#viole and grace getting more similar with their long hair so why not get them to be actual bros | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

deiaiko · 4 years

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Alternate timeline where —- dies, leaving —- to live with that bitter reality as he tries to get better over time

Really really long story under the cut (also excuse my crappy grammar and the rushed ending :”3)

- - - - -

“Bam, don’t cry”.

“…”, how could he not cry at a time like this?!

Their teammates already left the place, leaving all the remaining time that the two have to bid their last farewell.

Bam is holding Khun in his arms, letting him leans heavily on his chest while trying to warm his starting-to-get-cold body. One hand to hold him and the other to try to stop the bleeding.

“there must be a way to—”

“no”, the bleeding is too severe to be treated. Besides, there’s no one nearby that has the ability to help, “it’s too late…you know that”.

Bam keeps pressing the wound, but no matter how hard he tries, the warm blood keeps flowing out, it hurts him to being so helpless. What’s the point of being strong if he failed to protect him? What’s the point to spend many years training? Isn’t it his fault that Khun became like this in the first place? Because of his wish to save others? And then a dark thought came into his mind, Khun doesn’t need to suffer alone.

“I’ll go with you!”, Bam cried in a verge of desperation.

“don’t do that”.

“then…then tell me, what’s the point for me to keep living?”

“to enjoy what life offers you”.

“I…I don’t understand”.

“It’s always been…for other people’s sake, so how about…you do things for yourself once?”, Khun looks at Bam with the softest look he ever gave him, “be what you want to be…and live happily”.

“without you?”

Khun hesitated before answering, “without me”.

“how can I be happy without you?”

“…I know you can”.

“…”

Khun is trying his best to endure the pain so Bam would be less worried about him, at least he felt more numb on every second passed as more blood poured out.

“hey Khun, have you…live happily?”, Bam suddenly asked.

“yes,…cause you’re with me”.

“have you be what you want to be?”

“yes. All I want…is to be with you”.

Bam gave him a sad smile that quickly fell from his face, “I’m sorry”.

“it’s not your fault…things happen. When I chose to follow you…this is the risk that I took”, Khun smiled, “it’s worth it”.

Bam doesn’t know what to say, he just gave Khun his best smile even though his heart breaking inside.

Khun starting to feel lightheaded and his ears began to ring, he knew he didn’t have much time left.

“Bam”, Khun sighed and closed his eyes, “thank you…for everything”.

“Khun wait—”

“all I want now…is for you to be happy, even without me”.

“please”, Bam’s eyes began to water, “don’t say that”.

“I don’t know what…will happen, but…stay alive…for me”.

“Khun…please”.

But Khun didn’t respond anymore as he had fallen into a very deep sleep.

“Khun?”, Bam tighten his grip, “Khun! Answer me!”

But there’s no answer.

“say something, please”.

“…”

“anything is fine”.

“…”

“I beg you”.

“…”

“Khun…please”, he sobbed, “wake up”.

“…”

Bam doesn’t know what else to say, he hugged Khun tighter and cried silently with a deep sorrow. He cried until there’s no more tear left for him to shed.

- - - - -

Khun is gone now. He’s gone forever and he won’t come back anytime soon. But Bam is yet come to realized it.

“Bam stop it!”, Shibisu stopped Bam before he had a chance to hurt himself.

“why?!”, Bam cried in desperation, “why can’t I wake up from this nightmare?!?”

“because you’re not dreaming”.

“no! You’re lying!”, Bam covered his ears, “I don’t want to hear it!”

“it’s the truth”.

“no! It’s just a dream!”

Rak slapped him hard, leaving a red mark on his cheek.

Bam’s hand quickly went to cover it, looking surprised.

Rak cupped his cheeks and locked their eyes, “listen black turtle! This is the reality, you must face it no matter how bitter it is. Don’t hide in your shell forever!”. Rak took his hands off and walked away, “it’s not like you to act like this”.

Bam was left speechless, his sore cheek is a constant reminder that he wasn’t dreaming. But it’s still too much for him to take, he needs time for himself.

- - - - -

Bam is doing a little better, he’s finally returned after locking himself in his room for two weeks straight. He’s lucky to have his friends to watch over him and keep him grounded while recovering from the grief.

But anyone can tell that he’s…different. He becomes slightly distant and a little bit colder. Though no one can blame him, he didn’t wish for it either.

Months later they left the floor to continue their journey, because Bam still has a mission to accomplish.

He promised himself to come back to Khun once it’s over.

- - - - -

After defeating Zahard in the 133rd floor, the name Jue Viole Grace becomes one of the legends, a monster, the feared one that nobody dares to say out loud.

Rumors said that he’s taking over the 134th floor and rules there, or maybe even already outside the tower. Though it’s just a false rumors, only his close friends who knows where he is now.

Because as promised, he cut his hair and came back to where Khun is, the 53rd floor. He bought a small house not far from the cemetery and lives there using his original name, the 25th Bam, though only a few people know his other identity.

Now that Bam has all the time in the world, he tries to do many things to spend it. From reading to cooking, learning new techniques and skills, and also tries to socialize out of his friends advice. But nothing seems to be able to make him happy as it can only distract him from his feelings.

Once in a while, his friends came to visit him, to keep him company while making sure he’ll stay sane throughout the years.

Every other day he also bought flowers for Khun, one crimson rose (sadness, mourning, death, rebirth, love) with a variation from pink camellia (longing) and pink carnation (remembrance) to chrysanthemum (grief) and purple hyacinth (sorrow, deep regret, asking forgiveness).

Soon he became a close friend with the shopkeeper, (she has the ability to instantly grow seed into plants, so she doesn’t need much space in her flower shop).

“you always come here, who is this someone?”

“he’s…my best friend”.

“I see”.

She wants to ask more, but she respects his privacy.

- - - - -

Thousand years passed. Although Bam doesn’t age, he isn’t immortal, (he won’t make the same mistake like his mother did. He can still be killed of course, but that is, if anyone can).

Until one day, Shibisu suddenly gave him a surprising news that makes his broken heart thumping in his chest. A picture from the floor of test, taken just a few days ago, a group of people with a blue haired boy among them.

Bam stared at the picture for a full minute straight because he couldn’t believe what he just saw.

The person in the photo looks eerily similar. With the same smug smile on his face and a sharp look in his eyes, but with a slightly different hair hue.

“I’ll go check on him”, Bam decided without thinking and quickly packed his things.

“hey hey, wait. Are you sure?”

“yes”.

“then I’ll go as well, you might need the company”.

“thanks Isu”.

Bam visited Khun again to say a temporary farewell before he left the 53rd floor.

- - - - -

Along the way Bam has inner conflicts.

His mind told him that “he’s not him, he won’t know you and you’ll only get hurt if he doesn’t match your expectations. You should get back”.

But his heart already took full control of his body as it says “what’s wrong with it? I’ll only live on regrets if I don’t come. Besides, I just want to talk to him”.

“then are you ready for the consequences? You’re a stranger to him, remember that”.

“…yes, I’m aware”.

Bam prepares himself.

- - - - -

But he was unable to approach him.

“you can come back whenever you want you know? And that includes now”.

“but I’m already here, let me just. . .watch over him for a while”.

- - - - -

“why did you help me?”, the blue haired boy pointing a knife at him.

Bam knew ‘this Khun’ teammates were plotting a treason against him, but he couldn’t stop himself to intervene with the situation. He regretted it.

Khun knows that he’s no match to the stranger after he saw him beat his ex-teammates in a blink of an eye, but he also wants to know why the stranger helped him, “answer me!”

Bam still can’t bring himself to look at him in the eye, no matter how long he prepares, he’s not ready to face him yet. “because I want to”, Bam answered.

“that’s not an answer. What do you want from me?”

“Khun”, the name slipped out from his mouth.

“of course I’m a Khun, so what? I got kicked out of my family, you won’t get anything by kidnapping me”.

Bam turned around to finally look at him. Now that he’s quite close to him, he could see him clearer. Pale skin with shoulder length blue hair and the same sharp cobalt blue eyes, “you look just like him”.

“…who?”

“…”

Khun lowered his weapon when he saw the man’s eyes, the dull golden eyes filled with sorrow. Khun felt an indescribable feeling, a sympathy maybe. He set aside his suspicion for a while, “I’m not him, you know that”.

Bam heartache hearing the undeniable truth came straight from his mouth. He broke their eye contact and spoke softly as if he were trying not to break down, “yeah, I know”, he’s fully aware of it, “you’re not him and you’ll never be”.

“then what do you want from me?”

“nothing”, Bam turned around and walked away, “nothing at all”.

“is that why you were stalking me this past few months?”

Bam heart skipped a beat, ‘oh, so he knew’, he thought. “I’m sorry if I bothered you, I’ll go now”.

“wait!”, after being betrayed by his teammates Khun knew he has to rebuild his team from the start. He thought it’ll be very beneficial to have someone as strong as him on his party, it’ll definitely raise his position among a low-class regular and reduce the possibility to be betrayed again. He can take advantage of him without anything to lose, a great chance like this won’t came twice.

“please let me be your apprentice”.

- - - - -

The first week had been rough for Bam as he was intentionally avoiding Khun. Shibisu asked him to stay on the floor that he’s now and wait until he comes, Bam couldn’t say no to him. So there he is, locking himself in his room again like a coward.

Looking at the new Khun only reminds Bam that his Khun was gone and how much he misses him. Just like adding salt to his wound.

So Bam closes his heart to avoid getting hurt more than he already is, just like the days when he first met Sweet and Sour team, cold and distant.

But this Khun is determined to be his apprentice (or rather to make him on his side), he keep insisting until Bam finally give in, it took him a week to get to talk to him and another week to get his name.

- - - - -

Shibisu and his team finally arrived at the floor where Bam and Khun are staying to check on them.

“so you’re Mr.Bam’s friend?”, asked Khun.

“y-yeah”, Shibisu decided not to comment on how he calls Bam. “I’m Shibisu, you can call me Isu”, he offered a hand to shake.

“Khun”, he returned the gesture.

The boy is a little bit shorter than him, but his height is almost the same as Khun on the floor of test a really long time ago. His hair color is more saturated than him and his voice is a little bit different, but everything else are the same. It felt really weird to talk to a person with his late friend’s face, Bam must be really…distressed.

“so…how’s Bam doing?”, Shibisu decided to ask.

“I’m not sure”, Khun scratches his head, “he rarely talks to me, so I don’t know. Is he really a quiet type or…?”

“no. He used to be really enthusiastic, he was the heart of our team after all”.

“was? What changed? Is it because of. . .him?”

“so he told you about it?”

“not the details, mostly just my hunch”.

“let’s have a short talk somewhere else”. Shibisu went to sat on the sitting place nearby and motioned Khun to follow.

Khun obeyed, he may get a valuable information that can help him get close to Mr.Bam, so why not.

“so Khun…how long have you met him?”, Shibisu started the conversation.

“not long, it’s only been two weeks”.

“what do you think about him so far?”

“err, he’s strong, honestly I was a bit wary of him because he followed me for weeks and then suddenly came out to fight my traitors”.

“not surprised”.

“eh?”

“well, he’s the type to not remain silent when someone is in need”.

“then my decision to be his apprentice wasn’t wrong”.

“apprentice huh? Nice”.

“but he still hasn’t given me an answer”.

“don’t worry, I’ll help you”, Shibisu gave him a thumb-up, “what else do you think of him?”

“uhm, he’s also…quiet and mysterious, he rarely talks and he won’t even look at me. I think he’s avoiding me”.

“no wonder”.

“it’s because of him right? His 'Khun’?”

“yeah, you guessed it”.

“what happened?”

“you should ask him yourself”, Shibisu smiled and patted his head.

Khun looked a bit dissapointed, but it must be really personal, so that’s reasonable.

Honestly right now Shibisu is trying his best to keep his amusement inside. He never had a chance to pat Khun’s head before, he’d be killed if he did, and turns out it doesn’t feel so bad. He smiled with satisfaction.

Shibisu then looks up at the sky and sighed deeply to relax himself before he continues, “Bam is a really great person, I give you my words. But the thing is, he has been suffering for too long”. He looks at Khun and smiled, “I hope you can bring him back to what he used to be. Please don’t give up on him”.

Khun is amazed on how much Mr.Isu cares about Mr.Bam, he must be a really great person after all, “…okay”.

“thanks��, Shibisu stood up, “anyways, do you know where Bam is? I need to make sure he’s alright”.

“he’s usually in his room”, Khun pointed him the direction.

- - - - -

Bam is standing on the balcony looking at the sky, like he always does.

“hey there”, Shibisu greeted him.

Bam quickly wiped his eyes, “oh! Isu, long time no see”, he forced a smile.

“you don’t need to do that”.

“…”, his smile fell and quickly replaced by sorrow. Bam wanted to be strong, for Isu, for both Khuns and for his friends. He doesn’t want anyone to worry, but the last few days are just too overwhelming for him. He snivelled, his tears started to fall again and his hands went to cover his face, “I-I can’t do this, Isu”.

Shibisu approached him slowly and wrapped his arm around him to comfort his friend.

“It’s a mistake that I went here in the first place”, Bam sobbed, “it hurts”.

“shh”, Shibisu patted his back a few times.

“he’s different, he’s not Khun, I know, I really do”.

Shibisu hummed.

“though there’s a naive part of me that really want to believe that it was wrong, that he’s him. But he’s not!”

“I know. But you can’t blame him because he didn’t match your expectations”.

“should I go back then? there’s no point for me to be here”.

“how about you give him a chance first?”, honestly Shibisu couldn’t stand seeing his friend suffering like this, but if this Khun can make Bam feels better, then so be it. “just one month. After that you can decide whether to go back or to stay with him”.

- - - - -

“Mr.Bam, Mr.Bam”.

“?”

“how long have you been in this tower?”

Bam thinks, “over one millennium”.

“wha-?! That’s really long. Are you immortal?”

“no”.

“why not?”

“I’m…not ready for the consequences”.

- - - - -

“aren’t you busy, Mr.Bam?”

“no, I’m quite free”.

“then you’re okay to be my mentor right?”

“…”

- - - - -

“Mr.Bam, can I ask where are you going after this?”

“home”.

“are you going to take me?”

“…depends”.

- - - - -

After two weeks, Bam finally gathered enough courage to start a conversation.

“what do you seek in the tower?”

“I’m not sure. My mother doesn’t want me and my father doesn’t care, why I was born then? I think I’m seeking for a 'purpose’. Climbing the tower sounds fun, though I don’t know what I wanted when I reached the top yet”.

“I see”, Bam changes the subject. “then what do you seek in me?”

“huh?”

“you said you want to be my apprentice right? Why?”

“uh, that’s…because you’re strong, I want to be like you”.

“following me doesn’t guarantee you to be strong, you must train really hard to get it”.

“I know, I’ll do my best!”

- - - - -

“so you knew I’m Viole”.

“I’m a light bearer remember?”

“took you long enough”, Bam teased.

“the information was buried quite deep”, Khun defended.

“then…are you afraid of me?”

“no, why should I?”, Khun quickly replied, “you, a really great person and also one of the legends, watching over me from all people? I couldn’t think of anything better!”

- - - - -

“Mr.Bam!”, Khun is determined, “please be my mentor!”

“even when you’re aware that we’re in a different class? I’m a wave controller, I can’t teach you much about being a lightbearer, you know that”.

“but they’re a perfect combination right? Besides, you have the experiences and acquaintances”.

“I also have enemies you know?”

“that’s why I want to be stronger and fight with you!”

“…”, this Khun looks just like the younger him, full of passion and spirit. He can’t refuse that look, can he?, “it’ll be a very long path, are you sure?”

“yes!”

- - - - -

“did you make this yourself, Mr.Bam?!”, Khun exclaimed after tasting his pasta.

Bam nods.

“it’s so good! The best one I’ve ever tasted. Can you teach me?”

“sure”.

- - - - -

Bam uses his ability to heal Khun’s injury that he got on the training.

“oww”.

“when I said train really hard, I don’t mean this hard”, Bam can’t help but smile remembering his own training days when he passed out from exhaustion at least once a week, what an irony. Luckily Khun only got a few light scratches, so it’ll only take a few minutes to heal, “be careful next time”.

“…okay”.

- - - - -

Bam starting to get used to Khun and without realizing, their bond is getting stronger.

They’ve been together for almost 7 years and now on their way to the 23rd floor.

“you did a good job”, Bam patted his head.

“I’m not a kid!”

“but you like it, don’t you?”

“s-shut up!”, Khun blushed out of embarrassment because he’s being watched by his teammates right now, “don’t do that in front of them!”, Khun whisper-shouted at Bam.

Bam chuckled, “too late, they’ve seen it”.

Bam is close to all of his team members as well, seems like Bam slowly becomes not only their mentor but also a father figure, though none of them think of it that way…yet.

- - - - -

“Mr.Bam, I have a question”, Khun asked him.

“what is it?”

“the blue thing you always bring, what’s that?”

Bam gingerly took out the blue fabric from his pocket and unfolded it, “it’s…his. He once wore it as a hair tie”.

“oh…I see”, Khun recognized the pattern, “He must be really important to you”.

“yeah, he is”.

- - - - -

“I just realized you never called me by name, Mr.Bam”.

Bam just realized it as well, “uh…”

“that’s okay, you don’t need to”.

- - - - -

One of Khun’s teammates died on the test, Khun was quite close to her and he’s getting a bit down because of it.

Khun sat beside Bam and curled himself up. It’s not like him to be sad about it, but at the moment, he just needs someone to guide him through this new emotion.

“Mr.Bam, how does it feel to lost someone?”

“depends. If you don’t really know them, you might only be upset for awhile. But if you deeply care for them, it may feel even worse than the death itself”.

“you’ve experienced it right? the second one”.

“…yeah”.

“will the feeling ever go away?”

“I don’t know, I guess it won’t”, Bam confessed, “you just have to get used to it”.

“…I’m sorry. It must be hard for you too”.

They sat in silence. Khun is mourning for his late friend while Bam reminiscing about his own past.

They said death give meaning to life. By knowing everything didn’t last forever, Bam has came to appreciate every moments that he had experienced.

The happy and exciting moments, the harsh and tense moments, every laugh, every tears, every fight, every wounds that he shared, with them, with his friends and with both Khuns. Every one of them are precious, even the most painful one.

Now it’s time for him to reconcile with the past so he could live in the present.

“you know?”, Bam broke the silence, “it’s okay to be upset, you can mourn over her for as long as it takes and in any way you like. But remember to cherish every moments that life gives, don’t let your grief hold you back from the world around you”.

Khun processed the words for a moment, but he has yet to understand it. Even so, he smiled to appreciate Mr.Bam’s efforts.

Bam smiled back.

A moment passed.

“Mr.Bam”.

“hm?”

“may I ask what happened to. . .him?”

“…”

“I-I’m sorry, just forget it. You don’t have to answer—”.

“no, it’s okay. You deserve to know”, Bam prepares himself for the inevitable. “that time we were in the middle of a fight, the enemies were tough and we went on our separate ways. Then he…got hit pretty bad. I got his message and immediately went to his place, there’s blood everywhere, from both him and the enemies. He’d lost too much of his own that there’s no chance that he would survived, I was a little too late”. Bam went quiet for a moment as his vision began to blur.

Khun listened intently.

“we had a short talk, and that time I just realized how much he cared for me. Everything that he did since the beginning was all for me, to be with me, even when we disagreed on each other plan, in the end he always went with mine and did his best to make it succeed. I…regret that I realized his feeling far too late”, Bam looked away so Khun won’t see the tears that threatening to spill from his eyes. “I was too focused on gathering power to protect others that I forgot I also dragged my friends into the danger. I asked for too much that I ended up losing mine”.

A moment of silence before Khun finally decided to say something to ease the awkwardness.

“Mr.Bam, what was he like?”

“he’s…”, Bam stared at the distance, trying to remember his happy moments with him. “he’s smart but also cunning, a perfectionist and a bit manipulative when it came into planning. He always went with the most rational ways, really the opposite of me”, Bam smiled, “people might say he’s cold and heartless, but once you know him, you’d know that he cared. He’s my most trusted someone, my best friend”, Bam looks at Khun warmly, “he was just like you”.

“I remember Mr.Isu said you used to be the heart of your team, is that means he’s the brain?”, Khun joked.

Bam chuckled, “you could say that”.

- - - - -

They met Shibisu’s team on the way to the 36th floor, Rak is there too.

“it’s black turtle!”, cheered Rak.

“Bam!”, Shibisu greeted him, “you look…different, but in a good way”.

“really?”

“yes. Glad everything went well”, Shibisu smiled and gave him a few pats on the shoulder.

While Bam get to greet the others, Shibisu approached Khun who’s gathering with his teammates, “hey there”.

“oh, Mr.Isu, long time no see”, Khun greeted.

“I just want to thank you, for not giving up on him”.

“there’s no need, I’m the one who should thank you for helping me”.

“you’re welcome all the same”, Shibisu patted his head. “anyways, I heard from Bam that you’re all getting promoted to D-class regulars yesterday, how about I treat you guys tonight to celebrate it?”

- - - - -

“so he’s the new blue turtle?”

“turtle??”, Khun raised an eyebrow.

“he’s his own person, Rak”, Bam objected.

“I’ll still call him blue turtle though”.

- - - - -

“so Mr.Rak, are you a crocodile or an alligator?”, Khun asked him.

“…”, Rak stared at him in astonishment, “it’s really weird on how different and similar you turtles are”.

- - - - -

“let me get this straight. You’re not only knew Ms.Endorsi but you guys are also friends with her?!?”, said one of Khun’s teammates who’s a big fan of her, “my goodness, I’m so lucky to be here”.

“you want me to introduce you to her?”, Shibisu offered.

“yes please!!”

“don’t get your hopes too high tho, she might be different than what you think”.

- - - - -

“oh my! It’s-it’s really you!!”, he cheered, “m-may I get your sign p-please?”

“no”, Endorsi replied coldly.

“but—”

“when I said no then it’s a no”.

They can somehow hear his heart shattered.

Endorsi glanced around after finding no more interest on him, and Khun immediately caught her attention, “hm?”, she observed him more carefully, “wait, you seem familiar”, and then she looked at Bam, “ah!!”

“yeah, I get that a lot”, Khun chuckled, he’s starting to get used to it.

Bam covered his mouth to hide his amusement.

- - - - -

They continue their journey. While Rak stays with Bam, Khun and the others, they parted with Shibisu’s team because they have another business to attend.

Years passed, Khun and his team has grown stronger. Now they’re on their way to the 50th floor, just a few more floors left to where Bam once lived.

“Mr.Bam, we’re almost there right?”

“yeah”.

“are you…going to stay there once we arrived?”

“I guess so”.

“won’t you come with us?”

“you’re not kids anymore, you don’t need me to watch over you everytime”.

Khun couldn’t argue if Mr.Bam already made up his mind. And he’s also right, he can’t depend on him forever. Though he’s hoping that Mr.Bam can watch over him for a little longer.

- - - - -

“so this is it?”

Khun and the team arrived at the 53rd floor, along with Bam and Rak.

“Rak, could you show them where I live?”, Bam asked, “I have something to do”.

Rak understands. He knew that Bam needs some time for himself after years away from his 'home’, so he’ll help him to buy some time. “come, turtles! The leader Rak will show you the way!”

They all followed Rak. Well, except for Khun of course, who’s secretly following Bam out of his curiosity.

“you don’t need to hide”, Bam easily caught his act.

“sorry”, Khun came to walk alongside him, “so where are you going?”

Bam doesn’t need to answer him as they have reached the destination and entered a flower shop.

“welcome! Oh it’s you, long time no see”, the shopkeeper greeted him. “and who’s this?”

“I’m his apprentice”, Khun answered proudly.

“I see”, the shopkeeper smiled at Khun, she picked up a book called 'the language of flowers’ from the counter and handed it to him, “here, maybe you’ll be interested”. She returned her attention to Bam, “so what can I get you?”

“may I have a white stargazer lily with daffodils, a red rose and a sweet pea, please?”

“that’s new”.

“also, do you have pink tulips?”

“yes, let me pick them up”.

- - - - -

Such a peaceful face, as if he were sleeping. Mr.Bam was right, he looks just like him.

They stood in front of a grave which surface is covered with glass that allows them to see the inside quite clearly.

Bam kneels, he took the withered flowers off the nearby vase and replaced it with the one he bought. One red rose (love), a sweet pea (thank you, farewell/see you again) and daffodils (rebirth, new beginning).

Khun stays quiet and let Bam mourn for his late friend.

“I’m back. Thanks for waiting”, Bam whispered to himself. He could sit there all day, talking about the last few years when he was away, there’s so much he wants to tell him, but he decided to do it next time as right now Khun is with him.

Bam handed Khun a white stargazer lily (sympathy) for him to place it himself, “here, if you want to”.

Khun gladly took the lily and place it in the vase.

- - - - -

They went back to where his team were waiting. Rak was trying to make them busy and relieved when Bam came back.

“here, I bought you something”, Bam took the pink tulips and gave one to each of them, “it stands for good wishes”.

“so you really are staying Mr.Bam?”, they look dissapointed.

“yeah”, he’s also not willing to let them go, but “don’t worry, you’re welcome here anytime”.

- - - - -

The day before his team went to take the exam to the next floor, Khun came back to the flower shop.

“may I borrow the book you show me that day?”

“sure, go ahead”.

Khun picked up the book and began reading, he searched for the meaning he’s looking for and decided which flower he wants to buy. “do you have azalea?”

- - - - -

After they departed, Bam came back to his house and noticed the small new flower tree in his backyard, there’s also a note beside it that reads 'take care’. He smiled warmly.

Rak apparently, had gone with them as their guardian. Cause without realizing, he’s been attached to them as well.

Bam admits that he misses them already, but right now he needs some time for himself.

- - - - -

It’s indeed different without Mr.Bam, everyone in the team thinks so too.

Normally, after they successfully passed a test, Mr.Bam would gave every one of them a pat on the head and said “good job guys!”. Even if they can call him, it just doesn’t feel the same.

They also miss his cooking, nobody in the team can make dinner as good as him. Eating them after a hard day training has become their routine, it’s always boosted up their mood.

When there’s doubt, Mr.Bam always there to help them, even only to gave them company. They realized that he’s become the heart of their team as well.

And now everything’s different, but they can’t depend on Mr.Bam forever, it’s their chance to proof that they can stand on their own feets.

- - - - -

Bam spend his first few weeks mostly in the cemetery, he has a lot to talk about with.

Khun and the team call him once in a while, usually just to inform him on how they’re doing.

About one year later Shibisu and his team arrived at 53rd floor, they paid Bam a visit. They had a small party in his house, the first party after…well, after they got Bam back thousand years ago from workshop battle. Nothing much to mention though, mostly just absurdity, but at least they had fun. They stayed there for a month before leaving.

And Bam is back to his routine.

- - - - -

Khun and the others are on video call, “Mr.Bam, how are you?”

“I’m fine”.

“by the way, we’ve made it to 57th floor!”

“oh! congrats!”

“and the food here is quite good, I suppose you’ve tried it already but let’s eat together some time”.

“sure thing”.

- - - - -

Wangnan suddenly contacted Bam. He sent him a photo of Khun and his team with Rak nearby that he took secretly.

“V-viole, am I seeing this right?!”

“huh?”, Bam takes a closer look at the picture, “yeah”.

“b-but—, wha—?, how?! I thought—”

“no, he’s not him, if that’s what you’re asking”.

“huh??…hmm…ohh!”, it clicked, “that means you know them right?”

“yes”, Bam said somehow proudly.

“then I’ll go greet them”.

- - - - -

“Mr.Bam, can you please tell Mr.Rak not to be lazy?”, Khun complained.

“I’m not!”

“you eat bananas all day and always wake up really late, how’s that not lazy?!”

“you’re the one who should take it easy, you damn blue turtle! Don’t overwork yourself”.

“guys, come on”, Bam shook his head in amusement.

- - - - -

“I heard the floor you’re staying now isn’t really safe”, Bam contacted them, “be careful okay?”

“got it!”

- - - - -

“uhh Mr.Bam”, they’re on the call, “we met this strange ranker that you might know”, said one of them, “he also called you by your other name”, Khun added.

“I’m not strange”, Jinsung ha took over the call, “I’m just asking on how’s my Viole doing”.

“your Viole?”, they raised their eyebrows.

“a high ranker talking to us regulars is already strange, how did you know that we know Mr.Bam?”, one of them retorted.

“he’s my disciple, of course I know”.

“is that true Mr.Bam?”

“well, yea”.

“Viole never told you about me?!”, Jinsung looks dissapointed.

“uhh”, they try to avoid eye contact.

- - - - -

How long has it been? 3 years maybe. Khun and his team has reached 64th floor, time sure flies really fast.

“M-Mr.Bam!”, one of Khun’s teammates calls him in distress.

Bam quickly senses something’s wrong, “what is it?”

“it’s Khun—”

- - - - -

Bam didn’t think twice and immediately went to their place, it took him only 2 days to arrive.

Khun is lying on the bed, bandages covering all over his torso. His friends were also there, one in the room with Rak and the rest of them are on the balcony.

Bam slammed open the door, “Khun!”

“Mr.Bam?!?”, Khun didn’t expect him to be there.

Bam is thankful just to know Khun is alive, he sighed with relief. But still, “you scared me”.

“sorry”.

Bam uses his skill to heal him, but because his wound is quite severe, it’ll still needs time to heal.

Meanwhile, Khun wants to yell at whoever called Mr.Bam with 'didn’t I tell you not to call him?!’, but he keeps it to himself. Because since Mr.Bam is already here, he can’t ask him to go back, there’s no need for him to be mad anymore.

The room is quiet, Khun tries to think of something else to preoccupied his mind so that the pain won’t hurt too much.

Khun suddenly realized something, “by the way, Mr.Bam”.

“hm?”

“that’s the first time you called my name”.

- - - - -

“don’t move too much”, Bam warned Khun, “your wound hasn’t healed yet”.

But Khun is itching to move from his boring bed, he sighed and gave Bam a pleading stare.

“don’t give me that look, you know it’s for the best”.

- - - - -

“Mr.Bam, do I need to add the salt or the pepper first?”

“it doesn’t matter, the point is to make it tasty”.

“but I thought cooking has rules”, Khun is confused.

“it does. But it’s not as complicated as you think”.

- - - - -

Urek is with them, wearing a formal clothes with a bouquet of flowers on his hand, “how do I look?”

“great”.

“then, wish me luck, baby~!”

After he left, Rak whispered to Bam, “I bet ten bananas that the hopeless turtle gonna get rejected”.

Bam facepalmed internally, “are we seriously going with this again?”

- - - - -

“Bam!!”, Yuri approached him with outstretched arms, “how are you?”

“ah, Miss.Yuri”, Bam returned the hug, “I’m fine”.

Meanwhile in the distance, Evan has his attention on Khun, “huh? Aren’t you—”

“dead? Nope”, Khun quickly answered him, “did I know you?”

- - - - -

“so, what have you learned from Mr.Evan?”, Bam asked.

“should I explain it or demonstrate them instead?”, Khun said with a smug.

- - - - -

One day Bam suddenly had a weird feeling. It’s really rare for him to feel so…insecure, probably because he misses 'him’. He decided to have a short talk with Khun.

“what is it, Mr.Bam?”

“are you going to be okay on your own?”

“why did you ask? Are you feeling homesick?”

“not exactly, but you could say that”.

Khun gave him a smile, “I can take care of myself, don’t worry about me”.

- - - - -

Bam came back from his walk, he opened the door and shouted, “I’m back!”, like always. But no one answered, that’s odd. He took a few steps forward, “Rak?”, he shouted again, still no answer, “Khun? Everyone?”, the room is still quiet.

Then he stepped on something, a paper with an address written on it, there’s also a message on the back that make his stomach dropped. “meet me at the place I mentioned tomorrow unless you want them dead”.

- - - - -

Khun and his team were being kidnapped by someone who holds a grudge against Bam. After a long talk, they finally settled on a deal. In exchange for their lives, Bam took an unknown curse that condemned him to die in a few weeks.

Everyone hardly slept for days to find the cure. If they can’t find it soon, Bam has no other choice. He’s almost at his limit.

Unfortunately, despite how much time they spent, they still found nothing. Let alone on how to get rid of the curse, there’s not even a single mention about it.

“that’s enough guys, thank you for your hard work”, Bam spoke up, “there’s no need for that anymore”.

“are you giving up black turtle!?”, Rak couldn’t believe what he had just heard, “it’s not like you to give up that easily”.

“what can I say?”, Bam gave a halfhearted laugh as he rolled up his sleeve to reveal his arm, everyone who saw it could tell that they’re running out of time.

“I don’t want it to end like this!”, one of them cried.

“it’s not the end”, Bam reassured.

“there must be a way!”

Bam felt some kind of deja vu.

“Bam…”, Shibisu called him.

“?”

Shibisu turned his head to look at Khun who’s sitting in the corner, still fixed up on his lighthouse. Typing, searching, reading, anything to keep himself busy and pretend all of the conversations that he heard isn’t real.

Bam realized that Khun has been very silent for a long time, though he can understand what Khun might feel right now, it must be the same feeling of helplessness, just like that day.

Bam approached him and spoke softly, “you can stop now”.

Khun’s hands halted, he didn’t move an inch and keep staring at the screen.

“I’m sorry”, Bam apologized.

Khun’s eyes watered, he placed his clenched fists on his lap and bowed his head, trying not to breakdown.

“are you mad at me?”

Khun quickly shook his head. He isn’t mad at Bam, he’s mad at himself who can’t find a way to help him. He’s a lightbearer damn it, it’s his job to find informations to help his team. But he failed. His tears started falling down one after another.

Bam took a step forward and held him closer in an embrace. Khun quickly wrapped his arms tightly around him and started sobbing into his clothes.

“don’t cry”.

Khun shook his head again, how can he not cry at a time like this?! Khun hugs him tighter and buried his face deeper into him.

The room is quiet, Bam keep stroking his hair until he calmed down.

“I don’t mind dying as long as you’re safe”, Bam tries to reassure him.

“but I don’t want it if it means you won’t be here!”, Khun shouted his pent up frustration.

Bam is at a loss for words because he knew the feeling too well.

His teammates approached them one by one and Bam pulled them into a group hug.

“don’t leave us, Mr.Bam”, one of them cried.

“Mr.Bam… ”, they sobbed.

Bam closes his eyes and appreciate their warmth for the last time, “that day, I never thought that I’ll get the chance to experience happiness again. But you proved that I was wrong. The time that I spent with you are one of the best gift that life ever gave to me”, Bam smiled, “thank you”.

All of them breaking into tears, they hug Bam tighter and no one wants to let go.

They stay like that for a while before Bam pulled away from the hug and patted their heads, “take care, okay?”

“no, please don’t leave us”.

“Mr.Bam…”

Bam approached Rak and paused before him.

“black turtle…”, Rak is filled with so much emotions, he doesn’t know what else to say.

Bam kneels and pulled Rak into a hug, Rak immediately returned the gesture.

“don’t be sad, Rak. It’s fine”, but a tear trickled down his cheek because it hurts him to say goodbye. He felt his heart crumbles into pieces as he said, “it’s fine”, but even so, he smiles, “because, I can finally see him again”.

Rak tighten his hug.

“oh Bam…”, Shibisu instinctively went to comfort him.

They eventually pulled out from the hug. Rak didn’t say anything but anyone can tell that he’s upset, and so does Shibisu. They want to cry, to scream, anything that can prevent Bam to leave, but they know it won’t, so they hold their feeling back and keep themselves strong, for Bam and everyone else’s sake.

“Rak, Isu, take care. I’ll leave them to you”.

“of course!”

“you don’t have to ask”.

- - - - -

They were devastated. Not only Khun and his teammates, but also all of Bam’s close friends who’s got the unexpected news.

Meanwhile, Khun accidentally found an unfinished photo album in Bam’s work desk when he’s about to clean his room. He opened it out of curiosity.

Inside, there’s a photo when he and his team finally got promoted into D-class regulars, with a handwritten 'I’m proud of you!’ on the corner. A photo of them lying around on the ground full of sweat after a hard day training, with a handwritten 'keep it up!’

There’s also photos of them on their first cooking lesson, when they accidentally set the kitchen on fire. A photo when they had a sleepover after an exhausting day. Also a photo when they had a fight against each other over a silly thing. There’s even a photo of his late friend’s funeral.

Khun can’t help the tears that already streaming down on his face. He remembered that Mr.Bam once told him to cherish every moments that he experienced, because now he finally understood how valuable those moments are.

- - - - -

“Bam!”, a familiar blue haired man waved his hand in the distance.

Bam turned to look at him. Realizing who it is, he smiles brightly and came running to get him, almost knocking him off with a hug.

“I missed you!”, Bam burst into happy tears, “I missed you so much!”

Khun chuckled, “I missed you more”.

#tower of god #tog #bam #baam #khun #koon #25th bam #25th baam #khun aguero agnis #shibisu #ship leesoo #rak #rak wraithraiser #khunbam #koonbaam #bamxkhun #my art #fanfic #my fanfic

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