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It started with Sehun.
Well not with Sehun but because of Sehun.
Because of the news that the new but already notorious group of bandits, Exo, is taking refuge in the forest bordering their land, Prince Sehun, the youngest child, only son, and crown prince of Elyxion, has been prohibited from going out of the palace. The king and queen are not taking chances even with the promise of additional royal guards for his outings lest the report that the rogues were successful in claiming ransom after kidnapping the neighboring kingdom's crown prince turned out to be true.
It was only a small inconvenience in exchange for his safety: forgoing his weekly trip to the public square where local and visiting merchants from other kingdoms gather for the weekend market fair. He was only supposed to hold out until such time that the bandits were apprehended or have moved away. But Sehun, being Sehun, has insisted that he needs his weekly supply of sweets from that particular merchant from the fair or he will starve himself as an act of protest for his restricted freedom.
And so, as the favorite victim of the crown prince's unreasonable demands and, frankly, ridiculous antics, Do Kyungsoo, son of the Chief State Councilor, personal tutor, and childhood friend of Sehun was tasked to buy the sweets himself.
Kyungsoo wouldn't have minded. Well not usually, really, because despite being exasperated with Sehun, he dotes on him like a younger sibling he never had. Since he had always accompanied the prince to the fair and so would know which particular sweets to buy, he eventually acquiesced. He would just take the opportunity to replenish his own supplies as well.
He wouldn't have minded as much if today isn't also the day he's supposed to have some time alone with Kim Seonho, the head of the royal guards, for some music lessons. He would have invited Seonho to accompany him if Sehun, the little troublemaker, had not asked Seonho for private lessons on archery instead knowing full well his tutor had intended to make a date out of the shopping excursion.
"It's so you would do it faster, I need to eat hwagwaja now or I would perish," Sehun whined as he pushed him out the gates. He was going to protest but Sehun had closed the gates to his face shouting a 'come back soon with my sweets'. He was grumbling to himself about spoiled royals as he exited the palace alone imagining all the ways he can get back at Sehun.
Maybe I should eat all the chestnut and red bean paste ones from the set?
He wondered to himself while he made his way to the square. As he neared the lines of stalls and tables, the sound of activity grew louder. He stopped before diving into the throng of people to mentally list the things he might as well buy for himself while he's there.
Before he took a step towards the first stall, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end with the feeling that he's being watched. He tried to pinpoint where it was coming from and looked to his left where an alley was a few feet away. But he couldn't see much into the alley with the way the eaves overhead were overlapping obscuring the narrow passageway. He debated checking the place out but eventually shrugging off the feeling and started walking towards the fair.
-----
Chanyeol leaned his right side on the wall as he looked out onto the road, deciding to people-watch as he thinks about what to do next while he waits in a dark, narrow alley for the rest of his group to come back.
They were at the weekend market to buy more supplies so they can get a move on and travel back to their base. The ransom from their last successful endeavor had been handsome enough to last them for some years without doing anything major. He hoped that it would give them enough time to build a sustainable life away from crime and that he'll be able to completely reform their more mischievous brothers.
The need had been more apparent as he listened to Baekhyun and Jongdae, the cheekier of the lot, bicker on their way to the fair. The two had been brewing a little competition of who can bring more supplies with the most money left. As the banter became more heated, it had become more and more about getting supplies without spending any of the money.
He might have done a lot of questionable things in his short life but Chanyeol drew the line at stealing from the market peddlers. But swindlers and scammers were a totally different story altogether. From duping them, he actually finds a violent sense of pleasure. And he told the two as much, only allowing them to go their way once they had promised not to cheat on the honest ones especially those who are struggling.
He had always felt a sort of kinship with those who have it less in life.
Because once upon a time, he was one of them before starting his life of banditry. It was also the reason why instead of going with them he stayed behind not wanting to deal with the possibility, the very big possibility, that he might know some of the travelling merchants from his past. And by now, he's sure they already knew what had become of him. News travels fast and it spreads even faster when the bearers travel with them. He'd like to think he isn't really bothered. He just doesn't like the inconvenience.
As he tried to wrestle his mind away from reminiscing and back to planning, he saw a young man stop just ahead of him.
He was small. Well, small compared to him, maybe around Baekhyun's and Jongdae's height. Clean and well-groomed. Soft and smooth looking skin. Sharp jaw. High nose. Pouty lips. Graceful neck. Overall, a more than pleasant side profile to look at. But his mind went back to how adorably small he was.
I think he would fit perfectly in my arms. How would it feel to have him in my arms?
He must have been staring more intently than he realized because the man must have felt his gaze as he swiveled his head to his direction. Although he's sure he cannot be seen from where the man is standing, Chanyeol felt his heart jolt as the man looked directly at him, making accidental eye contact.
Thick, dark eyebrows. Big, doe eyes. Slim, high nose. Red, plump lips. Smooth, round cheeks. Perfect features in one small face.
How would it feel to hold that face in my hands and stare into those beautiful eyes?
He shakes his head to rid his mind of the unbidden questions. Why was he so affected by this stranger? As the man continued his way to the fair, Chanyeol unwittingly followed.
Chanyeol watched the stranger as he went about his way. He first went to buy some sheaves of parchments, running his hand on the surface, checking their smoothness. The stranger then reached for the delicate-looking ceramic inkwells, carefully scrutinizing each, turning them this way and that.
All the while, he looked like he was having a great conversation with the vendor, as if catching up with an old friend. They might actually be familiar with each other if the vendor's smile and the way the man's cheek bunched up in what he can imagine is a smile are anything to go by (Chanyeol couldn't be sure if he was really smiling as he was turned a little away from him).
He seemed to be taking his time, flitting from one colorfully-filled table to another. Looking like a lovely butterfly, his mind unhelpfully supplied. He watched as he inspected different wares and bantered with the merchants. It seems that most of them are expecting him with the way everyone greeted him excitedly.
Chanyeol saw it before it happened. The stranger was sampling some yakgwa while waiting for the rest of his purchased sweets to be wrapped. A little girl had lingered at a stall of accessories as her mother walked ahead. Seeing her mother was not by her side, the girl looked around with slowly dawning horror. Once she had seen her mother, she ran towards her at the same time that the beautiful man he had been following made to move and greet the old woman behind the table of accessories.
The impact had made the little girl fall on her backside while the wrapped yakgwa fell on the road and the man, startled, took a step back to keep his balance. The girl started crying and the man crouched down to meet her eyes. The girl was looking at the man while the man talked to her Chanyeol surmised and quickly quieted down. He reached out his hand to help the girl stand up and dust her chima. The man started to pat her head and the girl smiled. It seems like everyone is charmed by this man.
They were still talking when the man started looking around, settling towards his direction which made him freeze. He was squinting, pointed to the woman who's looking at the kitchen wares by Chanyeol's side, still unaware of her daughter's predicament. When the girl nodded her head, the man smiled.
Chanyeol, still frozen on the spot, had become dazed seeing the man's lips turn into a heart, eyes becoming crescents. If Chanyeol thought he was lovely earlier, he thought he was breathtaking now. It was then that Chanyeol knew that it was the man's heart-shaped smile that had charmed all those people.
How soft and sweet those lips would be against his?
He ducked his head and pretended to be interested with the clay pots beside him as the man and the girl walked hand in hand to their direction. He stole glances every now and then and saw them stop some feet away from him. The man bowed to the woman as the girl ran to hug her mother's thighs.
If there were less people, Chanyeol would have been able to hear the man's voice this close, the closest they've been since he started following him. As it is, Chanyeol just watched the man as he spoke, mesmerized by the sight of his lips moving.
When the man parted ways with the little girl after an endearing hug, he went back to the accessories, examining a jade cheopji with a bejeweled dragon. After having it wrapped, he then examined a set of matching binyeo which he purchased as well. Dismayed that the man might be married and to nobility to boot, he absentmindedly moved towards the table just as the man bid farewell to the old woman.
"Chanyeol-ah!"
Startled, Chanyeol looked towards the source of the voice, realizing that the old woman who sold the man the accessories was his marketplace halmeoni from when he was still a peddler. Joyous at the reunion, he ran towards the old woman for a hug. A warm hug and a tight squeeze later, Chanyeol was surprised when the old woman hit him hard on his back.
"Halmeoni! Why did you hit me? Didn't you miss me?" trying to reach a hand behind to rub at his back while looking sheepishly at the old woman.
"You brat! What did you do? I told you to stay put and do your best and you will get ahead when the right time comes but you went and become a bandit instead," she said while hitting whatever she can reach of Chanyeol.
"Halmeoni, stop!" Chanyeol raised his hands, rubbing them together as an act of penitence. "You know I've always been meant for greater things! Of course, I'm not just a lowly bandit! I'm their leader," he said smugly.
"Is that something to be proud of?!" The old woman scolds, while smacking Chanyeol on the back of his head.
"Please don't be angry anymore. We only did that so my brothers and I will have enough money to start over. It's done now. I promise."
The old woman just scoffed at Chanyeol, clearly not impressed, "Just make sure you really are stopping or I will make sure to stop you myself if it's the last thing I do before I die."
"Halmeoni!" Chanyeol whines while clinging to her arm like a kid, "Don't say that! You won't die just yet. You have to come back to our village and live peacefully with me so you can keep an eye out and make sure I won't do anything bad again."
"When will you grow up so I can stop taking care of you? You're not even my blood."
"But you love me like I am."
The old woman shakes her head while biting back a smile. "Alright, I will come with you but I need to sell everything first," she said while looking at the remaining pieces on her table.
"Didn't that last man buy enough?" Chanyeol said looking back to the direction where the man disappeared to.
The old woman followed his gaze. "He did but it wasn't enough. I was hoping his usual companion would buy more since I got what he asked for the last time they were here but that young man came alone." Then she turned to and sharply looked at Chanyeol, furrowing her eyebrows in thought, "I wonder what happened."
"Oh! You know him? He bought the jade set, right? He must be rich. Is he part of the nobility?"
"Why are you asking? Are you planning to steal from him or perhaps kidnap him?"
"What?" he almost cricked his neck, turning quickly back at the old woman, eyes wide with disbelief and indignation. "No, halmeoni! I told you I'm not going to do that anymore! I'm just.." he paused trying to find the right word for what he's been feeling since earlier, "..curious." It was simultaneously enough and not quite.
She paused to scrutinize Chanyeol, thinking of catching him if he's lying. "Well, I heard he was the son of the Chief State Councilor and the tutor of the crown prince but they look closer, more like friends when they come here. But the crown prince is not with him today since you're here."
Chanyeol chose to ignore the jab. "So he is nobility. His wife will be very happy with what he bought I'm sure. What a good husband. He has great taste but of course him choosing wonderful pieces cannot be avoided since my halmeoni only sells the best."
"Those weren't for his wife. He's not married yet. He and the crown prince always buy the accessories for their family, mainly for their mothers."
Filial on top of being kind. Rich and powerful as well as intelligent and handsome. I wonder why he's not married yet.
“A good son then. By the way, halmeoni, what's the name of that young man?"
-----
Kyungsoo can feel his energy to interact with people dwindling away as he goes from one stall to the other, greeting and catching up with the merchants and peddlers they've been acquainted with from previous weekends at the fair. Usually, Sehun would be the more social one but going alone, Kyungsoo had no choice. He decided to finish the trip by buying Sehun's hwagwaja before returning to the palace.
As he was walking to their favorite desserts seller, Kyungsoo caught sight of a merchant that was rarely seen. If they hadn't religiously went to the fair since Sehun had been allowed outside when he was of age, Kyungsoo would not have been familiar with the man. He remembered that whenever they had chanced upon him, they've always been fascinated with his goods.
He approached the stall out of curiosity and found an assortment of daggers, swords, and bows and arrows. Most are made for utility, some more heavily decorated, clearly meant to be ornamental, and still a few that are a mixture of both. While looking, an ornate silver and coral eunjangdo caught his attention.
This will be useful to Seonho hyungnim especially when he goes on trips for leisure. And it will really look good on him as well. I wonder if he will like it?
He was too preoccupied with imagining how Seonho will receive it and how he will carry it with him (strapped to his leg? hidden up his sleeve? inside his breast pocket?) while reaching out for the dagger that he didn't see another person going for it as well. He was able to grab it only for his hand to be engulfed by a much larger one.
Surprised, he looked at the hand, up the arm, and higher - much higher to Kyungsoo's annoyance - to the stranger's face only to find that the person is already looking at him. Pretty intensely at that. He jerked his hand away upon eye contact as if burned.
The man had large, intense eyes, high nose with a little mole near the tip, red, full lips. His ears were big but not in an off-putting way. On the contrary, they add to the stranger's charm. Half of his hair were held up by leather cords while the rest cascade haphazardly past his broad shoulders, some even falling onto his face. He looked dashing in a careless, almost unkempt way. It made Kyungsoo swallow, feeling his throat dry up.
Kyungsoo didn't know how long he had been staring but it was long enough for him to watch the intense look on the stranger's face give way to something like amusement. He can feel the back of his neck heating up from embarrassment at being caught.
"Did you want to buy this for yourself?" the man said while holding the dagger towards him.
He did expect the stranger to have a manly voice considering his physique but he didn't expect it to be that deep. Kyungsoo can't deny it adds to the attraction. It did something funny to his gut, something tingly and warm.
Catching himself drifting from the conversation again, he looked away and said, "Yes but not for me. I was hoping to buy it for a.." Kyungsoo paused trying to find a good enough word to describe what Seonho is to him. ".. friend, a dear friend." Frustrated that he cannot find any better at the moment.
"Your friend would surely be delighted to receive such a beautiful gift as this. How very thoughtful."
"Hopefully he would. It would come in handy during his outings on his rare days off."
Kyungsoo glanced back at the stranger only to find him looking back with furrowed eyebrows as if he was puzzling something over.
"He must be a hardworking man if his vacations are rare."
"He takes his duties seriously. The dagger would give additional sense of security during his travels alone so he can enjoy himself more." He smiles to himself remembering how Seonho would unwind late at night after work just looking at the night sky and how excited he was whenever he tells Kyungsoo his plans for his next day off.
"He must be a very special friend." The man's emphasis made Kyungsoo snap his eyes back to look at him and there's something smug in the way he was smirking. And then Kyungsoo realized..
He knows.
He froze, panic settling, feeling his whole face heat up. He's sure he's blushing the hardest he ever had, cursing himself in his head for talking carelessly. He tried to school his expression into neutrality despite still very much blushing.
The stranger stepped towards him, closing their distance, and leaned forward, levelling Kyungsoo with his intense gaze, smirk still very much in place.
"I know he would be thrilled with such a thoughtful gift. But, alas, I want this for myself as well."
Then he moved to the side, aligning his lips to Kyungsoo's ear. He can feel the man's warm breath by his ear and neck making him shiver, goosebumps rising on his neck, heart beating faster. This close, Kyungsoo feels breathless, affected by the way his voice sounded directly spoken to his ear.
"Although I wouldn't mind giving this to you in one condition."
Kyungsoo waited for the man to tell him his price, holding his breath.
"I want a kiss."
Kyungsoo jerked his head away and took a few steps back when he felt something soft touch the shell of his ear, debating with himself if it was real or was it just the closeness that made it seem like the man's lips grazed his skin. Holding his ear, he glared at the man.
How can this man be grinning so happily as if he hadn't suggested something ridiculous, something scandalous?
"It would appear that I am not able to meet the price you're asking in exchange. Well then." Kyungsoo nodded his head in a small bow before turning around feeling his hackles rise.
He tried to calm himself down on his way to his last stop. By the time he arrived at the stall of assorted sweets, Kyungsoo had successfully diverted his mind to imagining how he'd punish Sehun again. After selecting three sets of hwagwaja for Sehun and another one as a gift to Seonho, he also chose some dasik and songpyeon.
While waiting for the items to be wrapped, Kyungsoo paid for his purchases. As he was putting back his change inside his money pouch, a hand snatched it and some of the coins fell from his grasp. He dropped the sack from his back hoping that neither the inkwells nor the accessories would break.
"I will go back for the sweets and the rest of my things," Kyungsoo shouted at the merchant as he ran after the thief trying his best not to lose sight of him among the crowd.
These clothes are really not for running. And I don't have anything to fight him with. I should've asked a guard to accompany me instead of going alone but I always felt they bring too much unwanted attention and the merchants are uncomfortable in their presence.
Kyungsoo was still thinking about a plan on how to confront the thief once he caught him when a black blur ran past him towards where the thief had turned left at a corner away from the center of market activity. As he rounded the corner himself, he saw the thief already fleeing from a man holding his pouch. When the said man turned around, Kyungsoo recognized him from earlier when they had both wanted the same dagger.
Away from the distraction of the market and the proximity of their earlier encounter, Kyungsoo was able to appraise the man in his entirety. If Seonho is handsome in a delicate way, this man is handsome in a rough way instead. Where Seonho looked safe, this man looked dangerous. Kyungsoo wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be a bandit. But if he is, why didn't he take the money for himself instead?
Maybe he's not so bad after all. Maybe earlier was just him being playful.
He approached the man with apprehension still not knowing what to make of the latter's gesture.
The man held his pouch towards him, smiling happily like he just did their country proud, and Kyungsoo reluctantly received it with both hands. "Thank you for getting back my money. I am truly grateful for your kind act," he said while bowing towards the man.
"Are you not gonna ask me what reward I want in return?" the man said while grinning widely.
Kyungsoo narrowed his eyes at the remark. "Are you not supposed to wait for me to offer?" The man just shrugged not in the least bit bothered.
"I want something in particular."
"How much do you want?" Kyungsoo asked as he opened his pouch to count his money. The man held his wrist to stop him and Kyungsoo looked up at him, confused and wary.
"I want a kiss instead."
"Please stop messing around, I do not care for your humor."
"I told you earlier that I want a kiss and now I took advantage of your little mishap so I can get it."
"Well, that's not very kind."
"Did you want me to be gentlemanly about it? Do I look like some gentleman? What did you expect?"
"More."
The man's eyebrow rose.
Kyungsoo removed his wrist from where the man was holding it. An embarrassed flush adorning his cheeks as he reprimanded himself for his ambiguous phrasing. "I meant I expected more as in better."
"I'm a bandit. What better are you expecting?"
Kyungsoo internally panicked at the confession but took great care to hide it. The thought that this man might be part of Exo - as they are currently the only known bandits in the kingdom - unnerved Kyungsoo lest he accidentally revealed his close relation to the crown prince.
"I'm just saying." Kyungsoo looked away, getting annoyed at the playful smirk the man still had despite the panic.
"What? Where is this expectation coming from? Have you associated with bandits before? That's not very appropriate for your station."
Kyungsoo looked back at the man, indignant at the insinuation. "What do you care?" he snapped.
"What if I care?" the man crossed his arms, muscles moving to prominence. A motion which Kyungsoo involuntarily followed earning an amused chuckle from the man.
"That's none of your business." Kyungsoo said, getting angry, turning around abruptly, and walking away not caring one bit if he was being impolite. He walked fast to get his things so he could return to the palace. He would very much like to end this encounter as he feels exposed as if this man knew him in the way that even Sehun, his closest friend, didn't. It's making him all kinds of flustered.
"And if I want to make it my business?" the man, with his long legs, easily caught up to him.
"You'll be wasting your time. Just run along and do your.. bandit things." he replied not bothering to hide his annoyance.
"Bandit things? Don't you know bandit things would just be me doing things I want. And I very much want.. this." Kyungsoo turned to glare at the man only to be met by delighted eyes.
"This.. is not very appropriate for my station as you have so kindly pointed out."
"So otherwise, you'd be willing to associate with me?" Kyungsoo stopped to gape at the man, not believing that he really had the audacity to imply such a thing.
"I-- don't be absurd! I'm just-- You could've taken my money with you but you didn't. So I just thought you're not so bad."
"Not so bad huh?" the man said looking like he had won a coveted prize.
"Clearly I'm wrong to even consider giving you the benefit of the doubt since you confessed you were just taking advantage of the situation." Kyungsoo quickened his pace even more trying to lose the man as they weave through the crowd again.
-----
It's not the first time that Chanyeol thanked the heavens that he's taller than most but it's the first time that it was for such a happy reason. If he hadn't been as tall as he is, he would have lost sight of the beautiful man in the sea of people.
As he thought, the man went back to retrieve his things. He walked a few steps behind as the man made his way to the road back to the palace. When Chanyeol reached him, he grabbed the man and pulled him towards the alley where he hid when he first saw him.
Although the man tried valiantly to resist, Chanyeol was insistent. Because the alley was a dead end, he released the man such that he was blocking the only way out. Although it's obvious that the man is angry, Chanyeol can't keep his smile in check because he finds him adorable with his flushed cheeks and fiery eyes.
"I cannot give you the reward that you want. You know this and yet you still insist. Please be reasonable. If it's money, I can give you all that's inside my pouch instead."
Chanyeol just looked at the pouch being handed to him not in the least bit interested.
"If not money," the man put back the pouch where it was hidden and fumbled with the knots of his sack placing it on his front to see better, "how about taking any of the things I bought earlier? I have some beautifully crafted inkwells, high quality parchment, jade hair accessories, and delicious sweets?"
"I have no interest in those, I can buy them myself. Even if you offer me jewelry or other precious items for that matter, unless you offer yourself instead, I'd still want my kiss."
The man didn't seem like he was listening much to Chanyeol's chagrin. He was still trying to open the wrapper of the hwagwaja.
"If you don't want to listen, I suggest you just give me what I want instead so you can be on your merry way back to your special friend. You can even think of this as a practice for when you muster enough courage to kiss him in the fu--"
He wasn't able to finish his sentence as the man shoved some of the delicacies to stuff his mouth shut. As he chokes and tries to chew the sweets enough to be able to swallow, he could see the man becoming more agitated, face a furious shade of red.
"Will you please hold your tongue. I don't appreciate you saying nonsense where anyone can hear you. He might be relieved of his position if an absurd rumor like that reached his employment." the man whisper-yelled. Chanyeol chewed while looking at the man.
If this special friend is employed, it would be safe for me to assume that he is not the crown prince. It would have to be another person, right?
He was getting annoyed that he seemed to be correct in thinking that the man did indeed have feelings for this special friend if the way he seemed to be very much affected is anything to go by.
If his feelings are reciprocated, that special friend wouldn't have allowed this man out and about unprotected even if he can't do the protecting himself being busy with his duties. Anything could happen to this man especially looking like that.
Chanyeol swallowed the last of the food in his mouth. "Fine. Then give me your name instead."
"What would you need my name for?" the man said, clearly taken aback by the request.
"So it'd be easier for me to look for you again." Chanyeol saw how the man grew thoughtful and then, as if realizing something, panicked.
"What could a bandit possibly want from a nobody like me?"
Chanyeol could not believe that despite arguing about what's appropriate for his station earlier, the man would actually try and deny being a nobility.
"Are you trying to deny your station even though we just argued about it earlier?"
"It was just your assumption. I didn't correct you because it didn't seem important since I didn't think we'd be seeing each other again. You not knowing better will not matter since we will not be crossing paths again." the man fumbled to re-wrap the hwagwaja and unceremoniously shoved it into his sack, righting it on his back.
It irked Chanyeol how sure the man sounded that he'll never be seeing him again.
"Well, that will be easily remedied if you give me your name. I promise to give you the pleasure of my company again."
"I don't think it's a good idea for me to give my identity to some bandit. What if you go and kidnap me or use me to get closer to someone more important?"
"So you are close to someone important?" Chanyeol saw the man widen his eyes and bit his lips looking regretful of what he said.
Because the man didn't seem inclined to respond any time soon, Chanyeol continued, "Then I give you the choice: a kiss or your name. And don't even think of giving me another person's name because if I find out you did, I promise to pay you back when I see you again because I will be able to see you again."
The man looked conflicted.
It happened quickly: the man stepped forward, tiptoed while holding Chanyeol gingerly by the shoulder, and placed a kiss to his cheek. It was done before Chanyeol could react, the man already stepping back, eyes looking everywhere except at him.
"There's your kiss so please stop asking me for my name." the man said quietly, even more alluring than when Chanyeol first heard the deep, honeyed voice.
Recovering from the momentary shock, Chanyeol held his cheek still feeling the ghost of soft lips as he looked at the beautiful man in wonder. Hating the idea of making him uncomfortable, Chanyeol barreled through the growing awkwardness by getting the eunjangdo they both wanted from where he tied it to his arm and reached for the man's hand to close his fingers over it noting the smallness, softness, and warmth.
"You can have this. I know we will see each other again even if you haven't given me your name yet so it would ease my mind knowing you have a way to defend yourself when you do your trips alone. I worry someone else might take their chances with you when I'm not around to save you." like I did.
Feeling shy all of a sudden, Chanyeol started slowly walking backwards keeping his eyes at the man looking down at the dagger in his hand.
"I'll make sure I'll get you to tell me your name next time. Until then, do take care." he made to turn around thinking of walking back to their temporary hideout deep within the woods instead of waiting for his brothers but before he could step into the light of the main thoroughfare, he was pulled at the wrist by a hand while another held his shoulder to keep him in place as soft lips crashed onto his own in a brief kiss.
The man let him go barely a second after and walked briskly to the road while Chanyeol stood frozen in shock, heart beating a tad too fast. When Chanyeol did turn around again, the man was already a few steps away. He turned back once, determinedly making eye contact despite the tell-tale embarrassed flush.
"There. I don't owe you anymore."
"Yeah. You don't owe me anymore." Chanyeol said, smiling. The man acknowledged him with a bow, wheeled around and went on his way again.
"But I owe it to myself to have you, Do Kyungsoo."