[Fanfic] Tower of God - Collection for KhunBaam week 2022: Day 3

Este ya creo que será el último que pueda subir al día de este challenge :c Como dije en la publicación anterior, volví al trabajo y está mega bélico porque estoy sola en mi área desde hace un tiempo ya u.u Bue, ya veremos. Ojalá pueda hacer uno más aunque sea, aunque el siguiente sí tendrá diálogo (creo), no como estos, que por ser solo reflexiones o algo así son más fáciles de escribir. Y pos este es puro angst de Hidden Floor Viole, btw. Está basado en otro fic un poco más largo que quiero escribir (tendrá 2 o 3 caps), titulado "Play pretend". Ojalá pueda escribirlo en un futuro no tan lejano XD Perdóname, bebé Viole, me gusta mucho hacer sufrir a los personajes que adoro XD

*****

Collection for KhunBaam week 2022
by RPMizu
 
Day 3: Secrets / Mirror

This is a secret between a man who is desperately in love, and a creature born from loneliness.

At least that is what Mr. Khun said when they began with all of this. That it had to stay a secret. “No one can know, especially not Baam.”, Khun whispered that night, a glint of madness in his eyes, clearly visible even in the dark.

Since Viole did not know anything about intimacy, he did not understand a thing when Khun proposed they should satiate each other’s needs. Khun would be able to let loose his desires for Baam, those he kept locked deep within. And Viole would get the company and affection he longed so much for.

But Viole is just a copy, a mirror of the original Baam. He was made by this floor solely with the purpose of killing his original self. He was not made to have relationships with anyone, let alone Baam’s best friend. Just a fake existence, trapped in a virtual world. And still, he could not say no when Khun offered such tempting agreement.

Just as the original Baam, Viole was completely ignorant about sex. Still, and again just like the original, Viole knew he loves Khun as much as his simulated heart allows him to. Therefore, he did not protest at all when Khun assaulted his mouth, marked his skin with nails and teeth, and claimed Viole for his own for the first time.

That time was particularly hard on him. His body melted in pleasure, yes, but it also seemed to have been split in half. After all, Khun would not spare any delicacy with a fake like him. All of his tenderness would be reserved only for the original. For a moment, those blue eyes were filled with heat and mad desire. But it would take only a second for them to turn cold as ice, piercing through him mercilessly.

Viole thought that, with each passing day, everything would be better, easier. And in a way, he was right. At least it was easier on his body, as he grew more used to Khun’s rough yet pleasurable treatment with every secret encounter. But was it easier on his heart? His simulated heart that loved Khun as much as the original’s. The answer was a robust… maybe? With each second they spent together, Viole found himself longing more and more for Khun’s affection, even though he knew perfectly well that that love did not belong to him. It was for the real Baam, and he is just a mirror, an illusory image that only served one purpose: for Khun to use him to vent his frustrations on.

And so what Viole waited for never arrived. He could not find the adoration he remembered being in Khun’s eyes every time he looked at the original. But since his memories were simply copied from the original, they did not feel as he was truly the one being gazed in that way. Jealous. He was infinitely jealous of the original. The one that had everything Viole wanted. The one who was not utterly alone. The one who had his own purpose, not something that a machine dictated for him. The one who had Khun wrapped around his finger.

Being a creature born as a mirror of Baam’s darkest stage in his life, he thought the only thing he knew was lonesomeness and neglect.

Driven by those feelings of envy, and after many nights of secret encounters with Khun, Viole suggests he could spill the secret the next time he goes to confront the original. He could not even finish the sentence, when Khun’s cold hands were already squeezing his neck. As his lungs became devoid of air and he felt a little light-headed, the look in Khun’s eyes became imprinted in Viole’s brain. Coldness, insanity and dread. It made Viole understand that, in Khun’s head, his relationship with Baam would be destroyed if his beloved knew how Khun used a copy of him as a sex toy. The pressure around his neck stopped just before Viole started losing consciousness.

So, should Viole expose their little dirty secret? He thought about it for a long time, but in the end, the conclusion was a simple and confident no. Yes, it is painful, everything about this situation hurts him badly, but whatever, he is used to the pain. He is the part of Baam that suffered daily after all, both physically and psychologically. But that part of his life was not only the loneliest, but also the one in which he was more desperate to keep his loved ones safe from harm. And most of all, he loves Khun. He will try to defeat the original, even if, just like Baam, he does not want to fight anyone. He has to, because that is what the program that brought him to life dictates. However, he will not expose Khun’s feelings, his mistakes. That is for him to confess to the original, when time is due. When he feels that it will not ruin their friendship. Someday he will notice Baam loves him as much as Khun loves him. How would Viole not know, if he feels the same way?

Someday, Baam will really have everything Viole dreamt of. If he could not have it, at least a part of him will be happy one day. Surely.

And Viole? He is meant to disappear into nothingness. When Baam decides to step away from the mirror that brought him to life, Viole’s image will fade. He can only pray for it to be quick and painless. That way, everything would come to an end. He would not have to suffer anymore. Because what meaning holds an existence as his own? And Khun will forget all about him in an instant, as he will not need him anymore. He seems to hate Viole, after all, or hate that he is a remainder of the time when they were apart, when he could not keep Baam safe and he had to go through everything alone.

Not that it is Viole’s fault, but what a copy feels is not important, of course.

And days later, when his battle with the original comes to a close and he starts getting absorbed by him, he closes his eyes and a lone tear slips across his cheek.

Please make him happy, Baam. I know you want to.

Goodbye, Mr. Khun.

-END of Day 3-

[Fanfic] Tower of God - Collection for KhunBaam week 2022: Day 2

Seguimos con el reto de la KhunBaam week de este año, y no creo que vaya a estar al día más allá de este día XD Hoy volví al trabajo, y volvió bien bélico D: Así que no tengo energía para mucho más que para releer esto que ya tenía escrito y publicarlo u.u

*****

Collection for KhunBaam week 2022
by RPMizu
 
Day 2: Smile / Royal

At first, Khun simply acted on a whim. Apparently, fate had decided he would meet a boy with huge, innocent eyes, who was alone in the middle of an open field plagued with murderous intent. His trembling yet brave tiny figure was a very interesting sight. The boy looked so out of place. Why would someone like him enter the Tower and become a Regular? He is not fit to be here, Khun had thought back then. If no one protected him, he would die a premature and meaningless death.

And since Khun had nothing better to do, he approached this strange little creature. Even though for Khun everything was mostly dull and meaningless until then, this boy had managed to awaken his curiosity. He needed to know who this boy was, why he was here.

Baam… It was a fitting name on one hand, since the boy seemed to be sweet like a chestnut dessert. 

But on the other hand, who could ever think about night when looking at him? After all, Baam had a smile that could light up the whole room he was in, like some sort of miniature sun. Innocent. Genuinely filled with curiosity and love for others.

Protect. That was the word that started haunting Khun’s brain ever since he saw that face. He had to protect that precious smile, the only pure and beautiful thing in this hell they call the Tower.

However, Baam was like a magnet for other people, for those who loved him… and for those who hated him. For Khun, it was outrageous to think someone could ever hate someone as pure as Baam. But there were people who envied him… and people who wanted to use him. Because his sweet and caring personality, so out of place inside the Tower, was not the only thing that made Baam special. He was literally out of place. An Irregular.

And those people… those people destroyed Baam’s bright smile. The very thing Khun wanted to protect the most, with all his might… they shattered it into pieces.

When they met again, six years had gone by. The Baam he once knew was gone. Now, he went by the name Viole. His hair had grown past his thighs, and long bangs covered his once sparkling golden eyes. Baam was not the innocent, sunny boy he was when he entered the Tower. Not anymore. He was not weak and defenseless anymore either. Those people, FUG, had wanted to transform him into a killing machine. A God, capable of slaying the King of this Tower.

And Baam had grown strong, he indeed has. But at what cost? Khun would not care less about overthrowing Jahad and the Ten Families if that meant Baam could smile happily. But the world apparently did not want that. The world did not want Baam to be free, to live peacefully with his friends, as he has always wished for. Because the world was never at peace, and there were few people with power great enough to put an end to this eternal war. And of course, even though Baam was broken by those very same people and is just starting to himself back together, he is still the caring and infinitely pure boy he was when he entered the Tower. Of course he could not stand by and watch as other people suffered before him.

In Khun’s opinion, the world can go fuck itself if he can have Baam smiling every day. He can kill anyone for that smile. But Baam has a pure heart, which cannot not be truly happy as long as the people in the Tower are suffering. What can Khun do against that, if it was Baam’s pure heart what made him fall in love with him in the first place? Those bastards say Baam is a God that will slay the false King, and at first, Baam despised the idea. Of course he would not agree; Baam does not want to use his power to enslave or kill anyone.

But then again, at the Name Hunt station, Baam says in a whisper he does want to become a God, but for other purpose. A warm and cozy feeling takes hold of Khun’s chest when he hears exactly why Baam wants to be a God now. Baam wants it so that he can fulfill everyone’s wishes, so he can be someone who can make everyone safe and happy. In the end, Baam is more ambitious than anyone else in this Tower, but the nature of his ambitious was simply different. And that wish alone, even if Khun knows it will never become true, made Baam a God in Khun’s eyes.

So, if Baam wishes so, Khun will become his lighthouse, to guide him through the path of glory. He will become his soldier, who slays each and every enemy that dares to cross Baam’s way. He will be the one by Baam’s side when he ascends to new heights. And he will be the one to put the crown on Baam’s head. Because no one is more fit to be King than the one who wants to be the God that makes everyone’s wishes come true. Baam will be the star that shines even through the darkness of the night. And then, that smile will not only heal Khun’s heart. It will bright up the entire world. Right now, that is Khun’s dream.

-END of Day 2-

[Fanfic] Tower of God - Collection for KhunBaam week 2022: Day 1

Hoy comenzamos el reto de la KhunBaam week de este año, y esta vez trataré de participar en la misma semana o mes, o al menos no atrasarme mucho XD La primera vez que participé, el 2020, logré hacer cada vez el mismo día en que era, pero no sé cómo lo logré D: Y ahora que el trabajo cada vez me asesina más la energía y el tiempo, pos menos lo creo posible XD Pero bue, que aquí está el primer día. Tengo que arreglar mis otros fics para subirlos aquí también, btw.

*****

Collection for KhunBaam week 2022
by RPMizu
 
Day 1: Myths / Rain

“You know, for a while now, every time it’s raining, you look kind of gloomy, Baam.”

As the two of them stand under the little roof of a closed store, Baam hears Khun’s voice amidst the sound of the heavy rain pouring down the streets. The town is deserted; only they were crazy enough to go shopping in this weather. Truth is, Khun had become tired of Rak whining about not having any bananas, and Baam volunteered to go get him some, but Khun apparently did not want him to go alone… and thus here they are now, taking shelter from the unexpected downpour.

“…Yeah, maybe you are right.”

However, Baam did not think that what started as a spontaneous and harmless adventure going out for groceries, would end up with Khun bringing this particular topic into their conversation. Going by the words he used, perhaps Khun wanted to ask him this for a long time now, but he could not find the appropriate moment to do it. Khun is right, though; Baam has noticed he indeed becomes a bit depressed when it is raining, and he knows why and when this shift in his mood started happening. Baam thought he was hiding it well though, but apparently Khun knows him too well to not notice. As expected from Mr. Khun.

“The change in your reactions is pretty recent.” Khun continues, probably because Baam did not give him a proper answer. “There was a time were you loved the rain. You used to go out into the rain on purpose; you played with it, used your powers on it.”

A warm feeling gets hold of Baam’s chest as he sees the smile full of tenderness and affection in Khun’s lips, nostalgia filling those cobalt eyes as Khun looks up at the sky. And then, his gaze turns serious, and the sudden change in his attitude startles Baam a bit.

“But then one day, you started staying inside, looking through the window with that face.” Baam turns to stare at Khun trying to look normal, but it seems it is in vain. As always, Khun can see right through his façade. “Yes, that look exactly, as if you want to stay calm, but deep down you are filled with insecurity.”

Baam can only sigh and smile sadly at Khun’s accurate remark. “As expected from Mr. Khun.” is the only thing he manages to say, in a tired voice.

After some seconds of silence, Khun speaks up again, his voice firm but cautious. “It started after we went through the Floor of Death, right?”

Ever so observant, his Mr. Khun. How could Baam ever think he would be able to hide something from Khun? Suddenly, a cold hand takes hold of Baam’s wrist for a moment, making him look in Khun’s way. Those sharp, deep blue eyes are looking at him with both apprehension and understanding. Damn, this is exactly what Baam wanted to avoid. He did not want to distress Khun with his futile worries.

“Want to tell me what’s wrong?” A quiet tone that invites Baam into a safe space, as only Khun can do for him.

“With the rain?” completes Baam, laughing softly, trying to make light of the thoughts that are invading his mind once again. “Nothing, really. I still like the rain to an extent.”

“But?”

Baam sighs again, staring at the drops falling into the puddles… like spears from the sky. “…Remember the story about how the Floor of Death became what it is today?”

“Of course I do. Before going to that floor, I only knew what everyone did, that some incredible disaster happened there and now no one lived there. There were some rumors about Enryu, but nothing accurate or convincing enough. Well, I’m not totally convinced about what we heard is the complete truth yet, though. A monster appearing out of nowhere to decimate everyone that lived in the floor, including the Administrator himself… sound farfetched, to say the least. Garam’s story was more like a myth or a legend.”

As the rain continues to fall, Baam’s eyes become glued to the puddles, to the drops piercing the earth, with more force at every second. “A myth, eh? It would certainly seem so, but I don’t think Miss Garam lied to us.”

“It’s not that I think she wanted to deceive us, but I don’t think she knows the complete story either.”

“…Maybe you are right.”

As dark thoughts take hold of Baam’s brain, his hands become a little sweaty, and suddenly feel unbearably empty, so he starts playing with his own fingers, intertwining them, then letting them loose, linking them again together and repeating the process all over again.

A tired sigh escapes through his lips, which feel kind of dry. “He is an Irregular, right? Mr. Enryu.”

“He is.” Khun answers and, by the tone of his voice, Baam knows he is a bit confused. But that is all Khun says. Maybe he is unsure if it is appropriate to say anything else, like he is stepping into a minefield with Baam in this state. Or maybe Baam is looking a bit too much into it.

“…Just like me, right?”

Through the corner of his eye, Baam can see Khun nodding slowly, and then gasping and turning around to look at him. So he noticed, huh? As to why Baam is so concerned about what they heard in the Floor of Death. However, Baam is not ready to confront Khun face to face. So, he does not turn around and simply continues staring at the rain with empty, golden eyes.

A sad smile paints his still dry lips. “Irregulars are monsters; everyone thinks so. That is why no one can know I’m an Irregular too. Isn’t that right, Mr. Khun?”

From the corner of his eye, he sees Khun opening his mouth to say something, but then he closes it immediately, probably waiting for Baam to continue.

So Baam continues, the game of intertwining his fingers not stopping for a second. “Mr. Enryu created a terrible legend because his power was too strong, so strong he managed to kill an Administrator and everyone in the whole floor. Miss Garam said red shinsu fell down from the sky, destroying every living being. Like blood rain…”

“Yes, that is what she said, but Enryu wanted to kill everyone, he did it on purpose.” Amidst the rain, Khun’s voice sounds a little impatient. Great, he is troubling Mr. Khun again. “He wanted to kill Jahad’s followers for disgracing Arlene’s home, didn’t he? Of course Jahad’s followers would judge him as a monster, even though they got what they deserved.”

“Leaving aside the topic of someone ever deserving death or not,” Baam says, and he hears Khun huffing, which makes him chuckle a little. However, the thoughts he is having do not let him smile for much longer. “what if he didn’t want to do something like that? Miss Garam said Mr. Enryu gave the people the chance to flee if they wanted to, to betray Jahad and save their lives, but no one actually lived to tell if that was true or not.”

“That is probably because Jahad’s army pursued the survivors and killed them, so no one would know the truth.”

A quiet whimper escapes Baam’s mouth, and he is grateful that the loud sound of the rain seems to have drowned it. “That is what Miss Garam thinks too, but…” He has to say it. He needs someone to understand. He needs Khun to understand, even if it is stupid on his part. “…But what if it’s not true? What if Mr. Enryu’s powers went out of control when he saw what those people have done with mom’s lands?”

“Baam…”

He cannot stop himself now. The words simply flow across his chest and into his mouth, with him unable to suppress them. “Maybe he was just upset… so unbearably angry and hurt, that his power reached a point in which just… exploded.”

His fingers stop linking between themselves only to do a gesture of a tiny explosion, accompanied with a low bang sound. Then, the game of linking his fingers together resumes and gets a little more intense, causing him a bit of harm. Baam does not stop, however.

And the words keep flowing. “It happened to me at least once in the past, when Rachel made clear she betrayed me, that she didn’t want to be near me.”

He can feel Khun’s movement right next to him; a hand that attempted to reach out for him, but ultimately hesitated and declined the effort. And Baam remains still, trying to keep himself together, only his hands moving endlessly, and his eyes glued to the grey skies above.

“I was so hurt, so heartbroken. I wanted her to disappear, so she wouldn’t hurt me anymore.”

His golden yet dull eyes turn to stare at the streets once more, into the drops melting into big puddles. But Baam is not really seeing the image in front of him. What he is seeing is far away, it is Rachel’s upset and, at the same time, afraid expression. Baam shakes his head, shaking off the image as well.

With a tiny, sad smile, he continues. “No, I wanted to disappear, so I wouldn’t feel anything anymore. And then everything started to overflow. My feelings, my power.” The movements of his fingers stop for a moment, and he stares at the palms of his hands. Not really seeing, but feeling. Feeling his own power threatening to come out, to betray Baam and steal everything that is precious to him. “It didn’t come out as tears, for some reason I was unable to cry. It simply came out as energy… murderous energy.”

That is when Khun apparently stopped hesitating, because his hand now did reach out for Baam, grabbing his arm and making Baam face him. However, Baam simply flinches in place, not daring to look at Khun. “Baam, stop.”

An order, stern but caring. The type of tone Khun knows he has to use when Baam is in this state. This is not the first time he has been drowning in self-harming thoughts, and both know it will not be the last either. “What if I do something like that too?”

“You didn’t harm anyone that time, and you won’t do it in the future either!”

“How…? How can you be sure about that?” Khun’s hand now lifts his chin, so Baam cannot hide his own face anymore. The concerned look Khun gives him is enough for Baam to spill the few tears he had been holding in the corners of his eyes. “I’m not as powerful as Mr. Enryu, that’s why I haven’t done anything like that. But if… But if not even Mr. Enryu, who has so much more experience than me, can control his own powers when he is deeply upset, how would I be able to do it?”

Now Khun pulls Baam into a tight embrace, leaving Baam’s cheek resting in his left shoulder. A soft whimper escapes Baam’s lips once again, and he closes his eyes, feeling the strength leaving his body. “Especially me, since I’m so easily distressed…”

“Shh… don’t think anymore. I’m here, ok?”

Khun’s low voice sounds so comforting against his ear. Baam knows Khun cannot say for sure nothing bad is going to happen. So he does not say anything of the sort; Khun will not lie to him. Baam hugs him back, burying his face against the curve of Khun’s neck and allowing himself to melt into his frosty scent.

“What if… what if I create my own myth? The myth of a new monster, of my own rain of disaster… destruction… death… blood…”

The words keep coming to his head, tormenting him. Images of his own self decimating people. People who may or may not be innocent, but Baam does not care about that. He simply does not want to hurt anybody. He just wants to live in peace, with his friends. Just a little, simple wish he may never have fulfilled.

“You will never become a monster, Baam; you don’t have it in you.” Khun takes Baam’s face between his hands, and leaves a soft kiss on his forehead, then rests his own forehead against Baam’s. His blue eyes are closed, so Baam does the same. “You are different from Jahad, the Family Leaders, and all the other irregulars. You are as ambitious as they are, yes, but your ambitions are different. They are so pure. You are so pure.” Another kiss, now on his right cheek. And now Khun’s forehead rests against Baam’s neck. And Baam can feel his cheeks burning up a little. “And even if you are right, if Enryu were like you, didn’t want to harm anyone and his power went out of control, then…" Baam cannot help shrinking in Khun’s arms a little at those words. “Then it would have been because he was alone, because he didn’t have anyone to calm him down, to make him feel safe… I will never let you become a monster, Baam. Never.”

“Mr. Khun…” is the only thing that slips out of Baam’s sore throat. He wants to cry against Khun’s chest, but the tears do not come out. Khun’s frosty aroma has once again calmed down the sobs that want to overflow from within. Khun, always his anchor to earth.

“Do you trust me?” Baam nods as best as he can, being imprisoned against Khun’s chest. “Then forget all about Enryu and the blood rain, ok? I want you to look at the rain as you did before, full of innocent delight.” He lets out a chuckle, as Khun lifts his chin once again, blue eyes against his own honey ones. “I have an idea: if it’s still raining when we get back, we can play under the rain, the three of us, as we used to. We will need to dress up for the rain though; I don’t want you to get sick. And neither the alligator, he is a pain in the ass when he feels bad.” Baam giggles again. Khun is always looking after them, as the team dad he is. “Would you like that?”

Baam separates himself from Khun slowly, not really wanting to break contact, so he takes Khun’s cold hands into his own. “Of course, I would love that, Mr. Khun.”

“It’s settled then.”

Thus Khun starts walking back to the place they are staying at, not letting go of Baam’s hand. And Baam is glad, because his turbulent emotions are just beginning to subside. It is all thanks to Mr. Khun. Even if the rain might still evoke unwanted thoughts in him, it will also remind him of this, of Khun’s unshakable support and care.

Thank you, Mr. Khun. I really love you.

However, those words do not come out. Maybe another time, when he is feeling better, when Khun does not think he is just confused and vulnerable. But just like his power threatens to come out when he is distress, his other emotions will have to be exposed someday too, right?

Baam tightens his hold on Khun’s hand, and the other looks back, probably to make sure he is okay. The warm smile Baam gives back must have reassured him, because Khun answers with the very same gesture. “Let’s hurry. The alligator must be torturing everyone because we are late with his snacks.”

Baam’s laughter gets muffled by the rain, but it does not matter. He knows that, as long as he is with Mr. Khun, everything will be alright.

-END of Day 1-

[Fanfic] Tower of God - Un-ticking bombs: Chapter 1

Hace rato que tenía que arreglar mis fics y compartirlos aquí, así que aquí vamos, empezando por Un-ticking bombs, ahora que subí el segundo cap a AO3. Como dice en el título, es principalmente WhiteBaam, pero tendrá harto KhunBaam (principalmente en flashbacks e interacciones cortas) y también RachelYura como pareja secundaria. Es R-18 y tiene non-con.

Btw, hoy empieza la KhunBaam week 2021, y no sé si alcanzaré a hacer algo, no creo, pero quiero participar aunque sea atrasada u.u

*****

Un-ticking bombs
by RPMizu
 
Chapter 1: Farewell letter
 
 
The bright rays of the artificial morning sun descend upon Baam’s sleeping face, and he shifts a little between the sheets. A few seconds later, he slowly opens his eyes when the light suddenly leaves his eyelids. The first thing he sees is an angry Khun out of the bed, closing the curtains. Baam can’t help laughing softly. The day is just starting and Khun is already being pestered by something. Last night, before they went to bed, he was complaining about their teammates, who make him do so much work (and especially about Rak, as always). Sometimes Khun seems to be everyone’s dad, it’s kind of cute. Although sometimes Baam is the one who gets to be the dad among them, when Khun and Rak need to be kept away from each other’s necks.
 
When he notices Baam staring at him, Khun smiles awkwardly and scratches the back of his head. “Sorry, we left the curtains opened yesterday. I didn’t want the sun to disturb your sleep, but I suppose I failed miserably.”
 
“It’s ok. Both of us were at fault.” Baam returns the smile, feeling a cozy warmth inside. The day is just starting and Khun is already taking care of him.
 
He opens his arms to receive Khun back into his bed (their? It’s more like theirs now) and Khun is more than happy to comply, resting his head on Baam’s lap, as he seems to like doing, and wraps his arms around Baam’s waist. And Baam gently strokes that pale blue hair he loves so much. “Yeah, we were too busy last night, weren’t we? Is your body alright?”
 
“It’s too late to be asking that, don’t you think, Mr. Khun?” Khun’s sly yet sleepy expression makes Baam’s heart beat a little faster. He looks so handsome. Those sleepy cobalt eyes are enticing. “But I’m okay, thank you.”
 
“I thought so. We didn’t get to do all I wanted since we were too tired, after all. We fell asleep immediately after the first round.”
 
Baam wonders what else was that he wanted to do, and notices that, even if he says they fell asleep right after, Khun still took the time to clean them up and then wrap Bam perfectly with the blankets before going to sleep himself. Once more, Baam smiles warmly at the thought. Ever so protective of him. Didn’t he say it? Khun is the daddy of their team. Once, Baam told Khun about this thought and he burst laughing, saying something about sexual implications Baam didn’t really understand. Whichever the case, if it was something that is sexually appealing, Baam is sure Khun is that and more.
 
“You say your body is alright, but… did it have enough, Baam?” He can’t help but yelp when Khun starts placing small kisses on his flat and muscular belly. Girl kisses, like Baam calls them since they remind him of that one kiss Endorsi gave him on the cheek. They are brief, soft, affectionate, like butterfly touches.
 
“Mr. Khun…!” He is getting ticklish, but stops squirming away when Khun’s tongue tastes his navel, leaving a thin trail of saliva through his waist. “That’s not fair…”
 
“I had to let you rest yesterday, but you know” Khun nibs at his hips slightly, his butterfly kisses getting lower and lower. “the others don’t leave us by ourselves that often, and it’s getting really exasperating.”
 
If he knows they had to rest and that’s why he controlled himself last night, then why is he doing this first thing in the morning? “We have to be in good shape today, since we are taking this floor’s test and we don’t know what might be waiting for us. I have to protect everyone.”
 
For a moment, he smiles proudly at his job as their team’s ace. However, his words don’t sound too convincing when his lower half is starting to react to Khun’s touch. His body is really giving him away. Yeah, they shouldn’t do any more than this, but Baam has to admit he wants it too. Khun just laughs, looking directly at him now and seeming kind of inebriated.
 
“Our strong, strong Baam, who protects all of us.” Khun’s humming sounded like a song for children, and it makes Baam giggle like child too. His cheeks get a little red when Khun’s fingers trace his hip bones down, giving him pleasurable goosebumps. “You have such a sensitive body for such a powerful warrior. But you know what they say: with great power comes great ass.”
 
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Baam bursts laughing and a few resulting tears cloud his eyes. “I think you are still half-asleep, Mr. Khun.”
 
He doesn’t seem to regret the nonsense he just said at all. “I said I what said, I meant what I meant. And I’m right: you do have a great ass.”
 
“Thank you… I think?”
 
Khun’s hands get to his lower back, his fingertips just brushing against his skin and giving him shivers. They gradually descend until they get to his butt. Baam feels the heat rising to his face when Khun starts squeezing his cheeks, and feels a warm breath against his erection. “Want me to serve you, my lord?”
 
Baam feels a little disappointed when Khun moves away from there, but forgets about it immediately when Khun starts leaving kisses across his legs now. He is teasing him to no end, as always. “I’m not the lord of anything…”
 
He feels his lover’s soft laugh against his already sensitive skin. “Well, I’m going to become the head of the Khun family, so even if you don’t become a God like all those FUG bastards want you to be,” his words get interrupted now and then by the sounds of short kisses being placed on every part of Baam’s long legs. “you will be a lord either way if I take you as my husband, and that’s exactly what I intend to do. So, you might want to get used to being called that.”
 
“Then I will be one of your mistresses?”
 
Now it is Baam’s turn to tease Khun, though it kind of backfires as he can’t help imagining himself with a male mistress attire (what he imagines it to be, at least) sitting on top of Khun’s lap, who is sitting on a throne. He blushes furiously at the embarrassing image, but it doesn’t seem that bad. Not bad at all. Baam punches himself mentally for having investigated the Khun family once. He shouldn’t have done that. He simply wanted to know more about his Khun, but ended up only finding magazines that exposed Khun Edahn’s life with his mistresses, and he couldn’t help imagining his Khun in Edahn’s place. It suited him, being Khun so incredibly sexy and so adept at using people, after all. But that was just a fantasy. Baam shakes his head energetically, trying to get the idea of him being Khun’s mistress away from his horny mind.
 
Thankfully, Khun is too busy caressing Baam’s legs and doesn’t see the luminous blush still lingering in his face. “Nah, I wouldn't want anyone else if I can have you as my husband. Still, as the Family Head, I would need to get some to have descendants… Shit, it’s not like I want children either. Who needs kids when you have all those idiots to take care of? I wouldn’t mind your children, though.”
 
That train of thought takes Baam by surprise. “My kids? Who would I have children with?”
 
“No one. I will never allow anyone else to touch you.” Khun suddenly bites his ankle, probably leaving a mark there. So possessive, yet it makes Baam feel warm again. “At least I can promise you’ll be the only one in my heart. My only husband.”
 
Yes, him being Khun’s mistress (there isn’t exactly a word for a male one, is it?) is just a fantasy. He doesn’t want to actually be that, nor does he want Khun to have others at his bed either. He wants to be his husband, like Khun said. And he wants Khun to be only his.
 
Khun licks his legs up now, getting to Baam’s hips again and giving him pleasurable shudders. He suddenly stops, looking directly at Baam’s face, and the almost animalistic desire in those blue eyes makes his heart beat faster. “…God, that sounds so tempting, to fuck you on Khun Edahn’s bed. One more reason to become the Khun family head.”
 
“Mr. Khun! I didn’t imagine you had a fantasy like that!” Though Baam has to admit he finds it kind of appealing too. More appealing than it should be, in fact. Damn. And the way Khun is smiling says he can read his guilty thoughts without any effort.
 
“See? You want me to fuck you on the bed of the Khun Family Head.”
 
“Just… don’t talk anymore.” Baam places a hand on Khun’s mouth to shush him, but the other bursts laughing either way. It annoys him a little that he is laughing at his reactions. They shouldn’t daydream about having sex in Khun Edahn’s bedroom, no matter how tempting that sounds, so he tries to change the topic before both of them start seriously considering it a good idea. “Didn’t you say you would serve me?”
 
“Oh eager, aren’t you? Ok.” Without any other warning, Khun gets between his legs, separating them abruptly and making Baam gasp when he feels Khun’s breath at his erection again. As Khun focuses his gaze on him from there, a long, slender finger traces Baam’s lips. “You did it to me with your precious mouth last night, so it’s my turn now. Ah, and I should prepare you too. Where’s the lube? I know we still had some. The bottle wasn’t empty when I prepared you yesterday, right?”
 
Khun begins searching for said bottle by looking around the bed, but is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Baam is starting to get increasingly frustrated by Khun’s warm breath breaking apart from him and leaving him once again without any kind of satisfaction. And although they already said they shouldn’t do anything that could leave them exhausted, and that’s exactly why they only did it once last night, the reckless part of him really wants Khun inside him again, so he chooses to keep his frustration and his voice of reason silent. He is even considering taking action if Khun keeps leaving him hanging.
 
That’s when Khun catches a glimpse of the miraculous bottle, far away from the bed and near a table. The incredulousness in his voice and facial expression amuses Baam. “How!? How did it get there?”
 
“I think I did that, sorry.” Khun goes get the bottle, clearly losing his patience. Now he loses it, even though he was the one teasing Baam earlier. And Baam can only laugh: it’s so nice seeing Khun losing control for once, especially if it is because he is so eager to just touch Baam more. And he understands, as he feels the same way. In fact, it was Baam being impatient last night that caused that poor bottle of lube to be thrown so far away.
 
“I got it.” Khun smiles broadly and immediately gets on top of Baam, taking his lips by surprise. Still, Baam quickly relaxes to the kiss, letting Khun explore his mouth completely. It feels so good, so right. It has been this way ever since they started this relationship. So he feels kind of empty when Khun’s lips leave his. “I noticed before but you really love kissing, don’t you?”
 
“Ah…” He must give that impression, because he indeed feels kind of drowsy after that deep kiss. “Yeah, I think so… it feels good kissing you, Mr. Khun. I don’t know if it means something coming from me, since you are the only one I have done this with, but I think you are a pretty good kisser.”
 
Khun smiles proudly at his innocent compliment and pets Baam’s hair lovingly, bringing a strand of it to his lips. “I have been told that before, but coming from you is even more satisfying.”
 
“Even if I don’t have anything else to compare to? Well, even if I had, being Mr. Khun I know you’d still be the best.” But then something comes to his mind, distracting him from the kisses his neck is now prey of. “Wait a minute. How are you so good at this?”
 
The question apparently takes Khun by surprise, as he stops his loving actions and simply stares at Baam with a blank expression on his face. “You are pretty good too, you know? But I’m certain you were a virgin before doing it with me, since you didn’t even know what a real kiss was.”
 
His lover’s laugh makes him red in the face. He doesn’t want to remember those embarrassing things. Even though it feels like they have been lovers since forever, what Khun is mentioning now actually happened not so long ago, just a few months back in time. “That’s easy to explain. I learned imitating you, as I do with everything else. The question here is how did you get so adept at this, Mr. Khun? I think that is more concerning, especially since you are trying to change the subject.”
 
“Well…” Khun’s gaze shifts away from him, and now he seems a little nervous at Baam’s accusatory tone. “I had to do lots of things in order to deal with being apart from you for so many years after FUG took you away.” Baam doesn’t get what Khun is referring to with this statement, but the next one he does understand. “And I just don’t like doing important things before practicing them firsthand. I had to build skill before doing things to you. I couldn’t embarrass myself in front of you.”
 
Baam smiles warmly for a second. “That’s so like you, Mr. Khun, but we could have learned together! And I still don’t like the idea of you doing these things to someone else.” Then puffs his cheeks in a childish attempt to look mad, but deflates them when Khun tickles his side. “That’s not fair! I’m trying to look angry!”
 
“Then let me disappoint you: you just managed to look incredibly cute. And don’t worry. Since I first touched you, I haven’t been with anyone else aside from you. After all, I only did it with other guys because of you, and no one interests me that way except you.” Khun’s confession comes out without a hint of embarrassment or doubt, just with a smile full of confidence and affection.
 
“Hmph, that better be true.” Baam huffs his cheeks again, and Khun lets out a soft laugh.
 
Then his blue haired lover grazes his lips against his own, blue eyes glue to gold ones. His low, seductive voice makes Baam's heart skip a beat. “Now shut up and let me please you, ok? Or even better, let those delicious sounds you make muffle your words.”
 
Baam wants to protest for making him feel so attracted to him every time, for being so fricking sexy, but his ability of speech is cut short by the sensation of Khun’s tongue descending across his skin, slowly, from his neck down his torso and reaching his pelvis. Then, that silky touch gets to the tip of his still erected penis. He instinctively bites his lower lip. “M-Mr. Khun…”
 
“Shhh, don’t do that, baby. You’ll hurt yourself, and I love…” An intense suck at the head tenses up his entire body, and a soft chuckle gets muffled against his skin, making him shudder upon receiving the resulting vibrations in his most sensitive area. “I love the sounds you make.”
 
So he surrenders to Khun’s will as always, letting out his quiet moans as requested. Well, not only because of that, of course. Mostly because the pleasure of having this expert mouth on his erection is a bit too much to bear. Khun’s tongue traces the veins in it all down to the base, and then his lips envelop the head of his penis, as his lover alternates between soft sucks and accurate licks. This hot cavern surrounding him threats to drive him to the edge, but still… there’s something in him that feels lonely, as Khun probably already knows but is choosing to ignore it deliberately. “M-Mr. Khun…?” He receives a muffled acknowledging sound as an answer. “I feel… Ahh…! I want… I-I need… Ahh!”
 
The words don’t want to come out correctly between the moans he still is trying to suppress. He can feel Khun’s hot mouth leaving him and he lets out a frustrated groan, although it is soon replaced with Khun’s long, skillful fingers, wrapping around the base and stroking him up and down, slowly. “I know, baby. You want something inside, right?” Baam feels a slender finger tracing his entrance and yelps, biting his lower lip again. “This little hole is quivering in anticipation, after all.” He opens his golden eyes and sees sharp blue ones looking at him with a bit of annoyance. “And what did I say about hurting your lovely lips, Baam?”
 
Without Khun’s mouth torturing him, he can now talk with more ease. “Sorry… And you are right, but you said we shouldn’t do it, that I could get too sore and we have to take the floor’s test today…”
 
“Well, your body doesn’t lie, Baam.” His lover’s hand leaves him hanging again, only to uncap the bottle of lube and pour some of its content on his fingers. “You want to come, right? And for that you want something in here.” One fingertip, now bathed in cold slippery liquid, touches his entrance and he gasps again. “I know how much you love this. Actually, it’s hard to believe you were a virgin not so long ago.”
 
“D-Don’t say that…” Baam squirms in place, his cheeks burning pink. He knows Khun has only inserted until the first knuckle, but the intrusion still makes him sigh in relief. Khun is right: it’s strange how his body has gotten used to sex so quickly.
 
“Oh, I don’t mean it in a bad way at all, but you probably know that already.” Another finger adds up and starts scissoring inside of him. At this point, he isn’t going to deny it: Baam wants this badly, and the sounds that escape from his mouth, which get a bit louder now, are proof enough. “God, you look so adorable and so fricking sexy when you want it this much.” Those graceful fingers open him up mercilessly now, and Baam can’t think of anything anymore, anything aside from feeling Khun inside him right now. “I love seeing you coming undone.”
 
And it’s too much to bear when Khun takes him in his mouth again, as now three fingers build their way inside him. Baam opens his eyes with difficulty, and through the tears of pleasure accumulated in them, he can see how Khun’s gaze is fixed in his face, his blue eyes shining with a glint of amusement and desire. He is taking pleasure in seeing him like this, losing control over his own body. His mouth is now taking him completely, and Baam is in awe again as to how Khun is able to do this without any difficulty. He can feel the back of his lover’s throat and Khun is totally fine with it. Baam might be able to copy skills almost immediately, but he is still fighting his gag reflex when trying to imitate this. Well, it’s not like he wants to complain for needing more practice. He is more than happy to keep practicing this on Khun.
 
His thoughts get interrupted when those three fingers find that spot inside him that makes him so crazy. “There… Ahhh! M-Mr. Khun, please…!” His hands clutch at blue hair, trying to get him away from there as he feels close to the edge. He doesn’t want to gag him with his semen, but Khun seems to have other plans.
 
“God, I want to be inside you so badly… You look amazing.” His fingers speed up and he keeps licking the tip of his penis, while looking directly into Baam’s eyes, waiting to see his face when he comes. “But it’s better if you come once. Just come, baby.”
 
Khun’s mouth wraps him again and that does it. Baam’s entire body tenses up and a long, loud whine comes out of him, as he feels himself filling Khun’s mouth with his semen. That was exactly what he was trying to avoid, but it’s too late now. He must apologize for coming inside his mouth (even if Khun was the one who didn’t want to let go), but he has to even his breath and heartbeat first. Then, those fingers come out of him and it suddenly feels empty. Baam can’t understand yet why he feels this way during sex. He can’t help feeling so empty when Khun lets go of him. So he fights the tiredness and the daze his recent orgasm left him in, and searches for Khun blindly. “Mr. Khun…”
 
And as always, Khun understands him better than himself, and gets on top of him, so Baam can wrap his arms around him and keep him close as he needs to. “I’m here, baby, don’t worry.” Khun kisses his forehead, then his cheek, then the corner of his lips, and finally enters his mouth. And as always, Baam lets himself melt in the kiss. As they break apart, Khun laughs lovingly as he notices how Baam’s eyes are still glued to his lips and how Baam’s mouth moves as if to reach for his and prolong the kiss. “You really love kissing, eh?”
 
“Well, this one was a bit bitter.” Of course it was. Khun swallowed all his cum without complain. “But I don’t mind, so…” Baam unites their lips again for a few seconds, before looking at Khun with pleading eyes. “Kiss me again. Kiss me more…”
 
“God, you are perfect…” and he complies, devouring Baam’s mouth slowly, taking his time to savor every inch of it. “Do you want me inside you now?” Baam’s whole body shivers as that low, seductive whisper is accompanied by a nibble in his ear. God, Khun is right in saying his body is too sensitive. Of course, he nods frantically. His insides still feel lonely after all, and the lube makes it even worse. “I want you to say it. Do it.”
 
Baam doesn’t even hesitate, Khun’s orders being absolute to him. “…Please come inside me, Mr. Khun....”
 
“Good boy.” Another kiss on his forehead, a hand with long fingers petting his hair, and Baam sighs in relief when he feels Khun separating his legs and positioning himself between them. “We don’t want you sore, so I’ll have to be gentle, even if you might not want to.”
 
“It’s ok, I know, I just… want to feel you more.”
 
“God, how can you be so pure yet so sexy at the same time?”
 
Suddenly, the door opens with a loud bang, and the two of them freeze in place. There is Rak, entering without even knocking and then yelling at them, like usual. “Lazy turtles! Get up already!! What…?”
 
Rak freezes up too, staring at them astonished. Khun reacts first and quickly covers them up. First Baam, and only when he is completely wrapped in sheets, then Khun minds covering his own naked body. Baam, on the other hand, doesn’t know what to do. Rak seems so deeply in shock, he doesn’t even react immediately when Khun lashes out on him.
 
“Stupid gator! Why did you have to enter like that?! Don’t you know there’s something called knocking first!?” Then he grumbles in a low voice so Rak doesn’t hear him clearly, but Baam can, and Khun’s complaints make him blush even more. “Fuck, I want to be inside you so badly, and you were so ready too… Fucking alligator…”
 
“It’s ok, Mr. Khun…” Baam tries to calm him down a little by caressing his soft, blue hair, but doesn’t accomplish much. In fact, it seems it only frustrates him even more, perhaps because it reminds him how much he wants to touch Baam more or at least cuddle in bed together for a while longer.
 
“No, it’s not! It’s unfair! You came once, so you are fine, but I’m not!” Jeez, dear Mr. Khun, please be less explicit in front of poor Rak.
 
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THE BLACK TURTLE, YOU SNEAKY TURTLE!!” A spear flies right between them, grazing at Khun’s cheek and leaving a bleeding scratch. Rak attacking Khun is not a new thing by any means, but to just throw his spear at him means is definitely pissed this time. Rak must think Khun is hurting him or something like that. “I WON’T FORGIVE YOU IF YOU HURT MY LITTLE BLACK TURTLE WITH YOUR FILTHY PENIS!”
 
Baam can’t help but blush furiously, even if the phrase does make him chuckle a little. Khun seems agitated too, but apparently not for the same reasons “Argh, shut up! Do you want everyone in the Tower to hear you!?” Khun throws a pillow at Rak’s face, which gets caught in the air and thrown back at him. They keep throwing it back and forth, not even once landing in the other’s face as they intended.
 
“I don’t know why you turtles keep trying to hide this when it’s so obvious.” Rak gets serious suddenly. After hearing that statement, Baam starts playing with the border of the sheet and Khun covers him up again when his skin gets too exposed by accident. Baam just laughs quietly at his possessiveness. It’s so heartwarming. Khun should know Rak doesn’t see Baam (or anyone, for that matter, as far as he knows) with those eyes, but he probably can’t help getting upset.
 
“I don’t mind telling the others, but Mr. Khun insisted.” He finally answers, and it’s true. He didn’t understand why, but chose to respect Khun’s opinion on the matter.
 
“You two are too simple-minded to get it, but most people don’t understand relationships between two guys.”
 
“Why is that, Mr. Khun?” Baam asks immediately. Khun had already tried to explain it to him, but he didn’t get it at all. Why wouldn’t they accept two people in love? Why would gender be so important? Rachel taught him love was a beautiful thing that grew between people, that it makes you happier than anything, and can also make you sadder than anything. And she was right. Baam feels the happiest right now, surrounded by his dear friends, and by Mr. Khun, his most special person. And Khun was the one who taught him there are things you might want to do with that person, like kissing and making love. He said might because you could love someone the most and not feel those desires, like when Rachel was Baam’s most important person. But with Khun he really wanted those. Was there something wrong with that?
 
Baam’s curious and innocent face seems to get Khun even more disturbed than he already was. “I’ll try explaining it to you again later, but you should know people in the Tower are not so nice.”
 
“But they are our friends!”
 
“They are, but just think about what Endorsi would do if she finds out.”
 
“Miss Endorsi? She is a good person. I don’t think she would find it gross like you said most people would.”
 
Khun stays still for a few seconds, just staring at him. Suddenly, he throws the same pillow he was exchanging with Rak but now at Baam’s face, and then messes his dark brown hair up. “Baam, I love you so much, but sometimes you are just too clueless. That makes you cute though, so it’s ok.”
 
Baam pouts like a little kid for an instant, and then gives Khun a smile full of tenderness. “But I have you to take care of me even if I’m acting clueless, right?”
 
“Always.” Khun smiles brightly, an expression he reserves only for Baam, and places a soft kiss in his forehead, which makes Baam giggle happily.
 
But there is someone else who is clearly not happy with the scene that’s developing in front of his eyes. “DON’T IGNORE YOUR MIGHTY LEADER! Jeez, at least if you told the others, I wouldn’t be the only third wheel!”
 
Now said pillow does land on Rak’s face, successfully shutting him up if only for a few seconds. “You can’t tell the others! Not for now, at least. I have to… prepare first.” As always, Khun wants to think long about it before doing something risky, but that’s okay. It means this is something really important to him, so Baam will respect his decision and give him as much time as he needs.
 
Rak doesn’t think like him, though. “Argh, I didn’t raise you turtles to be cowards!”
 
“You didn’t raise us at all!”
 
They stop arguing when they hear Baam laughing. He doesn’t get what Khun is referring to, with Endorsi getting mad or with people not understanding their relationship even if it makes Baam so fulfilled, but he feels so happy when he sees his closest friends arguing like that. Like brothers. They are his family and he feels at home. So, Baam opens his arms widely. “Who wants a hug?”
 
The two of them run into his arms immediately, hurting him a bit with their enthusiasm, but he couldn’t care less. He hugs them both closely even though they are still arguing, now about who is more loved by Baam.
 
“Argh, I still need to take care of this.” Khun looks at himself, and Rak stares at Khun with disgust after hearing that. “And we should get a shower too.”
 
“Want me you help you with that?” Baam says on a flirty yet sweet voice, pointing to the place Khun was looking.
 
He receives a devious yet equally flirty smile in return. “That sounds amazing.”
 
Khun kisses him briefly, smiling against his lips. Baam can hear Rak shouting again, something about his turtles being disgusting. Baam knows he doesn’t mean it, though. An immensely warm feeling gets hold of Baam’s heart. What a great way to start the day.
 

******

 
And the day continued fine too. There weren’t any real dangers waiting for them at the floor’s test, they cleared it without any troubles, and they even found a nice place to stay. Bam can feel relaxed for the first time in a while, regarding changing floors. The rumors of FUG fighting against Jahad’s forces, which Bam knows are true, had kept him anxious for the past few months, worried about his master and Hwaryun whom he hasn’t seen or even heard about in a while. He wants to believe they are alright, since they haven’t asked for help yet, but their lack of contact is also concerning. Nonetheless, for now, Bam wants to forget everything for at least one day and just laugh alongside his friends.
 
But that feeling was short lived. Suddenly a bright white light covered the entire artificial sky. In an instant, everyone felt chills, but Bam… Bam was paralyzed, as he felt an incredible urge to fly to the source of that light, a feeling that’s only suppressed by the deep fear consuming his soul. Khun probably noticed the tension crawling through Bam’s body, because he takes his hand and squeezes tightly, effectively breaking the trance he was in. “Wondering what that was?”
 
“…No, I know already. It’s Mr. White. I don’t think he is in this floor, though.” Everyone gasps audibly at his words. Bam can’t blame them.
 
And neither can Khun, who squeezes his hand even tighter in apprehension, though he doesn’t let it show on his facial expression, probably not wanting to worry the others even more. Ever the daddy, as Bam likes to describe his usual team-caring attitude. “That bastard? We haven’t seen him since the Hidden Floor, and that was months ago. How did you know?”
 
Bam places his free hand on his chest, trying to get his breath steady. “The souls within me stirred up with fury. I think… No, I know Mr. White gained his power back.”
 
“That means…” As everyone gasps audibly again, little Miseng seems afraid and infuriated at the same time. She grabs Wangnan’s clothes while keeping her angry gaze fixed in the direction the light came. Bam understands the fear, but doesn’t get the reason behind such deeply rooted anger. Well, on his part, he does feel more anger than fear, though. “He must have killed an enormous amount of people!”
 
“Not necessarily.” Khun intervenes, finally letting go of Bam’s hand and then crossing his arms in front of his chest. “We know the rumors about FUG fighting Jahad’s forces are true. He could have gotten power from the battlefield. Whichever the case, we decided we don’t want to get involved with that bastard or Rachel anymore, so Bam, don’t-”
 
He doesn’t get to end his statement because he has to restraint Bam alongside Endorsi, who reacts at the same time as him, to prevent Bam from jumping into action. It’s difficult to keep Bam in place even with the two of them working together. The boy is brimming with power and rage. “My Master could be there! Miss Hwaryun too!”
 
“White was a slayer for FUG. He must have absorbed only the souls from Jahad’s army. Sure, he is a crazy bastard, so he could have absorbed some from FUG too, or they could have sacrifice voluntarily for the cause. You never know what those fanatics could do in order to see Jahad defeated.” Khun pauses for a second to take air in, as he is still struggling to keep Bam in place. “But you said Jinsung and Hwaryun were being kept out of the conflict because of their responsibilities with you, and FUG doesn’t want to put their new slayer candidate in danger. Sure, there are a lot of elders who don’t like you, but if they were called into battle they would have warned you beforehand.”
 
Khun’s reasoning makes total sense, as always, and it’s most likely what is happening, but that’s not the only issue with White absorbing souls. “Still…! He is using people as he pleases again! I can’t, Mr. Khun… I can’t let him do that!
 
“Bam, listen to Khun!” says Endorsi now, unusually in synch with Khun. She must be really worried about him. “This is the way of the Tower and you can’t change that!”
 
That calms down Bam a little, if only because he is now feeling sadness and not only fury. He knows she is right, but still… “But I want to… I want to change it. I don’t want anybody to die anymore. For that, I will fight.”
 
“Now you’re talking!! That’s my Black Turtle!!”
 
“Don’t encourage him, you stupid gator! Everybody, just calm down!”
 
Khun let’s Bam go and encourages Endorsi to do the same. Bam takes a deep breath, trying to regain his self-control. He knows it’s not the best idea, but he has to go stop White. He can’t let him get away with those atrocities anymore. He doesn’t know if it’s because they are both slayers from FUG, because of the fights they already had, or because they both have souls sleeping within their bodies and Bam feels the need to give them retribution. Probably it’s all of those reasons and something more he is not able to grasp yet. And also, Rachel… She could be with him again. Bam doesn’t want her involved in those kinds of things, and he doesn’t want to accept she probably and actively helped White get those souls. He will listen to what Khun has to say, but he will go there either way, even if he has to go alone.
 
“If Bam wants to fight, then we will fight. We all know he will go with or without us, after all.” Bam feels slightly ashamed when Khun says that. Is he really that obvious? “The issue here is who will go fight White and who will continue climbing the Tower. And we need a plan first.” Then he looks directly into Bam’s eyes, and uses his severe daddy tone, as Bam likes to call it, the one that makes him shiver with fear, respect and horniness, all at the same time. “Bam, you have to stop running into trouble without a plan.”
 
“Sorry.” Still, Bam knows he will continue to do it, since is not something he can control, but he wouldn’t mention that now, not when Khun is being this serious about it.
 
“I wanna go! I want to fight that turtle! He is strong!”
 
Khun smiles sneakily. “I’m going too, obviously. You reckless guys need me to keep you away from certain death. Endorsi, you?”
 
She crosses her arms in front of her chest and sighs deeply. “Sure. I won’t leave Bam now, and it might give me some points with Jahad’s forces. Even though I’m clearly a traitor for being in Bam’s team, they could appreciate my help in getting rid of another slayer.”
 
“Great. We will contact Isu. They might want to join us.”
 
As Khun summons his pocket and starts dialing, a little girl stops him by grabbing his dress pants. “…I want to go too.” Miseng looks so determined, and Wangnan nods, adding himself silently to her words.
 
“No, Miseng, it’s going to be very dangerous.” Now it’s Bam’s turn to intervene. He respects her new found courage, although he doesn’t know how or why it emerged, but he can’t let her go. He is already putting his closest friends in danger with his decisions. He can’t let a girl this young getting involved too. “And Wangnan, you have to meet with the others and keep Miseng safe.”
 
“You’re right, but…”
 
Bam knows they are keeping something from him ever since they were at the Hell Train, and it probably has something to do with White. They are awful at lying (just like Bam himself), but he can’t get himself to push them into telling him the truth. They must have their reasons, and probably would tell him when the time comes. Bam wants to believe in them.
 
“Mr. Viole… you have to defeat him. I… I understand you don’t want me to go with you, and I don’t want to be a burden either. Please defeat him, in all of our names.”
 
Bam bends his knees and pets the little girl’s head. “I’ll do it. Don’t worry, Miseng.” Then Bam turns to Wangnan. “Please take care of her and reunite with the rest of our old team. Keep them safe and continue climbing the tower. We will get to you eventually.”
 
“Ok, Viole, I’ll do my best! Leave it to me!” says Wangnan proudly. His warm smile makes Bam feel everything will be alright, even for just a second. “Just take care of yourselves, guys, and punch that bastard hard in the face for me.”
 
“Who do you think you are talking to?” Khun replies cockily. Bam can’t help but smile at his attitude. Khun, through in a different ways ompared to Wangnan, always manages to make him feel incredibly safe.
 
“Sachi and I will go with them.” That makes Bam more relaxed. Both Boro and Sachi are strong and reliable. He doesn’t have to worry for Sweet and Sour if they are with them. “And you, Hockney? Will you come with us?”
 
The boy lowers his gaze, but answers immediately. “No, I’ll go with Bam. That girl, Ha Yura, still has my picture. If White is with Rachel, then Yura should be with them too. I need to get it back.” Bam should have imagined that would be the case. That picture is something really important for Hockney, after all.
 
“Ok. Now we should go back to the hotel.” Khun takes the lead again, like he always does, and Bam can feel more relaxed now that they at least know how they will split up. You can always count on Khun to control the chaos Bam's decisions make. “We will begin our arrangements there. We have a lot to plan, calls to make, and most importantly, we have to rest.”
 
“Yes!” Bam answers obediently and leans into the touch when Khun pets his head with both annoyance and affection.
 
“And you wanted to just go ahead and punish him, eh? What would you guys do without me?”
 
“Hey! I’m the leader, you know! Don’t get too cocky, Blue Turtle!”
 
Bam knows he is right, even if Rak doesn’t want to acknowledge it. Without Khun, at least Bam and Rak would be dead, having jumped straight ahead into a battle they couldn’t win, at least not by themselves. Bam knows he couldn’t do anything without them. Khun, Rak, Endorsi, Wangnan’s team, and all his other friends who might not be with him right now but he knows will support him when the time comes. They are all his precious family. He will protect them even if it costs him his life.
 
So they go back to the hotel and proceed to start planning ahead, leaded by Khun. Bam takes a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil the souls within him are causing. Wangnan’s team will be alright with Boro and Sachi’s protection. The members of the team supporting him are strong, so they will be able to keep each other safe.  There’s nothing to worry about. So, why can’t he shake the oppressive feeling in his chest?
 

*****

 
And then, things started happening quicker than anyone expected. That night, Khun did not go to sleep with Bam like he had being doing for the last weeks, because he wanted Bam to rest. It would be difficult to resist temptation if you are so close to me, he had said. So they went separate ways, not before Khun gave him a long kiss and caressed his back gently, trying to make Bam feel better. It helped, but now that he is alone in his dark room, looking at the ceiling, he is getting anxious again.
 
“I will be fighting again, huh? I didn’t want to fight anymore. I wanted to keep climbing the tower with everyone, reunite with Mr. Isu and the others, and forget about White, about Rachel, about FUG. But I still want to save others. I still want to know about my past, to know about Rachel. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I discarded those people White is using, knowing where he is and what he is doing. But I’m putting my friends at risk again…”
 
“They are already at risk, you know.”
 
A familiar voice sounds quietly in his room, and Bam quickly gets up and searches for the source. It’s his Pocket, which is out without having being summoned, and it’s shining brightly. Bam gets closer, feeling stupid for being suspicious of his own Pocket, but cautious nonetheless. Suddenly, it projects a big image of man with long white hair and snake-like silver eyes.
 
“Mr. White…?”
 
“Good night, slayer candidate. Before you ask, I ordered the blonde girl to hack your Pocket.”
 
“Rachel is with you!?” He had assumed that already, but his chest tightens up at the confirmation. He doesn’t dare to ask immediately if Rachel did help him or not in regaining his power. He doesn’t dare for now. He instead swallows slowly, trying to get rid of the pain in his oppressed heart.
 
“Yep. I thought she was just trash, but she has proven herself useful in these past several months I kept her by my side while climbing the tower. But you obviously expected that. She chose me as her sword instead of you, after all.”
 
Bam’s heart hurts even more at the thought of his former most important person choosing this demon instead of him. He shakes his head, trying to get his mind clear. This is not the time to be hurting because of Rachel. “I don’t care anymore.”
 
“Whatever. I don’t care much about her, but it’s amusing to see you so hurt. Your ever serious face looks so cute.”
 
Bam shivers in disgust and the slayer just laughs at his reaction. “What do you want? I already know you got your power back, and we are going to stop you. I won’t let you use innocent people again.”
 
This time, White looks deeply amused by his firm words. “Innocent? You really think either FUG or Jahad’s army are innocent people? Well, whatever. I knew the souls within you would warn you, and wouldn’t let you alone if you didn’t get revenge for them. Good, that speeds up things.” Bam looks at him curiously, even if he tries not to give this away and to keep looking serious. “I also wanted to see you soon. As soon as possible.”
 
“We will go to you, don’t worry. We will catch up to you in a few days.”
 
“No, no, no, little slayer candidate. You must leave right now. Alone.”
 
Why is he telling him this? This is obviously a trap of some sort. Bam might be naïve, but he isn’t stupid. “I won’t go alone. I promised Mr. Khun and the others I wouldn’t go without them.”
 
“That annoying Khun guy again.” White looks so pissed for a few seconds. Did he always hate Khun? Not that Bam remembers. Then why does he react like this just at the mention of his name? He didn’t even think White would know for certain who his Khun is. “Well, whatever. I have an agreement you won’t be able to decline. I already said your precious friends are now in danger, even if you all don’t know a thing.”
 
“What are you talking about?” he asks immediately, feeling cold sweat running through his entire body. From White, and from Rachel too, he knows he can expect anything. What is this talk about his friends being already in danger?
 
“Wanna hear?” Bam nods and swallows slowly, and White’s smile gets wider. “Such a good boy. Ok, I’ll tell you. After this, you won’t be able to escape from me. But first, you will have to come to me, alone, like I said.” Bam opens his mouth to refuse, but White continues. “I wouldn’t risk their safety if I were you.”
 
He is right. He wouldn’t either, even if this might just be a trap. His family is much more important than his own safety. “…Where do I find you?”
 
“Rachel will send you the coordinates. See you soon, Viole.” With a wink, the connection cuts off.
 
 
If White is telling the truth, and his comrades are in an imperceptible danger, then he has to go. It’s obviously a trap. He could have said what he wanted to say through the Pocket, but like White mentioned, Bam couldn’t risk it. Not his family. He just prays he can return to them soon enough. It wouldn’t be like his time in FUG. His whole body trembles with fear at that thought, but he does his best to calm down. No, it wouldn’t be like that. Not again. He will hear what White has to say, fight him alone if he must, and then return to his friends. Yeah, everything will be okay.
 
“Sorry, Mr. Khun, everyone.” An absolute determination gets hold of his golden eyes. “I’ll go alone if it means I can protect you all.”
 

*****

 
The next day, Khun punched the wall hard after reading the little piece of paper Bam had left in his own room. Rak quickly grabs the small letter from Khun’s hand, reads it too and then adds to Khun’s frustration. “That reckless little turtle! He went to our prey without us!”
 
“I know!” Khun punches again, not caring if his knuckles are starting to bleed a little. “Bam, why? Why did you leave me behind? You promised you wouldn't do it without us, without me.”
 
Sorry I have to leave by myself. I will be back soon. Do not worry about me, I will be fine.
I love you all.
I love you, Mr. Khun.
 
 
- END CHAPTER 1 -