taemin/sulli | freedom | drabble | angst

“I don’t understand.”

Taemin glares at her through the fringe covering his eyes. His face is cold, unforgiving, distant.

“W-why --” her voice wavers as he cuts her off.

“You never understand,” he growls, his voice dripping with contempt, with darkness, with anger. (He doesn’t bother to hide the little glimpses of kindness, gentle concern, and love, that dimly shines past his hateful facade.)

Sulli feels herself tearing up, but she swallows frantically, determined to stay strong. She is just so confused, so lost, with so many questions.

Something overtakes his being, and he finds himself grabbing both her shoulders forcefully and shaking her. She hesitantly peers up at him through the curtain of tears in her eyes, not able to wrench herself from his dark gaze.

His heart begins to crumble under her imploring eyes, but he wills himself to stay strong,  for himself, for her, for them. This can and will never happen, he thinks.

And so, finally collecting himself together, closing his eyes for a split second to regain strength (which he had never had), he chokingly sputters out seven heartbreaking words.

“Don’t ever come back to me again.”

And she pries free from his weakening grasp (which she regrets, because she yearns for just one last touch) and runs away, tears finally able to pour freely out. She feels invisible chains falling away from her and clacking loudly to the ground; the sound is heavenly yet dissonant to her ears. But alas, she is finally free.

Freedom, she thinks bitterly as she gasps for air. Is not as wonderful as it seems.

pic credit | icedtae.tumblr