(for everyone) schöne
❊ for: everyone
❊ title: schöne
❊ pairings: kai/d.o
❊ rating: pg
❊ warnings: use of another language in short parts.
❊ word count: 6,692
❊ summary: Kyungsoo was on his way home when he got into an accident, and woke up to find himself thrown into an entirely different world. Just when a monstrous creature was about to devour him, a handsome, tanned stranger a handsome stranger that will change his life forever.
❊ a/n: I hope I did this prompt justice. I have never seen or read the basis for the prompt before so after a little research this is what I made.
“Let me help you with those bags ma’am” Kyungsoo said stepping from behind his small check-out counter and rushing over to help an elderly woman carry her heavy bags.
“Why thank you son” the woman said gratefully handing her bags to Kyungsoo who accepted them with a smile and nod of his head. “You are such a sweet heart” the woman complemented Kyungsoo after he loaded the bags into the other’s car.
“I’m glad I could help” Kyungsoo says truthfully with a smile and a small bow of his head before he walks back into the small store.
The hours of the night stretch on and soon Kyungsoo finds himself being the only person in the store. When the clock finally strikes two in the morning he turns the lights off and carefully locks the front door of the small store. Any other seventeen year old in Kyungsoo’s position would be upset by being tasked with the late night shift on a Friday evening, but to Kyungsoo it was a blessing in disguise because it meant less time he was forced to stay at the orphanage he had been calling home for his entire life. The terrible place where no one could stand to be in his presence, and the place where he often went without meals.
Turning his collar up to block out some of the chill Kyungsoo passed a small alley. He looked in and saw the familiar cardboard house of the homeless individual he had first been apprehensive to pass by on his nightly trips back to the orphanage.
“Hi Kyungsoo” the elderly man who lived down the alley said with a small toothless smile as Kyungsoo paused in front of the other.
“Hello” Kyungsoo said with a smile as he reached into his small bag to pull out a container of applesauce he had bought with his little wages. “I brought you something” Kyungsoo said with a smile handing the small container over to the elderly man.
“Oh bless you sweetheart” the man said as he reached out a shaky arm to accept the offered food. Kyungsoo noticed with a start that the man was missing his normal warm jacket when his bare arm reached out for the food.
“What happened to your jacket, you’ll catch a cold in this weather without it” Kyungsoo said concerned.
“Some street punks thought it would be funny to steal it from me this morning, people just don’t respect each other like they should anymore” the elderly man said rubbing his hand against his dirty arm in hopes of warmth.
“Here take mine” Kyungsoo said shucking his own jacket off and handing it over to the other.
“Oh I couldn’t Kyungsoo, you already do so much for me as it is” the man said with a grateful smile, but Kyungsoo couldn’t help but notice the longing in the other’s eyes.
“I’ll be fine, please I insist” Kyungsoo said to the other who quickly grabbed the sweater and wrapped it around himself. “It might be a little too small on you” Kyungsoo said feeling guilty.
“It’s wonderful dear, more than you needed to do” the man assures.
“I’ll see you tomorrow” Kyungsoo says with a small wave as he heads out of the alley and back down the sidewalks to his destination.
A small breeze of chilly air causes Kyungsoo to rub at the upper portions of his arms. He looks down and blows warmth into his two incased hands for warmth. When he looks up he is met with a blinding bright light. His ears echo with the scream of tires against pavement as the bulk of a car comes straight at him. He squeezes his eyes shut anticipating a painful impact as the wind around him blows.
The wind shifts and it feels as if a warm breeze is incasing him. Is this what being dead feels like, Kyungsoo wonders utterly surprised that he never felt the pain that he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt would have accompanied the car crashing into him.
Gingerly he peaked on eye open only to quickly close it as the brightness of what he realized was the sun glared into his eyes. Carefully Kyungsoo opened both eyes and took in his surroundings. His eyes took in the breath taking sight of colorful plants all around him as the sun warmed his earlier cold body. He rose his hand up to his neck and was amazed to feel his heart beating steadily against his skin. “What is going on” Kyungsoo whispered aloud as he took a small step. He looked down instantly when he heard a snap of small twigs underneath his feet. He took a second step and heard the snap against followed quickly by a loud roar.
He turned quickly to face the direction of the nose only to be met with the snarling face of one of the most frightening creatures Kyungsoo had ever laid eyes on. Kyungsoo tried to back pedal away from the creature but was no match for the other’s speed. He squeezed his eyes closed once again and released a loud scream as he fell to the ground anticipating agony at the claws and teeth of the creature that hovered above him.
Yet again Kyungsoo opened his eyes slowly in confusion as the pain never came. His eyes widened when they landed on a sun kissed and toned back of another person who was fighting off the terrifying creature with precise movements and skill. Kyungsoo watched bewildered as the other moved swiftly avoiding the creature’s claws and teeth as he moved his weapon diligently.
Kyungsoo let a small squeak escape his lips as the creature’s sharp claws got dangerously close to the man. In a split second the creatures gaze switched over to Kyungsoo still lying helplessly on the ground. The creature side stepped the other man and came lunging straight for Kyungsoo again. This time the pain came as the creature’s claws racked into the exposed flesh of Kyungsoo’s right leg.
As a scream escaped his lips he heard the creature release a pained howl of its own before the heavy body slumped down landing atop of Kyungsoo. I’m going to die now for sure, Kyungsoo thought in a panic as he pushed at the heavy body that seemed to crush him. He heard his accelerating heart rate beating in his ears as the panic built inside of him at not being able to move the heavy creature even an inch. The panic bubbled up until a soft humming filled his ears and a blackness slowly claimed him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kyungsoo felt a tickle on his noise that slowly pulled him from his comfortable sleep, but he tried not to focus on it hoping that he could fall back asleep knowing he had to savor every moment, especially in such a warm bed, in case the house mother decided Kyungsoo didn’t deserve the spot he had like she so often did.
However the ticklish feeling wouldn’t rest so with a sneeze Kyungsoo pulled himself awake. The first thing he noticed when he blinked open his eyes was the stars above him. Utterly confused he brought his hand up to his eyes and rubbed against them. When he pulled his hands back they brushed against soft fur, he looked down to find something like a pelt wrapped around him keeping him warm. A soft purr like snore caused Kyungsoo to turn his head to the left. His eyes landed on the shape of another person laying a couple feet away from him. The only thing that Kyungsoo could make out of the other as his body was wrapped in a pelt as well was the black hair atop his head.
Studying the other Kyungsoo remember the strange events that had happened to him before. This isn’t a dream, Kyungsoo thinks in bewilderment as he pinches the back of his hand and reveals in the pain that it causes.
The calmness of the night is suddenly disturbed by a loud squawk that chills the blood running in Kyungsoo’s veins. He looks up into the sky to see a giant creature blotting out the stars as it appears to be coming straight for Kyungsoo. The winged creature releases a second piercing squawk and Kyungsoo catches movement in his peripheral. He looks over in fear that perhaps a creature like the one from before is behind him only to see the back of the man who had saved him hunching over little embers of a dying fire.
Kyungsoo watches the other throw sticks into the small fire before he stands on his own two feet and grabs his weapon yelling up to the creature in the sky almost tauntingly. Kyungsoo watches the other in awe.
Suddenly the man turns around and yells something at Kyungsoo while motioning to the slowly growing fire. Although Kyungsoo cannot make out a word the other says he knows that the fire holds an importance. With this new knowledge he scrambles over to the fires side ignoring the shooting pain from his leg as he does so. Slowly he blows on the fire as he had seen the elderly homeless man do so many times before. He was amazed when the flames quickly licked at the new wood the other had placed inside the dying flames as he blew on it.
He heard the other male yell again and looked up, but again failed to understand the words leaving the other’s lips. The man again yelled words to Kyungsoo while extending his hand and waving his sword overhead. A scene Kyungsoo had once seen in a movie played over in his mind and he quickly grabbed a large stick which was half ablaze and handed it over to the other individual.
As Kyungsoo watched the male wave the stick of fire above his head he saw the winged creature turn tail and fly away. Time froze as he scanned the sky for more creatures and the silence of the night returned.
A small squeak of fright escaped his lips when he felt something fall on his shoulder. He moved his gaze quickly to find the other males hand on his shoulder. He looked up into the other’s face and his heart froze in place. The little bit of the male’s face that was visible in the darkness of the night was breathtakingly beautiful and it was only after a couple moments of staring that he realized that the other was speaking.
“I’m sorry I don’t know what you’re saying” Kyungsoo says regretfully. He watched one of the man’s eyebrows quirk up in confusion before the other male opened his mouth and tried to speak again. Kyungsoo could only shake his head as the words held no meaning to him. He watched the male sit beside him and carefully reach down for Kyungsoo’s leg, eyes connected the entire time as if asking for permission.
With wide eyes Kyungsoo takes in the state of his wrapped leg, the knowledge that the other had taken care of him in his unconscious state made Kyungsoo feel warm inside.
After a couple minutes the other male placed Kyungsoo’s leg back on the ground before reaching over and grabbing the pelt and covering it over Kyungsoo again. The man reaches his arm close to Kyungsoo’s face, causing him to flinch slightly as he feels gentle fingers push his eyelids down. He hears the other mutter a single word that sounds comforting and Kyungsoo can only assume the other is instructing him to sleep.
Following the other’s suggestion Kyungsoo leans back against the ground and rolls onto his side staring at the fire. A small wind blows through the area that Kyungsoo and the other occupy causing the fire to give a small dance and Kyungsoo to shiver slightly in his thin shirt and small pelt. Not too long after the shiver had racked his body Kyungsoo felt the added warmth of a second pelt being laid atop him.
After a couple minutes Kyungsoo rolled over to his other side and spotting the other man sleeping a couple feet away, this time however, the other person did not have a warm pelt wrapped around him and Kyungsoo realized with a heavy heart that the other must have given his own to keep Kyungsoo warm.
Careful of his sore leg Kyungsoo moved beside the sleeping stranger. When he was beside the other he draped the two pelts atop the other and himself. As he tried to drift to sleep he reminded himself not to focus on the fact that the gorgeous human beside him was shirtless.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
One of the best smells in the world assaulted his nostrils when Kyungsoo woke up the next morning. He rolled over and let out a small hiss as pain ran up his leg that he had forgotten about being injured. He heard noise and felt soft hands on his shoulder, looking up he was face to face with the most handsome, beautiful, perfect, and amazing face. All the adjectives that popped into his mind didn’t seem to do the other justice at all and Kyungsoo felt his heartbeat speed up as the sunlight illuminated all the glory of the man in front of him
Kyungsoo shakes his head trying to focus on the present instead of on the beauty that was in front of him as the man starts to talk in the foreign language he has no recollection of ever hearing before.
“I’m sorry” Kyungsoo says truthfully to the other who has a total look of concern dominating his face as he moves down to look at Kyungsoo’s leg again. “I’m okay, I just moved too quickly” Kyungsoo assures the other allowing his hand to cover the others.
Kyungsoo watches the other’s eyes widen slightly at the contact. Feeling self-conscious and remembering all the times when others had shied away from his touch Kyungsoo retracts his hand, however the moment he starts to pull away the other male captures his hand. Kyungsoo watches the other male’s face contort in confusion as he turns Kyungsoo’s arm over and gazes down at it. He feels the gentle touch of finger run over the tender skin of his arm as the other touches the small birthmark of his arm. Kyungsoo hears the other say something before he looks back up and their eyes meet again.
“Don’t worry it doesn’t hurt” Kyungsoo said trying to comfort the other even though he doubts the other can understand. He is surprised when the other moves his hands up and cups Kyungsoo’s face by placing his hands on the other’s cheeks and stares at him.
The other’s gaze froze Kyungsoo for several long moments before the other whispered something that Kyungsoo again couldn’t comprehend.
“You’re beautiful” Kyungsoo whispered feeling his cheeks heat up immediately as he realized that he had voiced his thoughts aloud. The other male’s finger rubbed against Kyungsoo’s right cheek as a breathtaking smile spread across his face. Again the other’s beautiful language made its way to Kyungoo’s ears, but just like every time before Kyungsoo could not understand the meaning of it.
Suddenly a smell of something burning invaded Kyungsoo’s nose as soon as he turned his gaze away from the gorgeous male in front of him he spotted what appeared to be a meat cooking over the open flame. He heard the other say something before jumping to his feet and taking the meat off of the flame.
Kyungsoo watched in awe as the other male ripped the large chunk of meat, which was just fresh off the flame, with his bare hands. The other smiled and then came back to sit beside Kyungsoo blowing on the food in his hands.
After a couple minutes of awkward silence the other male said something before handing one of the chunks of meat over to Kyungsoo.
“Thank you” he said at that moment realizing just how hungry he truly was. The meat was delicious and Kyungsoo was saddened when he ate the last bite of his share. He looked over at the other who was busy putting out the fire. When the other started to fold up the pelts and place them inside a small knapsack, curiosity got the better of him. “What are you doing” Kyungsoo asked not expecting an answer.
The beautiful male turned around and looked at Kyungsoo immediately after the words left his mouth. Cute, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but think as he watched the other tilt his head in confusion as if he were trying to make sense of what Kyungsoo was saying.
After a long space of silence Kyungsoo was surprised to hear the other start to speak again in his unique language. This time when Kyungsoo watched the other talk he made lots of hand motions as if trying to get his point across. Kyungsoo watched the handsome man point to his own chest then point at Kyungsoo before walking in a comically manner and pointing deeper into the forest. Kyungsoo nodded his consent, believing that the other was telling Kyungsoo that they would both have to travel to a different location. The why to their move was uncertain to Kyungsoo but the thought of being left all alone in this strange new land was too terrifying to consider. His only concern though was the injury to his leg, but Kyungsoo made no move to mention or point it out in case it would affect the other’s choice to bring him along.
“Kai” the other says pointing to his chest. “Kai” the other repeats and Kyungsoo comes to the conclusion that this must be the other male’s name.
“Kyungsoo” he says slowly while pointing at his own chest, before starting to laugh because of the striking resemblance to a scene from Tarzan this transaction is turning out to be.
“Soo” Kyungsoo hears Kai say softly.
“Soo” he confirms to the other with a nod of his head.
“Kai” the beautiful boy says pointing to his chest. “Soo” he adds pointing at Kyungsoo with a smile that Kyungsoo can’t help but mimic.
After a couple minutes of watching Kai tidy up the area where they had stayed the night the other waved his hand and said something that Kyungsoo could only assume was ‘follow me’. Kyungsoo nodded his head and as soon as the other turned around he got to his feet, trying to ignore the pain and hide it so that he could stay with the other.
They traveled quietly through the forest together. Kyungsoo could only look down at the forest floor, trying to minimize the pain radiating from his leg. This way of travel was very slow going and Kyungsoo found himself often falling behind the other’s quick and sure steps.
Once they arrived at a flat area of land Kai sat down and patted the ground beside him. Kyungsoo carefully sat his body down, allowing a small wince to escape his mouth. He looked over at Kai in a panic, worried that the other would leave him behind because of his wound; out here in the middle of the unknown anything was possible. He was relieved, however, when he saw Kai laying on his back starring up at the sky, oblivious to Kyungsoo’s pain.
With a sigh Kyungsoo laid back on the ground as well watching the puffy white clouds move across the sky in a calming manner. Out here it was easy to forget about all the times he never fit in as a child and about how odd this whole entire situation was.
“Diese Blume ist für Sie” Kai’s voice said causing Kyungsoo to move his gaze away from the sky above and land on a pretty purple flower unlike any he had seen before. “Blume” Kai said softly pointing at the flower in his hand. “Für dich” Kai added extending the flower, or Blume as Kai called it, towards Kyungsoo. He could feel a slight blush bloom across his checks as he accepted the beautiful flower from Kai.
“Thank you” he said before bringing the flower closer to his face and taking a whiff of the amazing scent the flower held. In the middle of the forest with the midday sun starting to make its way higher up the sky, it was easy for Kyungsoo to live in the moment and enjoy the other beside him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Schön ist es Zeit, aufzuwachen” a voice said pulling Kyungsoo awake. He twitched his nose and tried to fall back to sleep only to feel the rub of gentle finger’s against his cheek. “Schöne” the voice calls again causing Kyungsoo to open his eyes slowly. The blurry smiling face of Kai appears above him and Kyungsoo can’t help the way his heart beats unsteadily with the other’s proximity. “Soo, Wach auf” the other says and Kyungsoo is reminded of the gentle rub of fingers against his cheek; the caring press so unknown to Kyungsoo, but also strangely comforting.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep” Kyungsoo says embarrassed, but relieved that the other hadn’t left him. Kai only smiled down at Kyungsoo giving his shoulder a small pat before he rose to his feet.
“Folge mir” Kai says after Kyungsoo watches the other pick up his bag again. Forgetting about his injury Kyungsoo climbed quickly to his feet letting out a small scream as a wave of pain coursed up his leg. “Schöne” Kai calls out dropping his bag and running to Kyungsoo’s side. Kyungsoo hears him say some other beautiful words that he cannot make out, but is too consumed with the pain.
He lets a few tears escape his eyes as the pain mixes with the fear of being left alone. He flinches as something soft makes contact with his cheek. He opens his eyes to see Kai’s concerned face as the other reaches out and wipes the tear away as he wipes under his eyes.
“Weine nicht” Kai says softly and Kyungsoo feels the other’s fingers run through his hair.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hold us up” Kyungsoo says rubbing at his eyes and trying to climb to his feet. He was shocked when Kai held him down, preventing Kyungsoo from rising to his feet. Kyungsoo feels guilty for troubling the other. Way to go Kyungsoo one of the first people to actually ever care about you and you only cause him problems, Kyungsoo reprimands himself thinking about the creatures Kai has had to fight off for him as well as the way the other had given up his blanket the night before for him.
Kyungsoo was pulled from his negative thoughts when he felt small circles being rubbed on his lower back. He heard Kai say something and turned his head to see what the other was trying to express. He noticed that Kai was pointing towards Kyungsoo’s leg with a concerned look on his face.
“I’m okay” Kyungsoo says not wanting to bother the other more then he already has. However Kai gives Kyungsoo a look of betrayal as if he can tell that he is being lied to. “It hurts” Kyungsoo admits softly.
“Hurts” Kai repeats slowly, adding influence at odd places, before he brings his hands up beneath and his eyes a pretending to cry. Kyungsoo can’t help but crack a small smile at the other’s mime of someone crying, before he nodded his head in conformation.
“Hurts” Kyungsoo repeats leaning down and removing the fabric that Kai had wrapped around his leg the night before exposing three very angry red gouges. When he looked back to Kai he saw the other gazing up to the sky, with his shoulders tensed. When Kai looked back down at Kyungsoo he had a serious look on his face. He pointed up at the sky and then made a growl before motioning to himself and Kyungsoo and making a walking motion with his fingers. Fear sat deep in Kyungsoo’s stomach as the thought of the terrifying creatures from the day before reappearing.
Kai reached over and pulled the cloth back around Kyungsoo’s leg gently, before rising to his own two feet. So as not to be left behind to the creatures of the forest Kyungsoo quickly got to his feet again ignoring the pain as much as he could.
“Hurt” Kai said quickly grabbing onto both of Kyungsoo’s arms to stabilize his swaying form.
“Don’t leave me here, please” Kyungsoo begged the other trying to walk, but failing because of the way that Kai held onto him.
“Aufenthalt” Kai says eyes connected with Kyungsoo’s. In that moment Kyungsoo feels the grip on his arms loosen slightly. “Aufenthalt” Kai repeats and Kyungsoo understands that the other must be telling him to stay still in his own language. When Kai turns his back to Kyungsoo he feels more tears well up in his eyes at the thought of the other really turning his back and leaving him all alone. However Kai bends down slightly and pats on his own back. Confused Kyungsoo stares at the other until he repeats his back patting this time looking over his shoulder to make sure Kyungsoo understands. The warmth of a blush spreads across his cheeks as soon as Kyungsoo realizes what Kai is trying to tell him.
“Are you sure” Kyungsoo asks placing a single hand on one of Kai’s shoulders. Kai simple smiles and pats at his back once more. With a shy smile Kyungsoo, with the help of Kai’s strong arms positions himself so that he is receiving a piggyback ride from the other.
“Komfortable” Kai asks and his voice creates a vibration through Kyungsoo like he has never known.
“Komfortable” Kyungsoo confirms recognizing the word the other speaks, for a similar sounding word in his own language. Kai bends down once more and Kyungsoo is amazed by the strength the other poses as he sees Kai’s muscles move on his shirtless back.
Once Kai stands upright again Kyungsoo recognizes the knapsack that Kai usually cares around on his back in his hand since Kyungsoo is occupying the spot it usually takes up. Kyungsoo moves one arm and points at it before pointing to himself, expressing to Kai that he is perfectly capable of holding the bag for the other.
When they finally set back out at a slightly slower pace than before Kyungsoo has to keep reminding himself not to focus on the fact that Kai was shirtless. However it was quite taxing due to the warmth that radiated from the other’s back through his own thin shirt material.
After a while of traveling Kyungsoo allowed his cheek to rest against the other’s shoulder, enjoying the feel of skin against skin. With the constant rock of Kai’s steps, the warmth of the sun, and the beauty around him Kyungsoo found his eyes falling shut yet again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kyungsoo was awakened to a wetness landing on his head and hair. He opened his eyes slowly and the first thing he saw was the muscular and tanned skin of Kai’s back right in front of his face. Kyungsoo couldn’t help but blush at the beautiful sight in front of him. When he felt more water wetting his face he lifted his head off of Kai’s shoulder and looked up to the sky to see the earlier blue skin covered with clouds.
“Regen” Kai’s deep voice said as a couple more raindrops landed in greater quantities on his face and Kai’s back. The sounds of the forest as the rain came down was breathtaking and Kyungsoo’s gaze was enthralled by the sights of the new world wet.
When Kai’s steps stopped Kyungsoo drew his gaze away from the nature around him to look at the reason why Kai had stopped. Kyungsoo spotted the mouth of a small cave as Kai lent down. He took this to be his sign to get off.
Gingerly Kyungsoo climbed down from Kai’s back and stood on his own feet, which were slightly numb from the way his legs had been wrapped around the other.
“Folge mir” Kai said with a wave of his hand before he started to climb into the cave. Kyungsoo crouched down and followed the other into the cave saying the words Kai had said over and over again in his mind, trying to learn as much of the other’s language as he could.
When he finished carefully climbing through a passageway of the cave he came out into a wide area. His eyes widened when he saw Kai crouching down blowing into a fresh fire that was slowly illuminating the cave and the many pelts that decorated it. In awe he took notice of a chair and bed frame carved from wood in the space. He jumped slightly when he felt movement near him, but turned to find Kai pulling leaf wrapped parcels from the bag that he had been carrying.
“What are those” Kyungsoo asked pointing to the items in Kai’s hands following the other as he walked back towards the fire.
“Essen” Kai says rubbing his tummy. With a smile Kyungsoo sat down beside the fire.
“Essen” Kyungsoo repeated allowed pretending to hold food up to his mouth and take a bite to clarify the word with Kai nodded quickly with a small smile on his face before he opened one of the leaves and placed them on a rock near the fire where the slowly started to sizzle.
Kai sat beside Kyungsoo in a comfortable silence. Kyungsoo looked around the room admiring what he assumed was Kai’s home. Although the space wasn’t large and the items inside of it wasn’t especially extravagant Kyungsoo saw it as if it were something marvelous. Growing up in the orphanage Kyungsoo never really had anything nice to claim as his own, especially since the house mother never really liked him, so it was quite easy for him to see it as something truly beautiful.
While looking around the space Kyungsoo found himself admiring more than the objects that made the cave a home, like the person who called it home. He felt his cheeks bloom with a blush, he was glad the fire didn’t illuminate too well, whenever he caught himself admiring the other’s muscles, profile, or tone of voice in his mind.
After a nice meal Kai got to his feet. Before Kyungsoo realized what the other was doing Kai had bent down in front of him and scooped him up into his strong arms. Kyungsoo felt embarrassed of the entire situation and tried to protest his need to be cared. Just as soon as he had been picked up he was set down onto a slightly plushy material. He looked down and saw that Kai had set him down on the bed in the room.
Just like the night before Kai pushed Kyungsoo softly down so that his back lay against the mattress of furs and lightly closed his eyelids.
“Schöne gute Nacht” Kai whispered before Kyungsoo felt gentle fingers trail against his cheek.
Kyungsoo opened his eyes and spotted Kai walking back towards the middle of the room, where he pulled the two pellets out of the knapsack. Kyungsoo felt guilty when he realized that Kai was sleeping on the floor so that Kyungsoo could sleep in the bed.
“Kai” Kyungsoo called and was surprised to see the other turn towards him so quickly. “Why don’t you just sleep here with me” Kyungsoo asks patting the mattress to show Kai what his words meant. Kai shakes his head.
“Schweiß-Träume” Kai says with a small smile as he lays down and covers himself with a pelt. Long after Kai’s breathing calms down Kyungsoo can’t tear his gaze away from the other as his mind wanders through the kindness Kai, a complete stranger, has shown him. Deep down Kyungsoo feels saddened that he can’t give anything back to the only person in his life who has ever been nice to him.
Sometime in the night the combination of the rain coming down outside and Kai’s constant snores soothes Kyungsoo to sleep.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
A loud crash pulls Kyungsoo awake with a start and he can’t help the scream that he releases. As a light flashing in the mouth of the cave pulls his attention Kyungsoo realizes that the rain has transformed into a major storm. He hears movement in the cave and then sees a figure approaching him.
“Soo” Kai calls out questioningly before stopping beside the bed with a worried look on his face. Another loud rumble of thunder causes Kyungsoo to flinch. Kai must see it because the next thing Kyungsoo knows Kai is getting into the small bed beside him, draping his arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulder.
When the next clap of thunder sounds outside Kai holds Kyungsoo close and whispers to Kyungsoo words that he can only assume are meant to be comforting. Soon there are longer pauses between thunder claps, but Kai doesn’t loosen his grip. In the other’s warm and safe embrace Kyungsoo finds himself drifting back to sleep.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next morning after breakfast Kyungsoo finds himself back on Kai’s back, not quite sure what the day has in store, but for some reason that doesn’t bother Kyungsoo. He realizes as he watches the nature around him that he isn’t worried about the unknown when Kai is by his side.
Kyungsoo looks up over Kai’s shoulder to see the trees thinning.
“Where are we going” Kyungsoo asks but Kai remains quite. Minutes later when the cross the tree line Kyungsoo takes in a small village. Kai stopes and helps Kyungsoo down off his back, motioning to a large rock before he walks to a small hut and knocks on the door.
Kyungsoo sits down on the rock Kai pointed out and waits for the others return nervously. When he spots Kai again he is surprised to see another person by his side, however the most shocking thing is that Kyungsoo knows the man beside Kai because it is the man that Kyungsoo sees every night he walks home, the last person Kai saw before he came here, the homeless man near his work.
“Kyungsoo, I wasn’t sure that I would see you again” the elderly man says with a smile.
“I..I..I don’t understand. What are you doing here. Where is here.” Kyungsoo stutters out nervously and feels relieved when Kai comes over to his side. Placing a calming hand on his back.
“This is a world different than the one you are used to Kyungsoo. I am the gatekeeper between the two. The last time we saw each other your life was in danger because you were so kind to me when no one else was I teleported you here to save your life. Because of the rush things got a little messed up and instead of coming to my house you were put in the middle of the forest luckily Kai found you when he did” the old man says giving Kyungsoo a slight headache at the over flow of information.
“Wait, how did Kai know I had to come to you” Kyungsoo asks the first question that pops into his mind aloud, looking up at Kai who has a sad expression on his face.
“Your birthmark Kyungsoo, It labels you as a person of light” the old man says gently.
“Light” Kyungsoo asks confused.
“Yes, and one of the brightest of your species, always so kind, you are one of the purest creatures in your land Kyungsoo” the man says kindly.
“My land, does that mean I have to go back” Kyungsoo asks.
“As I’m sure you have seen the two worlds are vastly different, it is probably best if you return” the man replies.
“What about Kai” Kyungsoo asks panic stricken at the thought of having to leave the only person who has ever cared about him.
“I’m afraid Kai would never survive in your world” the elderly man says with kind eyes. Kyungsoo can’t help the tears that fall from his eyes.
“Schöne” Kai says crouching in front of him. “Weine nicht” Kai whispers lifting his hand to wipe at Kyungsoo’s tears.
“Can I stay here” Kyungsoo asks after he finally catches his breath and calms his tears.
“It’ll be very hard for you, there are creatures that live here that people on your planet can only imagine” the man says.
“Can I stay” Kyungsoo asks again.
“If that is what you desire then I will not stop you” the elderly man says with a small smile.
“Yes please” Kyungsoo tells the other grabbing a hold of Kai’s hand.
“Alright” the other says before having a conversation with Kai in the language that Kyungsoo cannot understand.
After a few minutes Kai leans down and pats his back with a large smile on his face. Kyungsoo happily climbs back on.
“Thank you sir” Kyungsoo says to the elderly homeless man who had given him a second chance at life. After a couple step Kyungsoo remembers something. “Sir” Kyungsoo calls and is happy that Kai stops so that he can talk to the other for just a small second more. “What does Schöne mean” he asks trying his best to pronounce the word that he had heard Kai say several times but was still unable to decipher the meaning of. Kyungsoo feels Kai tense up beneath him as the elderly man lets out a small chuckle.
“It means beautiful” he says before giving a small wave and going back into his hut. Kyungsoo feels a blush spread across his checks at the other’s words.
“I’m not beautiful, you are” Kyungsoo says very softly as he lays his head atop Kai’s shoulder when they both start heading back into the forest.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kyungsoo sat beside the fire cleaning the rocks that Kai had used earlier to cook their dinner.
“Bed” Kai’s deep voice said coming up and giving Kyungsoo a back hug. The other’s breath tickled at the back of his head causing him to giggle.
“Okay” Kyungsoo says setting his cleaning supplies down. He lets a little squeal escape his throat as Kai picks him up and carries him to the bed. “Schweiß-Träume” Kyungsoo whispers sweet dreams in Kai’s language as they lay wrapped in each other’s arms.
As he lays awake he thinks back on the events that have occurred since his arrival in Kai’s life. He reflects on the way that they talk with each other, a mix of both languages and hand movements. In the dark with Kai’s warmth beside him Kyungsoo gathers the courage to say something that he has been rehearsing for what feels like years.
“Kai” Kyungsoo calls out in the darkness of the room he now confidently calls home. Kai grumbles to show that he is listening. “Ich liebe dich von ganzem Herzen” Kyungsoo says knowing that he probably butchers the phrase with mispronunciation, but the way Kai pops up and gazes down at him with the biggest smile he knows that the other understands his words.
Kai slams his lips down on top of Kyungsoo’s lips. Kyungsoo thinks it’s funny because it’s not like they haven’t told each other they love one another yet, but it is the first time that Kyungsoo has said that one particular phrase to the other. I really do love you with all my heart, Kyungsoo thinks within his head as he stares up at the other’s smiling face. When Kai plants a second kiss on Kyungsoo’s lips Kyungsoo could never imagine his life without the other in it.
Glossary and other notes from the author:
This story takes place in an imagined Germany. My inspiration is that the Grimm Fairytales originated from Germany, where creatures of darkness tormented the everyday people.
Flower = Blume
This flower is for you = Diese Blume ist für Sie
For you = Für dich
Beautiful = schöne
Beautiful it is time to wake up = schön ist es Zeit, aufzuwachen
Wake up = Wach auf
Follow Me = Folge mir
Don’t cry = Weine nicht
Sweet dreams = Schweiß-Träume
Good Night = Gute Nacht
I love you with all my heart! = Ich liebe dich von ganzem Herzen
❊ title: schöne
❊ pairings: kai/d.o
❊ rating: pg
❊ warnings: use of another language in short parts.
❊ word count: 6,692
❊ summary: Kyungsoo was on his way home when he got into an accident, and woke up to find himself thrown into an entirely different world. Just when a monstrous creature was about to devour him, a handsome, tanned stranger a handsome stranger that will change his life forever.
❊ a/n: I hope I did this prompt justice. I have never seen or read the basis for the prompt before so after a little research this is what I made.
“Let me help you with those bags ma’am” Kyungsoo said stepping from behind his small check-out counter and rushing over to help an elderly woman carry her heavy bags.
“Why thank you son” the woman said gratefully handing her bags to Kyungsoo who accepted them with a smile and nod of his head. “You are such a sweet heart” the woman complemented Kyungsoo after he loaded the bags into the other’s car.
“I’m glad I could help” Kyungsoo says truthfully with a smile and a small bow of his head before he walks back into the small store.
The hours of the night stretch on and soon Kyungsoo finds himself being the only person in the store. When the clock finally strikes two in the morning he turns the lights off and carefully locks the front door of the small store. Any other seventeen year old in Kyungsoo’s position would be upset by being tasked with the late night shift on a Friday evening, but to Kyungsoo it was a blessing in disguise because it meant less time he was forced to stay at the orphanage he had been calling home for his entire life. The terrible place where no one could stand to be in his presence, and the place where he often went without meals.
Turning his collar up to block out some of the chill Kyungsoo passed a small alley. He looked in and saw the familiar cardboard house of the homeless individual he had first been apprehensive to pass by on his nightly trips back to the orphanage.
“Hi Kyungsoo” the elderly man who lived down the alley said with a small toothless smile as Kyungsoo paused in front of the other.
“Hello” Kyungsoo said with a smile as he reached into his small bag to pull out a container of applesauce he had bought with his little wages. “I brought you something” Kyungsoo said with a smile handing the small container over to the elderly man.
“Oh bless you sweetheart” the man said as he reached out a shaky arm to accept the offered food. Kyungsoo noticed with a start that the man was missing his normal warm jacket when his bare arm reached out for the food.
“What happened to your jacket, you’ll catch a cold in this weather without it” Kyungsoo said concerned.
“Some street punks thought it would be funny to steal it from me this morning, people just don’t respect each other like they should anymore” the elderly man said rubbing his hand against his dirty arm in hopes of warmth.
“Here take mine” Kyungsoo said shucking his own jacket off and handing it over to the other.
“Oh I couldn’t Kyungsoo, you already do so much for me as it is” the man said with a grateful smile, but Kyungsoo couldn’t help but notice the longing in the other’s eyes.
“I’ll be fine, please I insist” Kyungsoo said to the other who quickly grabbed the sweater and wrapped it around himself. “It might be a little too small on you” Kyungsoo said feeling guilty.
“It’s wonderful dear, more than you needed to do” the man assures.
“I’ll see you tomorrow” Kyungsoo says with a small wave as he heads out of the alley and back down the sidewalks to his destination.
A small breeze of chilly air causes Kyungsoo to rub at the upper portions of his arms. He looks down and blows warmth into his two incased hands for warmth. When he looks up he is met with a blinding bright light. His ears echo with the scream of tires against pavement as the bulk of a car comes straight at him. He squeezes his eyes shut anticipating a painful impact as the wind around him blows.
The wind shifts and it feels as if a warm breeze is incasing him. Is this what being dead feels like, Kyungsoo wonders utterly surprised that he never felt the pain that he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt would have accompanied the car crashing into him.
Gingerly he peaked on eye open only to quickly close it as the brightness of what he realized was the sun glared into his eyes. Carefully Kyungsoo opened both eyes and took in his surroundings. His eyes took in the breath taking sight of colorful plants all around him as the sun warmed his earlier cold body. He rose his hand up to his neck and was amazed to feel his heart beating steadily against his skin. “What is going on” Kyungsoo whispered aloud as he took a small step. He looked down instantly when he heard a snap of small twigs underneath his feet. He took a second step and heard the snap against followed quickly by a loud roar.
He turned quickly to face the direction of the nose only to be met with the snarling face of one of the most frightening creatures Kyungsoo had ever laid eyes on. Kyungsoo tried to back pedal away from the creature but was no match for the other’s speed. He squeezed his eyes closed once again and released a loud scream as he fell to the ground anticipating agony at the claws and teeth of the creature that hovered above him.
Yet again Kyungsoo opened his eyes slowly in confusion as the pain never came. His eyes widened when they landed on a sun kissed and toned back of another person who was fighting off the terrifying creature with precise movements and skill. Kyungsoo watched bewildered as the other moved swiftly avoiding the creature’s claws and teeth as he moved his weapon diligently.
Kyungsoo let a small squeak escape his lips as the creature’s sharp claws got dangerously close to the man. In a split second the creatures gaze switched over to Kyungsoo still lying helplessly on the ground. The creature side stepped the other man and came lunging straight for Kyungsoo again. This time the pain came as the creature’s claws racked into the exposed flesh of Kyungsoo’s right leg.
As a scream escaped his lips he heard the creature release a pained howl of its own before the heavy body slumped down landing atop of Kyungsoo. I’m going to die now for sure, Kyungsoo thought in a panic as he pushed at the heavy body that seemed to crush him. He heard his accelerating heart rate beating in his ears as the panic built inside of him at not being able to move the heavy creature even an inch. The panic bubbled up until a soft humming filled his ears and a blackness slowly claimed him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kyungsoo felt a tickle on his noise that slowly pulled him from his comfortable sleep, but he tried not to focus on it hoping that he could fall back asleep knowing he had to savor every moment, especially in such a warm bed, in case the house mother decided Kyungsoo didn’t deserve the spot he had like she so often did.
However the ticklish feeling wouldn’t rest so with a sneeze Kyungsoo pulled himself awake. The first thing he noticed when he blinked open his eyes was the stars above him. Utterly confused he brought his hand up to his eyes and rubbed against them. When he pulled his hands back they brushed against soft fur, he looked down to find something like a pelt wrapped around him keeping him warm. A soft purr like snore caused Kyungsoo to turn his head to the left. His eyes landed on the shape of another person laying a couple feet away from him. The only thing that Kyungsoo could make out of the other as his body was wrapped in a pelt as well was the black hair atop his head.
Studying the other Kyungsoo remember the strange events that had happened to him before. This isn’t a dream, Kyungsoo thinks in bewilderment as he pinches the back of his hand and reveals in the pain that it causes.
The calmness of the night is suddenly disturbed by a loud squawk that chills the blood running in Kyungsoo’s veins. He looks up into the sky to see a giant creature blotting out the stars as it appears to be coming straight for Kyungsoo. The winged creature releases a second piercing squawk and Kyungsoo catches movement in his peripheral. He looks over in fear that perhaps a creature like the one from before is behind him only to see the back of the man who had saved him hunching over little embers of a dying fire.
Kyungsoo watches the other throw sticks into the small fire before he stands on his own two feet and grabs his weapon yelling up to the creature in the sky almost tauntingly. Kyungsoo watches the other in awe.
Suddenly the man turns around and yells something at Kyungsoo while motioning to the slowly growing fire. Although Kyungsoo cannot make out a word the other says he knows that the fire holds an importance. With this new knowledge he scrambles over to the fires side ignoring the shooting pain from his leg as he does so. Slowly he blows on the fire as he had seen the elderly homeless man do so many times before. He was amazed when the flames quickly licked at the new wood the other had placed inside the dying flames as he blew on it.
He heard the other male yell again and looked up, but again failed to understand the words leaving the other’s lips. The man again yelled words to Kyungsoo while extending his hand and waving his sword overhead. A scene Kyungsoo had once seen in a movie played over in his mind and he quickly grabbed a large stick which was half ablaze and handed it over to the other individual.
As Kyungsoo watched the male wave the stick of fire above his head he saw the winged creature turn tail and fly away. Time froze as he scanned the sky for more creatures and the silence of the night returned.
A small squeak of fright escaped his lips when he felt something fall on his shoulder. He moved his gaze quickly to find the other males hand on his shoulder. He looked up into the other’s face and his heart froze in place. The little bit of the male’s face that was visible in the darkness of the night was breathtakingly beautiful and it was only after a couple moments of staring that he realized that the other was speaking.
“I’m sorry I don’t know what you’re saying” Kyungsoo says regretfully. He watched one of the man’s eyebrows quirk up in confusion before the other male opened his mouth and tried to speak again. Kyungsoo could only shake his head as the words held no meaning to him. He watched the male sit beside him and carefully reach down for Kyungsoo’s leg, eyes connected the entire time as if asking for permission.
With wide eyes Kyungsoo takes in the state of his wrapped leg, the knowledge that the other had taken care of him in his unconscious state made Kyungsoo feel warm inside.
After a couple minutes the other male placed Kyungsoo’s leg back on the ground before reaching over and grabbing the pelt and covering it over Kyungsoo again. The man reaches his arm close to Kyungsoo’s face, causing him to flinch slightly as he feels gentle fingers push his eyelids down. He hears the other mutter a single word that sounds comforting and Kyungsoo can only assume the other is instructing him to sleep.
Following the other’s suggestion Kyungsoo leans back against the ground and rolls onto his side staring at the fire. A small wind blows through the area that Kyungsoo and the other occupy causing the fire to give a small dance and Kyungsoo to shiver slightly in his thin shirt and small pelt. Not too long after the shiver had racked his body Kyungsoo felt the added warmth of a second pelt being laid atop him.
After a couple minutes Kyungsoo rolled over to his other side and spotting the other man sleeping a couple feet away, this time however, the other person did not have a warm pelt wrapped around him and Kyungsoo realized with a heavy heart that the other must have given his own to keep Kyungsoo warm.
Careful of his sore leg Kyungsoo moved beside the sleeping stranger. When he was beside the other he draped the two pelts atop the other and himself. As he tried to drift to sleep he reminded himself not to focus on the fact that the gorgeous human beside him was shirtless.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
One of the best smells in the world assaulted his nostrils when Kyungsoo woke up the next morning. He rolled over and let out a small hiss as pain ran up his leg that he had forgotten about being injured. He heard noise and felt soft hands on his shoulder, looking up he was face to face with the most handsome, beautiful, perfect, and amazing face. All the adjectives that popped into his mind didn’t seem to do the other justice at all and Kyungsoo felt his heartbeat speed up as the sunlight illuminated all the glory of the man in front of him
Kyungsoo shakes his head trying to focus on the present instead of on the beauty that was in front of him as the man starts to talk in the foreign language he has no recollection of ever hearing before.
“I’m sorry” Kyungsoo says truthfully to the other who has a total look of concern dominating his face as he moves down to look at Kyungsoo’s leg again. “I’m okay, I just moved too quickly” Kyungsoo assures the other allowing his hand to cover the others.
Kyungsoo watches the other’s eyes widen slightly at the contact. Feeling self-conscious and remembering all the times when others had shied away from his touch Kyungsoo retracts his hand, however the moment he starts to pull away the other male captures his hand. Kyungsoo watches the other male’s face contort in confusion as he turns Kyungsoo’s arm over and gazes down at it. He feels the gentle touch of finger run over the tender skin of his arm as the other touches the small birthmark of his arm. Kyungsoo hears the other say something before he looks back up and their eyes meet again.
“Don’t worry it doesn’t hurt” Kyungsoo said trying to comfort the other even though he doubts the other can understand. He is surprised when the other moves his hands up and cups Kyungsoo’s face by placing his hands on the other’s cheeks and stares at him.
The other’s gaze froze Kyungsoo for several long moments before the other whispered something that Kyungsoo again couldn’t comprehend.
“You’re beautiful” Kyungsoo whispered feeling his cheeks heat up immediately as he realized that he had voiced his thoughts aloud. The other male’s finger rubbed against Kyungsoo’s right cheek as a breathtaking smile spread across his face. Again the other’s beautiful language made its way to Kyungoo’s ears, but just like every time before Kyungsoo could not understand the meaning of it.
Suddenly a smell of something burning invaded Kyungsoo’s nose as soon as he turned his gaze away from the gorgeous male in front of him he spotted what appeared to be a meat cooking over the open flame. He heard the other say something before jumping to his feet and taking the meat off of the flame.
Kyungsoo watched in awe as the other male ripped the large chunk of meat, which was just fresh off the flame, with his bare hands. The other smiled and then came back to sit beside Kyungsoo blowing on the food in his hands.
After a couple minutes of awkward silence the other male said something before handing one of the chunks of meat over to Kyungsoo.
“Thank you” he said at that moment realizing just how hungry he truly was. The meat was delicious and Kyungsoo was saddened when he ate the last bite of his share. He looked over at the other who was busy putting out the fire. When the other started to fold up the pelts and place them inside a small knapsack, curiosity got the better of him. “What are you doing” Kyungsoo asked not expecting an answer.
The beautiful male turned around and looked at Kyungsoo immediately after the words left his mouth. Cute, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but think as he watched the other tilt his head in confusion as if he were trying to make sense of what Kyungsoo was saying.
After a long space of silence Kyungsoo was surprised to hear the other start to speak again in his unique language. This time when Kyungsoo watched the other talk he made lots of hand motions as if trying to get his point across. Kyungsoo watched the handsome man point to his own chest then point at Kyungsoo before walking in a comically manner and pointing deeper into the forest. Kyungsoo nodded his consent, believing that the other was telling Kyungsoo that they would both have to travel to a different location. The why to their move was uncertain to Kyungsoo but the thought of being left all alone in this strange new land was too terrifying to consider. His only concern though was the injury to his leg, but Kyungsoo made no move to mention or point it out in case it would affect the other’s choice to bring him along.
“Kai” the other says pointing to his chest. “Kai” the other repeats and Kyungsoo comes to the conclusion that this must be the other male’s name.
“Kyungsoo” he says slowly while pointing at his own chest, before starting to laugh because of the striking resemblance to a scene from Tarzan this transaction is turning out to be.
“Soo” Kyungsoo hears Kai say softly.
“Soo” he confirms to the other with a nod of his head.
“Kai” the beautiful boy says pointing to his chest. “Soo” he adds pointing at Kyungsoo with a smile that Kyungsoo can’t help but mimic.
After a couple minutes of watching Kai tidy up the area where they had stayed the night the other waved his hand and said something that Kyungsoo could only assume was ‘follow me’. Kyungsoo nodded his head and as soon as the other turned around he got to his feet, trying to ignore the pain and hide it so that he could stay with the other.
They traveled quietly through the forest together. Kyungsoo could only look down at the forest floor, trying to minimize the pain radiating from his leg. This way of travel was very slow going and Kyungsoo found himself often falling behind the other’s quick and sure steps.
Once they arrived at a flat area of land Kai sat down and patted the ground beside him. Kyungsoo carefully sat his body down, allowing a small wince to escape his mouth. He looked over at Kai in a panic, worried that the other would leave him behind because of his wound; out here in the middle of the unknown anything was possible. He was relieved, however, when he saw Kai laying on his back starring up at the sky, oblivious to Kyungsoo’s pain.
With a sigh Kyungsoo laid back on the ground as well watching the puffy white clouds move across the sky in a calming manner. Out here it was easy to forget about all the times he never fit in as a child and about how odd this whole entire situation was.
“Diese Blume ist für Sie” Kai’s voice said causing Kyungsoo to move his gaze away from the sky above and land on a pretty purple flower unlike any he had seen before. “Blume” Kai said softly pointing at the flower in his hand. “Für dich” Kai added extending the flower, or Blume as Kai called it, towards Kyungsoo. He could feel a slight blush bloom across his checks as he accepted the beautiful flower from Kai.
“Thank you” he said before bringing the flower closer to his face and taking a whiff of the amazing scent the flower held. In the middle of the forest with the midday sun starting to make its way higher up the sky, it was easy for Kyungsoo to live in the moment and enjoy the other beside him.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Schön ist es Zeit, aufzuwachen” a voice said pulling Kyungsoo awake. He twitched his nose and tried to fall back to sleep only to feel the rub of gentle finger’s against his cheek. “Schöne” the voice calls again causing Kyungsoo to open his eyes slowly. The blurry smiling face of Kai appears above him and Kyungsoo can’t help the way his heart beats unsteadily with the other’s proximity. “Soo, Wach auf” the other says and Kyungsoo is reminded of the gentle rub of fingers against his cheek; the caring press so unknown to Kyungsoo, but also strangely comforting.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep” Kyungsoo says embarrassed, but relieved that the other hadn’t left him. Kai only smiled down at Kyungsoo giving his shoulder a small pat before he rose to his feet.
“Folge mir” Kai says after Kyungsoo watches the other pick up his bag again. Forgetting about his injury Kyungsoo climbed quickly to his feet letting out a small scream as a wave of pain coursed up his leg. “Schöne” Kai calls out dropping his bag and running to Kyungsoo’s side. Kyungsoo hears him say some other beautiful words that he cannot make out, but is too consumed with the pain.
He lets a few tears escape his eyes as the pain mixes with the fear of being left alone. He flinches as something soft makes contact with his cheek. He opens his eyes to see Kai’s concerned face as the other reaches out and wipes the tear away as he wipes under his eyes.
“Weine nicht” Kai says softly and Kyungsoo feels the other’s fingers run through his hair.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hold us up” Kyungsoo says rubbing at his eyes and trying to climb to his feet. He was shocked when Kai held him down, preventing Kyungsoo from rising to his feet. Kyungsoo feels guilty for troubling the other. Way to go Kyungsoo one of the first people to actually ever care about you and you only cause him problems, Kyungsoo reprimands himself thinking about the creatures Kai has had to fight off for him as well as the way the other had given up his blanket the night before for him.
Kyungsoo was pulled from his negative thoughts when he felt small circles being rubbed on his lower back. He heard Kai say something and turned his head to see what the other was trying to express. He noticed that Kai was pointing towards Kyungsoo’s leg with a concerned look on his face.
“I’m okay” Kyungsoo says not wanting to bother the other more then he already has. However Kai gives Kyungsoo a look of betrayal as if he can tell that he is being lied to. “It hurts” Kyungsoo admits softly.
“Hurts” Kai repeats slowly, adding influence at odd places, before he brings his hands up beneath and his eyes a pretending to cry. Kyungsoo can’t help but crack a small smile at the other’s mime of someone crying, before he nodded his head in conformation.
“Hurts” Kyungsoo repeats leaning down and removing the fabric that Kai had wrapped around his leg the night before exposing three very angry red gouges. When he looked back to Kai he saw the other gazing up to the sky, with his shoulders tensed. When Kai looked back down at Kyungsoo he had a serious look on his face. He pointed up at the sky and then made a growl before motioning to himself and Kyungsoo and making a walking motion with his fingers. Fear sat deep in Kyungsoo’s stomach as the thought of the terrifying creatures from the day before reappearing.
Kai reached over and pulled the cloth back around Kyungsoo’s leg gently, before rising to his own two feet. So as not to be left behind to the creatures of the forest Kyungsoo quickly got to his feet again ignoring the pain as much as he could.
“Hurt” Kai said quickly grabbing onto both of Kyungsoo’s arms to stabilize his swaying form.
“Don’t leave me here, please” Kyungsoo begged the other trying to walk, but failing because of the way that Kai held onto him.
“Aufenthalt” Kai says eyes connected with Kyungsoo’s. In that moment Kyungsoo feels the grip on his arms loosen slightly. “Aufenthalt” Kai repeats and Kyungsoo understands that the other must be telling him to stay still in his own language. When Kai turns his back to Kyungsoo he feels more tears well up in his eyes at the thought of the other really turning his back and leaving him all alone. However Kai bends down slightly and pats on his own back. Confused Kyungsoo stares at the other until he repeats his back patting this time looking over his shoulder to make sure Kyungsoo understands. The warmth of a blush spreads across his cheeks as soon as Kyungsoo realizes what Kai is trying to tell him.
“Are you sure” Kyungsoo asks placing a single hand on one of Kai’s shoulders. Kai simple smiles and pats at his back once more. With a shy smile Kyungsoo, with the help of Kai’s strong arms positions himself so that he is receiving a piggyback ride from the other.
“Komfortable” Kai asks and his voice creates a vibration through Kyungsoo like he has never known.
“Komfortable” Kyungsoo confirms recognizing the word the other speaks, for a similar sounding word in his own language. Kai bends down once more and Kyungsoo is amazed by the strength the other poses as he sees Kai’s muscles move on his shirtless back.
Once Kai stands upright again Kyungsoo recognizes the knapsack that Kai usually cares around on his back in his hand since Kyungsoo is occupying the spot it usually takes up. Kyungsoo moves one arm and points at it before pointing to himself, expressing to Kai that he is perfectly capable of holding the bag for the other.
When they finally set back out at a slightly slower pace than before Kyungsoo has to keep reminding himself not to focus on the fact that Kai was shirtless. However it was quite taxing due to the warmth that radiated from the other’s back through his own thin shirt material.
After a while of traveling Kyungsoo allowed his cheek to rest against the other’s shoulder, enjoying the feel of skin against skin. With the constant rock of Kai’s steps, the warmth of the sun, and the beauty around him Kyungsoo found his eyes falling shut yet again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kyungsoo was awakened to a wetness landing on his head and hair. He opened his eyes slowly and the first thing he saw was the muscular and tanned skin of Kai’s back right in front of his face. Kyungsoo couldn’t help but blush at the beautiful sight in front of him. When he felt more water wetting his face he lifted his head off of Kai’s shoulder and looked up to the sky to see the earlier blue skin covered with clouds.
“Regen” Kai’s deep voice said as a couple more raindrops landed in greater quantities on his face and Kai’s back. The sounds of the forest as the rain came down was breathtaking and Kyungsoo’s gaze was enthralled by the sights of the new world wet.
When Kai’s steps stopped Kyungsoo drew his gaze away from the nature around him to look at the reason why Kai had stopped. Kyungsoo spotted the mouth of a small cave as Kai lent down. He took this to be his sign to get off.
Gingerly Kyungsoo climbed down from Kai’s back and stood on his own feet, which were slightly numb from the way his legs had been wrapped around the other.
“Folge mir” Kai said with a wave of his hand before he started to climb into the cave. Kyungsoo crouched down and followed the other into the cave saying the words Kai had said over and over again in his mind, trying to learn as much of the other’s language as he could.
When he finished carefully climbing through a passageway of the cave he came out into a wide area. His eyes widened when he saw Kai crouching down blowing into a fresh fire that was slowly illuminating the cave and the many pelts that decorated it. In awe he took notice of a chair and bed frame carved from wood in the space. He jumped slightly when he felt movement near him, but turned to find Kai pulling leaf wrapped parcels from the bag that he had been carrying.
“What are those” Kyungsoo asked pointing to the items in Kai’s hands following the other as he walked back towards the fire.
“Essen” Kai says rubbing his tummy. With a smile Kyungsoo sat down beside the fire.
“Essen” Kyungsoo repeated allowed pretending to hold food up to his mouth and take a bite to clarify the word with Kai nodded quickly with a small smile on his face before he opened one of the leaves and placed them on a rock near the fire where the slowly started to sizzle.
Kai sat beside Kyungsoo in a comfortable silence. Kyungsoo looked around the room admiring what he assumed was Kai’s home. Although the space wasn’t large and the items inside of it wasn’t especially extravagant Kyungsoo saw it as if it were something marvelous. Growing up in the orphanage Kyungsoo never really had anything nice to claim as his own, especially since the house mother never really liked him, so it was quite easy for him to see it as something truly beautiful.
While looking around the space Kyungsoo found himself admiring more than the objects that made the cave a home, like the person who called it home. He felt his cheeks bloom with a blush, he was glad the fire didn’t illuminate too well, whenever he caught himself admiring the other’s muscles, profile, or tone of voice in his mind.
After a nice meal Kai got to his feet. Before Kyungsoo realized what the other was doing Kai had bent down in front of him and scooped him up into his strong arms. Kyungsoo felt embarrassed of the entire situation and tried to protest his need to be cared. Just as soon as he had been picked up he was set down onto a slightly plushy material. He looked down and saw that Kai had set him down on the bed in the room.
Just like the night before Kai pushed Kyungsoo softly down so that his back lay against the mattress of furs and lightly closed his eyelids.
“Schöne gute Nacht” Kai whispered before Kyungsoo felt gentle fingers trail against his cheek.
Kyungsoo opened his eyes and spotted Kai walking back towards the middle of the room, where he pulled the two pellets out of the knapsack. Kyungsoo felt guilty when he realized that Kai was sleeping on the floor so that Kyungsoo could sleep in the bed.
“Kai” Kyungsoo called and was surprised to see the other turn towards him so quickly. “Why don’t you just sleep here with me” Kyungsoo asks patting the mattress to show Kai what his words meant. Kai shakes his head.
“Schweiß-Träume” Kai says with a small smile as he lays down and covers himself with a pelt. Long after Kai’s breathing calms down Kyungsoo can’t tear his gaze away from the other as his mind wanders through the kindness Kai, a complete stranger, has shown him. Deep down Kyungsoo feels saddened that he can’t give anything back to the only person in his life who has ever been nice to him.
Sometime in the night the combination of the rain coming down outside and Kai’s constant snores soothes Kyungsoo to sleep.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
A loud crash pulls Kyungsoo awake with a start and he can’t help the scream that he releases. As a light flashing in the mouth of the cave pulls his attention Kyungsoo realizes that the rain has transformed into a major storm. He hears movement in the cave and then sees a figure approaching him.
“Soo” Kai calls out questioningly before stopping beside the bed with a worried look on his face. Another loud rumble of thunder causes Kyungsoo to flinch. Kai must see it because the next thing Kyungsoo knows Kai is getting into the small bed beside him, draping his arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulder.
When the next clap of thunder sounds outside Kai holds Kyungsoo close and whispers to Kyungsoo words that he can only assume are meant to be comforting. Soon there are longer pauses between thunder claps, but Kai doesn’t loosen his grip. In the other’s warm and safe embrace Kyungsoo finds himself drifting back to sleep.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next morning after breakfast Kyungsoo finds himself back on Kai’s back, not quite sure what the day has in store, but for some reason that doesn’t bother Kyungsoo. He realizes as he watches the nature around him that he isn’t worried about the unknown when Kai is by his side.
Kyungsoo looks up over Kai’s shoulder to see the trees thinning.
“Where are we going” Kyungsoo asks but Kai remains quite. Minutes later when the cross the tree line Kyungsoo takes in a small village. Kai stopes and helps Kyungsoo down off his back, motioning to a large rock before he walks to a small hut and knocks on the door.
Kyungsoo sits down on the rock Kai pointed out and waits for the others return nervously. When he spots Kai again he is surprised to see another person by his side, however the most shocking thing is that Kyungsoo knows the man beside Kai because it is the man that Kyungsoo sees every night he walks home, the last person Kai saw before he came here, the homeless man near his work.
“Kyungsoo, I wasn’t sure that I would see you again” the elderly man says with a smile.
“I..I..I don’t understand. What are you doing here. Where is here.” Kyungsoo stutters out nervously and feels relieved when Kai comes over to his side. Placing a calming hand on his back.
“This is a world different than the one you are used to Kyungsoo. I am the gatekeeper between the two. The last time we saw each other your life was in danger because you were so kind to me when no one else was I teleported you here to save your life. Because of the rush things got a little messed up and instead of coming to my house you were put in the middle of the forest luckily Kai found you when he did” the old man says giving Kyungsoo a slight headache at the over flow of information.
“Wait, how did Kai know I had to come to you” Kyungsoo asks the first question that pops into his mind aloud, looking up at Kai who has a sad expression on his face.
“Your birthmark Kyungsoo, It labels you as a person of light” the old man says gently.
“Light” Kyungsoo asks confused.
“Yes, and one of the brightest of your species, always so kind, you are one of the purest creatures in your land Kyungsoo” the man says kindly.
“My land, does that mean I have to go back” Kyungsoo asks.
“As I’m sure you have seen the two worlds are vastly different, it is probably best if you return” the man replies.
“What about Kai” Kyungsoo asks panic stricken at the thought of having to leave the only person who has ever cared about him.
“I’m afraid Kai would never survive in your world” the elderly man says with kind eyes. Kyungsoo can’t help the tears that fall from his eyes.
“Schöne” Kai says crouching in front of him. “Weine nicht” Kai whispers lifting his hand to wipe at Kyungsoo’s tears.
“Can I stay here” Kyungsoo asks after he finally catches his breath and calms his tears.
“It’ll be very hard for you, there are creatures that live here that people on your planet can only imagine” the man says.
“Can I stay” Kyungsoo asks again.
“If that is what you desire then I will not stop you” the elderly man says with a small smile.
“Yes please” Kyungsoo tells the other grabbing a hold of Kai’s hand.
“Alright” the other says before having a conversation with Kai in the language that Kyungsoo cannot understand.
After a few minutes Kai leans down and pats his back with a large smile on his face. Kyungsoo happily climbs back on.
“Thank you sir” Kyungsoo says to the elderly homeless man who had given him a second chance at life. After a couple step Kyungsoo remembers something. “Sir” Kyungsoo calls and is happy that Kai stops so that he can talk to the other for just a small second more. “What does Schöne mean” he asks trying his best to pronounce the word that he had heard Kai say several times but was still unable to decipher the meaning of. Kyungsoo feels Kai tense up beneath him as the elderly man lets out a small chuckle.
“It means beautiful” he says before giving a small wave and going back into his hut. Kyungsoo feels a blush spread across his checks at the other’s words.
“I’m not beautiful, you are” Kyungsoo says very softly as he lays his head atop Kai’s shoulder when they both start heading back into the forest.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kyungsoo sat beside the fire cleaning the rocks that Kai had used earlier to cook their dinner.
“Bed” Kai’s deep voice said coming up and giving Kyungsoo a back hug. The other’s breath tickled at the back of his head causing him to giggle.
“Okay” Kyungsoo says setting his cleaning supplies down. He lets a little squeal escape his throat as Kai picks him up and carries him to the bed. “Schweiß-Träume” Kyungsoo whispers sweet dreams in Kai’s language as they lay wrapped in each other’s arms.
As he lays awake he thinks back on the events that have occurred since his arrival in Kai’s life. He reflects on the way that they talk with each other, a mix of both languages and hand movements. In the dark with Kai’s warmth beside him Kyungsoo gathers the courage to say something that he has been rehearsing for what feels like years.
“Kai” Kyungsoo calls out in the darkness of the room he now confidently calls home. Kai grumbles to show that he is listening. “Ich liebe dich von ganzem Herzen” Kyungsoo says knowing that he probably butchers the phrase with mispronunciation, but the way Kai pops up and gazes down at him with the biggest smile he knows that the other understands his words.
Kai slams his lips down on top of Kyungsoo’s lips. Kyungsoo thinks it’s funny because it’s not like they haven’t told each other they love one another yet, but it is the first time that Kyungsoo has said that one particular phrase to the other. I really do love you with all my heart, Kyungsoo thinks within his head as he stares up at the other’s smiling face. When Kai plants a second kiss on Kyungsoo’s lips Kyungsoo could never imagine his life without the other in it.
Glossary and other notes from the author:
This story takes place in an imagined Germany. My inspiration is that the Grimm Fairytales originated from Germany, where creatures of darkness tormented the everyday people.
Flower = Blume
This flower is for you = Diese Blume ist für Sie
For you = Für dich
Beautiful = schöne
Beautiful it is time to wake up = schön ist es Zeit, aufzuwachen
Wake up = Wach auf
Follow Me = Folge mir
Don’t cry = Weine nicht
Sweet dreams = Schweiß-Träume
Good Night = Gute Nacht
I love you with all my heart! = Ich liebe dich von ganzem Herzen