[fic] The Day the World Ended - Chapter Six (KangTeuk)
Title: The Day the World Ended
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Mostly focused on KangTeuk and HyukSu, but other pairings will most likely abound. I'm just that bias.
Summary: What would you do if the world came to an end?
Warning: AU, end-of-the-world type scenario, un-beta'd, tense manipulating, and horrible ploting skills went in to the creation of this fic.
Notes: I started writing this four years ago, but never finished it. As usual, I know nothing about the medical field, so let's just pretend that I know what I'm talking about ^^
"He's a guy." Was the response Heechul got when he finally confronts Kangin with his suspicions.
"And?" Heechul snorted. "Like that matters in our line of work."
"Are you really suggesting that me and Eeteuk...are..." The blush is almost comical on a face like Kangin's.
"Oh please, like it's a secret." The smirk that developed on Heechul's face was devilish. "So? How far have the two of you gotten?"
"Shut up!" Kangin shoved Heechul and the smaller boy stumbled a bit, laughing.
"God, you're obvious!" Heechul clutched his side, laughing so hard that it hurt. "Who would have thought that our mighty Kangin was such a softy."
Kangin growled, crossing his arms. "I'm not sure where you think you're going with all of this, but there is nothing going on between me and Eeteuk."
"I love how you call him Eeteuk when you're trying to separate yourself from him." Heechul rolled his eyes, sobering a bit. "I've never known you not to go after something you want."
"I don't want anything."
"Liar." Kangin didn't respond. Heechul sighed. "Is it the cameras? The fame? Even before it all we all knew..."
"We...can't." Kangin sagged his shoulders. "We just can't. Not now. Not ever."
"Not even when the world falls to pieces?" Heechul raised an eyebrow.
That got a chuckle out of Kangin. "Well, maybe when the world falls to pieces. If it does, you can be the one to annouce it to the world."
***
The dorm was quiet for once, the teams out doing their usual scavenging and fixing up whatever was left of their world. He knew that Eunhyuk was by the window, gazing out into the beyond, hands twiddling with whatever the others had given him to do. Eeteuk laid in his bed, staring up at the celing.
He'd been in a coma for a month.
One month of a black void in his memory. It was unnerving to think about. All he rememered was pain when he closed his eyes and pain when he opened them again. What had happened in that time he'd been unable to look after his flock? He would have never forgiven himself if anything had happened without his guidance.
He knew despite the fact that Kangin insisted that he was fine, that the other had spent every waking minute at his side. He could tell by the weary look in Kangin's eyes and the way his frame looked so much more thin than it should. Eeteuk didn't blame him for not taking care of what was left; he would have done the same. It had been Heechul that had taken up his stead when all things failed. Someone so unlikely to keep them going. One that never seemed to care, yet led his boys through what would have probably been their most hardest of months.
"Yah, I know when you're thinking too hard and you better stop that before you hurt yourself again." The subject of his thoughts came waltzing through the door. Heechul stopped at the edge of his bed, clearly loving the fact that he could look down on Eeteuk.
"Sorry, not all of us were granted the ability to sacrifice brain for beauty," Eeteuk smiled. Heechul snorted and rolled his eyes, throwing himself into the chair beside Eeteuk's bed. "So what do I owe the pleasure?" Heechul had not been in to visit Eeteuk by himself. He always had Shiwon or Hankyung by his side. He knew Heechul cared, but Eeteuk and Heechul hadn't ever really been close, despite training together for years.
"It's Youngwoon." Heechul's exression turned sour, as if he'd swallowed something nasty. Eeteuk took that to mean that something very un-Heechul-like was going to come out of Heechul's mouth. Worry started to override his initial pleasure at having Heechul visit him. "He never left your side." The seriousness on Heechul's face seemed uncharacteristc and mispalced and only served to worry Eeteuk more. "God, Jungsu. He practically died the same time you did." Heechul sighed, fustrated at his inability to convey what he meant in words. "I...shit. This is going to sound dumb comning from me, but Youngwoon, he loves you. Fucking adores you."
"I know." Eeteuk softly agreed, eyes glazing over with a far off look, one that Heechul knew meant that Eeteuk was thinking about the past. "I know that. I've known for a very long time." There was a pause and then Eeteuk sighed. "We both do."
"Next time you want to be a super hero, try to remember it, okay?" It was the best Eeteuk would get out of Heechul that resembled worry. "I'll try." Eeteuk smiled, earning a snort from Heechul. "Yeah, whatever. Like I care if you live or die." Eeteuk knew that Heechul didn't mean it, chuckling at the sentiments.
Just before the boy had retreated out of the room Eeteuk was sure he heard Heechul mumble. "I don't even know why I'm doing this. I'm going to fucking kill Shiwon and Hankyung for being bad influences..."
***
Heechul had known from the beginning. Of course, it wasn't something that sprung up overnight. No, it was something that had grew like a vine, entwining the two together until you couldn't tell the beginning or the end. This was KangTeuk, the couple that would probably be the death of him.
As he watched one of his best friends fall apart at the seems, he knew that their pretend games were at the breaking point. Years had they pretended to just be friends. To skirt around the issue of their own sexuality and affection for each other. How could they stand to be so close and yet so far was beyond Heechul who took what he wanted regardless of the consequences.
At first, it was the cameras that stopped them and even Heechul understood how daunting their glass eyes could be. To be caught in any sort of comprimising position would spell the end for not only the two of them, but for the boys that they had started to call their 'children'.
But then the world ended and Heechul couldn't understand why they kept up the act. Was it because they thought the others would hate them? Were they blind?
"Are you blind?" Heechul questioned, an eyebrow raised as he stared at Kangin with an incredulous expression.
"Fuck off, Heechul."
"No, seriously. You are." Heechul shook his head out of disbelief. "God, you two are crazy. How long has this been going on?"
"This is not the time to be discussing my..." Kangin stopped short and Heechul saw the telltale blush forming. "God, Heechul! Why are you bringing this up? Jungsu might be dying and you want to play matchmaker!"
"You want to know why I'm bringing this up?" Heechul almost yelled, but remembered to keep his voice down. Being overheard would ruin any chance he had. "Because every time one of you goes inactive, the other follows suit. It's like you guys can't live without each other."
"Because we can't!" This was clearly not what Kangin wanted to say because he instantly shut his mouth and looked sick. He turned and started walking toward the door.
"Just tell him how you feel already. It's not like we have to act for anyone anymore." Kangin stopped for a second at the words. "Exactly. Now, when he wakes up, grow some balls and tell him how you feel. If you don't, I'll do it. I swear I will."
***
Kangin entered the room and noticed the contemplative look on Eeteuk's face and the sudden blush when he realized that Kangin had joined him. He'd just seen Heechul walk out of the room earlier and a smug look on his face told volumes. "Heechul talked to you didn't he?" Kangin frowned, vowing silently to get back at the older man later.
"Youngwoon..." Eeteuk fell silent, his eyes looking at his hands in his lap.
Kangin sighed, moving to the side of Eeteuk's bed, sitting at the edge. "You said not to say it then, so I'm going to say it now." He took a deep breath. "I love you. So fucking much." Kangin moved a hand to Eeteuk's chin, a move that seemed so familiar and almost comical. One they'd had to practive a few times to get right for a drama and now it was so natural to do so. Eeteuk's eyes met Kangin's "I love you. And I don't want to lose you."
Eeteuk frowned. "You won't lose me..."
"Do you know how much it hurt when I saw you go down? I was so fucking scared, the most I've ever been scared for in my life. Losing you..." Kangin's voice broke. "Losing you would break me..."
Eeteuk didn't know what to say to that, instead he drew the other down, their foreheads touching like they did so many times before. It was a comfort as well as an apology. He didn't mean to hurt Kangin like this. "I understand. I..." Eeteuk struggled for the words. "I know how you feel."
"But you don't share it." Kangin made to pull away, but Eeteuk didn't let him.
"We've been fools for too long." Eeteuk sighed. "The cameras...the world...they stopped us. Now that there's nothing there..."
"It should be easier." Kangin sounded almost desperate. Eeteuk shook his head.
"Youngwoon...I..." Might as well get it out now. "I love you. I do...but...The boys need us. What if they..." Hate us, Eeteuk wanted to get out, but the words wouldn't leave his lips, so anguishing was the thought. "This..." He motioned between them. "This is a distraction. We...I..." Eeteuk looked up at Kangin with pleading eyes, to make him understand what he was trying to say, even if he didn't understand himself.
"You're making this harder than it has to be." Eeteuk knew Kangin was at his wits end, the words coming out sounding like a harsh growl.
Eeteuk gave him a calming smile. "When have I ever made it easy for you?"
Kangin sighed, the fight leaving him slightly. "Never."
"Youngwoon..." Kangin put a hand over his mouth.
"Enough of your nonsense," Kangin growled, replacing his hand with his lips, speaking with the only language he knew that Eeteuk would understand. The language of his heart.
Eeteuk remembered thinking about how it'd be to kiss someone like Kangin. There was no more wondering now. The kiss was fierce, strong, bold, but strangely gentle. Kangin kissed with his body and soul, dominating the smaller though careful of Eeteuk's injury and weakness.
Of course, like all romantic moments Eeteuk's ever had in his entire life, they were interrupted by the door swinging open. They broke apart, though Kangin didn't move from his position over Eeteuk.
Donghae stopped in his tracks, eyes wide as he took in their swollen lips and obvious guilty looks. "Okay. Now I know I'm interrupting." Kangin's blush stretched over his chest and down his arms. If Eeteuk had enough blood he probably would have been the same lobster red. Donghae just shook his head. "Just to let you know, Hyukkie ran out of the dorms."
"What?" Kangin jumped to his feet. He gave Eeteuk an apologising glance and Eeteuk made shooing motions. "Go. I'll be along in a minute."
"You're going to stay right where you are." Kangin growled, following Donghae out of the room. "Make sure he stays in there." He told Shiwon and Hankyung who were standing outside the door, looking anxious. He looked over to Eunhyuk's usual place by the window, expecting it all to be a joke, but Donghae was right and Eunhyuk was nowhere in sight.
"He shouted something and ran outside." Donghae explained as they made their way down the stairs. "Sungmin says he shouted 'Junsu' but that can't be right."
"Yeah well, a lot of things aren't right right now." Kangin spotted Eunhyuk standing just outside of the door, still as a statue. "Hyukjae!"
Eunhyuk didn't turn as the two approached. Kangin gave a swift look over the horizon and the building tops. A slight twinge of fear zipped through him when he thought of how unguarded he'd been that day. If only he'd seen the guy sooner...
"Junsu." Eunhyuk took off in a run and Kangin and Donghae watched him, too stunned at the sudden reaction to move.
And then they saw it.
On the horizon, four figures walked and one ran toward the shape of Eunhyuk's body speeding toward them.
--------
The end. Ish. ^^ There's an epilogue to wrap things up. If muse feels like it, there might be some side stories to make this story make sense. But don't count on it ^^
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Mostly focused on KangTeuk and HyukSu, but other pairings will most likely abound. I'm just that bias.
Summary: What would you do if the world came to an end?
Warning: AU, end-of-the-world type scenario, un-beta'd, tense manipulating, and horrible ploting skills went in to the creation of this fic.
Notes: I started writing this four years ago, but never finished it. As usual, I know nothing about the medical field, so let's just pretend that I know what I'm talking about ^^
"He's a guy." Was the response Heechul got when he finally confronts Kangin with his suspicions.
"And?" Heechul snorted. "Like that matters in our line of work."
"Are you really suggesting that me and Eeteuk...are..." The blush is almost comical on a face like Kangin's.
"Oh please, like it's a secret." The smirk that developed on Heechul's face was devilish. "So? How far have the two of you gotten?"
"Shut up!" Kangin shoved Heechul and the smaller boy stumbled a bit, laughing.
"God, you're obvious!" Heechul clutched his side, laughing so hard that it hurt. "Who would have thought that our mighty Kangin was such a softy."
Kangin growled, crossing his arms. "I'm not sure where you think you're going with all of this, but there is nothing going on between me and Eeteuk."
"I love how you call him Eeteuk when you're trying to separate yourself from him." Heechul rolled his eyes, sobering a bit. "I've never known you not to go after something you want."
"I don't want anything."
"Liar." Kangin didn't respond. Heechul sighed. "Is it the cameras? The fame? Even before it all we all knew..."
"We...can't." Kangin sagged his shoulders. "We just can't. Not now. Not ever."
"Not even when the world falls to pieces?" Heechul raised an eyebrow.
That got a chuckle out of Kangin. "Well, maybe when the world falls to pieces. If it does, you can be the one to annouce it to the world."
***
The dorm was quiet for once, the teams out doing their usual scavenging and fixing up whatever was left of their world. He knew that Eunhyuk was by the window, gazing out into the beyond, hands twiddling with whatever the others had given him to do. Eeteuk laid in his bed, staring up at the celing.
He'd been in a coma for a month.
One month of a black void in his memory. It was unnerving to think about. All he rememered was pain when he closed his eyes and pain when he opened them again. What had happened in that time he'd been unable to look after his flock? He would have never forgiven himself if anything had happened without his guidance.
He knew despite the fact that Kangin insisted that he was fine, that the other had spent every waking minute at his side. He could tell by the weary look in Kangin's eyes and the way his frame looked so much more thin than it should. Eeteuk didn't blame him for not taking care of what was left; he would have done the same. It had been Heechul that had taken up his stead when all things failed. Someone so unlikely to keep them going. One that never seemed to care, yet led his boys through what would have probably been their most hardest of months.
"Yah, I know when you're thinking too hard and you better stop that before you hurt yourself again." The subject of his thoughts came waltzing through the door. Heechul stopped at the edge of his bed, clearly loving the fact that he could look down on Eeteuk.
"Sorry, not all of us were granted the ability to sacrifice brain for beauty," Eeteuk smiled. Heechul snorted and rolled his eyes, throwing himself into the chair beside Eeteuk's bed. "So what do I owe the pleasure?" Heechul had not been in to visit Eeteuk by himself. He always had Shiwon or Hankyung by his side. He knew Heechul cared, but Eeteuk and Heechul hadn't ever really been close, despite training together for years.
"It's Youngwoon." Heechul's exression turned sour, as if he'd swallowed something nasty. Eeteuk took that to mean that something very un-Heechul-like was going to come out of Heechul's mouth. Worry started to override his initial pleasure at having Heechul visit him. "He never left your side." The seriousness on Heechul's face seemed uncharacteristc and mispalced and only served to worry Eeteuk more. "God, Jungsu. He practically died the same time you did." Heechul sighed, fustrated at his inability to convey what he meant in words. "I...shit. This is going to sound dumb comning from me, but Youngwoon, he loves you. Fucking adores you."
"I know." Eeteuk softly agreed, eyes glazing over with a far off look, one that Heechul knew meant that Eeteuk was thinking about the past. "I know that. I've known for a very long time." There was a pause and then Eeteuk sighed. "We both do."
"Next time you want to be a super hero, try to remember it, okay?" It was the best Eeteuk would get out of Heechul that resembled worry. "I'll try." Eeteuk smiled, earning a snort from Heechul. "Yeah, whatever. Like I care if you live or die." Eeteuk knew that Heechul didn't mean it, chuckling at the sentiments.
Just before the boy had retreated out of the room Eeteuk was sure he heard Heechul mumble. "I don't even know why I'm doing this. I'm going to fucking kill Shiwon and Hankyung for being bad influences..."
***
Heechul had known from the beginning. Of course, it wasn't something that sprung up overnight. No, it was something that had grew like a vine, entwining the two together until you couldn't tell the beginning or the end. This was KangTeuk, the couple that would probably be the death of him.
As he watched one of his best friends fall apart at the seems, he knew that their pretend games were at the breaking point. Years had they pretended to just be friends. To skirt around the issue of their own sexuality and affection for each other. How could they stand to be so close and yet so far was beyond Heechul who took what he wanted regardless of the consequences.
At first, it was the cameras that stopped them and even Heechul understood how daunting their glass eyes could be. To be caught in any sort of comprimising position would spell the end for not only the two of them, but for the boys that they had started to call their 'children'.
But then the world ended and Heechul couldn't understand why they kept up the act. Was it because they thought the others would hate them? Were they blind?
"Are you blind?" Heechul questioned, an eyebrow raised as he stared at Kangin with an incredulous expression.
"Fuck off, Heechul."
"No, seriously. You are." Heechul shook his head out of disbelief. "God, you two are crazy. How long has this been going on?"
"This is not the time to be discussing my..." Kangin stopped short and Heechul saw the telltale blush forming. "God, Heechul! Why are you bringing this up? Jungsu might be dying and you want to play matchmaker!"
"You want to know why I'm bringing this up?" Heechul almost yelled, but remembered to keep his voice down. Being overheard would ruin any chance he had. "Because every time one of you goes inactive, the other follows suit. It's like you guys can't live without each other."
"Because we can't!" This was clearly not what Kangin wanted to say because he instantly shut his mouth and looked sick. He turned and started walking toward the door.
"Just tell him how you feel already. It's not like we have to act for anyone anymore." Kangin stopped for a second at the words. "Exactly. Now, when he wakes up, grow some balls and tell him how you feel. If you don't, I'll do it. I swear I will."
***
Kangin entered the room and noticed the contemplative look on Eeteuk's face and the sudden blush when he realized that Kangin had joined him. He'd just seen Heechul walk out of the room earlier and a smug look on his face told volumes. "Heechul talked to you didn't he?" Kangin frowned, vowing silently to get back at the older man later.
"Youngwoon..." Eeteuk fell silent, his eyes looking at his hands in his lap.
Kangin sighed, moving to the side of Eeteuk's bed, sitting at the edge. "You said not to say it then, so I'm going to say it now." He took a deep breath. "I love you. So fucking much." Kangin moved a hand to Eeteuk's chin, a move that seemed so familiar and almost comical. One they'd had to practive a few times to get right for a drama and now it was so natural to do so. Eeteuk's eyes met Kangin's "I love you. And I don't want to lose you."
Eeteuk frowned. "You won't lose me..."
"Do you know how much it hurt when I saw you go down? I was so fucking scared, the most I've ever been scared for in my life. Losing you..." Kangin's voice broke. "Losing you would break me..."
Eeteuk didn't know what to say to that, instead he drew the other down, their foreheads touching like they did so many times before. It was a comfort as well as an apology. He didn't mean to hurt Kangin like this. "I understand. I..." Eeteuk struggled for the words. "I know how you feel."
"But you don't share it." Kangin made to pull away, but Eeteuk didn't let him.
"We've been fools for too long." Eeteuk sighed. "The cameras...the world...they stopped us. Now that there's nothing there..."
"It should be easier." Kangin sounded almost desperate. Eeteuk shook his head.
"Youngwoon...I..." Might as well get it out now. "I love you. I do...but...The boys need us. What if they..." Hate us, Eeteuk wanted to get out, but the words wouldn't leave his lips, so anguishing was the thought. "This..." He motioned between them. "This is a distraction. We...I..." Eeteuk looked up at Kangin with pleading eyes, to make him understand what he was trying to say, even if he didn't understand himself.
"You're making this harder than it has to be." Eeteuk knew Kangin was at his wits end, the words coming out sounding like a harsh growl.
Eeteuk gave him a calming smile. "When have I ever made it easy for you?"
Kangin sighed, the fight leaving him slightly. "Never."
"Youngwoon..." Kangin put a hand over his mouth.
"Enough of your nonsense," Kangin growled, replacing his hand with his lips, speaking with the only language he knew that Eeteuk would understand. The language of his heart.
Eeteuk remembered thinking about how it'd be to kiss someone like Kangin. There was no more wondering now. The kiss was fierce, strong, bold, but strangely gentle. Kangin kissed with his body and soul, dominating the smaller though careful of Eeteuk's injury and weakness.
Of course, like all romantic moments Eeteuk's ever had in his entire life, they were interrupted by the door swinging open. They broke apart, though Kangin didn't move from his position over Eeteuk.
Donghae stopped in his tracks, eyes wide as he took in their swollen lips and obvious guilty looks. "Okay. Now I know I'm interrupting." Kangin's blush stretched over his chest and down his arms. If Eeteuk had enough blood he probably would have been the same lobster red. Donghae just shook his head. "Just to let you know, Hyukkie ran out of the dorms."
"What?" Kangin jumped to his feet. He gave Eeteuk an apologising glance and Eeteuk made shooing motions. "Go. I'll be along in a minute."
"You're going to stay right where you are." Kangin growled, following Donghae out of the room. "Make sure he stays in there." He told Shiwon and Hankyung who were standing outside the door, looking anxious. He looked over to Eunhyuk's usual place by the window, expecting it all to be a joke, but Donghae was right and Eunhyuk was nowhere in sight.
"He shouted something and ran outside." Donghae explained as they made their way down the stairs. "Sungmin says he shouted 'Junsu' but that can't be right."
"Yeah well, a lot of things aren't right right now." Kangin spotted Eunhyuk standing just outside of the door, still as a statue. "Hyukjae!"
Eunhyuk didn't turn as the two approached. Kangin gave a swift look over the horizon and the building tops. A slight twinge of fear zipped through him when he thought of how unguarded he'd been that day. If only he'd seen the guy sooner...
"Junsu." Eunhyuk took off in a run and Kangin and Donghae watched him, too stunned at the sudden reaction to move.
And then they saw it.
On the horizon, four figures walked and one ran toward the shape of Eunhyuk's body speeding toward them.
--------
The end. Ish. ^^ There's an epilogue to wrap things up. If muse feels like it, there might be some side stories to make this story make sense. But don't count on it ^^