[J05] (HUSH,) DON'T SPEAK (2/2)

[kaisooaufest]

Prompt Code: J05
Title: (Hush,) Don’t Speak



It was several days later and neither Kyungsoo nor Kai, acknowledged what had happened nights prior. Both of them pretended nothing had happened, much to Kyungsoo’s disappointment. He had to admit that there was a strange sort of attraction he felt towards Kai. Something that he wasn’t even sure how to describe. All he knew was that anytime Kai spoke or looked at him or even walked into the same area as Kyungsoo, his heart danced in his chest and he would feel his palms start to sweat. At one point Kyungsoo nearly begged for Kai to look at him.

Today was no different. Himself, Kai, Baekhyun and Chanyeol were all heading back to the cave after spending the day out at the market. They were having a casual conversation about nothing in particular when Chanyeol had casually looked back and saw someone following them.

“Shit,” Chanyeol muttered. “There’s someone trailing us right now.”

“What?” Baekhyun asked turning around, but before he could Chanyeol pulled him forwards.

“Don’t look back. Just keep walking. I think it’s just a one man,” Chanyeol said. “We could take him.”

Kai shook his head.“We should split up,” Kai suggested as they drew themselves away from the cave’s direction. “I would very much rather avoid a fight.”

“No,” Baekhyun said quickly. Kyungsoo looked over at him. He was glaring at Kai but when he met Kyungsoo’s gaze, it soften. “I don’t want us to separate. It could be a trap like before--”

Suddenly, just in front of them, there was a crack of a branch. They shot their heads in that direction and saw three men. Kyungsoo turn his head back and saw another man behind them.

“Well, well,” said one of the men. He must’ve been the leader, Kyungsoo decided. “Do we have ourselves some magic-users here?”

“You must be mistaken with someone else,” Kai said, taking a step forward to out a block between Kyungsoo and the men in front of them. “There are no magic-users here.”

“Funny, because Taemin over there seems to think that there is.” the man said nodding his head towards the one in the back.

“Well you must be mistaken,” Chanyeol said. Kyungsoo could see the tension in his and Baekhyun’s face. He put his arm around Baekhyun’s shoulder and started to walk away, Kai did the same with Kyungsoo and followed suit. “We must be off now.”

“When I say run, run as hard and as fast as you can.” Kai whispered in his ear.

“Just where do you think you’re going?”

Instead of turning around, the four of them kept walking. Maybe if they were lucky the men wouldn’t continue their pursuit. But, no, they weren’t lucky. Kai looked back and cursed. Kyungsoo felt a familiar breeze hit him when he was about to do the same but Kai’s next word seemed to spring everything into action.

“Run!”

And so Kyungsoo did. Baekhyun and Chanyeol were also running along with him. He wasn’t sure where Kai was, but he knew that he had to keep running. Especially when he heard the leader call out:

“After them.”

They kept running through the forest, further and further away from the cave. Which meant that it would become more and more dangerous, but that also meant that they would be keeping the others safe.

Just as Kyungsoo was about to pass a tree in front of him, an arrow was driven into the wood. This caused Kyungsoo to flinch and divert his path to the left. He kept running and running. Several other arrows kept flying by him landing in random trees. One arrow, however, slightly grazed his arm, tearing only his clothes.

“Shit.” Kyungsoo gasped as he kept struggling forward. He was reaching his limit. He wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to run. He could feel himself slowing down. In the distance he heard a river.

If only, he could make it there. He just needs to cross the river. But, suddenly, he had tripped over a root. He tried to scrambled his way back to his feet but his legs were shaking too much.

He could heard steps closing in, he wanted to try and hide, but he was flipped on his back. It was Taemin. Kyungsoo’s eyes widen in fear. This was it, Kyungsoo thought. This was how he was going to go.

He knew what he needed to do. Just use his power and spit out a command. That’s it. But, he couldn’t form the words. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything, it was as if he still felt his ears ringing from his mother's command, years ago.

Taemin had reached down and pick Kyungsoo up by his shirt. “It was way too easy to pick you out of the group. Especially with our little spy helping us along the way.”

Spy? Kyungsoo thought. Who--

Before Kyungsoo could finish his thought, he and Taemin were thrown to the ground. Kyungsoo looked up and saw Kai on top of Taemin. Kai threw a punch at Taemin, but he avoid it, causing Kai to hit the ground. Taemin threw him off and quickly got to his feet. Kyungsoo, without a second thought, quickly latched onto one of his legs so that Kai would be able to stand.

Taemin was trying his best to kick Kyungsoo off and it worked. Kyungsoo and let go and was shoved away by the same leg he was holding on to. But it was enough time for Kai to get up and throw a punch at Taemin.

Kyungsoo was about to get and help when Kai’s voice made him stop.

“Kyungsoo, no, don’t move--” Kai grunted as he received a hit. Kai was trying to push the fight away from Kyungsoo. It sparked something in his chest something he hidden within himself a long time ago. “Hide yourself.”

Suddenly, Kai was thrown to the ground and Taemin loomed over him.

Kyungsoo started to panic when Taemin drew a small dagger from his side. Memories of his mother’s death started to break through the walls he had built. He watched, terrified. Taemin moved closer but Kai used that to his advantage and managed to trip Taemin, causing him to hit his head on a rock. Rendering him unconscious.

Kai was gasping but he managed to sit up. He gathered Taemin’s weapons and strapped them to his body. He also used Taemin’s belt as a rope and tied his hands together.

When Kai finally turned to face Kyungsoo finally lost it. He jumped up and threw his arms around Kai’s neck and sobbed into his shoulder.

He almost lost another person. Again he could do nothing to stop it.

Again he was a failure.

--

Kai had kept them moving for a little bit longer and then he set up a small fire to help them last the night. It took a bit longer than expected for Kyungsoo to halt his tears. By the time he did, the sun was already setting and Kai decided it would be safer for them to stop for the time.

Kyungsoo was sitting in front of the fire, staring off into space.

“Are you going to be okay?” Kai asked him tentatively.

“Sorry, just...it reminded me so much of how my mother died,” Kyungsoo cleared his throat.

“What happened?”

“Ah...well, my parents found out that I had magic in my blood. My father wanted to send me to the king and my mom...she wanted to protect me.” Kyungsoo looked into the fire that was blazing in front of him. He closed his eyes briefly, to feel the warmth against his lids. “She took me away. She wanted to get us away. But then my father came with men from the guard. I found out then that my mother was also a magic-user. She made me hide, while she made a man stab her through the heart.”

“Kyungsoo--”

“Please, don’t,” Kyungsoo said knowing what Kai was going to say. “I don’t need pity. I’ll be fine.”

Kai gave him a small smile.

Kyungsoo looked around the area and noticed the river he heard earlier. He got up and sat along the river bed. Kai joined him shortly after, while fire still crackled behind them

“Where were you earlier?” Kyungsoo asked wiping his nose one last time. “I couldn’t tell if you were running with us or not.”

“Hm? Oh, right,” Kai scratched the back of his head. “I was trying to distract them. After I got the leader knocked out, I followed after the others. I saw some arrows in the trees and that’s how I managed to find you. I couldn’t tell where Baekhyun and Chanyeol went. Hopefully they’re fine.”

The pair sat in silence and watched the calming flow of the river. The sun was setting, meaning the crickets were singing while the rest of the world settled down.

“Why are you fighting so hard?” Kai asked, picking at the grass in front of him. Kyungsoo was leaning back on his hands, his legs spread in front of him.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know…” Kai shrugged. “What’s the point in fighting if everyone you love has a chance of dying too. Why not just embrace the end?”

“I know I already told you that I was tired of running but, I had decided that I would do everything I could to live out my days, for as long as I can. It’s a promise to my mother,” Kyungsoo confessed, he could feel Kai’s gaze on his face. “I think a lot about how different my life would’ve been if I never woke my powers. If my mother survived. If she and I were able to escape. All these things that I wished would’ve went differently. But, that’s not how life is, you know? One should do everything in their power to live the life they want to live. I don’t know, I’m just happy here.”

“But wouldn’t you rather be with your family, before all of this happened?”

Kyungsoo pursed his lips before he responded. “Yes and no. My father wasn’t the best person and he by no means ever deserved my mother. But family has a very loose definition. Just because you share the same blood with someone doesn’t make them any more your family than someone who doesn’t share your blood. You make your own family and I feel like in this short amount of time that I’ve spent with them, that Baekhyun and them have all become important to me.”

Kyungsoo looked over at Kai. He was staring at the river. Kyungsoo wondered where this was coming from.
“What about your family?” Kyungsoo asked him.

“I don’t have one. I’ve lived on the streets for as long as I can remember.”

“You don’t have anyone who’s important to you?” Kai didn’t respond. “Then what do you live for?”

Kai opened his mouth and then shut it again. “I do have one person…I guess. They make me want to become a better person.”

“They must be someone very special.” Kyungsoo smiled softly. He raised his head then, staring at the red sky, not noticing how Kai’s gaze softened when he looked at the elder.

A small breeze made it way towards the pair. Kyungsoo closed his eyes as he felt the breeze wrap around him. He smiled at it’s coolness. He kept his eyes shut until he heard a shuffle next to him. He opened his eyes and turned his head in Kai’s direction.

Kai had leaned closer to Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo reeled back slightly at the close proximity.

Neither spoke. Instead, Kyungsoo slowly moved his way back to its original spot. He looked down at Kai’s lips and then back to his eyes. Kai started to inch forward and when Kyungsoo wet his lips Kai inched even closer. His lips hovered over Kyungsoo and stayed there. Kai wanted Kyungsoo to decide how much farther they should go.

Kyungsoo closed his eyes and pressed their lips together.

His heart was beating so loud in his eyes that he wasn’t able to focus on anything. He almost wondered if Kai was able to hear the thumping of his heart.

--

Kyungsoo woke the next morning with an arms slung over his waist. He opened his eyes and saw the burnt out fire. He heart jumped when he realized that it was Kai’s arm on him. And he couldn’t hold back a smile when he remembered their kiss from the night before. He shifted around as quietly and gently as he could to face Kai. His eyes were so closed. He looked so peaceful while he slept.

Kai’s eyes fluttered opened and he took in Kyungsoo’s sight. Kyungsoo felt Kai’s arm tighten around him.

Without warning, the pair felt a strong gust of wind hit them. A wind that they had both grown accustomed to. They pulled apart and sat up.

“Well, well, well,” Sehun starts, walking towards them. “Here I was rushing to try and find you, just in case, you know you were dying. But here you are...cuddling.”

“Sehun--” Kyungsoo said blush covering his cheeks.

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me,” he smiled at the pair. “But, we should probably head back. Baek is losing his mind.”

Kyungsoo wasn’t sure what he should make of Sehun. Ever since Kai’s arrival, everyone had been weary of him. None of them seemed to trust him in the slightest. Yet, Sehun, over the last week, seemed to have bonded with Kai.

It was weird. Kyungsoo couldn’t figure it out. He could almost see the struggle Sehun was going through. Should he trust him? Should he listen to what Junmyeon says?

But ultimately, Kyungsoo thinks that Sehun just wanted a friend that was his age. And someone he could joke around with in a different way than he did with the others.

As he watched the pair slightly joke around ahead of him, he felt pity for Sehun. Pity because people like him and Kyungsoo could never feel safe. They could never be able to fully trust people who weren’t magic-users. Which meant that they would be turning away people who could better their life. As Kyungsoo continued to watch the pair, well, mostly Kai, he saw how to relatively quiet and reserved people seemed to open up and smile with one another. Kyungsoo didn’t want to see either of them lose their smile. Kyungsoo didn’t want to lose Kai.

“Kyungsoo--” Baekhyun’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. Kyungsoo lost track of how long it had been since they started their trek back home. When he looked to sky, the sun was already past noon.

Baekhyun ran towards him and hugged him close. “I was so worried.”

“I’m fine,” Kyungsoo said, rubbing the elders back. “Besides, I was with Kai.”

Baekhyun pulled away and gave him a small, sad smile. “Still. I’ll always be worried if I’m not with you.”

“You act as if we were a couple,” Kyungsoo joked. Baekhyun pulled him into a hug again.

“No, I’m acting as I would with a brother,” he whispered in Kyungsoo’s ear. Kyungsoo pulled him closer.

--

Kai kissed him two. Three. Four times before he pulled away.

“I’ll be back,” Kai whispered.

“Why can’t I come with you?” It was the next day and they were seemingly inseparable. Kyungsoo wasn’t sure if this was a good thing. But considering that he could die any day and that it’s been so long that’s he’s felt so at home, he decided he would give himself some happiness.

Kai kissed him once more. “I’ll be back soon, before you can even miss me.”

Kyungsoo smiled at that. “Fine, be safe.”

Kai turned and made his way in the direction of the market. Kyungsoo watched as his figured became smaller and smaller. The longer he watched the more he felt anxious. He felt like something bad was going to happen. But he shook his head and told himself that he was being paranoid. Kai said he was coming back.

Kyungsoo walked from behind the tree to walk back to the cave, as he did so he could’ve sworn he felt a very familiar breeze of wind brush past him.

He scrunched his eyebrows together waiting to see if he felt it again. Nothing. He was being paranoid then.

Kyungsoo sighed and made his way back inside.

Sehun rushed into the cave several hours later. Kai still wasn’t back.

Kyungsoo was sitting next to Baekhyun, looking at Sehun with a worried glance. Kyungsoo had been talking with Baekhyun about his power and how he was able to create orbs of light. Though what Baekhyun was telling him had been interesting, Kyungsoo had to admit that he was using this as a distraction.

“What is it?” Junmyeon asked, seeing and understanding Sehun’s frantic state. “What happened?”

“It’s Kai.”

Kyungsoo stood from where he sat. “What? What happened to him?”

Sehun hesitated.

“What happened to him, Sehun?” Kyungsoo asked again.

Sehun looked over at Junmyeon before he responded. “I saw Kai down at the market. He wasn’t alone.”

“And?”

“And…” Sehun paused. He gave Kyungsoo an apologetic gaze. “And we were right, he’s working for the king.”

“What?” Kyungsoo looked to Baekhyun whose eyes were shut as if he knew that this was going to happen. As Kyungsoo looked around the area, he noticed how no one was surprised. No one gave this information a second thought. “What do you mean you were right?”

“Kyungsoo-“ Baekhyun started standing from his seat. Baekhyun looked at him with a pleading glance.

“What do you mean you were right, Junmyeon?” He took a couple steps towards the brothers.

Junmyeon sighed. “Kyungsoo, you need to understand that we did what we did so that people like you could live in peace. So that you guys wouldn’t have to live in fear.”

“What did you do?”

“We didn’t do anything,” Junmyeon raised his hand to stop Kyungsoo from speaking. “We didn’t. We knew he was following you and we knew he was a hunter. We only brought him into the group in hopes of getting information from him and then we would dispose of him. But-“

Suddenly, it clicked.

“You used me to get to him.” Kyungsoo said. He wasn’t sure how to feel. Currently, it was a mix of anger and betrayal. But he couldn’t pinpoint who it was directed towards. He felt betrayed by Kai because he was, or as Junmyeon believed, a hunter. And Junmyeon...Baekhyun, they all used him to get to Kai.

“We didn’t think that you and him would--” Junmyeon said.

Kyungsoo laughed. “What? Have feelings for each other?”

“Kyungsoo-“ Baekhyun started.

Junmyeon cut him off. “He’s a hunter. He could never possibly understand what it means to love. They can’t be trusted.”

“Says who? Just because there are a lot of bad hunters out there doesn’t mean one wouldn’t switch sides.” Kyungsoo countered.

“Did you know for a fact that Kai switched sides? Do you know for a fact that he shares the same feelings for you?”

Kyungsoo stumbled. Junmyeon was right. He wasn’t sure what Kai felt. If Kai was using him as well. He wasn’t sure if Kai ever cared for Kyungsoo, even in the slightest. But, Kyungsoo didn’t care. He knew how he felt about Kai. And to him, that was all that matters. Love could conquer nations, you just have to be brave enough to make that first march.

“You can believe what you want.” Kyungsoo said, standing his ground. “But I know what I feel.” He turned and started for the exit.

“Kyungsoo, where are you going?” He heard a small voice come from Baekhyun. Kyungsoo stopped and looked at Baekhyun. Out of every one here, Kyungsoo was going to miss Baekhyun the most.

“I’m going to go save the man I care about.”

“But it could be a trap,” Sehun said worry coating his voice. “You could die.”

“If it comes to that then so be it.”

Kyungsoo left, leaving the closet thing he had to a family.

--

Kyungsoo made his way in the direction of his old home town after he quickly gather supplies from his home. He hadn’t been there since he left. He figured that that would be where Kai was. Over the course of his journeys through various cities, he’s heard rumors that the hunters’ base of operation was located at the capital, where he old home used to be.

He just reached one of the main roads. He had debated between going through the forests or taking the main road. He decided the latter of the two because he knew that he was under a time pressure. The faster he made it to the capital the fast he would reach Kai.

“You’re late,” he heard a strange voice say. Kyungsoo stopped in his tracks and looked around. He didn’t see any one. Maybe he was just hearing things.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?” said the strange voice again. “Ten years. Ten long years.”

Kyungsoo frantically looked around again. Where is this voice coming from?

“Who are you?” Kyungsoo asked. “Come out.”

Kyungsoo heard a rustle coming from the left. He braced himself, in case he needed to use his power.

“Don’t worry, Kyungsoo,” Said the voice. It was who appeared out from behind a tree. He had light pink hair and a child-like face. “I will not hurt you.”

“How do you know who I am?”

“Don’t you remember?” The man tilted his head. “Ah, of course, I took away your memory.”

“W-what?”

All of a sudden, the man flicked his wrist and Kyungsoo fell to his knees. But it wasn’t out of pain. The flood gates opened and Kyungsoo had a surge of memories hit him. He was trying his best to make out what they were about.

--

It had started off with Kyungsoo at the mere age of eight. He had been walking along the streets of his city when he had heard a cry of pain. He had been hesitant to go towards the sound but something had compelled him to go. He had turned into an alleyway, where he saw a group of kids his age all surrounding another boy. They had been hurting him and they had kept hurting him. Kyungsoo had pushed his way through them to help defend the boy, without think twice about his actions. He had looked up at the boys abusers and told them to go away. They had not listened. Instead they had started to kick Kyungsoo as well. Kyungsoo felt a fit of rage hit him and had felt something flash in his eyes. They next thing he knew all the boys stopped. They had stopped and were frozen in spot. Kyungsoo had ignored them and looked to the injured boy. The injured boy smirked in thanks.

Another memory hit him. Kyungsoo had been helping the injured boy with his injuries when a strange male with pink hair approached them.

“My dear, Kyungsoo, you must release them.” He had said.

“How do you know my name?”

“That does not matter. Release them.”

Kyungsoo had looked at the abusers, he wasn’t sure what to do. “I don’t know how.”

The pink haired man, gave a small smile before he turned and waved his hand in front of the frozen abusers. They unfroze and were dazed as they walked away.

“What did you do?” Kyungsoo had asked.

“I made them forget.”

Kyungsoo started at the strange man with his mouth agape. But when he had heard a gasp of pain from beside, he turned to the injured boy.

“Can you help him?” Kyungsoo had asked the pink haired man. The man walked to them and knelt beside them. He slowly moved his hand over the boy’s body. Kyungsoo gasped as he had watched the scars and bruises slowly fade from the boy’s body.

“What are you?” Kyungsoo had asked. The pink haired man smiled at Kyungsoo’s amazement.

“I am Fae and I am called Luhan.” Luhan lifted the boy into his arms and stood. “No more questions, little Kyungsoo, you must leave.”

“But-“

“No, you must. I shall take care of this boy. But you will have to forget everything that has happened here today.” Luhan had tucked the boy in right arm and lifted his left hand in front of Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo had wanted to protest. “Do not worry, little one. When the time is right, I shall find you and bring your memories back.”

“But the boy-“

Luhan smiled. “He shall be safe. And you two shall meet again.”

--

Kyungsoo rose his head and started at the pink haired-no, Luhan-he stared at Luhan. The Fae from years ago.

“Now you remember, we can get things moving along. Come quickly, we have no time to lose.” Luhan said, walking in the direction of Kyungsoo’s home town. Kyungsoo struggled to his feet and chased after Luhan.

“Wait, what do you mean? How did you-Was that Kai? What is happening?”

Luhan stopped, as did Kyungsoo.

“Sorry, I should explain,” Luhan said. “That was Kai, the boy you saved. That was the day you woke your powers. But I made you forget because it was too early for you to have your powers. It was too soon. And then when you woke your powers again a year later and your mother…”

“How do you know about my mother?”

“I know a lot of things. Things from the past, present. Even some things from the future. Your ancestors, including your mother and yourself, all have the ability to control people with your voice. I had been searching and searching for your line of ancestors since the appearance of the first man. But they had all been very discreet about it.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Your friend must’ve already told you is that not why you are here? To defeat the king?”

“No? I’m here to save Kai.”

“Save…why was he not with you?” Luhan asked grabbing Kyungsoo’s shoulders. “You were supposed to be together.”

“We were but then…something happened,” Kyungsoo said. Luhan let go of his shoulders. “How do you know all of this?”

“I get some glimpse of the future. Most of the time is just random things, I never know when it’s going to happen. For the most part, it never changes. But I guess, this future has.”

Luhan paced back and for briefly before created a fist and tapped it on his other hand.

“So, here's what we’ll do. We’ll save Kai and then go defeat the king,” Luhan said cheerfully. He turned and started walking again. Kyungsoo sighed following after him.

“But why do I need Kai to defeat the king? Why do I even need to defeat the king?”

“I don’t know,” Luhan shrugged. “All I know is that this is what the future predicts will happen and so I will do everything I can to help.”

“But-“

“Kyungsoo!” Kyungsoo turned at the sound of his name. Behind them was three people he was not planning on seeing.

Baekhyun was raising his hand in the air waving to him. Chanyeol and Sehun were following along, eyeing Luhan as the trio approached.

“What are you guys doing here?” Kyungsoo crossed his arms.

“Please Kyungsoo, you didn’t even finish your training. You wouldn’t be able to save yourself, let alone Kai,” Sehun asked. Baekhyun slapped the back of his head.

“Listen, we know that what we did was wrong and that we should’ve went about it another way,” Baekhyun said. “But you are our friend and friends help each other out.”

“But Kai is just some hunter to you.”

“He is,” Chanyeol spat.

“We aren’t going to let our friend go on a suicide mission.” Kyungsoo felt something warm bloom in his chest. He couldn’t stop the smile that blossomed on his face. Baekhyun had one to match.

“He wouldn’t have, I’m here to help.” Luhan said.

“Who are you anyways?” Chanyeol asked hovering closer to Baekhyun.

“Luhan. He’s-“ Kyungsoo stopped himself.

“Fae. I am Fae.” Luhan finished. The trio gasped. “Now, anymore questions any of you have can be asked along the way, we are wasting time.”

--

The four of them decided that they would stop for the night. After setting up a campfire and gathering some food, Luhan excused himself to meditate.

When Luhan had gone, Kyungsoo and the trio sat around the fire awkwardly. It was still tense from the day's earlier fight.

“What did Junmyeon say?” Kyungsoo asked. “Or does he even know that you guys left?”

“He knows,” Baekhyun said. He looked over at Sehun before he continued. “Sehun here, made a big scene about how we should help you save Kai.”

Kyungsoo looked over at Sehun. Sehun was staring intently at the ground, refusing to meets Kyungsoo’s gaze.

“Speaking of Kai, how long have you guys known about him?”

“Since the day I saw you,” Baekhyun said. “Jongdae felt the presence of a hunter and a magic-user, so I went out to scout. Surprisingly I found both of you on the same day.”

“That day when we found Kai,” Sehun started. “I was at home and then Jongdae felt his presence too close to the cave and with another hunter. Then you also showed up…”

“So you weren’t selling things at the market.” Kyungsoo said. It wasn’t a question.

“I’m sorry this happened to you and Kai,” Sehun said suddenly. Sehun looked different than he normally did. He brows were furrowed with worry and his eyes were downcast.

“Sehun--”

“I’m serious. You’re one of us now, Kyungsoo. And as much as I hate to admit it, if Kai means this much to you then, we--” Sehun nodded towards Baekhyun and Chanyeol. “--will help you in any way we can.”

“I think that he’s just using it as an excuse,” Chanyeol butted in. “He just doesn’t want to admit that he was staring to like Kai.”

“Shut up, Chanyeol.” Sehun said. His reaction caused Kyungsoo to start to chuckle. Which resulted in the others laughing as well.

Kyungsoo was glad that he had them in his life and that he would be able to stay with them a little longer. He wasn’t sure if Junmyeon would allow him back in the group, but he hoped and that was better than nothing.

The next morning, Luhan woke them up before the sun appeared in the sky. It was struggle to get them up and ready to go, but Luhan had convinced them if they didn’t get moving that he was going to turn them into a snail, for being so slow. Kyungsoo wasn’t sure if that was even possible but he didn’t want to find out.

Luhan was leading the group with Sehun, who seemed to grow a liking to the Fae in such a short amount of time, followed by himself and Baekhyun, while Chanyeol was at the back. Kyungsoo looked back at Chanyeol before whispering in Baekhyun’s ear.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Are you and Chanyeol...a thing?”

Baekhyun’s eyes widen and his ears started to turn red. “I--I--What makes you think that?”

“I don’t know. Just how you guys seem to act around one another.”

Baekhyun shook his head. “No, we aren’t.”

Kyungsoo could see the disappointment in his face. “Do you want to be?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Baekhyun said. “Besides he probably doesn’t even feel the same way.”

Kyungsoo looked behind them once more. He caught Chanyeol looking at Baekhyun’s back, and when he noticed Kyungsoo’s gaze he looked away flushed. Kyungsoo faced forward again and smiled to himself.

“I don’t know, Baek. You might need to reevaluate that statement.”

Baekhyun bit his bottom lip and peaked behind him. He quickly swung his head forward, there a tint to his cheeks. He cleared his throat.

“You better hurry up Yeol,” Baekhyun said. “We might leave you behind and you’ll miss out on all the fun.”

--

The five of them were standing on the border of the forest, just ahead of them was the capital.

“Do you have any idea where he is going to be be?” Baekhyun asked in the direction of Kyungsoo and Luhan. Both of them looked at each other and shrugged.

“I have no idea,” Luhan said.

“I thought you were supposed to predict the future?” Chanyeol said.

“It doesn’t work like that…” Luhan sighed. “Kyungsoo, do you have an inkling of where he is?”

“Let’s hope it’s not the castle…” Sehun muttered.

Kyungsoo wasn't sure. He had no idea. The capital itself wasn’t that big. He remembered the streets and remembered the secrets that dwelled within. But it’s been ten years, there could be many things that changed over that period of time.

Kyungsoo could see it in the distance. His old home. He could see the back of the house, where his mother would plant her flowers. She would never plant them in the front because she was always afraid the neighbourhood kids would ruin them. Kyungsoo stared at them a little longer.

They looked well kept.

Like someone was taking care of them. Making sure that they were watered and trimmed. Like someone was still...living there.

Kyungsoo gasped and the flung himself into a run.

It couldn’t be.

There’s no way.

Kyungsoo ran as fast as he could. He could hear the others following behind him, but he didn’t care about them. Not when… not when.

Kyungsoo reached the back door and threw it open. He started to frantically look around the small home. He opened the first door that was closed. Nothing.

He opened the next. Still nothing.

He could hear the others in the house now. Calling out to him.

He approached the last door. His room.

He hoped, god, he hoped that she would be there. He slowly, tentatively opened the door. He saw his bed, still unmade, like how he left it all those years ago. There was a layer of dust that had covered the rest of his furniture.

But she wasn’t there.

“Kyungsoo?” Baekhyun touched his shoulder. “What is it?”

“This was my home. I thought…” Kyungsoo shook his head. He hadn’t told the others of what had happened and he didn’t want to bring it up now. He had more important things to worry about. “The flowers have been maintained, someone is living here.”

As if on cue, Kyungsoo and the others heard a door creak open. It was the front door, which was behind him. Kyungsoo turned and saw someone he never thought he would’ve seen again.

The person stood at the door, frozen. He took in the situation that greet him. Four strangers and his.. Son.

--

Kyungsoo clenched his fist. Kyungsoo has never hated any person more than he hated this person in front of him. He could never forgive his father for the actions he took, against him...against his mother. He still looked the same, like he hadn’t aged a day.

“It seems you’re still alive,” his father said. “How...disappointing.”

Kyungsoo glared. He felt Baekhyun and Luhan step closer to him.

“Well, that a rude way to greet someone,” Luhan said. “Shouldn’t you be happy your child is still alive?”

“Who are you?”

“That’s none of your concern,” Kyungsoo spoke. Kyungsoo took a step back. He didn’t want to be here any longer than he needed to be. The less time he spent in the presence of his father the better. He nor his friends would be safe now that his father had seen them. “Pretend you never saw me and we can both go on with our lives.”

Kyungsoo turned to walk away but then his father laughed.

“It’s such a shame. He was one of my best trainees. I was hoping he was going to take over for me.”

Kyungsoo stopped as his father continued.

“I had given Kai one task when I faked my death. Did you compel him too, like you did these ones here?”

“I did no such thing.”

“Oh? Tell that to your mother then.”

Baekhyun looked over at Kyungsoo, confused.

“Do they not know, son? Do they not know that you’re a murderer?” His father said.

“Liar,” Luhan said. He must’ve known the truth, Kyungsoo thought. Though he’s never said anything, Luhan must know a lot more than what he likes to speak of.

“Where’s Kai?” Sehun asked, ignoring his father's comments. Kyungsoo was grateful that they were here. If he had been alone and saw his father, he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done. He might’ve made his father's’ statement true.

“I found him.” Luhan said, before his father could speak. They looked over at him. “Quickly, I know where he is. Baekhyun, if you could please deal with him.”

Luhan started to move forward and walk past his father, like he wasn’t even there.

Baekhyun must’ve understood what Luhan meant because all of a sudden, he father yelled.

“Where’s the light? Why can’t I see?”

Chanyeol walked up to him and slammed his head against the wall. He fell to the ground unconscious.

“Sorry about that, Soo,” Chanyeol said.

“He deserved it.” Kyungsoo shrugged.

They followed after Luhan until they reached the slums of the capital. They had to make many detours, Kyungsoo noted. Something must be happening today, the streets were littered with guards. Luhan had managed to navigate them through the side streets without getting detected. He hoped that the guards wouldn’t interfere with their plans.

“How do you know where he is?” Kyungsoo asked.

“I was picking through his memories,” Luhan said as they stopped in front of a storage building as the others hide in the alley. “He had just left here. Kai should still be in there.”

“Is he okay?”

Luhan didn’t answer his question. “I’m not sure how many people are in there, but we are going to have to do this quickly and quietly.”

“How are we going to do this? We don’t exactly have the time nor luxury to plan out an extraction,” Chanyeol said. “But, if this storage house is like any of the others, if we can make to that balcony there,” Chanyeol pointed, just above the door. “We could look inside and gauge just how many people there are.”

“How do you know all of this?” Kyungsoo asked.

“I used to work for the guard.” Kyungsoo opened his mouth, but Chanyeol cut him off. “A story for another time.” Chanyeol turned to Sehun. “Do you think you’d be able to carry a person with your winds?”

“Only if I’m with them.”

Luhan walked back to the group. “Here’s what we’ll do. Sehun and Baekhyun will go to that balcony. The three of us,” Luhan looked at Kyungsoo and Chanyeol. “Will just walk through the door.”

“You want us to walk right through the front door?” Kyungsoo said. What is he thinking?

“No, it’s a good plan,” Chanyeol said. “Baekhyun can block the sight of anyone in there. Sehun could set up a barrier of wind around the building, while we go in and out as fast as we can.”

“This is crazy,” Baekhyun mutters. “Whatever, let’s get this done.”

Sehun was about to moved to Baekhyun’s side when he noticed that his foot was stuck to the ground. When he looked down, he noticed ice. The others followed his gaze and instantly they realized what happened.

“Shit,” Sehun muttered as he saw Junmyeon, Jongdae and Minseok walk towards them from the other side of the alley. “Junmyeon--”

“We need to get out of here,’ Junmyeon simply said.

“Junmyeon--” Kyungsoo started.

“No, you don’t understand, there are guards everywhere. The King is on the streets today and based on their path, they are headed here.

“What?”

“We need to go now.”

“But Kai…”

Kyungsoo turned his head to the storage house and then back to the group. The only one in the group who didn’t look torn was, surprisingly, Sehun.

“No, Junmyeon. I told Kyungsoo that I was going to help him get Kai back, and that’s what I am going to do.” Kyungsoo could feel an increase in air pressure around him. He could hear some crack of grass and when he looked down he saw how Sehun was using his wind to crack the hold on Minseok’s ice.

Suddenly, Sehun swooped Baekhyun in his arms and carried him to the balcony. Chanyeol cursed as did Junmyeon.

“Guess we are all in this together, huh?” Luhan smiled as recognition slowly made its way onto Junmyeon’s face.

“Luhan?”

“Hello, old friend,” Luhan said. “Didn’t I tell you, you were going to meet this wonderful boy?” Luhan pointed towards Kyungsoo.

“This is a nice reunion and all,” Chanyeol cut in. “But we really don’t have time for this.”

--

Kyungsoo, Chanyeol, Luhan and Junmyeon entered the storage house. The others were outside protecting the area, while they looked for Kai.

Kyungsoo wasn’t sure what he was expecting to find. But seeing Kai, unharmed was the last thing he expected.

Kai was sitting on a chair in the middle of the room untied and unharmed. There were only a handful of men here, who were all blinded by Baekhyun. Everything was quiet. The men weren’t surprised that they had been blinded...were they even? Kyungsoo couldn’t tell. He couldn’t pay attention to anything else but Kai, who stood from his seat.

“Kyungsoo, what are you doing here?”

“What do you mean? I-I came to rescue you…”

“But...Sehun must’ve told you, I’m a hunter,” Kai said.

“I know,” Kyungsoo said. “I know that and I don’t care.”

“Kyungsoo--”

“No, I don’t care, because you had multiple chances to hurt us to get more guards and you didn’t,” Kyungsoo said. “I care about you and… I trust you, Kai.”

“Not all of us feel the same way,” Junmyeon muttered.

“But,” Baekhyun cut in. “You didn’t tell your master about us, so that must count for something.” Baekhyun directed his comment more towards Junmyeon than Kai.

“My master?” Kai said. He was confused. “My master is dead.”

Kyungsoo looked to the others who were with his at the house.

“He said that he trained you, that he faked his death and that I was suppose to die?” Kyungsoo said with a question, like he wasn’t sure what the truth was. Kai’s eyes narrowed slightly. He must’ve realized something.

Kai looked around at the men then. “You need to leave now. It’s not safe.” But he didn’t make a move towards Kyungsoo. “Tell Baekhyun to stop using his power. They are frozen in time. You need to leave now.”

“How do you know about his power?”

“How do you know they’re frozen?” Chanyeol and Junmyeon asked at the same time, respectively.

“I know what I need to know. It’s my job to find out information and inform my master.”

“Yet you didn’t?” Junmyeon asked.

“I had another job that took priority.” Kai looked at Kyungsoo when he said that. “But that doesn’t matter now,” Kyungsoo could tell from the look in his eyes that he meant his job was no longer important to him. “You all need to leave.”

“Come with us,” Sehun said. Kyungsoo turned at saw that Baekhyun and Sehun had joined them.

“You guys are all in trouble. If my master is still alive and he saw you guys then you are in more danger than you can imagine. Plus the king--”

“We know,” Junmyeon said. “We’re here because you’re important to Kyungsoo. We’re risking our lives and our freedom because Kyungsoo wanted to rescue you.”

Kai looked to Kyungsoo. “Kyungsoo…”

“Let me help you, let me protect you, like I did all those years ago.” Kyungsoo said. He could see the surprise in Kai’s eyes and then finally recognition.

“It was you--” Kai stopped and then looked at Luhan. “And you.”

Luhan smiled at him. “It’s good to see that your memory is coming back. I’m sorry I took that from you, but it needed to be done until the right time.”

Kai took a couple steps towards Kyungsoo then. Kyungsoo took some as well, until they stood several feet apart.

“I wanted to thank you. For so long, I wanted to thank you but I didn’t know who you were. I couldn't remember your face.”

Kyungsoo smiled.

“Sorry, to burst your bubbles, but we have incoming.” Jongdae said, running into the room. One by one the others went outside to see.

“But, today, Kyungsoo. Today, I am going to protect you.” Kai said walking towards the door. Kyungsoo watched him go and from the corner of his eye he saw Luhan smiling.

“What?”

“It seems that another door to the future has opened.”

--

They all gathered outside, and from the far off distance they could see a royal carriage heading this way. Kyungsoo could feel his palms starting to sweat.

“What are we going to do?” Baekhyun asked.

“We have enough time to make an escape,” Minseok said, turning to Junmyeon. Kyungsoo could see Junmyeon grinded his teeth.

They needed to make a decision fast.

“You guys go,” Kai said, stepping forward. Kyungsoo clutched Kai’s arm.

“No--”

“No,” Junmyeon said. “I may not trust you, Kai. But I will not let you fight them on your own. Either we all do this together or we don’t do it at all.”

Before they could make a decision however, a man stepped out from the alley way. It was Kyungsoo’s father. Trailing behind him was another male.

“Yixing--” Kai said not acknowledging his old master.

“Kai,” his father cut off Kai’s words. “You’re not surprised to see me, still alive?”

“How--?” Baekhyun questioned. His father smirked.

“Yixing has a wonderful ability. He is able to heal and revert any powers done onto a person.”

“Yixing, come with us.” Kai said. Yixing looked to Kai and then back to Kyungsoo’s father.

Kyungsoo's father laughed. “Yixing here is too stupid to leave me.” Kyungsoo said a twitch on Yixing face. “Besides, why would he want to go with a traitor like you? You couldn’t even kill my son, like I asked you too.”

“Son?” Kai looked to Kyungsoo. “That is your father?”

Kyungsoo nodded. “Unfortunately.”

Behind his father, he could see the kings carriage was getting closer and closer; however, he had still yet to see any of the guards. This unsettled him.

“We need make this quick,” Sehun muttered.

“Sorry, but I can’t let you leave while he still lives,” Kyungsoo’s father said glaring daggers at his son. Kai stepped in front of his line of sight, causing his gaze to shift to Kai. “Oh Kai. You had so much potential. It’ll will be a sad moment when you die.”

The carriage was closing in. Then suddenly a group of guards poured in front of the carriage and increased their speed towards them.

“Shit,” Kai cursed. Kyungsoo’s father turned his head and looked to see the carriage approaching. He smirked.

“I wonder what the king will say when he finds a group of magic-users and a Fae on his doorstep.”

Kyungsoo saw how Yixing turned his head to look at the group curiously.

“We’ll just have to see how long you live, in order to tell him,” Sehun spat and moved to stand slightly in front of Luhan.

The guards were on them now. Forming a semicircle around the group.

“Guards, arrest these men as they have powers--” his father started but was suddenly cut off when Yixing moved and jabbed at his throat. Yixing then spoke some words to his father that no one was able to pick up.

But Kyungsoo could tell from the look of fear the clouded his face that it was anything good. Then Yixing placed his hands on either side of his neck and snapped it.

His father's lifeless body fell to the ground and Yixing calmly made his way toward their group.

Kyungsoo, though he didn’t like his father, was saddened. He was still his father and he still raised him and helped bring him into world.

Yixing was halfway to them when the guards made their moved. They started to walk in closer and closer, as if to cage them in.

But Kyungsoo acted fast, so fast that he didn’t realize that he had all the guards in his grasp, stopping their movements. This was way over his limits.

Yixing was hesitant, but when he saw the strain on Kyungsoo’s face, he made haste towards Kai.

“Yixing,” Kai said, grasping his forearm in a greeting.

“Kai,” Yixing responded as the carriage stopped where Kyungsoo’s father lifeless body lay.

“No, Kyungsoo, no,” Luhan said quickly, as Kyungsoo struggle to maintain the hold on the guard that surrounded them. “This is not what I saw. This is not where you fight him. We need to leave. We need to leave now.”

Kyungsoo could see the horror etched on Luhan’s face. He looked to Kai and nodded. Though, this would be a good chance to do what need to be done. Kyungsoo agreed that there would be a better time. A time where he had mastered his ability.

He could feel his hold weakening. Sehun had started to build some air pressure.

“Kyungsoo, get ready to release.” Kyungsoo nodded. When he saw the twitch in Sehun’s eyes, he release his hold on the men and then with a burst, all of the men were blown off of their feet. Even the carriage shook a little.

Kyungsoo sagged a little. But Kai was there to hold him up.

“Quickly now,” Sehun said. He started up his winds again and Kyungsoo could see the carriage door opening. Out stepped two figures. Both of which had a similar complexion to that of Luhan. Both tall and slender.

When Kyungsoo looked at Luhan, he could the surprise on his face.

But when Kyungsoo turned to look back at the carriage, it was blocked by a tornado.

Sehun had managed to create enough pressure and wind, to have the group within the safety of the tornado.

“Quickly, through here--”

“Yixing, come on.”

There was a lot of yelling and scuffling over the high winds. Kyungsoo was struggling to walk, even with Kai’s help.

The tornado died down, leaving nothing but dust.

--

The group made it safely away from the king and the capital. Chanyeol led them through the back of the storage area and then they navigated themselves through the streets. They didn’t stop moving until they were far enough away, deep in the forest, to camp for the night.

Kyungsoo collapsed to the ground. He laid on his back and stared at the trees above him. Using his power has drain a lot of his energy. Controlling that many people...Kyungsoo wasn’t sure how he would be able to face the king.

Kyungsoo could hear Kai making introductions to Yixing and how the pair grew up together under their masters roof. He also explained how they worked for the guard but did secret missions for their master. And how what Kyungsoos’s father said was true, that Yixing was able to heal people and undo the damage done by another power.

“Luhan,” Kyungsoo said quietly when Kai finished explaining. Kyungsoo turned his head and looked towards the Fae. “The king...is he...Fae?”

Everyone perked up at this question.

“Yes, same with the other man with him,” Luhan said softly. “I had no idea that he would be the king. But I suppose it makes sense. A Fae gathering magic-users.”

“What do you think he plans to do with them?”

“I have no idea,” Luhan said. “It doesn't make sense to me why one of my kind would do something like that.”

“Do you know them?”

“No,” Luhan said curtly.

Luhan still looked tense, though. Kyungsoo knew he wasn’t the only one who noticed this. Sehun moved closer to the Fae and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

“What else is wrong?” Sehun asked him. Luhan looked around the group.

“I fear, that I must leave you guys,” he said. “The king knows that I am Fae and if he is trying to gather all the magic-users, then he would probably want to bring Fae in as well.”

“Luhan, no--” Sehun said.

“Sehun--”

“He’s right, Luhan,” Baekhyun said. “It’s smarter for us all to stay together. We can protect each other. Besides, what is Kyungsoo to do if you leave? You’re the one who's been preaching that he has to save the world. If you leave he won’t know what to do.”

Kyungsoo nodded, struggling to rise. Kai was behind him immediately, letting him rest against his chest. “And you seem like the best person to help me with my powers.”

“Stay,” Sehun said, taking Luhan’s hand in his own. “Please.”

And Luhan did stay. They all stayed together.

--

Kai and Kyungsoo were walking from the fire. It was a couple hours after they set camp, others were starting to get settled for the night, but Kyungsoo had enough energy for this.

Both he and Kai knew they needed to have a talk. The sooner the better.

They stopped at a fallen log, the fire still in sight.

Kyungsoo sat facing the direction of the fire, and Kai sat facing Kyungsoo.

“So, you’re a hunter,” Kyungsoo said. He wasn’t sure where he should start with this.

“Was,” Kai said. “I was a hunter. I don’t want that life anymore.”

“W-why didn’t you kill me?” Kyungsoo turned to look at Kai when he didn’t respond right away. He was biting his bottom lip.

“Before I met you, I had this burning rage in me. I was taught that magic-users were needed to be caught and brought to the king. I was taught that a boy who had the power to control people with his voice needed to die because he was a threat to everyone. I was taught that the king and my master were right. That they were always right.

“But as I continued my travels trying to find you, I realized that things were different. That… not everything I was taught was right. Then when I saw you that first day in Valence. I didn’t know it was you at the time, but I saw this boy, with these bright owl-like eyes. Who looked at everything with such curiosity. Who just seemed so innocent. But then when you used your power, and I knew that it was you I had to kill… I really questioned everything.

“Then I met you and talked with you and the others too, it just… changed me. I started to care for you guys and I started to fall for you.” Kai looked down then and blushed.

Kyungsoo smiled softly and lifted Kai’s chin to look at him. “This is going to be a big challenge for us. But I’m willing to look past your past because I fell for you too.”

Kai smiled and leaned in closer to Kyungsoo and kissed him. Something short and sweet.

“Kyungsoo, Kai, we’re putting out the fire soon. Hurry back.” They heard Junmyeon yell.

Kyungsoo pecked him once. “Let’s head back Kai.”

Kai opened his mouth, which caused Kyungsoo to stop. “I heard this story once, in one of the small villages I stopped off at a few years ago. It was a story about a Fae named Jongin,” Kai paused and looked Kyungsoo in the eye. Kyungsoo smiled in an act of encouragement. “Jongin had the ability to use teleportation. And it was said that during the First War, Jongin used his ability to save a lot of Fae. But he also had a lover who was taken captive by a human general. Jongin fought and used his power to save his lover.

“I’ve been thinking about that story ever since and I wanted to… I mean, it might be stupid. But I want to change my name to Jongin. I want to leave Kai and that life behind me. I want…” Kyungsoo could see blush forming on his cheeks. “I want to be known as Jongin and change the world with you.”

“Jongin, I like that.” Kyungsoo smiled. Kyungsoo extended his hand towards Kai--Jongin. Jongin placed his hand in Kyungsoo's. “Shall we head back, Jongin?”

Everything was changing, Kyungsoo thought. For the better or worse, he wasn’t sure. But he knew that, no matter what their fate brought them too, Kyungsoo would be happy at the side of Jongin. He finally had a family and a lover that he would protect until his last dying breath.

EPILOGUE

-several months later-

Kyungsoo woke to the sun shining in his face. He turned over and looked at Jongin’s sleeping face. Kyungsoo lifted his hand slowly and traced his fingers over his lover's slightly parted lips. Smiling fondly to himself, Kyungsoo gently untangled himself from Jongin’s slender arms. The white sheets that were entangled with their bodies shifted when Kyungsoo had moved, drifting further down Jongin’s naked body.

Kyungsoo got up and dressed his lower half. He stared out his bedroom window into the forest that lay before him and reminisced about everything that had changed over the last several months.

After Jongin told the others about his name change, everyone accepted him as Jongin. Especially Luhan, who had known about the story of Jongin and had given them a knowing smile, one in which Kyungsoo still needed to ask him about. They all still live in Valence together, but instead of a cave they all built a home. On the outskirts of the city, close to Kyungsoo’s home, where he and Jongin live.

With Luhan’s help, Kyungsoo was able to get closer to mastering his power. He still gets headaches when he uses it for too long, but progress is progress. Jongin and Chanyeol have been using their fighting knowledge to help teach everyone how to fight hand-to-hand combat, which Kyungsoo has to admit, has been extremely useful.

He heard thumping on his front door that pulled him from his thoughts. He quietly shut the bedroom door behind him as he made his way to the front. When he opened it, he was surprised to see Sehun’s frantic state.

“Sehun? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Luhan, he’s been kidnapped.”