Lets have dumplings together my good friend

Grass Stains

sehraa — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:54:47 GMT

Title: Grass Stains
Author: sehraa
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 1400
Prompt: For some reason, I’m trembling today
I think something good will happen…
-Wowowow // SHINee
Disclaimer: I own nothing, and will own nothing, if SM tries to sue me.
(cross posted to shawol_haven )

For some reason, I’m trembling today
I think something good will happen…

-

Taemin lies on sun-warmed grass, content in his indolence as he idly watches clouds passing by. His cloud-gazing is interrupted by a tall figure who casts a long shadow blocking his sunlight. Taemin smiles up at the culprit and gestures lazily at the empty spot.

"What are you doing here?" Minho asks, taking the silent invitation for what it is and lying down beside Taemin. He absentmindedly plucks a stray piece of grass tangled in Taemin's gold-brown hair.

Taemin notes that Minho is close enough to kiss and he laughs a little at the thought, "I'm being." Taemin replies with a smile, "Just being. That's the nicest thing right?"

Minho sighs and Taemin knows he understands, "Yeah." Minho says, "But it's time to go back."

"I don't want to." Taemin says childishly propping himself up on an elbow to pluck out a handful of grass and toss it at Minho's head. Minho's lips tweak in amusement and Taemin has to swallow as Minho's eyes darken at the challenge.

Soon they are engaged in a mini-war, laughing and spitting out bits of green and the odd dandelion, unmindful of mussed up clothes and dirt encrusted fingernails as they roll around like little children in the grass.

"Do you give up?" Minho asks solemnly after managing to wrestle Taemin to the ground and straddle his waist to keep Taemin in place, Taemin tries to glare in return but can only laugh as Minho pokes the ticklish spot at his side.

"N-no." Taemin gasps as he squirms, trying to escape. Minho clamps Taemin's wrists to the ground to stop his struggling, dark round eyes twinkling as Minho full out grins at him. Taemin laughs in Minho's face and Minho is caught off guard at how young Taemin looks at the moment. Child-like and shrugged free of expectations.

"Do you give up?" Minho asks again. It is quiet, the wind playfully mussing up Minho's hair, blades of grass yet unflattened by their rough-housing dancing in the wind. It is peaceful and Taemin thinks he wouldn't mind if they could stay like this forever, and he doesn't ever want to give this up.

"Do you ever get the feeling." Taemin says after a while, "That something good's gonna happen? Not just good, but like, really good?"

"Sometimes." Minho agrees. He doesn't tell Taemin that he feels it everytime he's near the younger boy. Some things are difficult to say.

"Well I just got it." Taemin declares, "And I've decided!"

"Decided what?" Minho plays along.

"That I'm going to find it." Taemin whispers conspiringly, Minho smiles and shifts his weight from his right knee to his left. Digging the top of his feet into the ground to make sure he doesn't actually fall on the smaller boy.

"What makes you so sure," Minho asks, "About that good thing of yours?"

"Because there's a four leaved clover in your hair." Taemin says impulsively. Minho lets go of Taemin's wrists to automatically run a hand through his hair, but Taemin grabs the tiny plant before Minho can shake it off. Taemin sits up, Minho still straddling his lower waist, propping himself on both elbows now that his hands are free.

It is a spur of the moment thing. But Taemin thinks that he'll make up any sort of nonsense if only a time like this will suspend for the both of them so he can enjoy it a little longer.

"There're only three leaves." Minho points out to Taemin's look of triumph, Taemin puffs out his cheeks and very deliberately tears one of the clover's leaves in two.

"That cannot count." Minho says amused as Taemin waves the clover in his face. Minho realises how compromising their position is, probably has realised it for longer than suitable, and knows that their stylists, and probably the rest of the members, will come and look for them soon. And they cannot find them like this.
Misunderstandings and complications will drive them apart and it won't be very fair, since they weren't actually doing anything.

Taemin pouts as Minho crawls off him to stand up and brush himself off. Taemin remains where he is, heels digging into the dirt as he pulls himself up to rest his arms on his knees. Minho shakes his head at the state Taemin is in. Dust coats his clothes and green stains his jeans. Minho knows he can't look much better as he extends a hand to Taemin.

Taemin allows himself to be pulled up and doesn't let go of Minho's hand.

"The noonas are going to kill us." Taemin says as he tries to brush himself off with one hand. Minho looks down at the state of his own clothes and winces.

Minho wonders if his natural charisma teamed with Taemin's cuteness could placate the noonas. Taemin starts walking a direction opposite where the staff were packing up from the filming earlier, dragging Minho along with him.

"Where are we going?" Minho thinks to ask, after allowing himself to be lead to who knows where. Taemin smirks at him with an expression he probably picked up from one of Kibum's bitch faces and Minho's heart skips a beat.

"To find my good thing of course." Taemin says rolling his eyes as if it is obvious and Minho is a little thick in the head. Minho gives him a flat look in return, he's very good at flat looks, and Taemin laughs as he drops the rebellious act. Taemin takes out his phone and texts someone, presumably to let Kibum know where they are. Both of them knew how much nagging they would have to suffer if Taemin didn't.

"Where is that?" Minho asks as they get further away from the others. His cellphone vibrates in his pocket, only to be ignored. It is probably Jinki, worried about their whereabouts. Or Kibum, wanting to know what they wanted for dinner even though Kibum will probably just order in what he wants. Or Jonghyun, demanding to know where they were and why they didn't take him.

"I don't know." Taemin says like it's a good thing, "That's why we're finding it."

They wander around the limited area they can. Talking about everything and nothing. Play an impromptu game of tag which Minho wins easily enough. They get bombarded with texts and calls from the rest of the members. Taemin returns the texts with cheeky ones of his own that he sends through Minho's phone, and imitates recorded messages when he answers their calls. Complete with the beep sound and everything.

They have to go back eventually. Taemin gives the noonas his best puppy eyes as Minho bows appologetically to the noona's indignant squeals when they see the grass stains and the dirt.

"Well really," Kibum sighs as he runs a comb through Taemin's hair, "Good thing we're done filming today. You're a complete mess Taeminnie. You and Minho, what were you doing."

"We were finding my good thing." Taemin explains as Kibum scowls at a particularly stubborn tangle.

"What's a good thing?" Jonghyun asks, playing with Kibum's hair. Jinki pulls out another hairbrush, using it as a mic while Jonghyun grabs a strand of Kibum's hair thoughtfully. Jinki holds the hairbrush to Jonghyun's mouth as Jonghyun begins a running commentary about mites.

"A good thing is..." Taemin stops, blinks. He never really thought about that.

"...Something you know when you find it I guess." Taemin decides finally as Kibum swats blindly at the back of his head with the hairbrush, but hits Jinki instead as Jonghyun pulls his fingers back quickly.

"Ow." Jinki says, rubbing the injured spot with an exageratedly pained look.

Jonghyun starts to laugh until Kibum hits him too.

Taemin catches Minho's eyes and they exchange exasperated looks at their hyungs' antics as Jonghyun pretends to sob into Jinki's neck. Kibum scowls and throws his hairbrush at them.

And maybe, Taemin thinks as Minho drops into the seat next to him and allows Taemin to lean into his side, that maybe he doesn't have to look for the good thing anymore.

Because maybe he's found it a long time ago and didn't know it.

"I think," Taemin says, "That I don't need to look for my good thing anymore."

And Minho presses a soft kiss onto his head and smiles.

008. Locket

sehraa — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 23:32:59 GMT

Title/Prompt: Locket, Heechul/Sungmin
Ratings: PG
Author: sehraa
Warning: The usual suspects.
Additional information: For the 100Suju challenge. My fourth entry.
Side Pairings: None...
Summary:

008. Locket Heechul/Sungmin

Heechul's always been possesive so he jumps at the chance when he sees Sungmin gazing at a piece of jewelry.

Its nothing much, not platinium, not silver plated, not real gold. Just a dinky little bracelet that you're supposed to hang charms on.

Sungmin stares at it admiringly for a while longer before glancing back at Heechul, the look on his face a little surprised as if he'd expected Heechul to just go without him. Heechul can't blame him, he's done it before.

Heechul sighs loudly, as if all the world's troubles are on him and begins walking. Sungmin catches up and they walk side by side.

Heechul counts it as a victory when Sungmin mumbles if 'hyung wants a massage when they return' just so he will stop.

-

Sungmin finds a bracelet on his writing table the next day and recognises it as the one he'd been admiring at the mall.

He picks it up wondering if someone had left it on his table and something catches his eye that not only confirms that the gift is meant for him, but also confirms who'd sent it.

He wears it the next day, and catches Heechul's approving eye when the older sees that Sungmin left the cat charm on.

-

There's a black cat, a fish, a manjuu bun, a monkey and a cow dangling from his wrist so far, and its getting a little crowded. He doesn't mind though, and has hopes that maybe there will be fifteen of them hanging off it one day.

-

The next thing Heechul gets him is a locket.

Its pink, almost obnoxiously so, loud, and really, really...sweet.

Sungmin opens it and finds a picture of Hyaku and Heebum on each side. There is no note, no evidence, no trace of whoever sent it. Sungmin thinks that this is Kim Heechul's arrogance, that Heechul thinks he needs no introduction.

Sungmin fingers the necklace and concedes the point. The clasp is no rocket science to figure out and he's in front of a mirror and modelling it out.

He has to admit, Heechul really knows what goes well with his skin.

-

When Sungmin finds an earring on his table he is already starting to get used to these odd little gifts.

His first impulse is to wonder where the other one went. He opens drawers and sweeps the room, because Heechul would be annoyed if it turned out that the elder'd bought a pair and the other'd gone missing, but cannot find it. Sungmin admits defeat, but on the bright side, his room practically pains the eye in its gleaming now. He wears the single earring on his right ear, because it is either that or being a gangster, and feels like giggling every time another member notices.

Their reactions are priceless.

-

The ring is too lovely to be some any old street market bauble, but not professional enough to be anything serious. It is just a simple silver band stained pink.

Sungmin reads the inscription and turns it over in his hand with something so dangerously close to lo- fondness that he doesn't put it on at all and keeps it instead among his very special things.

-

Sungmin never wears the ring engraved with the name Kim Hee Chul

-

"Do you like them?" Heechul pauses to ask in the middle of one of their make-out sessions, Sungmin grumbles and tries to dip back in for more but Heechul holds his head a little too far out of reach. The bastard is amused Sungmin notes, scowling cutely and hoping that its enough to distract Heechul long enough to continue. It doesn't work and all Sungmin gets for his trouble is a chuckle and a mocking little kiss on the nose.

They're on the sofa and anyone could come in, but this is the twelfth floor. Eeteuk and Eunhyuk are doing Sukira, Kibum's away again, and Hankyung would probably take one look, ask if they were hungry, then go to his room. Heechul's got an elbow beside either side of Sungmin's head and is staring down at him unrepentently.

"No." Sungmin answers annoyed, and weighs the pros and cons of using his super-cool martial art skills for evil.

"Do you even know what I'm talking about?" Heechul chuckles and his breath ghosts teasingly over his face.

"Yes. No. Don't be annoying." Sungmin is very close to whining and really, Heechul's never really seriously taken exercising as serious body-building like Sungmin has and the younger probably can take Heechul on. Heechul, who is skinny as a stick, who is slim and still wanting to diet, who couldn't do real body-building even if he wanted to because of his various past injuries.

The point is that Sungmin can probably flip their horizontal positions so that he's on top and therefore their session can continue. He would, really, if he didn't know that Heechul would just find a way to sneak back to the top or just make himself very comfortable and very in control at the bottom.

Instead Sungmin just gives up and tries to settle down in a more comfortable position as he tries to patiently hear Heechul out.

Heechul seems to sense this as he goes on, "The charm bracelet," he motions to his own too-skinny wrist. Its been weeks since it was given to him and nothing's been said of it nor of the subsequent gifts, Heechul being either too busy, Sungmin likewise, or it is just never brought up.

He tugs on the locket Sungmin's taken to wearing, "The locket." He leans over to nip Sungmin's ear, "The earring." Sungmin squeaks, Heechul laughs and tries to do it again only to be swatted away with annoyance.

"The ring." And Sungmin meets Heechul's eyes which holds no mirth now. Only seriousness, the almost watery glint of contact lens Heechul's always joked was the depths of his soul, and something quietly honest.

"Yeah." Sungmin says softly, as earnestly as he can pour into words, "I do."

Heechul blinks, then a mischievious smile lights up his features and he looks like Heechul again.

"That's good." Heechul says grinning, "Now let me explain. Its all symbolic did you know?"

"Really?" Sungmin asks, curious now despite himself.

"Handcuff, collar, ear tag." Heechul replies a matter of factly. Sungmin stares.

"What. Seriously?" Sungmin asks, then, "Wait, ear tag?"

"You know how cow farmers tag their cows to show the other farmers that they're his?" Heechul says.

"You are very unromantic." Sungmin says, but he is smiling, "And possesive. And you just called me a cow."

"Pff, you love me." Heechul scoffs and leans in again to kiss him.

-

"So what was the ring for?" Sungmin texts. It's late in the night though Kyuhyun's still up, his computer screen brightening his corner of the room. Sungmin gets an answering text a minute later.

"Eh, I thought it looked nice with the locket." Is the reply, accompanied by some strange Heechul-esque emoticon.

"What are you doing now?" Sungmin types back. The answer is almost immediate.

"I'm texting." And Sungmin can practically hear the sarcasm.

"Go to sleep." Sungmin chides.

"Yes mother." His phone beeps back.

-

Heechul puts his head down and feels something beneath his pillow. He digs under it and his fingers meet warm metal.

He switches on his bedside lamp to Hankyung's muttered half Chinese, half Korean, curses and eyes his findings with a pleased grin.

-

Heechul never wears the ring engraved with the name Lee Sung Min either.

-

END

006. Burn

sehraa — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:44:08 GMT

Title/Prompt: Burn, Yesung/Heechul
Ratings: PG-13
Author: Sehraa
Warning: Massive crack, mentions sex, swearing
Additional information: For the 100Suju challenge. My third entry.
Side Pairings: Kyumi, Henwook, Eunmin.
Summary:

006. Burn, Heechul/Yesung

It's the slow burn that spreads deliciously through his body and pools in his stomach like molten liquid.

It's like taking up smoking all over again.

It's unconventional and unexpected and Hankyung had laughed at him for days, but he decides he likes it. Also, Kangin's face when he'd been told? Epic.

There was only one problem.

"I think I'm going to have to break up with you." Heechul announces after a session of mindblowing sex. Who knew those hands could do anything other than being obnoxiously tiny?

Yesung waits for the punchline. He realises that there is none when Heechul starts to climb out of bed in all his naked glory. Yesung quickly grabs him before he can make it all the way out and tugs him back onto the mattress.

"Hey, wait a second." Yesung says, still holding Heechul fast in case Heechul decided to make a break for it, "You can't just break up with me like this."

"I just did." Heechul points out.

"Well, yeah, but don't I get any say in this?" Yesung says, trying to have a mature and serious conversation. Then he remembers who he's talking to and wonders if he should give up.

"No." Heechul says bluntly.

Yesung, because he is smarter than most people know (and because Ryeowook suggested it) had asked Hankyung for both his blessings for the relationship and advice on how to ~~handle~~ understand Heechul.

Hankyung had readily agreed to the first one (he'd also tried to console him, which had been a little awkward), and Yesung had found out that Heechul could, most times, be placated with chocolate. Preferbly white. Or, for some reason, a hard boiled egg.

"Is this because of chocolate?" Yesung blurts out, Heechul stares at him strangely.

"Well no. If you want to buy me some that would be great though." He says.

"So what is it?" Yesung persists. He's not getting dumped until he knows.

"It's not me, it's you." Heechul sighs dramatically, twisting out of Yesung's grip to rest his chin on his hands on Yesung's chest. For a guy who wants to break up, Heechul is acting like he still expects to get some.

Yesung cranes his head up to stare at Heechul who stares back at him expectantly.

"So it's me?" Yesung repeats.

"Yup!" Heechul says cheerfully, patting Yesung's cheek.

"So what about me?" Yesung says dutifully to Heechul's unspoken command to ask said question.

"Heebum doesn't like you." Heechul says immediately, poking Yesung's cheek, "I don't want to be in a relationship Heebummie doesn't approve of. It feels like I'm betraying him."

Yesung thought he'd known what he'd gotten into when he'd agreed to a relationship with Heechul. But this is...

"I'll miss the sex though." Heechul says thoughtfully, "Do you think you could teach Hankyung that finger thing?"

Yesung stares, then chokes on how really, really hot that mental image is. He'll never be able to look at Hankyung the same way again.

"So it's not me," Yesung says slowly, "It's not about the sex. It's just..."

"Heebum." Heechul nods, "It'll be a real pity though," Heechul sighs, "To lose this, us, but I trust Heebummie's instincts."

Heechul climbs out of bed with an air of finality, and this time Yesung doesn't stop him. Heechul waves cheerily at the terrapins as he passes and they, the traitors, stick their necks out and watch him go instead of splashing back into the water like they do with Yesung.

"Well come on," Heechul says impatiently when he is almost out of the room, "My back won't wash itself you know."

Yesung stares at him, then quickly gets out of bed.

-

After 'washing Heechul's back' which Yesung had learned, the really awesome way, was code word for shower sex. Heechul came up with an ultimatum.

Seven days, and if Yesung didn't manage to win Heebum over within that time period, they were through.

-

On the first day Yesung attempts to bribe the cat.

Sungmin is in the kitchen when he hears a yell, the sound of something ripping, and a muffled curse that sounds like Yesung.

"Hyung? Are you alright?" Sungmin calls from the safety of the kitchen. He pokes his head out in time to see a very smug looking Heebum trotting away with a torn bag of cat treats.

After helping Yesung apply antiseptic to the scratch wounds and bandaging his arm, Sungmin is moved to ask why in the world Yesung was doing something so stupid as messing with Heebum.

Yesung explains.

Sungmin stares.

"It's just- If it was just about the sex, I wouldn't even think of doing this. I mean, the cat is pure evil! But..." Yesung says despondently.

"Wow hyung," Sungmin says after trying to digest the information he's just been given, "You must really like Heechul hyung a lot huh?"
'
Yesung nods, pauses, then his eyes widen, "Oh crap," He says, terrified, "I do."

"There, there," Sungmin says consolingly, "It can't be that bad." Then Sungmin stops, "Well, maybe it is. I mean, you're technically in love with Heechul hyung. You and Heechul hyung. Can two AB types really be compatible? I think the world will explode. Do you think the world will explode hyung?" Sungmin asks worriedly.

Yesung groans.

-

The second day Yesung opts to study the intricate workings of Heebum's mind. From a distance that is.

Ryeowook stares at him as he enters their shared bedroom. Yesung doesn't look up from his book.

"Everything you need to know about cats?" Ryeowook reads the title aloud in confusion.

"Ryeowook!" Yesung beams, finally noticing him, "Hi! I thought you'd be out until later?"

"I ended early," Ryeowook replies slowly, crossing the room. He picks up the top book from a stack by Yesung's bedside, opening to a random page and squawks, dropping the book, when the first word he sees is copulation. He hesitantly picks it up again and quickly drops it on the table next to the stack.

"Hyung?" Ryeowook asks, "What are you doing with a book on," He reads the title of the book he'd just put back, "The birds and the bees of Cats?" Even reading the words out loud makes him feel dirty inside.

"Yup." Yesung answers, going back to his book, "I'm learning everything I can about cats. Did you know that they were worshipped as a kind of god in ancient Egyptian times? Which is sort of cool, even though they're evil bastards."

Ryeowook wonders if the time has come to back away slowly, "Okay hyung."

Kyuhyun enters the room without knocking and flings a set of paper, clipped together, at Yesung. The header has the words 'Cats' typed big and bold on the front.

"Here," He hisses coldly, "Now give it to me."

Yesung puts down his book interestedly. He picks up the papers and flips through it quickly.

"This is great Kyuhyun!" Yesung enthuses, "You did a good job."

"Whatever." Kyuhyun glares, "Keys. Now."

Yesung tosses a key to Kyuhyun who grabs it quickly and pockets it. Kyuhyun leaves the room, muttering something about finally getting some peace in his own room.

Yesung huffs at the treatment. It wasn't his fault that he'd used his set of keys to enter Kyuhyun's room that night. It was just that Sungmin had taken to staying over at Eunhyuk's doing something Yesung didn't really want to think about, and Yesung just wanted to make sure Kyuhyun wasn't feeling lonely. How was he to know that Kyuhyun was having phone sex with Zhoumi?

"I think I'll leave now." Ryeowook says, "See you later hyung." And quickly does so without looking back.

-

Day three and Yesung has decided his course of action. He, armed with another bag of cat treats and all he can glean from both cat books and the internet, is going to try again.

One of the books had said that, to build a better relationship with your pet, you should talk to it.

"Wish me luck." Yesung says fondly to his terrapins, who ignore him and continue chewing on their lettuce. Yesung doesn't let that bring him down, going out of his room, and his dorm, with purpose.

"Hey hyung." Yesung says. Hankyung turns to acknowledge the greeting when he stops. Stares.

"Yesung...Why are you wearing cat ears?" Hankyung asks, even though he immediately doesn't want to know.

"I'm," Yesung says, brandishing the cat book he'd carefully selected as the most informative of the lot, "Relating to my pet. It says here, in page forty-three, that it is essential to building a good and healthy relationship with my cat." Yesung recites seriously.

Hankyung wonders whether to laugh or cry, "And you are trying this out with...?"

"Heebum of course." Yesung says like it's obvious.

"Of course." Hankyung repeats, nods slowly, "My mom h-has this herbal recipe. It is good. For the head."

"Oh? I'm not sick." Yesung says reassuringly, "Thanks anyway hyung."

Hankyung nods weakly and goes back into the dorm to sit down. Yesung follows him in, but goes into Heechul's room where Heebum is sleeping. Cat-nap, Yesung remembers from his book.

"Are you alright hyung?" Kangin asks immediately when he sees Hankyung sitting on the couch casting unreadable looks at Heechul's room. Kangin thinks there may be some good gossip to be had so he takes a seat next to Hankyung.

"No, nothing. It's...Yesung." Hankyung says distractedly, he's still waiting for the screaming. Any second now.

Kangin's head spins with the possibilities. Is Yesung alright? Well of course not, he's dating, and has a healthy sex life with, Kim Heechul. So what about Yesung? Kangin scrutinizes Hankyung carefully. Is Hankyung...jealous? According to most of their ELFs, Heechul and Hankyung were supposed to have something going on. Was Hankyung filled with resentment towards Yesung for taking his place? Were they going to have one less member, when Hankyung finally cracked?

"Hyung?" Kangin says carefully, this kind of subject had to be broached considerately, "Are you- I mean, are you okay? With Heechul hyung and Yesung hyung being...together?"

"Of course not." Hankyung snorts, his eyes still trained at the door just in case he missed anything. Kangin's eyebrows would have disapeared into his fringe if he had a fringe.

"I mean," Hankyung corrects himself, "It's alright, if it makes Heechul happy." He says softly.

"You think Yesung hyung is not good enough for Heechul hyung?" Kangin asks. This was getting juicier by the second.

Hankyung blinks, "Well I don't know about that. Heechul is evil," Hankyung nods sagely, "He wouldn't be g-good for anyone. I pity Yesung."

"Are you sure you're not jealous?" Kangin asks with bated breath.

Hankyung's eyes widen, "No! No. Yesung can have him. Heechul and I are just good friends." Hankyung says empathetically, then narrows his eyes, "If Yesung hurts him though..." Hankyung says grimly, Kangin sees Hankyung's fist clench and is suddenly quite afraid for Yesung.

"Ah, but I don't think he will." Hankyung says cheerfully, menacing aura suddenly gone, "I mean, Heechul's a cold hearted bastard, he can take care of himself."

Kangin nods slowly, "Ah."

-

Yesung had talked a lot and now he was pooped. He wondered if anything of what he'd said had even gotten through to Heebum who is glaring at him. Well, at least Heebum isn't scratching him. Of course, Yesung had come prepared and had quickly thrown the treats to the side before Heebum could pounce. Heebum had then pounced on that instead, and was now curled around the treats possesively.

Their conversation had gone something like this:

"And I'm sure that you and I can share Heech-."

Menacing hiss.

"Heenim. I meant Heenim."

Approving meow.

"You'll always be important to him of course."

Duh expression. Can cats even have 'duh' expressions?

"I'm not joking. The whole reason why I'm doing this is because Heech- Heenim wanted me to."

Yawn.

"I really hope we can be good friends."

Can cats roll their eyes? Yesung was almost certain Heebum did.

"Would you like to hear a funny story?"

Disgusted meow. Stands up, moves until it's back is to Yesung, curls into itself. Sleeps.

Yesung sighs. Well, that had gone better than he'd expected.

-

Kangin accosts Yesung on the way out and drags him to the couch, where he makes Yesung tell all in that Kangin way of his. Kangin gives advice as best as he can and Yesung walks away happier that someone had listened to him.

-

"Late, late, late." Kangin mutters under his breath as he gets into the lift, if he hurried he could just make it. The lift stops one floor down and Eunhyuk gets in.

-

Eunhyuk steps out of the lift in a sort of daze that is a result of information overload. Kangin waves goodbye to him before running out of the building.

Eunhyuk shakes his head, takes a deep breath and speed-dials Yesung's mother.

-

"-so that's why Yesung hyung is so obsessed with cats now." Donghae explains seriously.

"So let me get this straight," Kyuhyun says, "Heechul hyung practically gave him an out and he didn't take it?"

"I think it's True Love." Donghae stresses, "I mean, of course Yesung hyung isn't good enough for Heechul hyung," Donghae says like it is obvious, "But I think hyung is happy so that's good."

"I think we should have Yesung hyung committed." Ryeowook says seriously. Donghae and Kyuhyun stare at him.

"Just think about it," Ryeowook says, "If he goes, maybe one of our unofficial members can join officially." He's thinking of Henry of course.

"So KRY might become KRZ?" Kyuhyun says slowly, thinking it over. Ryeowook nods.

"How do we do it and when?" He says quickly.
-

"Maybe he was speaking metaphorically. When he says 'get along with my cat', maybe it means 'you don't understand me', or 'I wish you would be more considerate towards me'?" Yesung's mother says over the phone.

"No mom. I think when hyung said 'get along with my cat', he meant 'get along with my cat'." Yesung says. But just to be sure he makes a mental note to check it out.

Oh, yes. And to kill Kangin.

-

"Yesung hyung?" Henry's voice sounds weird on the phone.

"Hi, Henry?" Yesung answers, "I need to ask you a question. Say your girlfriend, or boyfriend I guess, tells you to get along with her or his cat or else she'll, or he'll, break up with you. What does that actually mean?"

Henry repeats Yesung's question, not sure he'd heard it right.

Yesung affirms that, yes, he did hear him right.

There is a silence over the phone.

"I...don't know." Henry says finally, "Ryeowook hyung doesn't have a cat."

"Huh," Yesung says, "Well, thanks anyway."

-

"Really! I couldn't call you because Yesung hyung had called me. After that my phone died."

"Yesung hyung...called you?"

"Yes!"

"Henry, if you really didn't want to talk to me, you should just say so."

"Ryeowook hyung? Ryeowook hyung!"

Henry stares at the phone in his hand, before quickly redialing.

"Ryeowook hyung?"

"Haha Henry, just kidding." Ryeowook laughs and it is the sweetest sound Henry's heard all day.

-

"Hyung!" Sungmin says in surprise, "What are you doing here? Not that I don't want you here of course," He ammends, "But why aren't you in your own dorm?"

"Heechul and Yesung are..." Leeteuk trails off weakly, wondering if he should pick up a vice just to try to cope with being the leader of pure insanity.

"Doesn't Heechul hyung want to break up with Yesung hyung?" Sungmin asks.

Leeteuk grimaces, "Heechul doesn't see why they can't have sex while they're not broken up yet."

"Ah."

-

"Maybe it's your attitude towards Heebum." Zhoumi says over the webcam in stuttering Korean. Yesung's expression is one of pure blankness because really, the whole language barrier thing was the reason he and Hankyung never really became close.

"He thinks that your attitude towards Heebum sucks, so it's your fault you two can't get along." Kyuhyun translates grudgingly.

Zhoumi says something else, first in a scolding tone, then in a questioning one. Yesung can only catch the words 'Kuixian!' and 'Heebum', the rest is in a language only Kyuhyun seems to understand.

"He asks what your feeling towards Heebum is." Kyuhyun says shortly.

"Evil incarnate." Yesung says immediately. Zhoumi seems to have caught that if the coughing fit had anything to do with it.

Zhoumi says something else in broken Korean.

"Heebum can't be that bad." Kyuhyun repeats dutifully.

"He is!" Yesung exclaims, "He has this, this evil eye glare. And he keeps staring at my terrapins as if he wants to eat them! I found a dead mouse in my room the other night, and he scratched me!"

Zhoumi and Kyuhyun stare at Yesung.

Zhoumi says something. Kyuhyun nods slowly.

"Hyung?" Kyuhyun says slowly, turns back to Zhoumi, "Um, I think Heebum is asserting his superiority over you. I don't think he'll ever like you."

"Really?" Yesung asks, "As in, not in seven days?"

"As in not in this year hyung." Kyuhyun says bluntly, "Not in this year, decade, century, lifetime. And Heebum has, like, nine."

"Huh." Yesung says dumbly.

Zhoumi makes some consoling sounds over the webcam as Kyuhyun half-heartedly pats Yesung on the back.

-

"I failed." Yesung says on the eighth day. Heechul blinks.

"Okay." Heechul nods, "Well, good try and all that."

"So...we're broken up." Yesung says, unsure. The impact of the statement hasn't hit him yet.

"Yup!" Heechul says, too cheerfully. He grabs Yesung's hand and starts tugging him into the bedroom.

"Hyung?" Yesung says confused, "Um, what are you doing?"

"Do I have to spell it out to you?" Heechul rolls his eyes, "We're going to do our usual of course. We have to be quick though, Leeteuk hyung says that he wants to actually get some undisturbed sleep tonight. I think he's exaggerating though, he's impossible to wake up in the morning."

"But...we've broken up." Yesung says slowly. Heechul sighs.

"Well yes, that is a problem." Heechul agrees, then lets go of his hand to cross his arms over his chest, "So ask me already."

"Ask you what?" Yesung says blankly.

"To be your boyfriend again. I don't have all day." Heechul sighs.

"Heechul hyung," Yesung says obediently, "Will you be my boyfriend? Um, again?"

"Okay." Heechul says quickly, "Now stop being silly."

"So the thing with Heebum was..."

"I wasn't really around last week," Heechul explains, referring to the hell-week Yesung has just gone through, "So I thought Heebum would be lonely. See? Heebum got to assert his superiority over you, and now you understand that you can't win! It's killing two birds with one stone." Heechul nods.

Yesung stares.

You deserves better, he tries to persuade himself. Heechul's just been playing with you, your feelings and you in general and are you just going to take his bullshit all your life? Stand up and be a man! Unless...

"Oh shit," Yesung says faintly, "I'm in love with you."

Heechul nods with a wicked grin on his face, "As is the lament of all men."

046. Stuffed Animals

sehraa — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:22:00 GMT

Ah, whew! My second suju100 post and its prompt number 46 ladies and cybermen :D

Please enjoy.

Warning: Much, much, much crack. I don't even know what I was on when I wrote this...

Prompt: Stuffed Animals, Kangin/Eunhyuk

Extract:

046. Stuffed Animals, Kangin/Eunhyuk

The morning after, Eunhyuk wakes up with a stuffed animal (a pig? a bear? Its sort of hard to tell), a pounding headache and no recollection of the night before.

He realises he is naked and...sticky? With growing horror he also realises that there is another occupant in the bed and it is not another pig/bear. His brain barely registers the words 'ohshit' before he screams.

The scream rouses the other person and he (whatthefuckitsaguy) rolls over.

"Whatsthematter?" The other person mumbles and, what the friggin' fuck, it is Kangin.

There is pounding on the door, Shindong probably, and Leeteuk hyung's concerned voice muffled from behind it. Eunhyuk wants it to stay that way and just die in his endless mortification.

Kangin sits up. Eunhyuk has seen everything before (come on, they were all guys. Heck, he's even seen Shindong hyung, an experience he didn't care to repeat. Ever.) but shields his eyes all the same, traumatized.

Kangin takes stock of the situation, from the stuffed animal he hazily remembers buying to the stickiness below and between his legs.

"Huh." He says.

Eunhyuk forgets himself for a moment to stare at him, "What the fuck do you mean, huh?! Do you realise-?! I- You- What?!"

"Do you mind not screaming?" Kangin mumbles, "I have a headache. Remind me to freak out later." He then turns over as if to go back to sleep.

The door unlocks with a click, someone outside had a key apparently, and Eunhyuk grabs the sheets just before Heechul walks in, Leeteuk hovering worriedly behind him. And, just as if the gods were conspiring against him, Heechul smirked. He smirked his 'I-have-pictures-and-am-not-afraid-to-use-them' smirk. Eunhyuk's mouth fell open. This day could not get any worse.

"Hyukkie! Are you alright?" Sungmin calls from behind and everything goes downhill from there.

"Get washed, dressed, whatever. No time for breakfast, our SJ-T schedule won't allow it." Heechul orders, taking over leadership when a glance at their current one tells him that he looks a breath away from passing out, Shindong doesn't need to be told to gently lead a pale Leeteuk out of the room and towards more grounding things like schedules and managers. Kangin gives him the bird from under the sheets while Eunhyuk meekly complies.

The rest of the day is a blur, full of make-up, costume fittings and learning the Rokkugoh lyrics. Eunhyuk tries to function, and is ever grateful for Sungmin who helps him with his things and doesn't comment on Eunhyuk's limp.

Eunhyuk avoids Kangin like the plague and Heechul's secret looks and winking does not help matters at all.

"What the hell happened." Kangin asks during dinner, when all of them are wiped out and even Heechul is as well, if requesting a massage from Sungmin is any indication. Kangin's hangover is gone and he too had been avoiding Eunhyuk, cursing the choreographer with every cuss word he knew, he even made up some for the occasion, who put them next to each other during the dance practice.

"Someone switched Hyukjae-shii's drink with mine." Heechul says, "I only noticed when I took a sip of my drink and found orange juice instead. I got the manager to look out for you but you two were already in Kangin's room with the door locked so he didn't disturb you, you fucking lightweight."

"So we were both drunk." Eunhyuk said trying to get his mind around the idea. He had never touched alcohol in his life, never wanted to and the one time he did, albeit accidentally, shit happened.

"We should leave and let them sort this out." Sungmin said, everybody left quietly except for Heechul who was snickering.

Eunhyuk had a thousand things he wanted to say as they stayed there, frozen in ever-awkward silence, as Kangin sat in contemplation. Some of which consisted of 'lets just put this behind us,' and 'lets forget this ever happened,' 'can we still be friends?'. He was just about to open his mouth before Kangin cut him off.

"What I want to know is," Kangin said slowly, "Who topped?"

100Suju Masterlist

sehraa — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:18:07 GMT

This is the masterlist of my 100suju_challenge fics~

Please with the enjoying (and comments?) and loves to all you SuJu lovars out there~ ^^

Cross posted to miracle______

All done ones are highlighted in blue.

001. Freefall, Eeteuk/Kangin

002. Christmas, Heechul/Ryeowook

003. Blindfolds, Hankyung/Yesung

004. Chocolate, Yesung/Shindong

005. Overworked, Ryeowook/Kibum

006. Burn, Yesung/Heechul

007. Dark, Eeteuk/Sungmin

008. Locket, Heechul/Sungmin

009. Coffee, Eunhyuk/Donghae

010. Shiver, Heechul/Heechul

011. Rooftops, Hankyung/Sungmin

012. Chains, Heechul/Kangin

013. Watermelon, Shiwon/Kyuhyun

014. Home, Heechul/Donghae

015. Lick, Heechul/Hankyung

016. Quiet Places, Yesung/Ryeowook

017. Accidents, Ryeowook/Ryeowook

018. Keys, Eeteuk/Shiwon

019. Clocks, Shindong/Eunhyuk

020. Glow, Donghae/Kibum

021. Park Benches, Yesung/Kyuhyun

022. Diamonds, Sungmin/Kibum

023. Tears, Yesung/Shiwon

024. Spotlight, Sungmin/Kyuhyun

025. Smoke, Eeteuk/Shindong

026. Pressure, Eunhyuk/Ryeowook

027. Replacement, Heechul/Kibum

028. Choking, Eeteuk/Ryeowook

029. Sea, Sungmin/Shiwon

030. Warmth, Kangin/Donghae

031. Midnight Walks, Shiwon/Ryeowook

032. Roses, Shindong/Shindong

033. Flirt, Yesung/Kibum

034. Acceptance, Hankyung/Kibum

035. Blind, Heechul/Shiwon

036. Bathroom Tiles, Hankyung/Shiwon

037. Rotation, Hankyung/Kyuhyun

038. "I want you to stay forever.", Eeteuk/Kibum

039. All the People, Hankyung/Donghae

040. Skin, Shindong/Kyuhyun

041. Dance Practice, Shindong/Kibum

042. Suits, Kibum/Kyuhyun

043. Washing Machines, Donghae/Shiwon

044. Rejection, Eunhyuk/Eunhyuk

045. Smooth, Shindong/Sungmin

046. Stuffed Animals, Kangin/Eunhyuk

047. Stutter, Sungmin/Sunmgin

048. That Girl, Eeteuk/Hankyung

049. "What's the difference?", Hankyung/Hankyung

050. Lost, Heechul/Kyuhyun

051. Aliens, Ryeowook/Kyuhyun

052. Cake, Sungmin/Donghae

053. Puppies, Eeteuk/Heechul

054. Self-Image, Hankyung/Shindong

055. Shatter, Kangin/Kangin

056. Filth, Donghae/Ryeowook

057. Scales, Donghae/Kyuhyun

058. Lies, Shiwon/Shiwon

059. Calendar, Eeteuk/Eeteuk

060. Humid, Heechul/Eunhyuk

061. Disguises, Yesung/Yesung

062. God, Hankyung/Kangin

063. Video Games, Yesung/Eunhyuk

064. Balance, Kyuhyun/Kyuhyun

065. Grip, Donghae/Donghae

066. Mice, Eeteuk/Donghae

067. Sunrise, Yesung/Sungmin

068. Degradation, Kibum/Kibum

069. Sailing, Kangin/Shiwon

070. Thunderstorm, Kangin/Sungmin

071. Plays (Theatre), Hankyung/Ryeowook

072. Muscles, Kangin/Kibum

073. Milkshakes, Eeteuk/Eunhyuk

074. Flu Season, Shindong/Ryeowook

075. Wrap, Yesung/Donghae

076. Youth, Shindong/Shiwon

077. Pass, Sungmin/Ryeowook

078. Sickness, Kangin/Kyuhyun

079. The Same Old Thing, Eeteuk/Yesung

080. Crackle, Eunhyuk/Shiwon

081. Noise/Noiseless, Kangin/Shindong

082. Evening, Shiwon/Kibum

083. Fever, Hankyung/Eunhyuk

084. Snowflakes, Eunhyuk/Kyuhyun

085. Ache, Shindong/Donghae

086. Violins, Eunhyuk/Kibum

087. Belief, Sungmin/Eunhyuk

088. Numbers, Eeteuk/Kyuhyun

089. "I like your face.", Kangin/Ryeowook

090. Clean, Heechul/Shindong

091. Stars, Yesung/Kangin

092. Gorgeous, WC *

093. Bubble Baths, WC *

094. Makeup, WC *

095. Drowning, WC *

096. "I like you. I like you. I like you.", WC *

097. Glasses, WC * 098. Soothing, WC *

099. Apples, WC *

100. Regrets, WC *

002. Christmas

sehraa — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:53:02 GMT

This is my first fic for 100Suju. I do hope you enjoy it :D

Warning: Much fluff, and alcohol is mentioned. Just saying.

Prompt: Christmas, Heechul/Ryeowook.

Extract:

002. Christmas, Heechul/Ryeowook

Tilting the soju bottle upside down perfectly vertically and shaking it did not seem to coax the now non-existant liquid to refill itself. Heechul stared blearily at it for a moment before shrugging, reaching blindly for another one in the dimness.

A cool bottle was pressed to his palm and he didn't hesitate to down the alcohol, relishing the bitter drink.

"He always did like soju better than beer." He said conversationally, the first full sentence he'd said in two hours.

Even in the dark he could feel Ryeowook's eyes widening, he didn't bother repressing his smirk. Heechul rarely talked about Hankyung in conversation, saving it for his cyworld and radio station. Everybody tip-toed around the subject around him, as if he were brittle glass and would shatter at the very mention of his name.

It was a terrifying thing after all, to see Kim Heechul cry.

Ryeowook didn't say anything and there was a silence for a while. Earlier that evening Heechul had dragged him to his room on the twelfth floor and broken out the alcohol, saying that he didn't feel like drinking alone on Christmas of all days. What could Ryeowook have done but comply?

"Henry," Heechul said, the randomness throwing Ryeowook off kilter for a second, "Is a terrible kisser. Sungmin was better, and Sungmin sucked too."

Ryeowook chuckled slightly, the sound soft and quiet, "He wasn't quite as prepared as Sungmin-hyung was. I don't think any of us was."

"He talks!" Heechul said in a faux-surprised tone, "Huh, some drinking buddy you are."

"I could drink you under the table." Ryeowook pointed out.

"Its not about the tolerance," Heechul said in a patient kind of voice he must have picked up from Jungmo, "Its about acting way too drunk on too little, making enough noise for the eleventh floor to complain, talking loudly about the things that would make Leeteuk-hyung blush, swapping languages and teaching each other swear words, stumbling into bed together and knowing the schedule needs us only in the late afternoon, waking up hungover and cursing and maybe if he's in a good mood, Beijing fried rice."

Heechul laughed, a cackling sound that contrasted Ryeowook's earlier one sharply, "Maybe I'll even write that in my cyworld, see what the Petals make of that."

"Were you and Hankyung-hyung...?" Ryeowook blurted out without thinking, slapping his hands to his mouth with an 'eep'.

Heechul just looked amused, well that was Ryeowook's impression anyway as it was dark except for the glow of the streetlights outside and the light of the moon.

"No." Heechul grinned, shark-like and predatory, "That would be boring, that would be predictable." Then he, with surprising gentleness, took Ryeowook's hands away from his mouth and held them. Before Ryeowook could react he felt a pair of lips on his, a kiss, his brain supplied helpfully amidst said brain shutting down in some sort of survival mechanism.

It tasted of soju and black bean noodles, from Heechul's dinner, and it was soft. Sort of like a girl's, not that Ryeowook's ever going to tell him that of course. He suddenly felt self-concious, wondering of all things if his lips were as nice as his hyung's.

After what felt like forever, both of them making no effort in taking the kiss further than just touching lips, Ryeowook's cellphone rang loudly, vibrating wildly in his pocket to the tune of some chinese song. Heechul pulled away first, taking another swig of his now warm soju.

"H-hello?" Ryeowook said breathlessly into the phone, sounding as if he'd just run a marathon, "Oh! Hangeng-hyung." Ryeowook passed the phone to Heechul, very determindly not looking into his eyes.

"Hello? Why are you calling so late?! You know what time it is? What do you mean you've been trying to reach me?" Heechul dug into his own pocket and stared at his phone.

"Huh, it was off." Hankyung was loud enough on the other end that Ryeowook could pick out some curse words. Heechul just laughed.

"Some nice guy you are." Heechul teased, "I'm a good person." Heechul imitated laughing. Ryeowook felt like a third wheel, it was the only time that night that Heechul looked so happy. Ryeowook felt that he should go, deciding to pick up his phone back in the morning.

"Of course I'm not drinking alone," Heechul cast a look at Ryeowook as if he had read his mind, "Ryeowook's with me." Ryeowook sat back down quickly, hoping to pretend that he hadn't been trying to leave in the first place.

"Yeah, yeah. Merry Christmas and whatever you Chinese do today you sentimental freak." Heechul shut the phone and set it on the table.

"So where were we? And at least make an effort this time." Heechul said, drawing closer to Ryeowook again.

"Hyung." Ryeowook said, paused, took a breath, "No."

Ryeowook was sure he saw a flash of hurt in Heechul's features before it was smothered with Heechul's usually smug one, "Is it Yesung?"

Ryeowook took a moment to process, "No!"

"Henry? Wait, its Kangin isn't it? Bastard." Heechul said annoyed and maybe a little disapointed.

"It isn't either of them." Ryeowook said firmly, "Its just that I- You're only doing this because you and me would be unpredictable and, its selfish." Ryeowook tapered out, sticking to his belief but still a little wary.

"It is." Heechul agreed, still leaning towards Ryeowook.

"I can't." Ryeowook said.

"Is this about the height thing? Because really, you'll never bag anyone if its the height thing." Heechul sighed.

"I won't be a replacement for Hankyung-hyung." Ryeowook continued hoarsely, willing his body to pull away even as he found that he couldn't. Heechul didn't flinch at the sound of Hankyung's name although he did back off slightly.

"You won't be." Heechul said after a pause, "And sure, you and me would be unpredictable and different and everyone knows I'm like that, that I like that but maybe I like your music and maybe I like you. Maybe I like your stupid shoe-lifts and your stupid laugh. Maybe I get annoyed by your stupid crush on Henry and your apparent stupid fetish for tiny hands and abuse."

"I don't have fetishes for-"

"Maybe I'm glad when you pick up the phone in China when I call Hankyung, even if its just to say hello." Heechul continued as if Ryeowook had never spoken, "Maybe I like your stupid higher-than-a-fucking-girl's pitch voice, so maybe I like you." Heechul said the last part softly. Ryeowook could do nothing but stare in surprise.

"I've tried my best to forget you but my heart remembers you faster than my mind does." Heechul mummered, the stupid proposal he had done for laughs when all the members had been asked how they would propose, and Ryeowook knew it, eyes wide and mouth open in a cute little 'O' of surprise. Heechul took the chance to press his lips to Ryeowook's one, for a proper kiss this time. And this time, Ryeowook kissed back.

Humanity

sehraa — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:25:59 GMT

Some poetry. Heh~ ^^

You scream.

The sound is raw.

Desperate.

It doesn't just come out of your mouth.

No.

It seems to build up from somewhere.

In you.

In your throat? (deeper)

In your lungs? (deeper)

In your-

In your chest? (no)

Its just that.

You vibrate with the sound.

It echoes in your eyes.

Its.

Fascinating.

Its like.

From the pit of your heart. (yes)

From the depths of your soul. (yes)

You scream. (as i always do)

I tilt my head. (oh hello)

Your fear reflects in my eyes. (fear? no, that is yours)

I see you fading.

Your screams do not cease though.

But you are fading.

Its sad.

That you are fading.

You'll fade away until your heart stops.

You'll fade away until your soul stops.

Then how would you scream?

Are you leaving soon? (yes)

Oh.

Okay.

Goodbye. (goodbye)

I love you. (yes i know)

Do you love me?

(yes.

isn't that why i'm screaming in the first place?)

Percival

sehraa — Sat, 15 May 2010 10:16:39 GMT

The lovely magog-83 has lent me her Percy so I take full advantage of the fact.

Here you go ladies and gentlemen of Route to Advancement: Percy!verse fic.

Snippets of life and ale

Sometimes when Merlin decides that the King's job is being particularly stressful and straining, he will drag the King away to his chambers and summon bread and cheese and ale and often Percival, and it will be something like old times where Merlin will get pleasently buzzed and fall about the room until Arthur will exasperately mutter about lightweight sorcerers and idiot former manservants and hangovers as he shoves Merlin to the bed.

This is when Percival sees the layers of 'King-ness' (as Merlin liked to put it) fall off Arthur one by one until it is like they are all five years younger and carefree with nothing really to think about except for the next evil magical monster.

The next morning they will once again assume their roles as High King, King's Own and Knight of the round table.

But for now there is Arthur and Merlin and Percy.

And nothing's really changed at all.

-

Percival's been with the two long enough to consider himself a friend (and that took a lot of time, thinking and ale to admit even that. Especially ale.) and thinks that maybe he is versed a little bit better than most others in their ways and quirks.

That is why he does not have to think twice as he pushes a tankard of ale (although Merlin's had so many tonight it isn't healthy) towards the sorcerer as the kingdom celebrates the engagement of King Arthur and Lady Guinevere.

Merlin shoots him a bleary grin, bittersweet and painful, and downs it in one go.

-

Brutus likes his life.

His owner's a little bit dim mind, but he's alright for a two-legger.

The magic two-legger's the one he likes. He practically radiates his magic-ness all around, Brutus would know. Horses knew these kind of things.

The magic two-legger slips him sugar cubes and carrots and maybe an onion or two sometimes. Brutus likes it when the magic two-legger is near, its safe where he is Brutus knows.

Its refreshing to be around magic-ness. There's not been a lot of magic-ness for years.

Another two-legger he likes is the one with a mane that reminds him of straw. The two-legger sometimes helps the magic one feed him when his owner is not around. Sometimes he cansmell that they had mated beforehand but as long as they didn't do it in front of him it was alright. He had his sensibilities afterall. He was a very sensible horse.

Brutus munched on a carrot and liked his life.

-

They are at war when Uther dies.

A stray arrow from enemy fire hits his horse and Uther falls and he is killed instantly. It is too late to stop, retreating would put them in a severe disadvantage, there was nothing to be done. Arthur knows that and he turns his face away sorrowfully, his expression hardened. They would have to find the remains of his father's body later, if it was not too indistinguishable by then. He sees Percy urging his horse towards the body and he's just about to call out to him to stop, its too late, there's nothing to be done when the words die in his throat and he is struck speechless.

Because it is then that Merlin suddenly appears out of nowhere and is beside Uther, Merlin disappears with the body just as quickly and it is Percy's horse and Percy himself covering the body that nobody sees and Arthur knows that he has to call out the charge but he still cannot get his mouth to work.

Percy sees this and does it for him.

It is an overwhelming victory that day.

He pulls Percy aside later.

"It was insubordination what you did."

"Yes sir."

"You deserved to be flogged in the least."

"Yes sir."

"Do not let it happen again."

"Sir."

"And Percival?"

"Yes sir?"

"Thank-you."

-

Lightning splits the sky as thunder rumbles deafening in the sky. The rain falls in sheets and the wind slaps freezingly, it is unatural. It is magic.

And in the middle of it is Merlin. Dorky, clumsy, smiling Merlin who is calling lightning from the sky and the earth shakes at his power and Percy cannot believe his eyes.

And in the middle of it a boy screams.

Only the King dares to brave the storm. The other knights have fallen back as they try to calm their horses.

When they get Merlin back to the castle Percy does his best to halt the mummers of 'treason' and talks of bad magic. Sir Edwin helps him and so do some of the other knights like Owain, Leon and Bedevere. Those who had been with Arthur and to some extent Merlin the longest.

"Not fair." Percy hears Merlin whisper to nobody before the Sorceror had passed out, "Not fair, not fair, not fair."

-

Percy sits and celebrates with the other men who have been called up to be Knights of the Round Table. He cannot believe that he is one of them, even now when his name is etched on the head of his chair and the King is smiling at each of them in turn. Percy scans the party for Merlin but cannot find him. He makes to slip out and the King notices and shoots him a quizical look, Percy mouths 'Merlin' and Arthur nods with a slightly worried frown for he too has noticed the absence of his Sorcerer. Percy quietly moves past servants and tables as he goes outside.

He finds Merlin who is star-gazing outside in the courtyard. The stones do not look particularly soft but Percy sits down anyway.

"Sir Percival, Knight of the Round Table." Merlin says whimsically as Percy lowers himself next to him.

"Percy," Percy amends, "I mean, I'm still Percy."

"Arthur, the Once and Future King. Grand isn't it?" Merlin continues as if Percy'd never spoken.

"Its the title you gave him." Percy replies and furrows his eyesbrows worridedly, "Are you alright Merlin?"

"I'm leaving soon." Merlin says suddenly, ignoring the question.

"When?" Percy asks surprised, he's not heard anything about Merlin leaving after all.

"Later." Merlin says quietly, "Maybe even now. I think I've got a few minutes left. Probably."

"When will you come back?" Percy asked.

"Tomorrow, next week, yesterday." Merlin laughs and the sound is loud and harsh in the empty courtyard.

Percy peers closely at him alarmed, "Are you drunk?"

Merlin shrugs going back to staring at the stars, "Yes, if one can be drunk on years."

"Surely you don't feel old?" Percy says trying to decipher his friend's words, "You're only twenty-three. You've got your whole life ahead of you." At his words Merlin stiffens.

"Percival." Merlin says somberly and Percy does not correct him this time, "If you could live forever," Merlin says carefully as if every word were dear as gold, "What would you live for?"

"For my King, my country and honey mead." Percy says with a slight grin but his answer is sincere. Merlin quirks an eyebrow with a surprised little grin back.

"Two out of three's not so bad." Merlin says, almost to himself.

"What's not so bad?" The King's voice comes from behind them and Percy startles because the King had been very quiet up until then.

"I'm leaving." Merlin says rather sadly, "Because where you go I cannot follow. I'll go and then I'll come back and it'll be too late."

"I'm not asking you to stay by my side forever." The King says and takes a seat at the empty spot next to Merlin.

"I want to." Merlin insists, "I really do."

"Its enough." The King whispers after a while of silence and Percy feels like he's missing something that only Merlin and Arthur knows, a feeling that's prevailed ever since he'd met the two of them but he lets it go knowing that he'll get in someday.

-

Its decades after the night in the courtyards but Percival cannot help but recall it as the King lies dying in his tent. Nobody can find the Sorceror and Percival feels a pang in his heart, he knows Merlin would have wanted very much to be with the King in his final moments and that is why he searches relentlessly until Arthur tells him very firmly and resignedly, to stop.

-

It is heartbreaking to see his King go. It is a peaceful death as he passed away in his sleep. For a man who's reign was war-filled as he took Albion piece by painstaking piece it was nonetheless a deserved one.

Modred takes over as High King. It is the King's final request after all. Modred who had been one of those at the King's side ever since Arthur had taken the throne and renounced his father's ban on magic.

It is a month after the funeral, Arthur's ashes scattered in the winds of the Lake, when Percival meets Merlin again. He and a group of new recruits are patroling the borders of Albion, no telling what their non-allies might do if it got into their heads that Camelot was defenceless without either Arthur or his Sorcerer. Percival can say, as a witness of the fact, that Modred is strong enough for both. Not as strong mind, just enough.

"Hello." Merlin says smiling, eyes sorrowfilled and empty. Percival looks around in astonishment for he no longer feels the wind on his back, nor does he hear the rustling of the forest. Everything is...still. Time has stopped for everything, and as a sharp glance at his men confirms, everyone but them.

"Merlin." Percival breathes because he knew of no one in this world with such power.

"He's dead." Merlin says quietly and Percival doesn't need to ask who. The question is rhetorical but Percival answers anyway.

"Yes." Percival says and Merlin's smile falters as if he had not really believed it until that very moment.

"Yes." Merlin echoes. There is complete silence as Percival struggles for something to say.

"I-"

"-am sorry?" Merlin finishes shaking his head, "Don't be, it was preordained many years ago that I was forbidden to be by him to his final breaths. It is cheating you know for I might capture his very soul and keep him in this world, life and death I will hold in my hand and that will upset the balance of the world." Merlin sucks in a breath.

Percival remembers a storm and screaming and it is a sickening feeling to finally understand.

"You will live forever?" Percival ventures finally for he cannot get the conversation in the courtyard out of his head.

"Close enough." Merlin says, "Until the world is is dire need and the Once and Future King is returned to us. Until then."

"What will you do?" Percival asks.

"I will wait." Merlin replies, "And I will spin legends. Of a King and a druid boy Modred and the beautiful sorceres Morgana and a brave Knight Percival, an old sorcerer with a greying long beard, maybe, I haven't decided yet. I'll wait until he comes back and then we'll be together, he and I, and die a final time."

"It is a painful life." Percival says at last after a while of silence.

"It is. And we may never meet again after this." Merlin says, "So goodbye, farewell. And thank you...Percy."

It is the last time he ever saw Merlin again.

But he keeps close to his heart the time of ale and honeymead and Brutus and magic nets and hopes for a time that they will all meet again.