The Shadow Thief
Title: The Shadow Thief
Author: Zelarkian
Pairing: KyuWook
Chapters: oneshot
Genre: Angst, romance
Rating: Pg-13
Warning(s): Profanity
Summary: A short story of two people who lose and find one another once more. Kyuhyun had lost his shadow, and with it his dearest friend. Ryeowook has left the love of his life, and that shadow was the only thing that had kept him strong.
Author's Note: Hello, this is my first KyuWook story. Its a bit strange so I hope you enjoy and comments are lovely :)
The young man was tall, dark, and luxuriously handsome. He had the lean body and exotic face of any top male model and his dark hair was soft, and curled exquisitely like ocean currents. His eyes were the blackest black, hard, and piercing; a deep brooding mystery. His aura surrounded him, like a shroud.
He was walking briskly yet calmly, as if he was late, but couldn't care less. His sharp features were slack and his long strides barely made a sound on the grimy sidewalk beneath his feet.
People were staring. Heads turned towards him, as if they were helplessly drawn by an immense force. The man barely spared his fellow pedestrians a glance, and only brushed his thick hair back with a flick of his hand. The heads turned back, dazed and confused.
He was without a shadow, and therefore without purpose.
His name was Cho Kyuhyun.
Kim Ryeowook strode in the opposite direction, walking as quickly as his short legs could carry him. He had a look of determination on his pretty, elf-like features, and was carrying a large glass jar in his thin arms. His soft blond hair was whipping back and forth and his steps quickened. He blinked rapidly to clear the strands out of his golden-brown eyes.
A crack in the sidewalk opened up in front of him, and he flailed helplessly as he felt himself going down. The ground hit his shoulder with a disturbing crunch and the large jar flew from his protective grasp. He gasped and his eyes widened as he reached for the fallen container, which had cracked and burst open. It's contents spilled out and floated into the air. He reached for them with small hands, knowing all too well that it was too late. Everything was gone...
A pair of hands, strong and pale, lifted him from the ground by the shoulders. A deep, sensual voice asked if he was alright and he felt himself being brushed off. The noises of a small crowd encased him, asking him if he was hurt; wondering what had happened.
He broke free from the crowd, waving his arms around as he desperately looked for the now broken and empty jar. That pair of long hands were still clutching his shoulders in a tight grip.
“Let go of me,” Ryeowook turned around, coming face to face with a pair of dark, brooding black irises. His breath caught in his throat and he forcefully snatched himself away from the tall figure that had been holding onto him. “Move,” he said coldly before picking up the empty container and dashing across the street.
The small gathering of onlookers quickly separated; going about their lives once more. Kyuhyun stared blankly after the small blond man, flexing and curling the fingers that had been touching small shoulders. He resumed his pace, this time following after Ryeowook with a determined expression.
He could see it. The shadow; floating high above him like a lost balloon. It touched the clouds before slipping easily through; greeting heaven far above.
“SHIT!” Ryeowook cursed. He wrapped himself in a hug as his frustrated tears began to fall to the cement below. The shadow was gone, and with it, his heart. His petite body shook as the sobs overtook him in the middle of the street. He curled up on the sidewalk, not giving a care who was staring at him.
“Ryeowook.”
He looked up and gazed at the same extraordinarily handsome man who had held him mere seconds ago. Instantly, he felt himself falling deep into those charcoal eyes, and somehow he gave couldn't find the willpower to pull himself back out.
“Ryeowook,” Kyuhyun repeated. “Wook... Wookie... Talk to me...” he said softly as he made a grab for the smaller man.
Ryeowook gained back his senses in moments, and before the taller man could touch him he jumped out of his reach; his arms tightening around himself. He was still gazing into those mysterious, black eyes, but this time with a fierce glint in his own eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?” he hissed through gritted teeth.
Kyuhyun's mouth hung open, at a loss for words. He wanted more than anything to reach over and kiss away the other man's tears. He wanted to bring him into his arms as if nothing was wrong between them. He wanted, more than anything else in the universe, to become a part of his life once more. He wanted to feel those soft pink lips on his own. He wanted to say exactly how much he loved, adored, and cherished him.
“Ryeowook. Was that my shadow?” he said instead.
The blond man blinked in surprise. “Yes,” he said simply as his gaze traveled back upwards, resuming the pointless search for the long-gone shadow. The salty tears were continuing to fall; stinging hie eyes and blurring his vision. He felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest, as if furiously using the remainder of it's strength to keep him going. He felt like screaming. That shadow. That tiny piece of hope was all that had kept him going for so long.
“Why...” Kyuhyun muttered, trying to force the words out. He had lived without his shadow for the longest time, wondering how and why it had slipped away. To find that his dearest friend had stolen it was a severe blow to his heart. “Why the hell did you take it?” he spat out angrily. His nerves were beginning to get to him.
Ryeowook said nothing as those tears continued to fall. He glanced at that pale, deliciously handsome face again, wondering why the hell he would leave someone so perfect. So flawless. “Its because... You never found me again... You didn't bother to look for me after I left...” he practically whispered.
Kyuhyun leaned in, thinking he had misheard the other. “Excuse me? You said I never tried looking for you? Are you fucking kidding me?” he seethed. “Do you know how many phone calls I've made? How many doors I've knocked on? How many cities I've been to just to find you? And I find you here. In Seoul. Holding MY shadow. Do you know how that makes me FEEL Ryeowook?” He was fuming now, and Ryeowook could tell. The small man stiffened and his fingers curled into fists.
“Are you serious, Kyuhyun? Are you seriously asking me how I think it makes you feel?” he sniffed before staring him down with a sudden fiery anger. “I've been living my entire life without you, Kyu. I left because you didn't accept me. I took your shadow because I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU CHO KYUHYUN! And I...” he dropped his gaze, sniffing again. “I... Didn't have the strength to steal your heart... So I took the next best thing.”
Kyuhyun felt his heart skitter. His mouth fell slack as his former best friend's words struck him fully. His hand found its way to his thundering heart and he looked at the small blond man with new eyes. “You can't be serious...” he whispered.
Ryeowook looked up in confusion. “What?”
Kyuhyun shook his head, knowing that Ryeowook had heard him clearly. He felt tears welling in his own dark eyes; hanging onto his lashes with a feeble grip before plummeting. He reached towards his friend, this time determined to embrace him fully. Ryeowook didn't move. He was rooted to the spot as the tall dark haired young man encircled him in a tender hug. It wasn't the hug Ryeowook had been hoping for. It didn't feel like the embrace of a lover. It was merely the comforting embrace of an understanding friend.
Kyuhyun was pushed away. “I don't want your comfort,” Ryeowook said with defiance in his tone. “I want your love, Kyuhyun. And if I can't have that... Then go.”
Kyuhyun's eyebrows shot upwards. “I want my shadow, Wook,” he said seriously.
Ryeowook sighed and wiped his tears, which were beginning to crust over and stick to his small face. “It will find it's way back to you,” he said with shaky confidence. “They always do.”
It was Kyuhyun's turn to sigh. “That isn't what I meant, Wook,” he said in that whispery, velvety voice he knew the other loved so much. “I want you and me to search for my shadow together. I want to continue to grow up with you, and stay with you... For as long as I can.”
Ryeowook scratched away the remainder of his tear tracks before placing his hands lightly over top his small mouth. “What are you saying,” he mumbled through his fingers.
Kyuhyun chuckled with that deep, silky voice and wrapped his long arms tighter around the small man's body. “I want to love you back, Wookie,” he said calmly. “I want to love you as more than a friend...”
Ryeowook's face broke out in a wide smile and the tears streaked down his face all over again. He wrapped his own arms around the taller man. This now felt like a true lover's embrace. It felt so right.
They both stood there, caged in one another's arms in the middle of the street. Neither gave a care of anyone else as they brought their lips together in a tentative kiss. It was short, sweet, and everything they had ever dreamed of sharing.
“Let's go then,” Ryeowook said with a lovely smile.
Kyuhyun chuckled and kissed the shorter man's forehead. “Go where?” he asked.
“To find that shadow of yours. Where else?” That sweet voice replied.
Kyuhyun's chuckle became a laugh as be was pulled down the crowded sidewalk. Honestly, he had forgotten all about that insignificant little thing. Who needs a shadow; an anchor to reality, when you have love?