[FIC] Of Two Stars and the Milky Way
Title: Of Two Stars and the Milky Way
Rating: PG
Pairing: Yoochun/Changmin
Genre: Romance, Minor angst, Fluff, Touch of science fiction
Summary: Could you walk through dreams to find...
Notes: Written for SINSI contest way back in the day. Posting for archival purposes. As Tanabata (July 7th) just passed, the story and title is perhaps apt for this time being.
A Road to Somewhere
It’s misting, grey skies and students are rushing to their next classes under black umbrellas. Changmin climbs up the stairs of the nearest building, not realizing what he’s stumbled across until the sound of a piano interrupts his thoughts. Curious, he wanders the halls to the source of the sound.
The door is slightly ajar and he sees a figure with longish wavy hair, eyes closed, fully focused on playing. His skin is white, almost porcelain-like, and Changmin can’t help staring. He edges closer to listen better. But he leans a bit too heavily on the door and it flies open, slamming against the wall
Changmin winces before glancing up at the other boy. But he keeps playing as if nothing has happened. Brows furrowing, Changmin continues to stare. It’s not common for the figures in his dreams to be passive or to ignore him. Perplexed, he starts to edge closer.
He suddenly feels a strange tingling sensation and the scene drastically brightens. It’s no longer a cloudy, rainy day but a sunny one and a light breeze flows from the window.
“And you are…?” The boy glances at Changmin, his fingers paused over the keys. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
“Didn’t you… hear the door slam?” Changmin cocks his head. “I was certain it would have disrupted you.” Changmin is genuinely perplexed. The boy doesn’t act like most of his usual characters in his dreams. In fact, he has a rather mysterious air.
The other boy simply shakes his head.
“You just suddenly seemed to appear,” the boy remarks, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I was hoping a pretty girl would come, but I guess you’ll do.”
Changmin is taken aback. He really isn’t used to having a situation like this in his dream. Maybe all those video games were affecting his dream functionalities. Or something in his consciousness was telling him something.
“Hello? You know, you don’t act like most people I usually meet.” The boy stands up then, extending a hand. “Yoochun. Park Yoochun. “
It takes a few seconds for Changmin to take the extended hand and give a shake. “Shim Changmin…” he introduces, cautiously.
“Well. I’m sure you didn’t just come here to watch me play piano, right?” Yoochun grins mischievously before the scene switches and they are on a race track. At least, it looks like a track though it’s floating in the air.
The sound of whirring alerts him and Changmin turns around to see Yoochun suited up in skintight leather jumpsuit on top of a… hover motorbike?
“Yours is there. I haven’t had a chance to race so you’re my first opponent today,” Yoochun decides, pointing to the bike floating next to Changmin.
Changmin looks down then, realizing he’s similarly dressed. Not quite understanding, not quite knowing when this dream started changing so rapidly, he nods anyway and hops on, revving the engine.
It’s unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. The speed, the sharp turns, the wind whipping his hair are all new as he pushes to catch up to Yoochun. There’s no one else up here and Changmin feels incredibly free. He’s always wanted to dream something like this, but it’s always taken him a bit more effort to control his dreams fully. The dream instructors tell him it’s because he started later than most previous cases of dreamers.
He wonders if he’s had some break in his dreaming, making him able to try new things.
Changmin fails to consider there could be another like him.
Keep on Rising
They told him he was unique, a rare one among the faceless dour masses. Of course, there were others who could dream - usually ten percent of each generation had the ability.
But to take full control of the dream by oneself? Only one or two individuals had that power and could also package the dream in a compact form. With the growing influx of machinoid humans, the need for biological based escapes and entertainment were in high demand. These days, it was all about experiencing flight through a dream, exploring a new world through one’s mind, sensing everything without the addictive dangers of electronic entertainment. And of course, the realism of a dream was much greater than any manmade game. dreamSOARing was the trademarked name.
To be honest, Shim Changmin was not a likely candidate. His family background was full of scientists and technicians - very little creativity in any shape or form. Though being middle class meant some exposure to the concept of dream soaring, Changmin was expected to take aptitude tests and skills test to determine his future occupation.
But the test results implied something else and Changmin soon found at the age of 16 that he was to be placed in a special facility, away from his family where his dreams could be harvested. At first, he had hated the idea of change, of being forced into dreaming when it had been a personal escape. But as the years passed, he soon grew used to developing his talent and was able to control his dreams more fully. With so few dreamers, Changmin lived in luxury and had access to the best resources in the nation.
The entire complex had outdoor fields, expansive gardens, and even a hedge maze. There was a library full of books, music, and movies for inspiration. He could take any art subject he was interested in, from Chinese water color to welding. The computer rooms were also available so he could take classes with other students online without leaving the facility.
In the end, though, he was confined. He had few friends, though he did manage to make some through classes and stay in contact online. It was lonely and Changmin sometimes wondered if he was sacrificing too much for his talent, for living in such a grand place. But he had always been somewhat of a loner type with few friends. At most, he felt a vague sense of unease and distant curiosity.
“Changmin, my boy. That hover motorcycle dream has been flying off the shelves. Good job, good job,” Supervisor Lee tells him the next day, with a strong slap on his back. Changmin winces at the slap, giving an awkward smile. He’s never been too comfortable with the supervisor, but it’s mostly because he usually interacts with the dream instructors. Supervisor Lee is mostly in charge of logistics and business, making sure that dreams are appropriate and sold to the right parties. It’s rare that he usually comes to personally talk to Changmin.
“Still… we haven’t gotten that flying dream, have we boy?” Supervisor Lee clucks in disappointment. “These entire years and not one dreamer has given me one. Well. You’re young yet. There’s quite some time until the military takes you.” He gives a hard pat on Changmin’s shoulder before waddling off.
Changmin purses his lips. He’s not quite sure whether to be relieved or dread the fact that his escape is the required military duty. But the government has also mandated that dreamers cannot be forced past the age of 30.
Which, is still ten years away for Changmin.
Take Me Out
It’s become habit now, where Changmin always goes to the red brick music building to find Yoochun. It’s always the same tune, not quite sad, but not quite happy either. He’s asked Yoochun about it before, but Yoochun simply gives him a sad look before laughing it off.
Changmin doesn’t quite know why he’s created this character, enigmatic and slightly mysterious. He chalks it up to his recent loneliness where most of his classmates are on vacation right now. In either case, he’s discovered totally new activities and adventures.
Today, they’re taking their hoverbikes to the canyon pass with tricky underpasses and hidden tunnels. Changmin’s getting almost as good as Yoochun, managing to cut him off and be first for a few seconds before a sudden drop catches him off guard and he’s left in the dust once again.
He’s desperate to catch up when he notices Yoochun go toward the sea. Pausing, he slows a bit. Hoverbikes don’t work well above water and one could end up floating for eternity without going anywhere.
Yoochun seems to sense his hesitation and yells back at him. “Be imaginative, Changminah! It’s a dream, isn’t it?” He winks before speeding toward the water.
Changmin doesn’t stop but he’s still going slow, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, he gets an idea and speeds up before shutting his eyes tight imagining his bike transforming with water skis and motors. The sound of rushing water and the continuing wind whipping his hair gives him enough confidence to re-open his eyes and see he’s really done it.
“H-hyung! I did it. Did you see? I did it, even in mid-motion!” Changmin exclaims to the figure a few feet ahead, who’s currently in some sort of airship with feet at the moment.
“Yup. Told you. Wouldn’t make sense if the figures in my dream couldn’t, after all,” Yoochun’s eyes twinkle.
Changmin is beaming when the words sink in. ”Figures in my dream”? He finally catches up to Yoochun and suddenly they’re back in the music room, no motorcycles, no canyon. Yoochun looks surprised, but Changmin is too concerned about something else.
“What did you mean by ‘figures in my dream,’” Changmin confronts. The last thing he needs is for his own mind to be confused, to create different entities within when it’s all really the same person. He’s heard of horror stories where dreamers develop multiple personalities and get stuck in their dream world, unable to accept the outside reality that the characters in their dreams are illusions.
Yoochun bites his bottom lip, not immediately answering. He fidgets slightly, not looking up Changmin. A sigh, and then he speaks.
“This is my dream. You’re… someone I made up. Even if you do make me happy, make me smile, it’s because you’re part of me.” Yoochun’s voice is sad and weary.
Changmin can’t believe this. Either he’s officially gone crazy, or. Or…
The world dissolves into black before he can figure things out and he wakes up in a cold sweat.
The dream instructors are unable to harvest his dream this time.
Shape of Darkside
He’s afraid to dream. He doesn’t dare speak of his fears to anyone, despite their constant questioning. The last thing he wants is for them to suspect his mental stability, to put him into some sort of closer watch or into the mental asylum. Changmin tries to not sleep as much, but it’s hard and he finds himself going to the music building before he can stop himself.
But there’s no piano music, at least, not today. He flips through other places, the fields with tons of sunflowers, the canyon, the racetrack, the deep woods where they all went to before. Changmin feels frustrated and kicks at the ground angrily. If he can control dreams, even create someone like Yoochun in his dream, why can’t he call him up, create him in all the familiar places?
He sits on the ground, brows furrowing. There’s one thought that keeps coming up in his mind. But the possibility is so slim and he can’t quite believe that it’s the truth. And wouldn’t Yoochun have been in the facility too?
Changmin sighs. He knows he should be focusing on something new, dream something different.
A piano song interrupts his thoughts and he jumps up. He’s near the music building again without knowing. He skips up the stairs and slams open the door, panting, trying to catch his breath.
“You’re part of them, aren’t you.” The voice is hard, crisp.
He looks up at that familiar face, not understanding. Yoochun stops playing the piano and pulls down the cover with a hard slam.
“The hoverbikes. The canyon. The deep woods. All of a sudden I hear they’re on the shelves, the hottest new dreams out for sale. I’m here to warn you. Get out. This is my world. My personal world. I don’t need you to profit on them. Anyway. I came here to tell you this.” He starts to get up, brushes past Changmin.
“Wait,” Changmin starts to say. But the scene is starting to fade and he grabs at Yoochun. “Wait, so you are a dreamer, like me? You’re not someone I dreamed up?” The possibility that there’s another person out there like him and then to meet them in a dream together is making his head spin.
The scene steadies for a second. “No. I’m perfectly real, Shim Changmin. If that is your real name. Though Supervisor Lee is probably planning all of this. Goodbye.” Yoochun pulls out of his grip and the scene dissipates before Changmin has a chance to do anything.
He wakes up again without a dream. Supervisor Lee isn’t happy.
Within the Books
He’s lost. He hasn’t found inspiration as of late and his dreams seem to be the same, nothing interesting. He’s given them some small trite dreams for now, but it’s nothing compared to before.
But Changmin is on a quest, now. He’s trying to find anything he can on one Park Yoochun, which seems to be impossible considering how many Park Yoochuns seem to exist. None of them seem to match the description of that boy he saw, the one playing piano, with the amazing dream abilities.
It’s late one night when he finds out about Yoochun. He had wandered downstairs to get a snack when he overhears voices talking.
“I still don’t know why Supervisor Lee had to be like that. Park was the best one there was.”
“Shim isn’t that bad, you know that.”
“But Park Yoochun, now he came up with some amazing things. It’s just unfortunate how things had to unfold.”
“All too true. A car accident and then his dreams are shut out from harvesting completely. Oh, we should get going, start analyzing the past dreams.”
“Right, right.”
Changmin waits for them to say something more, but the voices get quieter and he can hear footsteps walking way.
He wants to know more, to talk to them, to understand why things happened, where this Park Yoochun is, but he knows they won’t tell him.
He decides to search for Yoochun in dreams. But he doesn’t want to be here anymore, in this facility, having all his dreams harvested and for everyone. He wants to be with Yoochun, the only other person who knows what it’s like to be a dreamer. He wants to keep finding new places, try unbelievable things with Yoochun and keep it to himself.
When they aren’t looking, he discretely changes the sensors just by a hair so that they read a different part of his brain. Determined, he goes to sleep with new vigor.
More Important than Words
He finds himself by a large tree in a grassy meadow. It doesn’t look like quite his style, but it’s not a place he’s visited before with Yoochun either. There’s nothing and nobody else that he can see. But the tree feels steady and true, and Changmin feels oddly comforted. He starts to walk around when he sees a familiar figure lying against the tree.
“Guess you’re getting better at finding me,” Yoochun glances up at him. He doesn’t look as angry and Changmin takes it as a positive sign. He carefully approaches him and sits down.
“I’m not tracked right now,” Changmin assures. “And. I’m not part of them. Hyung, I don’t know what happened in the past, but I. Can’t I just stay here, explore this world with you? I promise I won’t be used by them, maybe I can block my mind, maybe,” Changmin blurts, not quite sure anymore what to say or do but knowing he wants to be near Yoochun.
Yoochun gazes at him in thought. He suddenly quirks a smile on the corner of his lips. “You know, there’s a block you can use. And, they’ll release you back in the regular world. But you’ll be behind, start on your second option occupation. You’re still okay with that?”
“Yes,” Changmin nods vigorously. “Please. Tell me.” He gulps and waits anxiously.
“It’s actually pretty easy. Start to dream in all black, as if everything is dark. They have this theory that all black means a dreamer’s talent is broken. Apparently they had some bad cases pushing people in the past, which lead to institutionalizations.” Yoochun shrugs before glancing back at Changmin. “You know where I’ll be waiting.”
Changmin nods. He’s almost too excited and wants to start right away. But Yoochun tells him to pace it, to make it look natural.
It doesn’t take long before he returns back to his home, starts anew in the second option, which was being a scientist.
Evergreen
But for some reason, he can’t dream once he goes home. Changmin tries everything and anything he can, reading, watching movies, listening to music, but every night he comes up fruitless. He’s utterly frustrated and as each day passes, he can’t help but wonder if Yoochun is waiting or if he’s moved on.
He’s finally studied hard enough to take the examination test for the prestigious Academic Institute. It’s a cold but sunny day and he walks toward the gates to register. Changmin knows he should be fine, that it shouldn’t be an issue at all for him. But he’s still nervous. If he doesn’t make it, he only has one more year left to get in.
There’s construction going on the campus and he notices a large ditch being dug up for a new building. They’ve dug up the sunflowers, which are currently laying on the side as they wait to be replanted. He passes by a grove of trees along with one large tree right in the center. The registration signs for the test point him toward a red brick building and he walks up the stairs.
He’s about to walk in ten minutes early into the testing room when he hears a piano melody on the second floor.
Book bag falling to the floor, he races upstairs and opens the door.
It’s a girl. With long, dyed red hair. Changmin is about to apologize, walk out, when a voice stops him.
“Changmin?”
He notices then that there’s another figure standing by the window.
“Hyung.”
I’ve found you.
Rating: PG
Pairing: Yoochun/Changmin
Genre: Romance, Minor angst, Fluff, Touch of science fiction
Summary: Could you walk through dreams to find...
Notes: Written for SINSI contest way back in the day. Posting for archival purposes. As Tanabata (July 7th) just passed, the story and title is perhaps apt for this time being.
A Road to Somewhere
It’s misting, grey skies and students are rushing to their next classes under black umbrellas. Changmin climbs up the stairs of the nearest building, not realizing what he’s stumbled across until the sound of a piano interrupts his thoughts. Curious, he wanders the halls to the source of the sound.
The door is slightly ajar and he sees a figure with longish wavy hair, eyes closed, fully focused on playing. His skin is white, almost porcelain-like, and Changmin can’t help staring. He edges closer to listen better. But he leans a bit too heavily on the door and it flies open, slamming against the wall
Changmin winces before glancing up at the other boy. But he keeps playing as if nothing has happened. Brows furrowing, Changmin continues to stare. It’s not common for the figures in his dreams to be passive or to ignore him. Perplexed, he starts to edge closer.
He suddenly feels a strange tingling sensation and the scene drastically brightens. It’s no longer a cloudy, rainy day but a sunny one and a light breeze flows from the window.
“And you are…?” The boy glances at Changmin, his fingers paused over the keys. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
“Didn’t you… hear the door slam?” Changmin cocks his head. “I was certain it would have disrupted you.” Changmin is genuinely perplexed. The boy doesn’t act like most of his usual characters in his dreams. In fact, he has a rather mysterious air.
The other boy simply shakes his head.
“You just suddenly seemed to appear,” the boy remarks, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I was hoping a pretty girl would come, but I guess you’ll do.”
Changmin is taken aback. He really isn’t used to having a situation like this in his dream. Maybe all those video games were affecting his dream functionalities. Or something in his consciousness was telling him something.
“Hello? You know, you don’t act like most people I usually meet.” The boy stands up then, extending a hand. “Yoochun. Park Yoochun. “
It takes a few seconds for Changmin to take the extended hand and give a shake. “Shim Changmin…” he introduces, cautiously.
“Well. I’m sure you didn’t just come here to watch me play piano, right?” Yoochun grins mischievously before the scene switches and they are on a race track. At least, it looks like a track though it’s floating in the air.
The sound of whirring alerts him and Changmin turns around to see Yoochun suited up in skintight leather jumpsuit on top of a… hover motorbike?
“Yours is there. I haven’t had a chance to race so you’re my first opponent today,” Yoochun decides, pointing to the bike floating next to Changmin.
Changmin looks down then, realizing he’s similarly dressed. Not quite understanding, not quite knowing when this dream started changing so rapidly, he nods anyway and hops on, revving the engine.
It’s unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. The speed, the sharp turns, the wind whipping his hair are all new as he pushes to catch up to Yoochun. There’s no one else up here and Changmin feels incredibly free. He’s always wanted to dream something like this, but it’s always taken him a bit more effort to control his dreams fully. The dream instructors tell him it’s because he started later than most previous cases of dreamers.
He wonders if he’s had some break in his dreaming, making him able to try new things.
Changmin fails to consider there could be another like him.
Keep on Rising
They told him he was unique, a rare one among the faceless dour masses. Of course, there were others who could dream - usually ten percent of each generation had the ability.
But to take full control of the dream by oneself? Only one or two individuals had that power and could also package the dream in a compact form. With the growing influx of machinoid humans, the need for biological based escapes and entertainment were in high demand. These days, it was all about experiencing flight through a dream, exploring a new world through one’s mind, sensing everything without the addictive dangers of electronic entertainment. And of course, the realism of a dream was much greater than any manmade game. dreamSOARing was the trademarked name.
To be honest, Shim Changmin was not a likely candidate. His family background was full of scientists and technicians - very little creativity in any shape or form. Though being middle class meant some exposure to the concept of dream soaring, Changmin was expected to take aptitude tests and skills test to determine his future occupation.
But the test results implied something else and Changmin soon found at the age of 16 that he was to be placed in a special facility, away from his family where his dreams could be harvested. At first, he had hated the idea of change, of being forced into dreaming when it had been a personal escape. But as the years passed, he soon grew used to developing his talent and was able to control his dreams more fully. With so few dreamers, Changmin lived in luxury and had access to the best resources in the nation.
The entire complex had outdoor fields, expansive gardens, and even a hedge maze. There was a library full of books, music, and movies for inspiration. He could take any art subject he was interested in, from Chinese water color to welding. The computer rooms were also available so he could take classes with other students online without leaving the facility.
In the end, though, he was confined. He had few friends, though he did manage to make some through classes and stay in contact online. It was lonely and Changmin sometimes wondered if he was sacrificing too much for his talent, for living in such a grand place. But he had always been somewhat of a loner type with few friends. At most, he felt a vague sense of unease and distant curiosity.
“Changmin, my boy. That hover motorcycle dream has been flying off the shelves. Good job, good job,” Supervisor Lee tells him the next day, with a strong slap on his back. Changmin winces at the slap, giving an awkward smile. He’s never been too comfortable with the supervisor, but it’s mostly because he usually interacts with the dream instructors. Supervisor Lee is mostly in charge of logistics and business, making sure that dreams are appropriate and sold to the right parties. It’s rare that he usually comes to personally talk to Changmin.
“Still… we haven’t gotten that flying dream, have we boy?” Supervisor Lee clucks in disappointment. “These entire years and not one dreamer has given me one. Well. You’re young yet. There’s quite some time until the military takes you.” He gives a hard pat on Changmin’s shoulder before waddling off.
Changmin purses his lips. He’s not quite sure whether to be relieved or dread the fact that his escape is the required military duty. But the government has also mandated that dreamers cannot be forced past the age of 30.
Which, is still ten years away for Changmin.
Take Me Out
It’s become habit now, where Changmin always goes to the red brick music building to find Yoochun. It’s always the same tune, not quite sad, but not quite happy either. He’s asked Yoochun about it before, but Yoochun simply gives him a sad look before laughing it off.
Changmin doesn’t quite know why he’s created this character, enigmatic and slightly mysterious. He chalks it up to his recent loneliness where most of his classmates are on vacation right now. In either case, he’s discovered totally new activities and adventures.
Today, they’re taking their hoverbikes to the canyon pass with tricky underpasses and hidden tunnels. Changmin’s getting almost as good as Yoochun, managing to cut him off and be first for a few seconds before a sudden drop catches him off guard and he’s left in the dust once again.
He’s desperate to catch up when he notices Yoochun go toward the sea. Pausing, he slows a bit. Hoverbikes don’t work well above water and one could end up floating for eternity without going anywhere.
Yoochun seems to sense his hesitation and yells back at him. “Be imaginative, Changminah! It’s a dream, isn’t it?” He winks before speeding toward the water.
Changmin doesn’t stop but he’s still going slow, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, he gets an idea and speeds up before shutting his eyes tight imagining his bike transforming with water skis and motors. The sound of rushing water and the continuing wind whipping his hair gives him enough confidence to re-open his eyes and see he’s really done it.
“H-hyung! I did it. Did you see? I did it, even in mid-motion!” Changmin exclaims to the figure a few feet ahead, who’s currently in some sort of airship with feet at the moment.
“Yup. Told you. Wouldn’t make sense if the figures in my dream couldn’t, after all,” Yoochun’s eyes twinkle.
Changmin is beaming when the words sink in. ”Figures in my dream”? He finally catches up to Yoochun and suddenly they’re back in the music room, no motorcycles, no canyon. Yoochun looks surprised, but Changmin is too concerned about something else.
“What did you mean by ‘figures in my dream,’” Changmin confronts. The last thing he needs is for his own mind to be confused, to create different entities within when it’s all really the same person. He’s heard of horror stories where dreamers develop multiple personalities and get stuck in their dream world, unable to accept the outside reality that the characters in their dreams are illusions.
Yoochun bites his bottom lip, not immediately answering. He fidgets slightly, not looking up Changmin. A sigh, and then he speaks.
“This is my dream. You’re… someone I made up. Even if you do make me happy, make me smile, it’s because you’re part of me.” Yoochun’s voice is sad and weary.
Changmin can’t believe this. Either he’s officially gone crazy, or. Or…
The world dissolves into black before he can figure things out and he wakes up in a cold sweat.
The dream instructors are unable to harvest his dream this time.
Shape of Darkside
He’s afraid to dream. He doesn’t dare speak of his fears to anyone, despite their constant questioning. The last thing he wants is for them to suspect his mental stability, to put him into some sort of closer watch or into the mental asylum. Changmin tries to not sleep as much, but it’s hard and he finds himself going to the music building before he can stop himself.
But there’s no piano music, at least, not today. He flips through other places, the fields with tons of sunflowers, the canyon, the racetrack, the deep woods where they all went to before. Changmin feels frustrated and kicks at the ground angrily. If he can control dreams, even create someone like Yoochun in his dream, why can’t he call him up, create him in all the familiar places?
He sits on the ground, brows furrowing. There’s one thought that keeps coming up in his mind. But the possibility is so slim and he can’t quite believe that it’s the truth. And wouldn’t Yoochun have been in the facility too?
Changmin sighs. He knows he should be focusing on something new, dream something different.
A piano song interrupts his thoughts and he jumps up. He’s near the music building again without knowing. He skips up the stairs and slams open the door, panting, trying to catch his breath.
“You’re part of them, aren’t you.” The voice is hard, crisp.
He looks up at that familiar face, not understanding. Yoochun stops playing the piano and pulls down the cover with a hard slam.
“The hoverbikes. The canyon. The deep woods. All of a sudden I hear they’re on the shelves, the hottest new dreams out for sale. I’m here to warn you. Get out. This is my world. My personal world. I don’t need you to profit on them. Anyway. I came here to tell you this.” He starts to get up, brushes past Changmin.
“Wait,” Changmin starts to say. But the scene is starting to fade and he grabs at Yoochun. “Wait, so you are a dreamer, like me? You’re not someone I dreamed up?” The possibility that there’s another person out there like him and then to meet them in a dream together is making his head spin.
The scene steadies for a second. “No. I’m perfectly real, Shim Changmin. If that is your real name. Though Supervisor Lee is probably planning all of this. Goodbye.” Yoochun pulls out of his grip and the scene dissipates before Changmin has a chance to do anything.
He wakes up again without a dream. Supervisor Lee isn’t happy.
Within the Books
He’s lost. He hasn’t found inspiration as of late and his dreams seem to be the same, nothing interesting. He’s given them some small trite dreams for now, but it’s nothing compared to before.
But Changmin is on a quest, now. He’s trying to find anything he can on one Park Yoochun, which seems to be impossible considering how many Park Yoochuns seem to exist. None of them seem to match the description of that boy he saw, the one playing piano, with the amazing dream abilities.
It’s late one night when he finds out about Yoochun. He had wandered downstairs to get a snack when he overhears voices talking.
“I still don’t know why Supervisor Lee had to be like that. Park was the best one there was.”
“Shim isn’t that bad, you know that.”
“But Park Yoochun, now he came up with some amazing things. It’s just unfortunate how things had to unfold.”
“All too true. A car accident and then his dreams are shut out from harvesting completely. Oh, we should get going, start analyzing the past dreams.”
“Right, right.”
Changmin waits for them to say something more, but the voices get quieter and he can hear footsteps walking way.
He wants to know more, to talk to them, to understand why things happened, where this Park Yoochun is, but he knows they won’t tell him.
He decides to search for Yoochun in dreams. But he doesn’t want to be here anymore, in this facility, having all his dreams harvested and for everyone. He wants to be with Yoochun, the only other person who knows what it’s like to be a dreamer. He wants to keep finding new places, try unbelievable things with Yoochun and keep it to himself.
When they aren’t looking, he discretely changes the sensors just by a hair so that they read a different part of his brain. Determined, he goes to sleep with new vigor.
More Important than Words
He finds himself by a large tree in a grassy meadow. It doesn’t look like quite his style, but it’s not a place he’s visited before with Yoochun either. There’s nothing and nobody else that he can see. But the tree feels steady and true, and Changmin feels oddly comforted. He starts to walk around when he sees a familiar figure lying against the tree.
“Guess you’re getting better at finding me,” Yoochun glances up at him. He doesn’t look as angry and Changmin takes it as a positive sign. He carefully approaches him and sits down.
“I’m not tracked right now,” Changmin assures. “And. I’m not part of them. Hyung, I don’t know what happened in the past, but I. Can’t I just stay here, explore this world with you? I promise I won’t be used by them, maybe I can block my mind, maybe,” Changmin blurts, not quite sure anymore what to say or do but knowing he wants to be near Yoochun.
Yoochun gazes at him in thought. He suddenly quirks a smile on the corner of his lips. “You know, there’s a block you can use. And, they’ll release you back in the regular world. But you’ll be behind, start on your second option occupation. You’re still okay with that?”
“Yes,” Changmin nods vigorously. “Please. Tell me.” He gulps and waits anxiously.
“It’s actually pretty easy. Start to dream in all black, as if everything is dark. They have this theory that all black means a dreamer’s talent is broken. Apparently they had some bad cases pushing people in the past, which lead to institutionalizations.” Yoochun shrugs before glancing back at Changmin. “You know where I’ll be waiting.”
Changmin nods. He’s almost too excited and wants to start right away. But Yoochun tells him to pace it, to make it look natural.
It doesn’t take long before he returns back to his home, starts anew in the second option, which was being a scientist.
Evergreen
But for some reason, he can’t dream once he goes home. Changmin tries everything and anything he can, reading, watching movies, listening to music, but every night he comes up fruitless. He’s utterly frustrated and as each day passes, he can’t help but wonder if Yoochun is waiting or if he’s moved on.
He’s finally studied hard enough to take the examination test for the prestigious Academic Institute. It’s a cold but sunny day and he walks toward the gates to register. Changmin knows he should be fine, that it shouldn’t be an issue at all for him. But he’s still nervous. If he doesn’t make it, he only has one more year left to get in.
There’s construction going on the campus and he notices a large ditch being dug up for a new building. They’ve dug up the sunflowers, which are currently laying on the side as they wait to be replanted. He passes by a grove of trees along with one large tree right in the center. The registration signs for the test point him toward a red brick building and he walks up the stairs.
He’s about to walk in ten minutes early into the testing room when he hears a piano melody on the second floor.
Book bag falling to the floor, he races upstairs and opens the door.
It’s a girl. With long, dyed red hair. Changmin is about to apologize, walk out, when a voice stops him.
“Changmin?”
He notices then that there’s another figure standing by the window.
“Hyung.”
I’ve found you.