#totnt1938

Noeul’s heart thudded. She already knew what this meant. If Yeon had succeeded in turning back time, then somewhere in this era… Rang was alive. Her Rang.

But when she looked up at Yeon with trembling hope, he stopped her with a firm shake of his head.

“Not yet,” he said.

“Why not? If he’s here, I have to—”

“You’ll overwhelm him,” Yeon interrupted, his voice calm but edged with warning. “You know Rang. He doesn’t trust easily. And in this era, he still hasn't met you so he's not your hisband Rang but rogue Rang. He doesn’t… handle affection well. Let me find him first.”

Noeul swallowed her protest. She knew Yeon was right, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. So, while he left her to wander the unfamiliar city—telling her to “go explore, keep yourself busy” knowing that she could take care of herself—Yeon tracked down his brother.

It wasn’t hard to find him. Even in 1939, Rang left chaos in his wake. By the time Yeon reached him, he was already mid-battle, blood on his clothes, wild defiance burning in his eyes. The same as always.

The fight was quick—Rang was strong, but Yeon had the upper hand. When it was done, Yeon dragged his scowling, injured brother away, ignoring every colorful curse Rang threw at him. He cleaned him up, made him sit still long enough to tend to the worst of his wounds, and, much to Rang’s disgust, shoved him into a suit.

“A suit?!” Rang barked, tugging at the collar like it was a noose. “What the hell is this? I look like a penguin!”

Yeon only adjusted his own cuffs, entirely too smug. “For once in your life, try not to embarrass me. Be a gentleman.”

“Gentleman? You might as well tell a fox not to bite,” Rang muttered, but he followed anyway.

—

The small courtyard garden was quiet when they arrived. Sunlight spilled over the stone path, gilding the figure who stood waiting. Noeul turned at the sound of their footsteps, her eyes locking on Rang.

Her breath caught. For a heartbeat, the world stilled.

“Rang?” she whispered. Her voice cracked as her hand rose to her mouth. Then she stumbled forward, tears brimming. “Oh my… Rang. My Rang—my love.”

Before Rang could react, she launched herself into his arms, clutching him with a desperation that nearly knocked him off balance.

“Wha—hey!” Rang froze, stiff as a statue, then immediately tried to shove her off. But her grip was unyielding, strong as iron. “What the hell are you doing? Love? I’m not your love! I don’t even know you!”

Her tears soaked into the hated suit, her shoulders trembling as she pressed closer. “You’re here. You’re real. I thought I lost you forever.”

Rang’s hands hovered awkwardly, caught between prying her away and… not. His eyes darted helplessly to Yeon.

“Hyung!” he barked. “Explain. Now. Did you hire a stalker? Because she’s touching me. A lot.”

Yeon’s expression was infuriatingly calm. “She’s not a stalker. This is Noeul. …Your wife. From the future.”

Rang blinked. Then scoffed so loudly it almost masked the heat creeping into his ears. “My what? Wife? Ha! That’s rich.” He twisted, glaring down at the woman clinging to him. “I don’t even like sharing a room, and you’re telling me I get married? To her? This clingy, weepy woman who’s treating me like some fairy-tale prince? No way.”

Noeul pulled back just enough to cup his cheeks in her hands, her thumbs brushing over his skin like she was memorizing him. “It’s you… your face, your hair. I never thought I’d see your beautiful eyes again.”

Rang went rigid, ears burning. “B-beautiful—?!” He grabbed at her wrists, trying to pry her hands off. “What is this, a beauty salon? Quit touching my hair! Do you have any idea how long it took to style this disaster Yeon forced me into?!”

But she only laughed softly through her tears, brushing back a stray strand anyway. “It really is you. Even your complaints… I missed them so much.”

Rang’s mouth opened, then closed. His ears burned hotter. “Missed—? Lady, you’re insane. We’ve never met. And stop looking at me like I’m… like I’m your favorite person or something!”

Yeon smirked. “From where I’m standing, it looks like you’re not trying very hard to get away. Like you're hooked.”

“Hooked? On her? As if!” Rang snapped. “I just don’t like strangers grabbing my face, that’s all. Don’t read into it!”

But Noeul’s grip didn’t falter. Tears spilled freely now as she buried her face against him again, clinging tighter.

“I missed you,” she whispered, her voice raw. “I’ll never stop missing you.”

Rang groaned, tilting his head back in exasperation. “Yah, again with the hugging? Are you trying to snap my ribs? What am I supposed to do, pat your back?”

Still, he didn’t shove her away. His hands lingered at her arms, restless, uncertain. Inside, something twisted—something he didn’t want to name.

He’d always been alone. Abandoned. Unwanted. Even Yeon’s sudden brotherly affection felt strange, like wearing clothes that didn’t fit. And now here was this woman, crying like he was her whole world, clinging like he mattered.

It was weird. Unsettling.

And yet, somehow… warm.

“Seriously,” he muttered, almost to himself. “Why me? You’re acting like I’m your favorite person or something.”

Through her tears, Noeul smiled. “You are. You always were.”

And for once, Lee Rang had no comeback.

—

When Noeul finally drifted off with red-rimmed eyes—reluctant but exhausted—Rang was left standing in the courtyard, rubbing at his face like he’d just been mauled.

“I don’t get it,” he muttered as Yeon strolled back into view. “Even if I’m dead in your time, she’s reacting a bit… dramatically, don’t you think?”

Yeon let out a long sigh, slipping his hands into his pockets. “That’s because you don’t know her yet. In her eyes, you’re not some acquaintance she happened to bump into. You’re her Rang. The man she lost. She didn’t just lose a fox spirit when you died, Rang. She lost her husband. Her best friend. Her family.”

Something in Rang’s chest pulled uncomfortably tight. He scowled at the ground, shoulders tense. “…I don’t keep best friends,” he mumbled.

“I know,” Yeon said quietly. “Back then you didn’t either. But you did end up bonding with her. More than that—you two were inseparable.”

Rang glanced at him sharply, a skeptical snort on his lips, but Yeon kept going.

“You’d bark curse words every time she did something dangerous, or left you without saying where she was going. You hated worrying about her, but you did anyway. And she loved that about you, even when you were impossible.”

Rang’s jaw tightened. He hated how easily Yeon spoke, as if the words were carved into truth. As if some part of him was already capable of that kind of attachment. He dragged a hand through his hair, still bristling.

“…Sounds like a pain in the ass,” he muttered, but his voice lacked bite.

Yeon just smiled faintly, the kind of smile that made Rang feel like the whole world was in on a secret he wasn’t ready to know.

Rang leaned back against the courtyard wall, arms crossed tight, still bristling from Yeon’s words. After a long silence, he finally muttered, “...How long?”

Yeon tilted his head. “How long what?”

“How long were we married before I died?” Rang asked, his voice flat, but there was a strange weight behind the words, like he didn’t actually want the answer.

Yeon’s brows lifted slightly, surprised at the question. “Four years.”

Rang blinked. “Four—? Four years?” He barked out a laugh, sharp and disbelieving. “You’re kidding. Me? Tied down for four whole years? I can’t even sit through a meal without wanting to bolt.”

Yeon’s smile was small, but there was no mockery in it. “Not only that. You’d been dating her for even longer before that.”

Rang stared at him, unsettled. His brother’s tone wasn’t teasing—it was certain. Too certain.

He scoffed again, softer this time, trying to bury the uncomfortable twist in his chest. “Still doesn’t make sense. I’m… confused, Yeon.”

Yeon met his gaze steadily. “Then ask her. No one else can give you the answers you’re looking for except her.”

The words hung between them, quiet but heavy. Rang dropped his eyes, frowning, his tail of thoughts twisting tighter than he liked to admit.

—

The following day, the estate grounds were unnervingly quiet. Cicadas droned in the trees, and the afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the courtyard. Under one of the large gnarled trees by the side of the house, Noeul sat with a pale parasol resting lightly on her shoulder. She was gazing out at the scenery, her posture still, almost serene—so unlike the wild tears and suffocating embrace from yesterday.

Rang lingered at the edge of the path for a good while, scratching the back of his head, debating whether this was a terrible idea. Finally, with a grumble under his breath, he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked over.

She sensed him before he spoke. Turning, her eyes softened when they met his—but she didn’t leap to her feet, didn’t crush him with one of those suffocating hugs. That, more than anything, set him on edge.

Rang narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What’s this? You drunk or something?”

A small chuckle slipped past her lips, followed by a long sigh. She shifted her gaze back to the fields beyond the estate walls. “No. Just… different today.”

He raised a brow. “Different how?”

“I was overwhelmed yesterday,” she admitted, fingers tightening slightly on the handle of her umbrella. “So, I apologize if I was a bit much.” Her voice lowered, gentler now, almost like she was speaking more to herself than to him. “Last night I couldn’t sleep. I thought about it and realized that… you’re Rang, but also not Rang. So me acting that way—it was unfair. It’s hard…”

Her words trailed into the warm air, fading like the breeze rustling through the leaves.

For once, Rang didn’t have a snide remark at the ready. He shifted his weight uncomfortably, frowning as he tried to piece together what she meant.

Noeul’s gaze lingered on him, a strange mix of awe and sorrow in her eyes. “It’s hard,” she murmured, voice almost breaking. “To think that I lost the love of my life… and yet, you’re right in front of me. The only difference being… you don’t know me. Not yet. Unlike my Rang.”

Rang rubbed the back of his neck, the suit still itchy and uncomfortable, and let out a dry laugh. “Oh, so now I’m the tragic romantic lead, huh? You act like I’m so important.”

She nodded slowly, eyes glimmering with unshed tears. “You are. You were everything to me.” She drew a deep breath, steadying herself. “I never had a family… or friends… or anyone I could truly rely on. My Rang was my only family. Sure, there were others… but my Rang was my only real family.”

Rang blinked at her, momentarily speechless. Sarcasm still clung to him like a shield, but beneath it, a knot twisted uncomfortably in his chest. He wasn’t used to this—being looked at like he mattered more than survival or vengeance, like he was the center of someone’s whole world.

He opened his mouth, probably to deflect with another jab, but the words died on his tongue. She wasn’t dramatic this time; she wasn’t demanding or frantic. She was simply… honest. And that honesty was heavier than any blade he’d faced in his life.

After a long pause, Rang finally lowered himself to the ground beside her, careful to keep his distance. He wasn’t used to being this close to anyone willingly, let alone someone who looked at him with such intensity.

He cleared his throat, glancing at her. “Are… are you crying or something?”

She turned her face slightly, letting a single tear streak down her cheek. “It’s… an emotional topic, okay?”

Rang froze, suddenly unsure what to do. He wasn’t built for this. His hands hovered awkwardly for a moment before he gave the most natural response he could think of—an awkward pat on her back. It was stiff, clumsy, and entirely inadequate, but it was all he could manage.

“Stop crying or something…” he muttered, his eyes darting away. “It’s… weird. I’m alive. I’m right here. Nothing happened.”

Noeul gave a small, watery smile, brushing the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “I know… I just… I missed you so much,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Rang rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the familiar heat of discomfort rise in his chest. “You make this way harder than it needs to be,” he muttered, half to himself. But even as he said it, his eyes kept flicking toward her, reluctant to look away.

For once, words felt useless, and their silence was weighted with everything neither of them knew how to say.

—

The afternoon sun was harsh, golden and unyielding, as Rang found himself wandering from the backyard toward the estate. He didn’t even know why he was walking there—something in him had drawn him to her.

When he entered the room, he found her lying flat on the floor, arms stretched loosely above her head, eyes fixed on the slanted sunlight filtering through the ceiling. She didn’t move as he stepped closer.

Rang tilted his head, shading his own eyes with a hand. The sun glinted off her hair, making her seem impossibly serene. He scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable, yet compelled to stay.

“Hey,” he said gruffly, voice echoing slightly in the quiet room. “What are you doing lying on the floor like that? And… tell me more about her—your Rang. I mean—your Rang, I guess.”

Noeul’s head turned slightly toward him, a small, tired smile curling her lips. “You really want me to?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” he muttered, shifting to sit beside her, one knee drawn up awkwardly. “I’m not… exactly great at this emotional stuff. But I want to know. I mean, I’ve been shoved into your dramatic hugs and tear-fests, but… I want to understand.”

She let out a long breath, the weight in her chest pressing out slowly with her words. “He was stubborn. Impossible. Sarcastic beyond belief, just like you. He never let me out of his sight, cursed at me every time I got hurt or scared him, and yet… he was always there. Always. I trusted him with everything. He was my home, my family. My life.”

Rang’s lip twitched, part sarcasm, part something else he couldn’t name. “Huh. Sounds… exhausting,” he muttered, scratching at his neck again. But his eyes didn’t leave her, and he leaned slightly forward, shielding her from the sun with his form, a faint gesture of care that he wouldn’t admit aloud.

She laughed softly, a sound tinged with melancholy. “It was exhausting. And wonderful. Painful. But worth it. I… I loved him. I still do.”

Rang shifted awkwardly. His tail twitched. He wasn’t used to being on this side of someone’s devotion—someone who adored him so fiercely. “Alright,” he said finally, in a voice softer than he intended. “If you’re going to tell me, then… keep talking. I’m listening. But don’t expect me to act all sappy about it, got it?”

Noeul smiled faintly and let herself sink a little closer to the floor, feeling the weight of the afternoon and the strange, careful presence of the man beside her.

Noeul let out a dry, humorless laugh, one that carried both fondness and sorrow. “You know,” she began, eyes tracing some invisible point on the ceiling, “he had this… drinking problem. Not the kind you see in stories—he didn’t go looking to drown his sorrows in emptiness—but… he drank to drink. To escape, to brood, to get mad at the world. I used to get so angry at him for it.”

Rang, leaning beside her with his arms crossed, made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a grunt. “…Oh, this is gonna be good.”

She ignored him, chuckling softly through tears. “He’d slur out reasons for why he drank. All of them stupid. Like… because I didn’t kiss him before leaving in the morning. Or because he wanted me to stay in bed with him all day.” Her lips quirked into a faint smile. “There were even times he told me he drank because he felt like he wasn’t good enough. That he didn’t give me enough love.”

Rang’s eyes narrowed, his eyes flicking nervously. “…And?”

“I never believed him,” she said firmly, turning to glance at him with a mix of disbelief and affection. “Because he had… always given me the most love out of anyone I’ve ever known. Every touch, every look, every little thing… it was all love. He just didn’t see it in himself.”

Rang huffed, leaning back slightly, scratching the back of his neck. “Huh. Sounds… exhausting,” he muttered, the faintest heat coloring his ears. “Drunken confessions about love. Great. I guess I was… a mess.”

She laughed again, soft this time, a little lighter. “You were. But you were my mess. And even then… even in all your ridiculousness, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

Rang’s lips twitched as he looked at her, torn between sarcasm and something he wasn’t ready to name. “Wow. That’s… that’s supposed to make me feel good or guilty?”

Noeul simply shook her head, letting out a sigh that was half amusement, half sorrow. “Neither. Just… wanted you to know. That you mattered. That you always did.”

Rang muttered something incomprehensible under his breath, but he didn’t move away. For once, he let her words settle. They were quiet together, the sound of the afternoon wind filling the spaces between them.

Noeul shifted, finally pushing herself up from the floor. She reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone, the device glinting in the afternoon sun. Rang watched her, curious but cautious, still leaning awkwardly against the wall.

“I… want to show you something,” she said softly. “Something about us. About my Rang.”

She tapped and swiped, bringing up her gallery. One by one, pictures flashed across the screen—moments of their life together. Dates at small cafes, mischievous pranks played on friends, quiet evenings curled up in bed, laughing so hard it made her stomach ache. And then… the wedding photos.

Rang leaned closer, his brow furrowing as he examined the images. In every single one, his face was different from the expression he always wore now. Calm, relaxed… content. And extremely happy.

He blinked at her, unsure how to process it. “I… look like that? Really?” His voice was low, almost hesitant. “All… happy?”

Noeul nodded, her thumb brushing lightly across the screen. “Every single moment you see there… that’s you, my Rang. The one I knew. The one I loved. You didn’t have to try to be anything else—you just were, and it was perfect. For me, at least.”

Rang shifted uncomfortably, scratching at the back of his neck. He wasn’t used to seeing himself like that. Strong, content… loved. A part of him wanted to laugh, to brush it off with sarcasm, but another, quieter part felt… hollow, like he’d been missing that exact thing his whole life.

“Four years… plus the time we dated,” she murmured, leaning back slightly. “Every day of it… I remember it all. Every stupid fight, every careless laugh, every quiet night. And you… you were always happy with me. I’ve carried that with me.”

Rang swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He didn’t know what to say. All the sarcasm, all the defenses he’d relied on, seemed suddenly inadequate. He felt small, exposed, but in a way that didn’t hurt.

“…You really mean all that?” he asked finally, voice quiet.

Noeul smiled softly, her eyes glimmering. “Every word. And now you’re here. My Rang. I don’t have to carry it alone anymore.”

Rang’s brows twitched. He wanted to deny it, to scowl, to mutter something sarcastic and walk away. But the truth, reflected in her unwavering gaze and in the images on her phone, made that impossible.

For the first time in a long time, he just… sat there, quiet, watching her.

Noeul set the phone aside, her eyes lingering on him as if memorizing every line of his face again. Slowly, deliberately, she reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand. Her thumb brushed lightly across his jaw, a gentle, grounding touch that made him freeze.

Rang blinked, unsure whether to pull back, protest, or run. “What… what are you doing?” he muttered, voice rough, a little unsteady.

She smiled softly, the kind that carried both warmth and sorrow. “Promise me…” she whispered, her thumb still moving gently across his skin. “Promise me… that you’ll find me again when the time comes.”

Rang swallowed hard, his usual defenses scrambling for something to latch onto. “…Find you again? You mean… after…?” His words faltered.

“Yes,” she said firmly, eyes never leaving his. “No matter what happens. No matter where we are. You’ll find me. Just like I’ve always found you—in every memory, in every hope I’ve carried.”

He felt heat rise to his ears, his eyes flicking nervously from her hamd to her eyes. “…You’re… serious?” His voice cracked slightly despite himself.

“I am,” she replied simply, unwavering. “I’ve waited so long. I’ll wait as long as it takes. But you… you have to promise me too.”

Rang’s hand twitched near hers, almost against his will, but he didn’t move away. He could feel the weight of her words, the steady, impossible faith she had in him, and for once, sarcasm felt meaningless.

“…Alright,” he said finally, voice low, rough around the edges. “…I’ll… try. But don’t expect me to say that again anytime soon.”

Noeul laughed softly, a mixture of relief and affection. “I don’t need you to. I just need you to mean it.”

Rang exhaled slowly, awkwardly leaning closer so that her hand rested more comfortably on his cheek. He didn’t understand why, but for the first time in ages, he didn’t want to pull away.

And for once, silence wasn’t empty—it was enough.

Noeul shifted closer, still seated on the floor, her gaze fixed on Rang’s eyes. The sunlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow over his sharp features. For a long moment, neither of them spoke; words felt both unnecessary and impossible.

Then, slowly, deliberately, she leaned in and pressed her lips gently to his forehead. The touch was fleeting, tender, and full of meaning—a silent promise, a memory, and a confession all in one.

Rang froze, eyes widening, scratching the back of his neck. “…What was that?” he muttered, voice rough, though there was no bite in it.

She smiled softly, her hand still brushing lightly against his cheek. “I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll love you forever, Rang.”

Rang blinked, his usual sarcasm caught somewhere in his throat. He wanted to say something sharp, something to mask the unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest, but he found he couldn’t. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he simply looked at her, blinking, unsure how to respond.

For the first time in a long while, silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was full. Full of memories, full of promises, full of something neither of them had been able to name until now.

Rang’s ears twitched. “…You’re ridiculous,” he muttered finally, voice low. “But… I get it.”

Noeul chuckled softly, leaning back just enough to meet his eyes again. “Good. That’s all I need you to do for now.”

And in the quiet of the afternoon, they sat together, the space between them shrinking in ways neither could have anticipated.

That's it for this one 😭

I enjoyed writing this!

I hope y'all liked it 🥹