Yo.

I know I said there's no kpop songs in this.

But this. Is. MANDATORY.

/Cough

Play this? c:

It's kind of like Jongkey's-second-theme.

I Love You - Athena OST

Enjoy. 

  “I . . . dang it,” Jonghyun sighed, falling on his to sit as he failed again.

  “What?” Kibum laughed, all curious with the words that failed to escape Jonghyun, “You have been like this all day. It is night, now, Jjong—” Gosh Jonghyun loved the nickname Kibum gave him, “—Come on, what is it?”

It was another whole year, this time alongside with Kibum. Kibum came out to the wild more frequently, day and night, to see Jonghyun, to see what life on the wild side was like. Of course Jonghyun kept the Taerant away from Kibum, but it made him more eager to show him who he really was.

  “I . . . no, forget it,” Jonghyun gave up, getting back on his feet, shagging his now short hair (because Kibum insisted on cutting it so it could stay out of his eyes). Kibum was a normal man. He surely had a woman of his own, of course. His confession wouldn’t do.

  “Tell me, you idiot!” Kibum teasingly threatened, nudging him on the elbow, “Look, your face is even turning red! What is with you?”

Jonghyun debated on whether what he should do by this point. He’s been like this all day to Kibum, stopping and restarting, trying to voice out some sort of hint Jonghyun wanted Kibum, but all he could think of is how the younger would recoil.

To think he only wanted to watch Kibum from the beginning, and just to meet him. But now, after spending time with him, knowing him, actually able to touch him without fear, all he wanted was him.

It was a long shot, and he knew it. If he confessed, Kibum could leave. If he confessed and Kibum stayed, that meant his natural side had to be locked up—locked up forever.

  “Well, fine,” Kibum sighed, pushing him roughly, “If you will not speak, then I will. I have to confess.”

Jonghyun perked up, all ears in eagerness as to what he had to say, “Yeah?”

The younger didn’t look at all happy, skipping a rock on the water, “Well . . . I have to . . . I am going to say this straight to the point and very blunt . . ."

Jonghyun nodded, all ears for Kibum, trying to think the best.

Kibum skipped another rock, biting his lip, "I have to . . . get married to this girl.”

Jonghyun’s face deflated, stopping all his breathing at once and just staring.

Kibum . . . was getting married.

His stomach turned in knots as if he were hungry, savagely hungry. Like he was ready to tear flesh apart just to eat his hunger away from the upset that was eating away at him.

  “. . . Married. That is what two do when they fall in love,” Jonghyun stiffly answered.

Kibum sighed, “Yeah, it is. . .”

No, no. He couldn’t tell him now. Now that Kibum was getting married, he couldn’t have any affairs with him! That was . . . that was wrong.

  “The woman?”

  “She is sweet, I will admit it,” Kibum spoke, skipping a few more rocks, “But I do not wish to marry her. I have no eye for a woman.”

  “Does she know that?”

  “Of course. But she wants to try and make it work for both our families. They need the support.”

Even though Kibum had no interest, and it was forceful, the families were important. If they were failing to live, of course they’d need support. And if Kibum and this woman could help by marrying, then so be it. Jonghyun couldn’t afford to get in the way.

  “I think . . .” Jonghyun rubbed his temples, sighing as he looked at Kibum, “This should be our last meet, Kibum.”

It was the most dramatic thing Jonghyun could do; but he now wanted to make it as blunt and quick as possible.

Kibum looked at him, alarmed, grabbing Jonghyun by the arm and shaking him, “Are you stupid?! Why would this be?!”

  “Kibum,” Jonghyun groaned, holding him by the shoulders, his human heart shredding as it begged to go back to being a Taerant, “Marriage is responsibility. You cannot just wander out here, you have to be there! That is the meaning of marriage; of being there! You may not always get what you want, but that is what joining together means, and I will not let myself or you corrupt it!”

Just saying the words kept Jonghyun on the edge, his emotions just ripping him into hundredths. He should’ve known better and left with his kind. He was so stupid, so dumb to let fascination cloud his mind of survival, of being strong. Now he was just weak and lost.

He had to go to China.

  “But, Jjong,” Kibum huffed, smacking his hands away, “I am a man. A man can be free as ever.”

  “A man who believes he has all the freedom must think he is God. Kibum, no matter how much you seem so, you are not. You live in this world where freedom comes for a price. You have not paid it, now that you are to be arranged,” Jonghyun stressed, “That is what life in this world is about.”

  “Jjong, keep coming back,” Kibum insisted strongly, “Because I shall keep returning.”

Jonghyun clenched his fists. Stop it, Kibum. You will only make it worse to go to goddamn China.

  “You will not find my return. Now, turn around, Kibum,” Jonghyun hated the formality, “Turn back and return.”

Jonghyun could feel himself slip. His sadness turned into anger. After these years, things weren’t going to plan; everything was ruined. He wasted a few years of his life that could be easily replace with his immortality, but now he would live with the hurt of letting himself go.

It hurt so much that he could feel his fur trying to break through.

Not wanting to hurt Kibum, he turned his back, saving the younger.

  “No, Jonghyun,” Kibum grasped on to the elder, trying to force him in his spot, “Do not go. I do not want to marry. I do not want my family. I do not want imprisonment. You do not know what it is like to live in the way I do. Why have I always come out here? To pretend I live in the wild. You are the closest thing I have that can provide that.”

  “Kibum,” Jonghyun warned, his blood bubbling, “Let go.”

He only held on tighter.

  “If you do not release me, you will be harmed, Kibum. Let go.”

  “Hit me, I dare you,” he challenged, “As long as you do not leave. Just take me with you.”

His mind’s rational voice started barking viciously, unable to tell what he was telling himself yet, but all he knew was that it was warning. He had to run for it. Now.

  “Get off!” Jonghyun shouted and ripped himself away, trying to run into the trees to keep himself from turning in front of him.

But, unknowingly, Kibum had some stamina on him.

Jonghyun tried to move as quickly as he could, the trees pointing him to go back to Kibum, to confront him of everything, to confess. It wasn’t an option. It couldn’t be done.

He couldn’t hold on any longer, though. He could feel rubble turn to whiskers all over his face and the fur grew out from his skin. His eyes flashed white and he growled out at the uncomfortable pain of shifting to his normal form. He hadn’t changed in so long, and that was a price he paid for ignorance.

He snarled as he jumped from his two legs.

And when he hit back down on the ground, he had four.

He breathed harshly, shifting around to get used to the feeling of four feet again, wagging his tail to make sure he could recognize it wasn’t something swaying at his so rudely.

His stomach rumbled, hard and loud. He resisted this hunger for too long.

  “Jonghyun!”

The Taerant turned around sharply, seeing Kibum a good distance with the most shocked, feared expression on his face.

Jonghyun forced it, trying to bring his human vocal cords to work, “So—you—see?”

The man stood there.

He snarled to clear his throat out to speak again, “This is me, Kibum. I am no human. I never was. I am a cold killer who could rip you to shreds under a second.”

  “The villagers . . .” Kibum breathed, not even dealing with the shock in silence.

  “Used to be mine,” Jonghyun confessed, pacing in a line, watching Kibum, “The first time I saw you, watched you, I took less lives. I killed less, and it has been a pain in the .

  “But it was worth it up until now,” he snarled, “I have grown attached; attached to my food!”

Kibum shook his head slowly, “Jonghyun . . . I . . .”

  “I am a monster, Kibum, do not forget it,” he barked, “I have the strength to cut the world in half.”

(No, he truly didn’t.) 

  “I am a beast. A legend. Monsters exist, Kibum. Go. Tell that to the humans. Leave before my stomach would love to devour you,” Jonghyun reluctantly turned away, forcing himself to retreat and find food for his aching stomach.

When he heard the leaves and ground shift behind him, he growled again, “Goddamn it, Kim Kibum—”

He turned around to yell his last humane vocals, only to cut short.

A hand was on his head, in between his ears, softly petting him down to his nose.

Jonghyun’s stomach still cried it’s hurting, but his heart was shouting it felt good.

Kibum, slightly shaking, continuously pet his head, being careful around his mouth, petting Jonghyun so much that the Taerant whined in his throat.

Kibum could finally smile, scratching one of his ears, “I was wondering what that mark on your shoulder blade was. It makes sense, now.”

Jonghyun closed his eyes, ducking his head onto Kibum’s chest unconsciously, begging for more attention. He needed to go, to let Kibum leave and move on, not this. But he couldn’t control it. It was like he waited for Kibum to touch him for so long, even like this.

Kibum hugged his head to him, placing his chin on top of his huge head, “It is alright, Jonghyun. I get it, now, I get it.”

His rapid heartbeat slowed, calming down as Kibum comprehended, not fully, but enough to understand.

Jonghyun tried to speak again, but it sounded like a lost puppy, asking for help.

  “Jonghyun, being with you allows me to roam around free, like I have always wanted,” Kibum breathed, scratching his neck, “But to roam free is not all that I want. And I know you know what I speak of.”

Jonghyun backed his head away, slightly towering over Kibum, lightly nudging on his shoulder and shaking his head to say ‘No. I cannot do that to your family’.

  “If I died,” Kibum held on to his coat, “My family would live better. I am the youngest one; the one to ship of to somewhere and forget about.

  "My normal attire is back at the river, making it seem I have gone missing. My family would live better without me, you see. That woman can marry my brother. Just take me with you. I do not wish to part, please. You know I do not beg often,” Kibum chuckled a little at the end, his voice a little watery, “I will not burden you, I promise. I shall do my best.”

Jonghyun stood still for a moment, blinking at the scenery around him, trying to find the best answer.

Kibum could’ve been lying. Just to leave, to be with Jonghyun.

But was it selfish to say Jonghyun didn’t want to care?

It would be a harder life for Kibum to live. Food, shelter, clothing, hygiene. It’d be too big of a change for him.

His stomach cried again, and Kibum jumped, only holding on to his neck further, “Eat me if you have to.”

Jonghyun sharply growled at him.

Kibum slapped him, “I was only joking. I know it hurts but . . . please.”

Jonghyun sighed, more than happy, but it still felt slightly wrong. He backed himself away, laying on the ground, gesturing Kibum to get on his back.

Kibum’s eyes lit up, a soft smile on his face before he kissed Jonghyun on the nose, “When we slow down, you are getting a major grooming, I promise.”

Jonghyun couldn’t help but to slightly bark as he chuckled, Kibum climbing up on to his back and holding on to his neck fur.

Jonghyun actually smiled, getting up as Kibum situated, turning to start their journey off into this land and away from the village. Sure, there were many savaging creatures out there, but the Taerant had more of a reason to fight than ever, now.

Kibum laughed as he laid his head on top of Jonghyun’s, lightly grasping on to his fur, admiring how soft it was (rather than rough as it usually was).

They were walking away from the prologue of their story and into the beginning. Jonghyun hated writing, but he could totally manage to do damage on many scrolls to get across every event.

  “Hey, Jonghyun?”

Jonghyun grunted.

  “. . . If we go back, we can raid Old-Man-Jung’s farms. Even snatch a pig.”

Jonghyun snorted, turning back around at Kibum’s idea for human food.

----Note~----

Making this quick because dead tired. Yup.

That line I came up with; "A man who believes he has all the freedom must think he is God."

THIS. 

IS.

EVERYTHING.

AM I RIGHT.

I was gonna send this out with tomorrow's chapter, but then I was thinking

The next chapter is actually rated and... um... well... because... um...

I feel embarrassed just thinking about posting it on it's own because it won't be paired up with an ETR chapter. Besides tomorrow.

So... um... to get my awkward feeling over, A RATED M CHAPTER WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW ALONG WITH ETR'S CHAPTER.

God.

I'm not ready for this again.

Writing 2min leading up to was just as embarrassing.

HOW DID I MANAGE THIS.

Anyway, see everyone tomorrow <3

~FlaMinhoe