“Bad news?” Tao asked from his favorite chair in the living room.

                “Yeah,” Kyungsoo replied, throwing his bag down on the ground as he walked over to sit on Tao’s lap. Tao reached his long fingers up to Kyungsoo’s soft face and felt his cheeks.

                “What is it?” Tao asked, but Kyungsoo didn’t reply, leaning into Tao and kissing his neck. “Kyungsoo,” Tao whined. “Come on, tell me.”

                “I love you a lot, you know that?” Kyungsoo said, still kissing Tao. “I really, really love you.” His arms s around Tao’s torso as he kissed up to Tao’s perfect, bow-shaped lips.

                “I know,” Tao replied. “And I really love you too. But what’s the news?”

                Kyungsoo pulled back and looked at Tao. Even though Tao’s eyes never found Kyungsoo’s directly, Kyungsoo always loved to gaze into them anyway.

                “I’m moving,” he said.

                “What?” Tao asked. “I don’t think I heard you correctly.”

                “You did,” Kyungsoo sighed. “I’m moving.”

                “Where? When? Why?” Tao asked, his eyebrows knitting.

                “I’m going to Busan next Thursday,” Kyungsoo said. “For work.”

                “And how long will you be gone?” Tao asked, and Kyungsoo could hear the uncertainty in his voice, as if he knew exactly what Kyungsoo was going to say next.

                “Tao…I’m not coming back,” Kyungsoo replied.

                “Ever?” Tao asked.

                “Maybe for visits, but…I’m staying there for good,” Kyungsoo explained. “I’m sorry, Tao.”

                “So…is this it for us then?” Tao wondered aloud, and Kyungsoo gasped, taking Tao’s hands quickly.

                “No! Tao, we can still call each other. We can video chat—”

                “How would video chat change anything?” Tao demanded, and Kyungsoo could hear the pain in his words. “You know that the only way I can feel like I’m close to you is to literally be close to you.”

                “I…I know,” Kyungsoo replied. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have suggested that.”

                “Touch is the only sense I have left,” Tao choked. “If I can’t hold you in my arms, then what?”

                “Absence makes the heart grow fonder?” Kyungsoo ventured, and Tao pushed him off his lap.

                “How can you say something like that?” he cried. “It’s as if you don’t care if you leave me or not!”

                “I do care!” Kyungsoo exclaimed, standing up and taking Tao’s hands in his. Tao tried to pull away, but Kyungsoo’s grip was firm. “Tao, didn’t I tell you I loved you? I do. I adore you. But I need to be able to support myself, and this job is going to help me.”

                “What about me?” Tao asked.

                “I…I don’t know,” Kyungsoo admitted, letting go of Tao’s hands and stepping back. “I’d take you with me, but…I mean, I can only really support myself right now. I’m so sorry.”

                “I know,” Tao sighed resignedly. Kyungsoo hated that jaded tone in his voice. “I’m sorry I reacted so badly. Where are you?” he held out his hands, searching for Kyungsoo.

                “I’m here,” Kyungsoo put his hand on Tao’s chest. “Right here.”

               “Come here,” Tao said, and he smiled sadly. Kyungsoo sat on his lap again, nestling himself in Tao’s comforting arms. “I’m really going to miss you.”

                “I love you, you know. I really, really love you,” Kyungsoo said, hoping that by telling Tao over and over again how much he loved him that nothing would change between them, that he could make Tao happy even though he was gone.

                “I know. I really love you too,” Tao sighed. Kyungsoo held him closer. “Have…have a good trip.” He leaned into Kyungsoo, kissing his face before finding his lips.

                Kyungsoo hoped Tao couldn’t taste his tears.

                “Hi, Taozi,” Kyungsoo said over the phone. “How are you?”

                “Fine,” Tao said. “How are you?”

                “Fine too,” Kyungsoo replied. “I miss you a lot.”

                “I miss you too. What are you doing right now?” Tao asked.

                “Making spaghetti,” Kyungsoo said, dipping his spoon into the tomato sauce to taste it.

                “I shouldn’t have asked,” Tao laughed, and Kyungsoo paused, remembering Tao’s laugh. “I can smell it now. I’m craving your spaghetti.”

                “I wish I could see you,” Kyungsoo sighed, and he heard Tao sigh on the other end as well.

                “I wish I could see you too,” he replied. “I bet you’re gorgeous.”

                “That’s not what I meant,” Kyungsoo smiled in spite of himself. “I meant I wish I could be with you right now.”

                “I wish that too,” Tao replied. “I wish so every single day.”

                “Tao, don’t you dare make me cry,” Kyungsoo warned, and Tao just sighed.

                “I’m sorry. Honestly, Kyungsoo, these days you’re just a voice. I can’t remember what you feel like anymore.”

                “Didn’t I tell you not to make me cry?” Kyungsoo said, pouring the spaghetti into the water. His throat started to clench up.

                “I miss you,” Tao said, and it sounded like he was having trouble talking as well. Kyungsoo stirred the spaghetti as tears blurred his eyes.

                “I miss you too. And your touches.”

                “I…anyway, that’s not the reason I called,” Tao said. “Actually, my mom is in the hospital.”

                “What?” Kyungsoo cried, nearly dropping the salt shaker. “Why? Is she okay?”

                “Not…not really,” Tao said. “They found the cancer a few weeks ago, and she’s gone through chemotherapy but they say she’s probably only got a few weeks left at most. So I’m just coming to terms with the fact that I’ll be an orphan in a few weeks.”

                “Tao, don’t say that. She’s going to get better, I know it.”

                “You’ve always been the optimistic one,” Tao said. “But it’s a fairly certain fact that she’s going to die.”

                “But what…what’ll you do?” Kyungsoo asked quietly. “Where will you go?”

                “I don’t know,” Tao said. “But I’ll figure something out. I’m strong, right? Kyungsoo?”

                “I have to go, Taozi,” Kyungsoo said, fighting back his tears. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

                “Well, okay,” Tao allowed. “Bye, Kyungsoo. I love you.”

                “I love you too,” Kyungsoo said, hanging up the phone and promptly dissolving into a sobbing mess.

                That night, Kyungsoo couldn’t sleep. Knowing that Tao would not only lose his mother, but his home as well bothered Kyungsoo. And knowing that Tao would have a hard time on his own was a completely different issue that also wouldn’t leave Kyungsoo’s conscience alone.

                Not to mention the fact that Kyungsoo had become “just a voice” to Tao.

                It was a decision that he probably should have made months before.

                Kyungsoo knocked.

                “Coming!” said Tao’s voice, and he heard slow footsteps padding closer and closer. The door opened and Tao stood there, waiting for Kyungsoo to identify himself. Kyungsoo didn’t say anything. “Sorry, who are you?” Tao asked. “I’m actually bl—”

                But Kyungsoo cut him off with a kiss, wrapping his arms around Tao’s shoulders and pressing himself up against his chest.

                “I know you,” Tao said slowly, running his hands up and down Kyungsoo’s sides.

                “Yes you do,” Kyungsoo said, kissing Tao again. “You do.”

                “I can’t believe you’re here,” Tao said. “Am I dreaming?”

                “I came back for you, Taozi. I can’t bear to leave you alone.”

                “But your job!” Tao cried. “What about your—”

                “Screw that job,” Kyungsoo said. “I’m here for you. I love you so much, Tao. I could never ever leave you alone. I should have known that before I left.”

                “So you’re here for good?” Tao asked, putting his hands on Kyungsoo’s soft cheeks once again. “I’ll never get tired of the way your face feels.”

                “I’m here for good, so I hope you’ll never get tired. I’m all yours.”

                “All mine?” Tao asked, and Kyungsoo nodded even though he knew Tao couldn’t see him.

                “All yours.” He pulled Tao closer towards him and swore over and over again in a fervent whisper that he’d never, ever let him go.

So I kind of had inspiration. And it turned into this. It's my first AU of this series! I like Taosoo. 

Yes, Tao is blind if you didn't realize. 

I think this is probably the only repeat pairing I'll do (although I say that now, we'll see).

This perfect fanart is the amazing work of the lovely Jin who I adore to bits and would write anything just to see her illustrate it.