Like Nobody's Watching [2/2]
Title: Like Nobody’s Watching [2/2]
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.
[1]
Kyungsoo didn’t think he would be able to handle it if he had ever seen Jongin got hurt.
Or any other pilots, for that matter.
Kyungsoo had witnessed how Junmyeon, the other mechanic, went pale when Twin’s Thorn, the Jaeger he was taking care of, went back in a terrible condition. Sehun, one of the pilots, wasn’t even screaming anymore when Zitao stopped breathing momentarily beside him. Or that one time when Luna had a major breakdown because Amber’s Effect was heavily damaged, and it nearly cost the lives of the Jung sisters.
There were too many scary events. Too many Kaijus. Too much fear.
Chanyeol lost his consciousness when the Kaiju sent a direct hit to the right side of Phoenix Cry. Jongin’s scream was terrifying because right at that moment, he was still mentally connected to his partner.
Fortunately, Dragon Light came right on time to help them and within seconds, the Kaiju was defeated. Yifan and Baekhyun then helped them back to the headquarters, and Kyungsoo almost lost his strength after seeing that much blood on Chanyeol.
Had it been Jongin…
The paramedics came and they hastily took Chanyeol away, while Jongin looked like he was still in shock, like he was unable to move because his feet were transfixed onto the ground.
Without thinking, Kyungsoo dropped everything he was holding and reached out to Jongin. He didn’t know what else to do but to hug Jongin, and the next thing he knew, he was crying. Was it because of he had witnessed Chanyeol’s blood, or was it because of something else, Kyungsoo didn’t know.
What he knew was that he was so damn relieved to see that Jongin was still in one piece.
“Are you okay?” His voice was shaking badly. “Are you hurt anywhere, Jongin…?”
Jongin shut his eyes as he leaned to Kyungsoo’s touch. “No. No, I’m fine…”
It was probably a lie because when the pilots were still connected, they could feel one another. It must’ve felt like hell for Jongin when Chanyeol got hurt. But it didn’t matter although it was a lie, as long as Kyungsoo was still able to hold Jongin close like this…
“I’m glad, Jongin…”
Kyungsoo sighed deeply.
“I’m glad…”
***
Chanyeol survived, but the doctor told him that he needed to rest for at least two weeks.
The tall male was lucky not to suffer from broken bones, although Kyungsoo didn’t dare to voice his thoughts out loud. Sure, Chanyeol was considered lucky, but wasn’t it just cruel to say so?
Jongin spent the rest of his night sleeping in Kyungsoo’s room. The way he leaned against Kyungsoo was somewhat childish, like he was afraid if he moved even the slightest, someone would come and take Kyungsoo away from him. When the morning came, Kyungsoo prayed that please, please let them lived peacefully for another three, six, twelve months.
Even forever.
Kyungsoo slid off of the bed without waking Jongin up. His heart stuttered at how peaceful Jongin looked in his sleep. The younger male deserved some rest. How long had he been putting the life of others before his own…?
Kyungsoo planned to drop by quickly by the infirmary before going to the hangar to do maintenance on Phoenix Cry. He thought Chanyeol wouldn’t have any visitor by then, but he was wrong. Kyungsoo was stunned when he saw Baekhyun sleeping with his fingers entwining loosely with Chanyeol’s.
Chanyeol…and Baekhyun?
Kyungsoo stayed in his tracks for a couple of minutes, observing the two with a weird feeling bubbling inside him. He peered over his shoulder when he felt a light tap on his back.
“Good morning,” Jongin said with a huge yawn.
“M-morning. Wait, why are you out of the bed?”
“It’s cold without you,” Jongin retorted, like it was natural for him to say so. Fortunately, he didn’t see Kyungsoo blushing as he peeked casually into the infirmary. Jongin said nothing although he spotted Baekhyun. “Well, I hope he will be better soon. He’s a great partner. At least he survived…”
Kyungsoo wanted to give Jongin a soothing smile, to tell him that Chanyeol certainly would be alright, but in the end, he only managed to nod. “That’s what matters, isn’t it? As long as he’s alive…”
Jongin poked Kyungsoo’s cheek gently in return and motioned the latter to follow him. “Come. We should give them some time.”
Would you stop touching me, was what Kyungsoo wanted to wail but of course he never said that. The male sent one last look into the infirmary before following Jongin. “Are-are they…?”
“Perhaps.”
“Oh. I thought-I thought Yifan and Junmyeon are the only ones who are in a relationship.”
Jongin looked thoughtful for a second before shrugging. “All I know is that Chanyeol’s in love.”
“You mean he never told you or anything…?”
“I see Baekhyun whenever we’re drifting.”
“Ah…”
That explained a lot. Kyungsoo didn’t probe any further and flashed Jongin a smile when the latter gave him a sideways glance.
“I’m hungry. Shall we fetch breakfast?”
“What are we waiting for, then? Let’s go.”
***
“You’re here, again.”
Kyungsoo didn’t even need to look over his shoulder to see who it was. He simply smiled to himself as he examined the workers who were checking the condition of Phoenix Cry. “I can’t help it. It’s my favorite spot.”
“You mean this hangar is a substitute to your rooftop?”
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing,” Kyungsoo softly flicked Jongin’s arm.
“It’s not bad as long as you’re not addicted to a Jaeger.”
“What’s wrong about being addicted to a Jaeger? Without them, we probably can’t win.”
“Then aren’t you supposed to be addicted to the pilots? They’re the ones who control the Jaeger, after all.”
Kyungsoo childishly stuck his tongue out to Jongin and the latter made a face. They broke into a fit of giggles and just like last time, Jongin deliberately sat beside Kyungsoo. Silence descended upon them as the two of them continued to stare at the giant robot.
“I wonder when all of this would be over,” Kyungsoo said quietly, but Jongin kind of realized that he wasn’t expecting an answer. “These beasts are evolving, right? What if…someday, they evolve to category 8 or worse, 10. Then what would we do? The world’s probably over by the time it happens…”
Jongin simply exhaled through his nose, not answering anything.
“Hey, Jongin?”
“Yeah?”
“What does it feel like…up there?” Kyungsoo asked as he pointed at Phoenix Cry.
“Hmm,” Jongin hummed as he pondered of the best answer. “It’s like…dancing.”
Kyungsoo tilted his head to one side in astonishment. “Dancing…?”
Jongin sheepishly scratched his head. “Yeah, you know…like one day, people will look you in the eye and they will ask, ‘If you haven’t been a Jaeger pilot, what would you’ve been?’ I’ll definitely answer a dancer.”
Kyungsoo narrowed his eyes. “I never knew you danced.”
“I took a ballet class before I became your neighbor. And then I just kind of lost interest and I decided to take hip-hop class.”
“Oh.”
“I know that look. It’s ‘WTF you took ballet’ look.”
“I didn’t-“ Kyungsoo made a face. “Oh wow, was I that obvious?”
“It was all over your face. Anyway, what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Yeah, if you’re not a Jaeger tech…” Jongin cleared his throat. “Have you ever thought about it…?”
“No,” Kyungsoo honestly admitted after a while. “Although…I don’t think I would’ve been anything special. I probably would’ve been a geek for the rest of my life. A hacker, perhaps?”
“A very cute geek-what the heck, hacker??”
“I said perhaps,” Kyungsoo burst out laughing at Jongin’s dumb expression. He glanced down to his tablet when the device made a beep sound. “Finally, the process is completed. Phoenix Cry is as good as new.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s my responsibility…”
“No, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I cannot thank you enough, Kyungsoo. You take good care of her, and you also take good care of me… And I just…”
Jongin trailed off. His expression showed that he was struggling to say some other words, but even if he didn’t, Kyungsoo understood.
Or at least he thought he did.
“You don’t need to thank me, Jongin,” Kyungsoo said softly. “I’m-we’re just mechanics. We’re here to support you. While you…let’s be real, you’re the true hero. You’ve saved millions of lives.”
And I want you to be safe out there.
Jongin’s lips twitched into a small smile. The male carefully lifted up his hand and it stayed in the air for a few seconds, as if he was thinking whether to do it or not. Kyungsoo’s heart started when he realized Jongin was about to touch his cheek, when all of a sudden, the alarm blared loudly.
“Fuck,” Jongin seethed as he stood up. “A Kaiju? It’s only been a week!”
The two of them didn’t waste any time and dashed to the main room only to find that everyone else was already there. Yixing was running his fingers on the screen, analyzing the Kaiju that had just appeared.
“A Kaiju signature has been detected in the breach. Code name: Ravenback. Category: 4.”
“This isn’t good,” Yixing murmured to himself. “This is disastrous, to be exact. We have two beasts from category 4 just within a week?”
“Phoenix Cry cannot operate,” Commander Rain stated the obvious. “Send Twin’s Thorn and Amber’s Effect immediately.”
“But sir-“ Jongin protested.
“You stay here,” Commander Rain sternly said to Jongin. “Your partner is hurt. You can’t operate the Jaeger alone.”
“Commander Rain is right,” Yixing couldn’t help but agree. “Chanyeol hasn’t recovered yet, Jongin.”
“But if anything happens-“
“Then we’ll send another Jaeger for back-up, but not you.”
Jongin groaned in frustration as he carelessly held up his hands. No matter what he wanted to protest, he knew what the Commander said was right. There was no way he was going to be able to maneuver the Jaeger alone. Jongin didn’t seem to agree completely, but he did nothing more.
Yixing turned to Commander Rain. “The drifting is complete, Sir, and each Jaeger is at its max stats.”
“They better finish it in an hour,” Jongin said through his gritted teeth. “Dammit, I feel so helpless.”
“I know how you feel, Jongin. It’s what we feel whenever you guys go out for battles. Let’s just believe in them,” Yixing whispered almost hopelessly. “And may I remind you that Twin’s Thorn is our number two from the top three.”
“But…”
Almost all of the people turned their attention immediately to Kyungsoo. The doe-eyed male seemed reluctant at first at how many pairs of eyes were directed to him, but he said it anyway.
“Category 4 has become more powerful lately…” Kyungsoo said as quiet as he could, but he could see Yixing’s shoulders flinching. “I just hope that there will never be a level 5…”
“Twin’s Thorn is ready for the big drop.”
“Roger that.”
“Wait! Hold on!”
Yixing turned pale at Zitao’s voice, his hand hovering on the button. “What is it…?”
“…”
“Sehun, Zitao, what is it?”
“It’s… Something isn’t right. The Kaiju is waiting.”
“It’s-it’s waiting?” There was a hint of terror in Yixing’s tone.
“It’s waiting for us to…attack?”
Yixing seemed lost and Kyungsoo had an awful feeling as he stepped closer to the screen. He hoped nothing would go awry and they could just finish the Kaiju quickly. However, upon seeing the movement in the breach, Kyungsoo held his breath.
“Yixing,” he whispered in fear. “There are two Kaijus.”
***
If Kyungsoo was a fan of Kaijus, he would’ve thought that it was a very smart ambush. Either the monster had the ability to clone itself into two or the other Kaiju had the ability to be undetected. Kyungsoo pushed the thought aside as he grabbed his tablet.
Fighting a category 4 alone could take hours for two Jaegers. Kyungsoo barely got the time to think anymore, but he knew that if they didn’t send any back-up, they might lose.
“Commander, please,” Jongin’s voice was from shaking from suppressed anger. “You have to let me fight. You’re making a big mistake.”
Commander Rain ignored the statement and he turned to Yixing. “Send Dragon Light to battle. Is Silver Elf ready to fight?”
Yixing shook his head. “They were sent for back-up to Manila and they still haven’t returned.”
The Jaeger Commander grimaced. “Then we’re gonna have to survive with three.”
“Three against two isn’t exactly a wonderful idea,” Jongin snapped. “For God’s sake, this is category 4 that we’re talking about!”
“Kim Jongin!!!”
Jongin thought it was the Commander’s voice that was thundering in the main room, but it was Kyungsoo’s. For the second time, all pairs of eyes immediately shifted to the doe-eyed male, who was still busy tapping his fingers on the screen.
“Commander Rain is right.” Kyungsoo sent a judging glance to Jongin. “You have no partner. You can’t control Phoenix Cry all by yourself. And Chanyeol would die if you force him to fight.”
“Thank you, Kyungsoo,” Commander Rain said and then he glared at Jongin. “Now do you understand? Even your own mechanic does.”
Furious, Jongin took a deep breath and closed his eyes to calm down. “Partner, you say? I have another partner.” The tan-skinned male cracked his eyes open and lifted up his chin challengingly at Kyungsoo. “Him.”
“Him??” Almost everyone in the room said in unison.
“Me??” Kyungsoo gawked.
“Kyungsoo?” Commander Rain looked taken aback. “He’s just a mechanic.”
“But that’s where you’re wrong,” Jongin retorted. “You’re so damn wrong. He’s a mechanic, indeed, but he’s a natural. I’ve seen his test results. He should be able to do it just fine.”
The Jaeger Commander seemed to consider the option, but it was obvious that he was reluctant. While Kyungsoo, on the other hand, was shaking his head vigorously.
“That’s non-sense. I can’t-“
“Amber’s Effect is losing,” Yixing said with a cracked voice.
“Commander,” Jongin exclaimed loudly. “We can’t afford to lose them. You have to send me!”
Commander Rain gritted his teeth as he stared at the screen.
Yixing was right. The Jung sisters looked like they were about to collapse any minute and it would take quite some time for Dragon Light to arrive. Battling with his inner self, the high-ranked male finally let out a growl of frustration by banging his fist on the table as he turned to Jongin.
“Fine. Kick their asses, kid.”
Jongin smirked confidently.
“You don’t have to tell me twice, Commander.”
***
“You’re out of your mind,” Kyungsoo cried for the umpteenth time as the other mechanics put him inside a battle suit. “You’re insane, do you know that, Kim Jongin?”
“Left hemisphere, right hemisphere, are now calibrating.”
Jongin snorted offhandedly. “No one needs to be sane when they’re about to kill a Kaiju.”
“But I’ve-I’ve never done this before!” Kyungsoo whimpered when something was strapped against his back. “I’ve never killed a Kaiju before!!”
“Proofed and transmitting.”
“Sure you have. In your simulations.”
“Jongin, did you take the wrong pill this morning???”
Kyungsoo only got Jongin’s annoying laughter as a respond.
“Data on helmet. Data relay gel dispersing in circuitry suit.”.
“Oh God,” Kyungsoo whispered helplessly. “Jongin, this isn’t right. I’ll only be a burden to you.”
“Hey, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo moaned in disbelief at how calm Jongin’s tone was. He forced himself to look at Jongin, and the latter was giving him a very serious look.
“Ready to step into my head?”
Kyungsoo’s eyes widened.
“The drifting will begin in a minute. Sixty, fifty-nine…”
“Everything’s gonna be just fine,” Jongin said soothingly, although Kyungsoo didn’t feel soothed at all. “Just remember, it’s like dancing. You kick and you turn and you throw your fist up in the air-“
“But-“
“No buts.”
“But-but I can’t dance-“
“Forty-five, forty-four…”
“Sure you can, trust me. Everyone can dance.”
“Does this-does this the kind of conversation you have with Chanyeol every time the drifting is about to start?”
“Now that I think about it, nope, we’ve never talked.”
“Then-then how-“
“Thirty-one, thirty, twenty-nine…”
“Kyungsoo.”
“What???”
“I need you to stay calm.”
“I-“ Kyungsoo sighed in distress. “You’re…you’re right. I need to stay calm. Jongin, just-just tell me what do I have to do…?”
“It’s simple. Just do what you usually do.”
“Okay. Got that. Huh? Wait. What did I usually do?”
Jongin shrugged. “Supporting me.”
Kyungsoo’s mouth went dry. “S-supporting you…?”
“Yeah. And you did a great job about it.”
“Fifteen, fourteen…”
“And the reason why I picked you-which I believe a hundred percent it will work-was because whether you realize it or not, Kyungsoo, you’ve always been the only person who’s mentally linked with me.”
“M-me…?”
“Yeah, you.”
Jongin looked very certain when he said,
“And I won’t let us die.”
“Six, five…”
Kyungsoo bit his lower lip before sighing in defeat.
“Then…let us dance...”
Jongin grinned approvingly.
“Let’s dance like nobody’s watching, baby.”
***
It must’ve been pure luck when Kyungsoo managed to sync himself with Jongin.
People had always said that the first drifts were rough, but Kyungsoo was grateful that it wasn’t as bad as they said. In fact, it went very well.
The next thing he knew, Phoenix Cry was already dropped at the ocean.
Kyungsoo was actually so damn scared that he couldn’t even let out a scream upon seeing a Kaiju close. One was down by the time they arrived, which was a good thing, but the other Jaegers looked worn out. Kyungsoo shuddered when he realized Galaxy Light was slightly damaged, but fortunately, both of the pilots were okay. He stole a glance at Jongin, wanting to stutter how scared he was, but it all vanished when he saw the latter’s expression.
Jongin had never intended to lose from the start.
Mankind has to win.
Kyungsoo swallowed thickly as he fixed his gaze back to the creature in front of him, and slowly, but surely, his fear was gone.
They were going to win.
And it wasn’t just a hunch.
Kyungsoo only needed several swings to adapt.
It was funny to think that he was in a battle, but he was able to see everything clearly. Kyungsoo wasn’t sure if it was because of being too damn close with the Kaiju, or it was like what Jongin had said: a natural. He didn’t need a long time to analyze the Kaiju’s probable weakness and told Jongin to aim for the feet. Jongin did so without asking anything, and when the monster collapsed and let out a painful growl, the twins didn’t waste any time but to stab its throat mercilessly.
Kyungsoo could hear everyone in the main room cheering when Commander Rain ordered them to withdraw immediately to the headquarters.
“Hey,” Sehun’s voice came through their speaker. “Has Chanyeol recovered?”
Kyungsoo awkwardly stared at Jongin. Perhaps they should lie and pretended that he was Chanyeol, but Jongin didn’t seem to think the same.
“Nope. It’s Kyungsoo.”
“Oh?”
Kyungsoo could feel his heart almost leaping at Jongin’s answer. He wanted to say something like ‘no, it’s just a coincidence’ or ‘it’s pure luck’, but in the end, he said nothing to counter it. They weren’t hurt a bit-Jongin wasn’t hurt, thank goodness-and there was nothing else he wanted more.
“Nice drift.”
***
When Kyungsoo woke up, it was already dawn.
The male moaned quietly as he tried to pull himself to sit. It felt as if all of his muscles were being ripped because he nearly couldn’t move. His whole body hurt too much. Kyungsoo blinked rapidly to adjust his eyes to the surrounding. It was too bright…
Suddenly, his door swung open and Kyungsoo’s heart stopped beating at the sight of Jongin.
“You’re awake.”
Jongin seemed relieved at the fact that Kyungsoo was awake. The tan-skinned male then handed him a glass of water, which Kyungsoo accepted gratefully.
“How are you feeling?”
“Horrible,” Kyungsoo pouted weakly as he handed back the empty glass. “It wasn’t like dancing at all.”
Jongin simply laughed in response and sat on the edge of the bed.
Kyungsoo sighed. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A couple of hours.”
“I see...”
“Which is rare.”
Kyungsoo looked at Jongin questioningly. “Why is that?”
“Baekhyun fell asleep for two days straight after his first drift. Chanyeol, a day. Yifan, also a day. Victoria, two days and a half. Do you want me to make a list for you?”
Kyungsoo feebly shook his head. “Okay, I get the picture…” He patted the spot beside him and shifted slightly to make room for the other male. “Come here. A natural or not, with everything that happened, I need a human pillow now.”
Jongin smiled as he climbed onto the bed, settling himself for a comfortable position beside Kyungsoo. The older of the two rested his head against Jongin’s arm and exhaled softly.
Memories of their battle were still carved in his mind. The battle drained his strength completely, especially since it had been his first time in the field. It was weird, because Kyungsoo was supposed to feel scared, but he wasn’t at all. And to think that he was still able to think clearly while searching for his enemy’s weakness…
…perhaps he was really a natural, after all.
“Thank you, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo almost snorted. “No, thank you, Jongin. I’m supposed to be the one who tells you that. You saved me. You saved the day. You saved all of us.”
“More like the twins that saved us, but truthfully, if you didn’t tell me to aim for its feet…”
“It was just luck.”
“Whatever you say...”
A gentle pat landed on Kyungsoo’s head and it got him to wince in pain. His first thought was that he was lucky enough to be given the chance to continue living. Had something gone wrong, the two of them were probably history… Jongin’s hand stayed on his head and Kyungsoo loved the warmth for no reason.
He loved it so damn much.
“Jongin…?”
“Hm?”
“I….” Kyungsoo cleared his throat. “I saw some things when we were drifting.” When Jongin didn’t comment anything, he continued, “But it was really funny because all I could see was me. Me in high school, me crying for my parents, me at the rooftop with you… Wow, I must’ve loved myself too much…”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s funny, because all I could see was me, too.”
Kyungsoo slowly pulled away from Jongin as he stared at the younger male in confusion.
Jongin smiled to no one to particular, and his gaze wasn’t directed to Kyungsoo when he spoke. “When I asked you if you were ready to step into my head, this was what I meant. When we were drifting, you could see right through my thoughts, my sadness, dark pasts, love, happiness, dreams-literally just everything.”
Love.
“And I could see yours.”
Love?
Kyungsoo gulped when Jongin moved his hand to touch his cheek. The simple gesture caused something to jolt at the bottom of his stomach. Kyungsoo’s eyes fluttered and his heart beat so fast like it was about to explode when he felt Jongin inching closer to him.
“Th-then,” he whispered weakly. “What did you see in mine…?”
Jongin placed a hand on Kyungsoo’s nape before pulling him to meeting their lips halfway.
“Us.”
***
If it was a dream, then let it be a wonderful dream.
Kyungsoo kept on enchanting those words like a mantra, as if he was afraid that everything would be gone by the time he woke up.
A lot of things ran through his mind when Jongin took off his clothes. Kyungsoo was amazed at how much Jongin’s body had changed this past few years. Jongin had a slender, tan body, but who knew, beneath the clothes, he had such toned, fine abs? Not that Kyungsoo had ever seen him without abs before… And the way he touched Kyungsoo, god, it made him feel like everything was real…
“Hey.”
Kyungsoo winced when Jongin flicked his fingers against his forehead. “Ow.”
“You’re not focused,” Jongin frowned. “Come on, focus on me.”
Kyungsoo blinked. “It’s…it’s real?”
“Does this feel unreal to you?” Jongin caught Kyungsoo’s plump lips with his own and purposefully ran his tongue on the latter’s lips. “This?” He kissed Kyungsoo’s forehead gently. “And this?” Then Jongin placed a kiss on each of Kyungsoo’s eyes. “How about this?” He pecked Kyungsoo’s cheek before going back to the lips.
“They…feel real-JONGIN!!”
Kyungsoo cried and instinctively threw his head back when he felt Jongin grabbing his member. He jerked his hips upward automatically, hoping that Jongin would let go, but the younger male didn’t. Kyungsoo opened his mouth to protest, but he swallowed back everything when he acknowledged Jongin’s serious expression.
“Don’t you ever dare think that this is unreal,” Jongin said quietly, yet warningly. “Because when you wake up, Do Kyungsoo, I will still be here.”
Kyungsoo’s throat went dry. He slowly wrapped his arms around Jongin’s neck to close the gap between them, stealing a kiss when they were close enough.
“Think of me, please,” Jongin said between their kisses. “Think of only me.”
“I always think about you, Jongin…”
Kyungsoo became breathless when Jongin continued to touch him. He let Jongin took complete control over him when the male spread his legs and Kyungsoo mentally surrendered himself.
“Good. Because I’m gonna be the last man for you, Kyungsoo.”
***
Kyungsoo went back to being a mechanic. The male spent the next few days in the hangar, monitoring and watching Phoenix Cry. It still felt like a dream whenever he looked at the giant robot. Several days ago, Kyungsoo was fighting inside the Jaeger with Jongin…
...and they won victoriously.
Jongin.
Kyungsoo’s cheeks reddened at the name and he felt like a high-school girl thinking about his crush. The difference was, Jongin returned his feelings. Kyungsoo was so overwhelmed with happiness that he couldn’t even react when someone abruptly pulled him into a back hug. He was about to protest, but upon inhaling the familiar cologne, he sighed in resignation.
“I can’t breathe, Jongin. You’re hugging me too tight…”
“Sorry,” Jongin apologized sheepishly as he let Kyungsoo go. Kyungsoo spun around to give him a look and Jongin jerked his chin to the general direction of Phoenix Cry. “How’s she doing?”
“Perfect,” Kyungsoo gave Jongin his thumb up, flashing a perfect row of white teeth. “She’s ready for battle any moment.”
“That’s good.” Jongin nodded. “Do you think you can level up the plasma cannon?”
Kyungsoo frowned at him questioningly. “Um…yeah, I could. As a matter of fact, I’ve been thinking about that, too. I mean, the Kaijus are getting stronger…”
“Yeah…” Jongin’s expression hardened. “Maybe we should be prepared for any category 5.”
“Category…” Kyungsoo trailed off. Something was definitely off. Kyungsoo took a step back by instinct as he examined every inch of Jongin’s face. “Jongin…what’s going on?”
Jongin crossed his arms on his chest defensively and chewed on his lower lip. “We’re going for the breach.”
“What…?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but we believe that the only way to stop all of this is by blowing up the breach. The breach is like the tunnel from their world to ours, right?”
Kyungsoo slowly nodded. The plan didn’t only sound crazy, but it also sounded very dangerous. But he understood… To put an end to this war, they needed to make a sacrifice. However, Kyungsoo had a feeling that Jongin hadn’t told him everything.
“And…?”
“And…” Jongin avoided Kyungsoo’s gaze by staring at the latter’s neck. “And then we will drop the bomb in the breach.”
“And?” Kyungsoo was getting a bit impatient.
“…it will be Phoenix Cry’s job.”
The tablet almost slipped out of Kyungsoo’s grip, but he was able to collect himself before it happened. “You? Our Jaeger? But…but why Phoenix Cry?”
Jongin smiled bitterly. “You know why, Kyungsoo. Phoenix Cry is the only Jaeger with nuclear bomb reactor. It will do maximum damage if it does a self-detonate instead of just dropping a bomb.”
That was why Jongin hesitated to tell him everything. Jongin wasn’t sure of Kyungsoo’s reaction, and neither did Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo didn’t know what to do but to nod. Sure, they needed to make a sacrifice, but to sacrifice the person he loved more than life itself? The news affected the doe-eyed male so much that he instantly felt overwhelmed by sadness, but he didn’t want to cry in front of Jongin. So that was why Kyungsoo forced himself to smile.
“I understand, Jongin.”
“Good.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No.”
“Why not?” Kyungsoo cried in disbelief. “You heard what Sehun said the other day. We’re drift compatible. We make a pretty good team, right?”
“Because I’m going with Chanyeol, and that’s final.”
“I will talk to Commander Rain, there’s a chance he will change his mind-“
“I told Commander if it’s not with Chanyeol, I won’t do it.”
Kyungsoo fell silent. “It isn’t fair. You’re being unfair…”
Jongin stepped closer to Kyungsoo and pressed their foreheads together. “This is different, Kyungsoo. I want you to be safe.”
But I want you to be safe, too...
Kyungsoo hopelessly leaned into the touch. Jongin had made up his mind and no matter what he said or do, the male wouldn’t change it. Right now, all he could was to support Jongin in the only way he could: by making Phoenix Cry undefeatable. Kyungsoo took a deep breath and inwardly told himself to be strong.
There was just one thing that bugged him.
“Jongin…”
“Yes, Kyungsoo.”
“Will the explosion closes the gate forever…?”
Jongin grimaced darkly. “It’s the only option we’ve got right now.”
“I see. Then…then I gotta get going…”
Jongin slowly let Kyungsoo go. Their hands were still linked, until it was Kyungsoo who unlinked it first. The older male turned around quickly, hoping that Jongin wouldn’t see the tears that were threatening to fall.
“Kyungsoo, wait.”
Kyungsoo paused in his track, but he didn’t bother to turn around.
“When all of this is over, I expect you to say yes.”
His eyes widened.
Kyungsoo dared himself to look over his shoulder, but Jongin was nowhere to be found.
***
Krystal, one of the Jung sisters, got hurt pretty bad in the last battle, so Amber’s Effect got replaced with Lucifer’s Diva, whose pilots’ names were Kibum and Woohyun. Not that they doubted the pair’s ability, but the more the merrier, so Silver Elf was added into the team.
Everyone in the main room tried to stay calm, but needless to say, they were all agitated. No one wanted to even think that it wouldn’t work because their whole lives depended on it.
Kyungsoo’s wish for everything to go well didn’t happen. He had no freaking idea why the Kaijus decided to spawn from the breach at the same time. When the Jaegers approached the breach, there was a signature of not two, but three Kaijus, which were all category 5. Even Commander Rain seemed to have doubts, but his confidence resurfaced when Phoenix Cry managed to blast a Kaiju right in the head and Kyungsoo couldn’t help but feel proud at how powerful the plasma cannon was.
“We’re jumping into the breach.”
Kyungsoo was so relieved upon hearing Jongin’s voice.
“That’s good work,” Commander Rain said. “Self-detonate and eject yourself now, Jongin, Chanyeol.”
“Core meltdown in two minutes. Going to the evac pods now.”
However, it was too soon for them to feel glad. Kyungsoo intertwined his fingers so tightly, and for the first time in a long time, he was really praying. He prayed, and he prayed, that Jongin would come back safely to him. The silence was deafening in the main room that he could hear how loud his own heartbeat was.
Please let him come back safely.
And that whatever it was Jongin was about to ask him, Kyungsoo was going to say yes.
Please…
Yixing breathed in relief as he read the movement in the breach. “Chanyeol’s evacuation pod has been ejected. Now, we’re waiting for Jongin.”
Kyungsoo then saw movement in the breach, but it didn’t look like it was an evacuation pod. He curled his fingers loosely into a fist and pressed it against his lips. Kyungsoo held his breath as he fixed his eyes on the screen. He could see that Phoenix Cry was getting deeper into the bottom of the breach, but then what he saw scared him.
“Is-is that a Kaiju?”
Commander Rain only needed a glance to know that Kyungsoo was right. A Kaiju appeared from the bottom of the breach, flying straight to Phoenix Cry.
“Jongin, get the hell out of there now!!!”
“Jongin, talk to us,” Yixing cried. “Jongin!!”
“Where’s the other evacuation pod?? Where is it??”
Phoenix Cry exploded the next second and then they completely lost contact.
Kyungsoo felt his whole world shattering and everything went dark.
***
They managed to find Chanyeol’s emergency pod, but they never found Jongin’s.
No one really knew what happened. It could be that Jongin’s evacuation pod was malfunctioning, or that he managed to eject himself at the last minute but got blasted by the explosion… They never found out.
The country rewarded Jongin as a true hero, which was given to his parents. Kyungsoo would never forget their tears, because in order to seek revenge for his parents’ death, their son had to sacrifice himself for it. Jongin’s mother hugged Kyungsoo as she repeatedly thanked him for supporting Jongin all of this time. Kyungsoo could only retort that there was nothing else he wanted more than that.
There had never been any movement from the breach ever since. They kept an eye on it, but the crack had completely sealed now. The Jaegers were kept in a safe, protected place, just in case the world peace was disturbed once again.
Two years had passed since then, and it was safe to say, the Kaijus never appeared again.
They were starting to live in peace. Kyungsoo quit his job as a Jaeger mechanic and considered the possibility to continue his education. Commander Rain said that he could provide a job for someone like Kyungsoo, but he politely declined because without Jongin, it wasn’t the same. He giggled to himself when he thought he might enroll in a university…or take a ballet class.
The replicas of Jaegers and Kaijus were all over the toy stores, as a reminder that humanity won. Kyungsoo looked at the kids running in the street with mini Jaegers in their hands and it got him to smile. He was glad they didn’t have to live in terror anymore, but this wasn’t exactly what he had in mind. Kyungsoo had always dreamt that when it was all over, he would be able to live peacefully with Jongin.
Jongin.
When would he be able to forget…?
Kyungsoo spent the first few weeks crying and weeping, hoping that it was all just a dream. That it was a very sick idea for them to lie that they had never found Jongin’s evacuation pod. And that someday, Jongin would knock on his door and grin while screaming, “Surprise!!” But then two years had passed and it was time to accept the fact that Jongin wouldn’t come back. Kyungsoo told himself that Jongin wouldn’t want him to be like this, so he moved on.
Sometimes he wondered what was it that Jongin was about to ask, but he had a feeling he knew what it was going to be.
So with that in mind, Kyungsoo stayed unmarried for the rest of his life.
Because Jongin...really was the last man for him.
End.
Are you expecting for a snippet because there isn’t any ;;;;;;
Kyungsoo was lying on the rooftop all by himself that night.
Even after all this time, the rooftop was still his favorite place ever. Heck, the hangar was nothing compared to it.
He still kept in touch with Yixing and the others. Kyungsoo seemed to be only person who quit while the others still stayed with Commander Rain in the army. Yixing had sent him a text earlier that evening, informing him that they were in town and was expecting to meet Kyungsoo at a Chinese restaurant downtown for lunch on the next day.
We’re gonna introduce you to someone special, was what Yixing had written in his message.
Kyungsoo rolled his eyes upon reading it, because he wasn’t keen to the idea of dating someone else other than Jongin. He only said yes because he missed them anyway. And Kyungsoo would just ignore that someone special for sure.
It was a bit warm that night and Kyungsoo decided to tuck in early. He was about to jump back to the balcony when his phone vibrated and the male took a moment to read it. It was from Yixing.
But I guess you won’t have to wait anymore ;)
Kyungsoo heard the sound of his bedroom door being swung open, and a second later, he heard a familiar voice calling out his name.
“Kyungsoo?”
Kyungsoo’s eyes widened.
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.
[1]
Kyungsoo didn’t think he would be able to handle it if he had ever seen Jongin got hurt.
Or any other pilots, for that matter.
Kyungsoo had witnessed how Junmyeon, the other mechanic, went pale when Twin’s Thorn, the Jaeger he was taking care of, went back in a terrible condition. Sehun, one of the pilots, wasn’t even screaming anymore when Zitao stopped breathing momentarily beside him. Or that one time when Luna had a major breakdown because Amber’s Effect was heavily damaged, and it nearly cost the lives of the Jung sisters.
There were too many scary events. Too many Kaijus. Too much fear.
Chanyeol lost his consciousness when the Kaiju sent a direct hit to the right side of Phoenix Cry. Jongin’s scream was terrifying because right at that moment, he was still mentally connected to his partner.
Fortunately, Dragon Light came right on time to help them and within seconds, the Kaiju was defeated. Yifan and Baekhyun then helped them back to the headquarters, and Kyungsoo almost lost his strength after seeing that much blood on Chanyeol.
Had it been Jongin…
The paramedics came and they hastily took Chanyeol away, while Jongin looked like he was still in shock, like he was unable to move because his feet were transfixed onto the ground.
Without thinking, Kyungsoo dropped everything he was holding and reached out to Jongin. He didn’t know what else to do but to hug Jongin, and the next thing he knew, he was crying. Was it because of he had witnessed Chanyeol’s blood, or was it because of something else, Kyungsoo didn’t know.
What he knew was that he was so damn relieved to see that Jongin was still in one piece.
“Are you okay?” His voice was shaking badly. “Are you hurt anywhere, Jongin…?”
Jongin shut his eyes as he leaned to Kyungsoo’s touch. “No. No, I’m fine…”
It was probably a lie because when the pilots were still connected, they could feel one another. It must’ve felt like hell for Jongin when Chanyeol got hurt. But it didn’t matter although it was a lie, as long as Kyungsoo was still able to hold Jongin close like this…
“I’m glad, Jongin…”
Kyungsoo sighed deeply.
“I’m glad…”
***
Chanyeol survived, but the doctor told him that he needed to rest for at least two weeks.
The tall male was lucky not to suffer from broken bones, although Kyungsoo didn’t dare to voice his thoughts out loud. Sure, Chanyeol was considered lucky, but wasn’t it just cruel to say so?
Jongin spent the rest of his night sleeping in Kyungsoo’s room. The way he leaned against Kyungsoo was somewhat childish, like he was afraid if he moved even the slightest, someone would come and take Kyungsoo away from him. When the morning came, Kyungsoo prayed that please, please let them lived peacefully for another three, six, twelve months.
Even forever.
Kyungsoo slid off of the bed without waking Jongin up. His heart stuttered at how peaceful Jongin looked in his sleep. The younger male deserved some rest. How long had he been putting the life of others before his own…?
Kyungsoo planned to drop by quickly by the infirmary before going to the hangar to do maintenance on Phoenix Cry. He thought Chanyeol wouldn’t have any visitor by then, but he was wrong. Kyungsoo was stunned when he saw Baekhyun sleeping with his fingers entwining loosely with Chanyeol’s.
Chanyeol…and Baekhyun?
Kyungsoo stayed in his tracks for a couple of minutes, observing the two with a weird feeling bubbling inside him. He peered over his shoulder when he felt a light tap on his back.
“Good morning,” Jongin said with a huge yawn.
“M-morning. Wait, why are you out of the bed?”
“It’s cold without you,” Jongin retorted, like it was natural for him to say so. Fortunately, he didn’t see Kyungsoo blushing as he peeked casually into the infirmary. Jongin said nothing although he spotted Baekhyun. “Well, I hope he will be better soon. He’s a great partner. At least he survived…”
Kyungsoo wanted to give Jongin a soothing smile, to tell him that Chanyeol certainly would be alright, but in the end, he only managed to nod. “That’s what matters, isn’t it? As long as he’s alive…”
Jongin poked Kyungsoo’s cheek gently in return and motioned the latter to follow him. “Come. We should give them some time.”
Would you stop touching me, was what Kyungsoo wanted to wail but of course he never said that. The male sent one last look into the infirmary before following Jongin. “Are-are they…?”
“Perhaps.”
“Oh. I thought-I thought Yifan and Junmyeon are the only ones who are in a relationship.”
Jongin looked thoughtful for a second before shrugging. “All I know is that Chanyeol’s in love.”
“You mean he never told you or anything…?”
“I see Baekhyun whenever we’re drifting.”
“Ah…”
That explained a lot. Kyungsoo didn’t probe any further and flashed Jongin a smile when the latter gave him a sideways glance.
“I’m hungry. Shall we fetch breakfast?”
“What are we waiting for, then? Let’s go.”
***
“You’re here, again.”
Kyungsoo didn’t even need to look over his shoulder to see who it was. He simply smiled to himself as he examined the workers who were checking the condition of Phoenix Cry. “I can’t help it. It’s my favorite spot.”
“You mean this hangar is a substitute to your rooftop?”
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing,” Kyungsoo softly flicked Jongin’s arm.
“It’s not bad as long as you’re not addicted to a Jaeger.”
“What’s wrong about being addicted to a Jaeger? Without them, we probably can’t win.”
“Then aren’t you supposed to be addicted to the pilots? They’re the ones who control the Jaeger, after all.”
Kyungsoo childishly stuck his tongue out to Jongin and the latter made a face. They broke into a fit of giggles and just like last time, Jongin deliberately sat beside Kyungsoo. Silence descended upon them as the two of them continued to stare at the giant robot.
“I wonder when all of this would be over,” Kyungsoo said quietly, but Jongin kind of realized that he wasn’t expecting an answer. “These beasts are evolving, right? What if…someday, they evolve to category 8 or worse, 10. Then what would we do? The world’s probably over by the time it happens…”
Jongin simply exhaled through his nose, not answering anything.
“Hey, Jongin?”
“Yeah?”
“What does it feel like…up there?” Kyungsoo asked as he pointed at Phoenix Cry.
“Hmm,” Jongin hummed as he pondered of the best answer. “It’s like…dancing.”
Kyungsoo tilted his head to one side in astonishment. “Dancing…?”
Jongin sheepishly scratched his head. “Yeah, you know…like one day, people will look you in the eye and they will ask, ‘If you haven’t been a Jaeger pilot, what would you’ve been?’ I’ll definitely answer a dancer.”
Kyungsoo narrowed his eyes. “I never knew you danced.”
“I took a ballet class before I became your neighbor. And then I just kind of lost interest and I decided to take hip-hop class.”
“Oh.”
“I know that look. It’s ‘WTF you took ballet’ look.”
“I didn’t-“ Kyungsoo made a face. “Oh wow, was I that obvious?”
“It was all over your face. Anyway, what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Yeah, if you’re not a Jaeger tech…” Jongin cleared his throat. “Have you ever thought about it…?”
“No,” Kyungsoo honestly admitted after a while. “Although…I don’t think I would’ve been anything special. I probably would’ve been a geek for the rest of my life. A hacker, perhaps?”
“A very cute geek-what the heck, hacker??”
“I said perhaps,” Kyungsoo burst out laughing at Jongin’s dumb expression. He glanced down to his tablet when the device made a beep sound. “Finally, the process is completed. Phoenix Cry is as good as new.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s my responsibility…”
“No, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I cannot thank you enough, Kyungsoo. You take good care of her, and you also take good care of me… And I just…”
Jongin trailed off. His expression showed that he was struggling to say some other words, but even if he didn’t, Kyungsoo understood.
Or at least he thought he did.
“You don’t need to thank me, Jongin,” Kyungsoo said softly. “I’m-we’re just mechanics. We’re here to support you. While you…let’s be real, you’re the true hero. You’ve saved millions of lives.”
And I want you to be safe out there.
Jongin’s lips twitched into a small smile. The male carefully lifted up his hand and it stayed in the air for a few seconds, as if he was thinking whether to do it or not. Kyungsoo’s heart started when he realized Jongin was about to touch his cheek, when all of a sudden, the alarm blared loudly.
“Fuck,” Jongin seethed as he stood up. “A Kaiju? It’s only been a week!”
The two of them didn’t waste any time and dashed to the main room only to find that everyone else was already there. Yixing was running his fingers on the screen, analyzing the Kaiju that had just appeared.
“A Kaiju signature has been detected in the breach. Code name: Ravenback. Category: 4.”
“This isn’t good,” Yixing murmured to himself. “This is disastrous, to be exact. We have two beasts from category 4 just within a week?”
“Phoenix Cry cannot operate,” Commander Rain stated the obvious. “Send Twin’s Thorn and Amber’s Effect immediately.”
“But sir-“ Jongin protested.
“You stay here,” Commander Rain sternly said to Jongin. “Your partner is hurt. You can’t operate the Jaeger alone.”
“Commander Rain is right,” Yixing couldn’t help but agree. “Chanyeol hasn’t recovered yet, Jongin.”
“But if anything happens-“
“Then we’ll send another Jaeger for back-up, but not you.”
Jongin groaned in frustration as he carelessly held up his hands. No matter what he wanted to protest, he knew what the Commander said was right. There was no way he was going to be able to maneuver the Jaeger alone. Jongin didn’t seem to agree completely, but he did nothing more.
Yixing turned to Commander Rain. “The drifting is complete, Sir, and each Jaeger is at its max stats.”
“They better finish it in an hour,” Jongin said through his gritted teeth. “Dammit, I feel so helpless.”
“I know how you feel, Jongin. It’s what we feel whenever you guys go out for battles. Let’s just believe in them,” Yixing whispered almost hopelessly. “And may I remind you that Twin’s Thorn is our number two from the top three.”
“But…”
Almost all of the people turned their attention immediately to Kyungsoo. The doe-eyed male seemed reluctant at first at how many pairs of eyes were directed to him, but he said it anyway.
“Category 4 has become more powerful lately…” Kyungsoo said as quiet as he could, but he could see Yixing’s shoulders flinching. “I just hope that there will never be a level 5…”
“Twin’s Thorn is ready for the big drop.”
“Roger that.”
“Wait! Hold on!”
Yixing turned pale at Zitao’s voice, his hand hovering on the button. “What is it…?”
“…”
“Sehun, Zitao, what is it?”
“It’s… Something isn’t right. The Kaiju is waiting.”
“It’s-it’s waiting?” There was a hint of terror in Yixing’s tone.
“It’s waiting for us to…attack?”
Yixing seemed lost and Kyungsoo had an awful feeling as he stepped closer to the screen. He hoped nothing would go awry and they could just finish the Kaiju quickly. However, upon seeing the movement in the breach, Kyungsoo held his breath.
“Yixing,” he whispered in fear. “There are two Kaijus.”
***
If Kyungsoo was a fan of Kaijus, he would’ve thought that it was a very smart ambush. Either the monster had the ability to clone itself into two or the other Kaiju had the ability to be undetected. Kyungsoo pushed the thought aside as he grabbed his tablet.
Fighting a category 4 alone could take hours for two Jaegers. Kyungsoo barely got the time to think anymore, but he knew that if they didn’t send any back-up, they might lose.
“Commander, please,” Jongin’s voice was from shaking from suppressed anger. “You have to let me fight. You’re making a big mistake.”
Commander Rain ignored the statement and he turned to Yixing. “Send Dragon Light to battle. Is Silver Elf ready to fight?”
Yixing shook his head. “They were sent for back-up to Manila and they still haven’t returned.”
The Jaeger Commander grimaced. “Then we’re gonna have to survive with three.”
“Three against two isn’t exactly a wonderful idea,” Jongin snapped. “For God’s sake, this is category 4 that we’re talking about!”
“Kim Jongin!!!”
Jongin thought it was the Commander’s voice that was thundering in the main room, but it was Kyungsoo’s. For the second time, all pairs of eyes immediately shifted to the doe-eyed male, who was still busy tapping his fingers on the screen.
“Commander Rain is right.” Kyungsoo sent a judging glance to Jongin. “You have no partner. You can’t control Phoenix Cry all by yourself. And Chanyeol would die if you force him to fight.”
“Thank you, Kyungsoo,” Commander Rain said and then he glared at Jongin. “Now do you understand? Even your own mechanic does.”
Furious, Jongin took a deep breath and closed his eyes to calm down. “Partner, you say? I have another partner.” The tan-skinned male cracked his eyes open and lifted up his chin challengingly at Kyungsoo. “Him.”
“Him??” Almost everyone in the room said in unison.
“Me??” Kyungsoo gawked.
“Kyungsoo?” Commander Rain looked taken aback. “He’s just a mechanic.”
“But that’s where you’re wrong,” Jongin retorted. “You’re so damn wrong. He’s a mechanic, indeed, but he’s a natural. I’ve seen his test results. He should be able to do it just fine.”
The Jaeger Commander seemed to consider the option, but it was obvious that he was reluctant. While Kyungsoo, on the other hand, was shaking his head vigorously.
“That’s non-sense. I can’t-“
“Amber’s Effect is losing,” Yixing said with a cracked voice.
“Commander,” Jongin exclaimed loudly. “We can’t afford to lose them. You have to send me!”
Commander Rain gritted his teeth as he stared at the screen.
Yixing was right. The Jung sisters looked like they were about to collapse any minute and it would take quite some time for Dragon Light to arrive. Battling with his inner self, the high-ranked male finally let out a growl of frustration by banging his fist on the table as he turned to Jongin.
“Fine. Kick their asses, kid.”
Jongin smirked confidently.
“You don’t have to tell me twice, Commander.”
***
“You’re out of your mind,” Kyungsoo cried for the umpteenth time as the other mechanics put him inside a battle suit. “You’re insane, do you know that, Kim Jongin?”
“Left hemisphere, right hemisphere, are now calibrating.”
Jongin snorted offhandedly. “No one needs to be sane when they’re about to kill a Kaiju.”
“But I’ve-I’ve never done this before!” Kyungsoo whimpered when something was strapped against his back. “I’ve never killed a Kaiju before!!”
“Proofed and transmitting.”
“Sure you have. In your simulations.”
“Jongin, did you take the wrong pill this morning???”
Kyungsoo only got Jongin’s annoying laughter as a respond.
“Data on helmet. Data relay gel dispersing in circuitry suit.”.
“Oh God,” Kyungsoo whispered helplessly. “Jongin, this isn’t right. I’ll only be a burden to you.”
“Hey, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo moaned in disbelief at how calm Jongin’s tone was. He forced himself to look at Jongin, and the latter was giving him a very serious look.
“Ready to step into my head?”
Kyungsoo’s eyes widened.
“The drifting will begin in a minute. Sixty, fifty-nine…”
“Everything’s gonna be just fine,” Jongin said soothingly, although Kyungsoo didn’t feel soothed at all. “Just remember, it’s like dancing. You kick and you turn and you throw your fist up in the air-“
“But-“
“No buts.”
“But-but I can’t dance-“
“Forty-five, forty-four…”
“Sure you can, trust me. Everyone can dance.”
“Does this-does this the kind of conversation you have with Chanyeol every time the drifting is about to start?”
“Now that I think about it, nope, we’ve never talked.”
“Then-then how-“
“Thirty-one, thirty, twenty-nine…”
“Kyungsoo.”
“What???”
“I need you to stay calm.”
“I-“ Kyungsoo sighed in distress. “You’re…you’re right. I need to stay calm. Jongin, just-just tell me what do I have to do…?”
“It’s simple. Just do what you usually do.”
“Okay. Got that. Huh? Wait. What did I usually do?”
Jongin shrugged. “Supporting me.”
Kyungsoo’s mouth went dry. “S-supporting you…?”
“Yeah. And you did a great job about it.”
“Fifteen, fourteen…”
“And the reason why I picked you-which I believe a hundred percent it will work-was because whether you realize it or not, Kyungsoo, you’ve always been the only person who’s mentally linked with me.”
“M-me…?”
“Yeah, you.”
Jongin looked very certain when he said,
“And I won’t let us die.”
“Six, five…”
Kyungsoo bit his lower lip before sighing in defeat.
“Then…let us dance...”
Jongin grinned approvingly.
“Let’s dance like nobody’s watching, baby.”
***
It must’ve been pure luck when Kyungsoo managed to sync himself with Jongin.
People had always said that the first drifts were rough, but Kyungsoo was grateful that it wasn’t as bad as they said. In fact, it went very well.
The next thing he knew, Phoenix Cry was already dropped at the ocean.
Kyungsoo was actually so damn scared that he couldn’t even let out a scream upon seeing a Kaiju close. One was down by the time they arrived, which was a good thing, but the other Jaegers looked worn out. Kyungsoo shuddered when he realized Galaxy Light was slightly damaged, but fortunately, both of the pilots were okay. He stole a glance at Jongin, wanting to stutter how scared he was, but it all vanished when he saw the latter’s expression.
Jongin had never intended to lose from the start.
Mankind has to win.
Kyungsoo swallowed thickly as he fixed his gaze back to the creature in front of him, and slowly, but surely, his fear was gone.
They were going to win.
And it wasn’t just a hunch.
Kyungsoo only needed several swings to adapt.
It was funny to think that he was in a battle, but he was able to see everything clearly. Kyungsoo wasn’t sure if it was because of being too damn close with the Kaiju, or it was like what Jongin had said: a natural. He didn’t need a long time to analyze the Kaiju’s probable weakness and told Jongin to aim for the feet. Jongin did so without asking anything, and when the monster collapsed and let out a painful growl, the twins didn’t waste any time but to stab its throat mercilessly.
Kyungsoo could hear everyone in the main room cheering when Commander Rain ordered them to withdraw immediately to the headquarters.
“Hey,” Sehun’s voice came through their speaker. “Has Chanyeol recovered?”
Kyungsoo awkwardly stared at Jongin. Perhaps they should lie and pretended that he was Chanyeol, but Jongin didn’t seem to think the same.
“Nope. It’s Kyungsoo.”
“Oh?”
Kyungsoo could feel his heart almost leaping at Jongin’s answer. He wanted to say something like ‘no, it’s just a coincidence’ or ‘it’s pure luck’, but in the end, he said nothing to counter it. They weren’t hurt a bit-Jongin wasn’t hurt, thank goodness-and there was nothing else he wanted more.
“Nice drift.”
***
When Kyungsoo woke up, it was already dawn.
The male moaned quietly as he tried to pull himself to sit. It felt as if all of his muscles were being ripped because he nearly couldn’t move. His whole body hurt too much. Kyungsoo blinked rapidly to adjust his eyes to the surrounding. It was too bright…
Suddenly, his door swung open and Kyungsoo’s heart stopped beating at the sight of Jongin.
“You’re awake.”
Jongin seemed relieved at the fact that Kyungsoo was awake. The tan-skinned male then handed him a glass of water, which Kyungsoo accepted gratefully.
“How are you feeling?”
“Horrible,” Kyungsoo pouted weakly as he handed back the empty glass. “It wasn’t like dancing at all.”
Jongin simply laughed in response and sat on the edge of the bed.
Kyungsoo sighed. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A couple of hours.”
“I see...”
“Which is rare.”
Kyungsoo looked at Jongin questioningly. “Why is that?”
“Baekhyun fell asleep for two days straight after his first drift. Chanyeol, a day. Yifan, also a day. Victoria, two days and a half. Do you want me to make a list for you?”
Kyungsoo feebly shook his head. “Okay, I get the picture…” He patted the spot beside him and shifted slightly to make room for the other male. “Come here. A natural or not, with everything that happened, I need a human pillow now.”
Jongin smiled as he climbed onto the bed, settling himself for a comfortable position beside Kyungsoo. The older of the two rested his head against Jongin’s arm and exhaled softly.
Memories of their battle were still carved in his mind. The battle drained his strength completely, especially since it had been his first time in the field. It was weird, because Kyungsoo was supposed to feel scared, but he wasn’t at all. And to think that he was still able to think clearly while searching for his enemy’s weakness…
…perhaps he was really a natural, after all.
“Thank you, Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo almost snorted. “No, thank you, Jongin. I’m supposed to be the one who tells you that. You saved me. You saved the day. You saved all of us.”
“More like the twins that saved us, but truthfully, if you didn’t tell me to aim for its feet…”
“It was just luck.”
“Whatever you say...”
A gentle pat landed on Kyungsoo’s head and it got him to wince in pain. His first thought was that he was lucky enough to be given the chance to continue living. Had something gone wrong, the two of them were probably history… Jongin’s hand stayed on his head and Kyungsoo loved the warmth for no reason.
He loved it so damn much.
“Jongin…?”
“Hm?”
“I….” Kyungsoo cleared his throat. “I saw some things when we were drifting.” When Jongin didn’t comment anything, he continued, “But it was really funny because all I could see was me. Me in high school, me crying for my parents, me at the rooftop with you… Wow, I must’ve loved myself too much…”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s funny, because all I could see was me, too.”
Kyungsoo slowly pulled away from Jongin as he stared at the younger male in confusion.
Jongin smiled to no one to particular, and his gaze wasn’t directed to Kyungsoo when he spoke. “When I asked you if you were ready to step into my head, this was what I meant. When we were drifting, you could see right through my thoughts, my sadness, dark pasts, love, happiness, dreams-literally just everything.”
Love.
“And I could see yours.”
Love?
Kyungsoo gulped when Jongin moved his hand to touch his cheek. The simple gesture caused something to jolt at the bottom of his stomach. Kyungsoo’s eyes fluttered and his heart beat so fast like it was about to explode when he felt Jongin inching closer to him.
“Th-then,” he whispered weakly. “What did you see in mine…?”
Jongin placed a hand on Kyungsoo’s nape before pulling him to meeting their lips halfway.
“Us.”
***
If it was a dream, then let it be a wonderful dream.
Kyungsoo kept on enchanting those words like a mantra, as if he was afraid that everything would be gone by the time he woke up.
A lot of things ran through his mind when Jongin took off his clothes. Kyungsoo was amazed at how much Jongin’s body had changed this past few years. Jongin had a slender, tan body, but who knew, beneath the clothes, he had such toned, fine abs? Not that Kyungsoo had ever seen him without abs before… And the way he touched Kyungsoo, god, it made him feel like everything was real…
“Hey.”
Kyungsoo winced when Jongin flicked his fingers against his forehead. “Ow.”
“You’re not focused,” Jongin frowned. “Come on, focus on me.”
Kyungsoo blinked. “It’s…it’s real?”
“Does this feel unreal to you?” Jongin caught Kyungsoo’s plump lips with his own and purposefully ran his tongue on the latter’s lips. “This?” He kissed Kyungsoo’s forehead gently. “And this?” Then Jongin placed a kiss on each of Kyungsoo’s eyes. “How about this?” He pecked Kyungsoo’s cheek before going back to the lips.
“They…feel real-JONGIN!!”
Kyungsoo cried and instinctively threw his head back when he felt Jongin grabbing his member. He jerked his hips upward automatically, hoping that Jongin would let go, but the younger male didn’t. Kyungsoo opened his mouth to protest, but he swallowed back everything when he acknowledged Jongin’s serious expression.
“Don’t you ever dare think that this is unreal,” Jongin said quietly, yet warningly. “Because when you wake up, Do Kyungsoo, I will still be here.”
Kyungsoo’s throat went dry. He slowly wrapped his arms around Jongin’s neck to close the gap between them, stealing a kiss when they were close enough.
“Think of me, please,” Jongin said between their kisses. “Think of only me.”
“I always think about you, Jongin…”
Kyungsoo became breathless when Jongin continued to touch him. He let Jongin took complete control over him when the male spread his legs and Kyungsoo mentally surrendered himself.
“Good. Because I’m gonna be the last man for you, Kyungsoo.”
***
Kyungsoo went back to being a mechanic. The male spent the next few days in the hangar, monitoring and watching Phoenix Cry. It still felt like a dream whenever he looked at the giant robot. Several days ago, Kyungsoo was fighting inside the Jaeger with Jongin…
...and they won victoriously.
Jongin.
Kyungsoo’s cheeks reddened at the name and he felt like a high-school girl thinking about his crush. The difference was, Jongin returned his feelings. Kyungsoo was so overwhelmed with happiness that he couldn’t even react when someone abruptly pulled him into a back hug. He was about to protest, but upon inhaling the familiar cologne, he sighed in resignation.
“I can’t breathe, Jongin. You’re hugging me too tight…”
“Sorry,” Jongin apologized sheepishly as he let Kyungsoo go. Kyungsoo spun around to give him a look and Jongin jerked his chin to the general direction of Phoenix Cry. “How’s she doing?”
“Perfect,” Kyungsoo gave Jongin his thumb up, flashing a perfect row of white teeth. “She’s ready for battle any moment.”
“That’s good.” Jongin nodded. “Do you think you can level up the plasma cannon?”
Kyungsoo frowned at him questioningly. “Um…yeah, I could. As a matter of fact, I’ve been thinking about that, too. I mean, the Kaijus are getting stronger…”
“Yeah…” Jongin’s expression hardened. “Maybe we should be prepared for any category 5.”
“Category…” Kyungsoo trailed off. Something was definitely off. Kyungsoo took a step back by instinct as he examined every inch of Jongin’s face. “Jongin…what’s going on?”
Jongin crossed his arms on his chest defensively and chewed on his lower lip. “We’re going for the breach.”
“What…?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but we believe that the only way to stop all of this is by blowing up the breach. The breach is like the tunnel from their world to ours, right?”
Kyungsoo slowly nodded. The plan didn’t only sound crazy, but it also sounded very dangerous. But he understood… To put an end to this war, they needed to make a sacrifice. However, Kyungsoo had a feeling that Jongin hadn’t told him everything.
“And…?”
“And…” Jongin avoided Kyungsoo’s gaze by staring at the latter’s neck. “And then we will drop the bomb in the breach.”
“And?” Kyungsoo was getting a bit impatient.
“…it will be Phoenix Cry’s job.”
The tablet almost slipped out of Kyungsoo’s grip, but he was able to collect himself before it happened. “You? Our Jaeger? But…but why Phoenix Cry?”
Jongin smiled bitterly. “You know why, Kyungsoo. Phoenix Cry is the only Jaeger with nuclear bomb reactor. It will do maximum damage if it does a self-detonate instead of just dropping a bomb.”
That was why Jongin hesitated to tell him everything. Jongin wasn’t sure of Kyungsoo’s reaction, and neither did Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo didn’t know what to do but to nod. Sure, they needed to make a sacrifice, but to sacrifice the person he loved more than life itself? The news affected the doe-eyed male so much that he instantly felt overwhelmed by sadness, but he didn’t want to cry in front of Jongin. So that was why Kyungsoo forced himself to smile.
“I understand, Jongin.”
“Good.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No.”
“Why not?” Kyungsoo cried in disbelief. “You heard what Sehun said the other day. We’re drift compatible. We make a pretty good team, right?”
“Because I’m going with Chanyeol, and that’s final.”
“I will talk to Commander Rain, there’s a chance he will change his mind-“
“I told Commander if it’s not with Chanyeol, I won’t do it.”
Kyungsoo fell silent. “It isn’t fair. You’re being unfair…”
Jongin stepped closer to Kyungsoo and pressed their foreheads together. “This is different, Kyungsoo. I want you to be safe.”
But I want you to be safe, too...
Kyungsoo hopelessly leaned into the touch. Jongin had made up his mind and no matter what he said or do, the male wouldn’t change it. Right now, all he could was to support Jongin in the only way he could: by making Phoenix Cry undefeatable. Kyungsoo took a deep breath and inwardly told himself to be strong.
There was just one thing that bugged him.
“Jongin…”
“Yes, Kyungsoo.”
“Will the explosion closes the gate forever…?”
Jongin grimaced darkly. “It’s the only option we’ve got right now.”
“I see. Then…then I gotta get going…”
Jongin slowly let Kyungsoo go. Their hands were still linked, until it was Kyungsoo who unlinked it first. The older male turned around quickly, hoping that Jongin wouldn’t see the tears that were threatening to fall.
“Kyungsoo, wait.”
Kyungsoo paused in his track, but he didn’t bother to turn around.
“When all of this is over, I expect you to say yes.”
His eyes widened.
Kyungsoo dared himself to look over his shoulder, but Jongin was nowhere to be found.
***
Krystal, one of the Jung sisters, got hurt pretty bad in the last battle, so Amber’s Effect got replaced with Lucifer’s Diva, whose pilots’ names were Kibum and Woohyun. Not that they doubted the pair’s ability, but the more the merrier, so Silver Elf was added into the team.
Everyone in the main room tried to stay calm, but needless to say, they were all agitated. No one wanted to even think that it wouldn’t work because their whole lives depended on it.
Kyungsoo’s wish for everything to go well didn’t happen. He had no freaking idea why the Kaijus decided to spawn from the breach at the same time. When the Jaegers approached the breach, there was a signature of not two, but three Kaijus, which were all category 5. Even Commander Rain seemed to have doubts, but his confidence resurfaced when Phoenix Cry managed to blast a Kaiju right in the head and Kyungsoo couldn’t help but feel proud at how powerful the plasma cannon was.
“We’re jumping into the breach.”
Kyungsoo was so relieved upon hearing Jongin’s voice.
“That’s good work,” Commander Rain said. “Self-detonate and eject yourself now, Jongin, Chanyeol.”
“Core meltdown in two minutes. Going to the evac pods now.”
However, it was too soon for them to feel glad. Kyungsoo intertwined his fingers so tightly, and for the first time in a long time, he was really praying. He prayed, and he prayed, that Jongin would come back safely to him. The silence was deafening in the main room that he could hear how loud his own heartbeat was.
Please let him come back safely.
And that whatever it was Jongin was about to ask him, Kyungsoo was going to say yes.
Please…
Yixing breathed in relief as he read the movement in the breach. “Chanyeol’s evacuation pod has been ejected. Now, we’re waiting for Jongin.”
Kyungsoo then saw movement in the breach, but it didn’t look like it was an evacuation pod. He curled his fingers loosely into a fist and pressed it against his lips. Kyungsoo held his breath as he fixed his eyes on the screen. He could see that Phoenix Cry was getting deeper into the bottom of the breach, but then what he saw scared him.
“Is-is that a Kaiju?”
Commander Rain only needed a glance to know that Kyungsoo was right. A Kaiju appeared from the bottom of the breach, flying straight to Phoenix Cry.
“Jongin, get the hell out of there now!!!”
“Jongin, talk to us,” Yixing cried. “Jongin!!”
“Where’s the other evacuation pod?? Where is it??”
Phoenix Cry exploded the next second and then they completely lost contact.
Kyungsoo felt his whole world shattering and everything went dark.
***
They managed to find Chanyeol’s emergency pod, but they never found Jongin’s.
No one really knew what happened. It could be that Jongin’s evacuation pod was malfunctioning, or that he managed to eject himself at the last minute but got blasted by the explosion… They never found out.
The country rewarded Jongin as a true hero, which was given to his parents. Kyungsoo would never forget their tears, because in order to seek revenge for his parents’ death, their son had to sacrifice himself for it. Jongin’s mother hugged Kyungsoo as she repeatedly thanked him for supporting Jongin all of this time. Kyungsoo could only retort that there was nothing else he wanted more than that.
There had never been any movement from the breach ever since. They kept an eye on it, but the crack had completely sealed now. The Jaegers were kept in a safe, protected place, just in case the world peace was disturbed once again.
Two years had passed since then, and it was safe to say, the Kaijus never appeared again.
They were starting to live in peace. Kyungsoo quit his job as a Jaeger mechanic and considered the possibility to continue his education. Commander Rain said that he could provide a job for someone like Kyungsoo, but he politely declined because without Jongin, it wasn’t the same. He giggled to himself when he thought he might enroll in a university…or take a ballet class.
The replicas of Jaegers and Kaijus were all over the toy stores, as a reminder that humanity won. Kyungsoo looked at the kids running in the street with mini Jaegers in their hands and it got him to smile. He was glad they didn’t have to live in terror anymore, but this wasn’t exactly what he had in mind. Kyungsoo had always dreamt that when it was all over, he would be able to live peacefully with Jongin.
Jongin.
When would he be able to forget…?
Kyungsoo spent the first few weeks crying and weeping, hoping that it was all just a dream. That it was a very sick idea for them to lie that they had never found Jongin’s evacuation pod. And that someday, Jongin would knock on his door and grin while screaming, “Surprise!!” But then two years had passed and it was time to accept the fact that Jongin wouldn’t come back. Kyungsoo told himself that Jongin wouldn’t want him to be like this, so he moved on.
Sometimes he wondered what was it that Jongin was about to ask, but he had a feeling he knew what it was going to be.
So with that in mind, Kyungsoo stayed unmarried for the rest of his life.
Because Jongin...really was the last man for him.
End.
Are you expecting for a snippet because there isn’t any ;;;;;;
Kyungsoo was lying on the rooftop all by himself that night.
Even after all this time, the rooftop was still his favorite place ever. Heck, the hangar was nothing compared to it.
He still kept in touch with Yixing and the others. Kyungsoo seemed to be only person who quit while the others still stayed with Commander Rain in the army. Yixing had sent him a text earlier that evening, informing him that they were in town and was expecting to meet Kyungsoo at a Chinese restaurant downtown for lunch on the next day.
We’re gonna introduce you to someone special, was what Yixing had written in his message.
Kyungsoo rolled his eyes upon reading it, because he wasn’t keen to the idea of dating someone else other than Jongin. He only said yes because he missed them anyway. And Kyungsoo would just ignore that someone special for sure.
It was a bit warm that night and Kyungsoo decided to tuck in early. He was about to jump back to the balcony when his phone vibrated and the male took a moment to read it. It was from Yixing.
But I guess you won’t have to wait anymore ;)
Kyungsoo heard the sound of his bedroom door being swung open, and a second later, he heard a familiar voice calling out his name.
“Kyungsoo?”
Kyungsoo’s eyes widened.