Grey cradled a bowl of strawberries, plopping them in her mouth one by one as she explored the grand halls. Today, she'd found a new nook to explore near the men's suites and since Jin was busy handling whatever he needed to and she couldn't look Jungkook in the eye, she decided to get lost. She had been walking for a few minutes when she detected a tiny noise around one of the cavernous corners. These noises repeated in sequence, forming a cadence that danced atop her curious mind.
She followed the sound. It was light and soft. Like the snowflakes that fell on the tip of the tongue or the feeling that accompanied being curled up in a blanket made of fine fur. It reminded Grey of a cold yet warm nuance. A winter wind that contained hints of spring; the trees were beginning to thaw and the promise of growth lingered on the horizon. It was like someone opened a window and allowed just a little bit of light and fresh air to seep through.
His song had changed since she last heard it.
Grey came to an archway covered by curtains. She used a hand to pull them back, silencing her breath as she found Min Yoongi bent over a white Steinway, his fingers playing the keys gently. Lulling his music to life with a lullaby rather than beating the notes out like he did a few months ago.
He wore a red tee shirt. It was the first time she'd seen him in a color other than black. Against the shadows of the room, cast primarily by the megastorm lingering outside the series of patio doors, he resembled an apple; the first fruit of spring. The tall ceiling reflected his sounds, the entire room pulsing with his melody.
Here, at long last, he blossomed.
She padded over to his bench, sitting quietly on the edge. He drew his hand from the piano as soon as he noticed her.
"No, don't do that," she said. "You were playing beautifully."
Grey waited for a snarky remark. Yoongi said, "You like it?"
She nodded, plopping a sweet strawberry into her mouth.
"I wrote it for you," he said.
She stopped chewing. "For me?"
"I call it A Princess of Spring."
Princess because that was what he called her. But why spring?
She put her bowl on the floor, not wanting to ruin the beautiful white paint of the instrument. "Yoongi, I'm honored. Can I ask why you picked that season in particular?"
"You breathe life into everything around you." Yoongi pressed the keys again, playing a few notes that would not overpower his voice. "I didn't want you to, but you won. You broke through my walls."
She'd never been told that before. Her impact was visible. Yoongi was handsome in red. He may be part of the undead or undefined, but he looked alive. Dare she say it, pleased.
"It was about time you stepped out of your comfort zone," she said, a small smile pushing against the storm's weight. "I'm so proud of you."
He chuckled dryly. "I don't even know if this is worth it. The world's going to shit in a few hours."
"Your point?" She watched his fingers move.
He said, "Why do this now? I spent 249 years in solitude. On the second to last day, I take my head out of the sand and look into the sky. It's dark and stormy. I can't even see the sun."
"You're never too late to find yourself," she said. "It's not about how long the journey takes or where you fall short along the way. It's about reaching your destination. And you did it!"
"This is all your fault," he grumbled. "Damn motivational speaker."
She ignored him, laughing. "Amelia taught me that. A few years ago, she took the time to dig me out of the hole I dug for myself. I was content with dying there, but she wouldn't let me."
He stopped playing. "I can't believe there was ever a day you thought of ending your life."
She bit the inside of her cheek, pondering how far she'd come. A very, very long way.
Then, a new thought dawned. Yoongi was also a reflection of Grey. While Jungkook mirrored her positivity and compassion, Yoongi was the image of her in her darkest day when she shut herself off and built her own wall of thorns designed to keep anyone from reaching in. Yoongi had seen the world in black and white. There was sorrow and there was indifference--the folks that just weren't crying. Around that ideology, he created his defenses. He curled into a ball as a blizzard blew over his hiding spot and buried him.
The Fall had not been kind to Yoongi. The sudden change in circumstance most likely came with other repercussions that created this snowball effect which tumbled down a hill and grew to an uncontrollable size. First denial, then anger, then an insidious numbness that spread throughout his soul and lowered his rage to a simmer that teemed with sadness.
Min Yoongi was Grey when she buried her parents and convinced herself she was gone too. Min Yoongi was also the Grey that warded someone like Amelia away until she got so tired of the girl that she clasped her hand just to shut her up.
And that made Grey happiest of all. Not only did she persist through his armor, but she helped him reach for something more. She helped him cling to her, and in some way she pulled him from the dirt and grime that held him down.
She grabbed his hand over the keys, a wave of pure gratitude making her sigh. He laced their fingers together. "I'm so glad I didn't," she whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You are an amazing warrior."
He gripped her hand tighter. "I know I messed things up between us."
She stayed silent. There was nothing she could say to cushion it. The truth just sucked.
He said, "I should have never called you a friend. Not when I was just beginning to love you."
Grey pressed her lips into a flat line. Finally. He admitted a piece of his true feelings. She wished it would have felt like a door opening rather than closing. However, his confession seemed to tie a loose string she couldn't reach on her own. It was the end of a lovely, lovely chapter where, at the end of the day, she saved him too.
She said, "I was beginning to love you too."
Past tense.
He nodded, looking up to the ceiling. "I should have grabbed you when I had the chance. I was just so afraid that I couldn't do anything for you. I had nothing to offer."
"You had everything," Grey said.
He looked at her. "I will never cower again. I will pursue whatever I want fearlessly."
She smiled, his personal growth so overwhelming her eyes became glassy. "I know."
Yoongi removed his hand from hers, feeling for the correct keys before returning to pressing the ones he loved to hear most. He settled into a steady rhythm, humming along before sighing.
"He loves you."
"Who?"
"Seokjin."
Grey rubbed her eyes, her stomach flipping. "How do you know that?"
Yoongi said, "He told all of us accidentally. We were discussing Paris when he sat in the room and listened to us recount the events. I asked him why he didn't kill you when he had his hands around your neck at the theatre. It just slipped out."
She looked down at her lap.
He said, "By the way, he still fangirls about everything you did for him. He won't shut up."
"He hasn't said that to me," Grey said. "He's never told me how he feels."
"Jin is a man of action. Not words."
"So?" Grey asked.
Yoongi said, "He shows you that he cares with what he does. If you look, you'll see it."
She took a mental note, the notes on the piano striking chords in her heart. "Why are you telling me this?"
"He's spent every ounce of his time on Earth caring for us or protecting us without anyone to really do the same for him. He needs you. More than anyone else."
:::
Silver bells chimed as the door to The Parlour opened and a dewy breeze blew into the cafe. Fresh cinnamon and cream filled the air, a few evening diners scattered at multiple tables and chairs with pastries or cups of steaming coffee. Christmas music played over the crowd, complimenting the fairy lights they hung around the ceiling's perimeter and the small pine tree they crammed into a corner. The glass display held the last of the day's goodies, the people behind the counter heading to their stations as they approached.
Hoseok and Rin stepped up to the cashier, smiling at each other before facing the girl prepping for their order. It was so much like a first date, Hoseok was almost self-conscious about his behavior. He let her go first, so eager to talk to her after that he found something else on the counter to distract himself. Still, he listened to her order, already knowing it by heart.
Rin said, "I'll have a peppermint white hot chocolate, please."
Hoseok blurted, "With extra whipped cream. One cherry. Also, a slice of peppermint bark."
The cashier got it all down. Rin's brows knit together. "How did you know that?"
"You look like you appreciate the sweet things in life," he said. She nodded slowly, somehow convinced. Relieved that she bought it for a second, Hoseok turned to the cashier. "I'll have a caramel-hazelnut mocha." Out of the corner of his lips, he noticed Rin's lips repeating his exact words. "With a caramel drizzle on top of the whipped cream."
Hoseok paid for both of their drinks, letting Rin lead them to a table. As soon as she sat, he said, "Were you saying my order?"
She shrugged. "Something told me you'd order that." She leaned forward. "Something also tells me you really like the eclairs here, but only when they're fresh out the oven. Am I correct?"
She was spot on. Hoseok visited The Parlour in the mornings every few weekdays just to snatch one of the freshly-baked pastries. He was willing to wait in lines, willing to wake up early just to see the steam rise off of the newest batch. They were just so delicious, and she in particular used to buy him one whenever she had time to stop on her daily commute to KSJ. They always bought each other breakfast, but the fact that she brought it up...
"You know more about me than you let on," he teased.
She giggled. "I'm just getting really lucky tonight on my guesses. Do you have any holiday plans? New Year plans?"
He crumpled the receipt and stuffed his change in his pocket. "No," he said. "I have nothing planned. And you?"
"I'm going a cruise in the Caribbean," she said. "I won some tickets online through a sweepstakes. Me and like four other people did. I'm so excited."
"You always wanted to go there," he muttered under his breath.
"Excuse me?"
Hoseok cleared his throat. "Congratulations. I think you'll have the best time."
"Thanks," she said, grinning. She shifted in her seat, her bouncy hair falling behind her shoulders. "So, may I ask who I have the pleasure of drinking with tonight?"
He was taking a risk by revealing his name. The less she knew, the better his compulsion still worked in her head from so long ago. The more he revealed, the more she would be able to delve into what he closed off. But the world was ending. Namjoon received his happy ending with Amelia. Grey would get her happy ending with whoever she picked. It was his turn to be happy.
"Jung Hoseok."
She repeated it, her eyebrows furrowing a bit. It seemed to have caught onto something in her head. This was good. He'd wrapped his spell around her so tightly that she was barely herself. Letting it unravel would also let her see who she sat across from.
She said, "That's a very nice name."
"Thank you. You seem very familiar to me as well," he said.
She craned her neck back. "Oh. Do I?"
"You do." He smiled at the waiter that delivered their drinks to the table. His drink was hot, the whipped cream turning into foam. It was the same for Rin, who immediately plucked her cherry from the pile and stuck it in her mouth. She cupped her hands around the warm mug, her smile so intrigued that it actually hurt Hoseok to hold her in suspense. "Do you mind if I tell you a story? I feel like I told you before, and maybe by repeating it we'll remember how we met."
She playfully knocked a fist against her head. "My memory has always been a bit funny since an accident I had some time ago. I just hope I won't disappoint you."
"You would never disappoint me," he said.
Her cheeks were the color of the peppermint flakes that garnished her drink. She clapped eagerly. "Well, I love stories! I'm ready to hear it."
Hoseok began. "Once upon a time, there were seven warriors. These men were in charge of protecting two kings and one queen. They also protected the gates of their eternal kingdom."
"Wait," Rin interrupted, "is this a fantasy story?"
He nodded. She squealed, "Oh, I love those! Go on!"
He chuckled, remembering how she used to talk about fairy tales or compare herself to princesses. She hadn't changed at all. Hoseok went on.
"The warriors were never allowed to leave their post. They lived in the palace and at the gates, welcoming in lost travelers or people searching for rest. They were very happy, and very strong because they lived in peace for thousands of years. But one day, that changed.
"An evil rival kingdom invaded a helpless nation that was just finding peace. They were led by a Demon King and Queen who destroyed everything in their path. The poor nation they targeted couldn't protect itself, for it was full of humans. They were unprepared, and often could not see the attacks when they happened. Unable to sit by while another civilization perished, the three holy sovereigns decided to stop the assault. They made their warriors stay at home to protect the city while the eldest King and Queen left to quell the attacks.
"The battle lasted for a few months, and the warriors began to grow restless wondering if they ought to retrieve their monarchs. Just as they planned to set out and find them, their King and Queen returned, wounded but alive."
Rin took a swig of her hot chocolate, licking a streak of whip cream on her upper lip before she said, "Why would only a King and Queen go? Why wouldn't they release their seven warriors?"
Hoseok looked at his mocha. "The warriors volunteered themselves, but the King and Queen declined saying they wanted to send a message to the demon kingdom. Both of them were strong enough to prevail, and they would not tolerate the presence of chaos and trickery where there was supposed to be peace. They're extremely selfless... I just think they didn't want any of their warriors or the youngest King to get hurt."
"How young is this last King?" Rin asked.
Hoseok chuckled. "If I told you he'd kill me."
"Alright...," Rin laughed, her nose crinkling in confusion, "I'm into it now so you have to finish. The King and Queen are wounded, what next?"
"The thing is, the warriors could not see this wound. It was invisible, so invisible that not even the King or Queen felt it. They returned to their routines of reigning over their kingdom, but the warriors noticed how the battle changed them. The changes came subtly at first, one of them snapping at a warrior or talking down about the nature of humans. Eventually, the siblings radiated negativity. The Queen had it the worst where she would not leave her room for days, and when she did, she lashed out. The King grew cold and hard, unresponsive to his warriors and his people.
"But you see, their kingdom thrived on positive energy and love. Anything that did not embody those traits could not exist in their land. Their own kingdom's magic cast them out, exiling both of them."
Rin's face became serious. She said, "But what could make them turn evil?"
"The warriors and their Second King could never quite figure out the cause. Each soldier had a duty to protect the walls, so they returned to their posts. However, the Second King struggled with the loss of his brother and sister. He became very close to the warriors. So close, that they became their own family. He also dedicated his life to researching ways to help them.
"Years passed. Their sense of normalcy somewhat returned. But it never lasted. Their beloved King and Queen returned to the gates with a demon army at their back. They seized the beautiful kingdom, scattering villagers and burning every building. By nightfall, they had made it to the palace's gates. The warriors had done their best to fight them off, ridding all of the foot soldiers with the strength of their magic. But they could not bring themselves to hurt their precious sovereigns, even though they had to in order to save their people."
Hoseok stopped for a second, his head falling into his hands. Rin's eyebrows creased in concern, her eyes searching his face. The horror that lingered in his eyes when he glimpsed her again made her sit back in her chair. He was grieving, she realized. Mourning.
"During the siege, the warriors crowded around their Second King with all the power they had left. Together, they formed a wall that protected him and they ran with him to the courtyard in the middle of their castle. Suddenly, the ground trembled. The castle began to fall apart. The King and Queen were breaking it down from the outside. The entire palace was going to fall on us.
"Before it collapsed, the Second King created a gate that led us to the human world. And each of us fell from the clouds. When we landed, our powers transformed to something dark and worldly. Our hearts were clouded over with sorrow. We became closer to humans. But the worst part was that we knew we could never get back home, because once you leave Heaven, you no longer belong to it. And it wouldn't be until now that we figured out the Demon King and Queen possessed the King and Queen of my realm--,"
Rin paled, grabbing her bag of peppermint bark and her drink. She avoided his gaze as she said, "It's getting late. I should go."
He frowned. "Did I upset you?"
She scoffed, sliding her seat back. "I just have an early morning and the storm is coming. I don't want to be out too late." She sped-walked towards the door, Hoseok standing and surging after her.
Hoseok grabbed her shoulder. "Rin, please. I didn't mean to scare you."
She snatched her arm away. "How do you know my name?"
"I'm sorry," he said, "I did this to you. I messed up your memory."
"What?" She scowled, rushing to get outside. He followed, reaching for her elbow again. But instead of grabbing her, his head snapped to the side. "Don't touch me!"
Hoseok held his cheek, stunned. She had slapped him. He memorized the sting, let it sink into his skin. He deserved that for doing this to her--making her recall the most dangerous time of her life. But, he wouldn't let her go. Because if he could just tell her that he loved her one more time...
He shouted, "I need you to remember me!"
"You're insane! You live in a world inside your head!" She dashed down the sidewalk, away from Hoseok. She turned to yell at him some more. "You think I'm going to believe you fell from the sky?! Get some help!"
Hoseok pointed at her neck. "Who gave you those pearls, Rin?"
Exasperated, she threw her arms up in the air. "I don't know, okay?"
"Remember," he urged, resisting the allure of using compulsion. "Please!"
"I don't know--," she began, her entire body halting. Her face went blank, pupils dilating. Then, she gasped for air, chest rising and falling rapidly as she stared at him. "Oh my god. Hoseok?"
He wasn't sure what to say, so he stood there gawking. However, his heart raced the second she walked towards him, picking up her pace into a sprint. Her lips frowned into a pout, sudden tears washing her face.
"Hoseok!" she cried, crashing into him. He held her to his chest, nuzzling his cheek into her hair.
"Rin," he sighed.
"Hobi," she repeated, clutching his coat with her thin fingers. She sobbed into his chest, her legs going weak. "It's you. It's really you."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I needed to see you again."
She reached a hand around the back of his neck and pulled him towards her lips. They kissed on the sidewalk once, twice, one hundred times. She dug her hands into his clothes and hair. He could barely breathe, but he didn't even care. He was immortal, and this was the first time he was grateful for it. Let him run out of air. This was where he needed to be.
When they pulled apart, she wiped a tear from his cheek.
He said, "I never had a chance to explain why I compelled you." He ran a hand through her silky hair. "You were in so much pain. I knew I had caused it. I had to let you go, to keep you safe. I regretted it every day after."
She closed her eyes, probably reliving that night over again. Blood had stained her clothes. She had been knocked unconscious. When she woke, she could barely move the injuries were so severe. He kissed her eyelids, his voice breaking as he said, "I'm so sorry I failed you. I wasn't there to protect you."
"It's over now," she said, smiling weakly. "We're together. We just have to live in the moment."
"You would still choose me?" he asked.
She nodded. "Every day of the week."
His heart had been squeezed by a fist. He kissed her again, a crack of thunder making them both jump. It echoed through his ribcage, but he refused to let her go. He drew a thumb down her cheek. "I love you," he said. He sighed, smiling at her. "I love you enough to see you happy, and alive. That is all I want when I'm gone."
Her smile faltered.
"I will still be by your side. As you find another man that loves you, as you walk down the aisle, as you give him children. From above, I will be your guardian angel. I will hold your hand through every trial until you are able to be with me in my home."
Rin shook her head, her hands falling down his shirt. "You're going to do it again, aren't you?"
He nodded solemnly.
"Then why bring me back to you?"
He sighed. "To tell you goodbye."
"Okay," she said, sniffling. He must have looked confused because she elaborated. "I knew this was coming, Hoseok. I know you have to go back home." She bit her lip. "But thank you for respecting me enough to tell the truth, even if it breaks my heart. You know that's what I would have wanted."
"You're welcome."
Softly, he instructed her. "Look directly into my eyes." She obeyed, her shoulders falling as she exhaled. "Stay safe during this storm. Take care of yourself in the future. Love with your entire heart, and wear it on your sleeve. This time, I am asking you to come to me when your time here ends. I will wait at the gates for you. Until then, you will forget."
He let her go, shoving his hands in his pockets as she blinked to life. She glanced at the sky, the closed petshop across the street, and The Parlour. When she found Hoseok, she smiled. "Oh! I'm so sorry. I'm just standing in the middle of the sidewalk."
It took all his strength to grin. "No, I'm the one in your way."
She casually waved him off, her shine returning with each second her memories faded away. "You look cold. Would you like me to get you a warm drink? The Parlour's right there."
He shook his head. "Actually, it's about time I get home. Have a happy new year."
"You as well," she said, beaming. She sidestepped him and continued down the sidewalk.
Hoseok felt lighter. Finally, he'd received his closure.
:::
Rin whistled as she strolled up to an apartment building. It was finally time for holiday break from KSJ and she conveniently reached her house with her favorite peppermint snacks. A holiday miracle, if she'd ever seen one. Plus, Jin and the other executives would finally stop breathing down her back with end of the year plans.
She dug into her purse for the keys to her room as she walked into the lobby. The elevator was already on the ground floor when she pressed the call button. Her floor was empty when she reached it, everyone probably all warm and cozy while escaping the thunder.
Her keys jingled as she pulled them out and put them in the keyhole, twisting gently when claws raked against the back of her neck. She fell forward into her door, slumping to her knees as hot blood poured down her shirt. Hands grabbed her jacket, throwing her onto the floor. Her head smacked the hardwood, blackness swimming across her vision. Eyes wide, her life leaking from her neck, she gazed at the woman standing over her.
Her nails were sharp and slick with crimson, her bottomless eyes inhuman.
"I didn't kill you the first time," the woman said, slashing a hand across Rin's front. Rin screamed, her skin burning where the open wounds gushed more blood. It filled her throat until she couldn't even call for help. "But I was told to send a message."
Aelith sank her claws into Rin's neck, keeping them there even as Rin feebly grabbed her wrist. The human girl clasped Aelith's clammy skin, her grip loosening by the second. In less than a minute, Rin's hand fell back to her side, her body going slack, the pool of red around her forming a halo.
The Queen of Demons removed her fingers, a sickly sound filling the hallway; like taking one's hand out of fresh meat. She rubbed the blood off on her cardigan, stooping down to snatch the dead girl's pearls before pivoting on her heel and vanishing into the storm.
:::
(A/N) Tired reader,
First and foremost, I am so sorry I wrote this much. I just physically cannot allow myself to skimp out on details or not tell the full story. I just think they deserve to be heard and unfortunately, you have to pay for that by listening to my loud mouth.
I'm not even going to tell you the word count for this. Fml.
Anyway, four chapters left. First blood drawn.
Next release: 12/29 (December 29th) - maybe earlier. I have a friend coming to town to stay with me. I don't know if I can sneak writing time. But maybe this is good, because I have to write a whole war and that ish takes time.
Thank you. Seriously. Thank you.
The first part of this chapter is dedicated to BangtanPilot because I am so very inspired by the way you express your words and follow your dreams.
The second part is dedicated to ninadriessen023 because she told me small writers should stick together and that's so incredibly true. Nina, you have a total freaking supporter in me! And I'm so lucky to have a supporter in you!
With love,
M