GOT7 IS COMING BACK!!! How are you feeling? Are you doing well?
MY BOYS ARE BACKKKK !!! It's been so long oh gosh!!! Honestly, I thought I would be indifferent to their comeback, but when I saw the teasers and their new OT7 content, I realized that these dudes got a tight hold on my heart T_T I really missed them oh gosh I cannot even describe it!!!!!!! I'm just happy to see them together again :') Oh gosh I guess I have never left the nest, huh? I'm really in this got7 shit forever, huh? :')
Summary: A decade-long relationship goes to shambles with a single car accident. Will Seokmin recover his memories and save their relationship, or will they part ways?
Pairing: Dokyeom X OC
Warning(s): Angst, Selective memory loss, Trauma, Mentions of blood and injury, Hallucinations, Implied suicide and depression, Suggestive themes
Status: Completed
Read on AO3!
Chapters quick-links:
Prologue: I'll be by your side forever
i. I'm out of breath,
ii. running to you
iii. on a dark shadow night.
iv. You're the only one
v. who knows my heart.
vi. You're the reason
vii. I live and breathe.
Epilogue: I'm in a world called you.
A/N: This marks the end of my first Dokyeom fic! Hope you enjoyed it! :) Hope I can write again in the near future... Huhuhu. Until then, thank you and goodbye!
Summary: A decade-long relationship goes to shambles with a single car accident. Will Seokmin recover his memories and save their relationship, or will they part ways?
Pairing: Dokyeom X OC
Warning(s): Angst, Selective memory loss, Trauma, Mentions of blood and injury, Hallucinations, Implied suicide and depression
Status: In progress <Chapter 7 of 8>
Read on AO3!
Chapters quick-links:
Prologue: I'll be by your side forever
i. I'm out of breath,
ii. running to you
iii. on a dark shadow night.
iv. You're the only one
v. who knows my heart.
vi. You're the reason *new!*
Summary: A decade-long relationship goes to shambles with a single car accident. Will Seokmin recover his memories and save their relationship, or will they part ways?
Pairing: Dokyeom X OC
Warning(s): Angst, Selective memory loss, Trauma, Mentions of blood and injury, Hallucinations, Implied suicide and depression
Status: In progress <Chapter 6 of 8>
Read on AO3!
Chapters quick-links:
Prologue: I'll be by your side forever
i. I'm out of breath,
ii. running to you
iii. on a dark shadow night.
iv. You're the only one
v. who knows my heart.*new!*
Summary: A decade-long relationship goes to shambles with a single car accident. Will Seokmin recover his memories and save their relationship, or will they part ways?
Pairing: Dokyeom X OC
Warning(s): Angst, Selective memory loss, Trauma, Mentions of blood and injury
Status: In progress <Chapter 5 of ?>
Read on AO3!
Chapters quick-links:
Prologue: I'll be by your side forever
i. I'm out of breath,
ii. running to you
iii. on a dark shadow night.
iv. You're the only one *new!*
Summary: A decade-long relationship goes to shambles with a single car accident. Will Seokmin recover his memories and save their relationship, or will they part ways?
Pairing: Dokyeom X OC
Warning(s): Angst, Selective memory loss, Trauma, Mentions of blood and injury
Status: In progress <Chapter 4 of ?>
Read on AO3!
Chapters quick-links:
Prologue: I'll be by your side forever
i. I'm out of breath,
ii. running to you
iii. on a dark shadow night.
Summary: A decade-long relationship goes to shambles with a single car accident. Will Seokmin recover his memories and save their relationship, or will they part ways?
Pairing: Dokyeom X OC
Warning(s): Angst, Selective memory loss, Trauma
Status: In progress <Chapter 3 of ?>
Read on AO3!
A/N: It's been a long time since I actually wrote anything. I started getting into Seventeen in May 2023 and I must say, Dokyeom has stolen my heart so ta-dah! Here's a fic about him! Initially, this fic was meant to be a one-shot, but it got way too long and thus, it has become a series. :) Enjoy ~
Summary: Even amidst all the anger, he would never break the one he loves.
Word count: 1446
Pairing: Jaebeom X OC
Warning(s): Angst, minor violence
A/N: It's been a long time ~ I was clearing out my drafts when I stumbled upon this. This was written in 2018, and reading it again made me go "Oh? This doesn't seem like a bad writeup?" Heh.
Jaebum thought that their love would overcome all obstacles, just like in romance movies and novels where the couple would fight and then, make up afterwards. He thought they would live happily ever after as long as they are together. That their love could stand the test of time. That their love was such a strong force that anything was possible. But this was reality, not those made-up published fantasies of a romanticist's mind.
They were cosmic stars clashing which perfectly described their first encounter. They collided as she rushed for class while he skipped it. Papers scattered everywhere and profanities escaped his lips. She scrambled for her papers while he for his cigarettes. As soon as he collected his things, his fists were clenched and ready to land a punch on his victim's face, but she had already disappeared into the corridor. And that was the first time someone ever managed to escape the wrath of the famous delinquent, Im Jaebum.
He spent his days searching for the rude girl. In Jaebum's defense, she did not utter a word of apology for bumping into him and almost getting him in trouble. When he finally got her, she had been extremely clueless about him and that bumping incident. She blinked up at him with innocent and clueless eyes that Jaebum could not even argue anymore. Nevertheless, Jaebum found her as a new target, bullied her to no end. However, she never cared about his antics and ignored his existence. She never feared him as all the other students did. But that one time when Jaebum went too far and shoved her down the corridor, she had this flame in her eyes when she met his. For the first time, Jaebum felt scared for his own life. Nothing happened though, but she started to retaliate. She got on his nerves, but funnily enough, she always managed to get away with it.
Amidst all the animosity, there was a change of heart. It wasn't a gradual evolution of emotion. Rather, it was something that was sparked on a snap. Jaebum had wandered into the field to taunt her. But a baseball was flying towards him unbeknownst to him.
"Look out!" he had heard someone cried out before there was a whoosh sound right in front of him.
As if time stood still, he could see clearly how each strand of her hair fluttered in the wind, how her hand was outstretched right in front of his face, how the ball slammed onto her glove.
It was stupid, Jaebum thought, to feel his heart skip a beat at such incident. But it happened and Jaebum thought she caught his heart along with the ball.
Afterwards, Jaebum became a blushing fool whenever he saw her. He still disturbed her, but no longer as extreme as before. He didn't know how or when he actually mustered courage to confess but the next thing he knew, they were a couple.
Nevertheless, couple or not, they were still two very different individuals. He still preferred streetwear -- leather jackets and dyed hair -- while she preferred smart casual. She was the epitome of a successful woman: smartly dressed, with an aura of confidence. He was violent and aggressive while she was calm and collective. He was fire while she was water. His foul temper always ruined the surroundings but never her. He ruined, she fixed. He was destructive, she was constructive. He explodes, she implodes.
Because of their contrasting personalities, their love was like hot coal. It was scalding to be held, but it spread warmth to the hearts.
Nobody understood why they were together in the first place. Their closest friends always had to deal with them barging into their place with tear-stained faces or fury. None of them understood how they manage to get married and settled down together despite the endless arguments. They were not the happiest couple. They never were. Never had anyone see them smile to each other. No one understood their love.
Except them.
"We'll be fine. We'll always be," her words rang in his ears. He scoffed. Who was she to say that? Indeed, he loved her so much. But she was not him. She could not understand the pain inside. He curled himself up on his bed, letting himself be consumed by sadness and guilt. He screwed up big this time. He had it all, but his pride just had to ruin it. Tears dripped onto the bed sheets that her scent still lingered on.
His endearment for her was too overwhelming. A month had past since the incident occurred and he missed her so bad. Jaebum hoped, every second, that she would show up on the doorstep of the apartment (he no longer called it home) with her bags. But time past by and she did not come. He laughed at the wee hours of every night. He thought to himself. He deserved it. He was a jerk who ruined everything and was a screwed up person himself. He got himself drunk with the little remnants of her in the house, in his mind. He played their memories over and over - her sloppy kisses in the morning and night, her sweet voice that was his favourite song, her soft touches on his skin. Every single little detail of her was etched deeply into his memory and onto his skin.
Every night, he roamed around the streets alone. As he drowned himself in the memories, he always ended up in the neighbourhood of his in-laws. He stood at the pavement, staring at the 9th floor of the building, hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman he loved. He stood for god knows how long, not tearing his eyes away from the windows. But she never looked out of the window.
It became a habit for him to come around everyday. He was too much of a coward to knock on the door. He was too afraid to face her. He knew he was in the wrong, but he never knew why he was not brave enough to face her. He wanted her back so bad, but his body just would not move a step closer to her. She was there: she was within reach, but he just could not take the step. He missed how her silky hair would easily let his fingers card through. He missed how his hands were so much bigger than her face. He missed how perfectly fitted she was in his embrace.
Then he saw her.
He could easily identify her even if she was drowned in the crowd, even in the darkest of the night. She wore the hoodie he recognized so well: her favourite (and his too), a present from him. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of the hoodie and she strolled down the streets, her back facing him. She was all alone, and very easily he could have approached her. But he did not. He followed as she entered the convenience store. She smiled at the cashier as she paid and he died a little inside. He yearned for that blinding smile to be directed at him again. He yearned to see the skin around her eyes to crinkle and her lids to be turned to crescents upclose again. He yearned for her so much. But he could do nothing, only to love her from afar.
The famous Im Jaebum, who never fled from a fight, was in fact, a coward.
So Jaebum came home, all drunken in his own misery and agony. What started as soft sobs escalated into fury. He threw a fit. He smashed the vases, the glass furnitures. He broke all the photos they smiled happily in. He punched holes into the walls. His skin tore and his blood dripped onto the hardwood floor. His head hung low and he rested his palm against the wall for balance, before he leaned his back against the wall. He let himself slid down in agony as he cried. He did not know what was more painful: his torn skin and dripped blood or her absence. Perhaps it was both.
Or perhaps it was the wrath he incurred himself for being destructive.
Everybody knew how bad his temper was. Him throwing a fit would mean the destruction of the world. He would break everything and anything he saw.
Even amidst all the anger, he would never break the one he loves.
The only one who braved the flames of fury was the one he vowed he would never hurt.
Hello I'm not a GOT7 fan (yet) but roaming through the wonders of Tumblr I stumbled upon your stories and they are insanely good! Please don't disappear huhu I love your stories and I love the way your stories bring about love and sacrifice like yes, I love some angst and you nailed it.
Oh my! This is such a pleasant surprise!! I haven’t been able to write anything new because I got a new job and I’m trying to adjust to the new environment. Still, this message brought a huge smile to my face!! Thank you, dear anon. :’)
I’m thankful that you took the time to read my fics when you’re not an Ahgase yet! :’) Perhaps you might fall for them hehe ^^ Thank you for loving my fics and I do hope to write another one soon ~
A/N: At long last, Crimson has come to an end! If you’ve read this fic until the end, thank you. :’) I know I’m still lacking as a writer and this was my first time writing a series. It has been a crazy journey but I’m glad to have taken the challenge. :’) And thank you for putting up with my late posts despite my promise to put it up weekly. Finally, if you enjoyed this story, do show your support by buying me a coffee. You can spam me your thoughts and comments by dropping me an inbox message here or by talking to me on Twitter. Till we meet again in another fic. :)
A/N: At long last, Crimson has come to an end! If you’ve read this fic until the end, thank you. :’) I know I’m still lacking as a writer and this was my first time writing a series. It has been a crazy journey but I’m glad to have taken the challenge. :’) And thank you for putting up with my late posts despite my promise to put it up weekly. Finally, if you enjoyed this story, do show your support by buying me a coffee. You can spam me your thoughts and comments by dropping me an inbox message here or by talking to me on Twitter. Till we meet again in another fic. :)
A/N: At long last, Crimson has come to an end! If you’ve read this fic until the end, thank you. :’) I know I’m still lacking as a writer and this was my first time writing a series. It has been a crazy journey but I’m glad to have taken the challenge. :’) And thank you for putting up with my late posts despite my promise to put it up weekly. Finally, if you enjoyed this story, do show your support by buying me a coffee. You can spam me your thoughts and comments by dropping me an inbox message here or by talking to me on Twitter. Till we meet again in another fic. :)
Jaebeom’s breath hitches. He staggers backward in bewilderment. Are his eyes playing tricks on him now? Maybe this person in front of him is someone who looks like Shin Yujin. His Yujin doesn’t have gray eyes. Her hair is black, not platinum, and it definitely doesn’t reach her stomach.
“Hello, Jaebeom,” the woman greets in a familiar voice. Yujin’s voice. Jaebeom feels his heart swell. It’s been so long since he heard her call his name. But how can it be her? He watched her die in his arms!
“No, you can’t be Yujin,” he mutters to himself, covering his ears. “I must be hallucinating… I must be out of my mind… Yujin isn’t here anymore--”
“Technically, that’s true,” the woman interjects Jaebeom’s monologue, her voice louder, closer now. She has moved forward, closing the space between them. “I don’t exist in this realm anymore. I live in the spirit realm now.”
“No,” Jaebeom says firmly, backing away, but his foot slips and he tumbles onto the forest floor. He shakes his head, refusing to believe whatever he’s witnessing now. “No. Nononono-- You’re not Yujin--”
“Shall I prove it to you?”
With a wave of a hand, a string appears between them. It glows bright, connecting their hearts and their right hands in a loop. Jaebeom stares in awe. There was only one time that he saw this loop and that was when they performed the--
“Lover’s oath,” Yujin states, gazing at the string. “It’s why you can still feel my presence. The oath binds two souls together even if they are in different realms.”
She locks eyes with the male, adding, “I’m still living, but just not here.”
“B-but-- H-how? I saw you-- You turned to dust in my arms! I don’t understand--”
“A White fae took a liking to me,” she explains, shrugging her shoulders. “She turned me into one.”
“White fae?” Jaebeom echoes, frowning slightly. “I’ve never heard of them…”
“Because they only exist in the spirit realm,” Yujin replies, crouching before the male. “They don’t interfere with the physical realm at all. We are tasked to render help to the spirits whenever needed.”
“Yet you’re here…?” the male trails off.
The female touches the string between them. Jaebeom feels a physical tug in his heart.
“I wish to cut this bond between us,” she says coolly.
“What?”
“We are in different realms, Jaebeom,” she begins. “There is no reason for us to preserve this bond. And you have been alone for far too long. I’ve seen you grow to be a splendid king. Surely, you have a long list of suitors--”
Jaebeom lunges forward, throwing his arms around her body. But to his surprise, he falls flat onto the ground. Yujin offers an apologetic smile.
“You can’t touch me,” she mutters.
The Fire fae refuses to believe it. He tries again, reaching for her face, but all he meets is air. His hand passes through her head.
“I don’t exist in this realm, Jaebeom,” she emphasizes. “It’s time for you to move on and--”
“No!” the male snaps. He can’t bear to move on. Not when he knows now that Yujin is still alive, even if she’s in a separate realm. It doesn’t matter. He has been calling for her, has been yearning for her since her ‘death’. Now that she’s right in front of him, there is no way he’ll let her slip by again. He has had enough of that.
”I love you," he blurts. And it’s as if a huge weight is lifted from his shoulders. The words are what he meant to say to her, but was only used once. It wasn’t said enough. “I love you, Shin Yujin. I love you. I love you--”
“Jaebeom--”
“I miss you so much, I can’t bear it anymore. Do you know how much it hurts to live without you? Do you know how much I think about you--”
“I know,” she says softly. “But you shouldn’t hope for us anymore. I exist in the spirit realm now. You still have an eternity before you. Your kingdom needs you. There is no way we can ever be together again.”
“Even if we exist in different realms, what does it matter?” Jaebeom insists. “You appeared in front of me when I was in your house. And here you are again, right in front of me. Won’t you visit me again? Won’t you take me as your lover?”
Yujin falls silent.
“Yujin, please… I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you again.”
Her expression changes to something like disdain. She rises to her feet, making her way towards the open portal.
“Yujin?” Jaebeom calls out, following her. “Yujin, please--”
“You had your chance,” she snaps, keeping her back turned on him. He knows she doesn’t want to look at him at all. “And you lived just fine. You can do it again.”
Her words cut sharp, like an arrow that shot through his heart. It hurts, but Jaebeom can’t deny it. After all, it’s true. He had the chance to reconcile with her. Instead of letting Yujin find out the shocking truth herself, he could have come clean. But no, he didn’t. He thought he could hide it all away.
“Yujin, I know what I did was wrong. I hurt you so much. I broke your trust. But please, don’t-- Please don’t leave me.” He’s practically begging now. "You are truly precious to me, Yujin. You always have been. But I was blinded by my greed for power that I let you go through all that.”
Tears are spilling on his face. How odd it is to see the King crying. His reputation be damned, at this point of time, there’s nothing else Jaebeom cares about but his love.
“I regret it all, I really do,” he admits, “I might have everything now, but there’s still that void in me, in my heart: You.”
There’s a pregnant silence. Yujin still doesn’t look around. She stays rooted to the ground, keeps her head turned away from the male.
“Live on, Jaebeom,” she finally says, putting a foot through the portal, “There’s nothing left for us.”
---
How timely was the incident, for the weather gradually turns colder afterwards, the autumn leaves clinging onto the branch for dear life. The land is barren, snow covering the ground to an ankle high. The plants have wilted due to the drop in temperature. As much as Jaebeom tries to continue his reign, he can’t help the remorse that seeps in whenever he idles.
With the arrival of winter, it is of no surprise that the Water court has invited Jaebeom over for the Winter’s festival as a means to maintain good diplomatic ties. Jaebeom willingly accepted the invitation, seemingly out of goodwill. In truth, he merely wanted to keep himself occupied.
He could have taken the direct route to the Water court with the aid of a courier, but that would mean more idle time before the celebration actually begins. He’d rather take the longer route by travelling on land to get to the harbour before boarding the ship to the destination. He brought a few of his Water fae knights to steer the ship and an Air fae who specialized in forecasting the weather. Though the King was assured that it would be a smooth sail, he reckoned that having an Air fae onboard would help detect any changes in the weather however small.
Jaebeom has been resting in his cabin when he is woken up by the loud thumping sounds above. He feels the ship rocking violently against the sea waves. He bolts out of his bed, rushing to the deck.
It’s a total contrast to the weather hours ago. It had been beautiful, bringing a sense of tranquility to Jaebeom. He stayed on the deck for a long while, enjoying the scenic view. The sun peeked out from the horizon, casting an orange glow to the sky. The sea was calm, the waters glimmering under the rising sun. He had enjoyed the gentle crash of the waves against the ship.
Now, the sun is nowhere to be seen, hidden away by the dark lumpy clouds. The deck is damp, and Jaebeom doesn’t know if it’s seawater or rainwater. Needless to say, the Water faes that he brought along are desperately trying their best to control the ship, and at the same time, attempt to tame the raging sea. A bolt of lightning flashes in the distance, then followed by the groan of the thunder. There is no way they can fight through the storm.
“All head to safety!” Jaebeom roars above the noise. His knights hear him loud and clear, and immediately retreat below the deck. They make sure everything is shut -- cupboards, doors and anything of the like.
Jaebeom grabs the only Air fae onboard, bellowing, “You told me that the weather is good! What is this? Why did you not avoid it?”
The young fae looks like he wants to burst into tears. “I-it came suddenly, my King,” he cries. “I couldn’t foresee this at all!”
Jaebeom can only glare at the fae. He lets him go, before addressing his crew, “Go to your cabins. We will have to wait through the storm. And if anything were to happen--”
“No, my King!” one fae shouts. “Nothing shall happen, not to you especially. We will protect you till our last breath!”
“No, we will go through this together. We will protect each other till our last breath.”
Everyone seems to be touched. Their fatigue from combating the storm now gone, their faces filled with determination and pride.
“Yes, my King!” they shout collectively before quickly heading into their own cabins.
Jaebeom can only hope they get out of the storm alive. He locks himself in his own cabin. The ship continues to rock violently, and he fears that the waves will topple them over. But none of them would have expected that the storm had thrown them off their course. And none of them would have expected the ship to strike a huge rock. The hull breaks and water gushes in.
Jaebeom’s cabin is flooded, the water level rising fast. He takes a final breath and goes under. He tries to open the door, but is unsuccessful. Next, he tries the window, but again, his efforts go in vain. He then tries to focus his energy to his core, generating as much heat as he can. There is no way he can engulf himself in a blazing fire without raising his body temperature first. The water around him starts to bubble, but it’s still not enough. He can’t produce any flame strong enough to propel himself upwards.
Panic fills his chest. He can feel himself drowning, his lungs struggling to provide air to his body. His mind has gone blank, unable to think of a solution. His eyes start to go heavy. Jaebeom reckons this is how he will die. The great King of the New court dies in a shipwreck.
His eyes droop low, and he barely notices a ball of light in front of him. Perhaps it’s death calling, for the light approaches him, increasing in luminosity that he can’t look at it directly. Then, he feels a hand curling around his wrist, dragging him through the water.
“Not just yet,” he hears a voice say.
It’s strangely familiar, but his brain cannot process it, finally shutting down.
---
When Jaebeom wakes, he can’t even believe that he’s alive. He remembers his ship striking a rock, his cabin being flooded, the waters drowning him. There is no way he could have survived that. He was trapped in his cabin, so how is it possible that he’s washed ashore?
Wait--
Jaebeom blinks again.
This doesn’t seem like a shore. He doesn’t even taste salt in the air!
He sits up, groaning. His back aches. Looking around, it’s definitely not a shore but a forest! He was laid on the ground, with a stack of leaves as a makeshift bed. Dense trees form an extensive canopy overhead. He can barely see the sky, the sun rays seep through the gaps. Odd enough, the world is tinted green. A few steps away, a river flows through the forest quietly, its waters the color of emerald.
Jaebeom rises to his feet, rather wobbly from the lack of use. He briefly wonders how long he was out. And just where the hell is he? What about his knights?
“You’ve finally come to your senses, King Jaebeom,” a voice fills the silence. A woman emerges from behind a tree. She’s dressed in all white, the tail of her gown trailing behind her as she moves. Her silver hair shines, her gray eyes trained on him.
Jaebeom tries to cast some fire, but nothing happens.
“Your powers don’t work here,” the woman says, calm and collected.
“Where am I? Who are you?”
“Welcome to the spirit realm,” she answers, stopping in her tracks. She bows at him. “Pleased to meet you, King of the New court. I am Sowon.”
“Spirit realm?” Jaebeom echoes, his eyes going wide. Am I dead? And if I am, then--
“You’re not dead. At least, not yet,” the woman responds as if she read his mind. She cocks her head to the side. “Technically, you shouldn’t even be here. We have no business with what happens in the physical realm.”
Jaebeom frowns. “Then why…?”
He notices that Sowon’s eyes go past him, to a spot somewhere behind him. There’s a slight pause before she looks at him again. She shrugs her shoulders. Then, she moves again, this time gliding across the ground. She flashes a curt smile at Jaebeom as she comes closer.
“May you find the answers you seek for so long,” she whispers as she brushes past him.
Jaebeom trails her movement, turning his head. There, he spots another figure donned in white standing on an elevated land. He barely registers the way Sowon glances at him as she whispers something to the other. He doesn’t even notice Sowon vanishing into thin air afterwards. Entranced, Jaebeom can’t take his eyes off the figure. Everything else just dissolves, and all he can see is how the figure approaches him. His heart pounds loud against his chest.
“Yujin…” he exhales, as if air is punched out from his lungs.
“Are you alright?” she asks, her voice gentle. She looks genuinely concerned, a contrast from their last encounter.
“Yeah,” Jaebeom breathes, “Now that you’re here.”
Yujin glances away, nodding slightly. If she’s avoiding his gaze, he doesn’t point it out.
“I have to send you back,” she says, ignoring his words. “Staying here any longer will sever the connection with your physical body.”
“Did you bring me here?”
Yujin doesn’t answer immediately. She pads over to the river and crouches beside it. She waves a hand and the water conjures a miniature of a ship, along with what seems like a rock and a heavy storm above it. Jaebeom has an inkling that this is a reconstruction of what happened. He watches as the ship strikes the rock in the storm, how it slowly sinks into the deep ocean.
“I couldn’t bear to see you die,” Yujin finally says, watching as the last part of the ship goes under. “I tried to warn you by showing you a glimpse of the future. Yet, it still happened. I couldn’t just stand by and watch you drown.”
“You saved me,” Jaebeom realizes. “You’ve been watching over me all this time?”
She meets his eyes, her gaze leveled. “Always.”
“Even though… you wanted to break our bond?”
“I never wanted to,” she admits quietly. “But you didn’t want to wed anyone because you still felt our bond. I just don’t want you to be alone anymore.”
“But my heart only belongs to you,” Jaebeom whispers.
Tentatively, he reaches for her face, wondering if he can even touch her. Yujin doesn’t move away, and doesn't speak at all. She just lets him. His fingers feel her skin, soft and real beneath. Perhaps it has been so long since he touched anyone, for he feels electricity surging through his veins. He cups her face, rubbing the pad of his thumb against her cheek. His eyes linger on her lips, and his heart pounds against his chest so loud that he reckons she can hear. He wants to hold her close, wants to kiss her, just wants.
“Do you really mean it?”
“I will prove it to you. Over and over again. For as long as it takes for you to believe me.”
Yujin gazes at him silently. She licks her lips and Jaebeom can’t help but trace the movement. Her lips glisten, looking so tempting. Her throat bobs as she swallows her saliva. Jaebeom hangs his head, letting out a soft groan. She’s making it so hard for him to hold back.
Jaebeom feels her palms pressed against his cheeks, tilting his face back up. Her eyes have gone gentle and warm. It stirs a whirlwind of emotions in his heart. Oh, how much he misses being the object of her attention and affection. How much he misses her.
“Kiss me, Jaebeom,” she requests, her voice sounding ragged.
He doesn’t hesitate. He surges forward, pressing their lips together. His heart soars the moment their lips touch. He pours everything -- every feeling, every yearning, every thought -- into the kiss. All the “I’m sorry”, “I miss you” and “I love you” merge into one. Jaebeom feels her arms loop around his neck, bringing him close.
They break apart for air. But it doesn’t stop Jaebeom from peppering kisses down her jaw. It’s only when he reaches her shoulder that he notices sparks emanating from his body. He pulls away, looking down. Every part of his body is glowing, and upon closer look, the sparks are not just light. It’s actually his body disintegrating.
“What’s happening to me?” he panics.
“It’s alright,” Yujin hushes, stroking his cheek. “Your body is calling for you.”
“But--”
“Don’t worry, Beommie,” she says sweetly, “We’ll be reunited soon.”
Jaebeom presses her palm against his face, not wanting to let go. He doesn’t want to believe it. He doesn’t want to get his hopes up. He’d rather stay here than be sent back to the physical realm without her.
“You have my word, my love.”
Her smiling face is the last thing Jaebeom sees as his body vanishes from the spirit realm. He wakes up in his own room with a distraught Jinyoung at his bedside, his face stained with tears. He wails when he sees his brother blinking at him.
“I thought I lost you!” Jinyoung cries as he throws his arms around the King.
Jaebeom feels lost. His mind wanders, his eyes staring into space. Was it all a dream? But the taste of Yujin’s lips feel real against his. If it was a dream, he wished he never woke up. He nuzzles into the crook of his brother’s neck, seeking comfort. I should be grateful, Jaebeom scolds himself. At least he has a brother who loves him dearly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he notices something bright in his hand. Looking down, he sees a long string connecting three points on his body: from his heart through his chest then all the way down to his right hand and then to the iron ring on his left finger. The string is thicker and its glow is brighter.
Jaebeom smiles wide.
---
The King sits on his throne, drumming his fingers as he waits. He hears a familiar pop sound and then sees a ring of sparks appearing in front of him. A connection between two worlds is established and a hooded figure steps through the portal. It gives its due respect to the King before stepping forward without a single instruction.
“I have been waiting for you,” the King says as he offers his hand.
“Pardon me, King Jaebeom. I had no intention of making you wait, but time didn’t allow it,” the figure responds, slipping its own hand into the King’s. It presses a kiss on the back of his palm.
“It’s alright. I was eager, after all,” he assures, rising from his throne. He raises his free hand to the figure’s hood. With just a nimble touch, the hood falls behind, revealing a woman so beautiful, it takes the King’s breath away.
“Ready, my King?”
“You should stop calling me that,” he points out.
The woman cocks her head to the side. Her gray eyes blink up at him, gleaming in the dimness of the hall. The moonlight that filters through the glass windows only adds on to her beauty.
“I cannot possibly drop the formalities with a king--”
“Yujin.”
There's a slight pause. A teasing smile. Then, "Yes, my love?"
Jaebeom cannot hide the happiness he feels from hearing the term of endearment. He beams at her. Tipping her chin, he leans in for a kiss. Plush, sweet, addictive. He swears he can never get enough of it.
Yujin is the first to break the kiss, teasing him. She laughs at Jaebeom’s pout, pulling him towards the portal. But just before they take a step through it, the King stops dead in his tracks. He takes one last glance around the throne room. Come tomorrow morning, the throne room will be left empty. There will be an uproar from his nation regarding his disappearance. But he has already appointed a successor who, with great certainty, will be loved by the faefolk. And the first task his successor will have to carry out is to relay good news of their beloved King: The King has reunited with his lover and will watch the New court from afar.
“It’s alright if you want to stay,” the woman says, offering a sympathetic smile.
The King brushes a knuckle against her cheek, gaze gentle upon her face. He shakes his head. “I have been apart from you for far too long.”
Yujin smiles.
“Wherever I roam,” she recites.
A promise between lovers: The Lover’s oath.
A smile spreads on Jaebeom’s face.
“To you I return,” he finishes.
They step through the portal, hand in hand. The ring snaps shut and a new life begins.
A/N: This update is almost a month overdue... It was really hard to churn out this second last chapter. Yes, there’s another chapter after this because damn, it got so long that I had to split it. So, the REAL final chapter should be up tomorrow. :) Do show your support for my works by buying me a coffee! You can also follow me on Twitter.
How odd it is to see the King sitting alone in a small house that has been long abandoned. Of all the riches and wealth that he owns, he still prefers to seek solace in such a place. In contrast to the age, no speck of dust is seen on any of the surfaces in the house. It’s so well-preserved, that if anyone were to enter, they wouldn’t have thought the house has been around for centuries. But no, no one will ever know. The King has enchanted the grounds, barring anyone else -- be it fae or human -- from reaching the house. Instead, they will be led elsewhere.
The King reclines at the armchair, merely glancing at the fireplace. Instantly, fire is ignited, engulfing the logs of wood set on the hearth. No other fae can do the same -- they would need to move their limbs to conjure anything at all. As for the King, he possesses immense control over his fiery powers such that he only needs to will it in his mind. His gift receives great praise and awe from the faefolk. However, to some, the King is feared and seen as a monster. After all, he was on trial for the murder of the Princess of the Air court, barely a week after attending the Autumn festival. He was cleared of all accusations when he offered his memories as evidence. The Air court ruled that he acted in self-defense against the Princess’ attempt to asphyxiate him. It’s of no surprise that some faes think that he cast a spell so that he will gain the favour.
Despite the initial setback, the King didn’t falter. He was determined to achieve justice for the ‘impure’ faes in the world. He embarked on a mission to build his own kingdom. He promised a blissful and flourishing life to any fae who would support him but was met with criticism. He received strong opposition from the four fae courts and was even taunted. They mocked, “He has neither wealth nor land. How will he provide for his followers?” In addition, he struggled to rally support because the non-pure-blooded faes feared facing even greater oppression.
Still, the King never gave up. With the few faes that he successfully drew in, together, they inhabited the mansion that he already owns. Strategically placed equidistant from the rest of the courts, it quickly became the economic center. Faes would pass their area when they travel on land. It was a golden chance for the King and his followers to reach out to them. Little by little, more and more faes start to see the King’s honesty and great leadership. He appealed to more faes, and the New court was established and recognized within a span of a year. Its rise was astonishing, especially to the four existing fae courts. They tremble in fear, thrown off-balance by the new kingdom, ruled by a king who harnesses a power like no other.
Soon, the New court boasts equality and opportunities to any fae -- be it pure faes or halflings, anyone at all! -- who chooses to dwell in it. The King welcomes anyone who wishes to seek shelter from the tyranny of their own courts. No doubt, the New court breeds the most loyal faefolk due to the kindness of their King. Had the King followed his initial idea of overthrowing the other four courts, he wouldn’t have achieved the same success. He would have to combat political unrest as he tries to unite them under one rule.
“I knew I’d find you here, my King,” a voice breaks the otherwise silent atmosphere. The cracking sound of the fire had been the King’s only company.
“You know you don’t have to address me that way when we’re alone, Jinyoung,” the King corrects the other, the end of his lips curling up into a smile.
“I suppose I can’t help it,” Jinyoung shrugs, taking a seat on the empty couch. “We’re always in the eyes of the public. It has become a habit that I call you ‘King’ instead of just ‘Jaebeom’.”
The Fire fae lets out a chuckle. “Such is the life we have chosen for ourselves, huh? A king and a regent,” he offers teasingly. “On the bright side, we’re as free as we can be. No more hiding. No more being afraid of who we are.”
“Indeed,” Jinyoung nods.
There’s a momentary pause. Although Jaebeom isn’t looking at his brother, he can feel the weight of his gaze on his face. He’s observing him silently, as he always does. Jaebeom pretends he doesn’t notice, acting like he’s interested by the flames in the fireplace.
“You can’t keep doing this, Jaebeom,” the Water fae finally says.
“What are you on about?” the male in question retorts, not turning his head.
“This.” From the corner of his eye, Jaebeom sees Jinyoung gesturing at the house, and then at him. “It’s been so long. She’s not coming back.”
Alas, Jaebeom shifts his attention to his brother, blinking at him.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says, feigning innocence. “This is merely a safe haven for me to clear my thoughts. After all, I have a kingdom to rule, a reputation to hold.”
Jaebeom dismisses it easily, though he knows that they both know that that is not the truth. Because he would visit Yujin’s old house whenever he misses her. He would sit in the house for hours on end, before heading back to his kingdom. Sometimes, when his heart yearns, he would lay on Yujin’s bed, hugging one of her dresses tightly. If he still had her memories in the fountain, he would have abused it. He would have accessed it and relived it endlessly.
“You’re clearly lonely,” Jinyoung states flatly. “You crave for a companion to spend your days with. There is an offer of marriage from--”
“I am perfectly fine, thank you very much,” Jaebeom interjects hastily. “Besides,” he pauses, glancing at his hand. The iron ring on his little finger gleams in the light. He brushes his thumb across the head, feeling the grooves beneath his skin. “I already have one.”
“My dear brother--”
“I can still feel her presence here.” The Fire fae points to his heart. “I’m certain that the Lover’s bond is still intact, though weak. And until that connection dies, I will not wed another person.”
Jinyoung sighs in exasperation, throwing his head back against the couch. Jaebeom expects a snarky remark, like he would every time he disagrees. Jaebeom waits, but he hears none. Perhaps his brother has given up on him. Or perhaps, he finally understood that Jaebeom’s love for Yujin is irreplaceable, that no other person can fill his heart.
Glancing at his brother, he frowns. The male isn’t moving at all. Jaebeom observes his chest, but it doesn’t rise nor fall. Hell, is he not breathing? In panic, the fae rushes to Jinyoung’s side. To his horror, his eyes are open, not blinking at all. They stare at the ceiling. Jaebeom waves a hand in front of his face. If Jinyoung is playing tricks-- But no, the male doesn’t budge at all, doesn’t even flinch!
Confused, Jaebeom takes a look around the room. His eyes land on the fireplace. The flames are frozen. He can even see the little sparks suspended in air. The male reaches out for it, and his index finger just passes through it. Heck, he doesn’t even feel the heat! Just what is going on?
In the next moment, there’s a pop sound behind. Jaebeom whips around to see a ring of green sparks being conjured. Jaebeom shifts into a fighting stance, ready. A hooded figure steps through, donned entirely in white, its hood worn low over its head. Jaebeom reckons that ring is a portal from elsewhere.
“Who are you?” he asks first.
The figure shifts its attention from Jaebeom, to Jinyoung, then back to him.
“Who are you?” he demands, focusing some energy into his palms. He intends to ignite his fists into flames, but for some reason, it’s not working. The fire just doesn’t come alive.
In a blink of an eye, the figure glides forward in rapid speed, but stopping right in front of the male. The speed produces a strong wind, making Jaebeom stagger backwards. The figure reaches a hand out, pointing a slender finger at Jaebeom’s forehead. His heart pounds in his ears, anxiety filling his chest. What the hell is this thing going to do to him?
The figure simply taps the spot between his brows and a series of visions swarm in his eyes. A ship sailing through a wide ocean in a heavy storm. The constant inconsistency in the rise and fall of the waves rock the ship, making it a struggle to stay upright. A gigantic rock and then the ship sinks. Next, flashes of an unearthly world are shown. Mountains emerge from the sky. Rocks are suspended in the air. A green river flows through the land. Finally, Jaebeom sees the same white hooded figure standing in front of him, holding out a hand. It calls his name in a hushed tone. The voice gets louder, layered with multiples of it, repeating his name endlessly. It rings in Jaebeom’s head. An ache starts to form, a throbbing pain. It feels like his head is about to burst open--
A whisper, “Jaebeom,” then everything stops.
The house returns and Jaebeom wobbles, finding purchase on a side table nearby. He clutches at his head, chest heaving.
“W-wha-- What did you--” Jaebeom can’t even form a proper sentence.
His knees buckle and he collapses to the floor. The figure only stands still, watching him. It doesn’t even provide a single explanation to the images Jaebeom saw. Then, it simply turns around, returning to the portal. The moment it crosses over to the other side, the ring of sparks snaps shut and vanishes.
“What are you doing down there?” Jinyoung’s voice fills the room. The Fire fae glances at his brother, who has his head cocked to the side, confusion written all over his face. Jaebeom looks over his shoulder. Just as he guessed, the fire has resumed, no longer frozen in time.
Just what the hell happened?
---
Spring has just begun and vibrant wildflowers bloom among the green grass, covering the forest floor, proudly reaching Jaebeom’s knees. He hasn’t forgotten the encounter with the mysterious figure. Months have gone by, and he hasn’t seen that thing again. As curious as he is, he can’t dwell so much about it. He doesn’t have the luxury of personal time; he has to carry out his duty as a king, which includes hunting with his knights. It is held once in every season, so that the knights get exposed to different weather conditions. For seven days straight, they train their combat skills, yielding weapons to further enhance their magic and most importantly, courage. It’s intense, but it builds resilience in them.
Jaebeom trudges through the forest alone, away from their campsite. He had wanted to take a quick bath in the river, but he decided to take a walk around the forest. He doesn’t want to regret missing the beauty of the forest. His guard offered to accompany him, but he refused. He wanted to be alone for a while.
Without him realizing, his feet has brought him to a familiar spot. The forest ends here, and just across, a house stands on its own, isolated from the nearest town. It’s a cottage, with a small farm behind. The sun lays just above the horizon, coloring the sky a deep orange. Its rays filter through the trees, casting a golden glow onto the forest.
Jaebeom smiles to himself, leaning against the trunk of a tree. From this angle, it reminds him of the days when he would watch the house from afar. He used to hide behind a tree and peek at the house before the sun set. During this time, the owners of the house would pick out fresh ingredients from their farm to cook their dinner.
Jinyoung would sit on the forest floor, resting his back against a protruding root of a tree. He would wave a hand over the nearest patch of grass and extract beads of water before letting the leaves reabsorb it. He would always accompany him despite finding it boring. Jaebeom remembers him saying something rather unbelievable then.
"I think you love her," his brother says on one particular day.
"What? No!” Jaebeom sputters, incredulous at the idea of being in love. Especially with her. “She's like a sister to me!"
Jinyoung stares at him as if he was the one who spouted nonsense. The creak of a door echoes in the empty field, and Jaebeom whips his head, paying attention to the house again. He doesn’t hear the sigh coming from his brother.
Yujin emerges from the backdoor, a basket pinned under an arm. Her long hair is kept away by the scarf on her head. Jaebeom reckons her linen dress has smudges of dirt all over. She has grown to be a nice young lady, he realizes. She looks more matured now. Gone were the days when child Yujin would run up to him with a huge grin on her face. She can’t even recognize him now. Heck, she doesn’t even remember him!
"Why do you look at her with those eyes?" Jinyoung’s voice breaks his reverie.
Jaebeom turns his head, a frown etched on his forehead. "What do you mean?"
The Water fae shrugs his shoulders. "You look at her in a hopeful way. As if you yearn for her."
"What nonsense!" Jaebeom objects.
"Then why do you visit her everyday?"
"Because I promised that I would always watch over her,” the Fire fae reasons.
"But it wasn't even a fae oath, was it? It was just plain words, so why do you hold it so dearly?"
At this, Jaebeom falls silent. He doesn’t have any answer to that. Yes, he didn’t make a fae oath to protect her. Technically, he doesn’t need to do any of this at all. Yujin doesn’t know of his existence anymore -- whatever he does or doesn’t do will not matter to her. Yet, he finds himself fulfilling the promise that he made to himself. Why? Because--
“Because it’s Yujin, isn’t it?” Jinyoung offers. “Because it’s Yujin, so you’d go to great lengths to keep her safe. Because it’s Yujin, you’d do anything.”
Jaebeom shakes his head. “You’re thinking too much about this--”
“Am I?” he retorts. Jinyoung rises to his feet, dusting off the dirt from his clothes. He folds his arms over his chest, gazing straight at Yujin. She’s oblivious to the two pairs of eyes watching her as she plucks some leaves from the farm.
“You can’t keep watching her like this, Jaebeom,” the Water fae says. “Look at her. She has grown to be a beautiful young lady. It won’t be long before she marries some male human. You can’t possibly continue this... obsession of yours!”
That last remark has fallen on deaf ears. Jaebeom has a frown on his face, mulling over one thing only, “Marriage, huh…”
“Of all things…” Jinyoung mutters to himself, throwing his hands up in defeat. “Yes, and that person won’t be you.”
“I don’t--!” Jaebeom clamps his hands over his mouth when birds fly away at the sudden shout. He holds his breath as he glances at Yujin. She doesn’t seem the least bit affected. Then he hisses at the other, “I don’t wish to be her husband!”
At this, Jinyoung cocks a brow. “Sure, you don’t,” he mocks.
“Anyway! Until she marries, I will not stop checking on her.”
A scoff.
“I won’t be surprised if you end up scaring her potential husband away...”
“What do you take me as?” Jaebeom argues. “I’ll definitely be happy for her!”
Jinyoung eyes his brother, then shrugs his shoulders, giving up. “We’ll see about that…”
Jaebeom chuckles to himself, shaking his head. Perhaps Jinyoung had been right at the time. Of the two, Jinyoung has always been more observant, picking up trivial details about him. Perhaps he already had an inkling about Jaebeom’s own feelings, way before he even realized it himself.
Back then, Jaebeom thought he only harbored platonic affection for Yujin. After all, he spent a part of his youth with her, creating memories that aided his tragic loss. Yujin was like the sun rising after a long night. Her presence was akin to the rays that spill onto the face of the earth, stripping away the darkness from his world. There is no way Jaebeom wouldn’t feel attached to her.
But what he didn’t realize was that his plain affections had grown over time, from the moment he had been watching over her silently. When the deal with Yunho was to be fulfilled, Jaebeom had been nervous about meeting Yujin again. Fear crept in his mind: Would Yujin be scared of him? Or would she find him likeable? Did her father tell her of his existence? Or does she remember him somehow? Every interaction Jaebeom made with Yujin was careful, and definitely nerve-wrecking. At the very least, he doesn’t want Yujin to hate him at all.
And when they performed the Lover’s bond, Jaebeom will not deny feeling a shift in his heart. His attraction towards her increased, but he downplayed it. He reasoned that it could be the effects of the oath itself, not from his own heart. So when Yujin willingly offered herself to him that same night, he had to take a step back. Still, he enjoyed teasing her. He loved the reactions she gave. And he definitely loves kissing her. The sweetness of her lips. The intoxicating scent of her body. The ragged breathing afterwards. The tension in the air.
Despite all these, he denied being in love with Yujin. He knew -- he could feel -- her falling for him, but he refused to acknowledge his own heart. Jaebeom’s mind was still focused on obtaining eternal strength. He was determined to use her love for his personal gain.
Only when Yujin attempted to assassinate him, did he realize how hypocritical he was. He felt betrayed that she dared to stab him in the heart. But he was doing the very same thing to her. It threw him into a turmoil. Was he really willing to sacrifice her love for his own greed? The incident made him realize how happy he was with Yujin, how complete his life was. He enjoyed her company and reveled in her embrace. He decided to abandon his goal and truly live with his lover, Shin Yujin.
However, everything went downhill when Yujin discovered the fountain of memories. Everything they ever built was burnt down to ashes. She no longer believed his words. She sacrificed herself because it was what he wanted in the first place. He cannot fathom how broken she must have been. And it’s all because of him. He lost her before, and he lost her again. The only difference is that now, it’s forever.
Suddenly, a strong wind blows across the forest. Leaves are sent flying, and the trees are swaying with the wind. In the next moment, everything freezes: the leaves suspended in air, the trees bent. Jaebeom hears a distinct pop sound, and then, he sees a familiar ring of sparks just a few distance away. Through the portal, a white hooded figure emerges.
A pair of hands slips out from beneath the cloak, reaching for the hood. The figure reveals itself, the face of whom Jaebeom hasn’t seen in years.
this is random but based on your writings (yes i have read almost all of em they are THAT addicting) ive noticed that your concept of love is about sacrifice. like, i love you so much that i’ll sacrifice myself even if it means that i’ll hurt, but as long as youre happy then im okay with it. (ex: if happy is her, crimson, time will you stop?) sorry i can only name jaebeom fics dhhshash ANDDDDD that’s one of the reasons why i love your writings so much 😭😭😭
i think its cause that is my exact definition of love (though sometimes it may be,,,,, too sacrificial *cough*yujin*cough*). i think that particular concept of love is so romantic and aaaaaaa i love it so much and you write it very well and i deeply feel for the OCs and i just wanna say i appreciate your writing very much :’))))) lately so many got7 writers are leaving tumblr and id be devastated if you did the same 🥺 so yea this is an appreciation post of me loving your writing and i hope to read more of it :DDDDDDDD. sincerely, 🍞 anon
woah, i truly didn’t expect this message! and omg i didn’t even realize that the works i have written have a similar concept of love! thank you for this!!! perhaps i need to explore more concepts of love hehe.
and awww thank you for loving my works!! thank you for reading most, if not all, of my fics!!! T_T it really means a lot to me.
in all honesty, i did think of leaving tumblr and putting an end to this blog at the end of last year. along with the fact that got7 have left that company and started focusing on solo works, it made me worry that possibly, there’ll be no fans who are interested in reading fanfics :/ but i have become so attached to this blog, that i feel reluctant to let it go. and at such a timely manner, the concept for Crimson popped up in my head that i just have to write it! ^^ hopefully i’ll get more inspirations and continue writing! :D thank you so much for your constant support all this while! :’)))
