Subtle Visitor
Title: Subtle Visitor (you arrive in the flower and the water.)
Pairing: Kyuhyun x Yesung (KyuSung, YeKyu)
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Fluff, Fantasy
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the gorgeous men in this fic or the beautiful, beautiful poetry of Pablo Neruda. I own everything else though.
Summary: Sometimes fantasies are much more romantic than reality, but does it necessarily mean that they are better?
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Fate has strange ways of bringing people together. People often talk about that invisible red string that connect the smallest fingers of two people who are meant to be together or the cupid who shoots arrows at two that are destined to fall in love.
But what is love? What are soul mates? Plato presented the idea that humans were originally had four arms, four legs and a single head made of two faces, but Zeus separated them, condemning them to spend their entire lives searching for their other half. Love is the cure to that loneliness of being separated from your other half, the emptiness that people feel when they see others so very much in love. All our lives, we crave for someone who understands us completely, who loves us despite our flaws. All our lives, we search for our other half, the one person who we feel complete with.
Sometimes, we never find that person. After all, there are around seven billion people living in this world. Sometimes, although we may not be a hundred percent compatible with someone, we try and make things work. Sometimes, we fall in love with someone who isn’t our soul mate, but we learn how to become their other half instead.
Then again, some are lucky and find their soul mates. From time to time, fate is known to intervene and bring two together.
You are like nobody since I love you.
Let me spread you out among yellow garlands.
This is how it could’ve gone:
Kyuhyun is sitting idly at a small café, and observes the people around him. He is a people watcher - he loves noticing the little details and the subtle actions of humans around him. Normally, someone would have noticed at some point that he is staring at their clothing, their accessories, and their movements. But Kyuhyun can’t be seen. He doesn’t remember anything before the car crash other than that his name is Cho Kyuhyun. When he woke up in a colorless hospital, he had realized that the doctors couldn’t see him…and other people couldn’t either. He had come to the conclusion that he had “died”, but he doesn’t know why he hadn’t died properly. People weren’t supposed to be able to move around at their leisure after they died…right? It has been a week since he woke up in the hospital, but Kyuhyun is still lost - he doesn’t know what he wants to do, nor does he know why he’s still stuck in the human realm.
He shakes the thought of being creepy and dead off his mind and continues to observe his surroundings. An attractive guy waiting for his cup of coffee catches Kyuhyun’s eyes, and he feels his mouth run dry, if that was even possible, at the guy’s lean yet somewhat toned body. He tilts his head slightly, and catches a fragment of the guy’s voice. It was deeper than Kyuhyun had expected, and he finds that this man who seems to be built upon contradictions captivates him. As the guy spins around, Kyuhyun catches a glimpse of his smile. Suddenly, he realizes that the guy he is observing is staring right back at him.
It can’t be…he shouldn’t be able to see me…
The guy grins cockily, and walks towards Kyuhyun.
“Hi. Mind if I join you? My name is Kim Jongwoon.”
Kyuhyun stares at Jongwoon with his mouth agape. He doesn’t understand how Jongwoon can see him, but something at the back of his head nags him and tells him that Jongwoon can help him solve his problem.
It also didn’t hurt that Kyuhyun is extremely attracted to the guy named Kim Jongwoon.
Who writes your name in letters of smoke among the stars of the south?
Oh, let me remember you as you were before you existed.
But that doesn’t happen. In its place, imagine this:
Jongwoon is running along a street. He’s your average looking high school student, complete with the uniform and school bag. But he is well known for being a phenomenon singer, so he is being chased by a pack of fan girls. He finds a small alley and runs in there, hoping that the girls won’t realize that he is hiding there from them. Ever since he had performed at a school concert, his newly formed fan group had chased him down. They had been stalking him from place to place, and all Jongwoon really wants is some peace and quiet. He pants as he breathes in deeply. It isn’t until a little later that he realizes that he isn’t alone. A pair of hazelnut eyes observes him quietly, and Jongwoon feels his heart pick up its pace once more.
Jongwoon decides that the silence is killing him, and clears his throat. However, the mysterious person in the darkness beats him to it.
“Hi…Jongwoon-sshi? I’m assuming that’s your name because those fan girls were screaming it a while ago...”
“Yes…that’s me.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Kyuhyun. Cho Kyuhyun. Come, follow me.”
Jongwoon stares at the hand that is being offered to him. Kyuhyun has an earnest look on his face, and he decides to take this leap of faith. He smiles and grabs Kyuhyun’s hand. Kyuhyun interlocks his fingers with Jongwoon’s, and leads him down the alley. After many twists and turns, Kyuhyun and Jongwoon end up at a deserted playground. In the distance, freckles of stars start to shimmer and shine as the sun slowly descends beyond the horizon.
Jongwoon glances over at Kyuhyun, and wonders why sharing this silence is so comfortable. He barely knows the other guy, but already he feels that being together with him felt right.
“I’m...sorry Jongwoon-sshi. I lied. I actually recognized you from our school concert. I’m an avid fan boy.”
The next thing Jongwoon knows is that Kyuhyun’s lips are pressed on his own.
The sky is a net crammed with shadowy fish.
Here all the winds let go sooner or later, all of them.
The rain takes off her clothes.
Then picture this scene:
Kyuhyun is crying. It doesn’t happen often, but he is heartbroken from the rejection he just faced. He has loved that boy for many months now, and he finally gathered to courage to confess his feelings. But instead the boy had laughed at him, and spat the word “fag” out at him. Kyuhyun could feel his heart breaking a million times over. He thought that the boy was different, that he finally had it right.
It is raining. Kyuhyun sits on a park bench as his tears and the rain mix together. Suddenly he feels a tap on the shoulder. He looks up at the most beautiful face that he has ever seen. The guy is standing next to him seems almost ethereal - there seems to be some sort of glow. Kyuhyun stares at him, transfixed, as he tilts his head slightly.
“What’s wrong?” His voice is deep and husky, but lyrical. Kyuhyun’s heart lurches.
“I’m…broken hearted.”
The guy smiles sadly at Kyuhyun, and takes his hand. He pulls Kyuhyun up and encompasses Kyuhyun in his arms. Kyuhyun closes his eyes and leans against the chest of the man. He feels protected, and although the rain is soaking him completely, he feels warmth in this embrace. He looks up at the man, and the man gently pecks Kyuhyun on the cheek.
“I’m here for you.”
As the rain slowly stops, so do Kyuhyun’s tears. He sits at the park bench, leaning against the man and slowly falls asleep. The last thing he remembers is the whisper of the name “Kim Jongwoon” against his ear.
When Kyuhyun wakes up, he is alone on the park bench. He looks around, but the man who had comforted him is nowhere to be found. Kyuhyun stares at the paper note that he finds in his hand.
Come find me. Love, Kim Jongwoon.
So many times we have seen the morning star burn, kissing our eyes
and over our heads the grey light unwind in turning fans.
The rain fades and instead the sun is shining.
Jongwoon’s brother Jongjin, who is trying to plan a birthday party for his girlfriend, is dragging Jongwoon to the Han River unwillingly. Jongwoon sighs as he starts to help Jongjin plant decorations along the riverside on trees and park benches. He reaches an empty space that is out of his brother’s sight and sits on the grass. He wants some peace and quiet to himself after spending so long in the presence. He lies down and closes his eyes.
Suddenly, he hears the rustling of tree leaves above him. He opens one eye lazily, and a ray of sun shines down on him through the leaves of trees. A foot appears in his vision, and he sees the curious look on a boy’s face.
“What are you doing up there?”
“What are you doing down there?”
“I’m resting.”
“Well, so am I.”
Jongwoon stares at the boy’s fine features, and the smirk on his face. There is something intriguing about him.
“What’s your name?”
“What’s your name?”
Jongwoon frowns, and starts to think that the boy is annoying.
“I’m Jongwoon. Kim Jongwoon.”
“I’m Kyuhyun. Cho Kyuhyun.”
The boy named Kyuhyun climbs down from the tree and lies down next to Jongwoon.
“Jongwoon-hyung, what are you looking at?”
“The rays of sunlight.”
“Why?”
“Because it feels idyllic. Don’t you think?”
“I guess so.”
They share the silence as they watch the clouds float in the blue sky, and the rays of sunlight dance across their bodies. They soak up each other’s presence. When the sun sets, Jongwoon asks Kyuhyun for his number.
They meet at the Han River again the next day.
I go so far as to think that you own the universe.
I will bring you happy flowers from the mountains, bluebells,
dark hazels, and rustic baskets of kisses.
However, none of them are real.
Kyuhyun stops daydreaming and stares in the distance at the many couples that are walking on the streets, hand in hand. He is bundled up - thick scarf and sunglasses - so that he won’t be recognized. He sighs, and takes a sip of his coffee. He doesn’t know why, but he is always irritated by Valentine’s Day. There isn’t an ounce of romanticism in his life. Suddenly he looks up as a man taps him on the shoulder. He turns around and looks up into a pair of the most gorgeous eyes he has ever seen.
“Sorry, this seat isn’t taken, is it?”
Kyuhyun just stares dumbly, and shakes his head. The other man just smiles, and sits down opposite to him.
“Hi…my name is Kim Jongwoon. Sorry, there were no other seats available...”
Kyuhyun looks around the café, and sees many empty tables. He shakes his head in disbelief, and a slight smile appears on his face. He listens to the man opposite him animatedly talk while introducing himself. Apparently he is four years older than Kyuhyun, and he loves music and singing. He talks about his favorite movies and singers. Kyuhyun doesn’t really pay too much attention to the words of the man opposite him, but instead Kyuhyun admires the way Jongwoon’s shirt is slightly open, accentuating Jongwoon’s collarbones. Kyuhyun bites his tongue as he resists the urge to run his finger along the clavicle. Jongwoon stops talking, and seems to realize that Kyuhyun is staring. He chuckles, and ruffles Kyuhyun’s hair.
“It’s rude to stare at a stranger like that.”
Kyuhyun glares at Jongwoon who sees through him so easily. He decides to ruin Jongwoon’s little game.
“But hyung…we’re not strangers, are we?”
Jongwoon narrows his eyes at Kyuhyun, opening his mouth to say something back but he is cut off by a high-pitched scream.
“Omo! It’s Yesung and Kyuhyun! I love you!!!!” A girl quickly draws attention to the two of them, and Kyuhyun grimaces as their cover has been blown. The girl’s boyfriend glares at them, as if blaming them that his girlfriend is an ELF, and the girl quickly takes out a pen and paper asking for a signature. They reluctantly sign, and a crowd starts to form around them. Jongwoon takes Kyuhyun’s hand and drags him out of the café that had quickly become suffocating. They run towards Jongwoon’s car and quickly get in, laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.
“What the hell hyung! You couldn’t put on a pair of sunglasses? A stupid beanie doesn’t help disguise you!”
Both of them crack up with laughter, and Kyuhyun lays his head on Jongwoon’s shoulder while he tries to stop his uncontrollable mirth.
“Hyung, what was the point of that? We could’ve just spent a day at the dorm.”
“But I wanted to recreate one of your supposed scenarios where fate brings two people together on Valentine’s Day. So back in the café, because there were no seats, we were destined to meet.”
“But hyung, there were a million empty seats around.”
“Such a brat. You just have to ruin everything, don’t you?”
Jongwoon presses a kiss on Kyuhyun’s forehead, and the maknae slowly closes his eyes. His relationship with Jongwoon hadn’t been a product of fate shoving the two together. Or maybe it had. But Jongwoon was, instead, a subtle visitor to his heart who decided to permanently move there. He doesn’t know when the philtrum-loving weirdo had become a piece of him, but Kyuhyun knew that he would never be complete without Jongwoon. He is positive that Jongwoon is his other half, the other piece of his soul that he has been searching for. It didn’t matter that the fantasies that Kyuhun creates about the two of them aren’t true. All that matters to Kyuhyun is that Jongwoon is real.
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A/N: Happy Valentine's Day all my lovelies! I know the day is over in many places in the world already, but I just wanted to leave this with you all. It's a little broken and disjointed, but I hope you guys enjoy it ^^ Leave me a comment if there's a story you want me to expand more on (I may or may not write a few of the "fantasies" in more detail later on when I have time. Or give me a shout with what you thought of anything at all.
I hope you like the bits and pieces of Pablo Neruda's poem! It's called 'Everyday You Play', and it's one of my favorites pieces by Neruda.
I love you guys! ♥♥♥
Some special shout-outs!
phoenix_soar rhenny icyblueangel allspecialsmile lan_ting nytslyer03 sushiwoon & echowillow
& other people who leaves lovely, lovely comments for me. If I've forgotten to mention your name, I'm so sorry! I really do love you all so so much ;_;
You guys are so precious to me ♥ I'm so glad you guys have still been messaging me & what-not during this period of time. Thanks for being so patient with me (esp Den & Ron...I'm sorry I'm a terribly slow beta ><)
I'll be honest - you guys are my inspiration to keep writing!
Just to end with a bit of lovely poetry by Neruda;
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way.