Curious Kyuhyun and the Case of the Cryptic Carnival
Title: Curious Kyuhyun and the Case of the Cryptic Carnival
Pairing: Qmi
Genre: AU
Rating: PG-13 (Violence/Gore)
Summary: Kyuhyun attempts to escape his unhappy life with the help of a carnival.
A/N: Commission for Sara! (I am so sorry about the title. I couldn't stop myself.)
-
A masked man stands, tall and unmoving even as a large man charges at him, sabre in hand. The entire audience gasps in horror as they watch the blade impale the masked man's stomach, pushing through until it is visibly sticking out of his back, dripping red.
Kyuhyun refuses to let his eyes blink. He sits on the edge of his seat, watching closely as the sabre is removed. The masked man stumbles before steadying himself and turning to the audience. He rips his own shirt using the hole created by the sword, revealing his wound. And then, before the eyes of the audience, the wound begins to disappear.
Whispers spread through the crowd but Kyuhyun doesn't pay any attention to them. He watches until the wound is gone and the blood is wiped clean from the masked man's body to prove that his skin is no longer pierced.
The crowd stands and cheers but Kyuhyun stays seated because he's seen this part enough times to know how it goes. The masked man will bow and leave the stage before the audience becomes mad with chatter, trying to discover the secret behind this trick. Kyuhyun has heard all of the theories of fake blood and trick swords but none of them satisfy him. He knows that there is a deeper secret involving the masked man.
This is the fifth time Kyuhyun has seen this act. The first time he'd seen it, he'd been young and naïve, stunned and dazzled. He'd thought that the trick was real and that the masked man had magical healing powers. Now he is older and wiser. Even so, he is unsure of the truth and, after five years of pondering, is desperate to find the truth.
After most of the crowd has left the carnival grounds, Kyuhyun begins searching for someone who can direct him towards the carnival owner. He finds a plump man with a balding head who is sweeping up trash and approaches him.
“Excuse me,” he says and the man looks up at him. “I'm looking for... the owner.”
The man gives him an amused smile before leaning his broom against a wall to give Kyuhyun his full attention.
“And just why do you need to see the owner?” the man asks.
“If you're not the owner, you don't need to know,” Kyuhyun responds simply.
“Whoa, kid. No need to have an attitude. I'm just asking a question.”
“So was I.”
The man's eyes narrow. “Answer mine and I'll answer yours.”
Kyuhyun examines the man's face and finds it quite obvious that he is being toyed with. “You're not going to answer mine,” he says. “I'll be going now.”
As soon as Kyuhyun turns around, he comes face to face with a smiling woman. A beautiful, smiling woman.
“Well,” she says, “you give up rather easily. I'm not sure I want you in my carnival.”
“Excuse me?” Kyuhyun is puzzled as he stares at the smiling woman and hears the man behind him give a chuckle before returning to the sweeping he'd previously been doing.
“That's why you're here, isn't it?” The woman turns and begins walking briskly, leaving Kyuhyun no choice but to follow her across the now nearly empty carnival grounds.
“Are you the owner?” Kyuhyun asks, dodging her question to ask his own.
“Yes,” she answers simply.
“But... you're...”
The woman stops abruptly and turns to Kyuhyun, smile gone. Kyuhyun stops as well, hiding the intimidation he feels from the woman's stare. “I'm what?” she asks. “A woman?”
“I was going to say young,” Kyuhyun answers honestly. He can't be sure of the woman's age but even up close he thinks that she could pass as a teenager. She certainly doesn't seem old enough to have run this carnival for the five years Kyuhyun has come to see it. The smile returns to the woman's face and Kyuhyun relaxes.
“I'm a bit older than I look,” she says. She then turns around again and enters a large tent.
Kyuhyun hesitates before following her inside where he finds her seated behind a table, searching through her belongings. He takes a moment to look around the tent, examining the simple set up that's obviously not meant for living in for more than a few days and noting colorful outfits that hang on a rack to his right.
“Are you going to tell me why you're here or are you just going to follow me around all day?” Although the woman sounds irritated, she looks amused.
Kyuhyun shifts awkwardly in place. “You were right,” he says. “About... me wanting to join your carnival.”
The amused look stays on the woman's face. “What's your name?” she asks.
“Cho Kyuhyun,” Kyuhyun responds, watching the woman stand and examine him. He fidgets uncomfortably at the silence until he breaks it. “You haven't told me your name.”
“Just call me Sooyoung,” the woman says with a smile. “This carnival isn't for just anybody to join, Cho Kyuhyun. There are requirements that need to be met.” Sooyoung walks around to the front of her table and leans against it, her eyes never leaving Kyuhyun. “Do you have any... talents?”
Kyuhyun looks to the prepared bag slung around his shoulder. He ignores his sweaty palms and opens the bag, pulling out a small box. He hands the box to Sooyoung who glances at him curiously before opening it.
“I make masks,” he says. “And costumes. Like those.” He nods to the colorful costumes he'd seen earlier.
Sooyoung stares at the mask, delicately decorated in soft blues. She tentatively lifts it and holds it in front of her face, looking at Kyuhyun through it.
“So you do want to join us?” she asks.
Kyuhyun grips the strap of his bag and keeps his composure. “Yes,” he responds.
Sooyoung sets the mask back into the box and sighs. “This is a beautiful mask, Kyuhyun, but you must understand that this carnival is-”
“I don't have anywhere else to go,” Kyuhyun blurts out, interrupting Sooyoung. It's not really the truth, there are plenty of places Kyuhyun could go, he just doesn't want to be anywhere else. “I'm not leaving anything behind by coming with you.”
Sooyoung closely examines Kyuhyun, watching every move he makes. She seems to have a tough moment of deliberation before she speaks. “I'm sorry,” she says. “This carnival is... not like other carnivals. I'm afraid there's no way I can let you join us.”
Kyuhyun looks down, disappointed, defeated. After holding a confident composure for so long, he lets himself slip. Sooyoung extends the box containing his mask to him. “Keep it,” he says as he backs out of the tent, “it's a gift.”
He tries to keep himself composed as he wanders around the carnival grounds. He'd been completely ready to join this carnival and leave his known world behind. While he does have a place to return to, it is a place that he does not want to go. He does not want to go back to his family who bicker and scream constantly and force him to give up the money he makes so that they can live more comfortably. Kyuhyun would have left long ago if he'd had a place to go. This carnival had been a hope building inside him with each passing year. He knows he doesn't have much talent to offer but even so, he walks away with a heavy heart.
At least, he begins to walk away until he spots a figure walking very slowly with two wooden crates stacked in his arms. Instinctively, Kyuhyun steps toward the figure.
“Can I help you carry that?” he asks.
A head peeks from behind the crate, revealing the surprised face of a man before he gives a warm smile. “That would be greatly appreciated,” he says.
Kyuhyun takes only a second to stare at the wide smile before he stands on his toes and plucks the top crate from the man's armload. He settles it into his arms and follows the man to the crate's destination.
“So are you lost or do you make a habit out of walking through closed carnivals?” the man asks as he sets the crate in a large cart, indicating for Kyuhyun to do the same. Kyuhyun puts his crate down as well and dusts his hands off on his pants.
“I was just... passing through,” Kyuhyun lies, too embarrassed to admit the truth.
“That's not very believable.” The man is smiling again and Kyuhyun stares this time. It's a nice smile - inviting and kind. It's attached to a handsome face and a tall, thin body that Kyuhyun finds familiar. He glances down to the pants the man is wearing and recognizes them immediately.
“You're the invincible man,” Kyuhyun says, eyes unknowingly wide.
“You can call me Zhou Mi,” the invincible man replies, smile still prominent. He examines Kyuhyun briefly before making direct eye contact. “How did you recognize me?”
Kyuhyun finds himself embarrassed under Zhou Mi's stare but holds his ground. “I've seen your act five times,” he answers. “Once for every time this carnival has come here. I guess I always pay close attention because... I want to know how you do it.”
Zhou Mi's smiling face turns into a look of pity. “That's not something I can reveal to just anyone,” he says.
“Why is everyone in this carnival so secretive?” Kyuhyun mumbles.
Before Zhou Mi can answer, a man calls out to him and beckons him to the other side of the now dark and bare carnival.
“You should be on your way,” he says. “Thank you for your help. It was nice meeting you...”
“Kyuhyun,” Kyuhyun says to fill the silence following Zhou Mi's words. “Cho Kyuhyun.”
“Kyuhyun.” Zhou Mi smiles. He doesn't say another word. He simply nods his head to Kyuhyun and begins to walk away.
Kyuhyun is intrigued. He's wondered about the invincible masked man's act for so many hours that he couldn't possibly count them all. He'd questioned what the man behind the mask might be like but never imagined that he would be a kind, charming man. Just meeting him has Kyuhyun doubting everything he's thought about his performance.
“The carnival isn't for just anybody to join? The trick can't be revealed to just anyone?” Kyuhyun grips the strap of his bag and looks into the dark area where Zhou Mi had disappeared. “We'll see about that.”
-
Kyuhyun wakes up with an incredible pain in his neck. He hadn't wanted to sleep in a crate but he didn't have much of a choice. At least he'd been lucky enough to find a large crate full of clothes. When Kyuhyun opens his eyes and pops out of the crate, he's met with the unhappy face of Sooyoung next to the worried face of Zhou Mi. He blinks several times and realizes that Sooyoung's expression isn't unhappy, it's furious.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” she asks.
“Well, I was sleeping.” Kyuhyun stretches a little, playing nonchalant.
“Oh. Great. Now could you kindly go back to sleep forever?”
Kyuhyun might have found that amusing if it weren't for the murderous look on Sooyoung's face as she said it.
“Sooyoung,” Zhou Mi says calmly, “everything will be fine. There's nothing to worry about.”
“Nothing to worry about?! What if he...” Sooyoung glances between Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi. “Fine,” she says. “He's your responsibility.”
Kyuhyun, still sitting in a crate, feels meek as he watches Sooyoung storm away. He looks up to Zhou Mi. “I think I just caused some trouble for you.”
Zhou Mi looks down at Kyuhyun and smiles. “Like I said before,” he starts, “there's nothing to worry about.” He helps Kyuhyun stand and step out of the crate. “Things are just a bit complicated here.”
“I noticed,” Kyuhyun mumbles. “I'm fairly certain that Sooyoung will stuff me back in a crate and throw me into the ocean if I cross paths with her.”
Zhou Mi laughs softly. “She's far too kind to do something like that. And I think that there might be something you can do to change her mind about you.”
“Really?” Kyuhyun perks up instantly. “What can I do?”
“Work,” Zhou Mi says. He points to the crate Kyuhyun had just slept in. “Start by tidying those clothes. I'll find something else for you to do after that.”
Kyuhyun looks at the clothes and when he looks back up, Zhou Mi is walking away. Now fully awake, Kyuhyun takes a look at his surroundings. He is in a clearing in the woods - there are no carnival attractions visible, only tents and wagons and people bustling about. This is most definitely not the place Kyuhyun had fallen asleep in last night. Nothing around him looks familiar. He'd acted as a stowaway, hiding and secretly traveling with the carnival. Feeling quite proud and only a little terrified of what could happen to him, Kyuhyun begins to work.
-
After a day of cleaning, lifting, arranging, and more cleaning, Kyuhyun sits on the ground outside of Sooyoung's tent where Zhou Mi and Sooyoung are deciding his fate. He isn't sure why Zhou Mi wants to help him but he doesn't really care for the reason as long as he doesn't end up dead or left in the middle of the woods at the end of the day. He looks to the tents in the distance, occasionally seeing a person walking from one to another. No one had paid attention to him throughout the day although he had been curiously peeking at them. He'd seen both men and women walking about, most of them seeming to relax on a day off from work. Or perhaps he had been doing their work all along.
“Kyuhyun.”
Kyuhyun stands up at the sound of Zhou Mi's voice, turning to face both Zhou Mi and Sooyoung.
“I hope today wasn't too hard for you,” Sooyoung says. “You might see a few more days like it.”
Kyuhyun's face scrunches in slight confusion until he sees a rather proud smile on Zhou Mi's face.
“So you're not gonna kill me?”
Sooyoung looks at Kyuhyun with disbelief while Zhou Mi looks away entirely.
“Kill you? Why would you even... forget it. Just... come meet the rest of the crew.”
Zhou Mi finally lets his amusement out in the form of a small laugh while watching Sooyoung walk toward the tents. He follows her and Kyuhyun trails behind. Kyuhyun examines Zhou Mi's tall figure and subconsciously slows his walk.
“What did you say to her?” Kyuhyun asks and Zhou Mi turns to him, slowing down as well to keep their paces even.
“It's a secret.”
Kyuhyun groans. “Why is everything around here so secretive?” he asks.
“Maybe someday it won't be.” Zhou Mi looks as mysterious as he sounds and it makes Kyuhyun have to remember to move his feet to keep up.
Sooyoung is having some kind of talk with a group of people as Kyuhyun and Zhou Mi approach. She looks at them with a smile.
“This is Kyuhyun,” she says. “He'll be traveling with us from now on.”
This information is met with looks of shock and confusion. One young man points at Kyuhyun. “But he's a-”
“I know he's a little bit different than our usual members,” Sooyoung interrupts, “but he's staying here. Deal with it.”
A few people grumble in clear disappointment but none of them seem willing to challenge Sooyoung's authority. The crowd slowly disperses and Sooyoung sighs.
“You can stay with Zhou Mi for now,” she says. “It's best you get a good night's sleep tonight. I'll see you both in the morning.” She walks away after that and Zhou Mi watches her as she leaves while Kyuhyun is watching Zhou Mi.
“Are you and Sooyoung, um, together?”
“No,” Zhou Mi instantly answers, “definitely not.”
“Definitely?”
“My tent is this way.”
Kyuhyun doesn't press any further. When they arrive at Zhou Mi's tent, he's amazed to find the interior decorated rather lavishly. There is a red, ornate rug on the floor and foreign decorations set out among it. There is a bed made for one that matches the carpet along with a net suspended between two stakes.
“What is this?” Kyuhyun questions, staring at the net.
“It's a hammock,” Zhou Mi answers. “You've never seen one?” Kyuhyun shakes his head and Zhou Mi smiles. “Try it out.”
“You mean like... sit on it?” Kyuhyun touches the hammock tentatively.
“You can lie down if you'd like.” Zhou Mi notices the skeptical look on Kyuhyun's face. “Or maybe I should sleep on the hammock. You can take my bed.”
“But-”
“Good night, Kyuhyun,” says Zhou Mi as he prepares the hammock for sleeping.
Kyuhyun decides not to protest. He'd wanted to sleep in the bed anyway.
-
It's difficult at first, when Kyuhyun has no idea what his life is or where it's going. He would be very distraught if not for his fascination for the mysteries of his new traveling companions.
There's Victoria, the quiet contortionist, and the impossibly strong men: Kangin and Siwon. There's Henry the musician and the acrobatic troupe consisting of Yuri, Hyoyeon, and Yoona. There are many others. There are dancers and singers and actors and sideshow attractions but Kyuhyun has become most curious about Jessica, the silent, unblinking woman. He's seen all of the acts this carnival has to offer but can't recall her face or name in any of them. He decides to leave the matter alone and perhaps save his questions for a day when he isn't constantly being glared at by everyone around him.
In between his own work of mending costumes and tending to the needs of the carnival employees, Kyuhyun likes to sneak into practice acts, watching daring leaps and eye-catching dances. While he enjoys seeing the inner workings of the carnival, he's constantly left with questions. There is never a practice for Zhou Mi's act. Zhou Mi tends to keep to himself, spending his time alone when he's not assisting Kyuhyun in some way. Kyuhyun doesn't ask questions of Zhou Mi because he knows they will not be answered.
One day, as Kyuhyun is secretly watching the practice of an impressive juggling act, he is caught. A hand lands on his shoulder and he nearly jumps out of skin only to turn around and be met with Zhou Mi's face. Zhou Mi gives a chuckle at Kyuhyun's surprised state.
“Can you juggle?” Zhou Mi asks, standing next to Kyuhyun.
“No,” Kyuhyun replies simply, a little bitter at the shock Zhou Mi had caused him.
“I can teach you.”
Kyuhyun perks up ever so slightly. “You can juggle?” he asks.
“Of course.” Zhou Mi nods. “I like to participate in other acts sometimes. That is, when I'm not being stabbed.”
It's the first time Zhou Mi has mentioned his carnival talent. He speaks as if his act is no big feat and it makes Kyuhyun bubble with questions. He manages to keep his tongue bitten and turns back to the practice in front of him.
“I don't want to learn how to juggle,” he says.
Zhou Mi is silent for a moment and Kyuhyun can feel the stare on his face.
“Very well,” Zhou Mi says calmly. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Kyuhyun.”
Kyuhyun watches him leave and then sighs to himself. He's been sleeping in the same tent as Zhou Mi for a week now but they've hardly talked to each other. Kyuhyun has only learned that the decorations in his tent have been accumulated during his travels with the carnival. The only other information he's gained is about the carnival itself, such as the fact that it moves around to put on a show approximately once every two weeks.
Although continuously unsure of his decision to accidentally join the carnival, Kyuhyun remains strong with determination of curiosity. He isn't sure what he's waiting for, he only knows that when light is finally shed on the mysteries of this carnival, his accidental decision will be worth it.
-
The day of the carnival is approaching and Kyuhyun finds himself feeling somewhat nervous as he carries out his task of promoting its location. He spends his day handing out paper fliers and asking nearby inhabitants to attend. He can only hope that he's done a good job as he makes his way back to the carnival set up where Sooyoung asks him to prepare costumes.
It's the evening before the carnival when Kyuhyun realizes that Zhou Mi has done nothing but help others prepare their acts. Unless Zhou Mi has been practicing his act when Kyuhyun isn't around then he hasn't practiced at all. As each of them prepare to sleep, Kyuhyun finally asks a question.
“Why haven't you prepared for your act?”
Zhou Mi glances at Kyuhyun from his hammock and smiles. “There's nothing to prepare,” he says. “It's a simple act.”
Kyuhyun nods and although he's trying his hardest to restrain himself, the question that burns at the tip of his tongue slips out.
“How do you do it?”
Zhou Mi looks at Kyuhyun, face calm. “What makes you think I'm going to tell you that?” he asks in jest.
“Well... I have been sleeping in your bed for two weeks now,” Kyuhyun replies and Zhou Mi grins.
“And?”
“And... that's it. That's all I've got.”
Zhou Mi chuckles. “Big day tomorrow,” he says. “We both need our rest. Good night, Kyuhyun.”
Kyuhyun wants to ask more, wants to know more about Zhou Mi's act. Mostly, Kyuhyun finds himself just wanting to talk to Zhou Mi more. He lies in bed, facing away from Zhou Mi, and grips his blanket.
“Good night, invincible Zhou Mi.”
-
Kyuhyun wakes to the sounds of music and cheers of excitement. The carnival has already begun but Kyuhyun takes his time to get out of bed. He isn't sure what he should be doing. Everything will run smoothly without him and he hasn't been given any instruction so he sits in Zhou Mi's tent, sewing a shirt that he's been working on for weeks.
When his hands begin to ache, he decides to leave his sewing behind and walking into the carnival. He's greeted with the same performances he'd seen just two weeks ago only this time, he knows that Henry is the one zealously playing the piano while Kangin and Siwon are lifting him in the air. He sees Victoria mesmerizing a crowd and just across from her he spots Zhou Mi juggling within a group of other performers.
Kyuhyun finds himself smiling and clapping along with the crowd at the juggling performance. Zhou Mi isn't the greatest juggler but the other performers more than make up for that. When the performance is over, Kyuhyun walks up to a proud Zhou Mi.
“You really can juggle.”
Zhou Mi looks surprised but gives a warm smile. “I'm glad you decided to drop by.”
“There wasn't much else to do,” Kyuhyun replies.
“Well then I hope you enjoy yourself while you're here.” Zhou Mi briefly places his hands on Kyuhyun's shoulders and widens his smile before walking away with the other performers. Kyuhyun is left with a warm feeling, as if Zhou Mi had detected the anxieties that he'd been feeling and tried to smile them away.
Kyuhyun continues to think about that smile as he aimlessly walks around the carnival. When the sun starts to go down and the crowd begins to dwindle, Kyuhyun's stomach begins to feel uneasy. He notices that everyone is moving into a large tent - the place where the must-see events are held, the place where Zhou Mi's act will be. Kyuhyun walks to it slowly, stopping just outside the entrance where he can barely make out the stage where an acrobatic performance has already begun.
“It's good that you're here.”
Kyuhyun turns to find Sooyoung standing beside him.
“Why is that?”
Sooyoung only smiles and directs her eyes to the stage. Kyuhyun's eyes follow and he sees a tall form wearing the mask he had made. Zhou Mi. Zhou Mi is standing on stage, wearing Kyuhyun's mask, seconds away from performing. Kyuhyun's stomach does a flip as if to mimic the acrobats he'd seen earlier.
“I have to go,” he says.
He hears Sooyoung call after him but he continues to walk in the general direction of his shared tent with Zhou Mi. When he reaches it, he collapses onto Zhou Mi's bed and breathes. He couldn't do it. He couldn't watch Zhou Mi's act. When he'd seen it in the past, he hadn't known the invincible man. He could easily imagine him as a cruel brute but now he knows that the opposite true. Zhou Mi is kind and warm and helpful. Zhou Mi has a smile that can light up the night and Kyuhyun doesn't want to think about that smile going away.
-
When the day is gone and the tent is only lit by the bright moon, Zhou Mi returns. Kyuhyun looks up from his spot on the bed and sees confusion on Zhou Mi's face. In turn, Zhou Mi sees the fear in Kyuhyun's eyes. Zhou Mi approaches slowly and kneels on the ground so that his eyes are level with Kyuhyun's.
“You weren't there,” Zhou Mi says softly. “Why weren't you there?”
“I didn't want to be there,” Kyuhyun says in an even softer voice, looking down to avoid Zhou Mi's eyes.
Zhou Mi nods slowly. “I wanted to surprise you,” he said. “I wore your mask.”
“I know,” Kyuhyun replies quickly. “I saw you... I saw the mask... and then I left.”
Zhou Mi sees the shaking of Kyuhyun's body and hears it in his words. He extends his hands to gently hold Kyuhyun's. “Why did you leave?”
Kyuhyun looks up at Zhou Mi and his shaking ceases. “Because it hurts, you... doesn't it? It hurts you every time you do it. And you're hiding that pain... behind my mask. I can't... I couldn't... I don't want you to be hurt.”
Zhou Mi's eyes widen slightly and he blinks at Kyuhyun. “Why do you think it hurts me?”
Kyuhyun glances at their hands together and then he pulls his away, shaking his head. “I don't... I mean, it's just a trick, right? I'm just being stupid. I don't even know what I'm talking about.” Kyuhyun stands up and quickly makes his way to the exit of the tent.
“Kyuhyun,” Zhou mi says so loudly that it stops Kyuhyun in his tracks. He turns slowly to see Zhou Mi standing, a knife in one hand. Kyuhyun doesn't have time to think before Zhou Mi is plunging the knife into his own stomach.
“Zhou Mi!” Kyuhyun cries out, rushing to Zhou Mi's side.
Zhou Mi is wincing as he pulls the bloody knife back out and lets it fall to the ground. He looks at Kyuhyun and smiles weakly. “It doesn't hurt... as much as you think.”
Frightened, Kyuhyun stares at Zhou Mi, slowly feeling calmed by his smile. His eyes travel down to the bloody patch on Zhou Mi's shirt. Just as in Zhou Mi's act, Kyuhyun reaches out to rip the shirt, revealing the bleeding wound. He watches as the wound slowly heals, leaving nothing behind but a trail of blood. He looks up at Zhou Mi, shaking once again.
Zhou Mi is still smiling although he's shaking now, too. His hand finds its way to the side of Kyuhyun's face, warm and comforting. “It's okay, Kyuhyun,” he whispers. “I'm okay.”
Kyuhyun is disoriented but he finally understands. Zhou Mi's act is no trick. Zhou Mi somehow, miraculously, has the ability to heal his own stab wounds. Kyuhyun holds onto Zhou Mi's arms and Zhou Mi reaches out to steady him.
“How is this possible?” he asks.
“I can't really answer that question,” Zhou Mi replies. “I only know that it's been happening to me since I was very young.”
Kyuhyun nods slowly. “And why are you telling me the truth now?”
“Because you said you don't me to be hurt... and I believe you.”
Kyuhyun takes a moment to process those words and then he gets it. Zhou Mi knows Kyuhyun won't tell anyone his secret because if he did, Zhou Mi would be hurt. Now that they're both calm, Kyuhyun takes a seat on the bed and Zhou Mi sits beside him.
“How did you... know you could do that?” Kyuhyun is finally asking questions.
“As I said before, it happened when I was young. My parents abandoned me and I was alone on the streets. As it turns out, the streets aren't a safe place for a young boy. A man tried to mug me but when he learned that I had no money, he decided to stab me instead, saying something about the world being a better place without street rats like me. I thought I was going to die but... I healed. Sooyoung found me shortly after that and took me in. I've been a part of her family ever since.”
“Sooyoung?” Kyuhyun's eyebrows scrunch. “She can't be that much older than you.”
“Oh, Kyuhyun.” Zhou Mi chuckles and perks up, grabbing Kyuhyun's hands. “Come with me.”
Zhou Mi leads Kyuhyun to the remnants of the carnival where the audience has left and only the performers remain, having a sort of party in celebration of a successful day. Henry is joyously playing his violin and, to Kyuhyun's surprise, Sooyoung is square dancing on a table with Yoona. Zhou Mi leads them to an empty table where they sit down across from Jessica who stares at them blankly.
“Jessica is a living doll,” Zhou Mi says. “She was created and brought to life.”
Kyuhyun stares in astonishment, finally making sense of Jessica's porcelain complexion, long eyelashes, and nonexistent behavior. He thinks about her flawless appearance and someone similar comes to mind.
“Is Sooyoung-”
“No,” Zhou Mi interrupts, “Sooyoung is not a doll. She's just very, very beautiful.”
Zhou Mi goes on to explain that Victoria's bones are malleable and she had escaped to this carnival to avoid being cut open by doctors. Kangin and Siwon were born with incredible strength as Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Yoona were born with incredibly agility. Kyuhyun looks around as Zhou Mi explains the carnival members until his eyes land on Henry.
“What about Henry?” he asks. “Was he born with a violin in his hands?”
“Henry is entirely human,” Zhou Mi responds. “His sister, however, can walk through fire.”
“Have you told him about me yet?”
Kyuhyun turns to see Sooyoung taking a seat beside Zhou Mi.
“I thought you would like to have that honor,” Zhou Mi replies.
“So thoughtful,” Sooyoung says. She leans toward Kyuhyun and smiles. “I stopped aging when I was twenty-three.”
“And how many years ago was that?” Kyuhyun asks.
“You really shouldn't ask a woman her age,” is Sooyoung's reply before she jumps out of her seat and rejoins the celebration. Zhou Mi laughs and Kyuhyun leans back with a sigh.
“Everyone here is either talented or... well, magical,” Kyuhyun says. “And I can't even juggle.”
Zhou Mi looks at him curiously. “After everything I've told you, that's your reaction?”
“I guess so... is there something wrong with that?”
“No, Kyuhyun, there's nothing wrong with that at all.”
-
It's the next morning when Kyuhyun is rudely awakened by a man yelling. He opens his eyes to find that Zhou Mi isn't in his hammock.
“He'll kill us all! How could you even think of telling him?!”
Kyuhyun's tired brain suddenly wakes up.
“He won't tell anyone. I trust him.”
“You trust him? He's been here for two weeks and you trust him?”
Kyuhyun jumps up and stumbles out of the tent to stand next to Zhou Mi. He's facing a gruff man who he only remembers seeing once or twice before. He now sees that the man has large, reptilian eyes.
“I won't tell anyone. I promise.”
“Sure you won't,” the man practically growls. “Do you really think I believe that?”
“If I was going to tell someone, wouldn't I have done it already? Why would I still be here?”
“You're just biding your time, gaining evidence.” The man looks at Zhou Mi. “Soon he'll tell the world and you'll be the one to blame.”
As the man walks away, Kyuhyun turns to Zhou Mi, gently taking hold of his arm. “I caused this,” he said. “I'm sorry.”
“It's not your fault,” Zhou Mi assures. “Nox has never been friendly. He's just scared.”
Kyuhyun nods but he still feels guilty for the yelling he'd heard. Nox. Kyuhyun has never heard the name until now but it won't be one he'll forget anytime soon. He tries to smile and drags Zhou Mi back inside, insisting that they both get a few more hours of sleep.
-
Kyuhyun is surprised when Victoria comes up to him with a smile and tells him she doesn't mind him being here at all and that she'll gladly help him stretch any day. Knowing that not everyone hates him puts him in a good mood while he stitches up a pair of pants. He isn't entirely sure but he thinks that maybe seeing Zhou Mi smile at him throughout the day helps keep his good mood up just a little.
Many carnival members decide to show their support for Kyuhyun as the days go on. Most of them say that they trust Zhou Mi's judgment and Kyuhyun is thankful for that. He manages to relax and finally feels like he might actually belong here. Still, he feels bad being talentless. While his tailoring skills occasionally come in handy, he still feels useless most of the time.
One day while everyone is practicing, Kyuhyun sneaks away and hides in the trees of a forest. He searches until he finds three rocks of equal size that fit into his hands. Then he attempts to toss a rock from one hand to the other. After several drops, he manages to smash his finger and subsequently drops all of the rocks in order to shake out the pain.
“You could have just asked me for help.”
If the rocks hadn't been on the ground, Kyuhyun probably would have thrown one at Zhou Mi in fear.
“And you could have let me know you were there instead of sneaking up on me.”
“Sorry.” Zhou Mi gives a smile and all is forgiven.
Kyuhyun looks down at the rocks and suddenly feels embarrassed. “How long have you been here?” he asks in a small voice.
“The entire time,” Zhou Mi replies. “I watched you sneak away and I was curious.”
Kyuhyun's cheeks feel very, very warm so he looks away. “Guess we should both head back now,” he says, briskly beginning to walk away.
“Oh no you don't.” Zhou Mi gently takes hold of Kyuhyun's arm and drags him back.
“Please don't torture me,” Kyuhyun unintentionally whines and Zhou Mi laughs. Zhou Mi picks up a rock and tosses it back and forth between his hands.
“You should start out with just one,” he says. “Once you've mastered the motion, you can move on to two and eventually three.” Kyuhyun picks up a rock as well and mimics Zhou Mi's movements but Zhou Mi frowns and stops. “You have to put your hands like this,” he says, reaching his hands out to fix Kyuhyun's.
Kyuhyun tries again and does slightly better. Zhou Mi praises him and his cheeks continue to get warmer with each passing second.
“I have something for you,” he blurts out, needing a distraction from this embarrassing forest rendezvous.
“Oh?” Zhou Mi questions. Kyuhyun turns away without another word and walks straight to their shared tent with Zhou Mi slowly trailing behind. He enters and takes his bag from behind the bed just as Zhou Mi enters as well. Kyuhyun pulls a white shirt from his bag and hands it to Zhou Mi.
“The material is really thin,” Kyuhyun explains. “You can rip it really easily. I thought that you could use it in your act. Might make it, I don't know, more dramatic, or something.”
Zhou Mi examines the shirt and runs his fingers over the fabric. He looks at Kyuhyun and smiles. “Thank you,” he says genuinely. “This is very thoughtful.”
“It's not much,” Kyuhyun mumbles. “Especially in comparison to all that you've done for me.”
“I haven't done much at all. Certainly not enough to earn a gift.”
“You deserve more than just a gift,” Kyuhyun quickly replies. “If not for you, I wouldn't be here right now. I'd probably still be working all day and all night only to have the money I make taken by my loving family.”
“Kyuhyun...” Zhou Mi places a hand on Kyuhyun's cheek. “If I am helping you live a better life, I don't need gifts. Knowing that you're happier now makes me happy as well. I don't need any other gift.”
Kyuhyun has an unfamiliar, giddy feeling rising inside of him. “Well,” he says, “you must feel very gifted right now... because I feel very happy.”
Zhou Mi's response is to smile softly, lean in to kiss Kyuhyun's uncovered cheek, and then slowly walk out of the tent. Kyuhyun is left alone, loosening the collar on his shirt because he suddenly feels very warm. He can't complain about the heat, however, because with it comes an extra dose of happiness.
-
It becomes natural for Kyuhyun to sit beside Zhou Mi and nudge him and steal food from his plate when they eat together. Just as it becomes natural for them to talk until they fall asleep every night. When Kyuhyun decides to try out Zhou Mi's hammock only to fall off and end up tangled in it, it's even natural to listen to Zhou Mi laugh and help him out. The kiss that lands on Kyuhyun's nose after that is a bit unnatural but in no way unpleasant. In fact, it's quiet the opposite. Kyuhyun thinks that he wouldn't mind it becoming a natural occurrence.
“Why did you try to sit in it anyway?” Zhou Mi asks later in the day.
“I thought you might want your bed back eventually,” Kyuhyun answers.
After a few seconds of silence, Zhou Mi responds in a thoughtful manner. “The bed is big enough for two.”
“Huh?” Kyuhyun replies dumbly.
“You wouldn't have to sleep in the hammock. We could share the bed.”
“I think I hear Sooyoung calling me.”
As Kyuhyun briskly walks away, he hears Zhou Mi chuckle behind him and he can't help his smile.
-
It's a cloudy day and everyone within the carnival camp is hoping it won't rain. The carnival is set to perform the next day and rain would ruin their plans completely. Kyuhyun sits idly in his tent, yawning from a bit of sleepiness and a bit of boredom. He'd like to take a nap but he also wants to know what Zhou Mi is up to. Deciding that he'd rather see Zhou Mi than sleep, he stands up and makes his way outside. He only manages to take a few steps before he's suddenly stopped by Nox.
“Where are you going?” Nox asks, evidently still full of hostility.
“Nowhere in particular,” Kyuhyun responds calmly. He tries to step to the side but Nox blocks him again.
“You're off to find Zhou Mi, aren't you? Planning to fill him with more lies before you crush him.”
“Crush him? I wouldn't hurt Zhou Mi or anyone else here.”
“Of course you'd say that.” Nox takes a step forward and Kyuhyun takes a step back. “It would be stupid to tell the truth.”
“Look,” Kyuhyun starts, still calm, “if I was planning something, wouldn't I have done it already? Why would I still be here?”
“You tell me,” Nox responds. “Maybe you're waiting for some kind of hunters to come rescue you and slay us all. Makes more sense than a human boy with no skill happening to come along and join our carnival.”
“You're delusional,” Kyuhyun says, beginning to get angry. “I'm not here to hurt anyone. Now please, step aside.”
Nox seems to contemplate his next move, green eyes flickering and eventually narrowing. “I should have done this when you first came here,” he says. “Now this is going to cause me lots of trouble.”
Kyuhyun knows that something bad is coming but he has no time to react. Nox is too fast. Kyuhyun barely sees the knife before it's stabbed straight into his stomach.
-
Zhou Mi hears the scream and then he's running, a horrid feeling tearing at his gut. He sees Nox standing as Kyuhyun falls, a large knife handle sticking out from his body. Nox runs and is immediately chased by Siwon and Yuri but Zhou Mi doesn't care. He slides to his knees and his hands find a bleeding, barely breathing Kyuhyun.
“Zhou Mi,” Kyuhyun says weakly.
“You'll be okay,” Zhou Mi says instinctively, shakily, as he stares at the blood on Kyuhyun's shirt.
“Hurts...” Kyuhyun speaks again. Zhou Mi gently shushes him.
Unsure of what he should do, Zhou Mi reaches out with shaky hands and pulls the knife from Kyuhyun's body. Kyuhyun lets out a small cry of pain before going silent. Panicked, Zhou Mi presses his hands against Kyuhyun's wound.
“You can't die on me,” Zhou Mi says, watching the life slip away from Kyuhyun. He feels a sudden rage within his sadness and his shaking stops. “You won't die on me,” he says. “I won't let you.”
Zhou Mi focuses, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. He thinks of all the times he's stood on stage and the times Kyuhyun had watched him before they'd known each other. He thinks of the Kyuhyun he knows now, the one who makes Zhou Mi happy just by being around. He thinks of how drawn he is to Kyuhyun and how cruel life would be to spare him endlessly but take Kyuhyun away in a heartbeat.
Zhou Mi opens his eyes and Kyuhyun does as well. Zhou Mi feels the wound healing beneath his hands and listens to the sound of Kyuhyun breathing in air. They look at each other, Kyuhyun perplexed and Zhou Mi relieved.
“You're alive,” Zhou Mi breathes.
“So are you,” Kyuhyun responds and Zhou Mi manages a smile. Feeling a little fuzzy, Kyuhyun blinks his heavy eyelids a few times until they close. “You were really worried,” he says in a cryptic manner. “I could see it... like you were fading away as I was dying. Don't be like that anymore. Your smile suits you better.”
Kyuhyun falls asleep after his tired words and Zhou Mi wonders what they'd meant. He gently strokes Kyuhyun's face and looks up as Siwon and Yuri emerge from the woods.
“Nox got away,” Siwon says.
“He can stay gone,” Sooyoung says from behind Zhou Mi, clearly furious. “If he ever comes back, we'll deal with him.” She looks down at Zhou Mi with a frown. “I'm sorry I ever let him stay here. I knew he wasn't stable.”
“It's not your fault,” Zhou Mi assures. “You've always been compassionate and Nox was no different from any one of us.”
Sooyoung nods solemnly. “You better take him inside and let him rest.”
Zhou Mi gestures for Siwon to help him and Siwon gently scoops Kyuhyun up and heads to Zhou Mi's tent.
“Zhou Mi?” Sooyoung calls out and Zhou Mi turns to her. “How did you... heal him?”
“I have no idea,” is all Zhou Mi can say before following Siwon to his tent.
-
Kyuhyun wakes up slowly, remembering what had happened. When he opens his eyes, he finds himself in clean clothes with no hole in his stomach and a worried Zhou Mi sitting on the floor beside him.
“Now you know how I feel when you have to go on stage.”
Zhou Mi jumps and kneels to hover over Kyuhyun. “Are you okay? How do you feel? Do you- hey, no, it's not the same!”
“It's the same to me.” Kyuhyun smiles and wiggles around a little. “Nothing hurts,” he confirms. He then frowns. “Where is Nox?”
“He got away,” Zhou Mi informs. “But don't worry about him. You're safe now, I promise.”
Kyuhyun looks up at Zhou Mi's concerned face and gets that giddy feeling again. He remembers the moments after being stabbed, when the pain went away and he only felt Zhou Mi's hands.
“You saved me,” he says softly. “And you were able to do it because you didn't want to live without me.”
“What?” Zhou Mi questions. “How do you know that?”
“When you were healing me, it was like... I could see what you were thinking. I could see what you wanted.”
“What I... wanted?”
The confusion on Zhou Mi's face is so cute that Kyuhyun cracks a smile. He leans up and kisses Zhou Mi's mouth gently before lying back down.
“You wanted me.”
Zhou Mi doesn't look confused anymore but he does look flushed. Still, he smiles and looks at Kyuhyun.
“I did want you,” he says, “and I still do.”
-