Title: Intermittent Relations
Fandom: Warrior Baek Dong Soo 무사 백동수 (2011)
Rating: T
Pairing: Baek Dong-Soo and Yeo Un
Warnings: Mild slash of the male variety.
Status: Complete, though I do have plans for a prequel.
He was back at the field for his third annual visit. A rusted sword, plunged into the ground, marked the spot where it happened. The current downpour finally washed away the last of the blood. Now it only smelled of wet grass. Around him, birds chirped and bees hummed, but this spot always felt too quiet after the screams and sobs of that day faded.
Tears blurred his vision but remained unshed. After all, he was a warrior: Warrior Baek Dong-Soo, Joseon's finest swordsman. He had an impressive title, an impeccable reputation, a beautiful woman; not to mention plenty of friends, family, and money. His life was coveted by the majority of the population and he knew that. Yet somehow, as he stood here, it all seemed so worthless.
He adjusted the bundle slung over his shoulder. All the things left in this world that he actually cared about were packed inside. He wasn't going back this time.
His thoughts were interrupted by a rustling in the grass from behind him. He was the only person who ever came to this spot, so someone must have followed him here.
He turned around to see who it was, and froze.
"Un?" It shouldn't be possible, but somehow, Yeo Un stood there, just a swords-length away from him.
Dong-Soo sighed. "Stop haunting me, spirit."
Those fathomless eyes stared back at him. "I'm so sorry, Dong-Soo. I should have come sooner."
He looked so real and so detailed, from those nimble hands to that silky hair; just as beautiful as he always was.
Dong-Soo tore his eyes away. "Just let me be."
"I can't." The voice was gentle. "Just like you never gave up on me."
"It can't be you."
The apparition came closer, step by step, until Dong-Soo could hear him breathe and smell that familiar musky scent.
"Why not?" it asked.
"I watched you die in this very spot."
"You watched me almost die."
A hand extended to cross the space between them. The hand hovered, hesitated, landed on Dong-Soo's cheek: a steadied caress that lifted Dong-Soo's gaze to meet his own.
Dong-Soo gasped. His hand drifted up to wrap around the one on his cheek; he felt real, solid flesh against his palm. This was not the flesh of a ghost.
He reached for more, encircled those shoulders in a powerful embrace, pulled that body as close to his as possible.
"Un-ah?" Dong-Soo's words were choked with tears. "How?"
"It's a really long story," said Un.
Dong-Soo pressed his face into his friend's neck, inhaled that musky scent deep, let it soothe the grief in his soul. "Tell me later."
A few moments passed, until Un pulled himself away from his friend's arms.
"Dong-Soo, I…" he trailed off.
"What is it, Un-ah?"
Un answered by darting forward and brushing warm lips over Dong-Soo's. It was brief and light and barely a kiss at all.
Before Dong-Soo could understand what was happening, it was over. He was left in shock, and his friend was backed away several steps.
"I'm so sorry for that, Dong-Soo. I know you have Ji-Sun."
"I never married her," Dong-Soo objected. "I loved someone else."
Un narrowed his eyes in a silent question.
Dong-Soo nodded. "Just don't leave me again."
Un's smile brightened the clouded world around them.
This time, they kissed each other, and it was far from gentle.
Neither of them noticed that the rain had stopped.