Chapter Fifteen: Contentment and Concerns
Yong Soo's eyes fluttered open and for a moment he couldn't recall where he was, why he was still wearing his clothes from the day before, or why he was so unusually warm. The he felt the mass of warmth curled around him shift slightly and he remembered. Last night he had gotten into a fight with his brothers and had run away from home, ending up at Ivan's dorm. Yong Soo wiggled back on the bed a little so he could look at Ivan's sleeping face. Ivan had taken him in, no questions asked, and did everything he could to comfort him.
'I wonder what he's dreaming about?' Yong Soo wondered as he saw a small smile cross Ivan's face. The Korean smiled as well. Despite how upset he had been the night before, he didn't think he had ever felt as content as he did now, lying in bed with Ivan's arms wrapped around him.
An idea suddenly passed through Yong Soo's mind and, not being one to ignore his impulses, he acted on it. He wrapped his arms loosely around Ivan's neck, tilted his face upwards and pressed his lips against Ivan's.
Ivan's eyes opened and immediately widened in surprise. Before his sleep-addled mind could react, Yong Soo pulled away again and giggled. "Good morning, da-ze!"
"Good morning," Ivan replied blushing. He hesitated for a moment, then kissed Yong Soo gently. Yong Soo smiled against Ivan's mouth and kissed him back harder, pressing his small body against Ivan's. Ivan was surprised, but hummed happily, tightening his grip on the Korean's waist and deepening the kiss.
When they broke for air, Yong Soo cuddled against Ivan's chest. "So, what are we doing today?" He asked breathlessly.
It took a moment for Ivan to process the question; he was too busy reeling from their kiss. When he did though, he fell from his high hard. "Oh..." he said softly, regretfully. "I am having class."
"Oh," the disappointment in Yong Soo's voice was obvious. He hadn't even considered that Ivan would have things to do. He knew it was selfish, but he didn't really want Ivan to go. 'What am I supposed to do all day then?' He thought sullenly. "I don't think I can really go to school, can I?" he said when he finally spoke. "I mean, if I did, my brothers would find out for sure and then they'd make me come home." He sighed loudly and then pouted. "I guess I'll just stay here."
Ivan frowned. He didn't like disappointing Yong Soo nor did he really like the idea of leaving Yong Soo here all by himself, but he's skipped a lot of classes this semester and if he racked up too many absences they wouldn't pass him. That would really upset his father, the General, and Ivan didn't want that. "You... can stay here vith Toris. Да, Toris?"
No response came from the other side of the room. Not wanting to move from his comfortable position cuddling Yong Soo, Ivan craned his neck awkwardly so that he could glare (but with a smile, of course) at his strangely silent roommate, only to see a neatly made, but empty bed.
"Vhat?" Ivan blinked, puzzled by the Lithuanian's absence until he remembered something that Toris had told him, but had had little effect on him before now. Toris had a job of some sort, at the campus bookstore or something. "He must be at the vork," he said with a frown.
"It's fine," Yong Soo said. "I brought some stuff with me that I can do. I'll be okay, I guess. H-how long is your class?"
"Hour and half," Ivan replied, then paused in thought. "Vhy don't you come vith me? Is big lecture hall. No vone vill notice vone more person. Especially not cute little Korean person!" He suggested, giving Yong Soo an extra tight squeeze at the end.
Yong Soo giggled and squeezed back. Despite this, when he responded he sounded very unsure of whether or not he wanted to tag along. "I dunno... I probably wouldn't understand any of it. And then I'd be bored." He frowned. He didn't really like school that much, well, at least not the school part of school, and a college class sounded hard and not at all fun.
"Не, it is okay!" Ivan insisted, starting to get excited at the idea of Yong Soo coming with him. "I am bored all the time. Ve can write notes to each other! Vill be fun! Пожалуйста?"
Ivan was smiling brightly and Yong Soo find himself unable to argue. "Heh, alright. I suppose it might be kind of cool to go to a college class, da-ze!"
"Yay!" Ivan exclaimed and hugged the younger boy again. "It vill be much fun-ness!"
"So, uh, should we get ready to go?" Yong Soo asked. "I should probably change out of these clothes, da-ze."
"Is okay!" Ivan chirped. "Class is not for vhile."
"Oh," Yong Soo paused for a second. "Okay, da-ze!" He smiled and cuddled into Ivan, happy and content.
-o-o-o-
Yao paced the length of the living room, trying his hardest not to scream or, as was becoming increasingly more likely, cry. Yong Soo had been missing since sometime last night and Yao's emotions had run the gambit from furious to desperately worried.
Yong Soo wasn't at Lee's house. He wasn't at Alfred's house. He wasn't at the Vargas' house. He wasn't at the park, the convenience store, or any of the 24 hour arcades around town. Yao didn't know where else to look. He stopped in his tracks and stared down at his cell, willing it to ring, but nothing happened. "Where is he, aru?"
Kiku sat on the couch, hands resting neatly in his lap, and watched his older brother's panic levels rise. "Please, Yao-niisan. You need to stay calm," he said, concern written on his tired face. "There's nothing more we can do at the moment but wait for Yong Soo to call."
"But what if he's in trouble, aru? What if he's hurt, or lost, or-or he's been kidnapped!" Yao tangled his fingers in his hair and yelled in distress. "Aiyahh! I can't believe the police won't let me file a missing person report! My little brother is missing!"
Kiku sighed, standing and crossing the room to stand with his distraught older brother. He rubbed the other's shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting way. "It's okay, Yao-nissan."
"No it's not, aru! And how can you be so calm? Don't you care that he's gone?"
Kiku looked at Yao, offended and more than a little hurt by his implication. "I'm worried sick, Yao-niisan," He said quietly. "But fretting and pacing the house isn't doing you or Yong Soo any good."
Yao fell silent, feeling guilty about what he said the second the words left his mouth. "对不起," he said finally, his eyes not meeting Kiku's. "I-I know you're worried too, aru. I-I just," he let out a huge sigh. "I just don't know what I'm supposed to do."
Kiku nodded. "I know, but he'll be fine, Yao-niisan. Yong Soo is resourceful and smarter than he lets on. Besides," his lips twitched up in a small smile. "He did invent taekwondo."
Yao snorted, then laughed loudly, clutching his sides. Kiku joined in, chuckling softly. Soon Yao was gasping for air and Kiku was wiping the tears from his eyes. "That-that should not have been as funny as it was, aru," Yao said, his voice still trembling and wheezy from silent laughter.
"いいえ, it probably shouldn't have," Kiku replied with a small smile still on his face. "But I am right. Yong Soo will be fine. You shouldn't worry yourself so."
Yao frowned, but nodded. "I suppose so."
"You know," Kiku began slowly, cautiously, knowing that Yao wouldn't like the suggestion. "Perhaps you should go to class. It would help to take your mind off everything."
"What?" Yao looked horrified at the prospect, as if Kiku had just suggested that he get rid of his Hello Kitty collection. "But what if someone calls? Or Yong Soo comes home?" Yao bit his lower lip and looked back at the door, as if expecting Yong Soo to just walk through it now, laughing and rambling some excuse about why he had been out.
Kiku smiled knowingly. It was only about family that Yao got this worked up. Well, family and food, but mostly family. "Don't worry; I don't have class today so I will wait here just in case."
Yao calmed a little, but still looked unsure. He didn't really think going to class would help, no matter what Kiku said, though sitting around (well, more like pacing around) wasn't helping either. He sighed. "Alright, I suppose I probably should go, aru."
Kiku nodded. "I think it would be wise."
Yao sighed again and grabbed his bag, which was sitting by the door. He took out his cell phone, checking it for missed calls or texts one more time before slipping it back into his pocket and heading out the door. 'Maybe I can ask about Yong Soo around campus while I'm there.'
A/N: Oh, the fluffiness! The fluffiness and the family love! It's almost too bad for more to handle! *eyes bleeding pink glitter* Excuse me, while I go play some violent video games.
(Review please?)
Translations:
Да- Yes (Russian)
Не- No (Russian)
Пожалуйста?- Please? (Russian)
对不起- I'm sorry (Chinese)
いいえ- No (Japanese)