Haneul fell asleep. The slow draw in and out from his chest showed that he had finally calmed down enough to rest. Loathe to separate, Hrafn battled with himself before reluctantly acquiescing. Carefully he lifted Haneul and stood, carrying the man to his bedroom. He methodically removed the suit jacket and placed the man upon the bedding. He loosened the tie and removed socks and shoes, then set the clothing at the footboard. Drawing a blanket over Haneul, he wondered what it would be like to crawl in as well. To hold the human in his arms once more and close his eyes to forget everything else. 

His fist clenched and he turned away, hurrying out as his wings shuffled anxiously. 

Distressed, he ran his hand through his hair and returned to the living room. He swung the french doors open and stood out on the balcony. It was not often that he came outside in this spot, there were too many possible eyes from across the other buildings. But right now it was late and he could hear if Haneul or anyone else needed anything. He perched himself on the edge of the guardrail and inhaled deeply before exhaling. 

What was he doing? 

Closing his eyes he tried to picture Bjarnstar and the rolling fields of violet foliage during the sun season. Or he thought of the glassy marbling of the world’s surface as the cold season sealed its vice grip and turned the tundra and farmlands into layers upon layers of ice. Then the image of the garrison rose, hidden between jagged crags of the planet, only visible because of the glimmering stained glass of the throne room.

Broken stained glass. A spear through a friend's head.

He heaved a growl.

The front door opened—his ears shifted as he heard two pairs of feet. He turned to see both Ha-Rin and Chief Seong making their way through the living room. They joined him on the patio balcony. 

“How is he?” Ha-Rin asked.

Hrafn shrugged. “Asleep for now, he was very drained earlier.”

“When he blew right past me, I knew something was up.” Chief Seong rubbed his forehead, stress-lines visible. “Once I got you in, Hrafn, I called Secretary Yun. She filled me in on what happened.”

Ha-Rin bit her lip. “How bad was it?”

“Bad enough,” Hrafn said and hopped down from the rail. “The woman took…certain liberties with him and upon his return, he became unstable for some time. I stopped him before anything serious occurred.”

“Augh, shit.”

Chief Seong seemed sick.

Sighing, Hrafn felt he could surmise the answer to his question already. “This has happened before, hasn’t it?”

“Regrettably, people think he’s handsy just because he’s rich,” Ha-Rin sounded exasperated, and she gave a look to Chief Seong. “And his grandmother thinks it’s bad PR for Haneul to visit any sort of counseling.”

The security guard sagged a bit. “When we were all in school together, he went by an alias, one where no one would care about him. There were some who were bold and got too close just because he was easy on the eyes. But it wasn’t until we graduated and it became public knowledge that he was the heir to H&H Conglomerate that people became…”

“Too much. Ready to make a bed with Haneul in it just to get a hand into his family.” Ha-Rin finished, hugging her arms against her chest. “He escaped it for a little bit when he did his mandatory military service, but when he came back, it was as if nothing had changed.”

“He is not some item to be manhandled, is that not common sense?” Hrafn demanded as his close lidded anger threatened to boil over. 

“If he were a woman it wouldn’t be different—probably ten-times worse.” Chief Seong explained. “He’s young, good-looking, and wealthy. Anyone with ambition in this industry of rich folk bartering would want to take possession of him.”

“That’s not right,” Hrafn said hollowly. But it dawned on with a growing acid pit in his stomach that he knew this path. To use an asset to their fullest capability regardless of the effect on them. He—the council—they all played this game too. The only difference was now he had an attachment to the victim. He should’ve begun his pursuit of a self-sustaining planet versus a warmongering planet much sooner. How many others like Haneul had been crushed under his regime’s heel because they needed a pawn?

“Haneul should take tomorrow to rest,” Hrafn said, clenching his fists. “No fathers or work. Nothing extraneous.” 

Ha-Rin shook her head. “I doubt he would want to miss more work. And even if Secretary Yun covers for him, his father would come regardless. Based on Haneul’s condition and your reaction, Chairman Kim will have a few choice words with Haneul to save face and apologize to his fianceé. Regardless of if he was right, he made a scene and created a nightmare publicity situation. I can see it now ‘H&H Director Lashes Out Wantonly at Innocent Dinner Partner’.”

“Who was it, do you know?” Chief Seong asked.

Hrafn gave a huffed negative.

“Whoever she is, she sounds like a real bitch.” Ha-Rin  grunted. “Haneul isn’t supposed to make a scene but that doesn’t mean that I can’t for him.”

Chief Seong gave her a light punch to the shoulder. “Whoa there, enough of that.”

“You all are close then.” Hrafn hummed. “The three of you.”

“Well yeah. We mentioned earlier, we all went to school together. Granted this old-fart is three years our senior though, so he didn’t get to hang out with us for long.”

“One year was enough. Between the two of you, I aged twice as fast.” Chief Seong waved his hand dramatically. “Still do.”

He and Ha-Rin laughed, it was a weak sound without much mirth behind it. Their gazes lingered to the hallway where Haneul’s room was. They both seemed to be at a loss.

“Ha-Rin, please call Haneul in ill. For me.” Hrafn said, trying to pull them back. “He will have to deal with his father, but we can at least take him somewhere afterwards. Away from all of this.” It was hard not to sound hopeful.

“What about the beach?” Chief Seong asked after a pause. “If our old haunt is there, we can go out at dark. Hrafn would be able to come too.”

Hrafn’s ears perked up—had they thought of leaving him behind?

Ha-Rin tapped her chin. “If we use my work van, Hrafn could fit without being so crunched up. There’d also be less of a chance of him being seen.”

“So you’ll do it?” He egged on.

“On the condition that you’ll remain hidden when Haneul’s father inevitably swings by,” she demanded, hands on her hips. “There will probably be a lot of frustration and anger to go around. But you cannot help him.”

Hrafn found he disliked these terms but saw no way around the bargain. So he agreed.

The kitchen was quiet. Ha-Rin had gone home and for everyone’s ease, she decided to keep Charles at her veterinary practice. Chief Seong changed shifts with the next security guard until midday, so Hrafn was bound to the penthouse for the whole morning. Secretary Yun had vowed, via reassurance from Ha-Rin, to cover for Haneul that day—which only secured Chairman Kim’s oncoming obtrusion.

But they all just had to hold out until nightfall.

“A beach,” Hrafn murmured. He cleaned up the knives scattered along the kitchen counter and floor.

Earth’s oceans and the concept of beaches often saturated both the television and in books he’d read. But to see one in person, he found himself eager. There were no oceans in Bjarndyr’s sun system—not on Meotl and not on Bjarnstar. But he forced himself to remember this would not be a mere pleasure holiday. This was a trip to pull Haneul away from his lifestyle, if only for a few hours. Placing the knives back in the block, there was a flash of panicked gold eyes.

He stopped and stared at his claws on the granite countertop. Afraid of another human but not of him, the touch of the same species had been spurned while a foreign alien touch had been welcomed.

His wings shuffled. 

“I’m not entirely stupid, y’know. I can guess from how you said ‘extraordinarily special’. If I could choose, I wouldn’t mind. I would be more than happy to choose you.” Haneul’s voice while drained had not lacked the importance behind these words. Reciprocation.

Hrafn searched the fridge to make breakfast for Haneul. He would not think about it. He would not think about their interactions until Haneul could decide for himself and feel better. Hrafn had been honest in his feelings. But the same could not be said for his human—he couldn’t expect the man to be honest either. Given the two options Haneul had provided in partners that night, no wonder Hrafn had been a preferred choice over whoever the marriage partner was. If there was a better and kinder human, Hrafn was certain he would not have been a choice. 

Yet the sensation of skin beneath his fingertips and the gentle brush of sweat-dampened hair bloomed in Hrafn’s head. A soft warm voice. A touch seeking reassurance. 

He bonked his head against one of the shelves in the fridge as he reached for a gallon of milk. 

That was not a good memory. None of last night could be considered positive. Haneul had needed solace, not someone fawning over him. Given the circumstances, he’d offered comfort. Nothing more or nothing less. That had been his decision to make. Haneul had needed solace, not someone fawning over him.

Swearing to himself, he vowed to continue his indifference.