Princess Series pt. 4 - The Little Mermaid Ch. 7
Author: shy_mizuno
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing: Ryeowook/Yesung
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Super Junior belong to themselves and The Little Mermaid belongs to Hans Christian Anderson and Walt Disney. Which, speaking of which, there may be some familiar lines.
Summary: Prince Ryeowook is fascinated by the human world - so much, that he falls in love with a human prince.
Ryeowook woke up as soon as he felt the sun's intense rays. A smile doted on his face; it took a moment, but he did remember.
He was human, he was in Yesung's castle, and today, he had Yesung all to himself. A dream come true, if I've ever seen one.
“Good Morning! Woo~kie!” Ryeowook looked at the balcony - he could see nothing but the clear sky. Slowly, he pulled back the covers and placed the feet down on the ground. Even slower than that, he pushed his weight upon them.
Pain, blistering pain rattled everything inside of him. His mouth dropped open in a silent scream before he knew what was going on. His lungs heaved and huffed, adding to the great pain. He fell back to the plush mattress and for a split second, he toyed with the idea of curling into the covers and never leaving - ever.
But that would mean never being with Yesung - and then everything would be for naught. No - he needed to go on.
Ryeowook breathed in, giving a second attempt at standing. The pain shot down and up his backside and he curled his hands into fists in the pants, as Kyuhyun called them, on his legs until he could handle it. He stepped, one foot before another, out onto the balcony. Way down below, in the lake that accented the palace, Eunhyuk did flips and smiled up at him. Ryeowook laughed, waving down at him. “Don't worry, Wookie! We'll be right along with you! Yesung will fall in love with you before sundown!” Ryeowook laughed; he was thankful to have such a wonderful friend.
“Sir?” A knock at the door and slowly did it open. Yesung smiled wide at him and Ryeowook felt that glow once more. “Ah, I see you're awake.” Ryeowook nodded intensely. “Well then - wonderful! The sooner we get out, the more I can show you of the kingdom.” Yesung looked deep at him with those eyes. “You still want to go...right?” Ryeowook's wild nod returned and Yesung smiled three-fold. “Great! I was hoping you'd still want to.” He chuckled and Ryeowook smiled.
They stood across from each other; neither saying a word. Yesung shifted his weight about looking anywhere but at Ryeowook. Ryeowook, with his bright glow, played with his hair, smiling like an eel.
“Oh, right!” Yesung brough his hands out from behind his back. “I...uh, had some of the seamstresses tailor some clothes for you. They, they used to be mine and you seem to fit my old ones so well yesterday that I just...” Yesung started to laugh. “I don't know what's wrong with me - I'm not usually like this.” Ryeowook kept smiling, feeling that laugh blanket him. “So...yeah, I'll just...” He placed the clothes on the bed. “I'll be downstairs. Just...I'll be waiting.” Yesung's smile gleamed, even as he was leaving the room. Even though the door was closed, Ryeowook was still waving.
Ryeowook, yesterday, had decided he actually liked pants. They enveloped his legs and pulled them closer together. He was almost reminded of how he felt with his tail. Almost
He did enjoy the colors - a bright, bright blue and white. It, plus the texture of it all (so cool and smooth) made his skin feel like he was wearing a shawl of the ocean, with foam as the hook.
If humans had all these reminders of the sea, why did they fear it so? Ryeowook wondered.
Ryeowook met with Yesung very soon after the human Prince left. Yesung smiled up at him as he came down the stairs. Ryeowook walked very carefully - not for pain (but that was a great thought inside his brain.) No, the prince had given him something called a 'boot.' His feet were elevated in the back and the toes were all crammed together. Kyuhyun said he walked fine, but his bones were shaking inside his skin. Surely, he would fall.
“You look...very, very handsome, sir.” Yesung gazed upon him with those eyes and that smile. Ryeowook's doubt fluttered away into the air. “Shall we?” Ryeowook nodded. Yesung offered his arm and Ryeowook took it without hesitation.
A strange loud sound and Ryeowook jumped behind Yesung in fear. “Woah, woah - it's okay.” Yesung took his hand and pulled him closer. “Have you never seen a horse before?”
A horse? He knew what seahorses were - they were the scribes of the palace - but this beast looked nothing like its aquatic relatives. Ryeowook shook his head.
“It's okay - really, it is. Trust me.” Yesung looked into his eyes, looking through to his heart. How could he refuse?
Still...
Yesung pulled him along, placing him between the creature's eyes, which blinked and fluttered back at him. Ryeowook held his breath, refusing to break contact between them. Lower down, the...horse's nostrils flared open and closed.
It was a great, terrifying animal, but Ryeowook could feel its heart and that was just through his hand.
“See, it's not that scary, right?” Yesung smiled - a warm smile that calmed Ryeowook's frantic heart. Ryeowook had to smile, nodding ever so.
Yesung took his hand and led him about to a carriage, connected to the horses by a strap. “Ready?” Yesung took the straps in his hands, eyes trained on Ryeowook. He nodded and Yesung flicked the straps. A crack and a jump had them moving.
It was incredible: The horse was bouncing up and down and somehow that had them moving across the land. Ryeowook leaned forward, looking over the wood of the carriage. Legs - a different kind, but Ryeowook knew what they were - bundled together, kicking up land and then miraging together once more. It threw Ryeowook into awe and he smile a fool's smile.
The palace was a bit away from town, so Ryeowook was graced with a countryside view of a route. He never knew the kelp could grow so high and so far out of water. Such a bright green, too. They towered over them, blocking out the hot sun and teasing, letting it through at the same time.
“Don't you think ti's beautiful out here?” Yesung commented, looking about his kingdom. Ryeowook turned around and stared at him. “What?”
Ryeowook's expression contorted into a laugh. He moved his hands, hoping the point could be clearly understood. You read my mind.
Yesung chuckled. “Well, how about that? It's like you were made for me to find.”
Ryeowook blushed, leaned back in his seat. If only you knew, Yesung-goon.
Town was...something else. So many humans! Some were walking, some were sitting, standing, running, dancing - so much activity that Ryeowook had never experienced under the sea. He bounced from stall to stall pulling Yesung behind him.
One stall sold brightly colored fruit. The kind woman smiled at him and offered him a rough brown one. Ryeowook nodded his thanks and looked at Yesung. From his pocket, Yesung pulled out a sword bottle and cut off a small bit. Ryeowook tasted it - sour. Sour and tart. He liked it. Yesung called it 'kiwi.'
Across the fruit, small humans gazed up at even smaller humans bouncing about a box. One on the right disappeared and reappeared with a piece of wood about the size of him and then began to hit on his partner's head. Ryeowook didn't know why, but he felt giddy watching it. Beside him, Yesung was laughing.
Together, they walked through town. The humans were kind to Ryeowook, giving him small gifts that Yesung helped him identify. Lettuce, opals, tulips, roses, cloaks, flutes...Ryeowook found out the humans called the snarfblat a 'pipe' and a dinglehopper a 'fork.' What strange names, Ryeowook thought.
The last in the row, a long clear box filled to the brim with water stared back at him. Inside, fishfolk swam about and about. Ryeowook couldn't help it - he rushed forward and kneeled in front of the box. The fish, when they passed him, some recognized him and greeted him in great surprise. One familiar black angler named Pretty was very talkative (as all black anglers were).
“Interested in one sir?” A human behind the box, greeted him with a smile. Ryeowook nodded and pointed at Pretty. “...are you sure? The koi fish taste much better.”
...Taste? He though he was going to eat Pretty? Ryeowook felt his stomach grow sick. He vehemently shook his head, pointing to Pretty again.
“Alright - give me a moment. I'll get you a bag.” The human left and Ryeowo slumped against the stall. Oh sea...if one more human tried to get him to eat fish, he just might...The human returned and gave him the bag. Ryeowook nodded in gratitude and walked off in a trance.
He'd seen a river in the distance.
Slowly, Ryeowook approached the ground's edge, where a bit below it met the long river. He leaned down and opened the bag. Pretty leaped out and swam happily round and round in the free, open water. Sadly, Ryeowook smiled, watching the fish jump and swim farther away.
He tucked his legs beneath his body, staring out at the water. What a prince he was. He saved one fish from being eaten, but what about the others in the box? What about Drumkit? Did his family know what became of him - would they ever? What did any of these fishfolk's family think about them? Did they know they were waiting to be eaten? Did they miss them?
Were the humans as horrible as his father had said - truly? He understood them and the fish, so why couldn't the humans hear them? Did they just not care or did they eat them for the pain they caused? Oh, the things rolling around Ryeowook in his head; he buried his face in his kneecaps. Why, why did he have to be Prince of the Ocean? Why did he have to be stuck here, living a double life? Ryeowook let out a breath, feeling his lungs shake inside his chest.
A loud squawk surprised Ryeowook. He turned his head and saw Shindong flying high. The seagull sent a wink down to him before landing in a tree. “Sir? Is that you?” In the distance, he saw Yesung come over the hill, pushing past a hanging branch. He breathed a sigh of relief, smiling gently at Ryeowook. “You ran off so quick; I couldn't keep up.” He sauntered to Ryeowook's side, gently sitting down and staring at his guest.
Ryeowook pursed his lips, turning back to the water.
Yesujng chuckled, fiddling with his boots. “You were so quick...I almost thought...heh, I sound so silly.” Ryeowook turned back to him, intrigued. Yesung swung his arms and legs around, pulling his pantleg up to his knees. His feet hid beneath the water. Ripples passed out across the river, like a shimmering fish racing through the water. “I thought you had been...I thought you were somebody I imagined...something I made out of the foam on the ocean.” Yesung chuckled, staring out upon the horizon.
Ryeowook stared, blinking wide-eyed. Just...if only you knew... He stared down, following the line of the prince's legs until they were hidden by the water. He worried his lips together, pulling his legs out and placing them in the water beside Yesung's. The pain in his legs disappeared with every lap of the cooling liquid; a euphoria passed over him. For a moment, they sat together in the water.
Yesung suddenly started giggling, squirming. Ryeowook turned to him, confused. Yesung pulled his legs out, balancing them on the bank. “Goldfish - they're always ticklish.” Ryeowook had gotten a cleaning from goldfish since he was a tadpole, so he hadn't noticed. He watched Yesung slowly put his feet back in. “When I was little, I used to think they did that 'cause they wanted somebody to notice them, like they were asking for attention?” His smile softened and he got a different look in his eyes. “You know, sometimes I think that the fish are talking to us, and we just can't quite make out what they're saying.” Ryeowook's head whirled around so very fast, wide-eyed.
Yesung didn't notice though (not this time), looking at the fish through the top of the water. “I used to feel horrible for fishing; I could barely watch the chef prepare our food without wanting to vomit. But my father explained to me that it's just the way life is. Plants eat each other, fish each other, and we eat fish. And then when we die, we get buried in the grass and the soil extends out into the ocean and some fish would eat the plants that grow out of us. It's a big circle, really, so we don't need to feel so bad.”
Ryeowook felt a warmth in his heart. How was it that Yesung knew exactly what was worrying him and just like that, could put him at ease - without even a word from Ryeowook? Yesung began to laugh, his cheeks coloring pink. “I must sound so foolish right now. I apologize.” He looked up in time to see Ryeowook shake his head even more. He laughed again.
“I wish I knew your name.” He said, changing the topic. “I went around the market trying to find you.” Yesung chuckled gently. “I'm now an expert in describing you, though.” Ryeowook smiled brightly, feeling the glow rise up inside him.
He racked his brain; after all, he couldn't just say his name and he didn't trust Yesung to correctly read his Oceanic lips, especially in the dimming light.
Wait a second...humans spoke sea, if only a little. Maybe...maybe they could read it? Just maybe?
Though shy, he grasped Yesung's hand. Ryeowook rested it on his lap with the palm up. Yesung stared at him, compliant nonetheless.
He stroked across Yesung's palm with his index finger. Yesung stared back at Ryeowook, confused for a moment. Ryeowook traced the same pattern again - he was writing a character. Ryeowook looked up at him for confirmation. Yesung gestured. “Do it again.” Ryeowook passed over it once again. “...Ryeo?” Ryeowook felt the glow rise up inside him, nodding aggressively. He drew a brand new character. Yesung paid attention to every stroke. “Wook.” Ryeowook nodded, lips pulling into a smile. He drew a circle - all together now. “Ryeowook? Your name is Ryeowook?” He nodded again and again, smile stretching from cheek to cheek.
Yesung matched his smile, all the way up to his eyes. “That, is a beautiful name.” With that hand, he grasped Ryeowook's hand tight. The other reached up and stroked his cheek. “For a beautiful man.” Ryeowook glowed, pulling away a little, shy.
Yesung grasped his chin to look deep into those eyes. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ryeowook-nim.” Yesung wrapped his arm about the other, pulling Ryeowook into rest against his shoulder.
Ryeowook smiled situating himself against Yesung's chest. In their silence, he could hear Yesung's melodic heartbeat. Together, they sat intertwined, watching the day set into night. Ryeowook felt the glow wash about him, even more as he felt Eunhyuk nibbling at his toes.
---> Chapter 8
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing: Ryeowook/Yesung
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Super Junior belong to themselves and The Little Mermaid belongs to Hans Christian Anderson and Walt Disney. Which, speaking of which, there may be some familiar lines.
Summary: Prince Ryeowook is fascinated by the human world - so much, that he falls in love with a human prince.
Ryeowook woke up as soon as he felt the sun's intense rays. A smile doted on his face; it took a moment, but he did remember.
He was human, he was in Yesung's castle, and today, he had Yesung all to himself. A dream come true, if I've ever seen one.
“Good Morning! Woo~kie!” Ryeowook looked at the balcony - he could see nothing but the clear sky. Slowly, he pulled back the covers and placed the feet down on the ground. Even slower than that, he pushed his weight upon them.
Pain, blistering pain rattled everything inside of him. His mouth dropped open in a silent scream before he knew what was going on. His lungs heaved and huffed, adding to the great pain. He fell back to the plush mattress and for a split second, he toyed with the idea of curling into the covers and never leaving - ever.
But that would mean never being with Yesung - and then everything would be for naught. No - he needed to go on.
Ryeowook breathed in, giving a second attempt at standing. The pain shot down and up his backside and he curled his hands into fists in the pants, as Kyuhyun called them, on his legs until he could handle it. He stepped, one foot before another, out onto the balcony. Way down below, in the lake that accented the palace, Eunhyuk did flips and smiled up at him. Ryeowook laughed, waving down at him. “Don't worry, Wookie! We'll be right along with you! Yesung will fall in love with you before sundown!” Ryeowook laughed; he was thankful to have such a wonderful friend.
“Sir?” A knock at the door and slowly did it open. Yesung smiled wide at him and Ryeowook felt that glow once more. “Ah, I see you're awake.” Ryeowook nodded intensely. “Well then - wonderful! The sooner we get out, the more I can show you of the kingdom.” Yesung looked deep at him with those eyes. “You still want to go...right?” Ryeowook's wild nod returned and Yesung smiled three-fold. “Great! I was hoping you'd still want to.” He chuckled and Ryeowook smiled.
They stood across from each other; neither saying a word. Yesung shifted his weight about looking anywhere but at Ryeowook. Ryeowook, with his bright glow, played with his hair, smiling like an eel.
“Oh, right!” Yesung brough his hands out from behind his back. “I...uh, had some of the seamstresses tailor some clothes for you. They, they used to be mine and you seem to fit my old ones so well yesterday that I just...” Yesung started to laugh. “I don't know what's wrong with me - I'm not usually like this.” Ryeowook kept smiling, feeling that laugh blanket him. “So...yeah, I'll just...” He placed the clothes on the bed. “I'll be downstairs. Just...I'll be waiting.” Yesung's smile gleamed, even as he was leaving the room. Even though the door was closed, Ryeowook was still waving.
Ryeowook, yesterday, had decided he actually liked pants. They enveloped his legs and pulled them closer together. He was almost reminded of how he felt with his tail. Almost
He did enjoy the colors - a bright, bright blue and white. It, plus the texture of it all (so cool and smooth) made his skin feel like he was wearing a shawl of the ocean, with foam as the hook.
If humans had all these reminders of the sea, why did they fear it so? Ryeowook wondered.
Ryeowook met with Yesung very soon after the human Prince left. Yesung smiled up at him as he came down the stairs. Ryeowook walked very carefully - not for pain (but that was a great thought inside his brain.) No, the prince had given him something called a 'boot.' His feet were elevated in the back and the toes were all crammed together. Kyuhyun said he walked fine, but his bones were shaking inside his skin. Surely, he would fall.
“You look...very, very handsome, sir.” Yesung gazed upon him with those eyes and that smile. Ryeowook's doubt fluttered away into the air. “Shall we?” Ryeowook nodded. Yesung offered his arm and Ryeowook took it without hesitation.
A strange loud sound and Ryeowook jumped behind Yesung in fear. “Woah, woah - it's okay.” Yesung took his hand and pulled him closer. “Have you never seen a horse before?”
A horse? He knew what seahorses were - they were the scribes of the palace - but this beast looked nothing like its aquatic relatives. Ryeowook shook his head.
“It's okay - really, it is. Trust me.” Yesung looked into his eyes, looking through to his heart. How could he refuse?
Still...
Yesung pulled him along, placing him between the creature's eyes, which blinked and fluttered back at him. Ryeowook held his breath, refusing to break contact between them. Lower down, the...horse's nostrils flared open and closed.
It was a great, terrifying animal, but Ryeowook could feel its heart and that was just through his hand.
“See, it's not that scary, right?” Yesung smiled - a warm smile that calmed Ryeowook's frantic heart. Ryeowook had to smile, nodding ever so.
Yesung took his hand and led him about to a carriage, connected to the horses by a strap. “Ready?” Yesung took the straps in his hands, eyes trained on Ryeowook. He nodded and Yesung flicked the straps. A crack and a jump had them moving.
It was incredible: The horse was bouncing up and down and somehow that had them moving across the land. Ryeowook leaned forward, looking over the wood of the carriage. Legs - a different kind, but Ryeowook knew what they were - bundled together, kicking up land and then miraging together once more. It threw Ryeowook into awe and he smile a fool's smile.
The palace was a bit away from town, so Ryeowook was graced with a countryside view of a route. He never knew the kelp could grow so high and so far out of water. Such a bright green, too. They towered over them, blocking out the hot sun and teasing, letting it through at the same time.
“Don't you think ti's beautiful out here?” Yesung commented, looking about his kingdom. Ryeowook turned around and stared at him. “What?”
Ryeowook's expression contorted into a laugh. He moved his hands, hoping the point could be clearly understood. You read my mind.
Yesung chuckled. “Well, how about that? It's like you were made for me to find.”
Ryeowook blushed, leaned back in his seat. If only you knew, Yesung-goon.
Town was...something else. So many humans! Some were walking, some were sitting, standing, running, dancing - so much activity that Ryeowook had never experienced under the sea. He bounced from stall to stall pulling Yesung behind him.
One stall sold brightly colored fruit. The kind woman smiled at him and offered him a rough brown one. Ryeowook nodded his thanks and looked at Yesung. From his pocket, Yesung pulled out a sword bottle and cut off a small bit. Ryeowook tasted it - sour. Sour and tart. He liked it. Yesung called it 'kiwi.'
Across the fruit, small humans gazed up at even smaller humans bouncing about a box. One on the right disappeared and reappeared with a piece of wood about the size of him and then began to hit on his partner's head. Ryeowook didn't know why, but he felt giddy watching it. Beside him, Yesung was laughing.
Together, they walked through town. The humans were kind to Ryeowook, giving him small gifts that Yesung helped him identify. Lettuce, opals, tulips, roses, cloaks, flutes...Ryeowook found out the humans called the snarfblat a 'pipe' and a dinglehopper a 'fork.' What strange names, Ryeowook thought.
The last in the row, a long clear box filled to the brim with water stared back at him. Inside, fishfolk swam about and about. Ryeowook couldn't help it - he rushed forward and kneeled in front of the box. The fish, when they passed him, some recognized him and greeted him in great surprise. One familiar black angler named Pretty was very talkative (as all black anglers were).
“Interested in one sir?” A human behind the box, greeted him with a smile. Ryeowook nodded and pointed at Pretty. “...are you sure? The koi fish taste much better.”
...Taste? He though he was going to eat Pretty? Ryeowook felt his stomach grow sick. He vehemently shook his head, pointing to Pretty again.
“Alright - give me a moment. I'll get you a bag.” The human left and Ryeowo slumped against the stall. Oh sea...if one more human tried to get him to eat fish, he just might...The human returned and gave him the bag. Ryeowook nodded in gratitude and walked off in a trance.
He'd seen a river in the distance.
Slowly, Ryeowook approached the ground's edge, where a bit below it met the long river. He leaned down and opened the bag. Pretty leaped out and swam happily round and round in the free, open water. Sadly, Ryeowook smiled, watching the fish jump and swim farther away.
He tucked his legs beneath his body, staring out at the water. What a prince he was. He saved one fish from being eaten, but what about the others in the box? What about Drumkit? Did his family know what became of him - would they ever? What did any of these fishfolk's family think about them? Did they know they were waiting to be eaten? Did they miss them?
Were the humans as horrible as his father had said - truly? He understood them and the fish, so why couldn't the humans hear them? Did they just not care or did they eat them for the pain they caused? Oh, the things rolling around Ryeowook in his head; he buried his face in his kneecaps. Why, why did he have to be Prince of the Ocean? Why did he have to be stuck here, living a double life? Ryeowook let out a breath, feeling his lungs shake inside his chest.
A loud squawk surprised Ryeowook. He turned his head and saw Shindong flying high. The seagull sent a wink down to him before landing in a tree. “Sir? Is that you?” In the distance, he saw Yesung come over the hill, pushing past a hanging branch. He breathed a sigh of relief, smiling gently at Ryeowook. “You ran off so quick; I couldn't keep up.” He sauntered to Ryeowook's side, gently sitting down and staring at his guest.
Ryeowook pursed his lips, turning back to the water.
Yesujng chuckled, fiddling with his boots. “You were so quick...I almost thought...heh, I sound so silly.” Ryeowook turned back to him, intrigued. Yesung swung his arms and legs around, pulling his pantleg up to his knees. His feet hid beneath the water. Ripples passed out across the river, like a shimmering fish racing through the water. “I thought you had been...I thought you were somebody I imagined...something I made out of the foam on the ocean.” Yesung chuckled, staring out upon the horizon.
Ryeowook stared, blinking wide-eyed. Just...if only you knew... He stared down, following the line of the prince's legs until they were hidden by the water. He worried his lips together, pulling his legs out and placing them in the water beside Yesung's. The pain in his legs disappeared with every lap of the cooling liquid; a euphoria passed over him. For a moment, they sat together in the water.
Yesung suddenly started giggling, squirming. Ryeowook turned to him, confused. Yesung pulled his legs out, balancing them on the bank. “Goldfish - they're always ticklish.” Ryeowook had gotten a cleaning from goldfish since he was a tadpole, so he hadn't noticed. He watched Yesung slowly put his feet back in. “When I was little, I used to think they did that 'cause they wanted somebody to notice them, like they were asking for attention?” His smile softened and he got a different look in his eyes. “You know, sometimes I think that the fish are talking to us, and we just can't quite make out what they're saying.” Ryeowook's head whirled around so very fast, wide-eyed.
Yesung didn't notice though (not this time), looking at the fish through the top of the water. “I used to feel horrible for fishing; I could barely watch the chef prepare our food without wanting to vomit. But my father explained to me that it's just the way life is. Plants eat each other, fish each other, and we eat fish. And then when we die, we get buried in the grass and the soil extends out into the ocean and some fish would eat the plants that grow out of us. It's a big circle, really, so we don't need to feel so bad.”
Ryeowook felt a warmth in his heart. How was it that Yesung knew exactly what was worrying him and just like that, could put him at ease - without even a word from Ryeowook? Yesung began to laugh, his cheeks coloring pink. “I must sound so foolish right now. I apologize.” He looked up in time to see Ryeowook shake his head even more. He laughed again.
“I wish I knew your name.” He said, changing the topic. “I went around the market trying to find you.” Yesung chuckled gently. “I'm now an expert in describing you, though.” Ryeowook smiled brightly, feeling the glow rise up inside him.
He racked his brain; after all, he couldn't just say his name and he didn't trust Yesung to correctly read his Oceanic lips, especially in the dimming light.
Wait a second...humans spoke sea, if only a little. Maybe...maybe they could read it? Just maybe?
Though shy, he grasped Yesung's hand. Ryeowook rested it on his lap with the palm up. Yesung stared at him, compliant nonetheless.
He stroked across Yesung's palm with his index finger. Yesung stared back at Ryeowook, confused for a moment. Ryeowook traced the same pattern again - he was writing a character. Ryeowook looked up at him for confirmation. Yesung gestured. “Do it again.” Ryeowook passed over it once again. “...Ryeo?” Ryeowook felt the glow rise up inside him, nodding aggressively. He drew a brand new character. Yesung paid attention to every stroke. “Wook.” Ryeowook nodded, lips pulling into a smile. He drew a circle - all together now. “Ryeowook? Your name is Ryeowook?” He nodded again and again, smile stretching from cheek to cheek.
Yesung matched his smile, all the way up to his eyes. “That, is a beautiful name.” With that hand, he grasped Ryeowook's hand tight. The other reached up and stroked his cheek. “For a beautiful man.” Ryeowook glowed, pulling away a little, shy.
Yesung grasped his chin to look deep into those eyes. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ryeowook-nim.” Yesung wrapped his arm about the other, pulling Ryeowook into rest against his shoulder.
Ryeowook smiled situating himself against Yesung's chest. In their silence, he could hear Yesung's melodic heartbeat. Together, they sat intertwined, watching the day set into night. Ryeowook felt the glow wash about him, even more as he felt Eunhyuk nibbling at his toes.
---> Chapter 8