Aegis [i/vi]
Pairing: kaisoo
Genre: fantasy, scifi, mama!au
Rating: nc-17
Note: Dedicated to xLadySakurax-senpai
Summary: Kai is a genetically-modified human--an aegis-- assigned to his sire, Kyungsoo, for the purpose of combat in the upcoming tournament, Armageddon.
Kyungsoo gasps when the surgical lamps flash down upon his four-year-old body, naked limbs hidden only underneath of a thin sheet. He starts to panic, his little face crumpling and body struggling as the surgeons strap his arms and legs to the table. He screams. He screams for dear life through the sterile, metal room filled with people who couldn’t care less about his fear, fear that echoes along the walls. The gas mask muffles the cacophonous sound and eventually they fade as his eyelids drift closed.
They take a piece of his heart.
//
Fourteen years later, Kyungsoo watches curiously as the crimson liquid flows from his arm, through a butterfly tube, and into a vial. He thinks that maybe he’s sick for thinking his blood looks beautiful as its being drawn. The nurse comes back from the adjacent room and disconnects the needle after three vials are filled, pressing a bandage expertly over his puncture wound.
“Thank you very much, Do Kyungsoo. Please make yourself comfortable in the waiting room as the process to test your blood will take approximately eighteen minutes,” she recites mechanically. Her left eye is a vivid yellow when their gazes meet and Kyungsoo knows that she’s an android.
The waiting room is designed for maximum relaxation; walls painted a soft lavender, a saltwater fish tank occupies the middle of the space, and the sound of rain plays on hidden speakers. Despite the decor, Kyungsoo sits stiffly in the chair, much too nervous to flip through the various magazines with tutorials on how to become a better citizen.
A poster on the wall reminds him of the upcoming tournament. Armageddon is approaching again, as it does every year. The thought of bloody battles and ruthlessness for the sake of entertainment brings a disgusted look to his face, knitting his eyebrows in frustration. He just hopes that him and his aegis won’t be one of the ten pairs chosen to participate. He hopes that they’ll be able to live in peace together, wake up to the artificially blue sky and drink coffee with too much milk on their days off.
A different android nurse enters the room to call for him. “Do Kyungsoo, we’re ready for you now.”
As they’re heading down the pristine hallway, Kyungsoo notices that this place looks just like any other hospital despite being the building where aegises are grown and trained. The android leads him into a small room and closes the door behind them. She motions at the metal cabinet on the wall. “Please put this suit on as your aegis is still sterile.”
She stands off to the corner, watching as Kyungsoo wearily opens the cabinet. He removes his clothes and, through the mirrored wall, stares at the tattoo of his ability over his left pec. Earth. He wonders what ability his aegis will have as he stuffs his legs into the skintight suit and zips it. He hopes it won’t be something too interesting as that will increase their chances of being chosen to participate in the tournament. The nurse hands him a device meant to be clipped behind his ear and, the second it’s on, it automatically creates an invisible barrier around his head. He fingers the band around his wrist, the one meant to suppress his ability, and the nurse notices his silent question.
“You may keep that on.”
When he’s done, he follows her down a succession of hallways and he feels like a mouse being led down a limitless maze to its demise. He’s sure that he’d never be able to find his way out of the building if he were to lose track of his guide. They pass through a series of doors requiring card-access and Kyungsoo’s eyes widen as they stroll by a room with an expansive glass wall. Inside the room are numerous pods, the innards illuminated by a pastel blue light. In some of the pods there are entire bodies; malformed limbs in others; and some look as if they’re empty save for a few tubes. He wonders where his aegis is.
They finally arrive at a plain room and the nurse motions for him to step inside. She doesn’t follow him in though and he flinches when the automatic door shuts. He can hear the wispy sound of his breathing and the pounding of his heart beating against his skull as he tentatively takes a few more steps into quiet space. There isn’t anything in it; no windows, no decorations, nothing. It’s just white.
He stills when a neon green circle appears on the floor before it opens and a pod appears. His nervousness seems to dissipate a bit upon seeing the body inside, still hooked to tubes with a life-support mask on. There’s a flutter of familiarity as he stares at him but, he knows that he’s never seen this man in his life. He knows it’s simply because he’s his sire; they have the same DNA. They possess the same heart.
The liquid inside the pod begins to drain and the tubes glow a pastel pink as they disconnect from the body. It’s then that Kyungsoo sees the triangle over his aegis’ pec and he wonders what ability a triangle could possibly symbolize.
He soon finds out though, because the second the aegis opens his eyes and sees him, he’s gone.
And Kyungsoo panics. This is not supposed to happen! he screams mentally, searching the room for help. In his peripheral, he spots the aegis crouched in the corner with its back to him. What the heck, what the heck, what the heck, he chants as he shuffles closer. He holds his breath as he reaches his hand out to touch the wet shoulder and-- it disappears again, leaving a puff of smoke and static in its wake.
He turns and realizes that there are multiple puffs of smoke around the room and only a momentary flash of color where his aegis appears and disappears again. He cowers in the corner and draws his arms against his chest.
Mine knows witchcraft! That’s what the triangle stands for! he decides, trembling.
Abruptly, his aegis appears right in front of him and Kyungsoo shrieks in terror, the grating sound and the room reminding him so much of the operation room he was in when he was younger. And his aegis seems upset by his sire’s reaction, so he frowns. The aegis reaches his hand towards his sire’s head and Kyungsoo thinks that this is the end. This is how he’ll die: his aegis will kill him.
(which is silly, because he’s immune to his powers.)
But, the invisible helmet prevents the aegis’ hand from touching him, glowing upon contact with skin. Out of breath with his back pressed against the corner, he tries to calm himself down. He can’t hurt you, he tries to remind himself.
Just then, the door opens and the android nurse returns. “Do Kyungsoo, your allotted two minutes with your aegis has ended. We must administer tests on his health now. You will be able to meet him again in approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.”
So, Kyungsoo’s ushered out of the room and led through the maze of hallways again to change out of his sterile suit. He slumps in his seat in the cafeteria on the first floor and it immediately molds around his body to maintain an ergonomic design. He scrubs his face with his hands, exhausted by his first encounter with his aegis. There’s too much adrenaline racing through him, making his stomach ache too much for food right now.
It seems as if no time has passed at all before there’s a breeze to his right and Kyungsoo turns his head to see his aegis staring at him. A massive shriek is about to erupt from his throat until the android nurse appears.
“Do Kyungsoo, we’re happy to inform you that there seems to be no defects with your aegis. The Ministry has decided to name him ‘Kai’ and his ability is teleportation. He seems to be reluctant to speak but, this should clear up as he becomes acclimated to his surroundings. Please schedule an appointment two weeks from now for his routine check-up.”
He nervously thanks her and she proceeds to schedule an appointment for him. As she does so, he stares at his aegis who is now distracted by the people walking around them. And he wonders how he’ll be able to deal with his rather unique aegis, hopes this won’t cause them to be chosen. He stands up from his seat when they’re done and Kai follows after him immediately. As they’re walking away, he thinks that he hears tournament from the nurse, but it must be his imagination.
//
The clouds are a slate gray when they join the throngs of people mulling through the streets, rows of red blinkers from cars stuck in traffic beside them. The wind is colored by a distinct chill signaling the coming winter and the lights from offices in skyscrapers shine bright like stars peeping through the blanket of the universe.
Kai’s more interested in his sire, Kyungsoo. He keeps his attention glued on his bobbing head through the hordes of people rushing home from work. Arbitrarily, he decides that Kyungsoo is perfect. Absolutely. Perfect.
It seems that with every step he takes, a few more citizens pop out of a void in front of him somewhere, causing him to gain more and more distance from Kyungsoo. Fed up, he teleports through the crowd and next to his sire, earning a surprised flinch and a few gasps. Rather than being happy to see him, Kyungsoo’s facial features are wrought with annoyance. Kai thinks it’s adorable.
“It’s not polite to use your ability in public,” he reprimands. Despite the entire population possessing some ability or another, it’s still awkward for people who don’t have abilities deemed ‘normal’ to use them in public. Kyungsoo wishes Kai had the ability to make delicious coffee instead of this witchcraft.
They arrive at the train station and a particularly cold breeze sprints by, whipping their hair and raking their cheeks. Kai immediately zips Kyungsoo’s jacket for him and is rather pleased when he sees a pretty pink tint in his face. “Thanks,” comes the embarrassed mumble.
The train arrives and people squish into every corner of the car, causing Kai to be separated from Kyungsoo again. Again. And he’s getting rather irritated that the whole world seems hellbent on separating them. This is their first day together and he’d rather spend it next to his sire, thank you very much. So, he ends up teleporting back to Kyungsoo and ignores the surprised yelps and gasps.
“Didn’t I tell you not to use your ability in public?” Kyungsoo hisses in a loud whisper. Kai just shrugs it off since he knows he’ll be forgiven. He positions his body as close to Kyungsoo as he can, preventing other people from touching him.
As more people pack onto the train, Kai pulls Kyungsoo’s head into his shoulder, holding him as they’re squeezed against the wall. That’s when Kyungsoo catches a whiff of Kai’s scent and he wonders if it’s the liquid he was kept in or the smell of his clothes that makes him smell absolutely wonderful.
(Nothing smells better than the person you love.)
//
They finally make it back to Kyungsoo’s apartment after a rather eventful journey involving Kai teleporting around people to get to Kyungsoo. The apartment is vaguely familiar to Kai as he steps inside, the clean floors and tidy surroundings unearthing themselves from the part of his memory that derives from his sire.
Despite his partial recognition, Kyungsoo still gives him a tour, filling in the gaps. After doing so, he cooks dinner and Kai’s thoroughly pleased when he takes the first bite.
Kyungsoo eats a bit of his food, more interested in his aegis as he ravenously devours the spaghetti. He remembers that this is the first meal of Kai’s life and he wonders if every day will be as troublesome as today was; his muscles are sapped of energy from being so tense.
He looks so happy when he’s eating, he notes fondly. When Kai’s done, he wipes his mouth politely and Kyungsoo’s heart trips on the satisfied grin he sends him. Kyungsoo leans on the table with his elbows and maintains eye contact with his partner. He notices that Kai’s left eye flashes a vivid purple in the light, the sign of an aegis.
“Do you understand what I say?” he asks, curious due to Kai’s muteness and when he ignored his scolding earlier. Kai smiles again at the sound of his voice and nods, licking his lips. And Kyungsoo thinks that he’s rather cute, kind of like a child. He exhales through his nose and gets up, bringing his dishes with him.
As Kyungsoo’s loading the dishwasher, he feels arms encircle his waist and warmth against his back. He stiffens and, oh my god, what is happening now? He holds his breath unintentionally when Kai’s head rests on his shoulder, his nose in his neck. And the sound of rushing water is drowned out by his heartbeats, his scorching skin. He’s suddenly conscious of every little twitch he makes and he’s sensitive to Kai’s calm breathing.
“What are you doing,” he mumbles quietly, trying to regain focus. “Stop it, stupid.”
Kai just hums into his neck and, after a few notes, Kyungsoo realizes that it’s his favorite song. There’s a stutter in his thoughts as he wonders how Kai could possibly know the melody, having been stuck inside of a pod until mere hours ago.
But then, he realizes, You are a part of me and I am a part of you.
And it’s hard not to love someone who was created for the sole purpose of being with you forever, supplementing your daily life with an infusion of love and support.
Together forever.
//
Kai stands there in the doorway of the bedroom, staring at the floor with a disappointed glaze over his expression. He doesn’t even care anymore that the clothes Kyungsoo had given him to sleep in are so short they expose his belly button. He doesn’t even care that Kyungsoo wouldn’t let him be in the room as he changed.
Instead, he cares about the makeshift bed on the floor that he’s expected to sleep on tonight.
He turns to look at his sire who is busily getting comfortable in the bed. And Kyungsoo notices the look of utter betrayal in his aegis’ eyes, pouts in response. “You’re sleeping there!” he declares, pointing to the sheets on the floor. Kai doesn’t move, just continues to shoot needles of guilt into Kyungsoo’s conscience.
“We’re not sleeping together!” Kyungsoo exclaims, laying down and pulling the blanket over his shoulders. “Turn off the lights!”
Kai does as he’s told and turns off the lights. Kyungsoo hears some movement and assumes that his aegis had given up, accepted that they’re not going to sleep together. His cheeks burn. He knows that one day they’ll have to take that step, but he’s not ready to be so intimate with him just yet.
Then, a pillow smacks him in the face and he’s just about to turn to scold Kai but, he’s being shoved against the wall. “Kai!” he fusses, trying to push him off the bed in the dark. He’s forcefully turned on his side and he feels him cling against his back, an arm slung over his waist. Even so, he tries to sit up and climb over him but, his plans are throttled when Kai drags him back down and squishes him between himself and the wall. He lays there angrily as Kai’s breathing becomes slow and even, satisfied now that they’re sleeping together.
Eventually, he huffs in defeat, relaxing into the comfortable warmth. Suddenly, he feels so vulnerable; his heart is so soft and supple, childlike as his hard exterior falls away. Kai seems to sense his insecurity and presses a kiss against his hair, hums his favorite song again.
Kyungsoo’s eyelids drift closed to the feeling of being loved.
//
An underwater variation of sunlight diffuses through the living room when Kyungsoo sweeps the thick folds of his autumn curtains away, exposing the gauze ones underneath. The clouds are mottled with veins of sooty gray today and he frowns, knowing it will rain today.
As he’s crossing the living room to the kitchen, he slides a remote off an end table and turns on the television. Kai’s sleepily clutching a throw pillow to his chest, curled into himself on the couch. Kyungsoo taps the remote on his head gently as he passes. “Go back to bed if you’re still tired,” he says in a mock-angry tone.
Kai just groans quietly and remains in his spot, listening to the chatter coming from the pixels that make up the television on the wall. The news comes on and, at first, it’s the same news that’s been reiterated for the past few weeks; the flourishing economy; the unveiling of the tournament stadium; the daily, inspirational quote from the Supreme Leader. But, today’s a bit different.
Kyungsoo doesn’t pay any attention to the television, more focused on chopping his genetically-modified vegetables and thankful that Kai’s too tired to bother him right now. He glances over at him and sees him sitting quietly as he watches whatever is going on on the screen.
A few minutes later, when the news has switched to the weather forecast, Kai comes into the kitchen to tug on his sire’s arm. Kyungsoo nudges him away. “I’m busy preparing breakfast right now,” he voices, not unkindly, as he stir-fries the vegetables in a pan.
Kai stands there for a moment longer before walking away, back to his spot on the couch with his throw pillow.
It’s alright, because Kyungsoo will find out sooner or later.
[ii/vi]
Genre: fantasy, scifi, mama!au
Rating: nc-17
Note: Dedicated to xLadySakurax-senpai
Summary: Kai is a genetically-modified human--an aegis-- assigned to his sire, Kyungsoo, for the purpose of combat in the upcoming tournament, Armageddon.
Kyungsoo gasps when the surgical lamps flash down upon his four-year-old body, naked limbs hidden only underneath of a thin sheet. He starts to panic, his little face crumpling and body struggling as the surgeons strap his arms and legs to the table. He screams. He screams for dear life through the sterile, metal room filled with people who couldn’t care less about his fear, fear that echoes along the walls. The gas mask muffles the cacophonous sound and eventually they fade as his eyelids drift closed.
They take a piece of his heart.
//
Fourteen years later, Kyungsoo watches curiously as the crimson liquid flows from his arm, through a butterfly tube, and into a vial. He thinks that maybe he’s sick for thinking his blood looks beautiful as its being drawn. The nurse comes back from the adjacent room and disconnects the needle after three vials are filled, pressing a bandage expertly over his puncture wound.
“Thank you very much, Do Kyungsoo. Please make yourself comfortable in the waiting room as the process to test your blood will take approximately eighteen minutes,” she recites mechanically. Her left eye is a vivid yellow when their gazes meet and Kyungsoo knows that she’s an android.
The waiting room is designed for maximum relaxation; walls painted a soft lavender, a saltwater fish tank occupies the middle of the space, and the sound of rain plays on hidden speakers. Despite the decor, Kyungsoo sits stiffly in the chair, much too nervous to flip through the various magazines with tutorials on how to become a better citizen.
A poster on the wall reminds him of the upcoming tournament. Armageddon is approaching again, as it does every year. The thought of bloody battles and ruthlessness for the sake of entertainment brings a disgusted look to his face, knitting his eyebrows in frustration. He just hopes that him and his aegis won’t be one of the ten pairs chosen to participate. He hopes that they’ll be able to live in peace together, wake up to the artificially blue sky and drink coffee with too much milk on their days off.
A different android nurse enters the room to call for him. “Do Kyungsoo, we’re ready for you now.”
As they’re heading down the pristine hallway, Kyungsoo notices that this place looks just like any other hospital despite being the building where aegises are grown and trained. The android leads him into a small room and closes the door behind them. She motions at the metal cabinet on the wall. “Please put this suit on as your aegis is still sterile.”
She stands off to the corner, watching as Kyungsoo wearily opens the cabinet. He removes his clothes and, through the mirrored wall, stares at the tattoo of his ability over his left pec. Earth. He wonders what ability his aegis will have as he stuffs his legs into the skintight suit and zips it. He hopes it won’t be something too interesting as that will increase their chances of being chosen to participate in the tournament. The nurse hands him a device meant to be clipped behind his ear and, the second it’s on, it automatically creates an invisible barrier around his head. He fingers the band around his wrist, the one meant to suppress his ability, and the nurse notices his silent question.
“You may keep that on.”
When he’s done, he follows her down a succession of hallways and he feels like a mouse being led down a limitless maze to its demise. He’s sure that he’d never be able to find his way out of the building if he were to lose track of his guide. They pass through a series of doors requiring card-access and Kyungsoo’s eyes widen as they stroll by a room with an expansive glass wall. Inside the room are numerous pods, the innards illuminated by a pastel blue light. In some of the pods there are entire bodies; malformed limbs in others; and some look as if they’re empty save for a few tubes. He wonders where his aegis is.
They finally arrive at a plain room and the nurse motions for him to step inside. She doesn’t follow him in though and he flinches when the automatic door shuts. He can hear the wispy sound of his breathing and the pounding of his heart beating against his skull as he tentatively takes a few more steps into quiet space. There isn’t anything in it; no windows, no decorations, nothing. It’s just white.
He stills when a neon green circle appears on the floor before it opens and a pod appears. His nervousness seems to dissipate a bit upon seeing the body inside, still hooked to tubes with a life-support mask on. There’s a flutter of familiarity as he stares at him but, he knows that he’s never seen this man in his life. He knows it’s simply because he’s his sire; they have the same DNA. They possess the same heart.
The liquid inside the pod begins to drain and the tubes glow a pastel pink as they disconnect from the body. It’s then that Kyungsoo sees the triangle over his aegis’ pec and he wonders what ability a triangle could possibly symbolize.
He soon finds out though, because the second the aegis opens his eyes and sees him, he’s gone.
And Kyungsoo panics. This is not supposed to happen! he screams mentally, searching the room for help. In his peripheral, he spots the aegis crouched in the corner with its back to him. What the heck, what the heck, what the heck, he chants as he shuffles closer. He holds his breath as he reaches his hand out to touch the wet shoulder and-- it disappears again, leaving a puff of smoke and static in its wake.
He turns and realizes that there are multiple puffs of smoke around the room and only a momentary flash of color where his aegis appears and disappears again. He cowers in the corner and draws his arms against his chest.
Mine knows witchcraft! That’s what the triangle stands for! he decides, trembling.
Abruptly, his aegis appears right in front of him and Kyungsoo shrieks in terror, the grating sound and the room reminding him so much of the operation room he was in when he was younger. And his aegis seems upset by his sire’s reaction, so he frowns. The aegis reaches his hand towards his sire’s head and Kyungsoo thinks that this is the end. This is how he’ll die: his aegis will kill him.
(which is silly, because he’s immune to his powers.)
But, the invisible helmet prevents the aegis’ hand from touching him, glowing upon contact with skin. Out of breath with his back pressed against the corner, he tries to calm himself down. He can’t hurt you, he tries to remind himself.
Just then, the door opens and the android nurse returns. “Do Kyungsoo, your allotted two minutes with your aegis has ended. We must administer tests on his health now. You will be able to meet him again in approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.”
So, Kyungsoo’s ushered out of the room and led through the maze of hallways again to change out of his sterile suit. He slumps in his seat in the cafeteria on the first floor and it immediately molds around his body to maintain an ergonomic design. He scrubs his face with his hands, exhausted by his first encounter with his aegis. There’s too much adrenaline racing through him, making his stomach ache too much for food right now.
It seems as if no time has passed at all before there’s a breeze to his right and Kyungsoo turns his head to see his aegis staring at him. A massive shriek is about to erupt from his throat until the android nurse appears.
“Do Kyungsoo, we’re happy to inform you that there seems to be no defects with your aegis. The Ministry has decided to name him ‘Kai’ and his ability is teleportation. He seems to be reluctant to speak but, this should clear up as he becomes acclimated to his surroundings. Please schedule an appointment two weeks from now for his routine check-up.”
He nervously thanks her and she proceeds to schedule an appointment for him. As she does so, he stares at his aegis who is now distracted by the people walking around them. And he wonders how he’ll be able to deal with his rather unique aegis, hopes this won’t cause them to be chosen. He stands up from his seat when they’re done and Kai follows after him immediately. As they’re walking away, he thinks that he hears tournament from the nurse, but it must be his imagination.
//
The clouds are a slate gray when they join the throngs of people mulling through the streets, rows of red blinkers from cars stuck in traffic beside them. The wind is colored by a distinct chill signaling the coming winter and the lights from offices in skyscrapers shine bright like stars peeping through the blanket of the universe.
Kai’s more interested in his sire, Kyungsoo. He keeps his attention glued on his bobbing head through the hordes of people rushing home from work. Arbitrarily, he decides that Kyungsoo is perfect. Absolutely. Perfect.
It seems that with every step he takes, a few more citizens pop out of a void in front of him somewhere, causing him to gain more and more distance from Kyungsoo. Fed up, he teleports through the crowd and next to his sire, earning a surprised flinch and a few gasps. Rather than being happy to see him, Kyungsoo’s facial features are wrought with annoyance. Kai thinks it’s adorable.
“It’s not polite to use your ability in public,” he reprimands. Despite the entire population possessing some ability or another, it’s still awkward for people who don’t have abilities deemed ‘normal’ to use them in public. Kyungsoo wishes Kai had the ability to make delicious coffee instead of this witchcraft.
They arrive at the train station and a particularly cold breeze sprints by, whipping their hair and raking their cheeks. Kai immediately zips Kyungsoo’s jacket for him and is rather pleased when he sees a pretty pink tint in his face. “Thanks,” comes the embarrassed mumble.
The train arrives and people squish into every corner of the car, causing Kai to be separated from Kyungsoo again. Again. And he’s getting rather irritated that the whole world seems hellbent on separating them. This is their first day together and he’d rather spend it next to his sire, thank you very much. So, he ends up teleporting back to Kyungsoo and ignores the surprised yelps and gasps.
“Didn’t I tell you not to use your ability in public?” Kyungsoo hisses in a loud whisper. Kai just shrugs it off since he knows he’ll be forgiven. He positions his body as close to Kyungsoo as he can, preventing other people from touching him.
As more people pack onto the train, Kai pulls Kyungsoo’s head into his shoulder, holding him as they’re squeezed against the wall. That’s when Kyungsoo catches a whiff of Kai’s scent and he wonders if it’s the liquid he was kept in or the smell of his clothes that makes him smell absolutely wonderful.
(Nothing smells better than the person you love.)
//
They finally make it back to Kyungsoo’s apartment after a rather eventful journey involving Kai teleporting around people to get to Kyungsoo. The apartment is vaguely familiar to Kai as he steps inside, the clean floors and tidy surroundings unearthing themselves from the part of his memory that derives from his sire.
Despite his partial recognition, Kyungsoo still gives him a tour, filling in the gaps. After doing so, he cooks dinner and Kai’s thoroughly pleased when he takes the first bite.
Kyungsoo eats a bit of his food, more interested in his aegis as he ravenously devours the spaghetti. He remembers that this is the first meal of Kai’s life and he wonders if every day will be as troublesome as today was; his muscles are sapped of energy from being so tense.
He looks so happy when he’s eating, he notes fondly. When Kai’s done, he wipes his mouth politely and Kyungsoo’s heart trips on the satisfied grin he sends him. Kyungsoo leans on the table with his elbows and maintains eye contact with his partner. He notices that Kai’s left eye flashes a vivid purple in the light, the sign of an aegis.
“Do you understand what I say?” he asks, curious due to Kai’s muteness and when he ignored his scolding earlier. Kai smiles again at the sound of his voice and nods, licking his lips. And Kyungsoo thinks that he’s rather cute, kind of like a child. He exhales through his nose and gets up, bringing his dishes with him.
As Kyungsoo’s loading the dishwasher, he feels arms encircle his waist and warmth against his back. He stiffens and, oh my god, what is happening now? He holds his breath unintentionally when Kai’s head rests on his shoulder, his nose in his neck. And the sound of rushing water is drowned out by his heartbeats, his scorching skin. He’s suddenly conscious of every little twitch he makes and he’s sensitive to Kai’s calm breathing.
“What are you doing,” he mumbles quietly, trying to regain focus. “Stop it, stupid.”
Kai just hums into his neck and, after a few notes, Kyungsoo realizes that it’s his favorite song. There’s a stutter in his thoughts as he wonders how Kai could possibly know the melody, having been stuck inside of a pod until mere hours ago.
But then, he realizes, You are a part of me and I am a part of you.
And it’s hard not to love someone who was created for the sole purpose of being with you forever, supplementing your daily life with an infusion of love and support.
Together forever.
//
Kai stands there in the doorway of the bedroom, staring at the floor with a disappointed glaze over his expression. He doesn’t even care anymore that the clothes Kyungsoo had given him to sleep in are so short they expose his belly button. He doesn’t even care that Kyungsoo wouldn’t let him be in the room as he changed.
Instead, he cares about the makeshift bed on the floor that he’s expected to sleep on tonight.
He turns to look at his sire who is busily getting comfortable in the bed. And Kyungsoo notices the look of utter betrayal in his aegis’ eyes, pouts in response. “You’re sleeping there!” he declares, pointing to the sheets on the floor. Kai doesn’t move, just continues to shoot needles of guilt into Kyungsoo’s conscience.
“We’re not sleeping together!” Kyungsoo exclaims, laying down and pulling the blanket over his shoulders. “Turn off the lights!”
Kai does as he’s told and turns off the lights. Kyungsoo hears some movement and assumes that his aegis had given up, accepted that they’re not going to sleep together. His cheeks burn. He knows that one day they’ll have to take that step, but he’s not ready to be so intimate with him just yet.
Then, a pillow smacks him in the face and he’s just about to turn to scold Kai but, he’s being shoved against the wall. “Kai!” he fusses, trying to push him off the bed in the dark. He’s forcefully turned on his side and he feels him cling against his back, an arm slung over his waist. Even so, he tries to sit up and climb over him but, his plans are throttled when Kai drags him back down and squishes him between himself and the wall. He lays there angrily as Kai’s breathing becomes slow and even, satisfied now that they’re sleeping together.
Eventually, he huffs in defeat, relaxing into the comfortable warmth. Suddenly, he feels so vulnerable; his heart is so soft and supple, childlike as his hard exterior falls away. Kai seems to sense his insecurity and presses a kiss against his hair, hums his favorite song again.
Kyungsoo’s eyelids drift closed to the feeling of being loved.
//
An underwater variation of sunlight diffuses through the living room when Kyungsoo sweeps the thick folds of his autumn curtains away, exposing the gauze ones underneath. The clouds are mottled with veins of sooty gray today and he frowns, knowing it will rain today.
As he’s crossing the living room to the kitchen, he slides a remote off an end table and turns on the television. Kai’s sleepily clutching a throw pillow to his chest, curled into himself on the couch. Kyungsoo taps the remote on his head gently as he passes. “Go back to bed if you’re still tired,” he says in a mock-angry tone.
Kai just groans quietly and remains in his spot, listening to the chatter coming from the pixels that make up the television on the wall. The news comes on and, at first, it’s the same news that’s been reiterated for the past few weeks; the flourishing economy; the unveiling of the tournament stadium; the daily, inspirational quote from the Supreme Leader. But, today’s a bit different.
Kyungsoo doesn’t pay any attention to the television, more focused on chopping his genetically-modified vegetables and thankful that Kai’s too tired to bother him right now. He glances over at him and sees him sitting quietly as he watches whatever is going on on the screen.
A few minutes later, when the news has switched to the weather forecast, Kai comes into the kitchen to tug on his sire’s arm. Kyungsoo nudges him away. “I’m busy preparing breakfast right now,” he voices, not unkindly, as he stir-fries the vegetables in a pan.
Kai stands there for a moment longer before walking away, back to his spot on the couch with his throw pillow.
It’s alright, because Kyungsoo will find out sooner or later.
[ii/vi]