank God, you noticed.” You smiled.. in an evil way. “What about my outfit?”

“You look great.” Kun smiled.

You kissed his cheek and smelled him, tok. He can’t even read the room. You almost laugh loud while doing it.

“I’m hungry Kun. I’m craving for something.” You said.

“Let’s cook, then?” Kun said then placed his phone on the table.

“Noooo.. I want something.. more delicious.” You answered.

Kun twitched when you touched his thing and positioned yourself on top of him.

“No Keanna for tonight–and she’s asking for a baby brother or sister since last month. Let’s go?” You said then smirked.

“And?” Kun said in between laughs.

“And we’re gonna make something tonight but it’s not food.” You licked your lips and Kun finally gave up. He grabbed your neck and kissed you passionately.

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Haven't proofread this yet but I wanna publish it sooo HAHAHA sorry for the typos!

Y/N decided to help him, she came out from under the umbrella she was in and waved her hand to get her boyfriend's attention.

Not only did it work, but she also saw his relieved smile and without waiting he started walking towards her. As soon as he got close, Y/N threw herself into his lap, hugging his waist with her legs and his neck with her hands.

Kun smiled widely as he held her by her thighs.

“Are you laughing?” he asked in disbelief.

“Another fan approaching you?” She smiled evilly.

He shook his head.

“I love my job but going out in uniform has its downsides.”

It wasn't the first and probably wouldn't be the last time he was stopped by someone, whether to flirt or thank him for his service and effort.

"Oh really?" She looked him up and down. “I don’t see any disadvantages.”

She bit her bottom lip and Kun threw his head back, laughing.

“I'm going to start thinking you're only with me because of my uniform.” he said before touching their foreheads and placing a peck on her.

“That’s one of the reasons.” She caressed the back of his head, laughing.

Kun took the opportunity to go back under the umbrella and sat down on the sand with Y/N still in his lap, she then buried her head on his shoulder.

She wanted to make the most of what little time they had before he went back to base.

“Are you going to watch training today?” He asked, rubbing her back.

“I went last week.” she remembered. “Your commander is going to fight me, I’m not leaving the base.”

“I train better when you watch me.” He admitted, smirking.

She raised her head and looked at him, she wanted to bite his cheeks, which were turning pink, but she just squeezed them with her hands.

“If it’s for the good of the aeronautics then okay, I’ll go.” She moved closer to place a kiss on the tip of his nose.

“I will train with the new soldiers and we will have an international team to train with.” he began to speak, excitedly.

Y/N paid attention to what her boyfriend was saying, focused on the way he looked so happy as he shared it with her. She stroked his short hair.

She liked listening to him talk, the way his dimples appeared when he smiled made Y/N smile too.

They stayed on the beach for a while, before Y/N gave him a ride to the base. When they arrived hand in hand while Kun carried the suitcase in the other hand, they greeted the soldiers who passed by them and Kun turned to kiss her lips softly when he saw the commander ahead.

“See you in a bit, sweetheart.” he smiled and kissed her once more.

“Fly, my indomitable wing.”

Kun laughed and she watched him walk over to the commander, where he saluted.

Y/N had a silly smile on her lips and saw when the commander started walking towards her.

“Y/N, it’s good to see you again.” he greeted her and she quickly bowed.

“I say the same, Commander.”

“Come to watch the training again?”

“If I can, of course.”

He indicated for her to start walking and as soon as she did, he started walking beside her.

“You’re not supposed to.” She looked at him, scared. “But Kun trains much better when you’re at base, so I’ll allow it.”

She nodded and smiled restrainedly, following the commander to the communications room where they would have access to the aircraft's radios and built-in cameras.

Y/N was used to it, she already knew that aircraft 3 was his and focused on the camera, watching him put on his helmet. She couldn't contain her happiness at seeing him do what he loved so much.

She was anxious about training and missions, but she always believed him when he promised that he would return in one piece and well.

Kun was a responsible and committed soldier, he had a leadership spirit that infected others.

And even the training he took seriously, he prepared himself very well for the exercises. Flying was his life.

Y/N followed his career so much that she knew the basics of the exercises, if anyone walked in there would mistake her for someone on the team.

It was routine training so there wasn't much new, the training, the instructions were always the same.

However, when a soldier from the international team made a risky move with the airship, Y/N saw Kun's expression change.

He wasn't just serious, he was angry and she knew very well why, any kind of accident or something like that would be his responsibility, after all he was the team leader. And the foreign team was probably not paying attention to their safety.

Y/N frowned when she saw her boyfriend's airship perform a dangerous stunt and glared at the commander.

He didn't seem at all calm about it.

“Was he supposed to do that?” she asked quietly, seeing the commander shake his head.

“It’s getting a little too risky.” he said.

She tried not to show her concern, she trusted her boyfriend but she knew how he felt when a soldier from abroad didn't follow what was agreed and he felt obliged to show why they were following protocol.

She couldn't say that she hadn't felt her heart stop in her mouth every time his airship spiraled in the air or when it got too close to the other ones, both his own team and the other.

She only felt a little calmer when the exercise was over and the airship began to turn around to land at the base.

Y/N left the room along with the commander and the rest of the team monitoring the exercise, a little further back as she heard the noise of the airship getting closer and closer, ready to return to the ground once again.

When this happened, she was already outside and saw the soldiers leaving one by one and recognized her boyfriend from afar, holding his helmet.

She stiffened and hurried forward when she saw Kun quickly walk over to another soldier, holding him by the collar of his uniform after dropping his helmet on the ground.

Y/N's eyes widened when she saw her boyfriend glowering with hatred while shaking his colleague.

“Listen, Simpson, if you do that again in my territory…” the other soldiers also approached to push the two away. “I swear I will shoot down your aircraft in the air.”

“Stop being nervous, Qian. It was part of the protocol.”

“Part of protocol to almost rip off the left wing of my airship?!” he questioned irritably and shook the soldier once again, who simply laughed ironically.

“That’s enough, you two!” The commander ordered and the two walked away. “Get out of my yard before I make you two load the fuel for all the aircraft.”

The two looked at each other irritated and left in opposite directions after saluting their superior.

Y/N observed the scene a little further back seriously and with her arms crossed, her boyfriend walked towards her while his face softened when he saw her there.

"My angel." he said as soon as he was close enough to stretch his arms out to her.

However, before she threw herself into his arms, Y/N threw a stinging slap at his arm which he dodged, complaining.

"Ouch! What was this?" he asked, confused.

“You scared me, you know?” she complained. “My leg went wobbly three times thinking you were going to fall with that thing from the sky!”

He laughed softly and approached her, hugging her around the waist.

“I knew what I was doing.”

She continued to stare at him, angry.

“I will never see your training again, it’s decided.”

"You sure?" He asked, raising his eyebrows and she narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t fall because I knew you were waiting for me.”

“Shhh.” she brought her cold hand to his mouth, shushing him. “Don’t even say that as a joke.”

He moved closer to place a kiss on the top of her head.

“I would never leave you!” he said and she suppressed her silly smile.

“You better!" She pouted. “You look too handsome in uniform and fighting with someone for me to lose.”

He pretended to be offended.

“Ah, so that’s all there is to it?”

She smiled mischievously and brought her hand to the back of his head.

“Of course not, you fool.” she caressed his skin, watching him close his eyes at the affection. “You are unbearable but you are irreplaceable.”

Kun stared deep into your eyes. He reached his hand forwards, and tentatively, touched your thigh.

You could have moaned in pleasure. This was your third date, and you’d only pecked him on the lips once. You were dying for more.

He smiled bashfully. “I have to admit, the thoughts I am having right now are not very... gentlemanly.”

You leaned towards him, smirking. “Good thing I don’t want a gentleman.”

Kun touched the hem of your skirt. He couldn’t meet your eyes.

“What do you say we…” he mumbled. But then a Rihanna song started playing, and the other people in the bar cheered so loud it drowned his voice out.

“What did you say?” You shouted over the thumping bass. “I can’t hear you!”

Kun looked around, as if contemplating whether to repeat himself. Then, he shook his head and stood up.

He pulled on his jacket. “I just remembered… I’ve got a very important meeting in the morning. I’ve got to go!” 

You frowned. “But tomorrow’s Sunday! Wait!”

But it was too late, because Kun had disappeared.

--

You stumbled into your apartment, alone, and even more drunk.

Your kitten, Baghira, mewled.

You knelt down and stroked her black fur.

“It’s just like my mum,” You sniffed. “Why does everybody leave me?”

Just then, you heard a knock on your door.

You pulled the door open and saw Kun. He looked handsome, with his deep dimples and plump lips. His face was tinged a deep red.

“Kun? What are you doing here?” Your heart started to pound.

Kun straightened himself up, brushing the dust from his jacket.

“Y/n, I’m sorry for running away like that. It was rude. I do want to be with you, it’s just… it’s just.” He sighed.  

Kun pulled his hand out from behind his back and gave you a bar of Twix. You looked at him quizzically.

He pouted. “I wanted to get you flowers, but the only thing open this late was the vending machine.”

You giggled, swooning internally. Then you remembered how he’d ditched you, and the feeling vanished.

“I really am sorry,” Kun said, tugging a hand through his deep black hair. “I left because… everything was happening so fast. I want us to be more than some random hook-up.” He met your eyes. “When I make love to you, I want to do it right. I want it to mean something.”

You nodded. “If we’re gonna sleep together, let’s do it properly. Girlfriend and boyfriend.”

Kun grinned. “So… can I come in?”

“I’ll give you one last chance – but only coz you’re hot,” you said, shaking your head. You stepped to the side to allow him in.

Kun walked in and pulled you towards him. He kissed your lips softly. “I promise you won’t regret this,” he whispered.

Your heart thumped. “I know I won’t.”

—

MAIN MASTERLIST

“So Mark’s partner…?” Kun let his question hang, and knew from his co-pilots silence that his suspicions were confirmed. They were flying a few mafia members back from a small trip they made. “He should have taken out those construction members,” Kun sighed. He felt bad, of course, that Mark was now alone, but Kun couldn’t fathom having a partner and putting them at risk like that.

“Well, no way Mark will ever not complete an assignment now,” Yangyang sighed. Upon landing, Kun was always the last one to disembark and leave the plane, making sure that any names were scrubbed off the books and no one left anything behind. He never wore a uniform since he was a private pilot, but he always brought his cap with him for good luck, so he slipped the cap back on as he made his way through the airport.

The terminal he had left from was fairly empty, most other aircrafts having recently taken off. He was alone. And he was okay with that.

“You did so good, sweetheart!” Kun heard a soft voice chirp. He glanced over his shoulder, backpack swinging as he saw you crouched down, meeting the eyes of a small child that was crying.

“I don’t ever want to fly again,” they cried, and your face contorted into a frown. 

Instinctively, Kun moved towards you. You looked up confused as he knelt next to you, already taking out the small weighted baggie in his pockets.

“Did this little hero just make it through their first flight?” he asked, smiling widely. He was gorgeous, you thought to yourself. Insanely so. And he was so sweet to your sister’s kid, making the sad child cheer up as soon as they laid eyes on the small pilot wings pin pilots give to kids going on their first flights.

“Thanks again, that was very sweet,” you hummed, walking out of the airport with Kun and the child’s hand squeezed tightly in your own. “This little one is visiting me for the week so I’m glad we got to get rid of the tears.”

Kun didn’t know why he offered to walk you two to your car, or why he asked for your number, but everytime he learned something new about you he fell more and more- and all that did was terrify him.