MY GOLDEN BLOOD - JossGawin FanFiction

CHAPTER 9: FORBIDDEN LOVE

Evening had fallen, and the park was bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Tong sat alone on the bench, the cool night air whispering through the trees as he stared into the distance, lost in thought.

"Mark... so his name is Mark," he murmured, almost to himself. He sighed heavily, letting the name roll off his tongue as though trying to grasp its weight. "Even he has a name..."

Just as the wind picked up, carrying a faint chill, a familiar voice interrupted the quiet.

"You called me," Mark's smooth voice floated through the air. He was suddenly beside Tong as if conjured from the shadows.

Tong jumped, clutching his chest. "Damn it, Mark!"

Mark's lips curled into a small smile. "Why did you call me?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Tong, still annoyed from the shock, snorted and crossed his arms. "I didn't call you. I was just... mumbling."

Mark chuckled softly, his eyes lingering on Tong's face.

Even in his irritation, Tong was undeniably captivating—there was something about him that tugged at the corners of Mark's long-dormant heart. Yet beneath Mark's composed exterior, a dark storm brewed.

A secret he had buried so deeply that even he had almost forgotten. But with Tong's presence, the grave of his past seemed to crack open, like a festering wound that refused to heal.

The curse of the Moon Drop. It was more than just immortality and power. It brought with it endless suffering—a torment that even time couldn't erase.

Tong glanced at Mark, noticing his sudden silence. "Don't just go quiet like that," he complained. "You're scaring me."

Without warning, Mark leaned in, capturing Tong's lips in a soft, unexpected kiss. This time, Tong didn't resist. His body tensed at first, but as the cold of Mark's lips settled against his own, he surrendered.

Tong's surprise melted into quiet acceptance, letting Mark kiss him, even if a part of him still felt unsure. The closeness stirred something unfamiliar inside him.

Mark savored the taste of Tong's lips, his cool body burning with a heat he hadn't felt in centuries. The scent of Tong's skin was intoxicating, making the ancient cells within him stir violently. His desire was overwhelming, but he forced himself to stop, pulling away before he lost control completely.

He gazed at Tong with a look that was both tender and full of sorrow and before he could stop himself, he placed a small, lingering peck on Tong's lips.

The tightness in Mark's chest became unbearable. He wanted to cry, to scream, to release the torrent of emotions he had suppressed for so long. Feelings he thought had died with his humanity had resurfaced, dragging him into the same pit of despair he had once known. Tong had revived something in him, but with it came the suffocating weight of his curse.

"Is there something bothering you?" Tong's voice was gentle, his brow furrowed in concern.

Mark didn't answer immediately, a sad smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He wanted to tell Tong everything—the pain, the curse, the centuries of loneliness. But he couldn't. Not yet.  

"Don't worry about it," he said softly, evading the question.

Tong's curiosity wasn't easily satisfied. "Are you worried because you're not human?" he asked. "It's okay. I don't care anymore. I know you won't hurt me."

Mark's chest tightened even further at those words. He looked at Tong, a profound sadness reflected in his eyes.

How could he explain to Tong that 'he' was the danger? That no matter how much he tried to protect him, the curse he carried made it nearly impossible to guarantee his safety.

Mark reached out and gently stroked Tong's hair. "For the next few days, I may not be around you," he said quietly. "You should be careful. Don't do anything that could put you in harm's way."

Tong blinked, startled by the sudden shift in tone. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed. "You sound like an overprotective parent," he teased. "I've been on my own for years, Mark. I think I can manage without getting into trouble."

But even as he said it, a strange warmth bloomed in his chest. It felt odd—having someone care about him, worry about him. No one had done that in a long time. It was strange, but also... comforting.

Mark's brow furrowed, his mind distracted by the weight of his own thoughts. "What are you laughing at?" he asked, his tone more serious than intended.

"Nothing," Tong replied, shaking his head. "I guess I just realized... no one has ever cared about me the way you do."

The words hit Mark harder than he expected. He stared at Tong, his heart twisting painfully. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words were stuck in his throat. He held Tong's hands tightly, as though that alone could convey the depth of what he was feeling.

But there was so much more. The secret Mark kept buried deep inside him—the truth about the Moon Drop and the curse that had bound him for eternity—was suffocating him. His greatest fear wasn't losing Tong. It was the possibility that his love for Tong might be the very thing that destroyed him.

Mark leaned in, resting his forehead against Tong's, his eyes filled with a feeling of sorrow too profound for words. "I'll protect you," he whispered, though the promise felt like a lie, a hollow attempt to soothe the unbearable fear gnawing at him. Deep down, he knew the truth.'If anyone was going to take Tong's life, it would be him.'

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