Note: So this is a strange story, in the sense that it literally unfolded in my mind as I was drifting between sleep and wakefulness. So some aspects may feel weird, some notions a bit farfetched (though nothing lore breaking). At this point, it didn’t really happened in Kuro’s life either - at least not until it has been read by the player behind Theodore. It's officially canon! The title represent mostly the main feeling I had when I dreamt it, and Sun Hyeon was at the center, as a father figure in Kuro’s life. Next came Theo’s relation with Kuro. The two other characters, Fox and Thanos, are mostly ‘accessories’ and their respective skills made them the perfect candidates for resolving this specific problem. They’re also my characters so I guess my brain had it easiest to have them play their roles. Reading this story again, I can’t help but wonder where Retsu is. She is family to Kuro but, this time, I obviously had no say in this story.
As he crossed Agartha’s golden portal, he barely took a few steps before crumbling to the ground. The Gate was always watched though and it took mere seconds before agents of the Dragon moved out of the shadow to carry the Japanese man into the depths of the Dragon's Coils. He was too important to the order and protocol was to take him to his handler's house if anything happened to him. Agents ran forward to warn his mentor so a room would already be prepared on his arrival.
Katsuro was desperately trying to keep a hold on his consciousness, mumbling in between clenched teeth as the waves of pain threatened to drag him down into the sweet embrace of oblivion. Unfortunately, he was losing this battle. His breathing laborious, every influx of air in his lungs felt like a hundred blades coursing through his veins. His vision became blurry, sounds more and more distant.
"Sah boo nim... " [1] was all Katsuro managed to say as he heard the familiar voice of Sun Hyeon and his worried expression as he leant over him.
"Be strong, Katsuro. I will personally take care of you. Be strong nae adeul [2]" The older man's voice was soothing and Katsuro could feel a strong hand caress his face before darkness claimed him.
Sun Hyeon's house wasn't that big thus Katsuro was brought to his personal bedroom, with a window open on a private garden. He was gently laid down before the Dragon agents carrying him bowed to the old man and left. As soon as they were gone, Sun Hyeon personal servants came in with medical supplies and a bowl of warm water. Kneeling by Katsuro's side, Sun Hyeon took a deep breath and cast his gaze on his protégé's body - his clothes soaked in blood and Filth, his shirt torn and lacerated, revealing the deep cuts on his chest and abdomen, even on his arms and legs. With a quick motion of his hand, Sun Hyeon beckoned for a servant to help in removing Katsuro's clothes. They painstakingly peeled the sticky fabric off him until nothing was left, even removing his father's ring and the elemental foci strapped to his left hand, which were both stained with blood. His trusted katana was brought along with its master and a decorative sword had to make room so the Shinku Hogo-Sha could borrow its display stand.
The bowl of water was emptied and refilled many times to clean Katsuro from all the blood and Filth, not to mention a purifying ritual to keep the corruption at bay. But even Sun Hyeon's powers were not enough to cleanse it all. Katsuro was still breathing with difficulty and he began moaning in delirious pain as his injuries were bandaged.Pulling the covers over the naked body, the old man bent over his protégé and kissed him on the forehead before getting up and picking up his cellphone.
***
The harsh sun was high above the desert and anyone with an ounce of common sense was trying to hide in any shade available. Theodore let out a sigh before taking a long drink from his gourd. Around him were the many bodies of cultists he's just sent straight to hell to meet with their false god. With no fanatic around to bother him, he 'borrowed' their makeshift tent to hide from the sun. There was a table and a single chair, and some maps lying around; good enough. The tall man took a seat for a well earned rest before his cellphone vibrated in a breast pocket - caller 'unknown'. Furrowing his brow in annoyance, he still answered the call.
"Hello and who the hell are y-"
"Your presence is required in Seoul right away. A guide shall wait for you at the gate to Agartha once you arrive in the city. Make haste. Katsuro needs you."
The voice was male, mature yet strong, speaking a very broken English with a distinct Korean or Chinese accent. Before Theodore could even reply, his interlocutor hung up.
"What...?!" Theodore looked at his phone in disbelief before the news sank in... and then it struck him. Who, in the whole wide world, knew of Katsuro's true name? Both his parents were long gone and even his 'sister' Retsu didn't knew. That left only him and... some very high ranking members of the Dragon. And this ‘someone’ knew of him, of 'them'. They were aware of the bond they shared, otherwise this name would not have been uttered, even on the phone. A sudden sense of urgency fell on the black man and he quickly picked up his assault rifle before closing his eyes. There was a surge of Anima around him with a deafening buzzing sound and, within the blink of an eye, the man was gone, swallowed in a pool of golden light.
Once in Agartha, Theodore made a dash for it. He knew some of those paths among the roots of the world by heart, especially the trip back home. He didn't even slow down as he took the portal to Seoul and it's only after crossing the bike shop that he remembered about the guide. Sharply turning around, he nearly bumped into a small Chinese woman wearing the colors of the Dragon.
"Follow me, please." She simply beckoned to him, without even asking who he was. Through winding streets she guided him. Sometimes walking into what seemed like dead ends, only to have someone open a door and they'd cross through houses and gardens only to exit on another street. The only thing Theodore knew for sure is that they were really deep inside the Dragon's Coils. Probably somewhere he shouldn't be but, by some great authority, he had been granted temporary access. By the time they reached their final destination, he had lost all sense of direction. Even his phone's GPS seemed to be lost, positioning him in a very unlikely location. The guide stopped in front of a house that looked like any other house in this part of Seoul, if only for the masked Dragon agent standing guard. As they approached, the guard stepped aside and the door opened, revealing another petite woman, Korean or Chinese, Theodore couldn't tell the difference.
"This way, please." She spoke in Korean but, living in the heart of Seoul with Katsuro, Theodore had brushed up on his Korean quite a bit in the past year. He followed her inside, not even forgetting to remove his shoes as it had become a habit by now. They crossed into a well furnished living room, with a big window opening on a garden, and down a corridor, passing a set of closed sliding doors. The servant stopped at the second set of doors at the end of the hallway and opened them before stepping aside.
Along the left wall was the bed, actually a mattress on tatami, with an old man wearing a traditional hanfu of black and green, kneeling beside the person lying there. He had a wet towel in his hand and was gently dabbing at the young man's forehead and neck. As soon as Theodore entered the room, the man looked up, his piercing gaze sending a shiver down the black man's spine and he instinctively stopped.
"Come, kneel by his side. Though he is unconscious, he still needs your presence. He's been calling for you despite the pain." The man spoke in Korean.
Theodore recognized the voice as the one who called him earlier. The strength in this man's voice commanded respect and he quickly made his way to Katsuro's side. The pain on his lover's face was as plain as day, his jaw clenching tightly when he wasn't just moaning or crying out in agony.
"What hap-" He barely had time to utter a word before the old man gently pulled the bed sheets to reveal the injured body. Though Katsuro was bandaged all over, blood was already seeping through.
"He came through Agartha like this. He was already incoherent from the pain when he was brought to me. Something attacked him, took him by surprise most likely. We don't know what, or where, for now. We only know it was Filth infected and vicious. Katsuro is not one to be easily defeated. Whatever it was, it was rather powerful. I'd guess it also happened far from Japan since this is the source of his powers after all."
The old man's voice was steady and seemingly calm, but Theodore could discern the worry in it. And the way that old man looked at his beloved... it was something he never expected from the Dragon.
"Shouldn't we take him to Japan then? And by the way... who are you?! You know him, and 'us'. You knew where I was and how to contact me. You're Dragon, I get that but..." Theodore didn’t bother to reply in Korean, as obviously the other man could understand him perfectly, and simply cast him a questioning glance.
"My apologies. I'm Sun Hyeon, Katsuro's handler within the Dragon." The man replied as he dipped his towel into the bowl again before wringing it of excess water and dabbling Katsuro's forehead. Without even looking back up at Theodore he added. "And indeed, he is far more to me than a simple agent to order around for the will of the Dragon. I've known him for a very long time."
Theodore simply looked at the other man for a moment. There was something about him...
"I know! I mean, I remember why you seem familiar. You teach classes at the dojang, don't you? You're a Master in Chaos magic and spiritual magic. Oh... so you're also Katsuro's mentor. Makes sense now..."
Sun Hyeon turned his gaze on Theodore again, a small smile on his lips. " You have some wits about you, just like they say. The CIA lost a good agent in you... and the Illuminati."
Theodore blinked a few times at Sun Hyeon. "How did y-" Before letting out a low grunt and shaking his head. "Nevermind. Of course you'd know. You probably know everything about me."
"Most of it. Though some parts of your life are still a mystery. Mind you, I had no interest in your personal file when you joined the Dragon. You were not under my direct authority and there is little point for me to read on everyone that join us, willingly or not. But then... ‘he’ took an interest in you."
Sun Hyeon thread his fingers into Katsuro's thick mane of black hair, casting a worried look at the injured man.
"I was curious to know about the man who managed to win Katsuro's heart. Of course, he's old enough to make his own decisions. But a father can't help but worry..." There was a brief moment of silence before Sun Hyeon straighten himself. “Now lend me a hand. His bandages needs to be changed.”
With all the care in the world, the both of them removed the filthy bandages and Theodore couldn’t help but gasp at the extend of his lover’s injury. This certainly wasn’t natural. The biggest wound was in the middle of his chest, as if something had tried to impale him through the heart but had been deflected at the last minute, leaving instead a deep cut obviously Filth infected. The black tendrils could be seen, crawling under the skin from this center point and toward the abdomen. The deep cuts on his arms and legs seemed to be free of corruption but there was no sign they were healing either, despite Katsuro’s enhanced healing abilities - at least compared to a human, as he was nowhere near the regenerative power of the Bees.
“I’ve seen this before…” Theodore swallowed hard.
“Yes, most likely. You’ve been fighting in the front lines for a while now. I’ve tried every purification ritual I know. It did slow down the corruption but it’s not enough. We need to purge it from his bloodstre-”
“Hold that thought!” Theodore cut in, momentarily forgetting who he was talking to; protocol be damned. “I know a guy. Actually Katsuro knows a guy but I happen to know of him too, well his husband… never mind the details! Just let me make a phone call okay?!”
This time it was Sun Hyeon’s turn to blink at the other man but, seeing that spark of hope in Theodore’s eyes, he simply nodded. The black man had not waited for approval and was already dialing a certain Laurie Nevare in Rochester, NY.
“Come on pick up, pick up…”
“Hey there Theo! Long time no talk. What can I do f-” Came a cheery male voice on the other end of the line before Theodore cut him too.
“Sorry to cut you short Fox but I really, really need your husband right now and I don’t have his contact info.”
“Uh? Well it’s almost 7pm here so he’s right next to me watching tv. I’ll pass him to you.”
There was the exchange of hands before another male voice answered, this one with a very distinct British accent, perfectly elocuted. “Theodore? Laurie told me you needed to speak to me urgently?”
“Thanos! Katsuro needs you. I know you saved him in the past, removed the corruption from him. I… God he’s in really bad shape. I just… it’s… “ Theodore blurted out without realizing he'd let slip the Asian man's true name.
“It’s alright. No need to explain right now. We’ll come to you. Are you in Seoul by any chance?” Thanos voice was calm as usual; it seems the man never lost his cool, whatever the situation.
“Yes, though we’re not at our house. I uh... give me a moment.”
Theodore looked back at Sun Hyeon, who seemed to be pondering for a brief moment.
“Very well. Your friends are Chosen of Gaia? Then I’ll have them escorted here once they cross Agartha.”
Sun Hyeon finally replied before getting back to tending Katsuro’s wounds. Theodore simply nodded and brought his cellphone back to his ear.
“Thanos? It’s okay, seems you’ll get a guide once you arrive in Seoul. And thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’ll do everything in my power to save him but, until I see his injuries, I can’t be sure of anything. I’ll transfer you back to Laurie, seems he has something to tell you.”
“Hello again Theo! So ya I heard the whole thing and maybe there is something you can do until we arrive. I call it Anima transfer but you can call it whatever you please. Anyway, the stronger the bond between two person, the easier it is to transfer your Anima to them, and the more you can transfer. And knowing you, being a friggin’ Anima battery on leg, I’m sure you could spare a bit for him. So uh, how can I explain it… Okay so ya know how the Egyptians had this ‘breath of life’ thing going on? Well, take it more literally, like, a real breath. Or like those Disney mermaids who just kiss a guy underwater to give them air? Bear with me, I know I suck at examples. In any case, that’s how it works. You can concentrate an amount of Anima in your chest or ‘heart’ and transfer it like a breath. The trick is your feelings. So you’ll have to focus on the bond you share with him. Like, the happy times together, the sweet moments, heck the stronger the feeling, the better. If you have to think about the time you guys had sex, go for that memory. No one will know anyway, it’s in your head. The memory when you both are the closest in every sense of the word - body, heart and mind, even your soul if you believe in that stuff - that’s what you aim for.” Laurie finally took a moment to take a breath. “You’re following me so far?”
“Uh, uh. Go on.” Theodore replied.
“Okay so, at this point, you should feel it build up in you. Feels like warmth emanating from your chest. Once you think you can’t hold it up any longer, you kiss the guy. And not just a peck on the lips, I mean full on CPR. And, as crazy as it sounds, a tongue shoved into his mouth may help the process. Remember, it’s all linked to your emotions, and his. Even if he’s unconscious, part of him knows it's you. If it works and the link between you two is strong enough, you’ll feel the Anima flow from your mouth to his. Like that breath of life thing I mentioned earlier. And don’t break the kiss until you no longer feel the warmth in you. So that’s basically how it works. I’ve used it quite a few times for Thanos, because purging people of corruption takes quite a toll on him. Wish I'd have told you about that earlier, maybe would have given you guys time to practice. So ya.. Wish you luck. Thanos just finished gathering all the stuff we’ll need so we’ll see you shortly. Over and out!”
Fox hung up, leaving Theodore to stare a long moment at his beloved. Katsuro’s body was now covered in sweat as he struggled, even in his weakened state, to keep the corruption in his own body under control. Theodore was so preoccupied and focused on Fox’s explanation, that he didn’t realize until now that a medical drip had been brought by the bedside. He raised a questioning eyebrow at Sun Hyeon.
“Morphine. The Dragon has many connections after all. I just can’t leave him in such pain.” The man replied as he stepped aside for a nurse to place the catheter in Katsuro’s left arm and start the injection of the drug. It took almost ten minutes for the effects to show on the Asian man’s face as he slowly relaxed. Theodore held Katsuro’s right hand the whole time it took for the drug to kick in, lovingly pushing aside a few strand of hair from his brow.
“Fox told me something over the phone… nothing much to lose by trying.” The big man shrugged. Katsuro being under the effect of the drug, he allowed himself to carefully hold the smaller man into his arms. As if knowing the man needed some privacy, Sun Hyeon stepped away from the bed to stand near the window.
Theodore closed his eyes, focusing on ‘them’ and everything, every memory, that had made his heart beat for this man he now held close. From the day they met, to when he revealed his true name. The time they started living together, that moment Katsuro asked him to come to Izu Oshima and finally step inside his family’s home. The risk his beloved took to get rid of an Oroshi ghost who was sapping his Anima. The wild hunt for a mermaid when Katsuro was about to lose his immortality. That small talk about marriage… and how Katsuro had just blushed in his own, adorable way. And obviously, how could he not linger on those very numerous moments of pure passion? ‘I’ll never belong to anyone, except you. What I allow you to do to me, the way you touch me, or even look at me, that’s for you only.’ He could still hear Katsuro’s voice as he said those words; a hoarse whisper, a breath on his cheek, at the height of their desire.
He felt it now, the warmth in his chest, growing until he thought his heart would spill it all out. “I love you, Katsuro. And I still need you by my side.” He joined their mouths together, pushing his tongue between his lover’s parted lips and exhaled. It was a strange sensation to have one’s Anima flow from one body to another. He could feel a shiver run through his beloved before he relaxed completely. Only when he couldn’t feel the warmth in his chest anymore did Theodore break the kiss, a small tendril of yellow energy still connecting them until it too was absorbed.
“Theo…?” It was barely a whisper and, as Theodore looked down on Katsuro’s face, their eyes met and he gently caressed his cheek.
“Shh. Don’t fight the drug. Sleep and keep your strength. Your friends are on their way and they’ll get that corruption out of you. You just have to hang on a while longer.” He kissed his lover on the lips again and Katsuro surrendered, turning his head ever so slightly toward Theodore’s broad chest. “Ai… shite..ru yo...”[3] The asian man managed to mumble before darkness claimed him.
Thanks to Agartha, it didn’t took long for Thanos and Fox to arrive. Once in Seoul, they were surprised to be greeted not by one but two guides, though the reason why was soon revealed; they had to bandage their eyes to be allowed any further. Neither man protested and they were slowly guided into the Coils of the Dragon until they arrived at Sun Hyeon’s house. Katsuro’s mentor himself opened the door and allowed them inside.
“Thank you both for coming so quickly. I hope you can forgive us for… keeping our secrets from outsiders. Though, if you are friends of Kuro, I’m sure I can give you my trust as well.“ Sun Hyeon told the men in a broken english as he guided them through the house.
Fox let out a gasp as he entered the bedroom and saw the state Katsuro was in, though Thanos kept his cool, as usual, and didn’t hesitate to kneel by his side to access his injuries. With a small nod toward Theodore, who had laid down his beloved upon the bed, the British man gently brushed a hand on one of the prominent cuts on Katsuro’s chest and smeared the blood between his fingers. He seemed pensive for a while before looking up at both Theodore and Sun Hyeon, who’d kneeled down next to the black man.
“Zero Point Pathogen… I’ve rarely seen anyone able to fight such an advanced state of corruption. How long ago has this happened?” Thanos inquired.
“We brought him here as soon as he crossed the gate of Agartha. But he had to come here on his own first. I would estimate roughly two hours. I have performed purification rituals on him as soon as we was brought to me and I know he is fighting at the moment. It is hard to explain… it is on a spiritual level.” Sun Hyeon replied calmly.
Thanos nodded before pointing to the morphine drip next to the bed. “Well I’m no expert in spirituality, but I can still grasp its importance. I’ve seen Kuro repel many entities and even cure himself of minor Filth corruption with his rituals. What I do know though, is that if I start purging the corruption from his blood, I’ll also remove any drug in his system. In this case, it might be very hard on him, as the pain will come back. Thus, I’ll need both of you to support him, in any way you can, and…” He looked up at Theodore. “From you, he’ll require much more.”
Theodore’s jaw clenched before he nodded at the silver haired man. Somehow, he knew what the doctor was referring too. “Got it.” He exhaled slowly, trying to keep his cool. Katsuro needed him right now, as much as he feared what might happen next. “And don’t worry about me, you take whatever he needs.”
***
It took a bit of preparation before everything was ready. Mainly removing every bandages on Katsuro and cleaning the wounds as best they could. A large stainless steel bowl had been brought at Thanos request and he placed it at the foot of the bed. Sun Hyeon did his part, placing protection talismans at specifics spots around the injured man. Once everything was in place, Thanos kneeled by the bed while his husband took the spot next to him. On the other side, Sun Hyeon did the same before gently combing his finger into Katsuro’s thick mane of hair. Theodore was now lying in the bed as well, on Thanos and Fox’s side, and he intertwined his fingers with Katsuro’s. Gently, Thanos removed the catheter from the Japanese man’s arm and, once done, motioned for Theodore to get ready. The big man gave a nod and braced himself for the pain… He was almost disappointed when Thanos barely made a small cut on his arm with a sterile scalpel. Closing his eyes, the doctor began to concentrate and a small rivulet of blood began to float up from the main wound in the middle of Katsuro’s chest. The thin red line became thicker and thicker before he diverted it toward the bowl. This went on for a while, until the thread of red became darker, and almost black.
That’s when Sun Hyeon had to intervene, as Katsuro began moaning and, soon enough, it became cries of pain that turned to violent thrashing. The old man seemed to retreat inside himself but he was in fact forcing his spirit out to connect with Katsuro’s. Though it didn't stop the pain, at least the thrashing subdued substantially. Whatever Thanos was doing, it seemed to sap a great deal of energy out of him, his brow damp with pearls of sweat. Fox gently placed a hand on his husband’s shoulder and a golden aura began to travel from one man to the other; he was feeding Thanos some of his Anima. Being Anima sensitive since birth, Fox always had a natural facility to manipulate it and he now was one of those Bees who could heal injuries in the blink of an eye. He’d long learned how to transfer his Anima to his beloved without the need of a ‘kiss’ - at least in situations that didn’t require large amount to be transferred fast. Thus he was now providing Thanos with a much needed steady flow of energy so the procedure would not be interrupted. After some excruciating long minutes had passed, Thanos finally began the transfusion of Theodore’s blood to Katsuro. There was now two blood rivulets dancing in the air, one of healthy red and the other tainted black that was discarded into the stainless steel bowl.
It took nearly an hour before the corruption was removed from Katsuro’s body. As soon as he was done, Thanos staggered and Fox was quick to gather him into his arm, even if he was tired as well. Sun Hyeon also looked tired and much older as he ran a shaky hand on his face. As for Theodore, despite his chocolate skin, he looked a shade paler and was visibly lacking any strength to get up. How much blood had been transfused, only the doctor might know. But he couldn’t care less if it was to save his beloved.
“It’s done… This Filth corruption gave quite a fight. I never had so much trouble pulling it out.” Thanos voice, with his British accent, broke the silence. “But if you would not mind, I’d appreciate if I could lie down for a few.” He cast his gaze to Sun Hyeon who’d regain some of his composure by then.
“Of course, I think we all need to rest. And I will not have you leave my house until you all have regained some strength and eaten a good meal.”
As if on cue, a group of servants entered the room and Sun Hyeon gave them a few instructions in Korean. After a few minutes, they were back with an extra mattress and bed sheets. They installed everything in a corner of the bedroom and left.
“I hope this will be to your satisfaction.Please rest.” Sun Hyeon pulled the covers on the two sleeping men before pushing himself up. He walked slowly toward the sliding doors leading to the corridor before he was interrupted by Fox’s voice.
“Thank you but, what about you? I mean, we’re kind of squatting in your bedroom.”
The old man let out a chuckle as he looked at the blonde man, with his husband lying against him.
“I’ve slept more than once on the couch. Do not worry about me and rest. I believe Theodore didn’t wait on you to do just that.” He offered an amused smile at the both of them as they turned to look at the tall black man sleeping soundly beside Katsuro. Despite it all, he still had his fingers intertwined with his lover’s, who was seemingly asleep as well, his breathing now regular and deep. The wounds on Katsuro’s body were still there but they didn’t seem infected. Fox let out a small chuckle as well and nodded. “Thank you then, we’ll gladly take up on the offer.” With a grunt, he pushed himself up, his husband leaning heavily on him, and they were but too happy to lie down in the second bed. It didn’t took long before they too left for the land of dreams. True to his word, Sun Hyeon chose the couch to sleep and, despite being in the beginning of the day in Seoul, the soft sound of the rain outside and the cover of clouds gave the perfect atmosphere for the exhausted men to rest for many hours.
***
It was late in the afternoon when Thanos woke up. He had a moment of surprise of not finding his husband by his side, until he heard distant laughter. He slowly got up, casting a glance at the still sleeping forms of Theodore and Katsuro, before combing his hair and straightening his clothes. Satisfied, the British man silently made his way towards the sleeping men and lifted the covers, just enough to inspect the wounds on Katsuro’s chest. Satisfied, he then left the bedroom to join Fox and Sun Hyeon in the living room.
“Hey Love, slept well?” Fox inquired as soons as he saw his husband enter the room.
“Quite well, thank you.” He replied, bowing his head toward Sun Hyeon. “I didn’t want to wake Theodore thus I didn’t linger in the bedroom, but at quick glance, I believe Katsuro’s wounds are starting to heal.”
“Oh, that is good news indeed! And I really can’t thank you enough, both of you, for what you have done for him. To think that, only a few years back, he had no one to call friends. I am pleased to see he has changed.” Sun Hyeon smiled at both men. “Since we are waiting on them to wake, care for some tea?”
There was the sweet aroma of food being prepared and Theodore’s stomach was quick to wake him up. He let out a long yawn and stretched his still sleepy muscles before getting up on one elbow as he turned toward Katsuro. The Japanese man was still sleeping and Theodore couldn’t help but smile. He kept by his side for a few minutes, just happy to look upon his lover’s face. Finally, his stomach got the better of him and he gently got up - for someone his size he sure could be stealthy when he wanted - and followed the scent of delicious food all the way to the kitchen. He was greeted by the other three men, who were just about to dig in a generous array of homemade Korean dishes, courtesy of Sun Hyeon’s neighbor.
Once all bellies were full, they moved back to the living room to simply talk and drink tea. It was only in the middle of the evening that a disheveled Katsuro appeared, wearing one of Sun Hyeon’s Dragon green yukata; Good thing both men were about the same size and shape.
“Hey there, hot stuff.” Theodore got up and gently pulled the asian man in his arms. “God, you had us all worried.”
"Hot stuff? I swear, romance is dying in this day and age" An amused Sun Hyeon replied, though relief could be seen in his expression.
“Honto ni gomen ne [4] “ Katsuro bowed deeply to everyone once Theodore released him from his embrace.
Fox was quick to get up and pull Katsuro into yet another strong embrace, followed by a far more restrained accolade from Thanos.
“We are just glad you are alright. And I doubt you placed yourself into such a predicament on your own volition.” The doctor replied before making room for Sun Hyeon, who didn’t hide his affection for the Japanese man before him, gently placing a hand on his cheek.
“I still remember the first day we met, the pain in your eyes. You had nothing left in this world and only wanted to end it all. It wasn’t an easy path to walk, those last 47 years. But I guess Gaia’s call to arm bore some good for you. Many friends, who’d risk everything for you, and that giant of a man you call your boyfriend.” Sun Hyeon chuckled a bit as Theodore gave them a quizzical look, not understanding everything spoken in Korean. With a warm smile, the old man brought Katsuro closer to him, into a loving embrace. “I’m proud to call you my son.” He whispered to his ear before letting him go.
With tears stinging his eyes, Katsuro offered a smile of his own and made his way toward the couch, his legs still feeling a big wobbly after going through such an ordeal. Before Theodore could grab a seat next to him, Sun Hyeon whispered something to him in his broken english. “You know, he’s waiting for you. They’ll never be anyone else but you. [5]” He gave an enigmatic smile to the tall man, followed by a gentle pat on the arm, and he disappeared into the kitchen to make more tea for everyone.
[1] More intimate and respectful form of "sah bum nim"(instructor or 'Master'); literally "teaching father"
[2] 'my son' in Korean
[3] I love you - in Japanese
[4] I am really sorry - in Japanese
[5] Sun Hyeon is referencing marriage
As he crossed Agartha’s golden portal, he barely took a few steps before crumbling to the ground. The Gate was always watched though and it took mere seconds before agents of the Dragon moved out of the shadow to carry the Japanese man into the depths of the Dragon's Coils. He was too important to the order and protocol was to take him to his handler's house if anything happened to him. Agents ran forward to warn his mentor so a room would already be prepared on his arrival.
Katsuro was desperately trying to keep a hold on his consciousness, mumbling in between clenched teeth as the waves of pain threatened to drag him down into the sweet embrace of oblivion. Unfortunately, he was losing this battle. His breathing laborious, every influx of air in his lungs felt like a hundred blades coursing through his veins. His vision became blurry, sounds more and more distant.
"Sah boo nim... " [1] was all Katsuro managed to say as he heard the familiar voice of Sun Hyeon and his worried expression as he leant over him.
"Be strong, Katsuro. I will personally take care of you. Be strong nae adeul [2]" The older man's voice was soothing and Katsuro could feel a strong hand caress his face before darkness claimed him.
Sun Hyeon's house wasn't that big thus Katsuro was brought to his personal bedroom, with a window open on a private garden. He was gently laid down before the Dragon agents carrying him bowed to the old man and left. As soon as they were gone, Sun Hyeon personal servants came in with medical supplies and a bowl of warm water. Kneeling by Katsuro's side, Sun Hyeon took a deep breath and cast his gaze on his protégé's body - his clothes soaked in blood and Filth, his shirt torn and lacerated, revealing the deep cuts on his chest and abdomen, even on his arms and legs. With a quick motion of his hand, Sun Hyeon beckoned for a servant to help in removing Katsuro's clothes. They painstakingly peeled the sticky fabric off him until nothing was left, even removing his father's ring and the elemental foci strapped to his left hand, which were both stained with blood. His trusted katana was brought along with its master and a decorative sword had to make room so the Shinku Hogo-Sha could borrow its display stand.
The bowl of water was emptied and refilled many times to clean Katsuro from all the blood and Filth, not to mention a purifying ritual to keep the corruption at bay. But even Sun Hyeon's powers were not enough to cleanse it all. Katsuro was still breathing with difficulty and he began moaning in delirious pain as his injuries were bandaged.Pulling the covers over the naked body, the old man bent over his protégé and kissed him on the forehead before getting up and picking up his cellphone.
***
The harsh sun was high above the desert and anyone with an ounce of common sense was trying to hide in any shade available. Theodore let out a sigh before taking a long drink from his gourd. Around him were the many bodies of cultists he's just sent straight to hell to meet with their false god. With no fanatic around to bother him, he 'borrowed' their makeshift tent to hide from the sun. There was a table and a single chair, and some maps lying around; good enough. The tall man took a seat for a well earned rest before his cellphone vibrated in a breast pocket - caller 'unknown'. Furrowing his brow in annoyance, he still answered the call.
"Hello and who the hell are y-"
"Your presence is required in Seoul right away. A guide shall wait for you at the gate to Agartha once you arrive in the city. Make haste. Katsuro needs you."
The voice was male, mature yet strong, speaking a very broken English with a distinct Korean or Chinese accent. Before Theodore could even reply, his interlocutor hung up.
"What...?!" Theodore looked at his phone in disbelief before the news sank in... and then it struck him. Who, in the whole wide world, knew of Katsuro's true name? Both his parents were long gone and even his 'sister' Retsu didn't knew. That left only him and... some very high ranking members of the Dragon. And this ‘someone’ knew of him, of 'them'. They were aware of the bond they shared, otherwise this name would not have been uttered, even on the phone. A sudden sense of urgency fell on the black man and he quickly picked up his assault rifle before closing his eyes. There was a surge of Anima around him with a deafening buzzing sound and, within the blink of an eye, the man was gone, swallowed in a pool of golden light.
Once in Agartha, Theodore made a dash for it. He knew some of those paths among the roots of the world by heart, especially the trip back home. He didn't even slow down as he took the portal to Seoul and it's only after crossing the bike shop that he remembered about the guide. Sharply turning around, he nearly bumped into a small Chinese woman wearing the colors of the Dragon.
"Follow me, please." She simply beckoned to him, without even asking who he was. Through winding streets she guided him. Sometimes walking into what seemed like dead ends, only to have someone open a door and they'd cross through houses and gardens only to exit on another street. The only thing Theodore knew for sure is that they were really deep inside the Dragon's Coils. Probably somewhere he shouldn't be but, by some great authority, he had been granted temporary access. By the time they reached their final destination, he had lost all sense of direction. Even his phone's GPS seemed to be lost, positioning him in a very unlikely location. The guide stopped in front of a house that looked like any other house in this part of Seoul, if only for the masked Dragon agent standing guard. As they approached, the guard stepped aside and the door opened, revealing another petite woman, Korean or Chinese, Theodore couldn't tell the difference.
"This way, please." She spoke in Korean but, living in the heart of Seoul with Katsuro, Theodore had brushed up on his Korean quite a bit in the past year. He followed her inside, not even forgetting to remove his shoes as it had become a habit by now. They crossed into a well furnished living room, with a big window opening on a garden, and down a corridor, passing a set of closed sliding doors. The servant stopped at the second set of doors at the end of the hallway and opened them before stepping aside.
Along the left wall was the bed, actually a mattress on tatami, with an old man wearing a traditional hanfu of black and green, kneeling beside the person lying there. He had a wet towel in his hand and was gently dabbing at the young man's forehead and neck. As soon as Theodore entered the room, the man looked up, his piercing gaze sending a shiver down the black man's spine and he instinctively stopped.
"Come, kneel by his side. Though he is unconscious, he still needs your presence. He's been calling for you despite the pain." The man spoke in Korean.
Theodore recognized the voice as the one who called him earlier. The strength in this man's voice commanded respect and he quickly made his way to Katsuro's side. The pain on his lover's face was as plain as day, his jaw clenching tightly when he wasn't just moaning or crying out in agony.
"What hap-" He barely had time to utter a word before the old man gently pulled the bed sheets to reveal the injured body. Though Katsuro was bandaged all over, blood was already seeping through.
"He came through Agartha like this. He was already incoherent from the pain when he was brought to me. Something attacked him, took him by surprise most likely. We don't know what, or where, for now. We only know it was Filth infected and vicious. Katsuro is not one to be easily defeated. Whatever it was, it was rather powerful. I'd guess it also happened far from Japan since this is the source of his powers after all."
The old man's voice was steady and seemingly calm, but Theodore could discern the worry in it. And the way that old man looked at his beloved... it was something he never expected from the Dragon.
"Shouldn't we take him to Japan then? And by the way... who are you?! You know him, and 'us'. You knew where I was and how to contact me. You're Dragon, I get that but..." Theodore didn’t bother to reply in Korean, as obviously the other man could understand him perfectly, and simply cast him a questioning glance.
"My apologies. I'm Sun Hyeon, Katsuro's handler within the Dragon." The man replied as he dipped his towel into the bowl again before wringing it of excess water and dabbling Katsuro's forehead. Without even looking back up at Theodore he added. "And indeed, he is far more to me than a simple agent to order around for the will of the Dragon. I've known him for a very long time."
Theodore simply looked at the other man for a moment. There was something about him...
"I know! I mean, I remember why you seem familiar. You teach classes at the dojang, don't you? You're a Master in Chaos magic and spiritual magic. Oh... so you're also Katsuro's mentor. Makes sense now..."
Sun Hyeon turned his gaze on Theodore again, a small smile on his lips. " You have some wits about you, just like they say. The CIA lost a good agent in you... and the Illuminati."
Theodore blinked a few times at Sun Hyeon. "How did y-" Before letting out a low grunt and shaking his head. "Nevermind. Of course you'd know. You probably know everything about me."
"Most of it. Though some parts of your life are still a mystery. Mind you, I had no interest in your personal file when you joined the Dragon. You were not under my direct authority and there is little point for me to read on everyone that join us, willingly or not. But then... ‘he’ took an interest in you."
Sun Hyeon thread his fingers into Katsuro's thick mane of black hair, casting a worried look at the injured man.
"I was curious to know about the man who managed to win Katsuro's heart. Of course, he's old enough to make his own decisions. But a father can't help but worry..." There was a brief moment of silence before Sun Hyeon straighten himself. “Now lend me a hand. His bandages needs to be changed.”
With all the care in the world, the both of them removed the filthy bandages and Theodore couldn’t help but gasp at the extend of his lover’s injury. This certainly wasn’t natural. The biggest wound was in the middle of his chest, as if something had tried to impale him through the heart but had been deflected at the last minute, leaving instead a deep cut obviously Filth infected. The black tendrils could be seen, crawling under the skin from this center point and toward the abdomen. The deep cuts on his arms and legs seemed to be free of corruption but there was no sign they were healing either, despite Katsuro’s enhanced healing abilities - at least compared to a human, as he was nowhere near the regenerative power of the Bees.
“I’ve seen this before…” Theodore swallowed hard.
“Yes, most likely. You’ve been fighting in the front lines for a while now. I’ve tried every purification ritual I know. It did slow down the corruption but it’s not enough. We need to purge it from his bloodstre-”
“Hold that thought!” Theodore cut in, momentarily forgetting who he was talking to; protocol be damned. “I know a guy. Actually Katsuro knows a guy but I happen to know of him too, well his husband… never mind the details! Just let me make a phone call okay?!”
This time it was Sun Hyeon’s turn to blink at the other man but, seeing that spark of hope in Theodore’s eyes, he simply nodded. The black man had not waited for approval and was already dialing a certain Laurie Nevare in Rochester, NY.
“Come on pick up, pick up…”
“Hey there Theo! Long time no talk. What can I do f-” Came a cheery male voice on the other end of the line before Theodore cut him too.
“Sorry to cut you short Fox but I really, really need your husband right now and I don’t have his contact info.”
“Uh? Well it’s almost 7pm here so he’s right next to me watching tv. I’ll pass him to you.”
There was the exchange of hands before another male voice answered, this one with a very distinct British accent, perfectly elocuted. “Theodore? Laurie told me you needed to speak to me urgently?”
“Thanos! Katsuro needs you. I know you saved him in the past, removed the corruption from him. I… God he’s in really bad shape. I just… it’s… “ Theodore blurted out without realizing he'd let slip the Asian man's true name.
“It’s alright. No need to explain right now. We’ll come to you. Are you in Seoul by any chance?” Thanos voice was calm as usual; it seems the man never lost his cool, whatever the situation.
“Yes, though we’re not at our house. I uh... give me a moment.”
Theodore looked back at Sun Hyeon, who seemed to be pondering for a brief moment.
“Very well. Your friends are Chosen of Gaia? Then I’ll have them escorted here once they cross Agartha.”
Sun Hyeon finally replied before getting back to tending Katsuro’s wounds. Theodore simply nodded and brought his cellphone back to his ear.
“Thanos? It’s okay, seems you’ll get a guide once you arrive in Seoul. And thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’ll do everything in my power to save him but, until I see his injuries, I can’t be sure of anything. I’ll transfer you back to Laurie, seems he has something to tell you.”
“Hello again Theo! So ya I heard the whole thing and maybe there is something you can do until we arrive. I call it Anima transfer but you can call it whatever you please. Anyway, the stronger the bond between two person, the easier it is to transfer your Anima to them, and the more you can transfer. And knowing you, being a friggin’ Anima battery on leg, I’m sure you could spare a bit for him. So uh, how can I explain it… Okay so ya know how the Egyptians had this ‘breath of life’ thing going on? Well, take it more literally, like, a real breath. Or like those Disney mermaids who just kiss a guy underwater to give them air? Bear with me, I know I suck at examples. In any case, that’s how it works. You can concentrate an amount of Anima in your chest or ‘heart’ and transfer it like a breath. The trick is your feelings. So you’ll have to focus on the bond you share with him. Like, the happy times together, the sweet moments, heck the stronger the feeling, the better. If you have to think about the time you guys had sex, go for that memory. No one will know anyway, it’s in your head. The memory when you both are the closest in every sense of the word - body, heart and mind, even your soul if you believe in that stuff - that’s what you aim for.” Laurie finally took a moment to take a breath. “You’re following me so far?”
“Uh, uh. Go on.” Theodore replied.
“Okay so, at this point, you should feel it build up in you. Feels like warmth emanating from your chest. Once you think you can’t hold it up any longer, you kiss the guy. And not just a peck on the lips, I mean full on CPR. And, as crazy as it sounds, a tongue shoved into his mouth may help the process. Remember, it’s all linked to your emotions, and his. Even if he’s unconscious, part of him knows it's you. If it works and the link between you two is strong enough, you’ll feel the Anima flow from your mouth to his. Like that breath of life thing I mentioned earlier. And don’t break the kiss until you no longer feel the warmth in you. So that’s basically how it works. I’ve used it quite a few times for Thanos, because purging people of corruption takes quite a toll on him. Wish I'd have told you about that earlier, maybe would have given you guys time to practice. So ya.. Wish you luck. Thanos just finished gathering all the stuff we’ll need so we’ll see you shortly. Over and out!”
Fox hung up, leaving Theodore to stare a long moment at his beloved. Katsuro’s body was now covered in sweat as he struggled, even in his weakened state, to keep the corruption in his own body under control. Theodore was so preoccupied and focused on Fox’s explanation, that he didn’t realize until now that a medical drip had been brought by the bedside. He raised a questioning eyebrow at Sun Hyeon.
“Morphine. The Dragon has many connections after all. I just can’t leave him in such pain.” The man replied as he stepped aside for a nurse to place the catheter in Katsuro’s left arm and start the injection of the drug. It took almost ten minutes for the effects to show on the Asian man’s face as he slowly relaxed. Theodore held Katsuro’s right hand the whole time it took for the drug to kick in, lovingly pushing aside a few strand of hair from his brow.
“Fox told me something over the phone… nothing much to lose by trying.” The big man shrugged. Katsuro being under the effect of the drug, he allowed himself to carefully hold the smaller man into his arms. As if knowing the man needed some privacy, Sun Hyeon stepped away from the bed to stand near the window.
Theodore closed his eyes, focusing on ‘them’ and everything, every memory, that had made his heart beat for this man he now held close. From the day they met, to when he revealed his true name. The time they started living together, that moment Katsuro asked him to come to Izu Oshima and finally step inside his family’s home. The risk his beloved took to get rid of an Oroshi ghost who was sapping his Anima. The wild hunt for a mermaid when Katsuro was about to lose his immortality. That small talk about marriage… and how Katsuro had just blushed in his own, adorable way. And obviously, how could he not linger on those very numerous moments of pure passion? ‘I’ll never belong to anyone, except you. What I allow you to do to me, the way you touch me, or even look at me, that’s for you only.’ He could still hear Katsuro’s voice as he said those words; a hoarse whisper, a breath on his cheek, at the height of their desire.
He felt it now, the warmth in his chest, growing until he thought his heart would spill it all out. “I love you, Katsuro. And I still need you by my side.” He joined their mouths together, pushing his tongue between his lover’s parted lips and exhaled. It was a strange sensation to have one’s Anima flow from one body to another. He could feel a shiver run through his beloved before he relaxed completely. Only when he couldn’t feel the warmth in his chest anymore did Theodore break the kiss, a small tendril of yellow energy still connecting them until it too was absorbed.
“Theo…?” It was barely a whisper and, as Theodore looked down on Katsuro’s face, their eyes met and he gently caressed his cheek.
“Shh. Don’t fight the drug. Sleep and keep your strength. Your friends are on their way and they’ll get that corruption out of you. You just have to hang on a while longer.” He kissed his lover on the lips again and Katsuro surrendered, turning his head ever so slightly toward Theodore’s broad chest. “Ai… shite..ru yo...”[3] The asian man managed to mumble before darkness claimed him.
Thanks to Agartha, it didn’t took long for Thanos and Fox to arrive. Once in Seoul, they were surprised to be greeted not by one but two guides, though the reason why was soon revealed; they had to bandage their eyes to be allowed any further. Neither man protested and they were slowly guided into the Coils of the Dragon until they arrived at Sun Hyeon’s house. Katsuro’s mentor himself opened the door and allowed them inside.
“Thank you both for coming so quickly. I hope you can forgive us for… keeping our secrets from outsiders. Though, if you are friends of Kuro, I’m sure I can give you my trust as well.“ Sun Hyeon told the men in a broken english as he guided them through the house.
Fox let out a gasp as he entered the bedroom and saw the state Katsuro was in, though Thanos kept his cool, as usual, and didn’t hesitate to kneel by his side to access his injuries. With a small nod toward Theodore, who had laid down his beloved upon the bed, the British man gently brushed a hand on one of the prominent cuts on Katsuro’s chest and smeared the blood between his fingers. He seemed pensive for a while before looking up at both Theodore and Sun Hyeon, who’d kneeled down next to the black man.
“Zero Point Pathogen… I’ve rarely seen anyone able to fight such an advanced state of corruption. How long ago has this happened?” Thanos inquired.
“We brought him here as soon as he crossed the gate of Agartha. But he had to come here on his own first. I would estimate roughly two hours. I have performed purification rituals on him as soon as we was brought to me and I know he is fighting at the moment. It is hard to explain… it is on a spiritual level.” Sun Hyeon replied calmly.
Thanos nodded before pointing to the morphine drip next to the bed. “Well I’m no expert in spirituality, but I can still grasp its importance. I’ve seen Kuro repel many entities and even cure himself of minor Filth corruption with his rituals. What I do know though, is that if I start purging the corruption from his blood, I’ll also remove any drug in his system. In this case, it might be very hard on him, as the pain will come back. Thus, I’ll need both of you to support him, in any way you can, and…” He looked up at Theodore. “From you, he’ll require much more.”
Theodore’s jaw clenched before he nodded at the silver haired man. Somehow, he knew what the doctor was referring too. “Got it.” He exhaled slowly, trying to keep his cool. Katsuro needed him right now, as much as he feared what might happen next. “And don’t worry about me, you take whatever he needs.”
***
It took a bit of preparation before everything was ready. Mainly removing every bandages on Katsuro and cleaning the wounds as best they could. A large stainless steel bowl had been brought at Thanos request and he placed it at the foot of the bed. Sun Hyeon did his part, placing protection talismans at specifics spots around the injured man. Once everything was in place, Thanos kneeled by the bed while his husband took the spot next to him. On the other side, Sun Hyeon did the same before gently combing his finger into Katsuro’s thick mane of hair. Theodore was now lying in the bed as well, on Thanos and Fox’s side, and he intertwined his fingers with Katsuro’s. Gently, Thanos removed the catheter from the Japanese man’s arm and, once done, motioned for Theodore to get ready. The big man gave a nod and braced himself for the pain… He was almost disappointed when Thanos barely made a small cut on his arm with a sterile scalpel. Closing his eyes, the doctor began to concentrate and a small rivulet of blood began to float up from the main wound in the middle of Katsuro’s chest. The thin red line became thicker and thicker before he diverted it toward the bowl. This went on for a while, until the thread of red became darker, and almost black.
That’s when Sun Hyeon had to intervene, as Katsuro began moaning and, soon enough, it became cries of pain that turned to violent thrashing. The old man seemed to retreat inside himself but he was in fact forcing his spirit out to connect with Katsuro’s. Though it didn't stop the pain, at least the thrashing subdued substantially. Whatever Thanos was doing, it seemed to sap a great deal of energy out of him, his brow damp with pearls of sweat. Fox gently placed a hand on his husband’s shoulder and a golden aura began to travel from one man to the other; he was feeding Thanos some of his Anima. Being Anima sensitive since birth, Fox always had a natural facility to manipulate it and he now was one of those Bees who could heal injuries in the blink of an eye. He’d long learned how to transfer his Anima to his beloved without the need of a ‘kiss’ - at least in situations that didn’t require large amount to be transferred fast. Thus he was now providing Thanos with a much needed steady flow of energy so the procedure would not be interrupted. After some excruciating long minutes had passed, Thanos finally began the transfusion of Theodore’s blood to Katsuro. There was now two blood rivulets dancing in the air, one of healthy red and the other tainted black that was discarded into the stainless steel bowl.
It took nearly an hour before the corruption was removed from Katsuro’s body. As soon as he was done, Thanos staggered and Fox was quick to gather him into his arm, even if he was tired as well. Sun Hyeon also looked tired and much older as he ran a shaky hand on his face. As for Theodore, despite his chocolate skin, he looked a shade paler and was visibly lacking any strength to get up. How much blood had been transfused, only the doctor might know. But he couldn’t care less if it was to save his beloved.
“It’s done… This Filth corruption gave quite a fight. I never had so much trouble pulling it out.” Thanos voice, with his British accent, broke the silence. “But if you would not mind, I’d appreciate if I could lie down for a few.” He cast his gaze to Sun Hyeon who’d regain some of his composure by then.
“Of course, I think we all need to rest. And I will not have you leave my house until you all have regained some strength and eaten a good meal.”
As if on cue, a group of servants entered the room and Sun Hyeon gave them a few instructions in Korean. After a few minutes, they were back with an extra mattress and bed sheets. They installed everything in a corner of the bedroom and left.
“I hope this will be to your satisfaction.Please rest.” Sun Hyeon pulled the covers on the two sleeping men before pushing himself up. He walked slowly toward the sliding doors leading to the corridor before he was interrupted by Fox’s voice.
“Thank you but, what about you? I mean, we’re kind of squatting in your bedroom.”
The old man let out a chuckle as he looked at the blonde man, with his husband lying against him.
“I’ve slept more than once on the couch. Do not worry about me and rest. I believe Theodore didn’t wait on you to do just that.” He offered an amused smile at the both of them as they turned to look at the tall black man sleeping soundly beside Katsuro. Despite it all, he still had his fingers intertwined with his lover’s, who was seemingly asleep as well, his breathing now regular and deep. The wounds on Katsuro’s body were still there but they didn’t seem infected. Fox let out a small chuckle as well and nodded. “Thank you then, we’ll gladly take up on the offer.” With a grunt, he pushed himself up, his husband leaning heavily on him, and they were but too happy to lie down in the second bed. It didn’t took long before they too left for the land of dreams. True to his word, Sun Hyeon chose the couch to sleep and, despite being in the beginning of the day in Seoul, the soft sound of the rain outside and the cover of clouds gave the perfect atmosphere for the exhausted men to rest for many hours.
***
It was late in the afternoon when Thanos woke up. He had a moment of surprise of not finding his husband by his side, until he heard distant laughter. He slowly got up, casting a glance at the still sleeping forms of Theodore and Katsuro, before combing his hair and straightening his clothes. Satisfied, the British man silently made his way towards the sleeping men and lifted the covers, just enough to inspect the wounds on Katsuro’s chest. Satisfied, he then left the bedroom to join Fox and Sun Hyeon in the living room.
“Hey Love, slept well?” Fox inquired as soons as he saw his husband enter the room.
“Quite well, thank you.” He replied, bowing his head toward Sun Hyeon. “I didn’t want to wake Theodore thus I didn’t linger in the bedroom, but at quick glance, I believe Katsuro’s wounds are starting to heal.”
“Oh, that is good news indeed! And I really can’t thank you enough, both of you, for what you have done for him. To think that, only a few years back, he had no one to call friends. I am pleased to see he has changed.” Sun Hyeon smiled at both men. “Since we are waiting on them to wake, care for some tea?”
***
There was the sweet aroma of food being prepared and Theodore’s stomach was quick to wake him up. He let out a long yawn and stretched his still sleepy muscles before getting up on one elbow as he turned toward Katsuro. The Japanese man was still sleeping and Theodore couldn’t help but smile. He kept by his side for a few minutes, just happy to look upon his lover’s face. Finally, his stomach got the better of him and he gently got up - for someone his size he sure could be stealthy when he wanted - and followed the scent of delicious food all the way to the kitchen. He was greeted by the other three men, who were just about to dig in a generous array of homemade Korean dishes, courtesy of Sun Hyeon’s neighbor.
Once all bellies were full, they moved back to the living room to simply talk and drink tea. It was only in the middle of the evening that a disheveled Katsuro appeared, wearing one of Sun Hyeon’s Dragon green yukata; Good thing both men were about the same size and shape.
“Hey there, hot stuff.” Theodore got up and gently pulled the asian man in his arms. “God, you had us all worried.”
"Hot stuff? I swear, romance is dying in this day and age" An amused Sun Hyeon replied, though relief could be seen in his expression.
“Honto ni gomen ne [4] “ Katsuro bowed deeply to everyone once Theodore released him from his embrace.
Fox was quick to get up and pull Katsuro into yet another strong embrace, followed by a far more restrained accolade from Thanos.
“We are just glad you are alright. And I doubt you placed yourself into such a predicament on your own volition.” The doctor replied before making room for Sun Hyeon, who didn’t hide his affection for the Japanese man before him, gently placing a hand on his cheek.
“I still remember the first day we met, the pain in your eyes. You had nothing left in this world and only wanted to end it all. It wasn’t an easy path to walk, those last 47 years. But I guess Gaia’s call to arm bore some good for you. Many friends, who’d risk everything for you, and that giant of a man you call your boyfriend.” Sun Hyeon chuckled a bit as Theodore gave them a quizzical look, not understanding everything spoken in Korean. With a warm smile, the old man brought Katsuro closer to him, into a loving embrace. “I’m proud to call you my son.” He whispered to his ear before letting him go.
With tears stinging his eyes, Katsuro offered a smile of his own and made his way toward the couch, his legs still feeling a big wobbly after going through such an ordeal. Before Theodore could grab a seat next to him, Sun Hyeon whispered something to him in his broken english. “You know, he’s waiting for you. They’ll never be anyone else but you. [5]” He gave an enigmatic smile to the tall man, followed by a gentle pat on the arm, and he disappeared into the kitchen to make more tea for everyone.
[1] More intimate and respectful form of "sah bum nim"(instructor or 'Master'); literally "teaching father"
[2] 'my son' in Korean
[3] I love you - in Japanese
[4] I am really sorry - in Japanese
[5] Sun Hyeon is referencing marriage
