All Hallows' Meet
Title: All Hallows’ Meet
Author: TBA
Genre: Paranormal!AU, Soulmates!AU
Rating: PG-13
Length: ~2,200 words
Warning: (highlight for spoilers) character death
Summary: Their love is strong enough to sustain them for eternity.
On All Hallows Eve, the people of Never End swarm the streets dressed up in a myriad of costumes, from fairy tale creatures to nightmare monsters, from beloved celebrities to identities best left to their own cultures. The children carry their plastic or paper candy bags, the teens gather in groups to head to the nearest party, and the adults either stay at home pretending the world isn’t celebrating or dare to venture out for some much needed fun.
Halloween is a most celebrated holiday in Never End. It’s tradition for people to put out their decorations from the first of October until the second of November, filling their front yards and porches with pumpkins, ghosts, fake spider webs, skeletons, and many other spooky trinkets. There are only two houses at the end of thirteenth street which bear no festive decorations, but the families there have their reasons for not keeping with tradition anymore.
Speaking of traditions, there is one that is exclusive to a pair of young men in Never End. It started when they first met each other in elementary school. After the youngest was bullied for his costume, he’d ran away and hidden in the town’s cemetery. The eldest had found the younger by chance as he crossed the cemetery to return to his own home at the end of the day. A few kind words, some candy exchanged, and the boys became pretty much inseparable from that moment on.
No one and nothing ever came between them.
It’s five minutes past midnight on this year’s All Hallows Eve night. The youngest walks confidently down the rows of old and new markers in the cemetery, heading for the old willow tree with the blindfolded angel statue. His black jacket and single white glove shine with sequins under the light of a full moon. He tilts his fedora and smiles to the few other children that walk by on their way to collect candy.
Deeper into the cemetery he goes, until he leaves the main trail and steps onto the dirt path. His shinny shoes don’t pick up any muck as he walks down to his rendezvous near the cemetery pond.
A dark silhouette waits under the tree, leaning against the angel statue. The figure straightens and his sharp words cut across the hush of night. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Jongin stops. “What?”
The figure moves closer, out of the shadows and into the faint light filtering through the willow branches. Kyungsoo, dressed in a penguin onesie, yells, “We agreed, Jongin!”
A burst of laughter escapes Jongin’s mouth before he can think better of it. At the eldest’s growl, Jongin snaps his mouth shut and covers it with a fist. “I’m sorry. I totally forgot.”
Kyungsoo glowers at him. “Change. Now.”
“Okay, fine. But first, don’t I look awesome.” Jongin spreads his arms, showing off his jacket, and then twirls once, before stopping in a signature MJ pose.
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes, but the corner of his mouth tilts up. “You always do. Now change so I stop feeling ridiculous by myself.”
Jongin grins. He snaps his fingers and his clothes poof away to be replaced by a bear onesie. “Better?”
Kyungsoo cackles. “Yes, now we both look like idiots.”
After adjusting the hoodie of his bear costume, Jongin holds out his hand. “Ready to trick and treat?”
“Let’s go!” Kyungsoo twines his fingers with Jongin’s and pulls him along. Just like old times. Just like all the times.
The bear and penguin walk around the streets of Never End enjoying the odd and surprising sights of their neighbors’ costumes. They have this game where they pick out the best and worst dressed by assigning points to each person they come across. In past years, the winner has always been the old granny on second street who dresses herself and her four pugs to movie themes. This year, they’re playing dress-up as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with the granny being sensei Splinter.
Kyungsoo is still laughing at the pugs with color bandanas and turtle shells on their backs as they make their way down third street. Jongin simply shakes his head, and looks ahead with a big smile on his face. This is why he loves Halloween, because they can relax and have fun and be themselves once more.
There’s a group of teens seated on the corner of fourth street. Their chatter reaches Jongin a second before he takes a closer look. Recognizing them, Jongin yanks Kyungsoo behind the nearest row of bushes, uncaring that they’re stepping on a neighbor’s lawn. He opens a space between the leaves and peeks.
Beside Jongin, Kyungsoo mutters curses and picks himself up from the grass. “What the fuck, Jongin?”
“Shh!” Jongin grabs Kyungsoo by the arm and pulls him low so he can see between the leaves as well. They squat side by side and listen in.
“Where to next?” the prince asks.
The priest shakes his candy bag and pouts. “We’re running low on candy.”
“Luhan texted me. He said his parents just left,” the pirate says.
The prince nods. “Okay, so a candy run before we head to Luhan’s house.”
“Don’t forget the stop by the cemetery,” the steampunk gentleman adds.
“We never forget,” the pirate says, subdued.
Jongin smiles when Kyungsoo grips his hand and squeezes. It’s nice to see their old friends again. The ever loud-mouthed Baekhyun dressed as a prince, the always happy Chanyeol in a pirate costume, stoic Sehun with a steampunk outfit, and jokester Jongdae as a priest. The foursome are sitting around the curve, cans of soda in their hands and bags of candy at their feet, having a nice time like always.
“Let’s trick them,” Jongin whispers.
Kyungsoo pulls back and looks him up and down. “You’re a cute bear and I’m a cute as hell penguin. How are we going to scare anyone in this?”
Jongin tuts and shakes his head. “You’ve much to learn, my young padawan. It’s all in the snap of your fingers.”
A skeptical frown takes over Kyungsoo’s face. “Show me.”
Jongin snaps his fingers and is immensely pleased by how Kyungsoo jerks away from him, letting out a little scream.
“Don’t you ever, EVER, do that so close to my face,” Kyungsoo warns, adjusting the hood of his onesie that had fallen.
Jongin snickers. He peers between the leaves, making sure their friends are still there. “But do you wanna try it against them?”
“Absolutely.”
A few minutes later, choir of screams echoes down the street, followed by four figures running as if little flying devils were chasing them. A bear and a penguin laugh themselves silly on the street corner.
They’re walking down tenth street when Kyungsoo lags behind. Jongin stops suddenly and turns around to see his penguin digging through some boxes that were left for the garbage truck to pick up.
“Soo?” Jongin jogs back to him.
“I heard something,” Kyungsoo says, digging even more into the trash. “Aha!” From the bottom of the pile, Kyungsoo pulls a small something by the scruff of its neck.
Jongin gasps. “A puppy!”
Kyungsoo chuckles at Jongin’s enthusiasm. The puppy, a furry black thing of unknown breed, whines a bit. It’s so faint, that it’s a wonder Kyungsoo heard him in the first place. He checks the puppy over for any signs of hurt, but finds none. “Poor thing must’ve been abandoned.”
Jongin pets the little dog’s head and giggles when it latches onto his finger to suck. “Aw, I wanna keep him.”
Kyungsoo stills beside him. “You know we can’t.”
Jongin sighs, and backhugs Kyungsoo, settling his head over Kyungsoo’s shoulder and looking down at the pup. “We can feed him at least, right?”
“Come on,” Kyungsoo says, passing the pup to Jongin. “Let’s find him food and then a home.”
A few houses down, music and strobe lights blast out of an open door. There’s a bored-looking mastiff tied on the side of the house, not caring one bit about the party and guests inside his territory. Kyungsoo hands the pup over to Jongin and sneaks inside to find some dog treats. With alcohol and other substances freely flowing among the crowd, it’s quite easy for Kyungsoo to get what he wants without disturbing anyone.
Kyungsoo returns outside and finds Jongin trying to teach the pup how to roll over. “I think he’s a bit too young for that.”
“Really? I think he’s having fun,” Jongin says, watching how the pup gnaws on his finger after he motions it to roll.
“Here. I got him some treats and a cup of water,” Kyungsoo says, placing the items on the concrete. The pup sniffs the treats, but passes them over. It’s the cup of water he laps enthusiastically from, almost tipping it over in his haste.
Jongin coos over the pup for a while, and Kyungsoo lets him. It’s not often the younger gets to play with puppies, the one thing he loves almost as much as Kyungsoo. Eventually, Jongin stands on his own and nods. “Okay. I’m done.”
Kyungsoo smiles and nudges Jongin. “Any idea where we should leave it?”
“Yep! I have the perfect person.” Jongin says, and leads them to the corner of twelve street. The two-story white and yellow house belongs to the only girl who ever had a crush on Jongin before he cleared things up and told everyone he and Kyungsoo were together.
“You want to leave the pup with your ex?” Kyungsoo teases.
Jongin pouts. “She was never my ex. And yes, I think a pup is exactly what she needs.”
Kyungsoo chuckles, he pats the pup on the head. “Take care.”
After saying his goodbyes, Jongin settles the pup on the porch and rings the bell. He runs away and hides with Kyungsoo nearby.
The house’s front door opens and a young girl walks out. Seulgi picks up the puppy, smiling wide when the little thing licks her face. “Where did you come from? Did you run away from home?” She glances around into the night, but upon seeing no one brings the pup inside.
“So, the pup is supposed to be a replacement for you?” Kyungsoo says.
Jongin frowns. “Maybe.”
“It’s a poor replacement.” Kyungsoo grabs Jongin’s hand and swings them as they walk.
“At least she’ll have someone there when she’s lonely.”
The words come out cold, surprising Kyungsoo. He stops walking. “Hey,” he says, and waits until Jongin looks at him. “I didn’t mean to tease. I’m glad you gave it to her. The pup will be her guardian from now on.”
Jongin nods.
Kyungsoo glances at the sky. “Let’s get our treats before the night is over.”
Bags full of candy, Jongin and Kyungsoo head back to the cemetery. When they pass the undecorated houses of Never End, both boys hold on tighter to each other and keep their eyes on the ground. Kyungsoo starts to tremble, so Jongin slides an arm around his shoulders and pulls him along.
The cemetery is mostly empty, the visitors for the night having long gone after paying their respects. Jongin and Kyungsoo leave their candy bags by two distinct markers, surrounded by fresh flowers and other trinkets, and walk back to their favorite spot near the willow and the guarding blind angel statue beside the pond.
As dawn grows closer, Jongin draws Kyungsoo into an embrace. Wordlessly, they cling to each other, arms wrapped around their waists, Kyungsoo’s head over Jongin’s chest, and Jongin’s cheek pressed against the top Kyungsoo’s head. It’s not like they can feel anything with their temporary bodies, but the closeness soothes their spirits like nothing else can.
“It was a good night,” Jongin murmurs.
Kyungsoo smiles against Jongin’s chest. “Yeah, it was. It always is. Because we’re together.”
“Love you, Soo,” Jongin whispers, tightening his embrace for a moment.
“Love you, too.” Kyungsoo steps back, a wide and heart-shaped smile on his lips. “I wish we could-”
“I know,” Jongin cuts. “I wish we had-”
“I know.”
Jongin takes a deep breath. He has to be strong and brave. That’s their deal. No one is allowed to break during goodbyes. “Theme for next year is Greek Gods. I read this fantasy book about a prince and his slave, and I really want to see how you look in a sexy short chiton.”
“Pervert,” Kyungsoo says, but doesn’t discard the idea.
Jongin gazes into Kyungsoo’s eyes, so big and round, always full of kindness, love, and a little mischief. They don’t shine as much in this form they take, but Jongin can still remember the sparkle of life they used to contain. “Love you. Always.”
“Love you forever,” Kyungsoo whispers. There’s a heavy pause, like he wants to say more. Jongin tightens his embrace once more, a silent ‘I’m here. It’s okay.’ No one is allowed to fall apart, not when their time is almost over. When Kyungsoo finally looks up again, his smile cracks a bit at the edges. “See you next Halloween, Jongin.”
Jongin cups Kyungsoo’s cheek, his hand passing through the translucent tear that falls. “See you.”
As the sun rises over the forest surrounding the cemetery, Jongin and Kyungsoo fade away into nothingness. It’ll be a full year, a full turn of the seasons, before they can see each other again on the anniversary of their death on All Hallows’ Eve. It’s a blessing then that their love is strong enough to sustain them in limbo for eternity.