For Prompt #7: Fearless, Like the Stars [Ch. 3]
Username: anonymous
Other Characters: Joonmyun/Jongdae
Length: 36,000 words
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, Angst, Minor character death, Original character deaths, Lots of handwaving of logic and science.
Summary: Minseok is sentenced for a crime so severe that he is banished to the prison colony on Earth. An accident occurs that sends him far from his original destination, where he discovers a place far beyond anything he had ever expected, and falls in love with a young man who saves him from his past.
Author's Note: A big THANK YOU to my betas who madly sprinted with me to the finish line with this, you are both my world ♥. Much love to the mods too, for running this fest tirelessly and putting up with my many requests for extensions - you are AWESOME. Dear prompter, I apologize if this isn’t close to what you wanted, but I hope you’ll still be able to enjoy it!
This fic contains sci-fi, fantasy and planetary romance themes, post-apocalyptic Earth and smut. Also includes Lu Han as a supporting character. Some characters may portray dark elements of exodus/mama au powers.
[ Ch. 1] [ Ch. 2] [Ch. 3] [ Ch. 4] [ Ch. 5] [ Ch. 6 & Epilogue]
[Chapter 3]
“I remember a time when there was nothing, when the lands were barren and the weather brittle. Winter felt like summer with the winds harsh against our skins, and summer seemed more like winter with the sun hidden behind the smog.
The New Lands brought us hope and taught us a powerful lesson: that the natural order of things allowed only the strongest of wills to survive. In return, we celebrate Nature’s gifts to us every year so that She will continue to bless us and shield us from harm.”
- A Mother’s Blessings, author unknown
The thin stream of fire left the man’s mouth and rose high above him before forming into a large burst of flames, sending the crowd below applauding and cheering.
The harvest festival was in full swing. Tables had been set up in the centre of the colony square, surrounding the clock tower and laden with food and drinks. Along the streets, men and women displayed the results of their harvest; there were fruits and vegetables in an assortment of colors, or items that had been carved from bamboo or molded from clay. These were exchanged for tokens, which were flat ceramic discs with a symbol of a tree carved on both sides.
Children ran about freely. A shout of laughter rang through the air as a group of traders haggled over their wares. All around the colony square, everyone had shed the plain, sand-colored tunics commonly favored here, in exchange for brighter colors: blues and greens mixed in with the reds and yellows, as festive as the atmosphere.
Minseok rested his weight on the cane, resisting the urge to scratch a growing itch under his arm. The material of the bright red tunic he wore felt coarse against his skin, even though it hung loosely on his body. A wide blue scarf, tied across his waist, completed the look. It was nothing like the stiff white trainee robes at the Academy, nor the ones that he had been fitted for when he achieved his Adept status - made of silk and satin, with velvet trims.
He shook his head, banishing the thoughts immediately. Thinking of home brought down a dark feeling of melancholy which clashed with the colourful and bright atmosphere that he was standing in right now.
Instead, he thumbed the handle of the cane in his hand. The surface was smooth, although the cane was old and weathered; it had once belonged to Baekhyun’s grandfather.
Baekhyun was now standing beside him, talking excitedly as he pointed towards one of the stalls. His hand was on Minseok’s arm, steadying him. Minseok had spent the past two weeks relearning walking once again, and he could not have done it without Baekhyun’s help. For all that Minseok had insisted that he could take care of himself, Baekhyun had been there to guide him, urging him on as he practiced walking on two feet without the hinderance of the cast this time. He could not remember a time when he had allowed someone he barely knew this close to him, but Baekhyun was not a stranger to him now. Not anymore.
Minseok could feel the press of his body against his side, his breath tickling in Minseok’s ear and against his cheek when he spoke. His face grew warm, which he blamed on the heat from the flames.
“Do you want a drink?” Baekhyun asked suddenly, raising his voice to be heard over the growing noise. “Wait here--” he said, and then he was hurrying off before Minseok could stop him, towards one of the tables where a woman in a lively blue dress stood smiling and handing out clay mugs to any who stopped by.
A lively tune filled the air when an elderly man sat by the side of the street, plucking the strings on his musical instrument while another sat next to him, his fingers beating out a rhythm on a small drum on his lap, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Nearby, a group of young women whirled and danced, their shawls flowing behind them as wildly as their hair. One of them caught Minseok’s gaze and winked at him. Feeling flustered, he quickly looked away, only to find himself staring at the face of a young man, perhaps no older than himself, standing next to him.
Minseok blinked in surprise. The man wore a bright yellow tunic with green trim, along with a matching sash draped across his chest. The sash bore the embroidered mark of the same tree he had seen earlier on the tokens.
Suddenly, the man smiled. “You’re Minseok.” He turned to face Minseok, bowing slightly. “I’m Joonmyun, the leader of this colony. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to meet with you yet, although Baekhyun’s mentioned you many times.”
“I…” Minseok floundered, unsure of what to say. He had been expecting an old man. This was not an old man.
“I’m glad to see that you’re better now,” Joonmyun continued on, as if Minseok hadn’t stammered like a child. “How is the festival so far?”
“It’s… ah. It’s not what I expected,” Minseok replied uncertainly. “But it’s rather interesting.”
“Interesting, you say?” Joonmyun looked thoughtful. “I suppose where you are from, your celebrations are far more festive?”
Minseok almost nodded, then stopped himself. Joonmyun would not know about Xeia. He shook his head instead. “I’m afraid not, Leader--”
Joonmyun chuckled, startling him. “Please, call me Joonmyun. The term ‘Leader’ sounds very stiff. In the old days, my predecessor always said people who relied on titles were like those who relied on masks instead of truth.” His eyes were on Minseok’s face, studying him intently. “Baekhyun says that you don’t remember much about where you were from.”
“Not all of it,” Minseok said, which was a half-truth. There were days when he had to think hard to recall his life before the colony. It had been almost two months, by his rough calculations, since he had been sent away from Xeia. “I remember falling down a hole, and Baekhyun helping me.”
Joonmyun was still smiling, but his eyes had gone sharp. “Not all of it?” He raised his eyebrow.
“Only enough to know that I was... lucky,” Minseok replied softly. Joonmyun, like Jongdae, made him feel nervous with their line of questioning. Since Jongdae’s comment to him last week, he had not said anything else about Minseok’s origins. Nor had he given any indication that he would. It was as if the conversation had never happened - yet, he would catch Jongdae glancing at him thoughtfully a few times.
Joonmyun looked like he was about to ask him something else when another voice interrupted them.
“Are you trying to scare him off, grandpa?” Jongdae asked as he joined them, holding a mug in one hand. “Minseok. Glad to see you made it. How’s the leg?”
“Ah--it’s gotten a lot better since you took off the cast, Jongdae,” Minseok replied, just as Joonmyun let out a sigh.
“‘Grandpa’?” he asked, giving Jongdae a look that seemed a cross between exasperation and defeat. “You’re never going to stop calling me that, are you?”
Jongdae’s response was a smirk. “Not if you keep acting like one. ‘In the old days’, indeed.” He snorted.
To Minseok’s surprise, Joonmyun actually blushed. He seemed to struggle with his words for a moment, before visibly giving up. “Alright.” Joonmyun looked almost as if he was sulking. He glanced at Minseok. “You have to understand... we’re not used to strangers showing up here unless they’re looking for something. We’ve had a few incidents in the past, and it wasn’t easy dealing with them.”
“I’m not here to cause trouble for anyone,” Minseok responded in a quiet voice. “I’ve been…” he paused, looking down at his leg and hands which were now healed. The scars that remained served as a reminder of his injuries, and how he had gotten them in the first place. “You’ve all done so much for me. Taking me in. Trusting me,” he added, “and I would do anything to repay you all back if I could. Especially Baekhyun.”
Joonmyun’s expression seemed to change, especially when Minseok mentioned Baekhyun’s name. Minseok noticed him exchanging glances with Jongdae, before looking back at Minseok. “Baekhyun vouches for you,” he says. “So does Jongdae. I trust their words when they tell me that you don’t mean to harm us.” He straightened up. “Well, I should be getting back to my duties.” Joonmyun gave him a slight bow before leaving, which Minseok returned, still feeling strange about the encounter.
“That went well,” Jongdae remarked.
“He still doesn’t trust me, does he?” Minseok asked him.
“Not by a mile,” Jongdae replied. “But that’s Joonmyun for you. He’s protective of everyone here, and takes care of us like a parent guarding their child. But he’s a kind person.” Jongdae patted Minseok on the shoulder lightly. “Don’t worry about him. It’s a day of celebration! You should be enjoying yourself.” His smile broadened, almost fox-like as he held up his mug towards Minseok. “Drink?”
“What’s this?” he asked, curious. It was filled with some sort of amber liquid.
“It’s wine,” Jongdae cut in. “Brings a little fire to the blood,” he added, taking a swig from the mug before letting out a satisfied sound as he glanced over at the group of dancing girls, leering at them a little.
It took Minseok a moment to realize what he meant, and he felt his face turn hot. “Perhaps later,” he said quickly, just as Baekhyun came back from the stall, two ceramic cups in his hands.
“Sorry, there was a long line and then they ran out of mugs,” he said breathlessly to Minseok. “So I went to get us some water instead.” He held one out to Minseok, who took it gratefully..
Jongdae chuckled. “I’ll drop by tomorrow to check on that leg again,” he said, lifting his mug in salute. “Enjoy the festival!” He sauntered off towards the musicians and the dancers.
It took him a while to realize that Baekhyun was watching him quietly. “You all looked so serious for a few moments there,” Baekhyun remarked, laughing softly. “Is everything alright?”
Minseok drained the contents of his cup quickly. The water felt sweet and cool against his dry throat. “Joonmyun said you vouched for me.”
Baekhyun looked startled for a moment, and then he stared down into his cup. “I… ah. Yes. I did.” His cheeks were flushed slightly, and his fringe fell across his forehead to cover his eyes.
Minseok was struck by an urge to brush his fringe aside, so that he could see Baekhyun’s eyes. He liked the way they always seem so lively, filled with a spark of some sort, especially when Baekhyun was looking at him.
He resisted, however, and spoke instead. “You--” Minseok paused here to take a deep breath before continuing, “You’ve done a lot for me, Baekhyun. I don’t know if I can ever repay you for it, and this probably isn’t enough, but I--I wanted to thank you. For trusting me.” He hadn't thought he would be able to trust anyone again, but Baekhyun changed that. For him. “If there’s anything I can do for you in return, to show my gratitude...” his words trailed off when Baekhyun raised his head suddenly to gaze at him intently.
“You would?” he asked, and Minseok nodded. “Anything?”
Minseok nodded again.
Suddenly, Baekhyun grabbed him by one arm and began to lead him away from the spot that they had been standing at, stopping for a brief moment to hand the cups back to the stall he had brought them from. It took him a while to realize that Baekhyun was guiding him to one of the stalls where the games were being played. “Baekhyun, that’s not what I mea--”
“It’ll be fun, come on!” Baekhyun told him excitedly.
“But my leg,” Minseok said weakly, eyeing the tall, expressionless man who was manning the stall they had stopped in front of.
“So you’re the new guy,” the boy remarked. His voice sounded as bored as he looked. “No legs. Just hands.”
“Sehun means you just need to use your hands to play this game,” Baekhyun explained, when Minseok stared at him in confusion. “Like this--” He picked up one of the balls that had been placed out by the man -- Sehun, Baekhyun had called him -- and carefully held it up. He was peering over the ball. The expression on his face was intense, his eyes narrowed. He looked as if he was focusing on how to aim the ball into the woven basket that had been placed on the table a distance away.
He threw the ball. A light breeze ruffled Baekhyun’s hair, causing the fringe to fall across his face again, this time distracting him. The ball flew in a graceful arc towards the basket -- and continued on over it, landing somewhere beyond the booth.
Sehun snorted, to Minseok’s surprise. Apparently he did have other expressions. “You suck at this,” he said to Baekhyun, who made a face at him and reached out for another ball.
Two more failed attempts later, with Sehun making more colorful commentary, he looked over at Minseok and grinned. “Your turn,” Baekhyun said brightly.
Minseok took the ball in his hands, his fingers running across the hard surface. It was made from some kind of fibrous material, not unlike the one for his tunic, although this one was coarser. It took him a few seconds to adjust to the feel of it, and the weight that was far less than the ones he was used to on Xeia, before he took careful aim.
Minseok’s shot landed true on the first try, although it did teeter on the edge of the basket before tipping over into it. “It’s been a while,” he admitted, while Baekhyun gaped at him. “I feel like I’m a little rusty.”
“You call that rusty?” Baekhyun asked, sounding incredulous.
Minseok laughed. He felt oddly buoyant somehow, although he had turned down the wine that had been offered to him earlier. He picked up another ball and took aim again.
In the end, he scored four more shots in a row, to the delight of the small crowd of colonists that had gathered behind him to watch. The cheers and applause made him blush. On Xeia, it had just been him and Lu Han when they had played, with no spectators, and he still remembered the first time he beat his oath-brother.
Thinking of Lu Han made him think of home. His heart clenched painfully as a wave of regret washed over him. He missed the last shot.
The crowd groaned in unison, and began to disperse when Minseok stepped aside to let the next person take their turn at the game. He glanced at Baekhyun. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Instead of looking disappointed, Baekhyun was grinning. “You were amazing. I’ve never been able to score that many in a row!” He grabbed Minseok’s hand, and pointed towards another stall. “Come on, let’s try something else!”
Swept up by his enthusiasm, Minseok found himself smiling back just as broadly, tightening his fingers within Baekhyun’s grip. A surprised look appeared on Baekhyun’s face as his eyes widened briefly. His cheeks grew pink before he ducked his head, suddenly shy.
He only released Minseok’s hand when they stopped at one of the other stalls. Strangely, Minseok found himself reluctant to let go.
It was late evening by the time the festivities began to wind down. As the colonists began packing up their booths, the others slowly made their way back to their homes. Flowers lay across the streets, dots of colorful patterns strewn over the ground.
Minseok watched from afar, seated on top of a large boulder resting against the wall of the cavern. Baekhyun had suggested this place, away from the noise and the crowd. It had taken them a while to walk through the colony to get to it, but with Baekhyun’s help, he managed to climb onto the boulder without any mishap.
Right now, Baekhyun was pointing out several long buildings in the distance. “Greenhouses,” he explained, when Minseok asked him what they were. “Since we’re underground, the crops need sunlight in order to grow, so we had to create enough light that resembled that.” He went on to explain how it was his great-grandfather’s idea to create these greenhouses for the crops, going as far as to building a machine that would provide light for them.
“A machine?” Minseok gave him a curious look. Since he had been here, he hadn’t seen any indication of advanced machinery being used. “How does it work?”
Baekhyun rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. “I don’t know, to be honest. My father might have known, but I didn’t… I didn’t really pay attention to his lessons.” He grimaced. “Jongdae might be able to tell you, though. He’s the one in charge of the machine now.”
“Jongdae?” Minseok raised his eyebrow. “Isn’t he the colony’s doctor?”
“He’s sort of everything here,” Baekhyun said. “He was a doctor at first, but when my family was gone, he was the only other person who could understand how to work the machine.” The pain expression on his face was clear. “You’re probably wondering what happened to them, right?” he asked quietly. “I know you asked before, but I didn’t tell you why.”
“You don’t have to,” Minseok told him gently.
Baekhyun shook his head. “It’s alright. I need to let you know anyway. Especially if you’re going to be staying with me… ah.. I mean here, with us.” He took a deep breath, before relating the story.
His parents had been in the tunnels, on their way back from the Outside, along with a contingent of other people from their colony, when an earthquake had struck. A few of the buildings around the square had collapsed, while some of the crops had been destroyed by falling rocks. The worst part had been when they discovered that half of the tunnels had been sealed shut, including the ones that the contingent had been using.
It had taken them days to dig them out, and there were very little survivors from the contingent. Baekhyun’s family had been lost, leaving only him and his grandfather behind. The elderly man had been heartbroken, and he had followed his wife a year later.
“It was really hard at first, and if it weren’t for Joonmyun being there for me, I might have gone crazy.” He sighed. “A decade isn’t long enough to get over it. I miss them a lot.” He looked at Minseok.
Minseok said nothing, but his hand found Baekhyun’s and squeezed it once, trying to convey his sympathies. Baekhyun gave him a sad smile.
“I’m okay,” he said, his voice sounding a little steadier than before. He didn’t let go of Minseok’s hand, however. “You know what my grandmother told me once? I used to be afraid of the dark. But she said.... she said that as long as there’s one light that still shines in this colony, I should never have to fear the dark.” He looked out towards the direction of the clock tower, where it stood tall over the surrounding buildings, the light from the flames that flickered from the top casting a soft warm glow over the colony. “When I look at that light, it reminds me that I’m still alive. And I’m thankful for that.”
They sat in silence. Minseok thought of his family. How were they faring now? Did his parents miss him? Had his sister finally woken up, and looked out towards the stars and remembered who her brother was? He instinctively reached up with his other hand to press his fingers against his chest, feeling the charm that had belonged to her. The cold comforted him, a little.
“Why do you do that?” Baekhyun asked. Minseok gave a start, looking at him. “You’re always touching your chest.” He tilted his head in curiosity.
For a moment, Minseok hesitated. Then again, he decided that it wouldn’t hurt to show him the charm. He released Baekhyun’s hand and adjusted the collar of his tunic, reaching in and pulling out the charm that was attached to a leather cord.
Baekhyun’s face lit up. “Can I… can I see that?”
Minseok nodded, and removed it from around his neck, placing the charm onto Baekhyun’s open palm. He studied it for a few long seconds, humming to himself.
“It’s pretty,” Baekhyun said, finally. He gave Minseok a soft smile. “Is it from someone special?” His voice was light, but Minseok could see the hesitant look in his eyes.
“My sister,” Minseok replied. That much, he could tell Baekhyun. Not where he was from, and why. “It was hers.”
“Oh.” There was a note of relief in that single word. “What does it do?”
“It’s for luck,” Minseok said. His heart twisted in pain. His sister’s ability had been unique, but it hadn’t been strong enough to protect her, nor him.
“Does it work?”
Minseok thought of the series of events that had led him here. He smiled, feeling . “Yes.”
“Maybe I should borrow it.” Baekhyun’s smile was impish. “Take it with me to the games booths next year, so I can win.”
Minseok felt his own smile slip a little. He hadn’t thought as far as next year yet. He wasn’t sure if he would still be here.
Baekhyun was still admiring the charm, oblivious to Minseok’s silence. He struggled to find something to say, and going the first thing that came to mind. “Maybe,” Minseok replied. “But then how would I win?”
Baekhyun laughed, looking surprised. “Fine. Here, you can keep it instead,” he said, handing the charm back to Minseok. He carefully pulled it over his head, tucking it back under his tunic once more.
As he listened to Baekhyun talk, Minseok’s mood returning back to his usual cheerful self, Minseok found himself growing distracted by his thoughts. As much as he had been growing fond of Baekhyun, who seemed to be filled with endless energy and cheer that pulled Minseok out of his melancholy, he did not fit here. Nothing could ever change that. Eventually, he knew, he would have to leave.
Minseok felt the twinge of pain in his chest. Not for the first time, he wished that he could go back to the way things were. Before he had learnt what it was like to hold another man’s life in his hands.
Before he learnt, truly, what loneliness felt like.
The surface was full of skeletons.
Not the sort that had their organic masses stripped from them; but the sort made of steel and iron. Carcasses of monumental size, large and looming, void of any telltale marks or shapes that provide a hint of their origins, lay scattered across the plains as far as Minseok’s eyes could see, half-hidden behind the smog.
Next to him Baekhyun lay back against the rocky wall, his arms crossed behind his head. More than a week had passed since the harvest festival. Minseok had spent every single day walking through the colony, learning the roads and people while Baekhyun was at his store. He no longer needed the cane now.
It had been Baekhyun’s idea to come up here. Minseok had been skeptical at first, since being out here meant being on the Outside, but Baekhyun had insisted that it was safe. He knew the tunnels well, even the ones that none of the other colonists knew about. These tunnels, he had explained, did not lead to the surface, but further up. Minseok hadn’t understood until he had stepped onto a wide ledge protruding from one of the mountains that stood above ground.
Up here, the air was thinner, but breathable. Minseok inhaled, letting it out slowly. “How far does this go?”
Baekhyun looked thoughtful for a moment. “I’ve heard of places where all of this stretches out for miles. There aren’t any marks or specific shapes - just twisted pieces of junk and metal.” Minseok stared at a lump of something in the distance, its vines wrapped around a giant rock formation like a tentacled creature. “Some of the colonies were once built within them, but they offered little to no protection against the storms.”
“Storms?” Minseok glanced at him.
“Not the good kind. They burn through everything organic, which is why nothing can grow out here.” Baekhyun grimaced.
Minseok’s professor at the Academy had said that Earth was once a beautiful place - perhaps not as majestic as the other planets in their system - but it had been a planet filled with tens of thousands of other species. It had seemed unbelievable, the first time he had heard about its destruction - but looking at the remains below, it was easy to believe it now.
“Where did they come from?”
Baekhyun shrugged. “There were a lot of things that were left behind from the Old World, good and bad. My great-grandfather wrote about some of them in his journal.” He laughed. “Did you know there were these constructs they called ‘planes’? They could fly across the skies within a few minutes.” He shook his head chuckling. “Sometimes I think he was just writing stories just to amuse himself.”
“There’s always some truth in stories,” Minseok remarked, and Baekhyun laughed softly.
“That’s what father used to say too. He kept his own journals, but he said they didn’t seem as interesting as what great-grandfather had written.”
“What about you?” Minseok asked. “Any journals of your own?”
Baekhyun chuckled. “I’m a terrible scholar. Sooyoung used to complain that I had too much energy as a kid. I tried writing once, but that was many years ago, and there wasn’t much to say.” He grinned at Minseok. “I have something for you, by the way.” He opened the small bag that he had carried up to the ledge with him, untying the drawstrings and reaching inside.
“Another lightstone?” Minseok asked. That was what Baekhyun had called the first one that he had given Minseok weeks ago.
Baekhyun merely grinned. He pulled out an odd-looking pendant.
“What is it?”
“It belonged to my great-grandfather. He wrote in one of his journal entries that it was a gift from his brother back home, but he couldn’t wear it. It wasn’t his to own, he said.” Baekhyun shrugged. “It’s been in the family for a long time, and - ah-- I want you to have it.” He held out the pendant towards Minseok shyly.
“Baekhyun, I can’t accept it,” Minseok said. “That’s…” His voice trailed off. A family heirloom, and Baekhyun was giving it away, just like that! “If it belonged to your great-grandfather, then shouldn’t it stay with the family? With you?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?” Baekhyun’s smile returned. “I mean, you’ve been staying with me. Having you around feels like you’re part of the family, you know?” His voice grew thick. “Minseok, I want you to have it. Please.”
Minseok felt his breath catch. He hadn’t thought that Baekhyun would come to think of him that way - but then again, he remembered his conversation with Jongdae, weeks ago. About Baekhyun’s naivety, the way he trusted too easily. For a moment, he considered rejecting the gift, but then Jongdae’s words came, unbidden, to his mind. No matter what, don’t hurt him.
He held his hand out, accepting the gift. Baekhyun’s expression turned to one of relief instantly; he let out his breath, grinning at Minseok. He looked happy. Minseok couldn’t imagine hurting him, taking that smile away from him.
He studied the pendant in his palm. It seemed to be made of glass. It was pale blue, with veins that snaked across the surface. It reminded him of something, but he couldn’t quite place it. Oddly, it felt cool in his hand, almost like ice. It was probably because of the temperature up here, he thought.
There was a small ring attached to it, meant to hang the pendant from a chain of some sort. He didn’t have a chain, but he did have his sister’s charm, along with the leather cord that held it. He pulled it out of his tunic and untied the cord, looping the ends through the ring. Securing the cord again tightly, Minseok slipped it back over his head and let it hang loose, next to the charm.
“Thank you,” he said, to Baekhyun. Two gifts, now, and Minseok still had nothing to offer him in return. He owed Baekhyun so much. “This… means a lot. To me.” Baekhyun’s cheeks were still red, he noticed, but his eyes were shining brightly, his face turned up towards Minseok, and in that moment, Minseok couldn’t help but think how beautiful he was.
He leaned forward, and kissed Baekhyun.
* * *
Miles away from the planet, a small cruiser flew steadily through space. It was called the Skylark. While she was a dainty-looking thing compared to the other ships that she was normally docked next to at the spaceport, she packed enough power to go up against a Class-M battleship. Not that her owner had ever tried going up against a battleship, however, since he preferred finding other ways of avoiding messy space battles, unless there was something to be gained.
Lu Han resisted the urge to yawn. They had been flying for a few weeks now. The mission was critical, and he had briefed his crew carefully about it, stressing the need for complete secrecy.
“How close are we, Jongin?” he asked one of the crew members, who had not bothered to hide his own sleepy state. They were all tired from running on double shifts. He made a mental note to request for shore leave once this was all over.
“Two days away, Captain,” Jongin replied.
Anything could happen in two days. “Increase the speed to maximum, Jongin. I want to be there in less than that.”
Jongin hesitated, for a moment. “Captain,” he began, “If we increase our speed, we could overload the engines.”
“Near-maximum, then.” Lu Han knew his ship better than anything else. “She can take the heat.”
As the ship began to pick up speed, Lu Han slumped back in his seat. Soon enough, they would reach Earth - where Lu Han would begin his hunt for a very old friend.
* * *
He could sense him. He was there, always there, somewhere within him. Sometimes he spoke to him in riddles, sometimes he would ignore him.
He took a deep breath. His lungs burned, but he had grown accustomed to the feeling. Two months of surviving in this version of Hell, and he had learnt to overcome the conditions.
A promise. They had promised him. They had released his bonds, and he had waited, while the others thought him weak, shielded.
There. Again. That brief throb, like a heartbeat. Except it wasn’t a heartbeat, but a voice, that whispered like a caress across his mind.
Hello, it said. Do you want to play a game?
[ Ch. 1] [ Ch. 2] [Ch. 3] [ Ch. 4] [ Ch. 5] [ Ch. 6 & Epilogue]
Other Characters: Joonmyun/Jongdae
Length: 36,000 words
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, Angst, Minor character death, Original character deaths, Lots of handwaving of logic and science.
Summary: Minseok is sentenced for a crime so severe that he is banished to the prison colony on Earth. An accident occurs that sends him far from his original destination, where he discovers a place far beyond anything he had ever expected, and falls in love with a young man who saves him from his past.
Author's Note: A big THANK YOU to my betas who madly sprinted with me to the finish line with this, you are both my world ♥. Much love to the mods too, for running this fest tirelessly and putting up with my many requests for extensions - you are AWESOME. Dear prompter, I apologize if this isn’t close to what you wanted, but I hope you’ll still be able to enjoy it!
This fic contains sci-fi, fantasy and planetary romance themes, post-apocalyptic Earth and smut. Also includes Lu Han as a supporting character. Some characters may portray dark elements of exodus/mama au powers.
[ Ch. 1] [ Ch. 2] [Ch. 3] [ Ch. 4] [ Ch. 5] [ Ch. 6 & Epilogue]
[Chapter 3]
“I remember a time when there was nothing, when the lands were barren and the weather brittle. Winter felt like summer with the winds harsh against our skins, and summer seemed more like winter with the sun hidden behind the smog.
The New Lands brought us hope and taught us a powerful lesson: that the natural order of things allowed only the strongest of wills to survive. In return, we celebrate Nature’s gifts to us every year so that She will continue to bless us and shield us from harm.”
- A Mother’s Blessings, author unknown
The thin stream of fire left the man’s mouth and rose high above him before forming into a large burst of flames, sending the crowd below applauding and cheering.
The harvest festival was in full swing. Tables had been set up in the centre of the colony square, surrounding the clock tower and laden with food and drinks. Along the streets, men and women displayed the results of their harvest; there were fruits and vegetables in an assortment of colors, or items that had been carved from bamboo or molded from clay. These were exchanged for tokens, which were flat ceramic discs with a symbol of a tree carved on both sides.
Children ran about freely. A shout of laughter rang through the air as a group of traders haggled over their wares. All around the colony square, everyone had shed the plain, sand-colored tunics commonly favored here, in exchange for brighter colors: blues and greens mixed in with the reds and yellows, as festive as the atmosphere.
Minseok rested his weight on the cane, resisting the urge to scratch a growing itch under his arm. The material of the bright red tunic he wore felt coarse against his skin, even though it hung loosely on his body. A wide blue scarf, tied across his waist, completed the look. It was nothing like the stiff white trainee robes at the Academy, nor the ones that he had been fitted for when he achieved his Adept status - made of silk and satin, with velvet trims.
He shook his head, banishing the thoughts immediately. Thinking of home brought down a dark feeling of melancholy which clashed with the colourful and bright atmosphere that he was standing in right now.
Instead, he thumbed the handle of the cane in his hand. The surface was smooth, although the cane was old and weathered; it had once belonged to Baekhyun’s grandfather.
Baekhyun was now standing beside him, talking excitedly as he pointed towards one of the stalls. His hand was on Minseok’s arm, steadying him. Minseok had spent the past two weeks relearning walking once again, and he could not have done it without Baekhyun’s help. For all that Minseok had insisted that he could take care of himself, Baekhyun had been there to guide him, urging him on as he practiced walking on two feet without the hinderance of the cast this time. He could not remember a time when he had allowed someone he barely knew this close to him, but Baekhyun was not a stranger to him now. Not anymore.
Minseok could feel the press of his body against his side, his breath tickling in Minseok’s ear and against his cheek when he spoke. His face grew warm, which he blamed on the heat from the flames.
“Do you want a drink?” Baekhyun asked suddenly, raising his voice to be heard over the growing noise. “Wait here--” he said, and then he was hurrying off before Minseok could stop him, towards one of the tables where a woman in a lively blue dress stood smiling and handing out clay mugs to any who stopped by.
A lively tune filled the air when an elderly man sat by the side of the street, plucking the strings on his musical instrument while another sat next to him, his fingers beating out a rhythm on a small drum on his lap, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Nearby, a group of young women whirled and danced, their shawls flowing behind them as wildly as their hair. One of them caught Minseok’s gaze and winked at him. Feeling flustered, he quickly looked away, only to find himself staring at the face of a young man, perhaps no older than himself, standing next to him.
Minseok blinked in surprise. The man wore a bright yellow tunic with green trim, along with a matching sash draped across his chest. The sash bore the embroidered mark of the same tree he had seen earlier on the tokens.
Suddenly, the man smiled. “You’re Minseok.” He turned to face Minseok, bowing slightly. “I’m Joonmyun, the leader of this colony. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to meet with you yet, although Baekhyun’s mentioned you many times.”
“I…” Minseok floundered, unsure of what to say. He had been expecting an old man. This was not an old man.
“I’m glad to see that you’re better now,” Joonmyun continued on, as if Minseok hadn’t stammered like a child. “How is the festival so far?”
“It’s… ah. It’s not what I expected,” Minseok replied uncertainly. “But it’s rather interesting.”
“Interesting, you say?” Joonmyun looked thoughtful. “I suppose where you are from, your celebrations are far more festive?”
Minseok almost nodded, then stopped himself. Joonmyun would not know about Xeia. He shook his head instead. “I’m afraid not, Leader--”
Joonmyun chuckled, startling him. “Please, call me Joonmyun. The term ‘Leader’ sounds very stiff. In the old days, my predecessor always said people who relied on titles were like those who relied on masks instead of truth.” His eyes were on Minseok’s face, studying him intently. “Baekhyun says that you don’t remember much about where you were from.”
“Not all of it,” Minseok said, which was a half-truth. There were days when he had to think hard to recall his life before the colony. It had been almost two months, by his rough calculations, since he had been sent away from Xeia. “I remember falling down a hole, and Baekhyun helping me.”
Joonmyun was still smiling, but his eyes had gone sharp. “Not all of it?” He raised his eyebrow.
“Only enough to know that I was... lucky,” Minseok replied softly. Joonmyun, like Jongdae, made him feel nervous with their line of questioning. Since Jongdae’s comment to him last week, he had not said anything else about Minseok’s origins. Nor had he given any indication that he would. It was as if the conversation had never happened - yet, he would catch Jongdae glancing at him thoughtfully a few times.
Joonmyun looked like he was about to ask him something else when another voice interrupted them.
“Are you trying to scare him off, grandpa?” Jongdae asked as he joined them, holding a mug in one hand. “Minseok. Glad to see you made it. How’s the leg?”
“Ah--it’s gotten a lot better since you took off the cast, Jongdae,” Minseok replied, just as Joonmyun let out a sigh.
“‘Grandpa’?” he asked, giving Jongdae a look that seemed a cross between exasperation and defeat. “You’re never going to stop calling me that, are you?”
Jongdae’s response was a smirk. “Not if you keep acting like one. ‘In the old days’, indeed.” He snorted.
To Minseok’s surprise, Joonmyun actually blushed. He seemed to struggle with his words for a moment, before visibly giving up. “Alright.” Joonmyun looked almost as if he was sulking. He glanced at Minseok. “You have to understand... we’re not used to strangers showing up here unless they’re looking for something. We’ve had a few incidents in the past, and it wasn’t easy dealing with them.”
“I’m not here to cause trouble for anyone,” Minseok responded in a quiet voice. “I’ve been…” he paused, looking down at his leg and hands which were now healed. The scars that remained served as a reminder of his injuries, and how he had gotten them in the first place. “You’ve all done so much for me. Taking me in. Trusting me,” he added, “and I would do anything to repay you all back if I could. Especially Baekhyun.”
Joonmyun’s expression seemed to change, especially when Minseok mentioned Baekhyun’s name. Minseok noticed him exchanging glances with Jongdae, before looking back at Minseok. “Baekhyun vouches for you,” he says. “So does Jongdae. I trust their words when they tell me that you don’t mean to harm us.” He straightened up. “Well, I should be getting back to my duties.” Joonmyun gave him a slight bow before leaving, which Minseok returned, still feeling strange about the encounter.
“That went well,” Jongdae remarked.
“He still doesn’t trust me, does he?” Minseok asked him.
“Not by a mile,” Jongdae replied. “But that’s Joonmyun for you. He’s protective of everyone here, and takes care of us like a parent guarding their child. But he’s a kind person.” Jongdae patted Minseok on the shoulder lightly. “Don’t worry about him. It’s a day of celebration! You should be enjoying yourself.” His smile broadened, almost fox-like as he held up his mug towards Minseok. “Drink?”
“What’s this?” he asked, curious. It was filled with some sort of amber liquid.
“It’s wine,” Jongdae cut in. “Brings a little fire to the blood,” he added, taking a swig from the mug before letting out a satisfied sound as he glanced over at the group of dancing girls, leering at them a little.
It took Minseok a moment to realize what he meant, and he felt his face turn hot. “Perhaps later,” he said quickly, just as Baekhyun came back from the stall, two ceramic cups in his hands.
“Sorry, there was a long line and then they ran out of mugs,” he said breathlessly to Minseok. “So I went to get us some water instead.” He held one out to Minseok, who took it gratefully..
Jongdae chuckled. “I’ll drop by tomorrow to check on that leg again,” he said, lifting his mug in salute. “Enjoy the festival!” He sauntered off towards the musicians and the dancers.
It took him a while to realize that Baekhyun was watching him quietly. “You all looked so serious for a few moments there,” Baekhyun remarked, laughing softly. “Is everything alright?”
Minseok drained the contents of his cup quickly. The water felt sweet and cool against his dry throat. “Joonmyun said you vouched for me.”
Baekhyun looked startled for a moment, and then he stared down into his cup. “I… ah. Yes. I did.” His cheeks were flushed slightly, and his fringe fell across his forehead to cover his eyes.
Minseok was struck by an urge to brush his fringe aside, so that he could see Baekhyun’s eyes. He liked the way they always seem so lively, filled with a spark of some sort, especially when Baekhyun was looking at him.
He resisted, however, and spoke instead. “You--” Minseok paused here to take a deep breath before continuing, “You’ve done a lot for me, Baekhyun. I don’t know if I can ever repay you for it, and this probably isn’t enough, but I--I wanted to thank you. For trusting me.” He hadn't thought he would be able to trust anyone again, but Baekhyun changed that. For him. “If there’s anything I can do for you in return, to show my gratitude...” his words trailed off when Baekhyun raised his head suddenly to gaze at him intently.
“You would?” he asked, and Minseok nodded. “Anything?”
Minseok nodded again.
Suddenly, Baekhyun grabbed him by one arm and began to lead him away from the spot that they had been standing at, stopping for a brief moment to hand the cups back to the stall he had brought them from. It took him a while to realize that Baekhyun was guiding him to one of the stalls where the games were being played. “Baekhyun, that’s not what I mea--”
“It’ll be fun, come on!” Baekhyun told him excitedly.
“But my leg,” Minseok said weakly, eyeing the tall, expressionless man who was manning the stall they had stopped in front of.
“So you’re the new guy,” the boy remarked. His voice sounded as bored as he looked. “No legs. Just hands.”
“Sehun means you just need to use your hands to play this game,” Baekhyun explained, when Minseok stared at him in confusion. “Like this--” He picked up one of the balls that had been placed out by the man -- Sehun, Baekhyun had called him -- and carefully held it up. He was peering over the ball. The expression on his face was intense, his eyes narrowed. He looked as if he was focusing on how to aim the ball into the woven basket that had been placed on the table a distance away.
He threw the ball. A light breeze ruffled Baekhyun’s hair, causing the fringe to fall across his face again, this time distracting him. The ball flew in a graceful arc towards the basket -- and continued on over it, landing somewhere beyond the booth.
Sehun snorted, to Minseok’s surprise. Apparently he did have other expressions. “You suck at this,” he said to Baekhyun, who made a face at him and reached out for another ball.
Two more failed attempts later, with Sehun making more colorful commentary, he looked over at Minseok and grinned. “Your turn,” Baekhyun said brightly.
Minseok took the ball in his hands, his fingers running across the hard surface. It was made from some kind of fibrous material, not unlike the one for his tunic, although this one was coarser. It took him a few seconds to adjust to the feel of it, and the weight that was far less than the ones he was used to on Xeia, before he took careful aim.
Minseok’s shot landed true on the first try, although it did teeter on the edge of the basket before tipping over into it. “It’s been a while,” he admitted, while Baekhyun gaped at him. “I feel like I’m a little rusty.”
“You call that rusty?” Baekhyun asked, sounding incredulous.
Minseok laughed. He felt oddly buoyant somehow, although he had turned down the wine that had been offered to him earlier. He picked up another ball and took aim again.
In the end, he scored four more shots in a row, to the delight of the small crowd of colonists that had gathered behind him to watch. The cheers and applause made him blush. On Xeia, it had just been him and Lu Han when they had played, with no spectators, and he still remembered the first time he beat his oath-brother.
Thinking of Lu Han made him think of home. His heart clenched painfully as a wave of regret washed over him. He missed the last shot.
The crowd groaned in unison, and began to disperse when Minseok stepped aside to let the next person take their turn at the game. He glanced at Baekhyun. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Instead of looking disappointed, Baekhyun was grinning. “You were amazing. I’ve never been able to score that many in a row!” He grabbed Minseok’s hand, and pointed towards another stall. “Come on, let’s try something else!”
Swept up by his enthusiasm, Minseok found himself smiling back just as broadly, tightening his fingers within Baekhyun’s grip. A surprised look appeared on Baekhyun’s face as his eyes widened briefly. His cheeks grew pink before he ducked his head, suddenly shy.
He only released Minseok’s hand when they stopped at one of the other stalls. Strangely, Minseok found himself reluctant to let go.
It was late evening by the time the festivities began to wind down. As the colonists began packing up their booths, the others slowly made their way back to their homes. Flowers lay across the streets, dots of colorful patterns strewn over the ground.
Minseok watched from afar, seated on top of a large boulder resting against the wall of the cavern. Baekhyun had suggested this place, away from the noise and the crowd. It had taken them a while to walk through the colony to get to it, but with Baekhyun’s help, he managed to climb onto the boulder without any mishap.
Right now, Baekhyun was pointing out several long buildings in the distance. “Greenhouses,” he explained, when Minseok asked him what they were. “Since we’re underground, the crops need sunlight in order to grow, so we had to create enough light that resembled that.” He went on to explain how it was his great-grandfather’s idea to create these greenhouses for the crops, going as far as to building a machine that would provide light for them.
“A machine?” Minseok gave him a curious look. Since he had been here, he hadn’t seen any indication of advanced machinery being used. “How does it work?”
Baekhyun rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. “I don’t know, to be honest. My father might have known, but I didn’t… I didn’t really pay attention to his lessons.” He grimaced. “Jongdae might be able to tell you, though. He’s the one in charge of the machine now.”
“Jongdae?” Minseok raised his eyebrow. “Isn’t he the colony’s doctor?”
“He’s sort of everything here,” Baekhyun said. “He was a doctor at first, but when my family was gone, he was the only other person who could understand how to work the machine.” The pain expression on his face was clear. “You’re probably wondering what happened to them, right?” he asked quietly. “I know you asked before, but I didn’t tell you why.”
“You don’t have to,” Minseok told him gently.
Baekhyun shook his head. “It’s alright. I need to let you know anyway. Especially if you’re going to be staying with me… ah.. I mean here, with us.” He took a deep breath, before relating the story.
His parents had been in the tunnels, on their way back from the Outside, along with a contingent of other people from their colony, when an earthquake had struck. A few of the buildings around the square had collapsed, while some of the crops had been destroyed by falling rocks. The worst part had been when they discovered that half of the tunnels had been sealed shut, including the ones that the contingent had been using.
It had taken them days to dig them out, and there were very little survivors from the contingent. Baekhyun’s family had been lost, leaving only him and his grandfather behind. The elderly man had been heartbroken, and he had followed his wife a year later.
“It was really hard at first, and if it weren’t for Joonmyun being there for me, I might have gone crazy.” He sighed. “A decade isn’t long enough to get over it. I miss them a lot.” He looked at Minseok.
Minseok said nothing, but his hand found Baekhyun’s and squeezed it once, trying to convey his sympathies. Baekhyun gave him a sad smile.
“I’m okay,” he said, his voice sounding a little steadier than before. He didn’t let go of Minseok’s hand, however. “You know what my grandmother told me once? I used to be afraid of the dark. But she said.... she said that as long as there’s one light that still shines in this colony, I should never have to fear the dark.” He looked out towards the direction of the clock tower, where it stood tall over the surrounding buildings, the light from the flames that flickered from the top casting a soft warm glow over the colony. “When I look at that light, it reminds me that I’m still alive. And I’m thankful for that.”
They sat in silence. Minseok thought of his family. How were they faring now? Did his parents miss him? Had his sister finally woken up, and looked out towards the stars and remembered who her brother was? He instinctively reached up with his other hand to press his fingers against his chest, feeling the charm that had belonged to her. The cold comforted him, a little.
“Why do you do that?” Baekhyun asked. Minseok gave a start, looking at him. “You’re always touching your chest.” He tilted his head in curiosity.
For a moment, Minseok hesitated. Then again, he decided that it wouldn’t hurt to show him the charm. He released Baekhyun’s hand and adjusted the collar of his tunic, reaching in and pulling out the charm that was attached to a leather cord.
Baekhyun’s face lit up. “Can I… can I see that?”
Minseok nodded, and removed it from around his neck, placing the charm onto Baekhyun’s open palm. He studied it for a few long seconds, humming to himself.
“It’s pretty,” Baekhyun said, finally. He gave Minseok a soft smile. “Is it from someone special?” His voice was light, but Minseok could see the hesitant look in his eyes.
“My sister,” Minseok replied. That much, he could tell Baekhyun. Not where he was from, and why. “It was hers.”
“Oh.” There was a note of relief in that single word. “What does it do?”
“It’s for luck,” Minseok said. His heart twisted in pain. His sister’s ability had been unique, but it hadn’t been strong enough to protect her, nor him.
“Does it work?”
Minseok thought of the series of events that had led him here. He smiled, feeling . “Yes.”
“Maybe I should borrow it.” Baekhyun’s smile was impish. “Take it with me to the games booths next year, so I can win.”
Minseok felt his own smile slip a little. He hadn’t thought as far as next year yet. He wasn’t sure if he would still be here.
Baekhyun was still admiring the charm, oblivious to Minseok’s silence. He struggled to find something to say, and going the first thing that came to mind. “Maybe,” Minseok replied. “But then how would I win?”
Baekhyun laughed, looking surprised. “Fine. Here, you can keep it instead,” he said, handing the charm back to Minseok. He carefully pulled it over his head, tucking it back under his tunic once more.
As he listened to Baekhyun talk, Minseok’s mood returning back to his usual cheerful self, Minseok found himself growing distracted by his thoughts. As much as he had been growing fond of Baekhyun, who seemed to be filled with endless energy and cheer that pulled Minseok out of his melancholy, he did not fit here. Nothing could ever change that. Eventually, he knew, he would have to leave.
Minseok felt the twinge of pain in his chest. Not for the first time, he wished that he could go back to the way things were. Before he had learnt what it was like to hold another man’s life in his hands.
Before he learnt, truly, what loneliness felt like.
The surface was full of skeletons.
Not the sort that had their organic masses stripped from them; but the sort made of steel and iron. Carcasses of monumental size, large and looming, void of any telltale marks or shapes that provide a hint of their origins, lay scattered across the plains as far as Minseok’s eyes could see, half-hidden behind the smog.
Next to him Baekhyun lay back against the rocky wall, his arms crossed behind his head. More than a week had passed since the harvest festival. Minseok had spent every single day walking through the colony, learning the roads and people while Baekhyun was at his store. He no longer needed the cane now.
It had been Baekhyun’s idea to come up here. Minseok had been skeptical at first, since being out here meant being on the Outside, but Baekhyun had insisted that it was safe. He knew the tunnels well, even the ones that none of the other colonists knew about. These tunnels, he had explained, did not lead to the surface, but further up. Minseok hadn’t understood until he had stepped onto a wide ledge protruding from one of the mountains that stood above ground.
Up here, the air was thinner, but breathable. Minseok inhaled, letting it out slowly. “How far does this go?”
Baekhyun looked thoughtful for a moment. “I’ve heard of places where all of this stretches out for miles. There aren’t any marks or specific shapes - just twisted pieces of junk and metal.” Minseok stared at a lump of something in the distance, its vines wrapped around a giant rock formation like a tentacled creature. “Some of the colonies were once built within them, but they offered little to no protection against the storms.”
“Storms?” Minseok glanced at him.
“Not the good kind. They burn through everything organic, which is why nothing can grow out here.” Baekhyun grimaced.
Minseok’s professor at the Academy had said that Earth was once a beautiful place - perhaps not as majestic as the other planets in their system - but it had been a planet filled with tens of thousands of other species. It had seemed unbelievable, the first time he had heard about its destruction - but looking at the remains below, it was easy to believe it now.
“Where did they come from?”
Baekhyun shrugged. “There were a lot of things that were left behind from the Old World, good and bad. My great-grandfather wrote about some of them in his journal.” He laughed. “Did you know there were these constructs they called ‘planes’? They could fly across the skies within a few minutes.” He shook his head chuckling. “Sometimes I think he was just writing stories just to amuse himself.”
“There’s always some truth in stories,” Minseok remarked, and Baekhyun laughed softly.
“That’s what father used to say too. He kept his own journals, but he said they didn’t seem as interesting as what great-grandfather had written.”
“What about you?” Minseok asked. “Any journals of your own?”
Baekhyun chuckled. “I’m a terrible scholar. Sooyoung used to complain that I had too much energy as a kid. I tried writing once, but that was many years ago, and there wasn’t much to say.” He grinned at Minseok. “I have something for you, by the way.” He opened the small bag that he had carried up to the ledge with him, untying the drawstrings and reaching inside.
“Another lightstone?” Minseok asked. That was what Baekhyun had called the first one that he had given Minseok weeks ago.
Baekhyun merely grinned. He pulled out an odd-looking pendant.
“What is it?”
“It belonged to my great-grandfather. He wrote in one of his journal entries that it was a gift from his brother back home, but he couldn’t wear it. It wasn’t his to own, he said.” Baekhyun shrugged. “It’s been in the family for a long time, and - ah-- I want you to have it.” He held out the pendant towards Minseok shyly.
“Baekhyun, I can’t accept it,” Minseok said. “That’s…” His voice trailed off. A family heirloom, and Baekhyun was giving it away, just like that! “If it belonged to your great-grandfather, then shouldn’t it stay with the family? With you?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?” Baekhyun’s smile returned. “I mean, you’ve been staying with me. Having you around feels like you’re part of the family, you know?” His voice grew thick. “Minseok, I want you to have it. Please.”
Minseok felt his breath catch. He hadn’t thought that Baekhyun would come to think of him that way - but then again, he remembered his conversation with Jongdae, weeks ago. About Baekhyun’s naivety, the way he trusted too easily. For a moment, he considered rejecting the gift, but then Jongdae’s words came, unbidden, to his mind. No matter what, don’t hurt him.
He held his hand out, accepting the gift. Baekhyun’s expression turned to one of relief instantly; he let out his breath, grinning at Minseok. He looked happy. Minseok couldn’t imagine hurting him, taking that smile away from him.
He studied the pendant in his palm. It seemed to be made of glass. It was pale blue, with veins that snaked across the surface. It reminded him of something, but he couldn’t quite place it. Oddly, it felt cool in his hand, almost like ice. It was probably because of the temperature up here, he thought.
There was a small ring attached to it, meant to hang the pendant from a chain of some sort. He didn’t have a chain, but he did have his sister’s charm, along with the leather cord that held it. He pulled it out of his tunic and untied the cord, looping the ends through the ring. Securing the cord again tightly, Minseok slipped it back over his head and let it hang loose, next to the charm.
“Thank you,” he said, to Baekhyun. Two gifts, now, and Minseok still had nothing to offer him in return. He owed Baekhyun so much. “This… means a lot. To me.” Baekhyun’s cheeks were still red, he noticed, but his eyes were shining brightly, his face turned up towards Minseok, and in that moment, Minseok couldn’t help but think how beautiful he was.
He leaned forward, and kissed Baekhyun.
* * *
Miles away from the planet, a small cruiser flew steadily through space. It was called the Skylark. While she was a dainty-looking thing compared to the other ships that she was normally docked next to at the spaceport, she packed enough power to go up against a Class-M battleship. Not that her owner had ever tried going up against a battleship, however, since he preferred finding other ways of avoiding messy space battles, unless there was something to be gained.
Lu Han resisted the urge to yawn. They had been flying for a few weeks now. The mission was critical, and he had briefed his crew carefully about it, stressing the need for complete secrecy.
“How close are we, Jongin?” he asked one of the crew members, who had not bothered to hide his own sleepy state. They were all tired from running on double shifts. He made a mental note to request for shore leave once this was all over.
“Two days away, Captain,” Jongin replied.
Anything could happen in two days. “Increase the speed to maximum, Jongin. I want to be there in less than that.”
Jongin hesitated, for a moment. “Captain,” he began, “If we increase our speed, we could overload the engines.”
“Near-maximum, then.” Lu Han knew his ship better than anything else. “She can take the heat.”
As the ship began to pick up speed, Lu Han slumped back in his seat. Soon enough, they would reach Earth - where Lu Han would begin his hunt for a very old friend.
* * *
He could sense him. He was there, always there, somewhere within him. Sometimes he spoke to him in riddles, sometimes he would ignore him.
He took a deep breath. His lungs burned, but he had grown accustomed to the feeling. Two months of surviving in this version of Hell, and he had learnt to overcome the conditions.
A promise. They had promised him. They had released his bonds, and he had waited, while the others thought him weak, shielded.
There. Again. That brief throb, like a heartbeat. Except it wasn’t a heartbeat, but a voice, that whispered like a caress across his mind.
Hello, it said. Do you want to play a game?
[ Ch. 1] [ Ch. 2] [Ch. 3] [ Ch. 4] [ Ch. 5] [ Ch. 6 & Epilogue]