Hey, you guys! ;DDD

So these days, I've been obsessing so hard over SM'snever-going-to-debut boyband, EXO!! And yeah, they're just too adorable for words and their song is so addictive and the members are so easily shippable. *runs off giggling*

I guess I kinda sorta fell in love with dumpling-face Lil' Fattie Xiumin. Like, the first time I saw his teaser photos, I was already hooked like a fat kid to burgers, cats to catnip, fangirls to . LOLOL.

/sighh

and for those of you who haven't seen the taomin (tao and xiumin) couple in action, please click here <3

Thanks to [email protected] for the awesomesauce poster! :DD

~~~

Disclaimer: I do not own the beautiful, amazing, talented boys of EXO.    ;___;

This prologue is rated K.

Prologue

Sohee-jiejie, is the sky just as blue where you are?

Xiumin runs his fingers through his short hair, feeling the familiar prickle of spiky threads on the pads of his fingertips. He's wrapped in a beautiful silk deel, the soft olive blending into intricate patterns of red and gold. A large, golden belt is worn around his waist, and he thinks back to his silent mother who had previously fastened the cloth, eyes blurry with tears.

He thinks about all the words he wanted to say to her before he left.

You're too proud. You and her, both.

His heart beats furiously inside his ribcage, in perfect unison with the swaying of the chariot. The red silk veil on his head tickles his nose, and he raises the back of his hand to relieve the itch. A sharp stop of the chariot causes the boy to topple to one side, and there's some shuffling behind the curtain. The boy bites his lip, white teeth sinking into the plump flesh.

"W-who's ther─?" he whispers nervously, hurriedly adjusting the veil only to be cut off by a quiet shush.

The curtain to the chariot peeks open slightly, revealing a pair of faded grey eyes that curve into a sad smile. Xiumin breathes a quiet sigh of relief, pink lips curving gently as he helps the old woman in. The chariot is hoisted up once again, and Xiumin crosses his legs, sitting in silence as the old woman carefully uncovers the veil to reveal his face.

She smoothes a wrinkled thumb over his left brow.

He can't really make out what she says, but she mumbles in heavily-accented Mongolian, something between 'handsome' and 'poor, poor fate' and 'you look so sad'. Xiumin clasps her hand in two of his own, attempting to give her the most reassuring look possible.

"I'm very happy," he tells her.

The old woman brushes away a tear with the back of one hand, still clasping tightly onto Xiumin's with the other.

"You don't deserve this, my prince. You're still so young, yet you have to bear the weight of a mountain on your shoulders. Do you not feel regret, for being born into this life?"

Xiumin's eyes soften, and once again, he lets the bright smile slide effortlessly onto his face.

"There's nothing shameful about this. It is my duty to protect our country and the well-being of our people. You've taught me that, haven't you?"

"My prince! It's okay to be selfish once in a while. If you want to cry, simply do so. If you want to run, I'll stall the guards. If you want me to... if you want me to kill you, t-then─"

"Grandmother!" the boy cuts her off sharply, gripping her shoulders tightly in his hands.

"Please don't act like you're sending me off to my death. This was my wish, I was the one who chose this path. So believe me, I'm going through with it."

"This was all because of that irresponsible sister of yours! That thoughtless Princess Sohee, only if she didn't run away with that commoner! My poor prince, you wouldn't have to go through all this and ─"

"Grandmother!" he scolds, his tone softening when he sees the old woman's red-rimmed eyes.

"Sohee followed her love. There's nothing shameful about that."

The old woman ponders this for a moment, then sighs. Slowly, she gets up from her spot, turning around slowly to reach for a maroon, rectangular box. Xiumin cranes his neck, attempting to see what item his grandmother had snuck into the chariot. There's a gentle motion and the lid of the box is closed. She brings out a long wig, adorned with the traditional Mongolian headwear of horsehair and beaded pendants.

Running her wrinkled fingers through the strands of beads, the grandmother shifts closer to Xiumin. Slowly, she removes the red veil from his head, placing it to the side. When she's just about to place on the headwear, Xiumin ducks.

"What are you doing, my prince?"

Xiumin blushes.

"N-no, I just─"

"You regret this already."

Xiumin flinches.

If he put on the headwear, he would be no longer be Xiumin, but instead, Sohee. It would be a lifetime of freedom sacrificed, thrown into a completely different world, betrothed to a stranger.

"No."

"No, I regret nothing," he reassures her, shifting forward and bowing his head low.

"Sit still, then," the grandmother whispers tearfully, tucking the wig on.

~~~

"You look even more beautiful than your mother did," is what his grandmother sighs, applying pink powder in circular motions along the apples of his cheeks. She leans back onto a side of the chariot, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Xiumin's eyelids flutter open.

He glances shyly at the old woman, who smiles encouragingly in response. With tentative fingers, he touches his earlobe, feeling the shape of a teardrop. The other hand moves to his head, the softness of horsehair caressing his fingertips.

"I-I-this... this feels so..." he begins, flustered that he's unable to find words to describe his emotions.

His grandmother hushes him, clasping his hands in hers and leans forward to kiss his cheek.

"Xiumin-ah, there's so much that grandmother wants to tell you, but there's not much time lef─"

The chariot suddenly stops.

"Princess Sohee has arrived!"

Xiumin stares frantically at his grandmother, who offers him her last words.

"You're a strong boy, my prince. Whatever happens, always remember that I'll be on your side."

With that, the grandmother exits the chariot, and Xiumin's shaking too hard to be able to run to her and beg her to take him back, confess that he's not ready for all this, that he doesn't want to be wed to a man, that he doesn't want to disguise himself as a woman and be constantly terrified of losing his life if anyone found out.

"G-g-gran─" he attempts, but his voice cracks, the chariot is picked up again, and the opportunity is missed.

"Princess Sohee has entered the palace!"

~~~

jiejie- sister

deel- traditional Mongolian robe