Chapter Text
All the chaos was freshly ended, just 2 weeks after the final battle and Barrow's death. All citizens of the Roan could finally have some peace of heart. However the same thing couldn't be said about the nobles who now has more paperwork than they ever did in their lives. There was officials falling sick left and right thanks to all the work they had to done, making life even harder for those who are still standing.It was certainly even worse for a red and blond haired sworn sibling duo. Even though Cale was frustrated that he still couldn't get his slacker life after killing the white radish, he understood this paperwork had to be done one way or another.
Currently Cale was slaving away in his room, trying to deal with the absurd amount of paperwork laying in his desk. Alberu was just 2 rooms away from him as he came (escaped from the officials) to visit the war hero Cale. He has brought a carriage of paperwork for Cale and twice as much for himself. Hong was curled up napping comfortably on his lap while On was staring at Cale with a concerned look in her eyes upon realizing how pale Cale's face was. While he wasn't skiing meals like he had done during war, he still didn't sleep properly while trying to finish the paperwork. Of course, thanks to Vitality of the Heart Cale didn't actually feel tired or sick. It was simply his already very white skin turning to it's actual color as he hasn't get out and see the sun for a while. Maybe him using record occasionaly to be faster had an affect on this paleness too. Raon has went to see Eruhaben after getting bored with Cale just signing and writing papers.
Cale, oblivious to On's gaze on him, let out a groan through gritted teeth while also keeping it low enough to not wake Hong up, somehow making the groan almost sound pained- No, actually it was pained. Cale felt his head throbbing with every move as the voices were being as loud as usual.
-XXX this paperwork! Cale, let's do something fun!
-Sob... Cale let's rest a little
-Crybaby is right, Cale. You need to balance work and rest to have an enjoyable life.
'I wouldn't be needing to rest if you all would just shut up.' Cale thought before trying to focus back on the paper in front of him. He was incredibly bored. He decided it wouldn't be hurt to use record to play one of the songs he used to listen to while working. Before he even realized he was singing he started to hum along the song.
... been movi.. in backward direc.....
During astral projections
I plast.. .. ... on the wall for attention
I need faster connections
Some of the words were not audible as he was unknowingly muttering under his breath and not outwardly singing. However, having the great and mighty hearing senses of a dragon, Raon could hear his voice from right outside the door. With his quick mind he quickly realized the soothing yet tired (too tired for Raon's liking) sound was too quiet. 'He must be just muttering' he thought. Coming to think of it Cale was not one to sing regularly anyway. He decided he must record this. 'Human's soothing voice not giving orders among chaos but peacefully singing should be there in the museum too.' He sneaked in with invisibility with a recording device in his paws. He quickly connected to the closest communication device, Alberu's room.
Alberu was confused to see his device glowing red, meaning it's from his dear dongsaeng. He was just about 10 steps away, why would he use the communication orb? Was there something wrong? He quickly accepted the call only to see Raon.
"Cookie prince! I caught human singing. Right now we are invisible. I also casted magic to make sure he can't hear u-" Raon shutted up after hearing Cale contunie with the lyrics.
Past is regret, I'd flash from the ......
If I didn't care what my friends did
Friеnds that pretend, wanna end whеn you get bit
Get slick, get quick, wanna spend shit
He was finally singing in a manner actually audible but why... Why did his voice sound so tired and done with it. Was it simply because of how low his voice was. Raon was't really listening to what he is saying, focusing more on his voice but the older two listening in, On and Alberu, had heard what he was saying. On's gaze had a look saying 'I knew something was wrong. Nohing is ever right with him anyway.'
Alberu just stared, not sure what to think. He was of course surprised about how good his dongsaeng's singing was but also confused about the obviously depressed tone. He had never heard such a voice from Cale before. He didn' even know he was capable of doing so. He always sounded either stoic, or it was his scamming speech. There were times he even sounded joyful or tired but never this... hopeless. Cale Henituse was a man of hope. He was like a tree's shadow and a cup of water in the middle of a desert, giving his allies long waited happiness after long lasting despair.
Ends with a sniff or a huff or injection
I can’t handle rejection, stand my reflection
Damn, no one gets it
Should I be kind and remind that I’m weak?
Ron who was coming in with lemon tea to check on his puppy young master and Vicross who was coming in with a crowded dinner as Cale skipped lunch both freezed on the door upon hearing the young master- or rather what he is singing. It wasn't hard for the assasin father&son to hide their presence. The already overworked, weak, and focused Cale was obviously blind to his surroundings. He was writing and reading documents at a pace not even the always-working crown prince could duplicate. Everyone has already realized he isnt't really aware he was singing. The sun was setting but this time the orange light falling on young master's majestic appereance wasn't just beautiful this time. It looked sad, melancholic.
Everyone in the room except Ron reacted strongly at his last question. Since this song didn't exist in this world before, it was obvious it was written by Cale and expressing his own emotions. It was painfully true that he was weak. He was strong, yes, but he was weak. Always coughing up blood and fainting, always in the frontlines witnessing every gruesome thing like it was the norm. However, at the end of the day, Cale was but 20. A 20 year old, standing in the eye of the storm. How could anyone get how he feels when no one could be as miserable as that.
Ron was horrified from the moment he first heard Cale's words. A sniff or a huff or injection... What does he mean injection? Has Cale ever done something like that before, while Ron wasn't even aware? After all this puppy- no, this son of his has collected all that ancient powers without him knowing too. 'He could've done it anytime...' realized Ron. His bening smile disappeared from his face, dropping to a face Cale would be terrified of. Hell, he somehow still managed to gain a shiver from Cale.
Seeing Cale shiver slightly along with the depressed things he was saying On decided to erase her presence and be as still as possibble, not wanting the human to remember her being in the room and stop singing. It wasn' because she wanted to keep hearing his voice, no. She would rather not hear any more sad words like this from her father but this was a door that opens rare to his actual feelings. Being the mature girl she is, she knew better than to stop this venting. She just silently hoped Hong would not wake up.
So I fall more behind every week
I'm the ’shine once guys take a peek
I cry from my eyes to my feet
Stares to the streets, to the gutters
To the sea
Eruhaben, who sensed something was wrong get out of his room. Raon has left him alone just a few minutes ago so he was fairly annoyed at the sudden scream of his gut telling him to get up from his bed. However, when he neared the unluck bastard's room he sensed Raon's spells as well as see the Molans. What was unsettling was that bothof them just stood staring inside the room there, Vicross frowning and Ron completely serious. He quickly cast the same spells as Raon before walking inside the room to hear Cale singing. Was Raon...crying? He suddenly felt a reasonless fury at the crying face of Raon, wanting to punish whoever put that tears there before realizing it was Cale. What made him realize was simply listening to what he was saying. He silently took Raon in his arms and patted his cold scales.
Cale never has been one that enjoys attention from others. It made sense he felt really uncomfortable with all the stares and shouts whenever he goes out. He must be feeling overwhelmed with it by now. But crying? Cale never cried, except for once. Even then, he claimed he wasn't feeling sad. Even now, if you tune out the song and just look at him, he didn't seem sad. He looked just focused, maybe zoned out, at his work. There was no emotion on his face except the frown at his face, caused by his headache.
when I mutter in my sleep
I say, "Mother never weep"
My brother finds blood
I say, "Shut up 'fore she sees"
'Mother... he must be missing Lady Jour still. He was such a cute child while his mother was still alive.' Thought Vicross before looking at his father, only to see him literally paling. 'Is there something that I don't know.' he questioned. He never saw his dad looking like this before except for his mother's death. Ever since they ran from the massacare, he always had a bening smile on his face. He must be missing something. 'While his mother was alive he didn' have a brother. How could a non-existent brother see blood- wait, blood?'
Ron could feel cold sweat going down his neck. Another mention of self harm or maybe even... Did young master Basen know anything? Should he ask? No, Young Master Basen was still a child. How could he be so blind to everything? He never realized anything like that before. His son has been suffering this whole time was deeper than his skin, than his blood and he never even realized? Why did this too benevolant young master even kept a useless old man like him? Wasn't anyone else aware of what's going on?
While the ancient dragon wasn't informed on Cale's family dinamics, he could realize it wasn't the best. The mention of blood wasn't lost on him. 'The blood he coughes up when he uses his powers? How is that revelant? He quickly checked what had Raon recorded untill now before failing to reach any other conclusion different from Ron's. He has said to come talk to him if he feels bad, damn it. He never came but he bottled up so many important things like this until now?! That's straight up dangerous having a man with tendencies in a war. No, actuallly it should've been obvious! What kind of human goes and gets hurt so much if not- Damn it! He should've realized before, way before but the human is too fucking good of an actor.
On really just wanted to go hug his dad but that might've make him stop. She didn't want that to happen. She sent a glance at the Molan's that was just staring there before realizing how Ron's face was way too pale. She was aware this was bad but... that bad? Was there something she wasn't aware of? Raon on the other hand, has dropped of the spells (including Alberu's communication ball) so now they were being concealed by goldie gramps instead. Also he was being pulled back from jumping at his father by the ancient dragon's way too tight grip. He wasn't an idiot! He could realize something was wrong about human by lemon gramps face and Eruhaben's anger and he wanted to go to his dad!
Won-wonder will she weep
Won-wonder where she be
Thunder on my teeth
Spittin' natural disasters
God told me,
"Don't mess with the past tense"
You’re testing the masters
'Of course Lady Jour would weep if she saw her world, her child being in such condition. I wish she could be here to comfort him at least a little...' Ron said from inside. He remembered the days Lady Jour was still alive. He was still young, having runned away with only his child. The Henituse's have taken them in despite them being former assasins, sheltered them and accepted them. He could never pay for such a big grace. Days with Lady Jour were peaceful. Son of his liege, Cale was assigned to Ron as a charge. He was even happy with it, seening the wine red haired child running around while his son Vicross was being his big brother. Those were lovely times, lovely memories.
While Eruhaben decided to focus on another part of the lyrics. God? Did that bastard of a GoD spewed bullshit to his child again? Should we just kill the death? But messing with the past tense? What did that even mean?
On agreed that Cale's every word was like thunder indeed. Heard and revered from everyone, everywhere. Hong was slightly stirring in his place. Having realized that, she clenched her teeth and accepted the fact that it was over now. What should she do when the human realized what happened, she started to ponder. Her brother would wake up with Cale's next words. What she didn't expect was that there were no next words. Cale has grimaced, upon reading a report about the plan of the museum being built, that seemed more like a graceful last dance before parting with his slacker life. Of course everyone just thought something was wrong. The silence wasn't helping the already tense mood in the room which Cale was completely oblivious to. It was not tense at all and pretty loud in his head after all.
-Man you have the shitties music taste! How boring!
-Cheapstake! You can't say that. Everyone has different taste. But seriously how does that help you focus?
-Cale if you're sad we can XXX then XXX.
Cale was surprised other than sky eating water and cheapstake was being a little quiet for about the first time. 'I guess they took pity on my pathetic helplesness with all the paperwork' After a few more minutes he started singing again as he focused on the paperwork instead of being baffled with the museum plan.
I swear on my life, I always try
But in my eyes, I can fly sigh
Better luck next time
Cale thought he really needed maybe another chance at life to get a slacker life. Before the thoughts get more depressing he reminded himself that all that was left to his suffering was another months worth of paperwork. After that he would make a farm with his children, keeping his promise to his hyungs. (Little did he know, hunters) It was only a month away.
Ron and Eruhaben was very concerned what he meant by "flying" and "next time". He wouldn't do anything serious, right? Getting lost in thoughts the ancient dragon's grip on the black dragon weakened for a moment. The opporunity wasn't wasted by the child. He rocketed himselfonto human's back, crying ans sobbing.
Cale was geniuenly scared for a moment before realizing it was Raon. He quickly took the child into his arms, next to Hong who woke up as confused as Cale. Dense one in the room also realized tears at his oldest's eyes. He pulled her to his arms too. "What's wrong?" He asked, wanting to destroy whatever it was. He then heard a long sigh behind him before he was pulled into a hug from behind. Golden hair covered his vision. He was very confused. Confused to the point if it was a manhwa he would have about at least 100 question marks behind him. Of course his pale face from using record and his overworked state, alongside the mood of the room just made him look dissociated, dazed even. He felt Eruhaben's hug tighten. "Talk to us, you bastard."
"What's wrong right now?" Cale talked as the dragon told him too. He felt like he heard something like stupid before he felt the cats pawning at his thighs and goldie gramps face on his shoulder. His chest was wet from Raon's crying. Molans duo has disappeared for five minutes before reappearing again, with a sweet tea brewed and food warmed back up. When they returned they found them the same with the addition of Alberu Crossman watching from outside the room, leaning on the wall. Perhaps he was there for a while and the shaken assasins simply didn't notice him.
Ron placed the sweet tea on his son's tray. He took all the paperwok away from his young master's table and handed them to Alberu who didn't speak out a word of protest. He has realized his dongsaeng wasn't doing as good as he thought. He needed rest after all that happened, which was only deserved. Cale finally noticed the Molans upon the food that was placed on his table wordlessly. He felt Vicross ruffling his hair and flinched but the chef just left silently. Ron came back in with a bening smile. Cale could smell something surprisingly sweet? He then saw Ron place an ACTUAL sweet tea on the table. "Enjoy your tea, young master."
Raon was crying in his arms. Eruhaben, the ancient dragon, has been hugging him for the last 5 minutes (not that he minded it). Vicross touched a human with just one pair of gloves. Even On was slightly tearing up. And, most important of all, Ron gave him actual sweet tea. 'He even said enjoy your tea... Is this going to be my last one? Am I dying or something?'