“I can’t believe this was all for crepes,” Kyuhyun complained, leaning over to take a bite of Ryeowook’s vanilla crepe. He chewed it thoughtfully, apparently brushing off the words he had uttered less than a second ago.

The shorter boy frowned jerking Kyuhyun’s strawberry crepe down to chomp off the top. Ryeowook watched the indignant shock pass over Kyuhyun’s face. “Don’t insult it and then take mine,” he huffed, deciding that he rather liked the strawberry more than the vanilla.

“You little brat,” Kyuhyun’s mouth twitched, eyes darkening wickedly. In a flash, he had his hand under Ryeowook’s, shoving the partially eaten pastry into the boy’s face.

Vanilla cream had been dragged across Ryeowook’s cheek. Kyuhyun laughed at the pout and glare. “I ate yours! I didn’t waste it!” he cried, looking sadly down at the messy crepe.

Kyuhyun rolled his eyes, catching Ryeowook’s hand to stop him in place. “It’s just a little,” he mumbled, running his tongue across the sticky substance and swallowing, “don’t get so upset,” a chuckle rippled up through his throat, only to force shivers down Ryeowook’s back.

“U-Unsanitary,” he managed nervously, going back to eating.

Suddenly, a Polaroid photo was pushed in Ryeowook’s face and he staggered back. A quirky little photographer leered at him and then Kyuhyun in turn. “This would be a nice little picture for your memory box, don’t you think, kiddo?” he winked at Ryeowook.

The picture was Kyuhyun’s smirking, tilted face close to Ryeowook’s. His tongue was sliding up his cheek as Ryeowook only stared dumbly over at Kyuhyun.

A bright red blush rushed up his neck and across his features. “Why did you take a picture of that?” he stammered.

Kyuhyun gave the man the remainder of the money they had earned from the piano performance and then took the Polaroid. A horrified Ryeowook gaped up at him. “What?” Kyuhyun laughed, waving the square around before tucking it in his pocket. “Now we have two pictures from two dates,” he stated just above a whisper.

A memory of the odd Japanese people and the costume shop raced back to Ryeowook and he was positive a heat would overcome him any second. The richly colored photo came back to him. He still remembered sitting on his bed for a solid hour, memorizing every line.

They had been gazing at each other in a way Ryeowook couldn’t even comprehend. Their bodies had been pressed so close and if anyone just glanced at the photo, they would’ve thought Ryeowook was a pretty, petite girl bashfully submitting to the dark and brooding Cho Kyuhyun.

Then again, that wasn’t too far away from the truth. Ryeowook stifled a groan. Where was his dignity?

“Hey, let’s go over there,” Kyuhyun pointed towards the miniature rose maze lit by blue lights woven in the foliage.

Ryeowook dropped his arm, taking Kyuhyun’s hand again. “Ah, you said you wanted to talk before, right?”

He nodded, taking a deep breath and mumbling about the sweet smell. “I’m a liar.” Kyuhyun kept walking, his backside to Ryeowook. “I lie about everything and anything to sculpt the perfect reality. I don’t want to live by someone else’s principles. I’ve never been okay with relinquishing my hold.”

Ryeowook wanted to say he already knew that but Kyuhyun kept talking.

“But then you destroyed everything without me asking. You wrecked your entire reality because I was losing control of mine. I,” Kyuhyun paused in a pool of moonlight to turn around, “need you to know that I’m sorry for taking away our reality.” He gulped, eyes flitting anywhere and everywhere. “I wanted so badly to have my own world again. I didn’t want to share with someone else anymore. I felt like the longer we stayed together, the more control I was losing over everything.”

Kyuhyun untangled their hands so he could guide Ryeowook’s face up to his. “Until now I’ve never been sorry about the choices I made. But after you ruined it all for me,” he took a steadying breath, as if it were taking all of his strength to get these words out. Ryeowook had a hunch that was true. “I can’t believe you left behind everything,” he whispered, “I still think sometimes…that you’re not really this amazing.”

You think I’m amazing?Ryeowook wanted to speak but the words lodged in his throat.

“I keep trying to tell myself that the Ryeowook I fabricated in our shared world is the real you, but it probably never was. I mean,” a breathless smile appeared on his face and Ryeowook felt his heart stall for a second, “you were the one who found me in the beginning – the very beginning.”

“I don’t know how to speak anymore,” Kyuhyun sighed, “I can’t convey…I can’t understand how to make you feel like it wasn’t a mistake. You already gave up something so precious for me and I know you’re regretting it—”

Ryeowook couldn’t take it anymore. He wrapped his arms around Kyuhyun’s waist, pressing up to capture fumbling lips. The taller boy fell back, catching Ryeowook to protect him from the hard ground. Kyuhyun felt a dull pounding pain in his tailbone but he ignored it, relaxing into the warm kiss.

“Please stop, Kyu,” Ryeowook’s voice cracked and he leaned his head down, panting, parted lips brushing Kyuhyun’s neck, “Please don’t apologize anymore.” He opened his eyes, only to close them again and nuzzle into the familiar scent of cologne. “I know how much you gave up for me. For me to give up one thing can’t compare,” Ryeowook whispered miserably, “So don’t think I’m here out of pity. Kyuhyun, I need you.”

Tears dared to fall as the quaking of his voice grew worse, “I would only do this for you. I would never destroy everything for anyone else. But you were breaking,” Ryeowook could hear his own wails now, like a flood gate letting loose all of the unspoken words, “and I…and I...,” he lifted his arms up tangling around Kyuhyun’s neck, “I…”

Kyuhyun lied back on the stone, gently patting the boy’s trembling back. He softly hummed a familiar tune, letting his eyes lift up to the dark blue sky. Little white specks flashed from time to time, playing hide and seek in the folds of the atmosphere.

“Ryeowook,” he murmured, “we…are already too far gone, aren’t we?” …from the past.

The boy was silent but then he lifted his head, pushing up to hover over Kyuhyun’s face. His eyes were still wet and his cheeks were flushed even under the pale moonlight. “That means this time we won’t get trapped,” he answered with a very small smile. Ryeowook paused before their lips could meet. I don’t need the past…

Kyuhyun smoothed his fingers through Ryeowook’s hair, tugging him lower. “…I don’t need control this time,” he mouthed a breath away, “I won’t cave again.”

“Is this our first real kiss, Kyuhyun…?” Ryeowook asked as his eyes fluttered closed. What are we becoming…?

He dipped his chin slightly in a nod. “No other motives…” Not because I’m angry, or sad, or lonely…and not because he thinks he has to…not because I think I have to…

Ryeowook rested his weight on top of Kyuhyun’s. “Mutual from the beginning?” he breathed. I don’t kiss you and you don’t kiss me…

“Yeah,” Kyuhyun mumbled, tightening his arm around Ryeowook’s waist. “Make it perfect.” Because…

Ryeowook watched the night sky paint across the back of his eyelids before fireworks and sparks flew through it and then all manner of crazed colors danced away the night…because this was real.

Now they were real.

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For anyone who's counting it took them:

154 Chapters

405 Pages

208,204 Words

To get to this point.

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