“Where were you all day?”

The penthouse was quiet and dimly lit. Night lights streaked through the glass windows, painting a beautiful contrast with the cream colored furniture. Kyuhyun had had red furniture originally, but Ryeowook had convinced him to change it because that was too vibrant of a color for everyday couches.

Setting his keys down on the counter, Ryeowook shrugged off his jacket and bag, walking over to the man drinking a cup of wine. “I was visiting someone,” he answered, smiling faintly as he leaned over to brush the messy locks out of Kyuhyun’s face. “How was the party?”

“Who were you visiting?” The look in his eyes was half-pleading, half-angry and Ryeowook tried to brush it off, but then there was a hand clamped around his wrist, pulling him forward.

He caught himself on the edge of the couch, gaze locked with Kyuhyun’s. “…My husband.”

“Why?” he prompted, cursing himself for sounding like such an every time this subject came up.

Ryeowook shook his captured arm. “Today is our wedding anniversary.”

“And when is our meeting anniversary?” Kyuhyun asked almost too quickly. He loosened his hold on Ryeowook, fingers sliding down to rest on the boy’s hips, face tilted up slightly.

“August 15^th,” he answered with hesitation, “Kyuhyun, can I ask you something now?”

He nodded slowly.

Ryeowook touched the man’s face delicately, eyes dark with grief. “If I hurt you this much, why don’t you just get away already?” He attempted a small, bitter smile, “I thought I was getting better, but I’m not. When I see his grave…and I see that I left him behind…I can’t…I can’t do this.” Tears trickled down his face, features crumpling as he felt himself pulled tight against Kyuhyun’s body. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…,” he choked, “I don’t know what to do, K-Kyuhyun…”

“Tell me about him,” he murmured, resting his head against the crook of Ryeowook’s neck. That tiny body was shaking horribly and all he could do was hold on tighter in hopes of making it stop.

It took a few moments for Ryeowook to collect himself enough to talk properly. His eyes were tired and red, heart racing. “…He was kind…too kind,” he whispered into the fabric of Kyuhyun’s shirt, “…and he always looked out for me.” Ryeowook took a trembling breath, a tiny smile breaking through the restless sobs. “A-And…when we lived together, nothing mattered. It was just us and we could pretend that nothing would change…” He laughed, fingers curling into Kyuhyun’s sides, “And…I knew it would happen, I was there for all of it, but I didn’t want to believe it. He died right before Christmas.”

Ryeowook ground his teeth together, trying to suppress the urge to keep crying. Guilt festered in his stomach, polluting his mind and plaguing his blood like nothing else ever could. It was that final memory of Hyungsik that drew his heart into that chained up box. He tried to open his mouth to talk about it, but it didn’t work. His voice caught in his throat and he closed his mouth, feeling coldness seep into his skin.

Kyuhyun wasn’t sure if he was happy or not that Ryeowook was confessing so many things about his past. This had to be the first time he had seen the meticulous man breakdown so severely. Normally, he was indifferent to any remarks made about his late husband, but apparently that wasn’t the case on that day.

“What about your wedding?” Kyuhyun mumbled, muscles having subconsciously tensed while listening to Ryeowook’s vague descriptions. He could feel it coursing through his veins. It was that unspoken, terrifying emotion that warned anyone and everyone that a certain incident shouldn’t be torn open.

Ryeowook noticeable relaxed at the slight change in subject. His grip loosened on Kyuhyun and he swallowed hard. “We flew to America…and there was no one around but us. The church was beautiful and small…we exchanged vows and then we went home to tell our parents what we had done.”

“Were they mad?” Kyuhyun raised an eyebrow.

The man laughed softly, turning his head to look at Kyuhyun. “They were upset that we didn’t invite them.”

Scoffing, the latter rolled his eyes and smirked. “Not very traditional, I see.”

“Well, we had been together for fifteen years,” Ryeowook smiled, “it’s to be expected that we would end up eloping someday.”

Kyuhyun nearly choked on air. “What do you mean fifteen years?” he caught his breath, eyes wide, “How old are you, Ryeowook?”

“No, no,” he laughed, shoulder shaking, eyes lightening up, “we were only married for a few months…we’ve known each other since I moved next door to him when I was five or six.”

Mocking a sigh of relief, he leaned closer to the other male, knowing then and there that he really had to be a fool in love. He always thought that hearing Ryeowook talk about someone else so tenderly would piss him off, but it didn’t seem like he was able to get mad in this situation. In fact, Kyuhyun hated to admit it, but he was falling even harder for that expression on Ryeowook’s face.

“I…won’t tell you to forget about him anymore,” he said softly, earning a surprised flurry of emotions to pass over the slender man’s features. Kyuhyun closed his eyes, re-opening them as he said, “But I want to see you talking about the deceased with a smile on your face. I…still don’t know how much he really means to you, but no one would want someone they love to grieve for their entire life.”

“Then what are you saying?” Ryeowook murmured, “Are you going to fix me?” he half-joked.

Kyuhyun made an annoyed sound, saying, “Yes, I am going to fix you. I don’t care anymore if you fall in love with me,” he had to pause then, shocked at his own resolve, “…I love you and this is the only selfless thing I will ever do in my life. We’re going to get all of your feelings out and you’re going to properly express yourself because I know that if I was the one who died, I wouldn’t want to look down from heaven and see you sad every time you think of me.”

Ryeowook shook his head, lips parting slowly, “…you’re the first person who has ever wanted to help me…like this.”

“That’s because I’m the second person to ever love you like this,” he responded quietly, “and so I want you to see love the way I do.”

“And how do you see love?” Ryeowook smiled, eyes closing as exhaustion overcame him.

Kyuhyun brushed a soft, lingering kiss to the other man’s neck, gaze trailing over to that peaceful, tired face. “Love is a sweet and powerful memory.”