fic: snowblind {AU, KiWoon}
title: snowblind
author: MK Yujji
pairing: KiWoon
warnings: AU, slash
word count: 1,546
Notes: This was written for the B2st Secret Santa. My recipient was
cybermuffin18. I probably shouldn't be posting this, but it's now well past all the post dates. When I finish something, I have little patience for waiting to post.
summary:
Dongwoon waits, worried and afraid.
~*~*~
The snow is heavy on the air, blanketing the world in swirling white. Sitting in a dark apartment, staring out the window, Dongwoon can’t see a thing.
It’s almost as if there’s nothing to see, nothing but the blinding white snow and the shadowy mirage-like images that might be the world.
He’s had piloting in his blood since he was a toddler and his father took him up in a small prop plane for the very first time. He’d started flying lessons as soon as he’d reached the minimum age requirement and most of his military service had been spent in the air. From there it had been an easy step into commercial airline piloting.
He knows what this kind of snow means. He knows what it does to visibility, to the instruments a pilot relies on, to the landing strips.
He knows exactly how dangerous it is.
Dongwoon hates snow.
~*~*~
”Yah, why does it have to be you?” Dongwoon couldn’t help but pout, angry and upset as he watched his lover pack an overnight bag.
Gikwang sighed and glanced over his shoulder, exasperation warring with affection. “Luck of the draw, Woonie. Could have been you, just as easily. You know how it is.”
Dongwoon did, but just then he didn’t really care. “But we have plans.”
He was whining and he knew that too.
“It’s only two days, Woonie. I’ll be back before you even realize I’m gone.”
“But hyung-”
“Christmas Eve, Woonie. I should be home by Christmas Eve.”
The younger man scowled and kicked at the edge of the bed, wincing as it hurt his foot far more than it did the bed. “I swear, it’s like you don’t even care that our entire holiday is messed up now.”
Another sigh and Gikwang just shook his head and closed up his bag. “You’re being unreasonable. You know I was looking forward to heading out to the cabin just as much as you were. We’ll just do something here when I get back. It’s just two days, Woonie. Stop pouting.”
~*~*~
Dongwoon’s television is off.
If he has to watch one more report about the weather and flight conditions… If he has to see any more speculation about the fate of the handful of planes that had gotten caught out in the freak blizzard…
He’s already lost his breakfast. He didn’t bother with lunch at all. Throwing up again would only burn his throat with useless bile.
He has friends up there somewhere. People he’s flown with for years, people he’s seen in passing, people with families and loved ones who are sitting in apartments and hotels all over the world feeling just as sick as Dongwoon is.
His lover is up there somewhere.
At least no reporters have come knocking on his door.
Dongwoon isn’t sure he could keep himself from slamming it in their faces if they did.
~*~*~
The ride to the airport was made in absolute silence. Dongwoon was pretty sure that Gikwang was right, that he was being unreasonable, but they’d made their plans months ahead of time.
They’d been promised the time off.
He’d been counting on having it off, counting on making the trip up to his family’s cabin where no one could disturb them. No phone, no television, no friends ‘just dropping by’.
Just him and Gikwang.
They’d given up their summer vacation time to have that.
To have it snatched away at the last second was bad enough. To have Gikwang treat the sudden change as if it was nothing to be upset about was a lot worse.
It was meant to be a special holiday. Their first official Christmas together with their anniversary - New year’s - coming at the end.
He’d planned to ask Gikwang to move in with him. The older man already spent most of his time at Dongwoon’s apartment, but he’d always maintained his own as well and that had stopped being okay with Dongwoon six months into their relationship. He wanted the tangible proof that Gikwang was as committed to them as he was.
Part of Dongwoon couldn’t help but wonder if Gikwang wasn’t using the sudden call-in as just another escape route.
~*~*~*~
His cell phone is sitting right next to his hand.
He hasn’t moved far from it since the storm had blown in.
The call could come in at any moment and Dongwoon didn’t want to risk missing it.
~*~*~
Gikwang sighed as he leaned down next to the window, his overnight bag slung over one shoulder. “Woonie…”
But Dongwoon just stared straight ahead, unwilling to give ground. He was upset. He had a right to be upset.
“Wish me happy skies?” Gikwang asked softly. It was tradition, after all. A wish for a quick, easy flight and a safe return. Another silly superstition like an actor wishing another to ‘break a leg’. The only thing that made it special was that it was their tradition, their silly superstition. “Please?”
The younger man’s lips parted on the words, but they caught in his throat, refusing to leave. Instead, he took a deep shuddering breath and shook his head.
There was a long moment of hesitation, then soft lips brushed his cheek. “I’ll see you soon, Woonie.”
Dongwoon refused to watch him walk away. He put the car back into drive and left.
~*~*~*~
The clock ticks on, sliding from 11:59 to midnight and Dongwoon shudders as he rubs a hand across his face. It’s Christmas Day and the snow is still coming down, ever harder.
His phone is still silent.
His apartment is still dark and cold.
His breath catches in his throat and the burn of tears that refuse to fall is starting to make him light headed.
Christmas Eve comes and goes with nothing but blinding white snow and a crushing pain that Dongwoon is afraid will never go away.
~*~*~
Gikwang was only gone for an hour before Dongwoon started worrying.
It was only a superstition.
But sometimes superstitions were founded on truth. He grabbed his cell phone and tried to call, but there was nothing but voice mail to answer him. Gikwang was already in the air.
Biting his lip, Dongwoon considered before calling again. “I’m sorry I was such an dick, Kwangie. I love you. Call me as soon as you land, okay? Happy skies.”
~*~*~
It’s almost 5am before Dongwoon lifts his head from his knees. His body is cramped from sitting curled on the floor near the window for more hours than a body his size should be curled anywhere.
He’s freezing, but it barely registers.
The snow stopped while he wasn’t paying attention. The world is caught in that quiet place where it looks more like a beautiful, fragile snowglobe than reality, but he can’t appreciate it.
Not without Gikwang by his side.
He swallows hard and forces himself to his feet, wincing at the prickling sensation of circulation coming back slowly.
He grabs his phone and has to swallow back the sick feeling that settles in his stomach when he sees there isn’t even so much a text message.
~*~*~
”I’m sorry I was such a dick, Kwangie. I love you. Call me as soon as you land, okay? Happy skies.”
~*~*~
He’s coming out of the bathroom when he realizes there’s someone else in the kitchen.
Gikwang’s greeting dies in his throat as Dongwoon nearly bowls him over, pulling him in tight and refusing to let go.
Strong arms wrap around his shoulders and gentle hands stroke through his hair. “Sorry I’m late, Woonie. You wouldn’t believe the weather out there.”
Dongwoon can’t speak. The tears that hadn’t fallen earlier are falling now, falling too hard to stop, but he doesn’t care. He just shakes his head against Gikwang’s neck and holds the other man even more tightly.
He may never let go again.
Soft lips press against his temple. “I love you, too.”
~*~*~
They lay intwined on pillows and blankets in front of the fireplace, more blankets wrapped around their bodies. It’s their own little haven from the frozen world outside the window.
It isn’t the cabin, but Dongwoon is past the point of caring about the where. All that matters to him is that they’re together.
Gikwang is safe and warm, curled up in his arms with a sleepy smile that never fails to do funny things to Dongwoon’s heart.
He doesn’t need his lover to say anything to know how bad it was, how dangerous it got. He knows all about how treacherous a ‘winter wonderland’ really is to the people who get caught out in it.
Beautiful, but deadly.
Dongwoon hates snow.
He knows exactly how close he came to spending the rest of his Christmas’s alone.
The thought of it makes his breath catch and shudder. Makes his arms tighten around Gikwang until the other man shifts and protests.
Soft words are whispered against his skin, soft promises that Dongwoon clings to as tightly as he clings to Gikwang.
Later they’ll have to talk about their fight and Dongwoon’s insecurities. Later Dongwoon will ask Gikwang to move in and maybe he’ll say yes and maybe he’ll say he has to think about it.
Later.
For now Dongwoon will cling and cuddle and thank every deity he can think of that they have a ‘later’.
***
fin.