Pandora's Box

Chapter 36

in honor of beomgyu day, here are the last two chapters of this story :_)

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There was no Hell like a human hospital.

Taehyun would know. At the thousandth beep of the heart monitor, he felt homicidal.

But he had kept his promise to Apollo; he had taken Beomgyu to a regular hospital in Daegu. His ability to travel anywhere was proving convenient, something he'd never tell his father.

He followed Apollo's wish, because the noise of Beomgyu's working heart was worth more than any self-fulfilling pride he could have. Now, he simply waited for the other to wake up.

Kai had been caught up on everything, aside from Taehyun's near-destruction of Olympus. He went back to Pandora to tell the others, knowing his best friend would want to be with Beomgyu alone.

Taehyun felt insane, watching the monitor, willing it to move faster. Unfortunately, god powers were no match for human technology.

A nurse had begged him to take a break. It was obviously more so she could work in the room, but Taehyun realized that he'd truly needed it as he pushed the doors to the exit. Of all things, he spotted a bookstore across the street. He smiled to himself, hatching an idea to wake the other up faster.

After his purchase, he came back to the hospital. The nurse was noticeably exasperated by his return, but he smiled guiltily and help up his new copy of Fairytale Fables . He tried to convince her it was for himself. There were probably some he hadn't heard.

"Well, I've done all the tests I can right now," she stated hesitantly.

"Great, thank you!" Taehyun's smile was an attempt at warmth, but the frown on the nurse made him uneasy. "I think there's something you should know before I leave."

Taehyun shook his head. "Whatever it is, it would make more sense to tell both of us. I'll let you know when he wakes up." He wasn't allowing the question of "if". Not after everything.

The nurse hesitated, then nodded and slipped away. Taehyun grinned and pulled open the book, his happiness getting the best of him.

After what seemed like something entirely inevitable and, well, hopeless, the best outcome was within reach. Everything he could've ever wanted was beside him: Beomgyu, alive. Unconscious, but alive.

He began to read, and found himself so enthralled with the story that he didn't notice any stirring beside him. Or the movement of fingers near his. Or the blinking eyes staring at his storytelling with wonder.

"At last the prince came to a chamber of gold, where he saw upon a bed the fairest sight one ever beheld—a princess of about seventeen years-" He raised his eyebrows toward his unconscious audience, "Yikes." He continued. "-who looked as if she had just fallen asleep. Trembling, the prince knelt beside her, and awakened her with a kiss. And now the enchantment was broken. The princess looked at him with wondering eyes and said-"

"Is it you, my prince? I have waited for you long."

Taehyun froze and looked over at the hospital bed. He was met with a sight that filled him with tears immediately.

"You're...you're awake." His voice was barely audible, as if raising it too much would break the other all over again.

Beomgyu nodded, though something was off.

"How did you know the exact words?" Taehyun asked, internally questioning his priorities.

Beomgyu smiled as his mind wandered somewhere else. "My mom used to read me those all the time as a kid. That was always my favorite one."