Labyrinth | 미궁 STORIES

꽃밭 | Flower Field

Duckgae/Baedi

comments appreciated! both english & korean is fine~~
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Baedi had been missing for days. Duckgae stared out the windows, the bright blue sky radiating joy and happiness and freedom. He was technically allowed to be outside, as long as he didn't get caught.

He and his family were living in a flower field. A royal flower field, to be exact, and they worked for the upper class. No one told Duckgae anything, and for the longest time he had been living in the illusion of richness. Not until Baedi told him that flowers weren't money and dirt was beauty.

His past self had been so native. Gullible.

He wasn't anymore.

Of course, he pretended he was to get a free pass. In their eyes, he was only thirteen, after all.

The reason why he couldn't go out was because he was a canine. A golden retriever hybrid, living in the kingdom of vegetarian omnivores.

Baedi was a bear. She loved eating dandelions, and Duckgae never understood her.

Just when Duckgae was about to doze off, a face appeared on the window. Duckgae gasped and fell backwards, his tail curling inwards in surprise.

"What the fuck, Baedi!" Duckgae growled, "I was going to take a nice nap!"

Baedi replied something through the windows. Duckgae couldn't really tell what, but the way her ears were flickering, it was probably along the lines of, 'Language, now can we go play in the fields?'

Duckgae sighed and went to his room.

A few minutes later, he was outside with an overexcited Baedi.

"DUCKGAEEE!!! I'M SORRY I TOOK SO LONG MY FATHER'S FRIEND VISITED AND HE WAS REALLY, REALLY BAD SO I HAD TO STAY IN MY ROOM MOST OF THE TIME BUT I'M HERE NOW!" Baedi screamed, in all caps. Duckgae muted her by slapping the top of her head.

"Quiet."

"Okaaayyy..." Baedi pouted. She was over it seconds later and dragged Duckgae far away from his house. "LET'S GOOOOO!!!!"

"I can't believe you're older than me." Duckgae complained while being dragged through the fields.

"Just by a little bit!" Baedi replied cheerfully.

"You're fifteen, you should not be this hyper-"

"WELL I AM! Brighten up, puppy!"

"D-Don't c-call me that!"

"Okay cutie-pie~"

"I think you can shut up now."

Eventually, the duo reached their destination. Sunflowers that grew almost taller than them, and they could not be seen if they sat down. They'd come here so often, especially Duckgae, that they knew the layout even in their dreams.

"I have a present for you!" Baedi presented a picnic basket and a flower crown made of roses. "Isn't it pretty?"

"...Very pretty, Baedi."

Baedi purred, launching herself to Duckgae. The two were both blushing.

"We should probably eat." Duckgae said after a few minutes.

"Yeah, probably." Baedi replied, unmoving.

"...Baedi."

"Yes?"

"..."

"Okayy, fine, but you owe me cuddles later."

"It seems like I always owe you cuddles."

"You like it!"

Duckgae didn't reply, knowing his defeat. As always.

"Look, for dessert I made golden retriever cookies!"

"You can't cook?"

"A lot can happen in a month."

...

"D-Duckgae? What's wrong?" Baedi looked over to the golden retriever, who looked like he was close to tears. Baedi held the last cookie in her hand after a quarrel on who deserves the last remaining piece.

"I just-" Duckgae's voice failed him, and he waited a few seconds before continuing, "I was just... Really worried about you."

"...You know you don't need to worry about me, puppy. You know I can take care of myself... When I have to."

"I know that! But... I just thought what if-"

"They don't know about us. They don't know you're still alive, Duckgae. I made sure of that."

Duckgae didn't reply for a full minute. He then burst out, grabbing Baedi's hand, "But what if they did somehow find us? The prince, who is actually a princess of the kingdom is in love with a dangerous, murderous canine slave who apparently got into an accident two years ago? Who should've died, but is still alive, and-"

Baedi silenced him by pulling him close, her head over his shoulders. The bear's purr relaxed Duckgae, but only slightly.

"Shhh. Duckgae, no one's found out yet. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. And maybe that'll never happen, hmm?" Baedi pat Duckgae's back, and allowed a relieved smile when his tail started wagging. She continued, "I'll become queen of this cursed kingdom, and make it right. Only about five more years, Duckgae. It's okay. Time goes fast, you know."

"That's what I'm terrified of..."

"There may be some things that go wrong, but..." Baedi paused for a second, "...You love me, right?"

"Of course I do." Duckgae replied with choked breaths, tears pooling on Baedi's hair.

"I do too. We'll get through this together. I'll always be there for you, and I know you'll always be there for me. I will always, always believe in you, Duckgae. I promise that."

"...You make horrible promises."

"Not this one."

Duckgae heard the seriousness in her tone. The very rare tone that Duckgae almost never heard.

"...Thank you."

"Always, anytime my puppy."