Chapter Text
That little comment years ago was the reason Kim Rok Soo was currently so stressed, not that he knew that.
His fiance had left for the Henituse estate in the morning and it was near evening with not even a single message from the redhead.
Roksoo had initially brushed it off as him just wanting to enjoy some quality time with his family but the hours had trickled by and there was still no word whatsoever.
Kim Rok soo woke up earlier in the morning than usual because of the lack of warmth in his arms.
Disoriented and quite frankly still halfway asleep, he had looked around the room for his missing human pillow.
Not finding him anywhere, he reluctantly got up since he wouldn't be able to fall asleep without Cale clinging onto him anyway since he was too used to the redhead always being next to him by now.
Kim Rok Soo had been used to sleeping alone back on earth. But that wasn't the case here.
Ever since the beginning, first it had been the children, then they had been joined by Cale and even after the kids had grown up enough to require their privacy, he still had his cuddle bug with him.
So waking up alone -that had once been the norm for him- was now a very frustrating matter, since he couldn't sleep for long without company.
To his horror, early in the morning- it was past 11 already- he was met with his nemesis alongside his breakfast.
Without Cale there to discourage him, Ron had taken advantage of his young master's absence and given Rok Soo Lemon Tea.
All the while, smiling threatening at him until he drank the monstrosity.
Souring his mood further.
His day was off to a bad start.
He woke up early and cold. No good morning kisses. Had breakfast alone and had to swallow that damned lemon tea.
Roksoo told himself, that Cale was probably training with the others and let it go, happy that Cale forgot to drag him along to exercise, even as he felt a little agitated at having his slacker life be disturbed in such a heinous way.
An hour into the day and he could quite vividly feel his partners absence, specially given said partner's clingy personality.
So, Roksoo had to go look for Cale himself, since he refused to ask the scary old man.
Luckily, while he was busy glaring at the poor training grounds when he didn't find Cale there either. He heard a voice that wasn't supposed to be there this day instead.
"Human!"
Looking back his suspicions were confirmed.
"What are you doing here? Are you going to train? You don't usually work out without pretty cale around though- " sure enough, an adolescent copy of him with blue eyes was coming his way.
A black dragon that was supposed to be on a picnic with his mother at the moment.
There was a reason Roksoo had to eat alone, one beside the fact that he was having breakfast when it was almost lunch time so everyone else was already up and about.
None of the kids were supposed to be here today. Otherwise, his partner and kids always joined him, even if they only had snacks, they always accompanied him.
"Raon? What are you doing here?"
"We forgot the blankets! I was just going to go and pack some when I saw you here alone, glaring at air!"
With that, the Vicious dragon lord in training scanned the arena with sharped eyes, taking note of any possible disturbances while slowly spreading his dragon fear around, to intimidate any intruders that were stupid enough to breech their home.
Only to turn back to him confused when he ultimately found nothing.
"What are you glaring at human? Is it invisible? I don't feel any other presence though. "
Roksoo, who firmly believed himself to be a weakling surrounded by vicious people, felt a little offended at the false accusation since all he was doing was looking for his missing partner and not glaring at anything at all.
But, one look at the dragon with his head curiously cocked to the side -a trait all the kids and Cale shared despite all not even being the same species- , genuinely questioning and all the frustration seeped right out of him with a defeated sigh.
"I was looking for Cale."
A light bulb went off in Raon's head and he brightened with realization immediately.
"Oh! That's why you were glaring at nothing!"
He said that like it made prefect sense for Roksoo to be glaring at air when he didn't even do any such thing.
"Human did you forget pretty Cale said he will go visit his family?"
No, Roksoo hadn't forgotten that.
It was just that Cale had mentioned a few days ago that he would be visiting his family soon but he never specified when and Roksoo wasn't expecting him to leave at the crack of dawn either.
*sigh *
If Cale went to meet his family, then he couldn't do anything about it. He would have preferred a warning first but his fiance did notify him beforehand just not the specific time.
Well, he will just go and read the new edition of the novel series he had been following recently, with some cookies and tea, hopefully without any lemons.
"Alright, let's get those blankets for you."
Roksoo left the arena with the dragon to look for the fluffiest blankets in the castle. He will take one with him too.
The few hours after that were fine. The retired hero read some novels, munched on some cookies and rolled himself in his blankets to comfortably look at the wall in front of him and do nothing else.
The only downside of it all was that his hopes of just getting sweets were brutally dashed by the Vicious assassin since he had to drink two whole cups of that damned lemon poison.
Otherwise, he was content and comfortable in a very peaceful atmosphere.
Just him, the wall and silence.
Pure bliss of peace and stillness.
And the tiny bit of uneasiness in his heart acting as a background disturbance alongside the sour taste in his mouth which he both attributed to lemon tea and brushed off as unimportant.
A few more hours and his restlessness made him try to change his view and look out the window instead, the colors of the approaching sunset made for a much better view anyway.
The yellow orange hues painted a rather beautiful picture.
It was missing something crucial though.
Without him realizing it, his face settled into a slight frown because this view had nothing on the visuals on his already available records complete with a crisp laughter that sounded over his rapidly increasing heartbeat.
His eyes went distant as the view in front of him overlapped with the records now playing in front of his unseeing eyes instead, of an even more beautiful red bathed in the evening light. Of love filled eyes that looked at him like he was their everything.
His own heart sounded like drumbeats in his ears as more and more records played behind his eyes, until he forcefully put a stop to it and went to look for his spacial pouch instead.
Roksoo had decided, it was late enough and soon it would be time for his beloved to retire to his room.
Knowing Cale, he would most likely have already done so since he had a habit of drinking at this time instead.
Unless he goes to a bar, he would be in his room. If not Roksoo could just wait for him to return.
He ignored the amused smile of the old assassin when he informed Ron of his departure as he grabbed his special spacial pouch that was filled to the brim with teleportation scrolls that led straight to the redhead's room.
Roksoo suppressed a shudder from the servant's benign smile that was probably thinking of something Vicious and hurried away to the safety of Cale's room.
He should cleanse his eyes of the terrifying sight with the beauty of his love.
To his disappointment, Cale wasn't in his room.
But that was fine, all he needed was to ask Hans about when he would be back and wait some more.
It was not ideal but it would do for now.
Roksoo wasn't having a great day and his bad luck followed him there too.
According to Hans, Cale should have been in his room for hours now.
He wasn't. Roksoo knew that because he was just there looking for him.
He controlled his panicking thoughts and decided to retrace Cale's steps since he first arrived in the morning.
The room didn't have any signs of a struggle so Cale most likely went somewhere on his own violation, even if not, their had to be accomplices for such a clean departure.
Someone had to know something.
He just needed to find out who and make them talk.
-----------('-*)-----------
Finding himself face to face with the commander that united the world and won against impossible enemies wasn't something mage Bob had considered even in his wildest dreams.
He was just a mid level mage that served his home territory whenever needed. Why would he ever need to face the famed hero?
Yet, that was exactly what happened, he was being interrogated by the world's most esteemed hero about his fiance. The young master that everyone knew held the hero's heart, the very same young master that he served and had teleported away this morning secretly, who had not yet returned back.
Mage Bob got greedy.
Mage Bob was in trouble.
He can already hear the cautionary tales that will be made about him.
Bob the greedy mage.
The shine of gold and Bob was sold.
Bob the bloody bast-
Don't be like Bob children.
Besides, it's not like he had much of a choice. He was ordered.
The young master Cale was a very scary individual, everyone in Henituse County knew that, specially the workers like him. Their were lots of rumors about what had happened to the people who didn't follow his orders.
The mage regretted coming to work at all that day.
He wanted to cry.
That same young Master Cale ordered him to be quiet but the Commander's glare felt like it would kill him if he didn't speak.
The mage that had happily accepted the gold coins from his young master to buy his silence didn't even need to weigh his options as he regretted his life choices.
On one side, their was the once upon a time trashy young master who hasn't thrown a tantrum in years. Hell, he didn't even threaten Bob, just bribed him to keep quiet and went on his way.
On the other side, was the silver shield hero that more than half the world worshipped and with very good reason at that. Someone no one wanted to be up against. Ever.
Faced with the terrifying aura of the retired commander that felt like it was slowly choking him with fear. Mage Bob spoke through the tears he was trying very hard to suppress.
He told himself, that the young master was missing so it was his duty as a loyal servant of the family to help find him. That was the main reason, not because of the black haired commander that was looking more and more like the devil as the seconds passed.
Was this the aura that the enemies felt? Bob would have felt bad for them if he wasn't scared out of his wits. He didn't know what dragon fear felt like but that had to be it.
Once he was finally released from the fear inducing aura after he started to speak, mage Bob sent a silent apology to his young master he just sold out and took the pissed off commander to the same coordinates the young master gave him that morning.
-------- (¡-¡) --------
For the most part, this had been a simple quest for Cale, both in theory and in practice.
He had arrived at the village. Obtained his grains and paid the nice grandmother who gave it to him more than her family could ever spent. Amd then roamed around the place and had fun meeting new people and exploring. All that was left was to go home and jump into his partners arms.
But sometimes, even the most thought out plans go awry in the most unexpected of ways.
In hindsight, back when he had nabbed the teleportation scroll from Roksoo's hoard, he should have taken more than just one.
Granted, there was absolutely no chances of it ever failing so he had rightfully thought he wouldn't need more than one.
He didn't count on his luck being so bad, he would loose his only way back home.
It was the only thing in his spatial bag alongside the gold coins until he bought all those sacks so he probably dropped it somewhere there. Or where the mage initially dropped him. Or any of the shops he bought sovereigns from....
On the bright side, the village wasn't too big so he could search all around it in just a few hours.
On the not so bright side, even though it wasn't dark yet, the visibility was getting low because of the gathering clouds in the sky obstructing the sun.
He had continued to look for his scroll instead of shelter as the first few drops hit his head and that was how he found himself drenched and lost in the middle of nowhere.
The rain wasn't too harsh so he simply tilted his back and let it wash over him. Cale didn't have any good memories of rain so even this gentle shower only brought gloom to him.
He didn't move though, it was pleasant enough. With his eyes closed, all of his other senses were heightened, he could smell the pleasant scent of wet earth, he could hear the raindrops hitting various surfaces and causing different sounds like an orchestra of nature.
Could feel the drops hitting him lightly and dripping down his face, soaking into his clothes and making him cold.
He could faintly hear the laughter of a bunch of kids playing further away, alongside the shouts of their guardians calling them over.
The joyful giggles that were getting farther away from him made him wonder what that felt like, carelessly playing in the rain with your friends and then going home to family fretting over their well being.
Cale wouldn't know.
Nobles were supposed to never do anything as "disgraceful" as that. Even as children they were always taught to be poised and proper. Lest they bring shame on their family name.
Running around on wet ground in the pouring rain?
As if.
Jumping into dirty puddles?
Blasphemy.
Cale snorted, he could almost hear the horrified gasps of uptight nobles at the mere possibility.
Cale was a lout so he wasn't the most dignified anyway and yet constantly playing trash had brought about a loneliness that hadn't let him have any friends that he could have played with like this.
The memories he did have of rain were bloody and miserable. Of stormy nights he didn't want to think about.
'I miss him...'
All Cale wanted at that moment was to hide away in his partner's embrace.
At least, this rain wasn't so harsh that it felt like thousands of needles stabbing the skin. It was starting to get stronger though.
He should find shelter soon.
But the rain stopped all of a sudden.
No.
That wasn't quite right.
Cale could still hear it just fine. He just couldn't feel the drops running down his face anymore.
Why was it only raining around his eyes now?
Before he could question the anomaly anymore, he felt something gently brush against his cheeks. Wiping away the drops from under his eyes.
Cale didn't need to open his eyes to know who the warm palm cupping his cold cheek belonged to.
Even as the difference in temperature made him shudder, He leaned into familiar touch, seeking more of its warmth.
"Hello, darling."
Cale's voice came out a lot softer than he had thought, barely audible over the the sound of the downpour around them subduing all other noise. But he was heard anyway.
"You will catch a cold."
Cale could hear the concern that was audible even through the flat tone.
"Mhmm. Maybe. You say that like you won't feed me a potion the second we are home."
Cale chuckled even though he could vividly imagine the frown now most likely present on his darling's handsome face.
"I will. "
Of course he would. Cale felt himself smile from ear to ear.
"Say, have you ever played in the rain darling?"
Cale imagined a tiny Roksoo splashing in puddles with a straight face. Even the Tiny Roksoo in his imagination pouted at him for putting him in such a predicament.
Cale couldn't help it anymore. He laughed.
At his own imagination and because here he was being all melancholic about loneliness while being lost in the rain and this ridiculous slacker wannabe came to find him on the other side of the world.
"No?"
Cale could hear the confusion in his voice now. Can easily imagine, the very slight pinch in his expression at the unexpected question.
"I don't think so."
Roksoo really couldn't.
For him, it had always been better to not get wet. He didn't have any memories from when his parents were still alive and after that...
Rain was an inconvenience.
Since he couldn't afford to get sick and wet bandages needed to be re-done every single time. Not to mention the aches that followed the cold.
But it was also what had kept him alive when he was stuck under rubble for three days.
So he couldn't hate it either.
Even now it was giving him mixed feelings. He hadn't liked finding Cale with such a forlorn expression getting drenched in the rain, tears mixing in the water and flowing down his cheeks.
And yet, now that he was smiling at him, the current view of him was making his heart skip a beat.
"Well Mr. Kim, would you fancy a little game with me?"
When Cale finally opened his eyes, Roksoo clearly saw the quite anticipation in them even though they were still a little teary.
Roksoo didn't want to get wet or for Cale to be in the rain any further but he also couldn't say no to him.
Besides, Roksoo had vitality and he will be feeding Cale a potion first thing after going home and have him take a warm bath too so he should be fine as well.
He could also clearly see how badly Cale wanted it, how was he supposed to refuse that?
"Please?"
And now there was no way he could say no.
With a resigned sigh he got ready to exert his precious energy, he will make Cale make it up to him later.
"Alright."
Cale kissed the palm that was cupping his face and then put away the umbrella, making Roksoo get wet too, now that they were both under the rain unprotected.
Roksoo let him steal his umbrella and then waited since he did not know what to expect, he hadn't had any friends to play with, and from everything he knew, Cale shouldn't either. He had seen children play together of course, but they weren't kids so who knows what Cale even meant by game?
So he was a little surprised when the redhead slowly started backing away from him while Roksoo kept his gaze fixated on him, watching his every move.
Just as he lurched forward to catch him because Cale was getting out of his reach, the imp ran away giggling.
"CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!"
Roksoo, who was not yet ready to have Cale out of his sight after a full day of being alone, didn't even need to be prompted.
Cale didn't even get a few steps before he was caught because he wasn't expecting his lazy fiance to follow instantly.
So, he let his darling catch a breath and the second his grip loosened a little, Cale broke free and ran away again.
It was a lot more fun than he had thought.
This time, he got much further before he was once again caught by the cheating commander that was definitely using the wind ancient power to help him.
"You cheated!"
Cale was still laughing though so the accusation fell flat.
"There were no rules."
The smug commander who did enjoy himself because he wasn't exerting himself too much and got to make his love happy then shamelessly continued.
"Where is my reward? Or have I already caught my prize?"
"I can clap for you."
Cale tried to move away by pretending to give him a round of applause.
"Not to fast."
But Roksoo firmly trapped him in his arms. He pulled him even closer while tightening his grip on his waist.
"Alright. Alright. No more running away."
Cale huffed in amusement and wrapped his own arms around his lovers neck.
Settling on swaying them gently together in the light rain instead.
It was fun too, despite the lack of music or any finesse. It was fun, just sharing this private moment so close together was making him giddy.
Who knows, maybe next time they could play together with everyone else in the snow instead. The kids would love it and as much as he might grumble about it, so would this self proclaimed slacker.
Cale can see that satisfied glint in his eyes and the happiness in his relaxed expression, that was perfectly content.
Cale put his palm on the others much warmer cheek, probably from the use of his ability.
"So Mr. Kim, what would you like as your reward? You may Ask me anything you want. "
He asked teasingly, wondering if his extremely wealthy fiance would be audacious enough to ask for money. It was always an amusing sight whenever Roksoo did that.
"Anything?"
Roksoo pulled him closer.
"Anything."
Cale giggled amused and tiptoed a bit to lightly kiss the tip of his nose. He was also curious about what could Roksoo possibly want from him.
"What if I want you?"
One of Roksoo's hands wrapped around the side of his neck, bringing their faces closer and making Cale shudder from the hot touch on his nape.
"That would be a waste. "
Cale brought their foreheads together with a shiver from the contrasting sensation even as he felt his own face start to heat up from his increasing blush.
"How so?"
Roksoo asked absent-mindedly, staring at his lips as his thumb brushed the water droplets off of them.
" I am already yours."
Cale whispered against the pair of lips not even a breath away from his.
So very, very close.
Roksoo wordlessly closed the left over distant between them and claimed his lips instead, pouring all of the day's longing into the kiss until Cale could no longer feel the Cold around him anymore.
Even with their soaked clothing clinging to their bodies and the drizzle continuing to fall over them. All they felt at that moment was each other's warmth.
Kim Rok Soo would probably never admit it even to himself but he had fun too. He couldn't remember ever having been so carefree in his life.
They both had to mature too fast. Being so carelessly childish was not something either of them ever got to do.
So, this was a treasured memory for both of them who didn't get to have a proper childhood.
He now had a rather beautiful record of the rain. One that was not just an inconvenience or something crucial for survival.
There were no longer just bad memories associated with rain for them.
For a moment, it had felt like their younger selves were smiling at them.
These new good memories may not be able to ever erase or completely replace the bad ones but they atleast balanced them out somewhat.
Just a little bit.