[One-shot] Phoenixes and dragons.
The blustery wind whipped a single strand of hair to stick upon her glossed lips as they parted briefly to allow a little drop of saccharine chocolate to disappear into the pad of her tongue. She wrinkled her nose, flicking the strands away with an irritated twist of her wrist, rolling the melting ball of chocolate upon the tip of her tongue, closing her eyes in contented bliss as the bitter, orange rind filling blasted her senses in a starburst of ecstasy. God, she loved chocolates. And cigarettes, but that was besides the point. She peeked past her lowered lashes to glimpse her friend’s, well more like lover’s rueful grin. “What?” She stated, a hint of annoyance curling her pursed lips.
A lilting giggle. “You’re such a chocolate whore, Megan.” Alice stated with bright eyes, gambolling spirits of mirth dancing a merry swirl in her glossy orbs. Megan simply rolled her eyes, sticking the pink nub of her tongue out for a moment before it slid back in a flash. Alice eyed her lips before raising her head quickly to meet Megan’s amused orbs of pitch tar. “What?” Alice imitated with surprising alacrity, even twisting her lips in a knotted purse.
Abruptly, Megan snorted, shoving the crinkled chocolate wrapping- complete with little doodled hearts and a single satin ribbon painstakingly glued on- back into her schoolbag and slipped her cold fingers into Alice's slackened grip. They were both high school students, their backpacks winking a random assortment of keychains hanging from every zipper, their simple cotton shoes scuffed with messily mended patches and blotted with dirt- average school girls with a secret to hide from the world. But still, within the stark society of Korea, they existed day to day and strove to keep their relationship under wraps.
“Wait! Wait!” Megan cried out suddenly, screeching to a halting stop to squint through the front window pane of a shop, a tattoo shop to be exact. Alice stumbled, her hand still connected to Megan’s stilled frame. Alice stepped closer to her side, following her earnest stare past the iridescent neon lights boasting of the shops services and the framed artworks of scrawling roses, tigers, you name it, on the walls to rest upon two bent heads. Alice quirked an eyebrow, questioning her girlfriend’s sanity and maybe, her sexuality, since she was staring excitedly at two guys. Well, this was interesting, Alice pondered, feeling her hesitations fade away as one of the men straightened up with a small chuckle, lifting a hand to ruffle absentmindedly through his short, burnished locks. She did not blame Megan anymore. He was hot, deliriously, drag him across a counter and make-out, hot. An easy smile curved his lips, soulful, piercing eyes crinkled with mirth at something the other man said, his hips wriggling his ass with almost forbidden sin as he sashayed between the various tables and foldable chairs.
Megan breathed out a little querulous sigh, her eyes tracing lovingly across the angles and planes of his striking side profile. Alice suppressed an embarrassed chuckle, opting instead to shove her girlfriend’s arm brusquely. “Yah, why are you looking at them? Its rude to stare ya know…” She trailed away faintly, shifting her gaze to snap back at the second guys pale face that was revealed as Mr. A, as she now dubbed him, moved away to pour himself a steaming cup of coffee. If Mr. A was hot, Mr. B was drop-dead-gorgeous. An angel thrown down to fall upon the plains of earth in a fit of the heavens anger, his cherubic lips still curved in a sinful arc with such thin skin that every blush seemed to bloom across his cheeks in an unfurling rose. Megan sniggered, catching Alice's gaping mouth. She tickled the underside of Alice's chin, enticing a shiver of pleasure to thrill down her lover’s spine. Alice swatted her hand away distractedly.
“Man, they live a few houses down from mine. I see them leaving together every morning. That one,” Megan whispered wistfully, nudging her head discreetly in Mr. B’s direction. “he works here. The other one is Kim Junsu, only like the most famous model in Korea. I think I saw him in one of your fashion magazines once…” Megan threw longing eyes at both men, biting down upon her bottom lip unwittingly. Alice resisted the urge to peck her upon the cheeks.
“You’re lucky. You get a dosage of hotness every morning…” Alice commented petulantly, before they fell into a giggling fit. Abruptly they stilled their tittering, their glossy orbs widening in awe, their lips parting slightly as Mr. A slipped his shirt off with ease, revealing a soaring dragon that huffed steaming breaths with each roll of his shoulders, its scales gleaming in brilliant emerald that melded into an iridescent aquamarine crown of spines that trailed down its back to reach the tip of a sinuous, barbed tail. Its tail curled upwards in wide, sweeping arc to tickle slightly at the base of Mr. A’s neck. And just as fleetingly, the dragon slid from view as Mr. B turned Mr. A around to scan the tattoo with skilled proficiency with his fingertips stalking the curved outlines. Megan murmured a whine of disappointment. “I wonder what they will be doing on valentine’s day. Will they make handmade chocolates like us, you think?” Alice commented offhandedly, not expecting a reply.
Megan simply turned towards her and shrugged.
***
“You do know that there are girls staring at us outside the shop right.” Junsu murmured distractedly, tightening his hands as Jaejoong's straying finger started to trace deliciously along his spine, no longer concerned about the dragon. “I know,” Jaejoong simply uttered flippantly, at complete odds with the wicked grin curving his lips upwards as he peeked from behind Junsu's back at the two schoolgirls suddenly pretending to be staring at the various artworks on display instead of ogling at Junsu's flat, toned abs. “They seem to be enjoying it…” Jaejoong said softly, amusement colouring his words.
Junsu shot over his shoulder through pursed lips. “You ass… You just wanted to show me off didn’t you?” he whispered accusatorily. Jaejoong simply shrugged- a small lift of his shoulders- a seemingly innocent smile plastered over his full lips. Junsu narrowed his eyes slightly, giving a shy, small smile at the two girls which enticed them to cover their giggles with modest embarrassment, a steady rouge colouring their cheeks prettily. Junsu felt heat crawl up his nape and flush his cheeks. He shifted uncomfortably, gritting through his teeth. “Shit. I must look stupid.”
“On the contrary,” Jaejoong muttered absentmindedly, his eyes focused upon a single curved talon that seemed undefined. He might have to touch up later. “What a surprise. The legendary Kim Junsu that is so comfortable in front of a camera, but reduced to a blundering heap because of two girls.” Jaejoong commented drily, picking up a felt tip pen to trace around the claw, sharpening its hook to gouge into Junsu's lower back. Junsu's fingers twitched, a spasm contorting his refined features momentarily as he fought to keep his smile plastered on. “You’re not getting anything from me tonight…” Junsu said vehemently, a smirk of triumph quirking his lips upwards at Jaejoong's outraged hiss.
A firm smack on his ass had Junsu whirling around in indignation to meet Jaejoong's mischievous grin. “Don’t be angry Su,” Jaejoong murmured softly, sidling between the metallic tray containing various pots of ink in a myriad of colours and hues, to press close to Junsu's bare chest. Junsu's anger faded away completely, his breath hitching as he felt Jaejoong's open palm slither deliciously up his sides, a shiver trickling down his spine. They shared a kiss, soft and hesitant, but just as sweet and irresistibly delectable, a bittersweet promise of heated nights lush with toe-curling moans. A needy, protesting whine crawled up Junsu's throat as Jaejoong pulled reluctantly away.
He cracked his eyes open to stare at the car keys jangling cheerily between Jaejoong's pinched fingers.
***
“Where are you taking me?” Junsu giggled, stumbling slightly as he tottered along, holding on steadily to Jaejoong's arm. The wind buffeted their shivering forms, whipping their loosely wrapped scarves to wriggle chaotically around their faces. The last vestiges of winter’s frost had trickled away with the thawing of icy slush that caked the pavements, leaving behind only budding greens and verdant landscapes of lush grass. Tall reeds were bent over with each tug of the wind, like a streaming mane that caressed the shifting sands. Jaejoong remained silent, patiently guiding Junsu along with gentle nudges and tugs, a small smile etched constantly unto his lips.
“Ohh…” Junsu breathed out in recognition, his lips parting slightly in an ‘O’. The soft whoosh, as the waves crested in a nimble roll and crashed down upon the wet sand with a gush of frothy seafoam, played out a soothing bass amidst the sighing winds that carved out a haunting melody to slither along the shifting sand dunes in miniature dips and valleys. A fine sheen of mist hung a crystallized veil within their shared breaths, leaving drops of saltwater to dew upon the tips of their tongues. Jaejoong chuckled lightly, treading carefully upon the soft sand, ever careful to keep a firm hold upon Junsu's small frame whose steps were already ungainly and inept from the blindfold clinched across his eyes.
They neared a sheltered alcove, the towering oak trunk already nipped and peeking out little virgin buds of unfurling leaves along its sweeping branches. Muted candlelight scrawled shadows across the weathered bark, slashing through the grooves with shifting darkness. Jaejoong's eyes brightened somewhat as he surveyed his handiwork, a glimmer of pride quirking his lips upwards in a self satisfied grin. He mouthed a silent prayer to whichever gods, whom were currently paying attention, that they had not seen fit to billow a torrent of wind in his absence to throw his carefully laid picnic into chaotic asunder.
“Take your shoes off…” Jaejoong murmured softly, already prying his own tattered sneakers off and placing them neatly to the side, lest any sand get flung unto the pristine checkered surface of the picnic blanket. Junsu fidgeted momentarily, his voice coming out unsure and slightly annoyed. “Err,” Junsu lifted a finger and gestured wordlessly at the knotted blindfold firmly wrapped around his head. “It’s kinda hard to do that with this on ya know…”
Jaejoong swallowed a sheepish grin and folded his arms about Junsu's waist, murmuring ever so gently. “Do you trust me?” Junsu went still and slack, leaning back heavily into Jaejoong's encircling arms and nodding his head briefly. Jaejoong laid a fleeting press of his lips upon Junsu's temple, before pulling back abruptly to land the both of them, well more correctly, his ass, painfully upon the seemingly soft, welcoming picnic blanket. The soothing rub of sand grains against the soft underside of his feet moments ago, now felt like stinging pinpricks of jagged barbs poking irritatingly against his backside through the flimsy blanket. Jaejoong stifled a hiss of pain, blinking away smarting tears that pooled at the corners of his lashes. Damn his clumsy nerves. Damn the butterflies in his stomach.
“Omphf” Junsu huffed out in disorientation, shifting up to peel away the smothering blindfold with an expert flick of his wrist. His blurred vision swayed sickeningly before him, melding the outlines of his splayed fingers that were raised in the air to blend with the roiling waves along the inky stretch of beach that glistened beneath the dusky sky. Junsu blinked, sighing in relief as his multiple fingers steadied into a normal set of ten. He frowned; he did not remember growing another pair of legs though, with such pale, slender feet as well. With a jolt, Junsu realised he was sitting within the crook of Jaejoong's outstretched legs, his lovers toes wriggling comically before him to flash the slim band of a toe ring momentarily within the onslaught of night. Junsu giggled again, turning around to gaze at Jaejoong's skinnier frame languidly stretched out like a purring kitten, his lover’s shoulders propped up upon crooked elbows, his dark eyes staring unfathomably back.
“Happy Valentine’s…” Jaejoong uttered quietly, tilting his head upwards to meet Junsu in a tender kiss. Junsu pulled back with a tremulous sigh, an exquisite smile curving along his plump lips, as he pressed his head against Jaejoong's, their breaths mingling beneath the shuttering stars blinking above within the Milky Way. Junsu brought up a hand to splay his fingers upon Jaejoong's chest, right above his beating heart. Junsu's smile grew wider, feeling each rapid thump resonate through his open palm, rumbling a steady rush of wonder to tingle his skin, spreading an unexplainable exultation to flush his body. Love for the other man- the other half of his soul- seeped through his veins to tendril around his heart, quickening its even beat into an erratic flurry. Junsu felt like he was shifting through time, being dumped unceremoniously back into his dithering, blundering self when he was in high school.
He had never expected Jaejoong to prepare something so meticulous- the array of candles bundled on a corner of the square blanket, the rattan basket sitting forlornly on the side keeping its silent vigil, the hush calm that pervaded the soft breeze blowing within their little spot, tucked away from the rest of the world. They had never been one of those couples with identical rings, and meticulously celebrating each goddamned anniversary that the world could draft up. They had scoffed at other couples frivolous love, choosing instead to snuggle beneath a swaddle of blankets in godforsaken hours of chilly mornings to share a crisp cigarette and sip delicately from steaming mugs of bitter coffee. It was simple. It was bliss. Their tumultuous shared past disallowed any other form of existence.
“This is nice,” Junsu whispered slowly, nudging a careless nod in the direction of the various ornaments assembled around their entangled limbs. “but… We’ve never done something like this before…” Junsu trailed away uneasily, noting the slight tremor of tension arcing through Jaejoong's stiffened body. Jaejoong abruptly shifted, pushing himself to straighten himself up and step away from Junsu. Junsu swallowed a sudden uncomfortable tightening of his chest, shading his vulnerable features away from Jaejoong's sudden piercing silence, gritting his teeth against the treacherous bubble of anguish lancing through his throbbing heart and prickling his blinking lashes with hot, salty tears. Junsu turned away and faced the cool, sea breeze, feeling a curious damp cold wetting his cheeks.
Junsu had always hated it when Jaejoong would retreat his soul to cradle his own bleeding heart, disallowing everyone out of his life and problems, leaving himself alone to lick his smarting wounds. Until now, Junsu had slowly started believing that Jaejoong had finally opened himself up and bared his soul for Junsu to share. Junsu stifled a bitter laugh, choosing instead to flick a lighter into fiery existence, breathing in deeply of the cigarettes crackling heat to sear down his throat in an enraged rush. How deeply wrong he had been. Distantly, he heard Jaejoong shuffling around and the crinkle of plastic wrap being peeled delicately away. The spicy smell of freshly made kimchi ramyun wafted to brush lightly against his nose. Junsu's favourite. He suddenly had no appetite.
“The food will get cold soon.” Jaejoong uttered monotonously, coming from behind to lower a steaming bowl of the soup carefully in front of Junsu, waiting expectantly for his lover to lift a hand slowly to grasp the rim with pinched fingers. Jaejoong said nothing as Junsu lowered the bowl, forgotten upon the sand. Junsu gazed out to the horizon, a dull, apricot shade lining it in a coppery streak, the sun’s tip slowly but surely being swallowed by the ever churning waves. A slim necked champagne glass was lowered before his folded legs to hover in front of his blurred vision. A ringing clink resounded through the heavy silence, chasing away the melancholic phantoms that flitted through the encroaching shadows. Junsu stared numbly at the single ring of silver, the metal intertwining bands collecting little bubbles along its sides within the fizzing liquor, its glinting diamond sparkling iridescently as the sun’s last rays sparked through the crystal to flicker a multitude of rays to dance across his widened eyes. “Will you marry me?” Jaejoong whispered softly, a hint of uncertainty trembling through his words.
Junsu did not know what to think, or what to say. His mind screamed at him frantically, for him to do something, anything. Nod, just nod and say yes. It tramped around his mind in frustration, willing his limbs to do anything. But Junsu simply sat there, feeling Jaejoong hug him tightly from behind worriedly. A splatter of chilling wet spilled past his dewed lashes to free crystallized drops of love upon his cheeks.
“Yes.” A bare whisper trailed through the stark, smothering silence. And yet, it meant so, so much more.
Junsu felt a thrill of electricity arc through his limbs as the simple word rolled off his tongue, the monosyllable tasting strange and foreign, barely registering through his flurried consciousness as a wave of shock blasted his senses. He was married. He was linked to this man with each shared breath, each thumping beat, each gentle caress- their intertwined souls.
Jaejoong choked a breathy laugh, relief washing his features beneath the muted glow of the burning candle. Jaejoong never cried, not at his mother’s funeral, nor when he was repeatedly flogged by the lashing leather belts his father owned, or when he found Junsu shivering in the dank cold with welting fingerprints embedded into his pale skin. He just never did. And yet, on that night he managed to uncover a startling revelation- that the heart could do many wonderful things. Warm, salty tears threaded down his cheeks to wet his lips, seeping past to tingle along the base of his tongue. It tasted unlike anything he could ever imagine- a saccharine, bitter sweetness.
***
The coming of dawn caught the sun unawares, her long slim fingers hastily combing through her unravelling locks to unspool across the sky in watery pale light, painting everything awash in a drab, stark glow that whispered delightedly across their huddled limbs. A hand twitched slightly, drawing unconsciously closer to tighten its hold against a bare chest. A gentle, incoherent murmur tattered away on the morning breeze. Prancing spirits gambolled along invisible currents to thread their giggling fingers through ebony locks to fall lankly over thinly veined lids. Their giggles intensified as they poked naughty fingers beneath a thick blanket that swaddled both men’s legs to entangle together. An empty carton of cigarettes lay open on the side, scrunched butts littering the base of the tree with an empty bottle of champagne rolling slightly upon its rotund belly.
A bare chest brushed lightly against a bare back. A soaring phoenix, its roaring maw filled with blistering flames that licked up the side of a pale neck, lowered its great head to stare at the iridescent scales along a dragon’s spine. Its single piercing eye seemed to gleam beneath the sun’s jubilant laughs, acknowledging the other’s majestic presence with a solemn nod. Puffs of scorching steam trailed from the dragon’s snout as it grunted its approval, eyeing the curling crown of feathers atop the phoenixes head that sheltered in the crook of a shoulder. It was a new chapter in their lives.
The rest of the world was awakening, but they lay safely within each other’s encircling arms, feeling for once a certain self-assured confidence in their lives- their love.