Into the depths of (Flashfic challenge 1: travel)
Title: Into the depths of
Author:
salvaginglove
Word count: 788
Concrit?: Sure :)
Pairing: Jaejoong/Changmin
And so Changmin opens the door and finds himself in this strange, unknown world and more than a little out of place.
He watches the people pass on without giving him a second glance, every one of them expressionless.
He stops one of them, a boy around his age. Large eyes, long black hair that curls at his neck and a musical voice.
The boy tells Changmin to go into that building. It’s where all the new visitors go to, he says.
Changmin thanks him, this beautiful boy who introduces himself as Jaejoong, and thinks that he would like to meet him again.
The woman inside tells him that he cannot go home now, not just yet, that he has to wait until it’s time.
Changmin is lost and angry and helpless, and so he demands a when, a definite answer.
The woman just shrugs, and says that she will tell Changmin when it’s time.
And then she dials a number and the door opens for Youngwoong Jaejoong to step in, pretty features a little confused.
The woman tells Changmin he is to follow Jaejoong around for the time being, and Jaejoong nods and takes Changmin’s hand to discover a new world.
Changmin knows when he really and truly falls for Jaejoong, when he starts to drown in Jaejoong’s eyes that seem to be bottomless, when love is a poison that seeps through his body, aiming for his heart.
He tells Jaejoong that he loves him, but Jaejoong avoids his gaze and is silent.
Later, Changmin learns that in this world, you aren’t supposed to fall in love.
But then one night Changmin wakes up to see Jaejoong standing beside his bed, voice husky with panic and worry when he tells Changmin that he might, maybe, be in love with Changmin too.
Changmin curls protective fingers around Jaejoong’s, and thinks that this is the person he wants to be with for the rest of his life.
It’s time, the woman tells Changmin.
Changmin looks at Jaejoong, the keeper of his heart, and finds that he might not be able to leave, not without this perfection that has melded into part of his life.
Jaejoong says he wants to go, too, but the woman shakes her head with an expression that seems like pity, and tells Jaejoong that Changmin’s world is not for him.
Changmin’s grip on Jaejoong’s hand tightens, and he questions shakily what the woman means.
You have to leave, but he has to stay, the woman explains with finality, and Jaejoong shivers, distraught etched onto his angelic features.
Changmin tries to breathe, to think carefully to find a way out of this, but somehow he knows that this is the end, no escape.
I won’t remember anything about this world, will I? Changmin asks hopelessly.
You won’t, the woman says. You still have twenty-four hours.
They go to the park, swinging with their feet still scraping the ground.
Jaejoong blinks away tears, and Changmin tells him how he will never love anyone else as much as he loves Jaejoong.
Jaejoong nods, musters a smile and sings a song, his voice hoarse with crying but still remarkably beautiful.
Their final stop is at the beach, watching the rising sun paint the world with a multitude of colours.
Jaejoong leans his head on Changmin’s shoulders, and Changmin listens to the familiar sound of Jaejoong’s heartbeat, every pounding of his heart a signal that their time is running out.
I’ll always love you, Choikang Changmin, Jaejoong whispers, no matter what.
Thank you for appearing in my life, Youngwoong Jaejoong, Changmin answers.
Thank you for teaching me how to love.
Changmin grips the doorknob tightly and turns to face Jaejoong.
The corners of Jaejoong’s lips quiver, and Changmin can see how hard he is trying to stop himself from crying, to stop Changmin from crying, to stop both of them from falling to pieces.
I will always love you, Jaejoong says quietly, and Changmin blinks against the moisture gathering in his eyes.
Take care, Changmin tells Jaejoong, eyes taking in every part, every angle, every bit of Jaejoong.
Go, Jaejoong says, before I follow you too.
Changmin draws a shaky breath, nods, and opens the door.
Changmin reappears in the library feeling like he has forgotten something very important.
He rubs at his eyes, and then stares at his wet knuckles with surprise.
Are you okay, a musical voice asks, and Changmin looks up to see a boy around his age standing in front of him.
The boy smiles, tilts his head slightly, his black hair cascading like a waterfall around his beautiful features.
I’m Youngwoong Jaejoong, the boy says, smiling, and Changmin falls into the depths of the boy’s large eyes.