Chapter Text
He hated this, without anyone saying anything, without him opening his eyes. He knew exactly what was awaiting him. "Riku, wake up" it said, harshly, he swallowed, nervously.
He opened his eyes, once again, greeted by the darkness of his mind. There it stood in front of him, mocking him, desensitizing him from his humanity. Stripping away what little humanity he had left.
Was he even human anymore? "You don't look happy to see me, after all I've done for you, I can't help but be offended" it said, a playful look on its face.
Riku rolled his eyes, god did he feel stupid. Why would a demon ever try to help him? It noticed his small action, it's smile dropping. "Why? Why that look?" He asked.
"Leave" Riku said, no long feeling fear. He wasn't afraid, hell he'd died once already, he had no reason to be afraid.
"Oh" it said, getting behind him. "Do you now want to cancel the deal? Cancel it right now, see what happens" it said, threatening him. He knew what would happen.
But even if he didn't cancel it, it would still happen once he set foot in hell. So what was the difference. He could cancel it right now, and destroy the world, but he didn't want that.
"I'm not telling you to cancel, I'm telling you to leave me alone" he stood firm in his decision. The demon looked at him confused, not understanding where the sudden confidence came from. "I won't leave, you know that I can't, and even if I could, why would I listen to you?" It said.
Its hand suddenly coming up to choke Riku, but Riku didn't fight back. He struggled to breathe, but his confidence didn't falter. Now this was intriguing.
"You know, I can push you to give up your soul right? I can do that while you sleep since you won't have much control" he said, but Riku didn't say anything. It was however, getting harder for him to breathe. But he wasn't gonna back off.
The demon raised an eyebrow, finally letting go of Riku and pushing him on the floor. His surrounding suddenly transformed into what he remembered, was hell.
Not this again, he thought.
It was doing the dream thing again. Still holding his neck, he saw how a figure made its way up the "hill" he was on. It was Daeyoung. He knew it was a dream, but he couldn't stop the protective nature he had towards Daeyoung. His Daeyoung.
His to hold, to love, to kiss.
He tried to get up, but hand found it impossible, noticing how the demon that had taken the form of him, made his way to Daeyoung. Dream Daeyoung seemed to not notice the real Riku being on the floor, his eyes softening once he saw 'Riku' in front of him.
He knew this was a dream, but the demons powers always made him forget he was dreaming to begin with. He tried to get up, but he couldn't.
"Riku, there you are, I thought something happened to you" Daeyoung said, smiling as he grabbed 'Riku's hands. The demons smiled at him, its hands instantly going to Daeyoung's waist, pulling him close. Daeyoung had grown taller than Riku as he matured, but that didn't stop neither the real Riku or the demon from manhandling him.
Daeyoung instantly wrapping his arms around the demons neck, Riku completely forgetting this was a dream, struggled to get up. It was almost like his body was glued to the ground. His muscles gave out, and his bones were locked.
He couldn't even scream properly, he felt like he lost his voice. "Daeyoung!" He yelled out, a broken voice coming out of him.
The demons looked at him, smirking, as he cupped Daeyoung's face. Going into kiss him.
That was the last straw for Riku, he yelled, and wriggled trying to get out of whatever type of magic was holding him down. But nothing worked, he looked back up.
Seeing how the demon didn't take his eyes off of him, mocking him. He watched how the demon tilted Daeyoung's head, deepening the kiss. His eyes never once breaking eye contact with Riku.
Before separating with Jaehee, it smirked as it looked at Riku. "Riku, I wanted to tell you that I-" before he could finish, the demon, using its hand, harshly piercing through Daeyoung's rib cage.
Riku's eyes widened, he started screaming, the hold that the magic had him on finally letting down, and he was able to stand up. He ran towards them, pushing the demon away, and catching Daeyoung in his arms.
Kneeling on the ground as the both fell, he had forgotten this was a dream. "Daeyoung" he said, gently tapping his face to stop him from passing out. He placed his hand over the wound, hoping to stop the bleeding.
But it didn't stop, Daeyoung's eyes becoming heavy. "No no no" Riku said, holding him close. He looked at his hand, covered in Daeyoung's blood, before pulling him close. "Daeyoung don't close your eyes" he begged, the tears finally falling from his eyes.
How his eyes were slowly giving out, and his mouth stayed open trying to hard breathe and keep the air inside his lungs.
“No!” Riku sat up, waking up his nightmare in cold sweat and gasping for air, he looked around his chest moving up and down quickly as he realized he was in his room. He looked beside him, noticing that Daeyoung was sound asleep.
He placed a hand over his heart, trying to calm himself down. It was just a nightmare. He held his chest, his breathing finally calming down, a single tear leaving his eye in relief.
When his breathing finally calmed down, he looked to his side once again. Enjoying how beautiful Daeyoung looked while sleeping. His pouty lips, his puffy cheeks, his soft eyelashes, the way his bang covered his forehead and eyes. God he wanted to kiss him, especially after that dream.
He felt the instinct to protect him, to keep him safe. He would never allow that to actually happen. He leaned down, close enough to Daeyoung’s face that he could feel his breath ghost over his nose. And moved his bangs, wanting to look at his angelic sleeping face.
He couldn’t stop staring, he looked so beautiful. He stared at his lips.
He couldn’t stop himself.
He pulled Daeyoung closer, his hands on his waist, and leaned close, finally capturing his lips. He knew he didn’t have to do this, knowing Daeyoung he would’ve agreed to kiss him if he so asked. But part of him was still scared, scared that he might reject him.
He closed his eyes, tilting his head to deepen the kiss, practically eating Daeyoung’s lips.
He felt Daeyoung stir in his sleep, but that didn’t stop him. He felt selfish, he wanted Daeyoung all to himself. Suddenly, he felt a hand on the side of his face, pulling him closer. He didn’t have to open his eyes to know what was happening. Daeyoung woke up.
And he was returning it. He eased, pulling him impossibly closer. Daeyoung opened his mouth, cupping Riku’s cheek, the older doing the same. Their mouths moved in sync, leaving both of them breathless.
They both needed this, nobody would interrupt them now. Riku’s heart felt contented, he could feel his his stomach was doing spirals. He’s been wanting this for years, he hated himself for not being able to recognize that the letter wasn’t Daeyoung’s. But whose could it have been?
It was a cruel joke, so cruel to take the love of his life away.
Daeyoung could feel the same, his heart was beating so fast, his ears became red from blushing. His hands coming up to grip Riku’s hair. But he felt cold, freezing even, it’s so weird for him, he’s never felt this before.
He petted Riku’s chest, asking for them to separate as he was having a hard time breathing. The other instantly stopped, pulling away from the kiss. His cheeks flushed, and his eyes lided, he wanted Daeyoung so bad.
He held him close, looking at Daeyoung’s face that was also flushed, and gasping for air. He moved his bangs to the side, wanting to admire Daeyoung’s red face completely.
He was so cute.
He placed a gentle kiss on Daeyoung’s forehead.
“Hyung”
“Hm?” He asked gently playing with Daeyoung’s hair. God everything about him was so cute? Even his hair? Fuck, you’re done for Riku.
“Let’s do it hmm?” He asked, placing his head on Riku’s chest. That caught Riku off guard, he giggled. “Do what huh?” He asked teasingly.
“Let’s date again?” He asked, his eyes big and sparkly as he looked at Riku. God, he could die happily right now, he smiled softly, placing another gently kiss on his forehead before placing another one on his cheek.
“Alright, let’s date again” he said, Daeyoung easing into his arms as they both closed their eyes.
“Hyung?”
“Hm?”
“I feel cold”
💧
“Don’t our men look handsome?” Yushi asked, sitting down next to Daeyoung on the benches, catching him off guard with the statement. The other had Ryo on his lap, resting his chin on top of the child’s head. They were watching as the guards, including Riku and Sion practiced sword fighting.
Was it dangerous? Yes. But was it hot? Also yes.
Yushi glanced over at Daeyoung, noticing that he was wearing a long sleeved shirt, as well as warm pants. That’s strange? The fire kingdom is hot, he would know, he’s lived here his entire life.
“Daeyoung, are you cold?” He asked.
The other finally being brought out from his trance, and looking over at Yushi. He nodded, “I don’t know why, I feel so cold these days. It’s so weird, I’ve never felt this before” he said.
Yushi was confused, not understanding. “Even with this fire cutie here?” He said, ruffling Ryo’s hair playfully. “Hyung” Ryo complained, pouting his lips.
Daeyoung was too distracted to notice, looking at the way both Riku and Sion were in sleeveless tops, sword fighting. The clinks and clanks echoing through the training hall.
His eyes quite literally fixated on Riku. His biceps, the way his own sweat made the muscles glisten in the light. He wanted to bite them. His eyes diverting back to Riku’s shirt, noticing how the sweat had made a trail around the neck part.
It was like watching eye candy, practically begging Riku to look at him. Yushi looked at him, noticing his in trance he was. He smiled, leaning over to Ryo. “Ryo, if I’m correct, Sakuya should be here today, he is in the garden right now” he said, making the child gasp in excitement.
“Why don’t you go play with him? It’s boring here” he said, and Ryo nodded, instantly getting off of Daeyoung’s lap and running out of the practice room. Daeyoung feeling his heart break, as his self proclaimed adopted son left.
“Okay, now what’s really going on?” Yushi asked, getting really close to Daeyoung, their arms gracing at each other. He flinched, feeling how cold Daeyoung’s body was. “God touching you, is like touching ice” he said, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
He instantly took it off, feeling his fingers burn from how cold Daeyoung was. “Isn’t it normal? I’ve always heard people complain about the cold, but I didn’t know” he hugged himself. “I didn’t know it felt this awful, I feel like my limbs are going to fall off” he said, shivering as he looked back to where Riku and Sion were practicing.
Yushi pressed his lips into a thin line, looking to the field too. Admiring his soon-to-be husband.
“God I wish he’d get me pregnant” Yushi said out loud, making Daeyoung turn to him. “Yushi? You realize you said that out loud right?” He said, in shock of what the other man said.
Yushi cheeks became red, he was lost in his train of thoughts while looking at Sion that he forgot to keep his internal thoughts, well, internal.
He scoffed, looking to the side, his face getting hot.
Daeyoung laughed at him, pushing him playfully. A friendship really had blossomed between them. They heard metal hitting the ground, making both of them look over.
Riku had managed to throw Sion’s sword to the side with a swing, having him on the ground as he pointed his own sword at him. The tip almost touching Sion’s Adam’s apple. He looking up at him, noticing his eyes going black for a second. Sion breathed heavily.
“Riku, calm down” he mouthed. Hoping to make Riku comeback to his senses, but he remained frozen, breathing heavily as he was exhausted.
Yushi stared in disbelief at the scene. Riku had never once beaten Sion, especially not in sword fighting, Sion was the best of the best. He beat their army general when he was only fifteen, him losing? It’s unheard of.
Yushi couldn’t help but think that the demon’s powers were maybe mucb more dangerous than what he thought.
He couldn’t help but wonder what was going through Riku’s mind. “Yushi” Daeyoung called out, Yushi turned over to him. “Has Riku ever beaten Sion in sword fencing?” He asked, and Yushi shook his head.
They all heard someone clapping, making everyone turn to the hallway. “You were finally able to beat your brother, good job Riku” the woman said, smiling brightly. The sword instantly falling from his hands and onto the floor. Sion using the opportunity to get up.
“Mom?” Riku asked, his tone dead as his eyebrows furrowed. The woman smiled, walking up to him, taking him into a quick hug, before pulling away.
“Finally” she said cupping Riku’s face.
Through the corner of her eye, she noticed Daeyoung on the benches. Her once happy face, turning into a frown. Nobody notified her about this, she made her way to him. Yushi being pulled away from his side by Sion.
“What are you doing here?” She asked, pointing at him. “Shouldn’t you be busy dying with the people of the ice kingdom?” She said, the statement bringing tears to Daeyoung’s eyes.
He still bowed to her, in respect. She was still Riku’s mother, so he opted to not say anything. The woman became enraged, clicking her tongue at him. It wasn’t his fault, but hey who was she to discriminate her hate?
Riku quickly ran, placing himself as a barrier in front of Daeyoung. “Mom, go away” he said, his tone harsh.
She stared in disbelief at him.
“Didn’t I tell you not to mess with that kingdom again? I told you if you didn’t leave him, there would be consequences!” She said, her statement making Riku raise an eyebrow unamused.
“I know, I know you wrote those letters, and I want to tell you that they did work. But we have overcome that part of our life” he reached behind him to grab Daeyoung’s hand.
“And we wan to be together” he said, making the woman stare at him in confusion.
“Letter? What letter? What are you talking about?” She said, Sion’s heart dropping at the mention of the letters. Riku clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“Stop trying to act innocent Ma, I know you wrote them” he said.
“Riku, what are you even talking about?” She asked, her confusion coming off genuine, making Riku’s stare soften.
“You really didn’t write them?” He asked.
She crossed her arms, “when I said there was consequences, I meant I was going to send you far away. Why would I waste my time trying to break you guys up? And through a letter?” She rolled her eyes.
“Who wrote the letters….”
…