When he finally wakes up, Tao's alone.   He makes an annoyed sound, reaching a hand across the bed in search of Kris's warmth. But he's not there. Tao makes a face, crinkling his nose as he reaches farther, waiting to hear Kris laugh and pull Tao into his arms. But there's no laugh and no arms; no Kris.   Tao forces himself to open his eyes, sunlight thrown in shafts across the bed like broken glass. The room's a mess. There's clothes strewn across the hardwood; shoes, jackets, Kris's jeans, Tao's shirt. The blankets of their bed are pushed to the end, the sheets curled around Tao's body, a pillow somehow absent. Tao smirks to himself, sitting up and yawning, the air of the room making his skin prickle. Suddenly he wishes he had his sweater or shorts or anything. How had he ended up like this again? Oh, that's right.   After a busy week of school and not seeing each other much, Kris had made it up to Tao last night. He had let Tao take the lead and that had been fun, maybe a bit too fun. It was so easy to play with Kris; he could never hold it together when Tao was in control. It wasn't exactly a secret that Kris was the dominant one in their relationship, so it was fun to see him humbled every once in a while. Tao remembers how Kris had kept saying his name, how hard he'd been breathing, how he kept making these little gasping noises when he thought that Tao wasn't paying attention.   It was still a little off around the house, things seeming a bit quieter now that Lay was gone. But having Kris back had made things easier. As long as they had each other, Tao knew he could take on anything. With Kris, he was invincible.   Tao laughs softly to himself as he gets to his feet, deciding he should probably get dressed before he looks into where Kris had wandered off to. He picks a white turtleneck, one he knew Kris liked, and dark jeans, twisting his newest piercing with one hand, a gold stud in the upper cartilage of his ear. That was his fifth piercing now. Another thing he knew Kris liked, always making a point to kiss each one every time he-   Tao cuts off the thought, a blush rising to his cheeks. He couldn't think about this now, the most important thing was that he find Kris. He glances in the mirror and feels a brief flash of shock. Oh. That's right.   He's blonde now.   Well, more white blonde. Kris had recently dyed his hair dark and Tao figured one of them should be blonde. He had shaved the bottom layer of his hair too, making him look even more like the rich conceited playboy everyone seemed to think he was.   Suddenly Baekhyun pops into Tao's mind; his dark eyes, his pale skin, how delicate he seemed. Tao hadn't exactly told him that he had gotten back together with Kris, but the older dark haired boy had been rather affectionate with him and Baekhyun had eyes. Tao knew he must know. But ever since Baekhyun had been studiously ignoring him, convinced to ignore Tao's existence. Not that Tao could blame him.   He was hurt, really hurt. Tao had broken his heart because he couldn't return Baekhyun's love. Tao loved Kris and he couldn't change that, not even if he wanted to. But a broken heart was one thing Tao had never wanted to be responsible for. T   ao shakes his head, clearing away the thoughts as he glances out the window, his breath fogging the glass. It's still cold even though it's nearly mid-March, though there are more sunny days now. The sun is shining now, making the top layer of snow sparkle. Lay would have loved it.   Tao sighs softly, pushing away the sadness that still clung to his thoughts. He couldn't afford to think about Lay now, he had to find Kris. Just as he's about to go downstairs, he catches sight of a white envelope sitting on Kris's desk, his name written on the front in Kris's careful Korean. Tao makes a face as he picks it up, the sweet spicy smell of Kris's cologne making him smile as he breaks the seal of the envelope and pulls out a folded piece of paper. Tao runs his eyes across the page, feeling his heart swell, a smile curving his lips,   'Good morning my Panda. Since it's the weekend, I figured we'd do something fun. So I've planned a scavenger hunt of sorts. You'll follow clues and notes that will take you all around Seoul, to places that hold so many memories for us. I'll meet you at the end :) First, this room. So many things happened here; this is where we had our first kiss, our first breakup, our first time, and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. You are so special to me, Tao, and I honestly can't imagine my life without you. Do you remember where I first fell in love with you? You'll find your next clue there. Always, I love you. ps. There are going to be a few gifts along the way too. Again, love you <3 ~Kris'   Tao knows he's crying, can feel tears on his cheeks, his breathing sharp as he bows his head, wiping his eyes.   Kris was sweet and wonderful and Tao loved him, but he'd never done something like this before. The sort of gesture was so unlike him and that made it that much more special.   Tao's about to fold up the paper when he catches sight of a picture taped to the end of the letter. It's a picture of Tao, his eyes closed, wearing Kris's jacket, a starry sky in the background. Tao reads the caption Kris had written at the bottom of the picture, feeling his throat and eyes burn.   'In a sky full of stars, I only see you.'   Kris. This was so sweet and so unlike him and Tao just wanted him here, wanted to wrap his arms around him, kiss him. But he can't. He has to finish this game and finish it fast so that he can see Kris again.   Tao pauses for a moment to think. The place Kris first fell in love. Tao felt like he had always loved Kris, he couldn't remember a day when he hadn't. Suddenly, Tao remembers.   He grins, stuffing the picture and the note in his pocket as he runs downstairs, falling into the wall as he pulls on his shoes, laughing as he rights himself and glances up at the other boys who were already seated around the table. Kai arches an eyebrow at Tao, his voice soft,   'Why the hurry, Tao?'   Tao laughs to himself, nearly giddy now as he grins, out of breath,   "Kris is....taking me on a scavenger hunt..."   Suho glances up from his breakfast, his lips curved up, his voice amused,   'Well go on then....don't let us get in the way.....'   Tao meets his eyes, nodding as he pauses for a moment. Suho had seemed much better lately, still sad of course, but the way he talked made Tao feel as if Lay was just gone for a little while, that he'd be back soon. But that was stupid. Lay was never coming back.   The man who'd hit him had died at the scene, but thanks to him, Lay would never get married, never graduate from college. He'd never have kids or grandkids or get to grow old with someone he loved. He'd never get to travel the world or see the Northern Lights or the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal.   There would be no second chance for Lay, no chance for him to tell Suho he loved him. They would never have a first kiss or a first date. Suho and Lay would never get a life together and there was nothing any of them could do about it.   Tao would have given anything to have Lay back. He may not have been as close to Lay as some of the others had been, but they'd been close and Tao missed him. He missed him a lot.   Tao still felt angry sometimes but he knew he shouldn't. Lay hadn't intended to get hit that night. He'd probably been thinking about dinner or homework or what they would do this weekend. But it didn't matter. Lay was dead, leaving a unicorn shaped hole in Tao's heart that he could never fill.   They would always miss Lay, but Tao knew things would get better. As long as they all stayed together.   Tao pulls himself out of his thoughts, nodding at Suho and waving to the other boys, noticing how Baekhyun ignores him, eyes trained on whatever he's reading. He tilts his head slightly and Tao can see small dark bruises on his neck. Tao feels a stab of guilt; if people had been harassing Baekhyun again and he hadn't told Tao, then it was because he was still angry at him. Obviously he's not humble enough to ask Tao for help, not that Tao could blame him exactly.   But he'd promised Baekhyun and no matter what happened, he intended to keep that promise. He'd talk to him later, but for now, he had clues to find.   Tao offers one final wave and pauses to grab his phone before closing the door behind him. It's colder than Tao remembers, the icy air biting through his clothes easily. The sooner he found this next clue, the better. Tao hurries across the yard, starting along the sidewalk towards the spot he knew Kris had been talking about.   It had been night time and it had been snowing. Kris had apologized to Tao for how he'd been acting, given him his coat. They'd had a snowball fight and Tao remembers how much he'd laughed, how happy he'd felt if only for a short time.   That had been one of the first times Tao remembered ever feeling like he loved Kris. Tao looks up, spotting a dark red envelope sitting in a snowbank, nearly exactly where Kris had met him that day after school. Tao grins, plucking it out of the shimmering white powder, brushing snow off of it as he breaks the seal and pulls out another piece of paper, this one written in Chinese. Tao's eyes skim the page and he laughs softly to himself, feeling warmth spread through his chest, his breath somehow out of his lungs.   'Second, this spot. It's hard to remember exactly when I fell in love with you, but that day, when I gave you my coat, I remember you looking up at me. You looked so beautiful, snow in your hair, your eyes on me. And I just knew that I wanted you to look at me like that every day, all the time. You know there isn't anything I wouldn't give for you and me and maybe I fell in love that day, but I fall all over again every time we're together. Do you remember that place we went with the others? Where I bought you an asteroid? You'll find your next clue there. More than the oceans and the stars in the sky <3 love you ~Kris'   Tao holds the paper almost gingerly, as if he's afraid he'll damage it. It's so precious, these words, all these letters. No many how many years pass, Tao would never forget this, never forget how special Kris had made him feel.   Even when things got difficult and Tao was no longer sure what had been lies and what had been real, these letters would remind him that Kris had loved him once.   Even if he didn't anymore.   That had been real. Of anything, Tao could always remember this. He pauses for a moment, thinking about the next clue. An asteroid? Well that would have to be the museum of astronomy where they'd gone one weekend soon after Tao and Kris had become a couple.   Tao remembers how happy he'd been that day, how Kris had laughed at his excitement, pinching his cheeks affectionately. No matter what Kris did, he could never take away these memories. They were Tao's. Whether he wanted them to be or not.   The museum. That was at least fifteen miles south of here. That means he'd have to drive. Tao nearly smiles as he returns home, explaining his dilemma as Suho hands over the keys to his R8 without even glancing up from his breakfast. Tao grins, receiving glares from both Chanyeol and Chen, neither of who ever got to drive Suho's precious Audi.   Suho wasn't selfish, but he knew better than to trust any of the other boys to behave responsibly. Not like he should really trust Tao either. But that wasn't something Tao was going to bring to his attention.   Soon Tao is racing down the freeway, the wind blowing his newly blonde hair, making him grin as he remembers a car ride much like this one. One with Kris in the driver's seat, making Tao laugh as he'd put his foot on the gas, enjoying the power. Not like Tao could blame him; this was pretty fun. It's early morning so there's not many people out which makes it that much more fun. But he wishes Kris was here.   He could imagine how he'd roll his eyes at Tao, asking if that was the best he could do. He'd see him soon anyway. Then they could spend the rest of the day together after this game was over. Not like Tao wasn't enjoying it. It was pretty cute. Scratch that, it was really cute and Tao loved it. Kris was always surprising him with how sweet he could be sometimes.   It wasn't that he wasn't always affectionate and cute with Tao, but Kris wasn't exactly the warm-and-fuzzy type. That only made this that much more special. He obviously didn't care as long as he made Tao happy. And it was working. Tao was happy and he just wanted to see Kris, to kiss him. Soon.   Tao pulls off the freeway, slowing his speed as he drives a few blocks to the museum. The tall silver building looms in front of him as he pulls into the parking lot and double checks that he's locked the car before walking inside. It's just as pretty as he remembered. Tao's one of the only people inside, the sharp sounds of his boots echoing off the marble as he crosses the large lobby to the gift shop.   This should be it. He walks up and down a few aisles before spotting the box of asteroids, an indigo envelope nestled carefully between them. Tao cross over quickly to it, taking it carefully in his hands and breaking the seal, pulling out another letter,   'Third, this gift shop. In that moment, watching you get excited about a rock, I wondered how there'd ever been a doubt in my mind that I loved you. I love you for so many things, Tao, but I love you the most simply because you're yourself. The one and only Tao, my one and only Tao. I was ordinary before, but you make me special, Tao. Do you remember where you kissed me for the first time in public? You'll find your next clue there. I'm so lucky to call myself yours and somehow I know, that as long as I always have you, I could never wish for anything else. Always be my baby <3 I love you, Tao. ~Kris'   Tao smiles softly, running a finger lovingly across the words. Kris had become such a huge part of his life; not that Tao would have it any other way. They belonged together. Maybe it's then that Tao realizes there's a small box sitting where the letter had been. He reaches towards it, picking it up gently and turning it over in his hands a few times before snapping the lid open. Sitting inside is a small vial filled with some sort of silver dust. Tao lifts it, realizing there's another note in the bottom of the box, grinning as he reads it,   'Some stardust for you. At this point, we're on our way to owning the galaxy. Love you ~your Galaxy'   Tao holds up the vial to the light, watching as it shimmers, taking on a nearly pearlescent shine. It's beautiful. He pockets it along with both notes and pauses to think for a moment. The place they'd first kissed? Tao nearly smiles as the memory returns to him.   At first, Kris had wanted t