お帰り [Welcome Home] - Chapter Twenty

[yeonah]

Title: お帰り [Welcome Home]
Authors: curionenene  and yeonah 
Chapter: 20/?
Fandom: SS501 + Epik High Cameos
Pairings: KyuMin, HyunSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: Angst, AU
Summary: Black and white... white and black. It isn't always possible to tell what is good and what is evil; and four players in the never-ending fight for freedom would know. In a world where things are painted by shades of grey, taking a stand could mean life or death. And the struggle to be free, truly free, may tear them apart until there is nothing left but ash.
A/N: KyuJong, HyunJoong, and Tablo are played by curionenene , while JungMin, YoungSaeng, HyungJoon and Mithra are played by yeonah .

JungMin held on to KyuJong long after YoungSaeng and Tablo had disappeared, running his hand through soft locks of hair and along a warm back. Kissing his jaw and neck lightly, the best he could reach with KyuJong's face buried in his own neck, he finally pulled back just enough to kiss KyuJong's lips instead.

"Are you sure you're all right?" he whispered. There was no way KyuJong could be all right, because JungMin himself wasn't, and he hadn't been the one being pushed around.

Even if it was just acting, he still hated himself for it.

KyuJong stared into the worried eyes of his master, and he smiled lightly. As long as JungMin looked at him this way after every cold word, after every rough action, KyuJong knew that he was going to be okay. “Don’t you think I’ve known you long enough to know how you are? I should be the one asking if you’re all right…I might be hurting on the outside…”

“…But you’re hurting here.” He pressed a hand to JungMin’s chest, right over the heart.

Swallowing at the hand over his heart, JungMin sighed faintly and kissed KyuJong again, hand catching the one against his chest and holding it. "I never wanted to have to act like that," he said. "Especially not to you." It brought up memories and feelings that were better left alone.

"Do you want to...go somewhere? Do something? I don't think we'll have much free time for the next little while."

KyuJong smiled at the sentiment and he curled his hand around the one that held it. “JungMin…the only place I ever want to go is beside you. The only thing I want to do is be with you. And as long as I have that, I don’t need anything else.”

Listening to his partner, JungMin's lips curled upwards. "You're such a sap," he chuckled, but his smile was wide as he looked at the other man. "Want to just go back to our room then? And is there a way to take the spells on and off or are you staying like this from now on?" His free hand fell to KyuJong's waist, smaller now than it usually was.

“Uh…” KyuJong looked down at himself and blushed. JungMin's hand was big enough to wrap around at least half his waist now. “I think there is a way to take off the spell…I just don’t know how.” 

He had forgotten to ask Tablo…crap.

JungMin couldn't help but laugh at that, eyes dancing. "So I guess you're stuck like that until we can find Tablo or something. Maybe asking before letting him start any spells would be good from now on."

Then, just because he could and KyuJong was such a handy size right now, he picked up the ankou and spun him around.

KyuJong was about to make a dignified rebuttal when JungMin had suddenly picked him up and the dignity turned into a not-so-dignified squeal of surprise. “Min!” He whined, a pout forming on his lips that matched the indignant noise.

Laughing, JungMin spun them around in circles for a moment before he realized the ringing laughter wasn't all him.

The human stopped spinning long enough to look at the doorway, where a strange man was laughing his head off. "This place gets more interesting by the minute."

Blinking, JungMin took in the large, floppy rabbit ears. He'd never seen them on a guy before.

KyuJong was grateful for a second when JungMin stopped spinning, then he saw the man with the huge bunny ears laughing in the doorway, and he felt himself burn from embarrassment. 

Great… it was bad enough that Tablo and Mithra had caught JungMin and him making out, now a total stranger was laughing at him too…

KyuJong let out a whine and buried his burning face into JungMin’s chest.

The laughter started again at KyuJong's reaction, JungMin running his fingers through the other man's hair. Very little seemed capable of embarrassing JungMin himself.

Grinning widely, the stranger took a better look at KyuJong and raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Why is an ankou masquerading as a pixie, can I ask?"

“Eh?” KyuJong forgot his embarrassment for a moment, looking up at the stranger. “You can tell?”

That was…odd…KyuJong had never seen a human so deft at doing a spell as Tablo before, and he was pretty sure that this disguise would have fooled most…which meant that this stranger was definitely not like most and very, very powerful.

"Of course I can." The other non-human walked into the room, smiling. "So, what's up with the spell? Doesn't seem very comfortable."

"If you can see it, can you take it off?" JungMin asked, blinking. He had little to no idea about the different levels of power, and had never had to worry about it because of his next-to-none spirit energy.

"Shouldn't be too hard," was the stranger's reply, looking at KyuJong with interest. "Want me to try?"

KyuJong eyed the stranger before shrugging. He was right, the spell felt weird - it was like an extra layer of skin, and it constricted onto his body like an itchy rash. Oh well...there was no harm.

Shrugging, he nodded - there was no harm in trying…and he was pretty sure that this stranger knew what he was doing, especially with a steady, dependable spirit energy like that.

The bunny boy gave KyuJong a reassuring smile before stepping closer, the look in his eyes experienced as he looked KyuJong up and down, taking in the spell woven around the ankou.

After a moment he nodded. "It's pretty simple to remove actually. Aiseagtar," he said, waving his hand in a star pattern around KyuJong's form.

The illusion wavered before disappearing, leaving KyuJong in his normal form. "You should learn how to remove these things before putting them on," the stranger laughed.

KyuJong memorized the word - he was right. It was pretty simple. Which was why he blushed even harder when the bunny laughed yet again.

“I know… just that… I forgot.” He said petulantly, looking at the floor. 

“Thanks.” He told the bunny, albeit a little grudgingly, before elbowing JungMin in the side for taking advantage of KyuJong’s lack of height earlier, now that he actually had his strength back.

Grinning widely at the shriek from the human, the rabbit shrugged. "It was nothing. I should probably take off...I've never seen an ankou though, so I was a bit curious. What are your names?" He asked, tilting his head to one side. JungMin had to resist the temptation to poke the ears that flopped all over the place at the movement.

“Er…I’m KyuJong, and this upstart is JungMin.” KyuJong could tell what JungMin was thinking and elbowed him again - this time in warning. He didn’t think this rather powerful (although admittedly friendly) person would like his ears being poked at. “It’s nice to meet you…?”

"HyungJoon," the stranger finished, grinning. "And likewise. Really...the organization is getting more interesting by the minute." He started for the door. "Nice to meet you both, and remember that word KyuJong sshi," he called back with a laugh before leaving the room.

JungMin wrapped his arms around KyuJong's waist once the bunny was gone. "I thought the only people with rabbit ears like that were all girls?" he asked. "Aren't the rabbit males all ear-free?"

“Yeah…well, I thought so too…” KyuJong replied, shrugging. “His spiritual energy was really strong though…It’s not surprising if he were a special case.”

Then thinking about it more, KyuJong suddenly remembered an odd tale he’d heard sometime ago, happening to listen into a conversation somewhere while waiting for something. “Hey…wait…maybe he’s the White Rabbit? I vaguely remember there being a rumor about him…a non-human with huge rabbit ears who was rising very fast in the ranks of the organization.”

Blinking, JungMin raised an eyebrow. "The White Rabbit? Sounds like a magician's trick or something." Not exactly a very threatening nickname. Then again, HyungJoon himself hardly looked that threatening.

"Wonder what he does around here." The way he'd picked apart the spell on KyuJong within seconds, without anyone informing him on what it was, spoke of experience. JungMin knew little about spells, but he knew it shouldn't have been that easy.

"Either way...room?" he asked, arms wrapped around the other man's waist from behind with his hands flat against the ankou's stomach.

KyuJong was wondering about the same thing…and he had heard some rather strange rumors about the White Rabbit…rumors about having a power that no one else had. But then he was distracted by the warm hands that wrapped around his waist.

Looking back at JungMin, a small smile crossed his face and he nodded. “Room.”

Grinning widely, JungMin rested his chin on KyuJong's shoulder for a moment before releasing his hold on the ankou's waist, taking his hand instead. "Let's go then," he chuckled, pulling KyuJong out into the hallway.

No matter where they were or what they were doing, it was all right as long as they were with each other.

****************

It was hours later when HyunJoong finally woke up again, his head pounding and his fever still raging. But he felt a lot better than he had earlier and reaching up, he found the reason as to why - a cold compress on his forehead that kept his face cool.

“Saeng…?” He called out, wondering where the felinefolk was. He didn’t really like calling on YoungSaeng, but he needed to pee…and unfortunately, he couldn't quite gather the strength to even pull the covers off himself.

Looking up, YoungSaeng put down the notepad he had been writing in, uncurling himself from the couch in the corner of the room. He had only left the room to get Tablo and to change the cold compress every now and then, keeping a constant watch on his master despite Tablo's words of not hovering.

"Right here," he said, standing up and putting the paper and pencil down before padding over to the bed silently. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

“Like…my bladder is going to burst…” HyunJoong replied truthfully, shifting and trying to get the covers off himself. “Uh…I’m sorry, but…can you…?”

Blinking, YoungSaeng turned slightly red before he pulled the covers back off HyunJoong, freeing him. "Better? Are you okay to stand?" he asked, taking the towel off HyunJoong's forehead so that he could move. He'd probably have to carry him into the bathroom.

“Yeah…” HyunJoong wasn’t sure actually, but he swung his feet down from the bed, taking a few shaky steps forward before nearly falling over. He bit his lip and sighed - so much for trying not to depend on YoungSaeng too much. Damn. This sucked.

YoungSaeng instantly moved forward when HyunJoong nearly fell. Trying to avoid picking his master up outright (HyunJoong probably wouldn't like that at all), the felinefolk rested one hand lightly between his shoulders to help keep him steady. "Here...lean on me a little."

“Thanks…” HyunJoong was glad that YoungSaeng didn’t just pick him up like that, the way Tablo…and that other person had when he was sick like this. And gratefully, he leaned onto YoungSaeng, slowly moving forward. “How long was I out for?”

Moving along patiently, YoungSaeng tilted his head slightly to one side. "Quite a few hours...the pill must have worn off," he replied. Should he tell him about Tablo coming by? HyunJoong probably already knew why the fever was so bad...and YoungSaeng was reluctant to bring up any subject that might lead to thinking about JaeJoong.

HyunJoong sighed…a couple of hours already huh, and he still didn’t feel all that good…was he going to spend the rest of his life sleeping like this then? Looking up at YoungSaeng, he sighed, “Sorry you had to get stuck with me…argh…I’m so useless now, it’s embarrassing…”

"What are you talking about?" YoungSaeng smiled down at HyunJoong. "There's no reason to be sorry...I chose you as my master, and that isn't going to change. We'll find a way to fix this, all right?" He tried to reassure the human, not used to seeing HyunJoong so depressed.

HyunJoong smiled back a little at YoungSaeng enthusiasm, but he wasn’t going to fool himself. “That isn’t likely…I’m most probably going to be stuck like this for the rest of my life. And I don’t want to be a deadweight to you Saeng…”

He wasn’t usually this morbid, but being so useless like this was bringing back all the bad memories of when he was young. “You should probably go find a new master…”

Was it supposed to hurt this much? YoungSaeng felt his chest constrict, his knee-jerk reaction to move away but he managed to keep himself supporting HyunJoong.

What would he do with a new master? It had taken him this long just to trust HyunJoong...and it was mostly because of HyunJoong's own experiences that YoungSaeng could believe him when he said he'd protect and never hurt him. And as much as he gave HyunJoong the cold shoulder, talked back to him, scratched him if he got too close...he didn't want another master.

"No," he said firmly, tone leaving no room for arguments. "I am not going anywhere, and if you say something like that again I'll pick you up and carry you the rest of the way, and I know how much you love that. If you stay like this, then so be it, but I'm not going to call anyone else my master."

HyunJoong was taken aback by YoungSaeng’s firm rejection of his proposal, and normally he would have been relieved that YoungSaeng didn’t want to leave his side, but the fever had left him irritable. As such, when YoungSaeng threatened him, an irrational indignance rose up in him. “But…!”

"No," YoungSaeng repeated, not letting HyunJoong protest. "And that's final. Come on, we're just about there." He tried to keep HyunJoong moving and steady, his touch gentle despite the hard tone of his voice. He didn't want to think about leaving HyunJoong to deal with all this alone.

Feeling like a primary school kid after being scolded by his parent, HyunJoong couldn’t help it - he sulked. Dragging his feet despite the fact that his bladder was nearly going to burst, the obvious disgruntledness was written all over his face. And folding his arms, he made up his mind not to talk to YoungSaeng.

Ever.

Again.

Watching the expression on his master's face morph from indignation to sulking, YoungSaeng withheld a sigh. Maybe it was a good thing he had managed to avoid dealing with children until now. Though HyunJoong was still HyunJoong, he never recalled him quite acting like this.

Even so, a faint smile grew on his lips as they reached the bathroom and he ushered the child inside before closing the door.

Sneaking up a glance, HyunJoong was startled and rather mortified to see YoungSaeng smiling. In his first childhood, he had never recalled anyone, after seeing his bratty attitude, actually smile before. Scold, frown, punish, tell off, sulk along (on the rare occasions) - yes. But smile? Hell no…

He unfortunately didn’t hide his expression of utter surprise very well as he was pushed into the bathroom.

The last view YoungSaeng had of HyunJoong's expression before the door closed caused his smile to become more pronounced, thankfully hidden by the wood. Leaning against the wall as he waited, the felinefolk covered his mouth with one hand to hush a small laugh.

It wasn't often he saw that expression, and it amused him for some reason. Biting his lower lip with his fangs to keep more laughter from coming out, he rested his head back against the wall and closed his eyes.

YoungSaeng was laughing - HyunJoong just knew it somehow, there was this nagging at the bottom of his belly (which could also possibly have been his full bladder). And scowling as he undid his pants to answer nature’s call, HyunJoong shouted out. “Stop laughing, Saeng! I can hear you!” Although he couldn’t really…

That did it; YoungSaeng couldn't hold back the burst of laughter that escaped him at the ticked tone of HyunJoong's voice, imagining the annoyed and indignant expression that really didn't fit a ten year old. Giggling helplessly, he sank to the ground and buried his face against his knees.

Well, so he was right! HyunJoong let out a huff as he finished his business and stormed out of the bathroom without washing his hands. There, he glared at YoungSaeng, who was busy laughing and decided to do his worst.

He placed his unwashed hands into YoungSaeng’s hair, saying with a ridiculously malicious voice. “I didn’t wash them~”

Still trying to control his laughter, YoungSaeng yelped as a pair of small hands suddenly assaulted his hair. "Ew! I can smell them!" He scampered away from his master, ears flat and trying not to whine as he pawed at his hair. "Gross, Hyun...” He was definitely taking a shower now.

Folding his arms vindictively, HyunJoong grinned at YoungSaeng’s reaction. “Heh! That’ll teach you to laugh at me!”

He had already forgotten the disagreement that had led to this rather ridiculous scenario.

YoungSaeng raised an eyebrow, wrinkling his nose at the smell. "Go wash your hands, will you?" His nose was far too sensitive for things like this.

And for someone with a raging fever, HyunJoong was far too mischievous. But at least it was better than passing out.

It was exactly because of the raging fever that HyunJoong was acting so out of whack. He usually was a quiet, sociable and easy person, even as a child… and it was only when he was sick that he became so unmanageable. So rather than comply graciously with a charming flicker of a wink, he instead stuck out his tongue stubbornly.

Tablo once complained, much to Mithra’s amusement, that HyunJoong sick was like a woman getting menopause…

Pressing his lips together to avoid a pout, YoungSaeng sighed. "Hyun, go wash your hands before I dump you in the bath with your clothes on." Apparently baths were good for fevers anyways. "And you know I'll do it too." He got up from his crouch, keeping his hair out of his face.

But HyunJoong wasn’t going to go down quietly with this one. The sake of his pride was at stake here (although exactly why it was at stake was conveniently forgotten). “Oh really? I don’t believe you!” He challenged, putting his arms akimbo and laughing evilly.

Well, as evil as a sick kid who hadn’t washed his hands did.

"...Really," YoungSaeng's lips curled upwards into more of a smirk at that.

Straightening, the felinefolk walked right by HyunJoong and into the bathroom, where he quickly set the bath to fill.

"You have 30 seconds to run."

HyunJoong’s jaw dropped, before he quickly pushed it back up and scowled instead. “You wouldn’t dare!”

He wouldn’t right…? YoungSaeng knew that he was sick…

YoungSaeng sat on the edge of the bath as he waited for it to fill, humming as he poured in some of the bubble bath in the cupboard.

"20 seconds."

HyunJoong still didn’t realize that YoungSaeng was serious. The felinefolk had never showed the tendencies of being malicious before…

He stood stock-still, staring at YoungSaeng with his mouth agape.

Watching HyunJoong, YoungSaeng tilted his head to one side, looking innocent. But there was a spark in his eyes.

"Are you sure you don't want to wash your hands, Hyun?"

10 seconds.

HyunJoong froze. That mischievous sparkle…that all too innocent tone of voice…that angle his head was tilted…

Crap. YoungSaeng was serious.

But by the time all that had run through HyunJoong’s head, he only had three seconds to run.

Reaching over, YoungSaeng flicked off the tap as the bath finished filling.

"Time's up."

Getting to his feet, YoungSaeng was beside HyunJoong in a flash, scooping the ten-year-old into his arms.

Just as quickly, the felinefolk went back into the bathroom and deposited the armful into the bubbly water.

HyunJoong went in with a shriek, his arms and legs flailing all over the place as he was unceremoniously dumped in. 

Surfacing after a few second, HyunJoong sat up, spurting out a mouthful of soapy water, a look of disgust on his face. “SAENG!” He wailed, glaring at YoungSaeng.

YoungSaeng laughed, watching HyunJoong flounder around. "I warned you," he said, eyes dancing as he got out towels for later. "Now make sure you're all clean, it'll be good for your fever." He stepped back a distance in case HyunJoong took it into his head to splash him.

But HyunJoong didn’t, and instead he pouted, folding his arms, and slinking down into the tub so that only his eyes and anything above wasn’t submerged. Those eyes followed YoungSaeng around petulantly before he sighed, bubbles floating from under the water.

Hopping up onto the counter, YoungSaeng watched HyunJoong with amusement. "Are you a submarine or something?" Washing his own hands after touching his hair, YoungSaeng made a face.

"You know, the faster you get clean, the faster I'll get you out of there."

HyunJoong surfaced enough so that he could talk. He didn’t say much however, except - “Join me.”

YoungSaeng raised an eyebrow. "Why should I? You're perfectly capable of cleaning yourself." While he liked showers to some extend, YoungSaeng tolerated baths as much as the next cat. Which was to say, not at all.

“Please?” HyunJoong looked up, asking simply. There wasn’t any guilt, or any reason. Not even the ridiculously cute pleading eyes that YoungSaeng dreaded. “Join me?”

Confused by the lack of pleading, YoungSaeng continued to shake his head, wondering why in the world HyunJoong wanted him in the bath. Probably to play some trick on him again.

But HyunJoong sounded normal enough, compared to how he had been acting since he was turned into a kid. Biting at his lower lip, YoungSaeng finally sighed, looking down at his clothing and glad he'd chosen something light because there was no way he was getting into the bath naked, even with a kid HyunJoong.

He slid off the counter and padded over, crouching down next to the bath. "Why?"

“Please?” HyunJoong repeated. His eyes looking up at the felinefolk with a plain request. And he lifted up an arm, holding it out to the felinefolk as an invitation, or a request. 

He didn’t offer any other explanation.

Eyeing his master and wondering why he let himself get pulled into these things, YoungSaeng sighed before taking HyunJoong's hand and slipping over the edge of the bath. He lowered himself into the water next to the child, trying not to wince as the water soaked through his clothes and fur. He hated getting his fur wet...

HyunJoong didn’t talk, only shifted closer to YoungSaeng, carefully, cautiously, as if asking for permission as he reached out with a needy look.

It was rather obvious that he was asking for a hug.

YoungSaeng blinked at him for a moment, wondering what was going through his master's head. Why a hug now?

He didn't resist him for long though, wrapping his arms around the soaked, small body and pulling him into a gentle hug.

HyunJoong slowly shifting himself into a comfortable position, his small, scrawny arms barely able to meet after wrapping around YoungSaeng’s waist, and YoungSaeng was thin enough as it was. 

He sighed again before nuzzling into YoungSaeng’s chest, and muttering a soft apology into it.

It was a bit weird, HyunJoong hugging him as a kid. Normally YoungSaeng would never be able to hold him like this; it was usually the other way around, the felinefolk dwarfed in his master's arms the few times he got close enough for a hug.

Ears twitching at the apology, YoungSaeng's indignation at getting his tail wet left him and he ran one hand through HyunJoong's wet locks of hair. "No reason to apologize," he said quietly, letting HyunJoong be as close as he wanted.

The water had calmed HyunJoong down, and realizing what an ass he had been, HyunJoong had wanted to apologize.

But at the same time, the reminder of the fever came back to him, and he had been hit with a sudden melancholy, needing a warm body to hug.

That wasn’t to say just anybody would have sufficed.

“Saeng…did Tablo hyung tell you…that I really am most likely to be stuck like this?” HyunJoong asked after a while. “It’s because of the curse…the words JaeJoong used…he said ‘always’…and that means…forever.”

“I’m going to be stuck at this age forever, Saeng.” HyunJoong said sadly, “That is…if the fever doesn’t kill me first…”

Hearing HyunJoong out, YoungSaeng absently played with the strands of hair with his fingers, twining them without pulling. "I was able to guess that by myself. I heard what JaeJoong said. That doesn't mean we're going to stop looking for a way to fix this. We're not ever going to stop."

He sighed a little, nuzzling the child in his arms. "Even if you are stuck like this, I don't want another master, so don't think about that. I'm serious. I'm not going anywhere."

"And I won't let the fever kill you...no matter what."

HyunJoong swallowed tears that suddenly threatened to come out. He wasn’t going to cry - no way. He thought he’d gone over this period so many years ago…it just wasn’t fair. Why did he have to be so weak all over again?

His hand clutched onto Saeng’s wet shirt, barely keeping from shaking all over. Stupid mood swings…stupid JaeJoong…stupid curse.

Dismayed at the reaction, YoungSaeng carefully shifted position so that he was sitting cross-legged in the bath, pulling HyunJoong into his lap. "Hey...it's okay," he said quietly, holding HyunJoong close like the man did for him as a kitten. "We'll find a way to fix this. Since when do you ever give up, Hyun?" He kissed the child's forehead lightly.

"It'll be fine..."

YoungSaeng’s question startled HyunJoong. And for a moment, he didn’t say anything, realizing what a stupid idiot he had been. Why had he been so depressed that he hadn’t really listened to what YoungSaeng was saying?

Tablo and Mithra were busy researching on a way to reverse the curse. YoungSaeng was beside him, taking care of him, encouraging him on.

Why was he being such an ass and acting all miserable?

Why was he such an idiot?

“I-I’m sorry…” The tears came unbidden, running down his eyes and dripping into the bath water. “Sorry…sorry…sorry…sorry…I’m, so, so, sorry…”

Watching the salt-water slip down HyunJoong's cheeks, YoungSaeng cradled the child close, letting him cry as he rubbed his back gently. "It's okay," he whispered. "It's okay...” Nuzzling him lightly, YoungSaeng started to croon softly, a mix of cat and human in a lullaby his mother used to sing to him when he was upset. He continued to sing, fingers brushing back hair from HyunJoong's eyes and running along his back.

HyunJoong had never heard the song before, nor could he understand the words save for the odd phrase here and there. YoungSaeng’s voice was soothing, and the song flowed over HyunJoong like a calming wave, curling up around the child and wrapping him in its soft notes.

He curled up into YoungSaeng’s hold, finding himself safe there. The tears continued to flow, but they were no longer desperate, just a reflex, the excess frustrations that had been stored up in the adult years taking their chance to escape now that HyunJoong was a child again.

The felinefolk could feel the tension slowly leaving HyunJoong's small frame, continuing through the song and resting his head lightly against his master's. He wanted HyunJoong to know that he wasn't alone, and YoungSaeng never intended him to be. He would help him get through this, no matter how long it took.

Finally the song finished, the last notes fading away as YoungSaeng nuzzled against HyunJoong lightly.

The child had fallen asleep again in YoungSaeng’s hold. But this sleep was not that of a fever, but a calm sleep devoid of it. HyunJoong was still warm, yes, but his breath was smooth, and his body relaxed. A vast improvement from earlier.

Smiling when he noticed, YoungSaeng sighed and carefully got up, trying not to slip in the bathtub as he climbed out with HyunJoong securely in his arms. Maybe the bath had been a good idea after all...the fever had gone down somewhat. Hopefully it stayed that way.

For now, YoungSaeng set about drying the child and tucking him into clean pajamas, working not to wake him up, with the song in the back of his mind and a soft smile on his lips.