Pandora's Box

Chapter 18

"Shit."

It was all Beomgyu could think to say. About all of it, down to why Yeonjun wouldn't tell him what was wrong with Jisung.

He couldn't imagine having feelings for someone who hates you. He didn't want to imagine.

"Yeah..." Jisung said, slumping down to sit against the cabin. "Shit."

—

Yeonjun had told him earlier that he was going to talk with Kai about Valentine's Day. What those two were doing that needed so much prep, Beomgyu didn't know. But now, he needed to talk to the older about the Jisung and Minho situation, knowing that he knows.
He was knocking on the door of Kai's cabin, assuming they'd be in there discussing and...

...Oh.
He probably should've assumed that Kai's roommate was Taehyun.

The other was standing in the door after opening it, looking just as surprised as Beomgyu. His hair was wet, and the scent of firewood and vanilla was stronger than ever, and Beomgyu should definitely not be there right now and-

"Hey," he found himself saying, only for the other to nod and respond "Hi."

He cleared his throat. "I, um. I'm looking for Yeonjun. I think he's with Kai right now, and so I was thinking they'd be in here."
Taehyun shook his head. "No, I think they went to the lake or something."

Then, surprising them both, "You could...wait here until they come back? I think they will come back here at some point." Beomgyu nodded, a little too excitedly. "Yeah, okay."

When Taehyun went back into the room, Beomgyu noticed him rushing around, grabbing things and shoving them under his bed. It was cute, how frazzled the other looked.But Beomgyu would kill to know what he was so determined to hide.

There was a battered black notebook at the corner of the dresser, and both boys spotted it at the same time.
Beomgyu recognized it from the day on the picnic bench, and was closer to the dresser.

Both made a lunge for it, but Beomgyu was successful. He frantically opened the notebook as the other was shouting "No!" and it enticed him all the more. When he opened it, he couldn't stop the gasp from escaping his lips.

In the notebook were dozens and dozens of drawings. Done by regular pencil, colored pencil, ink, and...was that charcoal?

Scenes ranging from the view of the lake from the picnic bench, to a single detailed hand with rings on it that Beomgyu recognized as Taehyun's own. It was something he never expected to find when he opened the notebook, and he never wanted Taehyun to hide these drawings again.

Speaking of, when he looked up the other was simply standing there staring at the floor. He was rubbing his face with his hands, embarrassed, and Beomgyu couldn't figure out for the life of him why someone would be embarrassed about this.

"Taehyun." He had said it so sternly that the other looked up.

"These are incredible. Why the hell haven't you had a showcase day in art?" He kept flipping through the pages, his jaw dropping more and more as he continued.

The other rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Because. It's ridiculous. I'm not supposed to draw, to be good at art. I'm not the son of the art god for Titans sake." He had mumbled the last part.
"Well you fucking should be" Beomgyu stated as his head shot up, glaring at the other.

"It doesn't matter, Beomgyu," Taehyun said rather aggressively.
"My fate...is sealed. I'm already meant to do other shit, and it's NOT art."

Beomgyu softened his gaze, and the other shifted his weight uncomfortably under it. "Look, it's not your fault. But it's pointless. As long as you're around, I shouldn't even try."

Beomgyu put the notebook down and placed his hands on Taehyun's shoulders. "It's not pointless, Taehyun. I can't fucking draw like that, I don't care what 'the gods' say. This is clearly your...your thing."

Taehyun scoffed, and if Beomgyu didn't like the boy so much he would've punched him.
"No. My thing is being among dead people, being rich on stolen materials, and rotting for the rest of eternity. As long as the two of us exist, I don't have a thing like this. I can't be an artist."

He sat on the bed as if to say the conversation was over. But Beomgyu was still upset at his dedication to some stupid made up rules. It was dumb, but he felt like crying at the boy's lack of self confidence. "Can I use your bathroom?" His voice came out embarrassingly shaky.

Taehyun looked at him for a second and then nodded. Beomgyu walked towards the door and opened it, just as he heard the other boy scream "Wait! No!"

Taehyun's hand grabbed Beomgyu's wrist, but it was too late. The door was open, and Beomgyu was looking at the tapestry of his own portrait hanging on the back of the door.

There were paint brushes all around the bathroom, and towels all over the floor. Taehyun must've been working on it when he knocked. All he could do was let out a small "Oh."

And then he did cry. Silent tears streaming down his face.

He recognized the portrait from the day on the lake, and assumed Taehyun must've painted it based on the picture he'd taken of Beomgyu. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Taehyun standing there, not knowing what to do.

The boy finally spoke. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry Beomgyu." He twisted his rings back and forth, trying to think of something to say. "I know it's creepy. I'll... I'll take it down. Promise."

His voice was rushed and thin as he tried to calm down the other.
"Fuck, don't cry. I'll do it now."

Taehyun's hand grabbed the tapestry to tear it down, but his arm was smacked by the boy trying to wipe his eyes. He looked at Beomgyu, alarmed. Beomgyu  just stared, then whispered:
"I love it."

It was the truth. He didn't know how to express anything about what he was feeling staring at the painting, but the least he could do was reassure the boy that he wasn't creeped out in the least.

Quite the opposite, actually. Now it was Taehyun who simply breathed out an "Oh....," then, "You...you do?"

Beomgyu nodded, and found himself getting closer to the other. He repeated the words, as if they'd be more believable the second time. "I really, really love it."

The painting had brought him back to the day itself. He could picture every detail...every emotion...

It then occurred to him.

"One thing you don't know, Taehyun, is that I love stories. I live off of them. They let me feel emotions I wouldn't be able to without someone telling me that story."

Taehyung stared with an unreadable expression. Suddenly, clearly as dazed as Beomgyu, he blurted out: "I could tell you stories. I love telling them."

Beomgyu smiled, adoring, then shook his head. "I mean, you can. I would definitely listen. But..." He looked back at the tapestry, shaking his head again. This time in disbelief.

"You tell stories with your art, Taehyun." He leaned closer into the other, both breaths hitching.

"That's not a gift you can give up. I won't allow it."

He smiled as Taehyun was silent, speechless. The only sign of life from the other was his slight lean in, an action Beomgyu repeated without thought.

He watched as a last sign of doubt crossed Taehyun's features, before he was suddenly kissing the other.

At first, Beomgyu thought Taehyun was regretting it. He thought he felt the other try to get him off with his power.

But when Taehyun's hands went to the back of Beomgyu's neck, he realized that it was a different type of electricity he was feeling.

Outside of the cabin, life went on. Students went about their days, completely unaware of the magic happening inside the Chthonic Deity cabin in slow blue sparks.

hmm mediocre kiss scene my apologies but 👍