Break Me Apart

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"Ow, it burns," Chenle complained, whipping his hand away from the amethyst embedded on his chest. "I don't know why it's suddenly doing this....."

Jisung shook his head, believing he had a theory. "I think that this gem you have, is what the forest actually wants. It's like a game I once played, actually. Sometimes certain things like gems, relics or jewellery need a vessel to keep them 'alive', if you understand that."

"Not really."

"Well, you're feeding that amethyst. I think so, anyway. Like, you've been locked away for safe keeping, and whatever it is that you're protecting, doesn't like my 'otherworld' equivalent. Maybe?"

"M-maybe. But I don't understand why I'm here. Why did I get lumped with the task of babysitting it?"

"Who knows. You're young, fit, healthy, pretty. There could be hundreds of reasons behind it. Maybe this forest is in China, or something crazy like that."

"I doubt it. I thought we established that this place doesn't exist on your maps."

"True. But it's not like we know it's name, either. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make right now is that you are useless to this place without that stone. What if we get rid of it?"

"Where would that leave this forest though?" Chenle pouted, "Jisung, animals and fairies live here. This is their home."

"They kidnapped you to keep it alive. That isn't fair either!"

The older hesitated, realising the other had a point. He looked back down at his gemstone once again and sighed. "Alright, so what do you propose?"

Jisung smirked, "I could try getting it out. Maybe I can touch it."

"It's really sore to touch."

"For you. Perhaps not for me."

Chenle grimaced, wondering how well this would all turn out. Honestly, he didn't want to stay another minute in this place.....but he didn't want to make everything worse either.

"Jisung, I just don't know-"

"I love you."

They froze, the sudden words settling over them. Chenle stared at him, confusion and shock evident in his eyes. "Huh?"

"I love you, and I want you to come back with me. I'm willing to try anything, here. I just....I just need you to help me here."

The older's heart started to beat exponentially faster. He was taken off guard, and suddenly his thoughts were getting all muddled in his head and he couldn't think straight.

"Ji...." he whispered, feeling the younger grasp his hands desperately.

"Risk it. We can risk it...."

Sighing, the white haired teen nodded softly. Thinking about the fairies who had kept him company over this long and painful time as the pinkette trailed his fingers over to Chenle's chest.

They had called him 'guardian'. Was this gem why? Was he nothing more than a life support for the forest's heart to them? It made him upset to think about it.

Jisung wore the ring while touching the amethyst. It didn't burn his fingers like Chenle described, and he could only imagine it was because he wasn't originally a part of this place. This prison.

The younger traced his finger over the stone cautiously before taking it between his fingers and trying to pull at it.

Chenle hissed, gripping the other's shoulders painfully and crying out. "Ow, ow, ow! It hurts!"

"Hang on," Jisung whispered, deciding that this was going to be like a rotten tooth. Just yank it and get the pain over and done with quickly.

Doing just that, he ripped the stone straight out, eliciting a pained scream from the older.

"I'm sorry," Jisung told him gently, seeing Chenle double over and grip the painful area under his collar bone.

Suddenly, everything around them started to shatter, and the pinkette began to glow with fairy dust.

Chenle quickly looked up to him, gasping out and holding onto him. He was leaving again.

He was going to disappear again.

"No! Jisung please, don't go!" He cried, desperately hugging the younger who held with equal desperation onto him.

"I-can't see! Chenle, I can't see!"

The gem shattered along with the trees, and the cottage beside them started to concave. The lilies withered away sadly, the barrier finally being broken.

"Take me with you!" The older begged. "Please don't leave me alone! Please!"

Then it all went quiet, a brilliant white light erupting through their vision.

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