A/N: Beware. Scenes of abuse ahead. Introducing KaiSoo here. ^^

She slapped her.

"You had lost him?!"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I-"

Another slap.

"YOU STUPID! CARELESS! FOOLISH SERVANT! GET THIS WOMAN HERE AND PREPARE THE GUILLOTINE NOW!-"

"NOOO!" she cried, "No. Please. I'll look for him. Right now. Just please, give me a chance."

The Ice Queen grabbed the woman's collar in anger, "Listen Dayoung," she hissed, "Baekhyun must be in this castle before the sun rises at the next day. Or else."

The Queen screamed in annoyance as she smacked Dayoung's head, marching to her throne.

.

The boy's cry was heard in the tower. He was pleading, screaming and struggling in the hands of the woman.

"SHUT UP!"

She slammed the boy's face into the staircase's railings while roughly wrenching him up. Causing a more heart-wrecking scream from the boy.

Screams of halt, beggings, and apologies were heard from the boy as the woman locked themselves inside a room.

"You almost saw my head off. And lying in a coffin."

The boy was pressing himself at the corner of the wall. Shivering in fear. Drenched in tears. The woman dove into the lad and seized his hair upward.

"Listen to what am I saying right now. You'll never lay eyes on the world again. You will never step out of this tower. You will stay here. FOREVER! Do you understand?!"

The boy replied with a quick aggressive nod.

He was too young to be beat up on. Not just that, to be locked above the tower's roof overnight, to not eat anything and to sleep out in the cold.

.

"What happened to him?" the Queen asked, inspecting the boy's wounds at his face, "Who did this to him?"

The Queen came to check on the boy that morning.

"I-I don't know, Your Majesty." Dayoung shook her head sadly, showing sympathy, "I just found him like that."

"Like this? Mute, bruised, wounded and pale?" the Queen sighed in pity, "Call the Healers, they know what to do."

Dayoung bowed and walked out of the room.

.*.

He hadn't seen him for days.

And Kyungsoo's mind was occupied of how is Baekhyun right now. He turned to face the balcony of the castle where it shows the view of the Ice Kingdom.

There was a flashback on his mind that made his heart more uneasy.

At noon, Kyungsoo sneaked into the Ice Kingdom to meet up with Baekhyun. They were supposed to go together at the coronation day at the Fire Kingdom.

Climbing up the thick winter vines he made at the first day they met, he was so sure about climbing because he had done this a million times. Regardless of what happened just yesterday.

There was a sound of shears being thrown. There were ice blades coming right through him when he was three blocks close to Baekhyun's window.

Eyes wide, he dodged and swung to take a grip at the tower's highest window pane. Kyungsoo turned his head to see the Ice Prince glaring up at him, falling after the Prince did summoned ice shards flying.

While in midair, he summoned vines to sprout from the ground to stop him from landing bad from the high tower, unfortunately receiving shards of ice at his chest and shoulders before landing on the thick snow.

"I've seen you yesterday."

Kyungsoo moaned while breathing heavily, trying to extract the fragments of ice as it started to ache. He can see the Prince walking to him.

"I can't believe, that they will send you to be a spy. You were spying on us, didn't you?"

"I'm not a spy." Kyungsoo answered, turning back in attempt to stand.

The Prince scoffed, "Then why are you here?"

"It's not any of your concern." Kyungsoo snapped, groaning after removing the last shard seen. Completely stood but body slightly crouched in pain.

"So, what are you trying to do, Duke of the Earth? You think I'm going to let you escape?" the other asked, crossing his arms on his chest.

Kyungsoo glared at the Ice, he stood confidently despite of the pain. Evoked greeneries to take hold of Prince as he sent freezing spells in return. Kyungsoo had avoided it and the Prince was grabbed, tied at one of the posts and stems tangled around him from mouth to feet.

Kyungsoo ran away and never looked back.

That was the reason why Kyungsoo never had visited the Ice Kingdom since that. The Ice Prince might be expecting him there or Ice Knights were ordered to guard the walls.

After the Fire Prince left the meeting, he stood up and excused himself too. That made him remember what happened at the Fire Castle, he could admit that he really saw lights blinking and got the feeling that Baekhyun followed him there.

"Is that a bandage?"

He was startled by the question and placed a palm above his left shoulder.

"U-Uhh.. No! It's not." he faked a bright smile then frowning after looking away.

"What happened to that?"

Kyungsoo internally rolled his eyes to the thirty-eighth question of the nosy, naughty and arrogant Teleportation Duke.

He looked back at the Duke and smiled wryly, "It's nothing."

"Let me take a look."

"No-"

"Just let me see-"

"No-"

"You're hiding something-"

"No-"

"-aren't you?"

"No! I said, it's nothing. Alright?!"

Kyungsoo literally glared at the Duke. The man just chuckled and messed his hair up.

"You're cute, did you know that?"

He remarked before walking away. Leaving Kyungsoo looking dumb and staring at the door in front of him.

The door's handle suddenly twisted but no one entered the hall. Looking around, Kyungsoo stood up and approached the door. He fixed his messed up hair and scanned the room once more because the door wasn't the main one.

He saw that Kai guy again. And he just winked at him.

God. Kyungsoo wanted to vomit. He grimaced in disgust at the man and face palmed.

He haven't met that guy though he's a royalty. Anyway, the Teleportation Kingdom is too far from their kingdom. Oh! What does he care?!

Kyungsoo marched to the door and went out of it. Founding no one but he was still suspicious because Baekhyun could walk around unseen.

"My house isn't that far. We could go there."

Kyungsoo snapped back at reality and did jumped at the sight of the Teleportation Duke beside him, screaming in shock.

"What's the matter?" he asked, wearing a smug sideways smirk, "Shocked in seeing my handsome face? My y body? My beautiful lips? My flattering eyes? My hot tanned skin....."

Kyungsoo was grimacing while Kai kept on saying those kind of disgusting and infuriating words. He looked so busy enumerating his traits so Kyungsoo decided to sneak away-

"Hey!" the Duke appeared in front of him, "I'm not yet finish!"

Kyungsoo groaned in irritation, "I'm not interested with it." he stepped to walk away again but the Teleporter was quick to block his way.

"Why not?"

"Get out of my way!"

"You're a bit rude but don't worry, you're still cute." he pinched Kyungsoo's cheek, "Why can't you come with me?"

"'Cause I don't trust in you."

"Ohh~" the Teleporter sang, "You don't trust my handsome-"

Kyungsoo stuffed something weird in his mouth that made Kai coughing and spitting repeatedly.

"What was that?!"

"It's soil, to cover up your bedrock of arrogance."

"What-"

"Do you want a plant to sprout out from your mouth or not?"

Kai slapped his mouth and covered it with his two hands, shaking his head in denial.

"Good."

Kyungsoo walked away successfully, finally he had. Smiling while walking.

.*.

Baekhyun was nervous about this.

He was now about to show his face to Chanyeol. Baekhyun had thought about this a million times. He trust Chanyeol. He trust Kyungsoo. Chanyeol was not different with Kyungsoo where Baekhyun can show his face.

Chanyeol would not let his face be sketched to be posted at the wanted board of every castle. Chanyeol would just compliment him because that's what he is expecting him to do. Chanyeol is his friend.

His friend.

A one he could trust.

So, he sat up and walked above the small bridge.

"I.. I think I owe you something." he said almost shakily. Watching him prepare, he took a deep breath.

He removed the mask.

He witnessed the gradual change in Chanyeol's face, the eager one to something that made his heart move a little.

His smile. It was capturing. It was real. He was glad to see in his eyes that he made him happy. Chanyeol almost tripped in standing up.

"You look beautiful."

What? Beautiful?!

"W-What?"

"Beautiful. Beautiful. You are."

Baekhyun couldn't help but to recognize the heat coming up to his cheeks. What was that? He reached and covered his cheeks. Oh my. What's happening to him? Why is he feeling like this?

"Stop it." Baekhyun said, but it's more like a giggle.

Weeks passed and Baekhyun started to love staying at the Fire Castle. And with Chanyeol, of course. He thought of it as magical. Book reading at the morning with them still tangled on their sheets, head above the other and there's the scent of hot chocolate from the breakfast-in-bed table. Skill and stories sharing at the afternoon and sometimes they would go out of the kingdom. Toasting sugary sweet marshmallows by the campfire under the sky of stars by night or just watching the full moon by the balcony and admiring the silence it gives. Whispers of stories every midnight and doodling the darkness with flames and flickers of their fire and light until they both drift off to sleep.

Baekhyun could go out freely without his mask. Ever since he showed his face to Chanyeol, he felt safer and secure in showing his face. Of course, there would be times that he couldn't let his face be seen around the castle.

He's not wearing his mask while exploring the other kingdoms, it was like an upgraded version of the Exploring Outside v.1 and it made him enjoy the activities and sceneries better.

Like the Ice Skating Rink of the Ice Kingdom that he was just seeing before, they skated together there, also it's Snowy Park where they built snowmen and threw snowballs at each other. He had also flew a kite at the famous Backyard of the Wind Kingdom with Chanyeol. He had ran through the shores of the Water and Earth Kingdom and swam with him.

The long tedious wait was done. Baekhyun felt so free and independent with Chanyeol. As they stayed together, they grew more closer with each other and got to know each other the deepest. And it was so such more. He realized that he had never ate like that before, he had never laughed so hard that brought pain to his stomach before, he had never experienced anything like those outings. He thought that he would be satisfied with the times he was going out with Kyungsoo hidden-and-like-a-tail on his back, but this was the thing that satisfied his thirst and crave for adventures and for someone at his side.

For him, the most memorable was their Pegasus ride at the Flight Kingdom. It was 17th of December, they transported to the kingdom by Chanyeol's teleportation ability.

That was his first time in that city. It was urbanized with structures specially designed for flyers. Imagine the entrance of a building was at the top? It was cool. Baekhyun spent that day gaping and looking up at the things he's seeing there. The Flight Kingdom was a city settled in a floating land that was said to be lifted up a billion years ago from the ocean floor. You really needed a flying ability to go there, stay there and to leave there.

"Look Chanyeol! A Pegasus!" Baekhyun screamed while hugging Chanyeol's arm.

Chanyeol noticed the creatures at the field, he smiled as he looked at Baekhyun.

"Do you want to ride on one?"

"W-What?" Baekhyun stared startled at Chanyeol, shaking his head quickly, "No. I was just amazed by it." he denied, looking down at the ground.

Chanyeol nudged his arm with his elbow, "C'mon~ I've never tried that before." he said in a whiny tune.

While looking down on the ground, Baekhyun could feel that sense of dread again. The blurry deja vu was replaying on his mind. The stars, a tower, the feeling of falling and floating.

He didn't realize that he was now hunched upon a Pegasus, arms around Chanyeol's waist and ready to go.

"What! What! No! Chanyeol! Put me down!" Baekhyun whined out loudly, struggling above the animal.

Chanyeol just laughed at him, "But I already paid for this horse, we're ready to go." he claimed.

Oh no no no. Baekhyun felt tears falling from his eyes, sobbing, he begged, "Please put me down..I'm scared." his hug tightened around Chanyeol.

"Baek," Chanyeol turned his head to look at Baekhyun, "there's nothing to be scared about when I'm here beside you." he whispered.

Baekhyun sniffed and closed his eyes real tight as how he squeezed Chanyeol's stomach in fear. Chanting on his mind, trust in him trust in him trust in him.

The Pegasus ran for takeoff. As he sensed the winged horse already hovered in the air, he became very uneasy at his place.

No, no, no. I won't look down. Oh no. I'm going to fall. I'm going to die. Oh f-

Baekhyun screamed loud and long and crying.

"Please Yeol," he was starting to lose his breath, "I don't want to stay here.."

"There, there now Baekhyun, we're already in the air. Look at the sky!" Chanyeol shouted happily and spread his arms in the sky for a moment and made the horse zip even higher.

Baekhyun was screaming again, "Please Yeol!" he was really running out of breath, "I can't stay any longer.."

Next thing he knew, he seemed to fall out of the Pegasus.

"Baek, Baek! Wake up!"

He doesn't want to wake up, Baekhyun could still feel himself floating. No. He won't.

"I won't.."

"But we had landed."

What?

Baekhyun slowly opened his eyes and he was in front in Chanyeol's arms, they were still on the mammal however something's different. The Pegasus' wings are not flapping.

"Where are we?"

Baekhyun sat up with his vision still blurry of dizziness.

"I'm sorry, I forgot that you were scared of heights." Chanyeol apologized sadly.

Baekhyun blinked at Chanyeol many times before he caught a clear view of him, he managed to smile at the frowning face of the boy. He touched his cheek and caressed it to cheer him up.

"I was scared that I might lose you." he looked at him with sparkling eyes, "You'd just fallen off this mammal because you passed out!"

Baekhyun shivered at the raise in his voice and at the fact that he was tearing up.

"Cha-Chanyeol. Don't cry." Baekhyun said gently, wiping his tear away.

Chanyeol quickly dried his face up with the back of his hands and frowned at Baekhyun.

He loved the way he frowns. Baekhyun laughed and punched Chanyeol on the shoulder playfully, "Don't frown! That was the reason why I did that tickle prank on you because you're forehead his crunched up, you had pouty lips and knitted eyebrows." he described while touching those parts, "And you said, 'Whoever you are, it's not funny.'" he imitated, laughing again.

Chanyeol scoffed and laughed later on, "Alright, alright!"

Baekhyun had stopped laughing when he caught sight of the sun that looked so close. The scenery looked so ravishing now it was setting and gave glows of orange and red to clouds and to the sky. He discovered that they were above a cloud.

The sky was so beautiful.

"Chanyeol." Baekhyun breathed in awe, he looked at Chanyeol and saw him staring and smiling at the setting sun.

Baekhyun gazed at the boy beside him. From his eyes, down to his lips who has this smile. This smile that made him feel..dazed.

Chanyeol stared back at Baekhyun, with that beaming face, he shifted his feet to be on one side as Baekhyun. He took out something glittering.

"This is for you."

It was a silver necklace with cloud pendant.

Baekhyun smiled with enthusiasm at his gift. Chanyeol bent his head over him and wore the necklace on him.

Baekhyun observed the pendant between his fingers as Chanyeol went even nearer that his lips are an inch away from his ear.

"Take care of that."

Baekhyun slightly flinched at his breath for it tickled him and sent shivers down to his spine.

"It's beautiful, Yeol."

"Just like you."

December 23, they travelled by stallions to the north side of the Fire Kingdom where the Fiamé Volcano lies. The both went there to try their Flamarae Hot Springs with the view of the volcano, the sky and its lake. To have peace and relaxation also.

"I always hang out here with Kai and shout our hearts out." Chanyeol told.

Baekhyun laughed, "Really?" his face turned into a confused one, "He's the Teleportation Duke right?"

"Yeah." Chanyeol replied, relaxing his head on one of the spring's headrest.

"How did you met each other? The Teleportation Kingdom is way too far from here for him to be bothered going here." Baekhyun wondered.

Chanyeol chuckled and swam beside Baekhyun that was at the opposite side, "He's not living at their castle."

"Why not? Was he banned?

"Hmm.. No. He said that his parents were just too annoyed by his handsomeness that he always boast, they let him choose to where he wanted to live and chose here because he thinks he belongs here because he's too handsome." Chanyeol explained that made Baekhyun laughing.

"That's ridiculous!" he exclaimed, "So, that's why you're like that also." Baekhyun giggled, "Kyungsoo doesn't want people like that."

"He doesn't?" Chanyeol suddenly looked at Baekhyun.

"Yeah. Why?" Baekhyun asked.

Chanyeol went back to his place again and closed his eyes, "Nothing, I just reckon Kai likes Kyungsoo."

Baekhyun chuckled disbelievingly, "Whoa, poor Kai, he'll never get Kyungsoo's trust."

"About Kyungsoo, when are you going to show up to him?" Chanyeol peeked at Baekhyun with his one eye, closing it after.

Baekhyun paused to think, "I think I'll let the time bring us together again." he sighed, "I'm too scared and shy to show up to him."

Chanyeol cooed, "Aww. That's alright, Baek. Cheer up." he smiled while his eyes closed.

Baekhyun rested his head and looked at the sky, another thought coming up on his mind.

"Yeol?"

"Hm?"

"Can we go to the Light Kingdom this Christmas?"

He could feel Chanyeol sat up to look at him.

"Baek?"

"I know it's fallen, I know I'll not enjoy, also I've been there but only at LIU."

"Baek-"

He also sat up and faced the part in the scenery that looked dimmed.

"I never knew what it really looked like outside that flashy school. I've never been to my own kingdom." he faced Chanyeol, looking down at the water with solemn eyes.

"I've never been there ever since it was fallen after the war two decades ago." he answered.

Chanyeol reached out for his hand and caressed it.

"We will go there, as my Christmas gift."

Baekhyun smiled happily, jumping at the water in joy, making splashes at Chanyeol. Chanyeol made revenge by splashing back and it started a water fight.

 

 

 

***

Started: March 28, 2017

Finished: April 1, 2017

A/N: Wheww! I'm soooo sorry for the cliffhanger. TT Every chapter is getting longer. XD I started with 1.7K words and it's getting approximately 2K-4K. >< Anyway, keep reading my beloved readers. Thank you and I love you guys! :'**

I loovveee reading comments! So, feel free to comment down. ;)

Yeo_Na