Chapter Text
The plane touched down in Athens, Greece as the sunrise broke free from the earth and rose above the skyline. Chris was glad to be on solid ground again, excited to get to work but he also hoped that he would be allowed a few hours sleep.
He followed the meandering people down the same path that was lined out in most any airport he had ever been in to get his bag and then head for the final gate. The supervisor of his department had told Chris that a car would be waiting to pick him up in Athens. His eyes scanned the crowd hoping for a sign of some kind.
Chris sighed in relief as he saw the sign labeled Christopher Bahng.
“Hey, mate! I’m Christopher but you can call me Chris.” He extended his hand to the man in front of him and smiled.
“Hey, you can call me Sky. I’ll be your chauffeur more or less.” The other man smiled wide and bright as he accepted the hand shake. He waved Chris towards the door and the Australian followed gratefully.
Chris looked over the man’s features while they walked to the car. He was slightly taller than Chris with broad shoulders and a fairly slim build. He couldn’t be sure how slim because of the man’s baggy clothing. Then there was his face, there was something about it that confused Chris. It was like no matter how many times he looked at Sky he couldn’t really see his face. Like his features didn’t register in Chris’ mind.
“So are you a researcher on the team?” Chris asked as they settled into the car and Sky eased them into traffic.
Sky looked thoughtful for a moment then smirked. “You could say I’m here for support.” He chuckled softly. “I make sure all you history lovers eat real meals, stay hydrated, and sleep, but that’s just the short list. I help remind you all of the things you can’t be trusted to do on your own.”
Chris felt heat color his cheeks. At least he didn’t seem to be the only one to get consumed with work at times. “Good to know.” Chris sighed heavily as he slumped against the seat. Sleep sounded good. “What are the odds I can get some rest before we head to the excavation site?”
Sky smirked and looked at Chris out of the corner of his eye. “Pretty good. There’s a room for you in a hotel close to the museum. The head archaeologist would like to meet with you this evening if you can manage. Then the whole team will leave tomorrow for Mesopotamo. The scroll is being housed there at one of the restoration houses close to the Nekromanteion Acheron.”
Chris nodded. “Sure. I just need a couple hours and I’ll be good to go.”
A few minutes later they pulled in front of the hotel. Sky helped with the check in and told him he would be back to pick him up in exactly two and a half hours.
Chris gratefully agreed and headed to his room on the sixth floor. Room six zero six was a room with a view out of a brochure. Athens opened up around him in a way he had never imagined he’d get to see, but here he was living his dreams.
Carefully Chris unpacked his overnight bad and put things away. Then he showered and changed before settling down for a nap.
Exactly two and half hours later he was waiting in the lobby for Sky to come and get him.
“You’re very punctual.” Sky said as he led Chris back to where he had parked.
Chris scratched the back of his neck with a shy smile. Did they do personality tests in Greece? Would Sky understand if he used his mbti as a reference? He figured that was a 50% chance Sky would understand immediately, 50% chance he would have to explain mbti tests...
“I don’t like being late when I can avoid it.
Sky nodded. “That’s good to know. I’m late sometimes.”
He let the words hang for a minute as Chris thought them over. If Sky knew that he was sometimes late then why not just adjust himself to be more punctual.
“In case you didn’t get there on your own yet, that means you’re going to be late sometimes too. I hope that won’t stress you out too much.” Sky flashed a wide smile that lit up his face before turning back to the road.
The second he turned away it was like Chris couldn’t remember anything about the face he had just been looking at.
He stared deeply at the man’s side profile. He was handsome. That much Chris knew for certain.
Sharp jaw but maybe it was softened a bit. Oval face, but maybe it was rounder than he thought. Wide eyes or maybe more almond shaped. A long strong nose? Maybe that wasn’t right either.
Chris was truly puzzled because he had never been at such a loss to simply see someone.
To his relief they pulled around the back of the museum and parked.
Sky led Chris through the back hallways to a meeting room where the chief archaeologist for the museum was already waiting.
“Welcome!” The man greeted Chris warmly by grasping his hand in both of his own. “I’m so glad you could make it. I trust your flight was well. Are all the hotel accommodations suitable?”
Chris smiled back easily with equal warmth. The man was most likely around his father’s age, which made sense given his position. “Yes, everything is well. Thank you so much.”
The two sat down and finished with the pleasantries before Mr. Makris pulled out a folder for Chris to look at.
“We had started a small dig to the West of the Nekromanteion Acheron. We found a small burial ground there. It was already known that some patrons of the temple had chosen to be buried there and with them were their possessions.”
Chris nodded and looked carefully through the photos. Skillfully laid grids, carefully dug plots, cataloging every piece with the greatest care.
“In a plot, which we deemed to possibly be from around 400 C.E., we found scrolls.
It may be one of the last burials to take place at that location near the temple before another new plot was opened.” Mr. Makris explained with excitement.
Chris looked over the pictures. “If that’s the date of the site, why did you believe the writing was Hangul and not Chinese?”
Mr. Makris looked genuinely confused. Chris ran through a brief lesson on the Hangul language and writing before looking back at the pictures.
“I’m not sure why we assumed that it would be Korean. I believe someone suggested it was the most likely language.” Mr. Makris rubbed his chin for a moment, clearly thinking deeply.
“It will be better for me to look at it in person so I can tell you for sure if you need to call in someone else. These pictures seem to be missing parts of the characters.” Chris stayed calm. He hoped this wouldn’t be a case where he ended up getting sent home right away. But he would go if someone else was needed.
The head archeologist seemed pulled from his thoughts. “Yes, there were also spots in the temple that wouldn’t develop no matter how many different ways we tried photographing them.”
Chris and Mr. Makris settled into some gentle conversation about the history of the site and different legends surrounding Hades and Persephone.
When the clock struck ten Mr. Makris sent Chris off to get some rest.
“It sounds like a long trip but I assure you with Sky driving it will seem like the blink of an eye.”
Chris thanked him again and set out to find where Sky had wandered off to.
He found him at the exhibit dedicated to Eros, son of Aphrodite.
“Do you think they had more children than the legends tell?” Sky asked as Chris approached.
Honestly Chris had rarely given that idea much thought, after all they were just legends. Tales spun to explain things science and logic couldn’t understand during those time periods. “No. I think that the children we hear about explain what needed to be explained and there was no reason to add anything further.” Chris pointed to the painting of Eros. “Love finds us when we least expect it, sometimes it can be chaotic. Sometimes it can be annoying or even unwanted but like an arrow to the heart, it finds us all the same.”
Chris turned to Sky. “What more could we need from a child of Aphrodite? She is love and her son born of love helps mortals find it and consummate it.”
Sky huffed out a laugh before turning his wide bright smile to Chris. “What more could us mortals need?”
“Exactly.” Chris agreed as they moved towards the exit. “Mr. Makris said you’ll be doing the driving tomorrow. I’m good at following a GPS if you don’t want to drive a whole four hour jog.”
“Kind of you to offer, but I actually get car sick. It's easier on me if I just drive. I promise I will get there before you know it.” Sky started the car and drove the short distance back to the hotel.
He pulled up to the front and Chris got out. Before he closed the door he leaned back to look at the other man. “Let me know if you change your mind. I’ll see you at eight right, mate?”
“Sure thing, Mr. Punctual.” Sky saluted him as he closed the door.
Chris laughed and shook his head. He had a feeling he would get along with Sky. The other man might try his patience from time to time if he made a habit out of being late like he threatened, but other than that, Chris thought they would get on well.
It didn’t take long for him to settle down to sleep. He left the window opened slightly and the smell of the distant sea drifted in on a peaceful breeze.
Chris woke up to his alarm's repetitive tune. Groggy for a moment he forgot where he was. Then the day before slowly pressed in.
He busied himself with his morning routine.
- Make the bed (Since it was a hotel he turned down the bed instead)
- Brush teeth
- Floss
- Mouthwash
- Skin care
- Brush hair
- Get dressed
- Dirty clothes place in special laundry bag
- Pack said dirty clothes
- Pack up bathroom supplies
- Pack up charger
- Check room for anything left behind
Once finished Chris headed downstairs to check out and wait at the small cafe to the left of the hotel.
He texted Sky that he would be getting breakfast there and settled in for the thirty minute wait.
The sun rose slightly over the horizon, waking the city up from the low lull the predawn workers operate in.
Traffic thickened on the roads and sidewalks. The cafe filled with customers. Sounds of life filled in the blank spaces that had been a quiet hum.
He wondered if Athens had looked like this a millennia ago, two millennia ago. Were the streets of this metropolis always bustling with people?
As far as the recorded history showed, yes. Athens had been prosperous in many ways. A gift from their founding goddess Athena. But what of Athens before, when she was young. What troubles did she encounter on her path to flourishment? Was her name different and did changing her name help?
He hadn’t studied the god’s cities too greatly but now that he was here maybe he would look into them in his spare time.
He felt inspired!
There was so much that he could learn here. So many new questions he could ask and look for answers about.
The feeling inside of him swelled. Empowered him. Enlightened him. And then Sky walked in.
The feeling didn’t disappear. It was more that the overwhelming sensations he had just been feeling shrank back down to a normal appreciation for question and discovery.
“Enjoying the city this morning?” Sky asked as his gaze landed somewhere behind Chris.
Curious Chris looked over his shoulder. There were other customers but no one made a motion in their direction.
“Thought I saw someone I recognized.” Sky clarified before looking back in that direction again. “Someone who loves history and studying almost as much as you.”
Chris frowned. “I never mentioned I liked studying.”
Sky rolled his eyes and scoffed. “You are a 28 year old Korean called to Greece to help translate something faded on an ancient scroll. If you didn’t like to study you wouldn’t qualify for this as young as you are.”
Chris sheepishly looked into his coffee cup. It wasn’t that Sky was wrong, no. He was embarrassed that Sky was so right. He had a love for solving things, learning things, unraveling mysteries.
“Honestly it looks like the only other thing you love as much is going to the gym. Seriously, are you in weight lifting competitions between study groups?” Sky’s voice rang playfully through the air with laughter as Chris’s ears turned bright red.
“Ok! We should get on the road.” He declared standing up and grabbing his bags.
Sky continued his laughter leading the way to the car.
“I’m serious. You have a good build. Like a hero of old, from legends and stuff.”
Chris hid head in his hands and whined. “You need to stop, please!”
“But you are gentle, huh? Well that’s good. Some of those men get too much testosterone and get mean.” Sky eyed him sideways. “You know steroid shots shrink your…”
“Please, Sky! I’m begging you. Stop. I don’t take steroid shots or testosterone. I watch my protein and carb intake and work out in the gym on a set schedule. That's all. Just a natural process of putting in the work.” Chris slumped back into his chair feeling suddenly exhausted. “Do you mind if I take a nap? Strangely enough I think I’m still a bit jetlagged.”
“Not at all, Mr. Natural. Sleep as long as you need.” Sky reached for the radio and set it to some kind of harp music.
Chris really couldn’t tell you much about it because he fell asleep. Instantly. Soundly. So soundly in fact that Sky was waking him up when they reached Mesopotamos.
He was slightly mortified that he had slept through a four hour car ride across Greece. He had missed the chance to see so many things.
Sky had brought them to the apartment building that the team was renting for the next six months. If the project had successes then they would look at expanding that contract.
Chris felt a bit heavy as he walked around the apartment that was meant to be his. If the writing wasn’t Hangul or at least Korean written in Chinese from before the written Hangul language was created, he would be heading home. He would do the right thing if there was no Korean involvement in these scrolls that much he knew.
He took his overnight bag to the bathroom and arranged all his bathroom supplies, including his shampoo, conditioner, hair butter and soap.
Then he went to the kitchen and started a load in the wash. He could hang it to dry when he got back and that way his clothes would be clean.
Satisfied he walked out on the balcony to look over the small view he had. The apartment building was only around four floors. It was not in the busy central part of the city, but in a part that felt old. A part that breathed quiet, deep breathes. A part that was satisfied with existing as it had for a century or longer.
Sky knocked at his door and announced it was time to head over to see the scroll.
Chris was a mix of nervous excitement and anticipation. Whatever he was about to see on that scroll was going to change the path of his future. He had no doubts about that.
… … …
Hyunjin sat at his desk near the window where the light was the best in the evenings. The layers of thin gossamer curtains fluttered in a soft breeze.
Pages laid out before him as his quill rested silently in its stand. His heart was aching like it always did from time to time. In those times his father had taught him that writing was a good way to look at what the heart was trying to say.
“My emotions are feeling deep today…Happiness, giddy, and love flourished earlier today, and now, a loneliness has taken its place…A wish for reassurance has bubbled up…I should have faith and trust the universe, but sometimes my own mind can be my enemy…”
He sighed heavily as he read those words again. Seungmin visiting had stirred emotions in him that were usually dormant. Joy at the companionship his cousin’s presence offered. A hollowness at remembering how alone he was. The longing for love and partnership. A feeling of wanting to belong with someone, not in this obscurity in which he existed.
Hyunjin was a god born on the spring equinox, cursed with a heart of winter. He should have been destined for warmth and light and love. Instead his grandmother, in her lingering hatred of his father, had been enraged that he was born on the day spring’s new birth was celebrated.
And so it was written…Hyunjin, son of Hades, will have a heart of winter cold. The death of summer and frozen lands shall be his domain of season. A frightening beauty, a reflection of the splendor that was stolen from the world. A frozen heart that no god or goddess can ever thaw.
Demeter was an old goddess, born of Kronos. Her words were not challenged outside of his parents. But Zeus deemed it a fair punishment to ease Demeter’s anger and insure the mortals would not suffer from another fight amongst the gods.
There were many who had tried to love him. To thaw his heart. Most gods and goddesses are stubborn in that way. However, Hyunjin’s heart never moved towards them and so it remained as it always was.
He had thought once that a mortal could ease him. When he was young, before he had gone with the Erinyes, he had wandered the fall lands.
While his looks drew much attention from mortals, none drew his attention. So he gave up.
He embraced the bitter cold of his very being and took souls. His name was added to the summoning scrolls. Vengeance for those whose lovers were murdered.
Hyunjin did his job until his body itself began to turn into the same bitter ice that encased his heart.
Slowly he began turning no better than the lost souls that roamed his father’s lands. Hollow.
The Erinyes turned to Hades and Persephone. Only they could release a Furie of their duty. Only they could stop Hyunjin.
He was grateful but still lost within himself.
Then there were days. Days like when Seungmin visited. Days were he was reminded that he had enjoyed the mortal realm once…but that was before. There was nothing there for him.
No hope. No warmth. No spring to thaw his eternal winter heart. No love.
Hyunjin rose from his desk and left his thoughts there with the ink drying on the parchment.
In the mirror he adjusted the lapel of his black suit. His black silk shirt brushed softly against his skin. His mother had chosen a “modern” look for the family dinner on Olympus so he threaded his fingers through his hair, shortening the length and adding layers. He might not have gone to the mortal world any more but he had seen plenty of souls to be able to tell what was current fashions.
Though he had to admit they just seemed to be recycling looks over the last century or so.
Still he fixed the gold, sapphire incrusted broach his mother had given him to the lapel and headed to the throne room.
“You look wonderful, dear.” His mother smiled.
“Thank you, Mother.” Hyunjin smiled fondly.
Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. She was beautiful. Terrifying in her anger. Genteel in her love. Soft as spring and unavoidable as death itself.
As humans moved forward in their advancements of agriculture and growing food year round. His mother’s time in the Underworld increased. She spent more time helping to manage the Underworld and care for her children as the centuries rolled on.
Demeter had struck a compromise. Once a month Persephone was to come to Olympus and have dinner with them there.
So once a month Hyunjin and Hades trudged out of the quiet, serene Underworld up to the noise driven party house that was Olympus, as to accompany her because Persephone wanted them there.
Neither of them cared for it. But it was a point his mother wanted to prove, they were her family and thus Demeter needed to accept them.
“Father.” Hyunjin greeted with a bow.
Hades, Ruler of the Underworld. He was strikingly handsome. Calculating and precise in all things, except where Persephone was involved. He did not anger easily but was ruthless to those who crossed him. He cared for all his children and loved his wife. Unlike his brothers, he did not need ceremony or ritual to keep him content. He managed the dead, he did not concern himself with the living.
“Let us go so we can return.” Hades said as he sat his reading glasses down on the small table next to his throne. He stood in a fluid movement as he extended his hand to his wife. She smacked his arm in mock annoyance before accepting the gesture.
Hyunjin bit down a small smile as they made their way to the front of the temple.
His father’s chariot was ready with his four magnificent sable-black horses.
Hyunjin walked around and softly ran his hand over their noses. Each butted his hand in return, showing him favor. After Kkami, Cerberus’ youngest pup, these four steeds were his favorite creatures in the Underworld.
Once they were all mounted, Hades flicked the reins and the chariot was pulled to the sky. In a flash they crossed the dimensional plains and arrived at the gates of Olympus.
Hermes, ever chipper, rushed out to greet them with a level of energy that made Hyunjin want to recoil.
He led their way as he talked. The latest trends he had seen on Earth, the latest wars Ares had been meddling in, the alarming drop in wisdom that had Athena pulling her hair out, the list was extensive. As for Hermes himself, he was pleased with the new ways of delivering messages and not so secretly proud of how thieves continued to adapt around new technology made to stop them.
Hyunjin was socially drained by the time they reached the outer edge of the garden and Hermes hadn’t even spoken to him. No, the talkative god had only been speaking with Persephone.
Their little troop was pulled to a halt by Persephone who shot Hermes a withering look.
“I’m sorry, Seph.” Hermes said, looking as remorseful as his words sounded.
“I thought you to be more clever than this.” She said as her demeanor shifted. Darker, colder. The wrath and anger of a spring storm trapped in a sealed cage that was cracking.
“I messed up. I owed her.” Hermes was reasoning but it fell on deaf ears.
“Now you owe me.” Persephone waited for him to argue, he didn’t. He nodded firmly and flitted into the garden.
Hyunjin reached forward and placed a gentle hand on his mother’s shoulder. “Go. Enjoy your time with your mother. There are other places I can be on Olympus without causing harm.”
She reached up and laid her hand over his as her temperament calmed. “You are my son and should be welcome where I am.”
“His cousins wanted to spend time with him. They talked about visiting the starlight. I thought it would be a wonderful chance for us to enjoy the garden, since it is off limits when Hyunjin is with us.” Demeter’s voice cut through the air. Warm like a summer’s breeze. A lie that hid the boiling heat that surfaced in its wake.
“And who made that so?” Hades asked as he stepped forward and slid his arm around the waist of his wife. A cold smile resting on his lips as the other goddess’s eyes tracked the movement before looking at his cold stone eyes.
“Fate allowed it. That is no fault of mine.” She spat.
Hyunjin would have rolled his eyes if he hadn’t stopped caring about what she had to say centuries ago.
“I will head over to the starlight to see which cousins are waiting.” He said softly and patiently to his parents. Then he turned and bowed to his grandmother with deep respect. “An honor to see you again, great Demeter."
He turned without response, he had never been given one before anyways. His mother’s voice carried the short distance.
“He is your grandson! My son, that I love greatly. When will enough be enough for you?”
Hyunjin wanted to look to see the sneer that must be on his grandmother's face, but he wouldn’t. Her voice found him instead.
“What’s done is done. I could not change it then. I can not change it now.”
Hyunjin didn’t know this tone when he thought of Demeter. She had never shown him love or kindness. Never apologized for the curse she had thrust upon him. Never shown remorse.
He moved through the clouds to the edge of night where starlight lingered in broken fragments of stardust. There he spotted Know and Peter lounging peacefully. Know’s head lay in Peter’s lap while he gathered stardust into a pile in one hand and told stories. There was nothing Peter could say that Know wouldn’t listen to.
“It can’t be possible that I am cursed and also cursed to be alone with the two of you.” Hyunjin announced loudly knowing they hadn’t heard him coming.
A whisper of a smile graced Hyunjin’s lips as Peter dropped the stardust down onto Know’s face in his surprise. Know sneezed forcefully at the sudden intrusion to his nose, sending a cloud of stardust into the air.
When the dust settled both were shocked and covered in the dim glimmering light of the broken stars.
Chattering laughter broke out behind Hyunjin, he turned to see In clutching his stomach as he doubled over. In was the son of Hermes and a forest Nymph. He had bright orange hair and foxlike features. He was fleet footed like his father. Able to trick his way out of trouble when needed. Cleverly sociable, it was hard for any of the gods to dislike him. He was the youngest of them.
“What…the hell…happened here?” He gasped out between his chortling. “Don’t move!”
Before Hyunjin could blink, In pulled a rectangle from his pocket and a small flash of lightning erupted.
He had seen this device before. The mortal souls longed for it sometimes, conjuring its image to hold in their hand.
“In, why do you have this?” Hyunjin asked as he stepped closer to the younger god, completely ignoring the other two as they tried to shake the star dust from themselves.
“Look, Jin. You can capture them in time.” He showed the image of Peter and Know’s shocked faces covered in stardust before turning his wide smile to his slightly baffled cousin.
“So, it paints pictures?” Hyunjin asked, looking back and forth between the two gods who were cleaning themselves up and the image. It didn’t change while they…did.
Know stood up and shook his hair furiously creating another cloud of dust, which caused more sneezing for himself and Peter.
“Do you really live under a rock in the Underworld?” Know asked with a huff, finally free from most of the glimmering dust.
Hyunjin scowled at him. “I have no business in the mortal world.”
Peter rolled his eyes. “You also haven’t been any fun for like a millennium now. Ow!”
Know elbowed Peter into silence.
“Sorry, Hyunjin. But you should really check out some of the things the mortals have. I know you like boring quiet stuff and they have that too. Buildings they fill with art and places they hoard all the dead mortals' broken things call museums. They still have libraries like what was at Alexandria, not as cool or showy but they’re doing their best.” Peter shrugged small apologetic shoulders before nuzzling into Know’s side.
Hyunjin sighed even though it was only mild exasperation. “Where is Rix? You’re always more out of control when he’s gone.
Know snickered while Peter pouted before his whiny voice took over, “He’s in the mortal realm with his boyfriend. They’ve been traveling back and forth for a few human years now. He actually “met” Louis through some mortal that they both knew and had to pretend they didn’t know each other. THEN they realized they liked each other and started dating.”
In chuckled, shaking his head. “We had to watch them flirt and circle each other for more than twelve hundred years just for them to figure it out when a mortal introduced them to each other? Who is this mortal and can I shake their hand?”
“I don’t know. Rix won’t tell me. He’s really protective about the guy.” Peter’s pout grew as he folded his arms and then crossed his legs plopping down on the cloud beneath him.
“Can you blame him?” Hyunjin asked. Their attention drew to him as he walked out to the edge of night and ran his fingers over the broken stardust. “There’s not a good track record for gods sharing mortals kindly amongst each other. If he’s made a friend, he probably wants to spare him from getting caught up in our lives. Let him enjoy his friend while he can.”
“Fione!” Peter relented dramatically. “You don’t always have to be the responsible one, Jinnie.”
“I’m not.” Hyunjin smiled softly over his shoulder. “Afterall I made you drop stardust onto Know didn’t I.”
In burst out laughing some more while Know grabbed a chunk of cloud and charged at Hyunjin, fully prepared to stuff it in the other god’s mouth.
“I leave for one afternoon and you guys get him to come out and play? No fair, Jinnie, I thought I was your favorite.” Seungmin teased from where he appeared standing behind In.
In’s foxlike features split into a pleased grin. “What have you been up to, cousin?” He asked, suddenly circling the new arrival as if he could see something clinging to Seungmin that the others were missing.
“I had my own stop to make in the mortal realm.” Seugmin pulled out a small tin of fresh baked sweet rolls from his bag and handed them to In with a smirk. He leaned closer and whispered. “You’ll be patient until I need help, right?”
In’s smile nearly sealed his eyes closed in his delight. “Of course!”
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Peter called as he leaned left and right, without getting up, to try and see what they were doing.
“I was telling him that the youngest doesn’t have to share.” Seungmin didn’t even hide his delight at Peter’s face of absolute betrayal when he spotted the rolls in the other god’s hands.
Hyunjin watched as Peter jumped up and charged at In to try and get a roll. Seungmin sat down where he was and pulled out another tin as he watched the two. When Peter noticed Seungmin he changed his course and tried to get one from the new tray. He enjoyed this in a way that was rare to him since the feeling coud never last.
Know stepped over to Hyunjin with his palms up showing that he was unarmed.
“We do miss you. I know Seungmin tells you when he visits. Peter is scared of the Underworld still or we’d come. I know Rix will visit again more when this thing in the mortal realm passes.”
Hyunjin nodded along. He understood what Know was trying to say. He wanted to miss them too. When he was in moments like this with them, he did enjoy himself and their company.
But the feeling always faded like how a field covered with ice and snow forgets the sun was warm for a moment during the short winter day. It doesn't miss it because it can't remember how it felt to want it again. Not until spring can it remember.
These moments tried to be spring to Hyunjin, he knew that. He knew this type of love and care was genuine. Unfortunately, it still was not enough.
That night Hyunjin found himself back at his desk with his quill once again. He wrote of the day hoping that the warmth would linger just a bit longer if he gave it a safe place to live in his pages.
Hope was a fragile thing that always froze over by morning.