Into The Mirror

Chapter 23

There was a deafening silence between the two of them as Subin waited for what was to come. He had almost come to terms with the situation, if he was going to die, at least he was with Sejun at the end, even if it was him who killed him. If he got his revenge and was at peace with what happened to his father, and that he wouldn't hurt anyone else, Subin was okay with it. His death could save many others, and he was willing to take the risk if it saved Sejun's life.

He would willingly die for Sejun.

He waited for it to happen, yet nothing did. Subin clenched his eyes together so hard that they hurt, wanting to think about anything else than the knife pressed to his throat, until it disappeared.

The loud clatter of the metal blade hitting the stone of the balcony floor prompted Subin to open his eyes in shock. Sejun's arm dropped down to his side as he rested his forehead on the arm still pressed against Subin's chest.

"I can't do it." Whispered Sejun, sounding completely broken. He clutched at Subin's shirt, his shoulder's shaking from the sobs wracking his body.

The prince let out a shaky breath, slowly wrapping his arms around the older, wanting to comfort him but not knowing how to considering their current situation. So they ended up staying like that for, well, Subin didn't even know how long, until Sejun had found the courage to lift his head and look at Subin properly, causing another wave of tears to fall down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" He choked out, trying not to cry again. He couldn't even look him in the eye.

"Please. Just look at me." The younger lent his forehead against the older's, using both hands to cup his cheeks and make him look at him properly.

"It's okay." He tried to reassure him. "I understand."

"I could have killed you!"

"But you didn't. I trust you with my life! You have your reasons, and if it meant that you didn't hurt anyone else, it would have been okay." Subin spoke truthfully.

Sejun stared at him in disbelief.

"I love you, okay? I don't want you to die because of me!" Subin continued.

"I love you more than anything else! You think I would want to live if you're not with me? I never wanted this, any of it." He sighed. "How can you love me when I'm like this?"

"Because it's not you. Your job isn't what defines you, you can change that, but you can't change yourself." He placed his hand on Sejun's chest, over his heart. "I love you for you."

In that moment it felt like nothing else mattered. It was just the two of them, stood on the balcony, in a somewhat questionable situation, but that didn't matter. It felt like time stopped for them, to allow them to say everything that they couldn't say before, because there could be nothing left unsaid after what had happened. If anything, the whole situation had allowed them to finally fully accept everything that had happened in their lives, and also to accept themselves, seeing the other loved them for them.

~~~

"We need to sort this out." The prince turned to the assassin with a serious face.

"I know."

They had relocated back into Subin's room, and were laid together on his bed, having gotten cold outside in the cool early morning air.