Like Nobody's Watching [1/2]
Title: Like Nobody’s Watching [1/2]
Author: FloweryMisha
Pairing: KaiSoo
Warning: BoyxBoy love. Enough said.
Summary: It was said that there had to be chemistry in a duet. Kyungsoo just never thought he had it all along.
Author’s Note: Pacific Rim!AU. But needless to say this is awful and rushed and unbeta-ed etc etc ;; It might be a little different than the real story though. I’m so sorry for being a failure. It’s best if you don’t read if you’ve never watched the movie before. AND PLEASE NO TRANSLATIONS ALLOWED T___T
The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his
--George S. Patton
When the first Kaiju appeared, Kyungsoo was only sixteen years old.
He was living with his parents in a city located near the sea, so earthquakes weren’t a new thing. However, the quake felt slightly stronger than usual that morning. It seemed dangerous to stay inside the house, so Kyungsoo decided to step outside just until it stopped shaking.
It never did.
Kyungsoo held his breath the minute he realized that the earthquake wasn’t caused by the tectonic movement under the sea.
It was a monster. A gigantic, awful looking monster. Whatever it was, it had arisen from the sea and aimed straight for the city.
Kyungsoo still remembered everything like it was only yesterday. The screaming of the people, the terrifying roar of the creature, and the way the buildings went tumbling down like they were merely made of paper… Kyungsoo thought it was the end of the world.
He had never thought he would ever make it.
It took several days for the army to take the monster down. Six days, fifteen hours and twenty minutes, to be exact. Thousands of people had lost their lives and almost every part of the cities was destroyed by the time the monster got defeated. At that moment, the surviving people were at a great loss but they were grateful at the fact that they were still alive.
Days later, scientists were given the authorities to study everything about the monster from the remains while the government rebuilt the cities.
The monster was then called Kaiju.
It was taken from Japanese language, which meant strange beast. Kaiju was believed to have come from a crack in the Pacific Ocean-which later was called ‘the breach’. The day when it had risen from the sea was stated as K-Day-the one day everyone wouldn’t ever forget. Official authorities had been talking on the news that it was over, and it was time for them to move on.
But Kyungsoo had a feeling it wasn’t done yet.
In fact, it was far from over.
***
A year later, the second Kaiju appeared.
Kyungsoo didn’t know whether to feel lucky or not because the monster landed on San Francisco. He remembered following all of the news intently, and it wasn’t until five days later that the army managed to take the creature down. And by the time they did, three cities had been destroyed and a lot more lives were gone.
The government later stated that again, the nightmare was over and that they needed to move on, but society didn’t buy it this time. People who called themselves The Resistance asked the government to do something for their safety. If there was a second, there was a possibility that there would be a third. And perhaps a fourth. Worse, fifth. If it really happened…
The great countries all over the world then gathered in Hongkong to hold a meeting about this. They signed an agreement to promise to help each other regarding technologies to build weapons that would help humanity survived.
The military then built a new defense weapon. They had been discreet about it, about what it looked like, how powerful it could be, but they did informed a name.
These weapons were called Jaegers.
It was taken from German language, which meant hunters. No one had really seen what the Jaegers looked like, until a year later…
…when another Kaiju appeared.
When the monster set its ugly foot in Tokyo, Kyungsoo just kind of knew that he wouldn’t see his parents anymore. They were on a business trip when it happened. Although Kyungsoo hoped his parents would be able to take shelter, his wish didn’t come true. His mother managed to make one last phone call to him, and it didn’t take a genius to find out everything was chaos in the background. Kyungsoo’s knees went weak immediately as he turned on the news and every channel was busy broadcasting the sudden attack in the land of Sakura.
He must’ve been wailing loudly that it got Jongin, the boy-next-door to barge into his house. Jongin was literally paralyzed when his eyes were fixed onto the television screen, but then he reached out to Kyungsoo and pulled the latter into an embrace.
“They’re gonna be fine.”
“They’re not gonna make it,” Kyungsoo bitterly said as he pushed Jongin away. “Do you not remember what it felt, Jongin…? When it happened here? It’s just… Even if they manage to get out of town, it’s gonna take them a miracle to survive. Just-just one swing from that creature and-”
Kyungsoo didn’t finish his sentence as he pressed his palm against his face. Jongin stayed quiet, not knowing what else to say, because nothing could make Kyungsoo feel better. And he was right. With the monster destroying the city, they were fortunate enough to have survived, and he hoped Kyungsoo’s parents still had enough luck to be alive. Jongin was still silent but then the voices on the television got the two of them to turn their heads in curiosity.
“What the heck is that thing?”
The cameraman was zooming in while the news reporter seemed to be loss at words. Jongin stepped closer to the television and Kyungsoo grabbed his arm by instinct. He narrowed his eyes and the view reminded him of an old Japanese anime.
“A giant…Gundam?”
Kyungsoo unconsciously tightened his grip on Jongin’s sleeve. The reporter was right. It did look like a giant Gundam.
“Two…giant Gundams? What the…?”
Kyungsoo held his breath as realization dawned upon him and whispered,
“Jaegers.”
***
Hope was starting to rise when the Jaeger won against the third Kaiju.
It only took the Jaeger less than a day to defeat the monster, but Tokyo was no longer the same. A Jaeger was as huge as a Kaiju, and it was impossible to hope that the city wouldn’t get destroyed. Nonetheless, it got people to start thinking that perhaps, there was a chance for them after all. There was a chance for them to survive, to fight whatever what was coming.
Even so, there was never world peace since then.
Everyone continued to live in terror.
They could breathe a little bit in relief knowing that they had weapons now to battle the Kaijus. All of them went to work and to school every day, but each of them couldn’t help but think: When would the next Kaiju appear?
Four months after that, Kyungsoo graduated from high school. A lot of horrible things had happened, but school was still important. But when a private university of science and technology offered Kyungsoo a scholarship, he considered of not accepting it. What was the point of studying when you could die any minute? However, his parents would’ve been proud if he accepted the scholarship…
Kyungsoo was close to break down when Jongin came to his house that night.
Jongin.
They had been neighbors ever since Kyungsoo was ten. Jongin moved in next door with his family due to his father’s job and Kyungsoo could immediately tell that the boy was different compared to him. While Kyungsoo was more of the geek type, Jongin was the active, popular type. One glance was all it needed to know that they were like heaven and earth. But Jongin never seemed to mind that and he had been pestering Kyungsoo ever since they lived next to each other.
Sometimes, he wondered if Jongin only talked to him because they were neighbors.
Kyungsoo heard the sound of his bedroom door being swung open, and a second later, he heard Jongin’s voice calling out his name.
“Kyungsoo?”
“Up here, Jongin.”
Jongin walked out to the balcony and he casually leaned his back against the railings, lifting up his chin to look at Kyungsoo. “Always on the rooftop.”
“Be careful,” Kyungsoo warned, a bit worried that Jongin would be the one who fall backward instead. “What if the railings are rusty?”
Jongin ignored the statement and looked up at the dark sky. “What’s so special about the sky?”
“Nothing special,” Kyungsoo shrugged. “Well, if you want to know… I’ve always thought that there are lives outside the galaxy. I just never thought that they are from…down there.”
“Ah,” Jongin nodded in response. “Those Kaijus.”
“Yeah…”
“But those Jaegers defeated them. There’s still hope for us.” Jongin turned around and rested his weight against the railings. “Will you accept the scholarship?”
Kyungsoo drew his knees to his chest. Jongin’s back was all he could see. “I… I don’t know.”
“Why not? You’re really good at IT, you know. I remembered you making a mini robot for your science project. You have the talent.”
Kyungsoo pursed his lips in uncertainty. “Do you…do you think I should?”
Jongin turned around and gave Kyungsoo the earnest smile he could muster. “I think you should do what you want to do.”
And that was when Kyungsoo realized Jongin had something to say to him. Even though it might not be a bad news, Kyungsoo’s chest felt heavy all of a sudden. “And…and you know what you want to do?”
“Yeah.” Jongin paused. “I’m gonna apply to be a pilot, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo’s heart dropped because he knew Jongin wasn’t talking about domestic or international flights.
“I’m gonna avenge your parents’ deaths,” Jongin stared off into the distance as he spoke. “And the others’ too, who have lost their loved ones because of Kaijus. And I want to protect you. I want to try to protect everyone.”
The older of the two tried to search for a hint of fear in Jongin’s face, but there was none. Jongin was dead serious about it. “But… I heard that you need to have a partner inside of a Jaeger…”
Jongin nodded. “There will be a lot of tests for sure. It’s not easy, but as long as you support me…”
Kyungsoo swallowed thickly. Jongin wanted him to come, that much was obvious. Kyungsoo slowly dropped his gaze to his hands, wondering of what to do. Should he go and continue his education? Or should he throw everything aside to save mankind?
But…
I don’t want to be without you, Jongin…
Is it alright to feel that way?
“Then…then I’ll be the geek who takes care of your machine,” Kyungsoo said shyly. “Is that…enough as a support?”
Jongin’s eyes widened. He was a bit surprised, but the emotions in his eyes indicated otherwise, like he had been expecting those words. Jongin broke into a smile as he extended his hands, as if telling Kyungsoo that it was time for him to go down.
“It will be more than enough for me.”
***
Kyungsoo knew there was no turning back the moment Jongin enlisted.
The doe-eyed male had never admitted it, but there was something about Jongin that attracted him. Even when they were still in school, Kyungsoo was a bit jealous at how brave Jongin was. He was able to tell what was on his mind, unlike Kyungsoo. His parents loved Jongin instantly when the tan-skinned boy came to their house, introducing himself as the new handsome neighbor starting from that day. His mother was laughing hard while Kyungsoo was (very) dumbfounded back then.
The road to become a Jaeger pilot was extremely hard, but not for Jongin.
They were stationed in Hongkong Bay where all of the Jaegers were stored where all of the tests took place. It didn’t take a long time for Jongin to climb up the rank and became the pilot for Phoenix Cry, one of the latest types of Jaegers. Once the male was decided to be the pilot, he needed to go through some other tests to find out who had the most compatible connection with him. Some candidates were chosen, but in the end, Jongin was partnered with a Park Chanyeol.
It was preferred for the pilots to have a deep connection between them, even better if they were related by blood-siblings, parents, cousins, even lovers.
The deeper the bond, the better they fought.
But Jongin had no connection whatsoever to Chanyeol, which got Kyungsoo to assume that it must’ve been the friendship they forged while they were training together.
Seeing Jongin doing his best to protect mankind hurt Kyungsoo. The trigger to all of this could be his parents’ death, but it probably was the sense of justice in Jongin. It made Kyungsoo not want to be left behind, so he did his best to become one of the top Jaeger technicians slash mechanics.
When Commander Rain-the person who was in charge for deploying and ordering Jaegers-made Kyungsoo as the person who was responsible for Phoenix Cry, it paid all of his hard work. His ultimate task was to make the Jaeger had no malfunction, and that was what he vowed to do. Jongin’s bright expression upon knowing that they would work together made Kyungsoo proud.
Yes, together.
If at first Kyungsoo thought that being so close to Jongin would make him calm, he was so wrong.
Because each day, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but being embraced by ultimate fear that Jongin might not survive the combat.
Although most of the time Jongin came back without a scratch, it didn’t stop Kyungsoo from worrying. It didn’t need to be said out loud, but everyone counted on Phoenix Cry. All of the Jaeger’s pilots were strong, but there was something about the connection between Chanyeol and Jongin. They weren’t related at all, not like the other pilots, but their bonds were one of the strongest.
That day, Jongin had just come back from defeating a category 3 Kaiju.
Everyone congratulated the pair, telling them ‘good job’.
Kyungsoo inwardly thanked the Lord for still extending a day for Jongin to live. Heck, even Commander Rain looked relieved that his men still came back alive. The Jaeger’s pilot met his eyes and broke into a tired yet meaningful smile, and Kyungsoo couldn’t do anything but to smile back. It didn’t last long, because Kyungsoo chose to be the first one to look away and pretended to be busy with his notes.
If it kept on happening, he didn’t think he would be able to handle the feeling anymore.
Kyungsoo was still living in a terror, but not because of Kaijus.
He was afraid of losing Jongin more than anything.
***
Kyungsoo was typing Phoenix Cry’s status into the program when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. He glanced briefly over his shoulder to find out who it was and his eyes widened slightly upon seeing Jongin.
“Jongin?”
“Hey,” Jongin said as he deliberately sat on the empty spot beside Kyungsoo. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Have you eaten?”
“H-hey…” Kyungsoo slowly lowered his tablet to his lap, trying to hide his sudden nervousness. “Uh…I will in a moment. I’m just checking on Phoenix Cry.”
“I see.” Jongin crossed his legs as he stole a glance to Kyungsoo’s screen. “…that is an amazing stat, Kyungsoo, which I don’t understand at all.”
Kyungsoo chuckled in amusement. He tucked away his tablet beside him and turned to look at Jongin. “What is it…?”
“Nothing. It’s just…it’s been a while since we’ve talked.”
Kyungsoo frowned. “That’s not true. We talk whenever you’re in the Jaeger…”
“Right… Uh, with you telling me how the stats are and everything. But really, even if you don’t, I know I’ll be alright. You’re doing a great job taking care of the Phoenix and I believe nothing will go wrong as long as it’s in your hands.”
“Phoenix Cry,” Kyungsoo corrected.
“Yeah, okay, Phoenix Cry.” Jongin rolled his eyes. “I still think Phoenix alone is better, but then again, who am I to decide? I’m not the inventor.”
“Well, I believe that the ‘Cry’ was added because the amount of plasma cannons around your neck and eyes-“
“Okay, thank you,” Jongin interrupted offhandedly and it got Kyungsoo to pout. The pilot failed to hide his amusement and he burst out laughing. His laughter subsided when Kyungsoo playfully kicked his foot. Jongin placed his hand on Kyungsoo’s hair, causing the latter to stun slightly and he smiled. “I mean it. Thank you, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo shook his head. “I should be the one who thank you… I mean, what did I do to deserve your gratitude? The real deal is out there, and you’re the one facing the threat…”
Jongin moved his hand from Kyungsoo’s hair to take the latter’s shoulder. “I couldn’t have done it without you. Your voice always gives me strength.”
“My…my voice?”
Jongin nodded. He shifted his eyes to the Phoenix Cry that was standing before them, but his hand stayed. “Do you remember how long it has been…?”
Kyungsoo absently counted as he followed Jongin’s line of sight. “Three years since my parents’ death.”
“It’s been that long?”
“Yeah…”
Jongin’s gaze at Kyungsoo was unreadable. He shifted closer wordlessly and Kyungsoo felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment when Jongin carefully pulled him into a hug. A surge of relief washed Kyungsoo’s entire body when they were pressed against each other, liking the fact that it was real. Jongin was hugging him and it was real.
Kyungsoo almost choked.
Don’t die on me, Jongin.
The words were already at the tip of his tongue, but Kyungsoo only pressed his lips together. No, he would not ruin everything between them. Right now, what they had was enough, and it would be foolish for Kyungsoo to expect something more.
Jongin lightly pressed his lips against Kyungsoo’s collarbone before lifting up his face with a fond smile. “Should we go get lunch now?”
Kyungsoo sincerely smiled back and nodded.
“Yeah, let’s go get lunch…”
***
Whenever they weren’t fighting Kaijus, the rest of the pilots would be scattered all over the place. Some of them spent their times communicating with their families, while the rest of them would be studying, practicing or resting.
Jongin had asked Kyungsoo to train with him that morning, and the latter had agreed.
“Whoa!”
Kyungsoo managed to dodge Jongin’s kick that was aimed to his side. The male took several steps back easily and raised his brows at his opponent.
“Wow, Kyungsoo. You’re getting better,” Jongin complimented with a smile. He shifted his weight to another foot before straightening himself. “Very good.”
Kyungsoo playfully patted his chest. “Well, you’re not the only one who’s been practicing, Mr. Pilot.”
Jongin chuckled. His shoulders sagged and he stretched his arms forward, a sign that it was enough for the day. Kyungsoo was picking up the practice weapons they had been using when Jongin called out his name.
“Kyungsoo.”
“Yeah?”
The tan-skinned male seemed reluctant at first, but he spoke anyway. “Why don’t you become a pilot?”
Kyungsoo almost cracked his neck for turning to Jongin so fast, causing one of the wooden blades to fall from his hands. “Wh-what are you talking about?”
“Come on, I’ve seen your test results. You are what they called ‘a natural’.”
“No, I’m not...I’m not a natural. But…wait, a natural for what…?”
“Isn’t it obvious? For piloting the Jaeger.”
Kyungsoo blinked in confusion for a long moment. The doe-eyed male laughed awkwardly as he pointed his finger at Jongin. “That’s very good. The problem is, I can’t.”
“But you haven’t even tried.”
“Oh, come on now, Jongin,” Kyungsoo turned around and snatched the fallen wooden blade on his way to the door. “You can’t really trust those tests result. They were just simulations, they weren’t even real.”
Jongin snorted as he followed Kyungsoo closely from behind. “99,99 percent of the simulations is real, Kyungsoo. It’s not that different.”
“The different is,” Kyungsoo said as he placed the practice weapons back to where they belonged. “…we can die. While in simulations, you cannot die.”
“Are you afraid to die, Kyungsoo?”
Kyungsoo froze. Jongin’s tone made it sound like it was more of an accusation than a question. Kyungsoo hopelessly took a deep breath before turning around to face Jongin.
I’m more afraid to lose you.
“No.”
But will you ever realize that…?
“Are you scared, then?”
Kyungsoo gritted his teeth, doing his best to hold back his tears. He realized that the only way he could avoid the conversation was by lying, so that was what he did.
“No, I’m not scared, okay? But if I die, no one’s going to take care of Phoenix Cry. Is that what you want??”
With that, he stomped out of the room, leaving Jongin completely speechless.
***
Lately, the Kaijus that had been appearing from the breach were a lot stronger than the previous ones.
They were evolving.
Slowly, but surely, the category level went up, just like what Kyungsoo had feared. As if it wasn’t enough, the time span also shortened. If it took a year between the previous and the next Kaiju to show up before, now it only took months.
It was starting to be unbalanced because the attacks were never ending, while the Jaeger pilots needed rest and recharging their own selves. Because of this, more Jaegers were built and deployed, but it also meant that the army was going to have to look for new pilots in order to control more Jaegers. However, it wasn’t as easy as flipping a coin. The pilots needed to be drift compatible and that was why it was better if they were related by blood, or at least had a relationship.
Kyungsoo hadn’t had the chance to talk to Jongin since their last argument-if it could be called one, since all Jongin did was ask him a question-but before he got to, the male was woken up abruptly by the sound of alarm. Kyungsoo didn’t waste any more time as he quickly jumped off of the bed, snatching his shoes and tablet on his way to the door and headed right away to the main room. For the alarm to ring at this time of night, it had never been a good thing.
“A signature of Kaiju has been detected in the breach. Code name: Conehead. Category: 4.”
Kyungsoo nearly cried in disbelief. Category 4 was a first. It meant that the Kaiju was even stronger than the last one-which was only category 3. He silently looked at Ryeowook, the mechanic who was responsible for Silver Elf, and when Ryewook looked back at him, Kyungsoo knew that they had the same feeling.
Commander Rain was visibly tensed when he acknowledged the category, but he commented nothing.
“All pilots in position, Commander,” Yixing stated and Commander Rain nodded.
Kyungsoo’s heart sank when he heard Jongin and Chanyeol’s voices. For a second, he selfishly wished that there was a hint of fear laced within their tones since it was the first time for them to face category 4, but there was none. If anything, all of them sounded like they couldn’t wait to kick the creature’s ass.
“Phoenix Cry ready for the big drop.”
Kyungsoo felt like crying upon hearing Jongin’s confident tone. He didn’t mean to be unprofessional, but he hadn’t apologized... Kyungsoo reached out to press one of the buttons on his screen, enabling him to talk. “Jongin.”
I’m sorry.
There was a pause before Jongin reacted, but Kyungsoo was pretty sure the tan-skinned male was smiling. “Hey, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo bit his own lip hard to prevent any tears from coming out. He wouldn’t want to be emotional at the wrong moment. “Get back safely, okay?”
“I will.”
“Promise me.”
There was a pregnant pause before Jongin finally answered,
“I promise you. I’ll be back before you know it, Kyungsoo.”
[2]
Author: FloweryMisha
Pairing: KaiSoo
Warning: BoyxBoy love. Enough said.
Summary: It was said that there had to be chemistry in a duet. Kyungsoo just never thought he had it all along.
Author’s Note: Pacific Rim!AU. But needless to say this is awful and rushed and unbeta-ed etc etc ;; It might be a little different than the real story though. I’m so sorry for being a failure. It’s best if you don’t read if you’ve never watched the movie before. AND PLEASE NO TRANSLATIONS ALLOWED T___T
The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his
--George S. Patton
When the first Kaiju appeared, Kyungsoo was only sixteen years old.
He was living with his parents in a city located near the sea, so earthquakes weren’t a new thing. However, the quake felt slightly stronger than usual that morning. It seemed dangerous to stay inside the house, so Kyungsoo decided to step outside just until it stopped shaking.
It never did.
Kyungsoo held his breath the minute he realized that the earthquake wasn’t caused by the tectonic movement under the sea.
It was a monster. A gigantic, awful looking monster. Whatever it was, it had arisen from the sea and aimed straight for the city.
Kyungsoo still remembered everything like it was only yesterday. The screaming of the people, the terrifying roar of the creature, and the way the buildings went tumbling down like they were merely made of paper… Kyungsoo thought it was the end of the world.
He had never thought he would ever make it.
It took several days for the army to take the monster down. Six days, fifteen hours and twenty minutes, to be exact. Thousands of people had lost their lives and almost every part of the cities was destroyed by the time the monster got defeated. At that moment, the surviving people were at a great loss but they were grateful at the fact that they were still alive.
Days later, scientists were given the authorities to study everything about the monster from the remains while the government rebuilt the cities.
The monster was then called Kaiju.
It was taken from Japanese language, which meant strange beast. Kaiju was believed to have come from a crack in the Pacific Ocean-which later was called ‘the breach’. The day when it had risen from the sea was stated as K-Day-the one day everyone wouldn’t ever forget. Official authorities had been talking on the news that it was over, and it was time for them to move on.
But Kyungsoo had a feeling it wasn’t done yet.
In fact, it was far from over.
***
A year later, the second Kaiju appeared.
Kyungsoo didn’t know whether to feel lucky or not because the monster landed on San Francisco. He remembered following all of the news intently, and it wasn’t until five days later that the army managed to take the creature down. And by the time they did, three cities had been destroyed and a lot more lives were gone.
The government later stated that again, the nightmare was over and that they needed to move on, but society didn’t buy it this time. People who called themselves The Resistance asked the government to do something for their safety. If there was a second, there was a possibility that there would be a third. And perhaps a fourth. Worse, fifth. If it really happened…
The great countries all over the world then gathered in Hongkong to hold a meeting about this. They signed an agreement to promise to help each other regarding technologies to build weapons that would help humanity survived.
The military then built a new defense weapon. They had been discreet about it, about what it looked like, how powerful it could be, but they did informed a name.
These weapons were called Jaegers.
It was taken from German language, which meant hunters. No one had really seen what the Jaegers looked like, until a year later…
…when another Kaiju appeared.
When the monster set its ugly foot in Tokyo, Kyungsoo just kind of knew that he wouldn’t see his parents anymore. They were on a business trip when it happened. Although Kyungsoo hoped his parents would be able to take shelter, his wish didn’t come true. His mother managed to make one last phone call to him, and it didn’t take a genius to find out everything was chaos in the background. Kyungsoo’s knees went weak immediately as he turned on the news and every channel was busy broadcasting the sudden attack in the land of Sakura.
He must’ve been wailing loudly that it got Jongin, the boy-next-door to barge into his house. Jongin was literally paralyzed when his eyes were fixed onto the television screen, but then he reached out to Kyungsoo and pulled the latter into an embrace.
“They’re gonna be fine.”
“They’re not gonna make it,” Kyungsoo bitterly said as he pushed Jongin away. “Do you not remember what it felt, Jongin…? When it happened here? It’s just… Even if they manage to get out of town, it’s gonna take them a miracle to survive. Just-just one swing from that creature and-”
Kyungsoo didn’t finish his sentence as he pressed his palm against his face. Jongin stayed quiet, not knowing what else to say, because nothing could make Kyungsoo feel better. And he was right. With the monster destroying the city, they were fortunate enough to have survived, and he hoped Kyungsoo’s parents still had enough luck to be alive. Jongin was still silent but then the voices on the television got the two of them to turn their heads in curiosity.
“What the heck is that thing?”
The cameraman was zooming in while the news reporter seemed to be loss at words. Jongin stepped closer to the television and Kyungsoo grabbed his arm by instinct. He narrowed his eyes and the view reminded him of an old Japanese anime.
“A giant…Gundam?”
Kyungsoo unconsciously tightened his grip on Jongin’s sleeve. The reporter was right. It did look like a giant Gundam.
“Two…giant Gundams? What the…?”
Kyungsoo held his breath as realization dawned upon him and whispered,
“Jaegers.”
***
Hope was starting to rise when the Jaeger won against the third Kaiju.
It only took the Jaeger less than a day to defeat the monster, but Tokyo was no longer the same. A Jaeger was as huge as a Kaiju, and it was impossible to hope that the city wouldn’t get destroyed. Nonetheless, it got people to start thinking that perhaps, there was a chance for them after all. There was a chance for them to survive, to fight whatever what was coming.
Even so, there was never world peace since then.
Everyone continued to live in terror.
They could breathe a little bit in relief knowing that they had weapons now to battle the Kaijus. All of them went to work and to school every day, but each of them couldn’t help but think: When would the next Kaiju appear?
Four months after that, Kyungsoo graduated from high school. A lot of horrible things had happened, but school was still important. But when a private university of science and technology offered Kyungsoo a scholarship, he considered of not accepting it. What was the point of studying when you could die any minute? However, his parents would’ve been proud if he accepted the scholarship…
Kyungsoo was close to break down when Jongin came to his house that night.
Jongin.
They had been neighbors ever since Kyungsoo was ten. Jongin moved in next door with his family due to his father’s job and Kyungsoo could immediately tell that the boy was different compared to him. While Kyungsoo was more of the geek type, Jongin was the active, popular type. One glance was all it needed to know that they were like heaven and earth. But Jongin never seemed to mind that and he had been pestering Kyungsoo ever since they lived next to each other.
Sometimes, he wondered if Jongin only talked to him because they were neighbors.
Kyungsoo heard the sound of his bedroom door being swung open, and a second later, he heard Jongin’s voice calling out his name.
“Kyungsoo?”
“Up here, Jongin.”
Jongin walked out to the balcony and he casually leaned his back against the railings, lifting up his chin to look at Kyungsoo. “Always on the rooftop.”
“Be careful,” Kyungsoo warned, a bit worried that Jongin would be the one who fall backward instead. “What if the railings are rusty?”
Jongin ignored the statement and looked up at the dark sky. “What’s so special about the sky?”
“Nothing special,” Kyungsoo shrugged. “Well, if you want to know… I’ve always thought that there are lives outside the galaxy. I just never thought that they are from…down there.”
“Ah,” Jongin nodded in response. “Those Kaijus.”
“Yeah…”
“But those Jaegers defeated them. There’s still hope for us.” Jongin turned around and rested his weight against the railings. “Will you accept the scholarship?”
Kyungsoo drew his knees to his chest. Jongin’s back was all he could see. “I… I don’t know.”
“Why not? You’re really good at IT, you know. I remembered you making a mini robot for your science project. You have the talent.”
Kyungsoo pursed his lips in uncertainty. “Do you…do you think I should?”
Jongin turned around and gave Kyungsoo the earnest smile he could muster. “I think you should do what you want to do.”
And that was when Kyungsoo realized Jongin had something to say to him. Even though it might not be a bad news, Kyungsoo’s chest felt heavy all of a sudden. “And…and you know what you want to do?”
“Yeah.” Jongin paused. “I’m gonna apply to be a pilot, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo’s heart dropped because he knew Jongin wasn’t talking about domestic or international flights.
“I’m gonna avenge your parents’ deaths,” Jongin stared off into the distance as he spoke. “And the others’ too, who have lost their loved ones because of Kaijus. And I want to protect you. I want to try to protect everyone.”
The older of the two tried to search for a hint of fear in Jongin’s face, but there was none. Jongin was dead serious about it. “But… I heard that you need to have a partner inside of a Jaeger…”
Jongin nodded. “There will be a lot of tests for sure. It’s not easy, but as long as you support me…”
Kyungsoo swallowed thickly. Jongin wanted him to come, that much was obvious. Kyungsoo slowly dropped his gaze to his hands, wondering of what to do. Should he go and continue his education? Or should he throw everything aside to save mankind?
But…
I don’t want to be without you, Jongin…
Is it alright to feel that way?
“Then…then I’ll be the geek who takes care of your machine,” Kyungsoo said shyly. “Is that…enough as a support?”
Jongin’s eyes widened. He was a bit surprised, but the emotions in his eyes indicated otherwise, like he had been expecting those words. Jongin broke into a smile as he extended his hands, as if telling Kyungsoo that it was time for him to go down.
“It will be more than enough for me.”
***
Kyungsoo knew there was no turning back the moment Jongin enlisted.
The doe-eyed male had never admitted it, but there was something about Jongin that attracted him. Even when they were still in school, Kyungsoo was a bit jealous at how brave Jongin was. He was able to tell what was on his mind, unlike Kyungsoo. His parents loved Jongin instantly when the tan-skinned boy came to their house, introducing himself as the new handsome neighbor starting from that day. His mother was laughing hard while Kyungsoo was (very) dumbfounded back then.
The road to become a Jaeger pilot was extremely hard, but not for Jongin.
They were stationed in Hongkong Bay where all of the Jaegers were stored where all of the tests took place. It didn’t take a long time for Jongin to climb up the rank and became the pilot for Phoenix Cry, one of the latest types of Jaegers. Once the male was decided to be the pilot, he needed to go through some other tests to find out who had the most compatible connection with him. Some candidates were chosen, but in the end, Jongin was partnered with a Park Chanyeol.
It was preferred for the pilots to have a deep connection between them, even better if they were related by blood-siblings, parents, cousins, even lovers.
The deeper the bond, the better they fought.
But Jongin had no connection whatsoever to Chanyeol, which got Kyungsoo to assume that it must’ve been the friendship they forged while they were training together.
Seeing Jongin doing his best to protect mankind hurt Kyungsoo. The trigger to all of this could be his parents’ death, but it probably was the sense of justice in Jongin. It made Kyungsoo not want to be left behind, so he did his best to become one of the top Jaeger technicians slash mechanics.
When Commander Rain-the person who was in charge for deploying and ordering Jaegers-made Kyungsoo as the person who was responsible for Phoenix Cry, it paid all of his hard work. His ultimate task was to make the Jaeger had no malfunction, and that was what he vowed to do. Jongin’s bright expression upon knowing that they would work together made Kyungsoo proud.
Yes, together.
If at first Kyungsoo thought that being so close to Jongin would make him calm, he was so wrong.
Because each day, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but being embraced by ultimate fear that Jongin might not survive the combat.
Although most of the time Jongin came back without a scratch, it didn’t stop Kyungsoo from worrying. It didn’t need to be said out loud, but everyone counted on Phoenix Cry. All of the Jaeger’s pilots were strong, but there was something about the connection between Chanyeol and Jongin. They weren’t related at all, not like the other pilots, but their bonds were one of the strongest.
That day, Jongin had just come back from defeating a category 3 Kaiju.
Everyone congratulated the pair, telling them ‘good job’.
Kyungsoo inwardly thanked the Lord for still extending a day for Jongin to live. Heck, even Commander Rain looked relieved that his men still came back alive. The Jaeger’s pilot met his eyes and broke into a tired yet meaningful smile, and Kyungsoo couldn’t do anything but to smile back. It didn’t last long, because Kyungsoo chose to be the first one to look away and pretended to be busy with his notes.
If it kept on happening, he didn’t think he would be able to handle the feeling anymore.
Kyungsoo was still living in a terror, but not because of Kaijus.
He was afraid of losing Jongin more than anything.
***
Kyungsoo was typing Phoenix Cry’s status into the program when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. He glanced briefly over his shoulder to find out who it was and his eyes widened slightly upon seeing Jongin.
“Jongin?”
“Hey,” Jongin said as he deliberately sat on the empty spot beside Kyungsoo. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Have you eaten?”
“H-hey…” Kyungsoo slowly lowered his tablet to his lap, trying to hide his sudden nervousness. “Uh…I will in a moment. I’m just checking on Phoenix Cry.”
“I see.” Jongin crossed his legs as he stole a glance to Kyungsoo’s screen. “…that is an amazing stat, Kyungsoo, which I don’t understand at all.”
Kyungsoo chuckled in amusement. He tucked away his tablet beside him and turned to look at Jongin. “What is it…?”
“Nothing. It’s just…it’s been a while since we’ve talked.”
Kyungsoo frowned. “That’s not true. We talk whenever you’re in the Jaeger…”
“Right… Uh, with you telling me how the stats are and everything. But really, even if you don’t, I know I’ll be alright. You’re doing a great job taking care of the Phoenix and I believe nothing will go wrong as long as it’s in your hands.”
“Phoenix Cry,” Kyungsoo corrected.
“Yeah, okay, Phoenix Cry.” Jongin rolled his eyes. “I still think Phoenix alone is better, but then again, who am I to decide? I’m not the inventor.”
“Well, I believe that the ‘Cry’ was added because the amount of plasma cannons around your neck and eyes-“
“Okay, thank you,” Jongin interrupted offhandedly and it got Kyungsoo to pout. The pilot failed to hide his amusement and he burst out laughing. His laughter subsided when Kyungsoo playfully kicked his foot. Jongin placed his hand on Kyungsoo’s hair, causing the latter to stun slightly and he smiled. “I mean it. Thank you, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo shook his head. “I should be the one who thank you… I mean, what did I do to deserve your gratitude? The real deal is out there, and you’re the one facing the threat…”
Jongin moved his hand from Kyungsoo’s hair to take the latter’s shoulder. “I couldn’t have done it without you. Your voice always gives me strength.”
“My…my voice?”
Jongin nodded. He shifted his eyes to the Phoenix Cry that was standing before them, but his hand stayed. “Do you remember how long it has been…?”
Kyungsoo absently counted as he followed Jongin’s line of sight. “Three years since my parents’ death.”
“It’s been that long?”
“Yeah…”
Jongin’s gaze at Kyungsoo was unreadable. He shifted closer wordlessly and Kyungsoo felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment when Jongin carefully pulled him into a hug. A surge of relief washed Kyungsoo’s entire body when they were pressed against each other, liking the fact that it was real. Jongin was hugging him and it was real.
Kyungsoo almost choked.
Don’t die on me, Jongin.
The words were already at the tip of his tongue, but Kyungsoo only pressed his lips together. No, he would not ruin everything between them. Right now, what they had was enough, and it would be foolish for Kyungsoo to expect something more.
Jongin lightly pressed his lips against Kyungsoo’s collarbone before lifting up his face with a fond smile. “Should we go get lunch now?”
Kyungsoo sincerely smiled back and nodded.
“Yeah, let’s go get lunch…”
***
Whenever they weren’t fighting Kaijus, the rest of the pilots would be scattered all over the place. Some of them spent their times communicating with their families, while the rest of them would be studying, practicing or resting.
Jongin had asked Kyungsoo to train with him that morning, and the latter had agreed.
“Whoa!”
Kyungsoo managed to dodge Jongin’s kick that was aimed to his side. The male took several steps back easily and raised his brows at his opponent.
“Wow, Kyungsoo. You’re getting better,” Jongin complimented with a smile. He shifted his weight to another foot before straightening himself. “Very good.”
Kyungsoo playfully patted his chest. “Well, you’re not the only one who’s been practicing, Mr. Pilot.”
Jongin chuckled. His shoulders sagged and he stretched his arms forward, a sign that it was enough for the day. Kyungsoo was picking up the practice weapons they had been using when Jongin called out his name.
“Kyungsoo.”
“Yeah?”
The tan-skinned male seemed reluctant at first, but he spoke anyway. “Why don’t you become a pilot?”
Kyungsoo almost cracked his neck for turning to Jongin so fast, causing one of the wooden blades to fall from his hands. “Wh-what are you talking about?”
“Come on, I’ve seen your test results. You are what they called ‘a natural’.”
“No, I’m not...I’m not a natural. But…wait, a natural for what…?”
“Isn’t it obvious? For piloting the Jaeger.”
Kyungsoo blinked in confusion for a long moment. The doe-eyed male laughed awkwardly as he pointed his finger at Jongin. “That’s very good. The problem is, I can’t.”
“But you haven’t even tried.”
“Oh, come on now, Jongin,” Kyungsoo turned around and snatched the fallen wooden blade on his way to the door. “You can’t really trust those tests result. They were just simulations, they weren’t even real.”
Jongin snorted as he followed Kyungsoo closely from behind. “99,99 percent of the simulations is real, Kyungsoo. It’s not that different.”
“The different is,” Kyungsoo said as he placed the practice weapons back to where they belonged. “…we can die. While in simulations, you cannot die.”
“Are you afraid to die, Kyungsoo?”
Kyungsoo froze. Jongin’s tone made it sound like it was more of an accusation than a question. Kyungsoo hopelessly took a deep breath before turning around to face Jongin.
I’m more afraid to lose you.
“No.”
But will you ever realize that…?
“Are you scared, then?”
Kyungsoo gritted his teeth, doing his best to hold back his tears. He realized that the only way he could avoid the conversation was by lying, so that was what he did.
“No, I’m not scared, okay? But if I die, no one’s going to take care of Phoenix Cry. Is that what you want??”
With that, he stomped out of the room, leaving Jongin completely speechless.
***
Lately, the Kaijus that had been appearing from the breach were a lot stronger than the previous ones.
They were evolving.
Slowly, but surely, the category level went up, just like what Kyungsoo had feared. As if it wasn’t enough, the time span also shortened. If it took a year between the previous and the next Kaiju to show up before, now it only took months.
It was starting to be unbalanced because the attacks were never ending, while the Jaeger pilots needed rest and recharging their own selves. Because of this, more Jaegers were built and deployed, but it also meant that the army was going to have to look for new pilots in order to control more Jaegers. However, it wasn’t as easy as flipping a coin. The pilots needed to be drift compatible and that was why it was better if they were related by blood, or at least had a relationship.
Kyungsoo hadn’t had the chance to talk to Jongin since their last argument-if it could be called one, since all Jongin did was ask him a question-but before he got to, the male was woken up abruptly by the sound of alarm. Kyungsoo didn’t waste any more time as he quickly jumped off of the bed, snatching his shoes and tablet on his way to the door and headed right away to the main room. For the alarm to ring at this time of night, it had never been a good thing.
“A signature of Kaiju has been detected in the breach. Code name: Conehead. Category: 4.”
Kyungsoo nearly cried in disbelief. Category 4 was a first. It meant that the Kaiju was even stronger than the last one-which was only category 3. He silently looked at Ryeowook, the mechanic who was responsible for Silver Elf, and when Ryewook looked back at him, Kyungsoo knew that they had the same feeling.
Commander Rain was visibly tensed when he acknowledged the category, but he commented nothing.
“All pilots in position, Commander,” Yixing stated and Commander Rain nodded.
Kyungsoo’s heart sank when he heard Jongin and Chanyeol’s voices. For a second, he selfishly wished that there was a hint of fear laced within their tones since it was the first time for them to face category 4, but there was none. If anything, all of them sounded like they couldn’t wait to kick the creature’s ass.
“Phoenix Cry ready for the big drop.”
Kyungsoo felt like crying upon hearing Jongin’s confident tone. He didn’t mean to be unprofessional, but he hadn’t apologized... Kyungsoo reached out to press one of the buttons on his screen, enabling him to talk. “Jongin.”
I’m sorry.
There was a pause before Jongin reacted, but Kyungsoo was pretty sure the tan-skinned male was smiling. “Hey, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo bit his own lip hard to prevent any tears from coming out. He wouldn’t want to be emotional at the wrong moment. “Get back safely, okay?”
“I will.”
“Promise me.”
There was a pregnant pause before Jongin finally answered,
“I promise you. I’ll be back before you know it, Kyungsoo.”
[2]