In A Kingdom Far Far Away, or, The Thunderstorm.
Part of the U-KISS 35 fic challenge. :D Light, fluffy Dongho x Kiseop. Rated PG.
“Kiseop...tell me a bedtime story.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Kiseop had been roped into staying the night in Dongho’s room, after Dongho had professed his fear of thunderstorms, one of which was running its course outside their dorm. So, Kiseop climbed into bed with the maknae, the older’s arms wrapped around the younger, trying to find a way to comfort him into a good night’s sleep. He had tried helping the younger count sheep, “borrowing” the nightlight from Kevin’s room, in fact, he had tried almost everything. But this was crossing the line.
“Really? A bedtime story? Sheesh, how old are you Dongho?”
Dongho flashed a mess of fingers, in a manner reminiscent of a much younger version of himself.
“No.”
Dongho frowned, and reached into a drawer beside his bed. Pulling out a picture, he held it out for the two to see.
“It’s a shame if this’ll have to leave my own private use...especially for you, Kiseop...”
With a heaving sigh, Kiseop sat up in bed, and began the story.
“Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, there was a prince. He didn’t do shit. He lived happily ever after. The end.” The older threw himself back into the bed, and began to snore loudly.
Dongho turned to Kiseop in the bed. “Kiseop...I know you’re not asleep. Give me a good story.”
“No, I’m done entertaining for tonight.” Kiseop turned away.
“Shame. I still have blackmail left...and I’m not afraid to use it.” Dongho began to rummage through the bedside drawer, looking through old photos. “Remember that time you and Kibum went streaking on vacation?”
“You. Didn’t.”
“Try me.” Dongho raised a smug eyebrow to the elder. Again, with a heaving sigh, Kiseop sat up and began a longer story.
“Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a prince, in a gleaming ivory castle upon cliffs so red, they seemed as if to be uncut rubies, akin to the color of his beautiful hair. He was pale skinned, of average height, and had the body to stop a train, if trains had existed at that point in time. Though he wasn’t the kind of prince in most stories...most of them, you see, spent their time off rescuing princesses, and coming across sidekicks, and drinking beers in pubs after doing so, because quite frankly, after rescuing the princesses, they grew bored and stopped caring. After all, we all know the only place besides fairy tales that use the phrase “happy ending” are those seedy massage places we make sure to go to the other side of the street before we walk by with you.”
“You mean that one with the super skinny girl in the bikini and the bullet wound standing out front?”
“...yes, Dongho. But can I finish my story?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
Kiseop cleared his throat before continuing.
“But this prince was different. He was never allowed to go off and rescue princesses, nor did he really even have any desire to. In fact, this prince was waiting for another prince to come and rescue him, so every night, he took his bow, and shot an arrow wrapped with his plea from each of the four windows of his ivory tower. From one window, he shot them north, toward the snow that glinted like diamonds. From another, he shot them east toward the rolling waves of the sapphire sea. From the third, he shot south, to the sand-storming desert, with the never-ending winds carrying garnet dust. The last window faced deeper into the ruby colored mountains, and into the sun when it set.
“So of course, when the letters were received in each direction, princes of a certain nature would pick them up and go on their way to the tower. However, only one prince of that nature-”
“Oh, cut the ‘of a certain nature’ crap, we all know he’s boning dudes.”
“...thank you for that...enlightening...commentary, Dongho. ANYWAY, only one gay prince stumbled upon the letter, from the far reaches of the land of diamond snow. And of course, being a single gay prince, he ran home, gathered up his most beautiful set of armor, hopped onto his trusty white steed, and rode off in the direction of letter. Never ceasing in his journey, slaying anyone who dared to cross his path, he rode valiantly on to the ivory castle, not even bothering to use the front gate, instead shooting arrows into the mortar of its bricks. Don’t even ask me how that worked, because he was freakin’ magical, and he did. Scaling his ladder of arrows, he climbed into the window, and met the prince for the first time. The prince was just as beautiful as he had anticipated him to be, however, he was locked in the tower. Seeing the ladder as too dangerous, the knight took...”
Kiseop was interrupted by snoring from Dongho, as the boy had finally fallen asleep in his bed, the older began to settle himself beneath the sheets as well. Kissing Dongho’s neck, he finished the story aloud, for himself to hear.
“...the knight took the prince in his arms, and the two fell asleep, happily ever after. Goodnight, my prince.”
“Kiseop...tell me a bedtime story.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Kiseop had been roped into staying the night in Dongho’s room, after Dongho had professed his fear of thunderstorms, one of which was running its course outside their dorm. So, Kiseop climbed into bed with the maknae, the older’s arms wrapped around the younger, trying to find a way to comfort him into a good night’s sleep. He had tried helping the younger count sheep, “borrowing” the nightlight from Kevin’s room, in fact, he had tried almost everything. But this was crossing the line.
“Really? A bedtime story? Sheesh, how old are you Dongho?”
Dongho flashed a mess of fingers, in a manner reminiscent of a much younger version of himself.
“No.”
Dongho frowned, and reached into a drawer beside his bed. Pulling out a picture, he held it out for the two to see.
“It’s a shame if this’ll have to leave my own private use...especially for you, Kiseop...”
With a heaving sigh, Kiseop sat up in bed, and began the story.
“Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, there was a prince. He didn’t do shit. He lived happily ever after. The end.” The older threw himself back into the bed, and began to snore loudly.
Dongho turned to Kiseop in the bed. “Kiseop...I know you’re not asleep. Give me a good story.”
“No, I’m done entertaining for tonight.” Kiseop turned away.
“Shame. I still have blackmail left...and I’m not afraid to use it.” Dongho began to rummage through the bedside drawer, looking through old photos. “Remember that time you and Kibum went streaking on vacation?”
“You. Didn’t.”
“Try me.” Dongho raised a smug eyebrow to the elder. Again, with a heaving sigh, Kiseop sat up and began a longer story.
“Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a prince, in a gleaming ivory castle upon cliffs so red, they seemed as if to be uncut rubies, akin to the color of his beautiful hair. He was pale skinned, of average height, and had the body to stop a train, if trains had existed at that point in time. Though he wasn’t the kind of prince in most stories...most of them, you see, spent their time off rescuing princesses, and coming across sidekicks, and drinking beers in pubs after doing so, because quite frankly, after rescuing the princesses, they grew bored and stopped caring. After all, we all know the only place besides fairy tales that use the phrase “happy ending” are those seedy massage places we make sure to go to the other side of the street before we walk by with you.”
“You mean that one with the super skinny girl in the bikini and the bullet wound standing out front?”
“...yes, Dongho. But can I finish my story?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
Kiseop cleared his throat before continuing.
“But this prince was different. He was never allowed to go off and rescue princesses, nor did he really even have any desire to. In fact, this prince was waiting for another prince to come and rescue him, so every night, he took his bow, and shot an arrow wrapped with his plea from each of the four windows of his ivory tower. From one window, he shot them north, toward the snow that glinted like diamonds. From another, he shot them east toward the rolling waves of the sapphire sea. From the third, he shot south, to the sand-storming desert, with the never-ending winds carrying garnet dust. The last window faced deeper into the ruby colored mountains, and into the sun when it set.
“So of course, when the letters were received in each direction, princes of a certain nature would pick them up and go on their way to the tower. However, only one prince of that nature-”
“Oh, cut the ‘of a certain nature’ crap, we all know he’s boning dudes.”
“...thank you for that...enlightening...commentary, Dongho. ANYWAY, only one gay prince stumbled upon the letter, from the far reaches of the land of diamond snow. And of course, being a single gay prince, he ran home, gathered up his most beautiful set of armor, hopped onto his trusty white steed, and rode off in the direction of letter. Never ceasing in his journey, slaying anyone who dared to cross his path, he rode valiantly on to the ivory castle, not even bothering to use the front gate, instead shooting arrows into the mortar of its bricks. Don’t even ask me how that worked, because he was freakin’ magical, and he did. Scaling his ladder of arrows, he climbed into the window, and met the prince for the first time. The prince was just as beautiful as he had anticipated him to be, however, he was locked in the tower. Seeing the ladder as too dangerous, the knight took...”
Kiseop was interrupted by snoring from Dongho, as the boy had finally fallen asleep in his bed, the older began to settle himself beneath the sheets as well. Kissing Dongho’s neck, he finished the story aloud, for himself to hear.
“...the knight took the prince in his arms, and the two fell asleep, happily ever after. Goodnight, my prince.”