La Storia: Epilogue
-continues from ' Ti Amo: Interlude'-
The man stares at his photographs in the lab, rinsing them carefully in the developer fluid. His eyes gaze fondly at the subject of his photos- the crinkle of his eyes as he smiles fondly at the camera, and the man behind it; the happiness and contentment on his face- He sighs and blinks back the well of emotion that springs up.
In half an hour, his exhibition would be starting soon. Outside, his assistants were scurrying around, busily finishing up the last-minute preparations. The guests were already chattering noisily, fuelled by the ease of champagne and the glitz of the occasion. After all, he was a known name in the industry and the invitations to his exhibitions were heavily coveted. The media were already gathered outside, busily snapping pictures of the big names that had come to the opening.
He really should be outside, mingling. But he has never been one for crowds. Yes, if he has to. But personally, no. And today, after all, is a most personal subject.
He clips the newly-developed photos onto the line hanging above him and steps back. The red dimness of the lab colours the photos sepia, making them seem old. Memories in physical form, he thinks, smiling fondly as his eyes linger again on each of them. Memories of the recent past. At least, he will now have them to look at in years to come.
A knock on the door alerts him to the real world waiting outside. He sighs, looks once more at the photographs and leaves the room.
---
Outside, his assistant hovers. He is escorted to greet some of his higher-profile clients, people who have paid a lot of money for his work. Well, it is easy to produce good pieces when one has an incredibly inspiring muse. A muse that continues to incite and inspire him, ten years and counting.
His eyes turn up at the thought. It gives him courage and renewed energy. He is ready.
---
'And tonight, we celebrate the opening of yet another amazing tribute to the legacy of love and everything it entails. From the first sparks to full bloom; from happiness to pain; from togetherness to separation; from happy to sad endings. Love is indeed a multi-splendoured thing and we celebrate it all tonight. Let us put our hands together to welcome, on the 10th anniversary of his career, the renowned photographer- Mr Shim Changmin!' The emcee's boisterous voice booms out in introduction, behind him, the music starts up.
Changmin steps out slowly, eyes lit up, smile wide as he bows to the adoring crowd beyond the curtains.
---
He lifts his champagne flute to a guest doing the same at the other side of the room and looks around. Guests are gathered in pockets around various photographs in the gallery. The night has gone very well- he has already sold most of the photos, except for his prized one. Which of course, is not for sale.
He walks to it, hanging in the centre of the room, spot-lit by two lights at the side. He stands and stares at the photograph, his expression softening as he recalls the memory behind it.
Love.
Meeting.
Rome.
---
A soft voice whispers by his side, causing him to start a little before he relaxes in its familiarity.
'Are you sure I can't convince you to sell it?'
Changmin smiles, eyes still locked onto the photograph.
'No. It isn't for sale.'
'But surely what I can offer will be more than enough' The voice is teasing but warm.
'And what would that be?'
'This.'
---
A pair of arms encircle Changmin from the back and clutches him tightly against the broad chest of the other. A kiss is pressed on the side of his face, making Changmin giggle. A faint scent of baby powder wafts into Changmin's nose, he shakes his head affectionately. A celebrity music producer who still uses baby powder over cologne.
'And what exactly is that supposed to be?'
'Love, baby. My love.'
Changmin turns around in the other's embrace and locks his arms around the neck of the man he has loved for almost ten years. His muse. The man in almost all in his photographs, including the centrepiece of his exhibition. He laughs.
'Why do you want it when you have me?'
Yunho smiles and leans forward to brush another kiss on Changmin's forehead.
'So I will always remember 'la storia'. Of my path to romance. Of how I met you, and found my liberty.'
Changmin's eyes are bright and shimmering, the joint memory of that day in November, ten years ago encapsulated in that photograph behind them. He looks at Yunho, his partner, his lover, his best friend.
'I thought you wouldn't be coming tonight. Aren't you supposed to be working?'
'Yeah. But someone promised to keep U-Know in check and tonight, he can wait. Shim Changmin is the most important person to Jung Yunho and I promised to always be Jung Yunho when you need me to be. It's your 10th anniversary exhibition, Changdola. I wouldn't miss it for the world.'
Changmin feels his heart spring up in his chest. Beating, bursting full of joy and contentment. This is everything, everything that he had ever wanted. 10 years ago, he would not have foreseen he would be standing here, doing what he loved, with a supportive and capable partner by his side.
---
Loving and being loved in return. Sure, there were the fights, the turmoil, the pain. But nothing, nothing that could not be forgiven. The first year after that night at the club was difficult. Changmin had almost walked away several times, sick of being disappointed and neglected. Yunho had struggled to balance work and his relationship with Changmin too, over-promising, over-compensating.
It had almost been breaking point, until one night after one particularly brutal fight, Yunho had gone to the Han River for a walk and talked to Wise Man.
'Ah.' Wise Man had chuckled in between drags of his cigarette, fingers playing with the edge of the scarf that Yunho had given him on an earlier occasion. 'Don't you see? He's frustrated because you aren't there when he needs you to be. You, as in Jung Yunho, boyfriend of Shim Changmin.'
Yunho promised himself to visit Wise Man often, seeing that he could be utterly clueless at times.
---
Changmin cups Yunho's face in his hands and drops another long kiss on his lips tenderly. The swell of emotion that he feels at this- his exhibition, his success, and his love. The one chance he had given to Yunho all those years ago, still intact, now secure and wrapped up in concrete love and their bond. Against his lips, Changmin whispers the words that he has felt from the start; he says it in the language that holds a special place in their hearts.
'Yunho. Ti Amo.'
---
This piece is from the photographer's personal collection and is not for sale.
This is La Nostra Storia (Our Story)
---
a/n: thank you. It has been a wonderful ride. I originally had a -bittersweet- ending for this but I needed some fluff in my life. This was my first serious and completed fanfic series. I hope you liked it.
a/n2: i also hope you got the references: ten years, love and war, ti amo etc etc. ^^v
Pic cr: story
---
Continues to - Body Rock - (drabble)
The man stares at his photographs in the lab, rinsing them carefully in the developer fluid. His eyes gaze fondly at the subject of his photos- the crinkle of his eyes as he smiles fondly at the camera, and the man behind it; the happiness and contentment on his face- He sighs and blinks back the well of emotion that springs up.
In half an hour, his exhibition would be starting soon. Outside, his assistants were scurrying around, busily finishing up the last-minute preparations. The guests were already chattering noisily, fuelled by the ease of champagne and the glitz of the occasion. After all, he was a known name in the industry and the invitations to his exhibitions were heavily coveted. The media were already gathered outside, busily snapping pictures of the big names that had come to the opening.
He really should be outside, mingling. But he has never been one for crowds. Yes, if he has to. But personally, no. And today, after all, is a most personal subject.
He clips the newly-developed photos onto the line hanging above him and steps back. The red dimness of the lab colours the photos sepia, making them seem old. Memories in physical form, he thinks, smiling fondly as his eyes linger again on each of them. Memories of the recent past. At least, he will now have them to look at in years to come.
A knock on the door alerts him to the real world waiting outside. He sighs, looks once more at the photographs and leaves the room.
---
Outside, his assistant hovers. He is escorted to greet some of his higher-profile clients, people who have paid a lot of money for his work. Well, it is easy to produce good pieces when one has an incredibly inspiring muse. A muse that continues to incite and inspire him, ten years and counting.
His eyes turn up at the thought. It gives him courage and renewed energy. He is ready.
---
'And tonight, we celebrate the opening of yet another amazing tribute to the legacy of love and everything it entails. From the first sparks to full bloom; from happiness to pain; from togetherness to separation; from happy to sad endings. Love is indeed a multi-splendoured thing and we celebrate it all tonight. Let us put our hands together to welcome, on the 10th anniversary of his career, the renowned photographer- Mr Shim Changmin!' The emcee's boisterous voice booms out in introduction, behind him, the music starts up.
Changmin steps out slowly, eyes lit up, smile wide as he bows to the adoring crowd beyond the curtains.
---
He lifts his champagne flute to a guest doing the same at the other side of the room and looks around. Guests are gathered in pockets around various photographs in the gallery. The night has gone very well- he has already sold most of the photos, except for his prized one. Which of course, is not for sale.
He walks to it, hanging in the centre of the room, spot-lit by two lights at the side. He stands and stares at the photograph, his expression softening as he recalls the memory behind it.
Love.
Meeting.
Rome.
---
A soft voice whispers by his side, causing him to start a little before he relaxes in its familiarity.
'Are you sure I can't convince you to sell it?'
Changmin smiles, eyes still locked onto the photograph.
'No. It isn't for sale.'
'But surely what I can offer will be more than enough' The voice is teasing but warm.
'And what would that be?'
'This.'
---
A pair of arms encircle Changmin from the back and clutches him tightly against the broad chest of the other. A kiss is pressed on the side of his face, making Changmin giggle. A faint scent of baby powder wafts into Changmin's nose, he shakes his head affectionately. A celebrity music producer who still uses baby powder over cologne.
'And what exactly is that supposed to be?'
'Love, baby. My love.'
Changmin turns around in the other's embrace and locks his arms around the neck of the man he has loved for almost ten years. His muse. The man in almost all in his photographs, including the centrepiece of his exhibition. He laughs.
'Why do you want it when you have me?'
Yunho smiles and leans forward to brush another kiss on Changmin's forehead.
'So I will always remember 'la storia'. Of my path to romance. Of how I met you, and found my liberty.'
Changmin's eyes are bright and shimmering, the joint memory of that day in November, ten years ago encapsulated in that photograph behind them. He looks at Yunho, his partner, his lover, his best friend.
'I thought you wouldn't be coming tonight. Aren't you supposed to be working?'
'Yeah. But someone promised to keep U-Know in check and tonight, he can wait. Shim Changmin is the most important person to Jung Yunho and I promised to always be Jung Yunho when you need me to be. It's your 10th anniversary exhibition, Changdola. I wouldn't miss it for the world.'
Changmin feels his heart spring up in his chest. Beating, bursting full of joy and contentment. This is everything, everything that he had ever wanted. 10 years ago, he would not have foreseen he would be standing here, doing what he loved, with a supportive and capable partner by his side.
---
Loving and being loved in return. Sure, there were the fights, the turmoil, the pain. But nothing, nothing that could not be forgiven. The first year after that night at the club was difficult. Changmin had almost walked away several times, sick of being disappointed and neglected. Yunho had struggled to balance work and his relationship with Changmin too, over-promising, over-compensating.
It had almost been breaking point, until one night after one particularly brutal fight, Yunho had gone to the Han River for a walk and talked to Wise Man.
'Ah.' Wise Man had chuckled in between drags of his cigarette, fingers playing with the edge of the scarf that Yunho had given him on an earlier occasion. 'Don't you see? He's frustrated because you aren't there when he needs you to be. You, as in Jung Yunho, boyfriend of Shim Changmin.'
Yunho promised himself to visit Wise Man often, seeing that he could be utterly clueless at times.
---
Changmin cups Yunho's face in his hands and drops another long kiss on his lips tenderly. The swell of emotion that he feels at this- his exhibition, his success, and his love. The one chance he had given to Yunho all those years ago, still intact, now secure and wrapped up in concrete love and their bond. Against his lips, Changmin whispers the words that he has felt from the start; he says it in the language that holds a special place in their hearts.
'Yunho. Ti Amo.'
---
This piece is from the photographer's personal collection and is not for sale.
This is La Nostra Storia (Our Story)
---
a/n: thank you. It has been a wonderful ride. I originally had a -bittersweet- ending for this but I needed some fluff in my life. This was my first serious and completed fanfic series. I hope you liked it.
a/n2: i also hope you got the references: ten years, love and war, ti amo etc etc. ^^v
Pic cr: story
---
Continues to - Body Rock - (drabble)