hearts like us don't rust for wykedpanda (3/3)

[forvixxmods]

When he wakes up he immediately realizes something isn't right. The sheets smell stale and disgusting, nothing like his own freshly washed linen. They feel scratchy against his skin, as if they're stiff with dirt. He opens his eyes, sitting up on the bed.

He's not in his bedroom. The room seems strangely familiar though, even though he can't remember ever being here. It's is veiled in shadows, the only light coming from the window behind him is dimmed and gray, creating a cold, gloomy atmosphere. The shelves on the wall to his left side are lined up with books and covered in dust. On the right there's a big wardrobe, made of dark wood, the door is ajar, and covered in strangely placed scratches that make him feel uneasy. The wall opposite of him is almost empty, except for a small, framed window and the door.

Even though he didn't see this room the last time he was here, he immediately knows where he is. It's the haunted house. And with that realization comes another- during the past week he almost forgot he was here with Hakyeon at all. Sure, the memory was there buried deep inside him but he hardly thought about it, didn't talk to anyone about it, didn't try asking if they knew about the house… It's almost as if it was protected by magic similar to the power that used to protect the forest.

But how did I get here?, he thinks, the queasiness settling in his stomach. The last thing he remembers is lying down in his bed. Could it be the same day still?

He remembers he has his phone in his back pocket. He pulls it out, wondering if it will work at all in this strange place. He didn't bring it the last time he was here.

He unlocks it and checks the date- sure, it's still the same Tuesday, except a few hours later. He has a notification for over thirty missed calls and, pushing down the hope that it might be Hakyeon, he checks the call log- but strangely, there's nothing here. He frowns, confused. Is his phone reacting to the weird energy in this place? There's no reception, either.

He suddenly remembers the things that occurred in the bathroom and a shiver runs down his spine. He has no business staying here any longer. He can only hope the house will let him out. He looks at the door; he's scared of what might be waiting for him on the other side. Maybe he should leave through the window?

As he gets off the bed, an old book falls from the shelf. He stares at it; the cover is made of dark brown leather and it seems to be in better shape than many things in the house. He picks it up, remembering another instance when something similar happened. The newspaper. The article describing a terrifying murder…

He shudders but he opens the book anyway. It opens on a page with a folded piece of paper inside. The chapter seems to be describing some old magical artifact. He frowns, his eyes scanning over the letters. A pendant…created with ancient magic…able to absorb powers from its surroundings and store them for the use of its owner...cursed. The word cursed is underlined in strong strokes of black ink. He swallows thickly but as he tries to read on, the book slips from his hands. The note falls out of it, catching his attention. He picks it up and unfolds it. There's just one word written on it, in the same black ink, the handwriting sharp and slanted: hall?. He frowns at it, confused, but he doesn't get to contemplate the meaning of the word. A sudden creak behind him startles him, making him jerk his head up in the direction of the noise.

The door to the room is half open now, the hall behind it completely dark. His heart jumps in his chest- but there's no one in the room. He stands there for a moment, unsure what to do. Should he take the opportunity, leave the room and run to the entrance? But what if it's a trap?
You have to do something, he tells himself. You can't stay here forever.

He turns to look at the window again, to check if he can leave through it but he now notices something he hasn't before. There's a big dark brown stain on the sheets, right where he was lying when he woke up; a blood stain. There are splatters of blood on the windowsill as well, and the frames of the windows are scratched, as if someone else was desperately trying to escape through it before…

He shivers and turns back to the door, takes a cautious step towards it. As he comes closer to it, he notices something in the mirror next to it moves. He only glances at it with the corner of his eye and he knows- it's not his own reflection. He immediately looks away, remembering what happened in the bathroom a few days ago. He's frozen in fear, unable to move, when he hears the wardrobe door open behind him.

And that's when he runs. He stumbles out of the door and, without thinking, reaches for the door opposite of it. He enters the room and shuts the door behind himself, leaning back against it heavily, expecting something to try and break in.

But apart from his quickened breath, not even the smallest noise disturbs the silence. He turns his head to examine the room he's entered.

The room is bright, gold and orange rays of the setting sun shining through the thin white curtains. It seems to be the only window in the house facing the road. There's a small wooden desk placed by it, and out of nowhere, a thought appears in his head- he feels that the person living here spent a lot of time sitting at that desk, glancing through the window, as if looking forward to someone's visit.

It's clean in here, the walls and the floor in much better shapethan in the rest of the house. The bedroom is small but cozy, warm and inviting. Here Taekwoon doesn't feel like he's an intruder. He feels strangely calm- as if he can be safe here.

He slowly walks up to the narrow bed and sits on it. His heel bumps something hard and he peeks under the bed to find a red toolbox. A hazy memory fills his head, of a clumsy boy who broke things a lot so he eventually learned how to fix them. He straightens back up to look at the white door on the left side of the desk. Bathroom door, he thinks- somehow he knows there's a second, smaller bathroom in there.

There's a closet with a set of drawers next to the door, right opposite of where's he's sitting. The expanse of wall between the door and the closet, even though rather narrow, feels strangely empty to him, as if something should be here. He doesn't ponder on it, though, as the closet door draws his attention. It's covered in postcards, funny drawings and stickers. He blinks in surprise as he examines them. There are two photos among all that random stuff, and… they're photos of him and Hakyeon. They're just kids on one of them, Hakyeon a small, tanned boy, his face smudged with dirt, his clothes in disarray, like he spent the past few hours rolling in dirt. Taekwoon wouldn't be surprised if it was exactly what happened. He's grinning, his arm wrapped around Taekwoon, who on the other hand looks somewhat gloomy, pale as a ghost. The kids used to be scared of him, he remembers. He had dark hair, white skin, and he never spoke a word; enough reasons for everyone to assume he was some sort of a horror movie character.

The other seems to be taken during their high school days. Hakyeon was already that radiant, outgoing person, very popular among other kids. Taekwoon was quite liked too- he was good at sports, quiet but already able to communicate, and he was Hakyeon's best friend. Hakyeon is hugging him on this picture as well, but it looks more intimate, with his chin rested on Taekwoon's shoulder, his arms wrapped around his waist. And here Taekwoon is smiling, too. They were already dating back then.

Then it hits him- this is Hakyeon's room. And he's been here many times before. Hakyeon didn't always live in that small house in the village. He'd lived here all his childhood and most of his teenage years until- until that murder occurred.

The place looks exactly like he remembers it did back then, all those years ago. It has a peculiar, nostalgic feeling to it, being here now. It's almost as if it's not real- as if he's watching an old video tape recording of his memories. There's an old cassette player on the desk and impulsively, he reaches out and switches it on, then presses play. To his surprise, it works. A calm melody fills the room; it's relaxing and soothing, has the feeling of a warm, summer evening, with a tint of nostalgia. It suits this room perfectly. He lies down on the soft sheets- he swears they still smell like Hakyeon- and for a moment remains there unmoving, listening, watching the dust dance in the golden sun rays.

we played hide and seek in waterfalls when we were younger…

He remembers now. All that time spent here. There is more to their relationship than he realized- he thought they were very close but as he recalls all those nights spent here, talking in hushed whispers, kissing, having slow, careful sex… They were closer than he'd ever imagined. He remembered them having sex before, of course, but he forgot the nights spent here. And they had their own distinct flavor; it felt like a teenage love. Hakyeon played that tape often when they did it, teasing Taekwoon about being too noisy. Taekwoon remembers biting at his lips to keep the noises down, worrying about Hakyeon's parents just across the hallway, and then forgetting all about them when Hakyeon touched him just so, making his thoughts fade away into the gentle but intense sensation of pleasure…

Suddenly, one of the colorful pictures on the closet door falls to the floor. Realizing he's been spacing out, Taekwoon sits up on the bed and reaches down to pick it up. It looks like a gift card, except he can't figure the occasion out. It depicts a scene from Disney's Snow White; the queen standing in front of the magic mirror. Mirror mirror on the wall, the text says in flourish golden letters, who's the fairest of them all? He opens the card and there are just three words written inside, in that familiar, sharp handwriting- Are you alice?

He stares at it for a while, his mind blank. Why does it seem like the house is trying to give him clues while at the same time attempting to end his life? And what is it expecting him to figure out, anyway? He thinks through it once again. A murder. A cursed pendant that steals magic from its surroundings…

Wait a minute. Could it be that the forest's magic was stolen by the pendant? That it's hidden somewhere in here, causing the house to be invisible to people who didn't belong in it, just like it once was with the forest?

Mirror. That…ghost, or whatever it was, seemed to first appear in mirrors. As if it was somehow tied to them… He suddenly remembers the note in the book. Hall?, it said. There's a mirror in the hall, he realizes. Right by the entrance, a big, cracked wall mirror…

Could it be, he thinks fervently, that the forest still can be saved?

He doesn't even register the card slipping from his fingers. He gets up and heads to the door, opening it in one swift motion.

The hall seems even darker and more frightening after the time he spent in Hakyeon's bright room. He takes a deep breath and steps out into it anyway. It immediately falls on him- that heavy, chilly sensation, the feeling that he's not welcome here, that he's an intruder. If you don't want me here, he thinks angrily, why did I wake up in one of your rooms? He did not ask for it. He'd rather never see this place again.

He walks past the kitchen and the reeking bathroom- the door to it is open but he doesn't stop to look at it, fear gripping his chest just at the thought of it. The corridor reaches the living room door and turns left, leading to the entrance. The silence in the air feels tense and heavy, as if something is about to happen, and he's almost annoyed with how loud his breath is, ragged and uneven.

Then why not stop breathing, he hears in his head. There is no voice, just the words appearing in his head and he freezes; he knows the thought isn't his. He's standing in front of the mirror now, and he can see his ghastly face, his eyes wide with fear. He has to do something before whatever that's in the house gets to him. But what? There has to be something about that mirror…

He takes a step forward and tentatively touches its surface, his eyes searching for anything that could serve as a hint. His reflection in the mirror is disarrayed due to the crack, but other than that there's nothing unusual about the mirror. He's about to reach for the frame to turn it around and see if there's anything on the back when it happens.

A pair of slim, white hands wraps itself around his neck. He doesn't get to scream- the fingers tighten on his throat immediately and all he's able to let out is a choked gasp. He sees the ghost girl's face peeking from behind his shoulder, smiling at him in the mirror, but as he tries to fight back and pull the hands away, he ends up scratching at his own neck. There's nothing here- but he can't breathe.

I need to step away from the mirror he thinks as his throat convulses, desperately trying to catch a breath. But he can't move, he can't do anything, and then there are black dots in his vision as his consciousness slips away.

I'm going to die here, he realizes, and no one will ever find out. And then it all turns black.

***

He wakes up with a start, jerking up to a sitting position. But he's not on the hallway floor anymore, and there are no ghosts trying to kill him. He's sitting on the bed in Hakyeon's room. It still looks like pulled right out of his memories, it's still basked in golden sunlight, and the mixtape is still playing, and the all of that makes him doubt that Hakyeon is really here, really sitting at the edge of the bed looking at him with a concerned expression. Did he get pulled back into past?

"You're awake…" Hakyeon grasps his arm. "Are you all right?"

He tries to speak but his throat is so sore all he can get out is a hoarse whisper.

"Hakyeon…?"
'

"Yes, it's me." Hakyeon smiles. Only then Taekwoon notices that Hakyeon is still wearing that navy shirt he had on today, that he still smells like that same expensive cologne. It's really him. He's happy to see him but at the same time he now can hear all the things Hakyeon said today replay in his head, making his heart clench. He drops his eyes. "Why are you here?"

Hakyeon shifts closer to him, gently rubs his arm. "Taekwoonie… I'm so sorry," he says. "I remember now… Why you couldn't leave."

Taekwoon looks up at him in surprise, his heart leaping in his chest. Hakyeon remembers…?

"I was so pissed when I left but then as I was on my way home I just… realized I didn't want to leave like this. So I turned back… I went to the forest to clear my head a bit and I ended up by that spring again. And as I lied down there…at first I remembered we didn't just kiss that time." He pauses, letting out a short laugh. He seems flustered and Taekwoon knows why; he feels his face warm up as well at the memory. "We…had sex didn't we? I remember feeling you so close…it felt so good."

His cheeks turn red as he speaks and he's tugging at his ear; he's so cute Taekwoon has the urge to kiss him. After they got together Hakyeon became blunt about sex really quickly (which was sometimes somewhat unnerving because he enjoyed teasing Taekwoon too much), Taekwoon has already forgotten how shy he'd been at first. He finds it endearing. Back then he left most of the first moves in Hakyeon's hands, himself being even more hesitant about being intimate. But now…

Hakyeon clears his throat. "And then I remembered… those lights weren't just fireflies. They were fairies, right?" He looks up at Taekwoon, eyes filled with concern. "I can't sense any of them anymore. Is it because I left? Or…"

"The forest is dying," Taekwoon replies. His throat hurts and he can barely get the words out; Hakyeon seems to pull himself together at the sound of his voice.

"You should drink something. I'm afraid tap water is the only option, though…" He looks at the bathroom door. It's open now, Taekwoon realizes, and the bathroom looks clean and tidy as well. "The water here works and all. There's even some body wash if you want to take a bath." He smiles. "You kind of wiped the hall floor with your clothes."

"Seven years old body wash?" Taekwoon frowns. "Thanks, but I'd rather go home."

"I… don't think it's seven years old," Hakyeon responds slowly. He looks around the room, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Time seems to have stopped here…"

"We should go either way-"

"I think… we can't." Hakyeon sighs. "I tried to carry you out of here when I found you unconscious. But it's like the house has separated itself from the world, or simply doesn't want to let us go. I walked out and…" He presses his lips into a thin line, a dark look in his eyes. "I ended up walking in again…"

Taekwoon has no answer to that. He stares at Hakyeon in disbelief, a sense of dread washing over him. What is going to happen to them now? They can't be stuck in here forever, can they?

***

He ends up taking that bath. It feels nice and relaxing; the water is warm, the body wash smells like cinnamon and tangerines. The scent brings back memories- Hakyeon used to smell like that all the time. His throat feels better after drinking some water, too, but his thoughts remain gloomy, filled with worries and unanswered questions.

At least Hakyeon remembers now, he thinks. And he's here… though Taekwoon would prefer him to be out of the house, somewhere safe, he's glad he's not alone. He still doesn't know what Hakyeon thinks of them now, if he wants him at all, and that makes him feel a little anxious. He’s not sure what he thinks himself, too be fair. He knows he loves Hakyeon, and doesn’t want to let him go, though.

Hakyeon found him something to wear in the closet and as he puts the clothes on, he recognizes them as things Hakyeon used to wear around home in his teenage years. It's just t-shirt and sweatpants, so thankfully they fit, more or less.

When he leaves the bathroom Hakyeon is sitting on the floor, looking through the contents of a colorful carton box.

"Look, a bubble wand!" he says as he looks up at Taekwoon, showing him the small, pink stick. "Remember when we were bored on a rainy day and we blew bubbles in the kitchen and got the table and the floor all wet? And sis at first scolded us but then she wanted to play too." His smile falters. "I miss sis and dad…"

Taekwoon sits next to him on the floor, looking into the box. There's a set of spillikins, a box of dominos, pokemon cards, colorful glass balls, more postcards… It's a box filled with Hakyeon's childhood, he thinks, nostalgia washing over him.

"Do you remember what happened to them?"

Hakyeon slowly shakes his head. "When mom woke me up that morning, they were already…" he trails off, blinking his eyes repeatedly.” All these years… I had nightmares of this house, of what happened, but I barely remembered them, I pushed away the memories and the magic of this place only made it easier. It shouldn't work on me, you know. I'm a mystic, like my mother." He looks up at Taekwoon and his eyes are filled with tears. "It worked because I wanted to forget. But because of that I forgot dad and sis too. And all those moments with you... I'm the worst." He sniffs. "How could I be such a coward?"

Taekwoon's heart clenches painfully. "You're not." He reaches out and takes Hakyeon's hand in his. "It must have been a terrible experience for you. But you came back here now."

Hakyeon closes his eyes for a moment, inhaling and exhaling slowly, trying to calm down. When he opens them again, they're filled with determination.

"My memory is still hazy about many things but I remembered the necklace. I don't know where my mom found it but it killed them. And now it tried to kill you too. And the forest…" He frowns. "It has to be somewhere in the house. When I realized that I immediately came back here. And when I saw you lying there on the floor…" A shade of worry flashes through his eyes. "Why did you come here?"

"I didn't. I just… woke up. In your parent's bed, I think…" He shudders, remembering the blood stain on the sheets. "I have no idea how that happened… or why."

"It's bruising…" Hakyeon says, reaching to brush his fingers over Taekwoon's neck. Taekwoon bites his lip, remembering the ghost's unrelenting grip- but Hakyeon's touch feels nice, safe. And then, taking him completely by surprise, Hakyeon leans in and presses his lips to the side of his neck, then moves lower, peppering his collarbones with kisses, then his neck again, his ear. Taekwoon makes a soft noise as Hakyeon gently sucks on the earlobe; it feels so nice. It's been so long since they…

Hakyeon pulls back with a final peck to his lips. He cups his cheek, his eyes full of affection.

"I should apologize again. I said things I didn't mean and-" He suddenly inhales sharply, his eyes widening. "Oh my God, your anxiety. Oh no, I'm so sorry." His face clouds over with guilt and he presses his forehead to Taekwoon's, exhaling shakily. "I'm so sorry…"

Taekwoon places his hand over Hakyeon's, squeezing warmly. "It's okay. I'm fine now, stop worrying so much." He pulls away to give Hakyeon a warm smile. "I'm just glad you've remembered… Really glad."

Hakyeon returns the smile; it looks so gentle and sweet Taekwoon can't help but think about kissing it. "We're supposed to protect the forest together… I knew that and I still left. But…I did want to come back for you. I just…" He draws his eyebrows together. "Why didn't you answer my calls? I knew from Hongbin you didn't change your number. So when you never picked up, I…" he trails off, averting his eyes. Taekwoon stares at him, completely baffled.

"Calls?" he repeats finally, his voice a little sharper that he intended because he never got any calls. Not a single one. "You didn't call me at all."

"What? I did! So many times…" Hakyeon's voice wavers. "I thought you hated me for leaving, that you never wanted to see me again… And then I began forgetting things, I was scared… So when my mother came up with the marriage idea, I was happy."

"Why did she do that anyway?" Arranged marriages are very common these days amongst rich people, but while elders could benefit and make the village prosper, it seemed to Taekwoon that Hakyeon's parents had nothing to gain from the whole ordeal.

"She said I'd find out eventually. That there was something I had to do."

Taekwoon ponders that information. It could have been that she wanted an excuse for Hakyeon to come here. But what for? Could it be related to the necklace? Hakyeon did say his mother found it… She probably wasn't aware of its powers. Maybe she wanted Hakyeon to fix things now?

As all those thoughts run through his head he suddenly remembers something. Hakyeon looks at him questioningly as he goes to the bathroom to retrieve his dirty clothes. His phone is still in his shorts pocket. He sits down on the bed and unlocks it, then opens the call log and scrolls down. And finally he finds them- the missed calls his phone notified him about today. All from Hakyeon's old number, the last one two years ago.

"I…I only got the notification today," his voice is shaking as he looks up at Hakyeon, confused. "Why?" Then a thought hits him. "Is it because I brought my phone here?"

"You mean… you weren't getting the calls at all?" Hakyeon gets up and sits on the bed beside him, staring at his phone. "But why would the magic block them?"

Taekwoon thinks of all the time they've apart because of it, all the time he spent hoping for a call. Were his calls to Hakyeon blocked too? His hands begin to shake and he grips his phone tightly, trying to calm down. He's missed Hakyeon so much. All this time… and all because of some dumb curse. He feels like screaming.

"Hey…" Hakyeon takes his hands in his. "We can make up for that time." He looks into Taekwoon's eyes, and Taekwoon feels as if Hakyeon can look right into his soul again- like he used to be able to all these years ago. Somehow just that calms him down. Hakyeon is close and he's not leaving. And… he never meant to leave for so long. Taekwoon’s love and trust were never misplaced. "I'm not leaving you ever again."

Taekwoon squeezes Hakyeon's hands. "I'm not letting you go again," he responds, still a bit shaken up. "We still need to get out of here, though."

"Yeah…" Hakyeon sighs. "But for now, just come here." He wraps his arms around Taekwoon and Taekwoon relaxes into the embrace, resting his head on Hakyeon's shoulder. It feels so nice, just being close to him. He inhales Hakyeon's scent and desperately tries not to think about how they never had to be apart in the first place.

As his eyes dazedly wander over the room, the empty spot on the wall next to the closet catches his attention again. He stares at it, brows furrowing, feeling like there's an important thought he needs to grasp. Something's bothering him about that wall but the more he tries to pinpoint it the more it slips away. But then, suddenly, it hits him. There are no mirrors in Hakyeon's room. And he's sure there was a big mirror here before. He can even see the nails it used to hang on. Where did that mirror go?

"The hall mirror!" he exclaims and pulls away from Hakyeon to look at him. Hakyeon blinks at him, looking confused. "It used to be here, not in the hall! I knew there was something off about it…"
'

Hakyeon turns to look at the wall, a frown on his face. "You're right…" he says slowly. "There definitely was a mirror here…"

"Listen, I found hints that suggested the pendant was somehow tied to the mirror…"

Taekwoon continues excitedly. "What if we need to move it here?"

Hakyeon's eyes grow wide. "You might be right…this room, it's like it's locked in the past. My mother might have put a spell on the mirror…" He falls silent, his eyes unfocused, and Taekwoon can almost see the gears turn in his head. "You're brilliant!" he finally concludes with a smile. "I could kiss you." And then he does, even before Taekwoon has the chance to inform him that he's free to do so.

***

Taekwoon expects the ghost to appear and try to hurt them again, but nothing happens. They move the mirror with no obstacles and after they hang it on the wall, it turns out it now looks like new- as if pulled back to seven years ago, like everything else in this room.

Taekwoon watches Hakyeon run his fingers over the glass surface and then- he inhales sharply as Hakyeon pushes his hand into the glass and it disappears in it, as if the glass was made of water.

"Brilliant," Hakyeon whispers. "It's like a portal to the past. My mother is a genius."

"You mean we can use it to go back in time?"

Hakyeon nods. "She must have somehow bound the pendant to the past. So it's in the house, but it's not here at the same time." He sounds very impressed. "It's a paradox... but it works. There could be no safer hiding place."

Taekwoon doesn't even bother trying to wrap his head around it.

"Then let's go find it," he says. He's determined to end it once for all.

Hakyeon looks away, seems to hesitate for a while. "We don't know what will happen," he mutters. He gives Taekwoon a small smile. "Can we first… talk it through?"

Taekwoon blinks at him, surprised with the request. He personally is looking forward to leaving the house as soon as possible. But something in Hakyeon's eyes, the silent, almost desperate plea, makes him change his mind. Hakyeon is right… they don't know what could happen, what's waiting for them in the past. Rushing into it might not be a good idea at all.

They end up sitting on the bed and talking for a long time. Hakyeon asks him about many things, things he still doesn't remember clearly. His memory is slowly working to put the information together, but it's still all very hazy, he says. Taekwoon tells him what the forest used to be like, tells him of the fairies, dryads, naiads, of the centaurs and the unicorns, the sprites and the gnomes.

"I wish we could bring them all back," Hakyeon whispers. "Did we fail, Taekwoonie? So many generations, the guardians were able to protect the forest, and now…" He hangs his head, a miserable expression painted on his face. Taekwoon knows that feeling; he's been living with it for a long time. He doesn't want Hakyeon to experience it, though.

"Maybe it's not too late," he says, rubbing Hakyeon's back soothingly. "Maybe the forest can still restore itself." It's hard for him to believe his own words, but he really hopes it's true. The knowledge that the ancient magic in this place was forever lost hurts too much.

Then they talk about their past together. It's a happier subject, for the most part, and Taekwoon is glad to hear Hakyeon laugh. He loves the sound so much.

"But we're not getting married," Hakyeon says decidedly. For a moment, it worries Taekwoon, but then Hakyeon gives him the brightest of smiles. "I mean, unless we decide we want to. But one of us has to propose properly then."

Taekwoon hums. "You just want a pretty ring, don't you."

"No." Hakyeon pokes him. "It could be a plastic band for all I care. I'll love you anyway."

"That's a relief," Taekwoon chuckles. "Because I don't think I can afford diamonds anytime soon."

"Hey…" Hakyeon says suddenly, leaning in and placing his hand on Taekwoon's lap. "What about sex? Apart from that one time, I don't really remember much…" There's a teasing tone to his voice, but there's also genuine curiosity, and Taekwoon knows Hakyeon won't drop the subject easily.

"Well… we did it a lot," he mumbles. "We've tried a lot of things…"

"I kind of wanna know what it was like…" Hakyeon sounds intrigued.

Taekwoon looks up at him quickly. "You mean.. "

"I mean I want my memory refreshed." Hakyeon's eyes are twinkling with mirth. "How about that?"

"Uh…now?"

"Yeah." There's a blush coloring Hakyeon's cheeks but his smile doesn't falter. "Why not?"

There's a moment of silence and Taekwoon can hear his heart thump in his chest. It's been so long… He wants to, of course, but at the same he's a little scared. It feels like his heart might burst with how much he's missed having Hakyeon so close.

"I… okay," he whispers, but he doesn't make a move. Hakyeon's expression softens; he pushes Taekwoon down to the bed, so he's leaning back comfortably on the pillows piled up against the headboard, and presses their lips together in a slow, sensual kiss. It lasts long; they kiss, then pull apart briefly and kiss again, each one deep and unhurried. Taekwoon moans softly when Hakyeon runs his tongue along the roof of his mouth and he can feel Hakyeon smile against his lips.

Then they undress slowly, taking time to touch, kiss, explore. Hakyeon gasps in delight when Taekwoon bites the base of his neck lightly, remembering how much he likes it. He sucks at the skin, making Hakyeon moan, his fingers digging into Taekwoon's sides. He smiles at Hakyeon smugly when he pulls away and Hakyeon just chuckles and kisses him again.

"I want to fuck you…" he whispers against Taekwoon's lips and Taekwoon shivers. "Is that okay?"

"Yeah..." he answers, just a bit breathless, and he wants to say 'please' too but all he manages is a groan when Hakyeon wraps his fingers around his cock and strokes it gently as he licks a wet stripe down Taekwoon's neck, making his skin tingle.

He spreads his legs easily when Hakyeon pushes on his thighs, but he can't help but flush as Hakyeon's eyes rake over his body, dark and heavy with lust.

"I want you so much…" he whispers. Taekwoon wants to say that he wants him too, so much, but his throat feels tight, his heart beats so fast.

Hakyeon reaches over him to retrieve a bottle of lube from the bottom drawer of the desk- seven years old lube, Taekwoon thinks and smiles. Hakyeon catches that smile and his eyes gleam, as if he knows exactly what Taekwoon's thinking. He says nothing, though. Instead he settles between Taekwoon's legs, presses a kiss to the side of his knee then licks down his thigh, the sensation making Taekwoon shiver.

"Ah!" he gasps when Hakyeon bites him. He then soothes it with his lips and tongue and Taekwoon's mind swims; his senses seem heightened, registering every little caress, making the pleasure build up steadily.

He closes his eyes and bites his lip when he feels Hakyeon's fingers prod at his entrance. He remembers how hard it is for him to keep quiet when Hakyeon fingers him; Hakyeon used to love making him come just like that, slowly thrusting his fingers in and out, massaging his prostate, catching his desperate moans with his lips.

The lube feels cold when Hakyeon spreads it around his opening. Then he slides a finger inside and Taekwoon's breath hitches. It feels good, despite how long it's been.

Hakyeon is not in hurry, his lips and teeth brushing, nibbling at his thighs and hips as he carefully spreads him open with his fingers; first one, then two, finally three, which has Taekwoon whining impatiently, pushing back against the digits.

"Hakyeonie…" he breathes pleadingly and Hakyeon smiles at him, and pulls the fingers out with a tender kiss to his hip.

Hakyeon pushes his legs a bit further up and then Taekwoon can feel the tip of his cock press against his entrance. His teeth sink into his bottom lip, anticipation making his heart leap. When Hakyeon finally enters him all he can focus on is that burning, stretching sensation. It's not all bad, though, it just makes him more aware of how long it's been. They used to fuck almost every day and even though Hakyeon was always careful preparing him, he didn't have to go so slow.

His body is tense, legs trembling as Hakyeon's fingers diginto his thighs. He can hear Hakyeon make a sound, something between a groan and a gasp, as he buries himself all the way inside him. Then Hakyeon leans over him, supporting himself on his arms, and Taekwoon is aware of every little movement, Hakyeon's cock shifting inside him. He loves the sensation, being filled so completely, feeling Hakyeon pulse inside him, hard and hot, their bodies pressing close together. He lets out a strangled moan and Hakyeon leans down further, his lips ghosting over Taekwoon's. He runs his tongue along his upper lip, then nibbles on the bottom one and Taekwoon shivers. It's all good, so good, but he wants Hakyeon to move.

He's about to ask for it when Hakyeon, as if he can read his mind, pulls out halfway and thrusts back all the way in. They both gasp at the sensation, their breaths mingling together. Taekwoon's fingers curl against the sheets and he throws his head to the side as Hakyeon starts fucking him slowly. He loves it, having Hakyeon inside him. There are some things that feel just as intimate to him, simple things like warm back hugs, intertwining fingers when they hold hands, Hakyeon kissing his nose or ruffling his hair… but this, this is so intense, it has all the nerves in his body alert, each sensation making him tremble, both from pleasure and that feeling of unrestrained closeness.

"Fuck, you feel so good," Hakyeon groans, lips grazing against his temple. He's thrusting harder into him now, and every time he fills him completely, Taekwoon's mind spins. Taekwoon brings his legs up higher, pressing his thighs to Hakyeon's sides, crossing his ankles over his back, loving the feeling of his skin brushing against Hakyeon's, warm and damp with sweat. Small noises bubble in his throat each time Hakyeon pushes into him; his lips tingle from biting on them as he instinctively tries to keep quiet. It's like all those years never passed- except he can feel them in how much his body craves Hakyeon's touch, how hard and fast his heart is beating, how he can't seem to get enough of his touch. He's desperately missed him, and he loves him so much.

He arches up to Hakyeon, wanting to feel even more of him. He hears his ragged breath against his ear, listens to all the noises he makes, and that by itself is amazing, knowing Hakyeon likes being inside him, that it makes him feel good. And suddenly, his vision blurs; it's as if all the accumulated longing and all the emotions overflow, clutching at his throat and stinging at his eyes. Hakyeon thrusts into him hard, and his gasp turns into a choked up sob.

Hakyeon stills, then pulls back to look at his face.

"Taekwoonie…" he whispers, cupping his cheek and Taekwoon curses his emotions because, really? He didn't cry all this time, and now…? The worst thing is he knows he can't stop, his chest feels tight and heavy with the overwhelming feelings and having Hakyeon look at him with such tenderness in his eyes it only makes things worse.

"Don't stop," he says shakily. He raises his hands, runs them down Hakyeon's arms. "Please…"

Hakyeon seems to understand. He leans down for another kiss, wet and salty with tears, and starts moving again, his pace picking up fast. Taekwoon clings to him, just wanting to be as close as possible. Hakyeon's thrust soon turn sharp and shallow, Taekwoon can feel his cock press against his prostate, making his body tense, his muscles contracting around Hakyeon as sparks of bliss run through his body.

He can't stop himself from moaning now, though it's choked up, his breath shaky from crying. It's too intense, the pleasure and his feelings, all tangled up together. The orgasm hits him hard, his body shaking with the force of it, his eyes falling shut. He doesn't even know when Hakyeon comes; once he's aware of his surroundings Hakyeon is peppering his face with kisses, whispering sweet, comforting words. Taekwoon curls up against him, buries his face in the crook of his neck; he lets Hakyeon's warmth and scent surround him completely and wishes he never has to be separated from him again.

***

It's only around an hour later that Hakyeon untangles himself from Taekwoon's embrace and starts dressing up. Reluctantly, Taekwoon follows his example. The silence that felt light and comforting just a moment ago is heavy now as they think of what awaits them on the other side of the mirror. All Taekwoon knows is that he won't let anything happen to Hakyeon, no matter what. He'll protect him with his life.

"Do you know where we can find it? Once we're on the other side?" he asks, clumsily tugging the sweatpants back on.

Hakyeon walks up to the mirror and Taekwoon sees his face in the reflection, his expression somber.

"My mother will be there. I'll just have to ask her." He turns back to Taekwoon and reaches for his hand, pulling him closer. He smiles at him, but it's a sad smile, his eyes gleaming in the golden light of the setting sun. "Taekwoonie… I love you," he whispers. "I love you more than anyone else." He leans in to brush his lips against Taekwoon's. "And I'm sorry."

And before Taekwoon has a chance to process what's happening, to react, Hakyeon turns on his heel and enters the mirror, disappearing from his sight. When Taekwoon tries to follow, he's met with a solid, cool glass surface, the spell turning the mirror into a portal already gone. Frozen in shock, he stares at his reflection; it feels like his heart has been just thrown into ice cold water, he can barely catch a breath, his knees feel weak, his throat dry. He can't move, can't even gather his thoughts.

Hakyeon is gone. He lost him once again.

***

Hakyeon steps out of the mirror into the same place he came from. Except now it's really seven years ago, and it's not Taekwoon who's waiting for him in the room. It's his mother.

She looks almost the same in the past as she does in the future he came from. She's paler than him but she has the same round, dark eyes, the same heart shaped mouth. Her long hair falls down in wavy cascades down her back. She's standing straight, as always proud, confident and beautiful. Hakyeon was never close to his mother but he always respected her. She's a strong woman.

"I see the spell worked," she says sweetly. "I knew you'd figure it out and come." She reaches out her hand, palm open. "We don't have much time."

He places his hand on top of hers- and then, suddenly, something cool and round materializes between their palms. She puts it into his hand and he looks at it, his heart pounding. It's the pendant. It's a small emerald stone on a silver chain. It looks plain, but Hakyeon can feel the incredible power radiating from it.

"Once you take it back to the future, it will gain all the power it's accumulated over those years," she says. "Then it will need the final sacrifice."

He raises his eyes at her, confused. Sacrifice…?

"Don't look so shocked, darling." Her lips curl up in a sweet smile. "Deep inside you knew all along. I knew of the demon spirit locked in it. I knew it wanted blood in return for the power it offered." She tilts her head. "We're both mystics, and mystics don't tie themselves to anyone."

"You mean… you let dad and sis die?" he's so shocked his mind is completely blank. It can't be the truth…

"Oh darling, don't look so surprised." She shrugs. "I knew it was necessary. Just as you will find the death of your friend necessary. A guardian… his spirit is strong and pure. It will give us incredible power…"

Hakyeon stares at her in disbelief. "You…you want me to kill Taekwoon? I'd rather die myself!"

"Don't be silly, hon. You don't really love him, you're just trying to convince yourself you do. Mystics don't love. You're drawn to his energy. And once he's dead it will be all yours, forever." She takes Hakyeon's hands into hers and squeezes them. The grip is too strong to be a sign of affection; Hakyeon senses a hint of threat in it. He knows he doesn't have the upper hand here- it's his mother's spell, she can make sure he'll be stuck in the past forever.

"What is the pendant for?" he asks carefully.

"Oh, anything. It can make us reach, keep us forever young, anything you want can be yours…" it does sound tempting, Hakyeon thinks. "You just need to bring it to me in the future. I know how to use it." She stares at him expectantly, her dark eyes filled with excitement. She almost looks like a little girl eager to play. She killed our family for this, Hakyeon thinks. Did she really consider it worth it?

"All right," he says slowly, his fingers tightening around the pendant. "I'll do it."

Her face brightens up in a smile. "I knew I could count on you. You and I…we're very much alike." She looks through the window at the setting sun. "I need to go now. I can't be here when you pass. Once you're back in the future, all you need to do is go through with the marriage. The old laws of magic see marriage as a bond that lets you use your spouse's energy however you please. It will make his power easier for us to explore. After that, wait for the pendant to kill him. And then bring it to me."

He nods, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "Understood."

She gives him a brief hug and then she turns to head to the door. A moment later she's gone, only the flowery scent of her perfume lingering in the air. Hakyeon waits until he sees her walking down the road, in hurry to get to wherever she was supposed to be at this time. He looks down at the pendant; it's already heavy with magic. He wonders just how powerful it would be if he brought it to the future, allowing it to gain all of the forest's power. His mother seems to consider him the key to using the pendant- he's the one tied to the forest, he's also the one who would be tied to Taekwoon. If he wanted to, maybe he could figure out how to use the pendant on his own, without his mother's help. And then all that power would be his.

Too bad he is not anything like his mother. She said with the stone he can have everything- but all he really wants is Taekwoon, and not his magical energy. He wants his smiles and his kisses, his voice and his laughter, his thoughts, his happiness and his tears, his touches, his embraces, his love.

He drops it to the floor then pulls out the tool box he remembers he kept under the sofa. He takes out a hammer and weights it in his hand. It seems heavy enough to crush such a small stone; the question is if the magic it holds is going to protect it. He knows how much he's risking- he can completely change everything, end up in a future he doesn't know at all. But he has to do it, he can't let the forest die, can't let Taekwoon suffer for so long, can't allow such a powerful artifact to exist.

He hits it, but the hammer bounces off the stone without leaving as much as a scratch. He bites his lip, focuses harder, hits again- and to his surprise this is all it takes. He's not sure if it's his magic that made it work or the stone was so easy to destroy, but it's done. It's surprisingly anticlimactic- no bursts of evil energy, no escaping demonic spirits. Just to make sure, he picks up the fragments. There's some power left in them but much weaker than before, and it seems to be fading with each second. He thinks it over for a moment, considers throwing the fragments away, but in the end he puts them in his pocket. He has to make sure there's something to remind him of what happened.

Then he faces the mirror again. He touches the surface and it dips under his touch; the spell is still working. He hesitates for a moment- he's scared. He doesn't know if he'll go back to the future he knows, to Taekwoon waiting for him- or if that future doesn't exist anymore. Maybe the future waiting for him is one where he's lived with Taekwoon for the past seven years. But what if it isn't? What if they aren't friends anymore?

He thinks of Taekwoon's small house, the bright kitchen always filled with delicious smells, he thinks of Chip and the cat- they really should have, will have, he corrects himself, to name the cat- he thinks of Taekwoon's small smiles and his surprisingly bright laughter, and of how soft his lips feel when he kisses him.

No matter what he has to find him; he knows they're connected in ways few people are, he knows they will find each other again. Whatever the future awaiting him is, he's ready to face it. He knows Taekwoon will be there waiting for him.

With that thought in mind, he steps through the mirror.