Unnamed's POV (Kibum)

He was acting weird. 

I had no idea why, but he was. Staring ahead all day, eyes hooded and lips curled into a bitter smile. He looked almost as if he was deep in thought, yet he reacted to each of my sentences and touches just normally. I wasn't quite sure about what was up with him, but I was a little worried. He was my mate, the only one for whom my heart had ever beaten, yet I couldn't think of a way to confront him. 

It felt weird, not knowing what could be bothering him, why he was so silent, so... stiff. He would only relax under my touch as I would run my hands through his soft, short hair, or kiss him lightly, practically begging for his attention. It felt so strange to be ignored like this... 

"Jonghyun?" I asked suddenly, nuzzling my nose into his neck lightly."What's wrong?"

"There is nothing wrong at all, my love..." he murmured, voice soft and sweet as threaded his fingers through my hair."It's just... the day... I lost someone very important to me..."

"Oh, is it?" I asked, my heart already clenching at the utter sadness that he was radiating."But you have me now, no? At least... at least you have me..." I had no idea what else to say, my throat felt like it was closing up. Already, tears were forming in my eyes. His pure sorrow was affecting me, making me want to curl up and cry. 

"Hush, sweetheart, don't cry..." he soothed me as he lightly pushed me away so he could cup my cheek with his hands."I have them back now, so you should never shed a tear for it..." he said, his thumb wiping away the cold tears that trickled down my cheek. By instinct, I leant into his touch, letting my eyes flutter shut. Even through the pain of his loss that I could clearly fell, his presence was calming me. 

He had an effect on me that was almost terrifying. I knew well that we were meant to be, but was it really normal to love someone you have just met not much ago this much? I knew nothing of the civilized world that he lived in, and he knew nothing of the forest that had raised me. And still, we were in love with each other. The pain we felt when we needed to separate was by far the worst I had ever felt.

I just wish that I had the courage to ask him if he could take me to the city.

"Baby, you're still crying..." he muttered softly."It's okay, I told you already. I don't have to miss this very important person now, because you are here with me again. You died many many years ago, on this day. I felt like my heart had been torn out and now I know that you have taken it with you. But you are here now, once more, and you have given my heart back to me."

"I..it's not just that..." I mumbled as I struggled to stop crying, blinking rapidly as if that could help."But we live in different worlds... When you leave me, it hurts here..." I pointed at my heart and shuddered when he placed his hand over mine, pressing my own palm against my steadily beating heart.

"We do belong together though, my gorgeous Ruby..." he said softly, was silky and sweet as he leant in to capture my lips for a few moments. He pulled away too soon, letting his surprisingly soft lips brush against my cheek, then my jaw."You are mine and I am yours. The two of us owns a world which is only ours. And this time, no one will be there to destroy it."

"No one?" I asked softly, sniffing a little. Our eyes met and I couldn't help but blush deeply as his dark eyes bore into mine. It was almost like he was reading my mind, or soul, maybe. I had never heard of such abilities existing, then again, I had missed out on a lot of things due to my almost nomad upbringing. 

"No one. I will be the guard of the gate to our world, and no one shall step through it." He said, voice firm but sweet."I love you, Kibum."

A pleasurable shiver ran down my spine at hearing my name. A part of me still recognized it: my heart had faltered just for a moment when that sweet little word escaped my mate's lips. It was so odd to be named suddenly. I had no idea if it felt good or bad, but it did make me feel happy.

"I love you too, Jonghyun..." I murmured softly as he pressed my nose to his, rubbing them together lightly. A small smile appeared on his lips as he leant in to peck my lips but I was quicker, pulling away before he could have kissed me.

Moments later I was in the air, right above him.

Jonghyun rolled his eyes as a scowl formed on his lips. He looked like my siblings whenever they weren't given fruit when they were ill. Diseases out in the open were incredibly dangerous, so we couldn't trouble their stomachs with too many treats. Because of that, they were usually only given herbs for a day or two until they would be better. 

I could clearly remember the first time I had been sick as a child and told not to eat any berries. I had actually managed to snatch a few and eat them, but the punishment I got made me never do it again. I couldn't fly for a whole month. My wings had been sealed into my back and I couldn't even call them out.

I had hated my family back then.

"Come down, now!" Jonghyun growled lowly yet a playful spark was present in his eyes."Or should I make you land?" His voice was mischievous as he lifted up a small rock and experimentally threw it up, just a bit.

None of us expected it to land on his head. Thankfully, it wasn't too big so no damage was done, but he had looked incredibly funny with his eyes wide as an owl's as he realized that his trick had backfired on him.

I couldn't help but laugh at his silliness. Jonghyun might have been very old, but he was goofy.

And I loved him like this.