I’m struggling to find you whom I cannot see
Title: I’m struggling to find you whom I cannot see
Pairings: Baekyeol, Suchen, Hunhan
Genre: angst, sci-fi
Rating: G
Summary: Based on the Miracles in December music video.
They were twelve young Exolites at the prime of their youth, revelling in the supernatural abilities that they had been Gifted with, and had sworn to use them to protect Exoplanet and its queen, who alone ruled the planet with matchless power of her own. To many on their planet, she was a goddess, the Mother of the planet.
But youth and power combined often leads to recklessness and a sense of invincibility, so common among the Gifted Ones. And it was the two newest additions to the Gifted, glowing with light and eagerness, who had convinced the others that they deserved to traverse the universe before being tied down to positions of responsibility to their planet. They persuaded the earth-shaker to coax his lover, the space-walker to take them there under the stealth of an eclipse.
“Come on, it’s just a little trip to planet Terra. What could go wrong?”
--
“And to make this holiday season a little more special, there will be a lunar eclipse occurring on December 24th at eight o’clock. Viewers are encouraged to experience this sighting…”
Lay wasn’t paying attention to the radio, as his fingers flitted over the ivory keys to create a melody that was both sweet and bitter - sweet because it was the first tune he had learnt as a child, and bitter because the person to whom it would have meant the most was not there to hear it.
They had all loved music, but he more than them all. It spoke in a way everyone could understand and appreciate, and had been known to transcend barriers. Lay hoped that this melody might do the same.
--
Their first moments on the new planet were filled with the thrill of the unknown, the assault on their senses by the sheer amount of colour, smell and feel of the environment, and the unique feeling of freedom.
“Now, aren’t you glad we came?” One of the instigators smiled brilliantly, a soft glow emanating from his being.
“Yes.” The air-drifter admitted. “But I find it a little hard to enjoy whilst thinking of the consequences of our little escape.”
“You need to lighten up.” The fire-caster came up and nudged him playfully. “Enjoy the new atmosphere! If we’re going to get punished for this, we should make it worth it!”
“Exactly!” The light-bringer beamed at his lover for sharing the same thoughts as his.
“Come on!” The time-manipulator dragged him off to dance in the air, which he gradually loosened up enough to do with reckless abandon.
--
The canvas in front of him remained blank despite the pencil hovering in front of it. Kris frowned at it as if doing so would cause a picture to appear on it. It was getting harder and harder to imagine anything that was worth immortalising by putting it down on canvas.
“You need to relax. Stop taking life so seriously! Remember the time when-”
Of course he remembered. Even though it seemed like a lifetime away, it was always there at the back of his mind - the memory of halcyon days back at the academy where they were young, carefree, powerful, and in love with life and each other.
A sad smile rose to his lips as he recalled one particular time, and began drawing on the canvas.
--
“Isn’t it lovely here?” He sighed happily. It had been a week on this planet, but it barely felt like a day.
“Yeah.” His taller lover agreed, drawing him close. “I could stay here forever.”
“Why don’t we?” The other man suddenly asked.
“Don’t be silly. We need to go home eventually.”
“But is that really what you want? To spend your life restricted to one place, only doing what the Queen allows you to do, never to be free again?”
The fire-caster glanced around quickly, almost afraid that someone might have heard his lover speak of treason, which was punishable by death back on Exoplanet.
“Do you see what I mean? We can’t even go somewhere without looking behind our backs in fear of getting punished. I don’t think I can live like that anymore.”
The fire-caster looked at him soberly for a long moment. “I think I can live anywhere as long as I’m with you.”
The light-bringer smiled. “Why, is that a proposal?”
--
The two rings glistened mockingly at him as he slid them on the last two fingers of his left hand. They were Terran symbols of pledging eternal love - Exoplanet had different ornaments for such occasions, but of course, there was no way Chanyeol could obtain those.
The weather was cold, though it hadn’t started snowing yet, and he felt the chill of the air seep into his bones. He knew that it would only take a thought for the natural fiery warmth within him to raise the temperature. But it felt almost selfish to do so when the person occupying his waking thoughts was left in the cold.
“What’s the difference between fire and light, Yeol? Heat!” The shorter man grinned. “That’s why I need you by my side - to keep me warm all the time.”
Why couldn’t he be there for him? Where had it all gone wrong?
--
“The earth here is so different.” He repeated in amazement.
“Well, that might be because we’re on a different planet.” The space-traveller commented seriously. “And I don’t know about you, but in school we were taught that different planets have different-”
“Very funny.” The earth-shaker shook his head fondly at his lover. “But it’s fascinating - the earth here seems friendlier somehow, and easier to move.” He demonstrated by tapping his foot on the ground and causing ripples to flow out from that point.
“I’m just glad that teleporting remains the same no matter where I go. Even if it is on an illicit trip to a forbidden planet.” He said mischievously.
“You’re not mad that I persuaded you to take us, right?”
“No.” He smiled reassuringly. “Although when we get back, I’m going to tell them it was entirely your fault.”
--
The little poodle romped around happily on the mattress, looking for some response from the person who had bought her, but Kai was not in the mood to play with her. Kyungsoo had always reminded him of a puppy, with those large expressive eyes and his willingness to play along with Kai’s silliness.
It was utterly stupid, but sometimes he felt like Kyungsoo was there with him - in the kitchen preparing food, on his bed lying next to him... the list went on. He wondered how his lover had been faring all this while.
--
After another week, the older ones were beginning to feel a sense of foreboding. “Maybe we should return before we get in further trouble.” The air-drifter suggested.
“It’s a wonder they haven’t sent the guard after us yet.” The water-bender looked worried.
The two eldest glanced at each other. “You should probably tell them.” The frost-duster glanced at his friend.
“Tell us what?” The water-bender looked even more anxious.
“I’ve been trying to mask our presence since we left.” He finally admitted. “The Guard shouldn’t be able to detect our location.”
“I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Don’t get too excited.” He cautioned. “The Queen will find us as soon as her patience runs out.”
--
Suho glanced at the little boxed present on the table for the umpteenth time. He vaguely wondered why he had bothered wrapping it when its intended recipient was not going to be there on Christmas to open it.
“You’re so sentimental sometimes, you know that?”
He grimaced as the memory returned unbidden, of laughing eyes and electric touches. Sentiment was all he had left, which kept him from going over the brink of bitterness and despair. And so he picked up the card and began to write.
The others would probably have prepared their gifts by now as well, since he was obviously leading them by example. It had been a long time since he felt like a leader.
--
“I had expected better from you.” Her voice was cold and disappointed, cutting to the soul.
“I...I’m sorry.” The weak apology left his lips, leaving her with a more disgusted expression, if that were possible.
“You were the most senior, and I trusted you to guide them in discipline and servitude. Instead, you allowed the greenest ones to lead you all on this… escapade.”
“The fault is mine, Mama.” He owned, despite dismayed looks from the other eleven. “They were young and inexperienced, and did not understand the gravity of their actions. Please punish me instead.”
“Oh, you will be punished indeed.” She smiled humourlessly. “Your mistake was in allowing emotions to cloud your judgment. Perhaps the removal of such attachment will teach you to not to err again.”
--
Xiumin stepped out into the open, welcoming the cold air that hit him. It was almost the appointed time, and he was apparently the first one to have reached. Perhaps the others were not as immune to the cold as he was. Or perhaps they had lost hope that the Queen would show mercy.
But he was older, and he had enough hope for all eight of them. His fingers unconsciously brushed against his insignia - the only item on his person that indicated his origin. It had been too long since he’d allowed himself to use his power, and it took only a blink for the snow to start falling from the cloudless sky.
And then they came, one by one.
--
“Baekhyun and Chen.” She addressed the two instigators, both of whom weren’t trying particularly hard to look contrite. “For your crime of abandonment of your posts against explicit orders, you will be incarcerated in a cold wasteland of my choosing.”
“For how long?” Chanyeol blurted out immediately, before adding a hasty ‘Mama’ when she raised a brow at him. Suho felt his energy draining at the shock, and couldn’t have asked a similar question even if he dared.
“As for now, I shall set it as one month for each one of you that ran away.” She decided. “This amounts to almost a full year on this planet, until the moon is covered in shadow on the twelfth month.”
They had already spent enough time there to know how long that actually was - shorter than an Exoplanet year, but still an immeasurably long time to be apart.
--
The eight of them were at the appointed place, near but apart, and they watched as a shadow gradually covered the moon. But nothing happened.
This wasn’t right, Tao thought worriedly as the shadow started to pass and the clock in the town square indicated that it was a minute past eight. The queen had been very specific about the occasion.
Without thinking, he raised a hand and willed time to go backward, rewinding the lunar eclipse and waiting for it to happen again.
Unbeknownst to him, Kyungsoo and Luhan watched the event happen the second time, losing the spark of hope that had lain within them.
--
“Now, for the space-walker who took all of you away.” She turned to face Kai, who was visibly trembling.
Kyungsoo quickly shifted so that his body was in front of the other’s, despite the younger boy’s taller frame. “It was my fault, Mama.” He claimed with a straight face. “I was the one who coerced him to bring us here.”
“What are you doing?” Kai hissed from behind him, but Kyungsoo did not budge.
It was a long shot, seeing how the queen had ignored Suho’s request to be punished in Chen and Baekhyun’s place. But Kyungsoo would do anything to prevent his lover, the one who revelled in jumping through space, from being caged up with no way out.
Her gaze shifted from Kyungsoo’s determined face to Kai’s stricken expression. Before the younger one could formulate a coherent counter-argument, she nodded once. “Fine.”
“What?” Kai choked out, and Kyungsoo elbowed him in the gut to keep him quiet.
Meanwhile, the queen turned to Luhan. “It was impressive how you managed to hide your presence even from the far-sighters in my guard. But even the talented must be made an example of, lest others decide to follow your example.”
Despite his frail appearance, his character was one of the strongest, and he accepted this with a nod. Sehun, the youngest and least sensible, grasped Luhan’s hand tightly and pulled him to his side, as if that would prevent the Queen from doing anything to him.
“Come here, two of you.”
Kyungsoo and Luhan stepped forward, despite Kai’s inaudible protest and Sehun’s cry of dismay.
“While you were disobedient, I think it would be unfair to punish you as harshly as the two of them who were most responsible. Instead of spending the entire period there, I will allow you to take turns, so that at any one time, only one of you need be there. How you choose to arrange that will be up to you.”
“Where will the other be, then?” Luhan inquired.
“The other may roam about this planet, though he will remain unseen by all. There will be no communication between you and them.”
“Thank you for your mercy, Mama.” Kyungsoo said, and then they returned to where the others were standing.
“As for the rest of you,” She glanced at the remaining eight, “since you appear to enjoy this planet so much, you will stay here for the entire period and not be allowed entry into Exoplanet. Any attempts to communicate with the four of them will result in the sentence being extended. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Mama.” They chorused, though with varying tones of bitterness and resignation in their voices.
“At the end of the twelve months on the night of the shadow over the moon, I will return and decide whether the penance has been paid and the lesson learnt.”
--
Sehun’s breath caught in his throat when he saw a familiar female figure. The woman was wearing regular clothes, but the face was unmistakably their Queen’s. He clutched the flowers in his hand, hoping that this would be the day when it all ended and he could see them all again, especially Luhan.
But then a couple of people walked in front of him, blocking his vision of her for a moment. And when he looked again, she was gone. A wave of despair overcame him as he guessed the meaning of her disappearance. After glancing around just to see if she had perhaps gone to talk to another one of them, such as Suho, he dropped the flowers and ran over to Tao, who was already crying.
“We need to do something!” He insisted. “Turn back time!”
“I already did.” Tao gasped out between sniffs. “It’s no use.”
“Don’t- you can’t say that!” Sehun growled. “I need to know if they’re okay! I need to know if Luhan…”
“I’m okay.” A soft and dearly familiar voice said.
Sehun looked up and blinked away tears to see Luhan standing there with the flowers Sehun had dropped. He stared for a few seconds, wondering if it was just his imagination, before running to him like a small whirlwind and hugging the older man.
The others had run up as well, and Sehun only belatedly noticed that Kyungsoo had appeared too, although he was being smothered by Kai. Chanyeol started looking around for Baekhyun, but could not find him anywhere. Suho also realised that Chen wasn’t back, and quickly asked Luhan and Kyungsoo what had happened.
“The Queen came to us and said that she wasn’t ready to let us all return.” Kyungsoo reported soberly.
“But you’re both here now and that’s good, right?” Lay asked anxiously, and the others echoed the sentiment.
Luhan shook his head sadly. “We need to go back.” That simple sentence was enough to make everyone fall silent.
“She said that if the rest of you spend the next year using your powers to aid this planet, without revealing who you are, then she will cease the punishment, and allow us to return to Exoplanet next December.” Kyungsoo explained.
“One more year without you guys?” Xiumin asked plaintively. He didn’t think he could put up another Christmas tree by himself next year. They had spent the whole year remembering and imagining, hearing words that were once said, laughter long since gone, and dreaming of the day they would be reunited.
As if he heard his thoughts, Luhan put a hand on his shoulder. “We are always watching you. And we know that you guys separated because you thought it would be less painful not to see each other and be reminded. But you need each other for support.”
“It hurts to see you all apart.” Kyungsoo added. “Chen and Baekhyun agree with us.”
“We can and will do it, if that’s what’s required of us.” Suho said firmly, glancing at Kris who nodded as well.
Luhan and Kyungsoo smiled at them, and then glanced at each other when they felt a familiar tugging sensation. “We have to go now.” Luhan sighed. Sehun wrapped him in a hug again, and the others joined in in a large mess of ten people.
“Can you give this to Baekhyun for me?” Chanyeol took off the smaller ring and pressed it into Kyungsoo’s hand pleadingly. The younger boy nodded understandingly and pocketed the ring.
“And this is for Chen.” Suho handed the small present and card to Luhan, who took them obligingly. Suddenly, they were all heaping presents into Luhan’s and Kyungsoo’s arms, even though they informed Lay that there were no CD players where they were held captive. Kai reluctantly kept the dog only after Kyungsoo insisted that she would probably freeze to death over there.
“Til’ next year, then.” Luhan said, and the two of them vanished.
So the miracle that they had all been hoping for did not come to pass that December, but an unexpected one had occurred, and they were determined to make sure that the next December would be a happy one.
**
A/N: my first attempt at writing angst, though I was extremely tempted for a real miracle to occur at the end! I love this song so much! please comment and let me know what you thought!
Pairings: Baekyeol, Suchen, Hunhan
Genre: angst, sci-fi
Rating: G
Summary: Based on the Miracles in December music video.
They were twelve young Exolites at the prime of their youth, revelling in the supernatural abilities that they had been Gifted with, and had sworn to use them to protect Exoplanet and its queen, who alone ruled the planet with matchless power of her own. To many on their planet, she was a goddess, the Mother of the planet.
But youth and power combined often leads to recklessness and a sense of invincibility, so common among the Gifted Ones. And it was the two newest additions to the Gifted, glowing with light and eagerness, who had convinced the others that they deserved to traverse the universe before being tied down to positions of responsibility to their planet. They persuaded the earth-shaker to coax his lover, the space-walker to take them there under the stealth of an eclipse.
“Come on, it’s just a little trip to planet Terra. What could go wrong?”
--
“And to make this holiday season a little more special, there will be a lunar eclipse occurring on December 24th at eight o’clock. Viewers are encouraged to experience this sighting…”
Lay wasn’t paying attention to the radio, as his fingers flitted over the ivory keys to create a melody that was both sweet and bitter - sweet because it was the first tune he had learnt as a child, and bitter because the person to whom it would have meant the most was not there to hear it.
They had all loved music, but he more than them all. It spoke in a way everyone could understand and appreciate, and had been known to transcend barriers. Lay hoped that this melody might do the same.
--
Their first moments on the new planet were filled with the thrill of the unknown, the assault on their senses by the sheer amount of colour, smell and feel of the environment, and the unique feeling of freedom.
“Now, aren’t you glad we came?” One of the instigators smiled brilliantly, a soft glow emanating from his being.
“Yes.” The air-drifter admitted. “But I find it a little hard to enjoy whilst thinking of the consequences of our little escape.”
“You need to lighten up.” The fire-caster came up and nudged him playfully. “Enjoy the new atmosphere! If we’re going to get punished for this, we should make it worth it!”
“Exactly!” The light-bringer beamed at his lover for sharing the same thoughts as his.
“Come on!” The time-manipulator dragged him off to dance in the air, which he gradually loosened up enough to do with reckless abandon.
--
The canvas in front of him remained blank despite the pencil hovering in front of it. Kris frowned at it as if doing so would cause a picture to appear on it. It was getting harder and harder to imagine anything that was worth immortalising by putting it down on canvas.
“You need to relax. Stop taking life so seriously! Remember the time when-”
Of course he remembered. Even though it seemed like a lifetime away, it was always there at the back of his mind - the memory of halcyon days back at the academy where they were young, carefree, powerful, and in love with life and each other.
A sad smile rose to his lips as he recalled one particular time, and began drawing on the canvas.
--
“Isn’t it lovely here?” He sighed happily. It had been a week on this planet, but it barely felt like a day.
“Yeah.” His taller lover agreed, drawing him close. “I could stay here forever.”
“Why don’t we?” The other man suddenly asked.
“Don’t be silly. We need to go home eventually.”
“But is that really what you want? To spend your life restricted to one place, only doing what the Queen allows you to do, never to be free again?”
The fire-caster glanced around quickly, almost afraid that someone might have heard his lover speak of treason, which was punishable by death back on Exoplanet.
“Do you see what I mean? We can’t even go somewhere without looking behind our backs in fear of getting punished. I don’t think I can live like that anymore.”
The fire-caster looked at him soberly for a long moment. “I think I can live anywhere as long as I’m with you.”
The light-bringer smiled. “Why, is that a proposal?”
--
The two rings glistened mockingly at him as he slid them on the last two fingers of his left hand. They were Terran symbols of pledging eternal love - Exoplanet had different ornaments for such occasions, but of course, there was no way Chanyeol could obtain those.
The weather was cold, though it hadn’t started snowing yet, and he felt the chill of the air seep into his bones. He knew that it would only take a thought for the natural fiery warmth within him to raise the temperature. But it felt almost selfish to do so when the person occupying his waking thoughts was left in the cold.
“What’s the difference between fire and light, Yeol? Heat!” The shorter man grinned. “That’s why I need you by my side - to keep me warm all the time.”
Why couldn’t he be there for him? Where had it all gone wrong?
--
“The earth here is so different.” He repeated in amazement.
“Well, that might be because we’re on a different planet.” The space-traveller commented seriously. “And I don’t know about you, but in school we were taught that different planets have different-”
“Very funny.” The earth-shaker shook his head fondly at his lover. “But it’s fascinating - the earth here seems friendlier somehow, and easier to move.” He demonstrated by tapping his foot on the ground and causing ripples to flow out from that point.
“I’m just glad that teleporting remains the same no matter where I go. Even if it is on an illicit trip to a forbidden planet.” He said mischievously.
“You’re not mad that I persuaded you to take us, right?”
“No.” He smiled reassuringly. “Although when we get back, I’m going to tell them it was entirely your fault.”
--
The little poodle romped around happily on the mattress, looking for some response from the person who had bought her, but Kai was not in the mood to play with her. Kyungsoo had always reminded him of a puppy, with those large expressive eyes and his willingness to play along with Kai’s silliness.
It was utterly stupid, but sometimes he felt like Kyungsoo was there with him - in the kitchen preparing food, on his bed lying next to him... the list went on. He wondered how his lover had been faring all this while.
--
After another week, the older ones were beginning to feel a sense of foreboding. “Maybe we should return before we get in further trouble.” The air-drifter suggested.
“It’s a wonder they haven’t sent the guard after us yet.” The water-bender looked worried.
The two eldest glanced at each other. “You should probably tell them.” The frost-duster glanced at his friend.
“Tell us what?” The water-bender looked even more anxious.
“I’ve been trying to mask our presence since we left.” He finally admitted. “The Guard shouldn’t be able to detect our location.”
“I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Don’t get too excited.” He cautioned. “The Queen will find us as soon as her patience runs out.”
--
Suho glanced at the little boxed present on the table for the umpteenth time. He vaguely wondered why he had bothered wrapping it when its intended recipient was not going to be there on Christmas to open it.
“You’re so sentimental sometimes, you know that?”
He grimaced as the memory returned unbidden, of laughing eyes and electric touches. Sentiment was all he had left, which kept him from going over the brink of bitterness and despair. And so he picked up the card and began to write.
The others would probably have prepared their gifts by now as well, since he was obviously leading them by example. It had been a long time since he felt like a leader.
--
“I had expected better from you.” Her voice was cold and disappointed, cutting to the soul.
“I...I’m sorry.” The weak apology left his lips, leaving her with a more disgusted expression, if that were possible.
“You were the most senior, and I trusted you to guide them in discipline and servitude. Instead, you allowed the greenest ones to lead you all on this… escapade.”
“The fault is mine, Mama.” He owned, despite dismayed looks from the other eleven. “They were young and inexperienced, and did not understand the gravity of their actions. Please punish me instead.”
“Oh, you will be punished indeed.” She smiled humourlessly. “Your mistake was in allowing emotions to cloud your judgment. Perhaps the removal of such attachment will teach you to not to err again.”
--
Xiumin stepped out into the open, welcoming the cold air that hit him. It was almost the appointed time, and he was apparently the first one to have reached. Perhaps the others were not as immune to the cold as he was. Or perhaps they had lost hope that the Queen would show mercy.
But he was older, and he had enough hope for all eight of them. His fingers unconsciously brushed against his insignia - the only item on his person that indicated his origin. It had been too long since he’d allowed himself to use his power, and it took only a blink for the snow to start falling from the cloudless sky.
And then they came, one by one.
--
“Baekhyun and Chen.” She addressed the two instigators, both of whom weren’t trying particularly hard to look contrite. “For your crime of abandonment of your posts against explicit orders, you will be incarcerated in a cold wasteland of my choosing.”
“For how long?” Chanyeol blurted out immediately, before adding a hasty ‘Mama’ when she raised a brow at him. Suho felt his energy draining at the shock, and couldn’t have asked a similar question even if he dared.
“As for now, I shall set it as one month for each one of you that ran away.” She decided. “This amounts to almost a full year on this planet, until the moon is covered in shadow on the twelfth month.”
They had already spent enough time there to know how long that actually was - shorter than an Exoplanet year, but still an immeasurably long time to be apart.
--
The eight of them were at the appointed place, near but apart, and they watched as a shadow gradually covered the moon. But nothing happened.
This wasn’t right, Tao thought worriedly as the shadow started to pass and the clock in the town square indicated that it was a minute past eight. The queen had been very specific about the occasion.
Without thinking, he raised a hand and willed time to go backward, rewinding the lunar eclipse and waiting for it to happen again.
Unbeknownst to him, Kyungsoo and Luhan watched the event happen the second time, losing the spark of hope that had lain within them.
--
“Now, for the space-walker who took all of you away.” She turned to face Kai, who was visibly trembling.
Kyungsoo quickly shifted so that his body was in front of the other’s, despite the younger boy’s taller frame. “It was my fault, Mama.” He claimed with a straight face. “I was the one who coerced him to bring us here.”
“What are you doing?” Kai hissed from behind him, but Kyungsoo did not budge.
It was a long shot, seeing how the queen had ignored Suho’s request to be punished in Chen and Baekhyun’s place. But Kyungsoo would do anything to prevent his lover, the one who revelled in jumping through space, from being caged up with no way out.
Her gaze shifted from Kyungsoo’s determined face to Kai’s stricken expression. Before the younger one could formulate a coherent counter-argument, she nodded once. “Fine.”
“What?” Kai choked out, and Kyungsoo elbowed him in the gut to keep him quiet.
Meanwhile, the queen turned to Luhan. “It was impressive how you managed to hide your presence even from the far-sighters in my guard. But even the talented must be made an example of, lest others decide to follow your example.”
Despite his frail appearance, his character was one of the strongest, and he accepted this with a nod. Sehun, the youngest and least sensible, grasped Luhan’s hand tightly and pulled him to his side, as if that would prevent the Queen from doing anything to him.
“Come here, two of you.”
Kyungsoo and Luhan stepped forward, despite Kai’s inaudible protest and Sehun’s cry of dismay.
“While you were disobedient, I think it would be unfair to punish you as harshly as the two of them who were most responsible. Instead of spending the entire period there, I will allow you to take turns, so that at any one time, only one of you need be there. How you choose to arrange that will be up to you.”
“Where will the other be, then?” Luhan inquired.
“The other may roam about this planet, though he will remain unseen by all. There will be no communication between you and them.”
“Thank you for your mercy, Mama.” Kyungsoo said, and then they returned to where the others were standing.
“As for the rest of you,” She glanced at the remaining eight, “since you appear to enjoy this planet so much, you will stay here for the entire period and not be allowed entry into Exoplanet. Any attempts to communicate with the four of them will result in the sentence being extended. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Mama.” They chorused, though with varying tones of bitterness and resignation in their voices.
“At the end of the twelve months on the night of the shadow over the moon, I will return and decide whether the penance has been paid and the lesson learnt.”
--
Sehun’s breath caught in his throat when he saw a familiar female figure. The woman was wearing regular clothes, but the face was unmistakably their Queen’s. He clutched the flowers in his hand, hoping that this would be the day when it all ended and he could see them all again, especially Luhan.
But then a couple of people walked in front of him, blocking his vision of her for a moment. And when he looked again, she was gone. A wave of despair overcame him as he guessed the meaning of her disappearance. After glancing around just to see if she had perhaps gone to talk to another one of them, such as Suho, he dropped the flowers and ran over to Tao, who was already crying.
“We need to do something!” He insisted. “Turn back time!”
“I already did.” Tao gasped out between sniffs. “It’s no use.”
“Don’t- you can’t say that!” Sehun growled. “I need to know if they’re okay! I need to know if Luhan…”
“I’m okay.” A soft and dearly familiar voice said.
Sehun looked up and blinked away tears to see Luhan standing there with the flowers Sehun had dropped. He stared for a few seconds, wondering if it was just his imagination, before running to him like a small whirlwind and hugging the older man.
The others had run up as well, and Sehun only belatedly noticed that Kyungsoo had appeared too, although he was being smothered by Kai. Chanyeol started looking around for Baekhyun, but could not find him anywhere. Suho also realised that Chen wasn’t back, and quickly asked Luhan and Kyungsoo what had happened.
“The Queen came to us and said that she wasn’t ready to let us all return.” Kyungsoo reported soberly.
“But you’re both here now and that’s good, right?” Lay asked anxiously, and the others echoed the sentiment.
Luhan shook his head sadly. “We need to go back.” That simple sentence was enough to make everyone fall silent.
“She said that if the rest of you spend the next year using your powers to aid this planet, without revealing who you are, then she will cease the punishment, and allow us to return to Exoplanet next December.” Kyungsoo explained.
“One more year without you guys?” Xiumin asked plaintively. He didn’t think he could put up another Christmas tree by himself next year. They had spent the whole year remembering and imagining, hearing words that were once said, laughter long since gone, and dreaming of the day they would be reunited.
As if he heard his thoughts, Luhan put a hand on his shoulder. “We are always watching you. And we know that you guys separated because you thought it would be less painful not to see each other and be reminded. But you need each other for support.”
“It hurts to see you all apart.” Kyungsoo added. “Chen and Baekhyun agree with us.”
“We can and will do it, if that’s what’s required of us.” Suho said firmly, glancing at Kris who nodded as well.
Luhan and Kyungsoo smiled at them, and then glanced at each other when they felt a familiar tugging sensation. “We have to go now.” Luhan sighed. Sehun wrapped him in a hug again, and the others joined in in a large mess of ten people.
“Can you give this to Baekhyun for me?” Chanyeol took off the smaller ring and pressed it into Kyungsoo’s hand pleadingly. The younger boy nodded understandingly and pocketed the ring.
“And this is for Chen.” Suho handed the small present and card to Luhan, who took them obligingly. Suddenly, they were all heaping presents into Luhan’s and Kyungsoo’s arms, even though they informed Lay that there were no CD players where they were held captive. Kai reluctantly kept the dog only after Kyungsoo insisted that she would probably freeze to death over there.
“Til’ next year, then.” Luhan said, and the two of them vanished.
So the miracle that they had all been hoping for did not come to pass that December, but an unexpected one had occurred, and they were determined to make sure that the next December would be a happy one.
**
A/N: my first attempt at writing angst, though I was extremely tempted for a real miracle to occur at the end! I love this song so much! please comment and let me know what you thought!