Black Roses and White Chrysanthemum

sharpshooter °2.2° l

Jooheon noticed the sudden silence, the drain of joking in the atmosphere.

He tried to lighten it up, nudging Changkyun to bring his attention back to him instead of the flowers and whatever memories or thoughts they could have stirred.

"Wanna do something to pass the time?" Jooheon wiggled his eyebrows, in a joking way of course. At least this made Changkyun smile, and all felt as it should again.

"Like what?" There was a small twinkle of excitement in Changkyuns eyes, and Jooheon took note of that, deciding that right now all he wanted to do was make him a happy, laughing mess.

Jooheon unstrapped the sniper rifle from his shoulder, allowing it to lay in the faded grass. No one could see them from this hill,  no one cared. Plus, what was the harm in a little bit of playing around? It's not like they were the only ones keeping watch. Playing around couldn't hurt a thing.

Jooheon jumped to his feet. "We dance!"

Changkyun rolled his eyes, opening his mouth to protest but Jooheon grabbed the other by the hand and pulled him up, making the binoculars fall from his hand beside the gun. Jooheon tugged Changkyun to spin in a circle, and the younger gave in.

Jooheon intertwined their fingers, moving to some imaginary tune and moving across the ground, Changkyun keeping up and matching him, stifling laughs as Jooheon tripped over their feet and very nearly brought them both down.

He didn't know how to dance. He'd never learned, but he always wanted to. And dancing now with Changkyun was the most fun he had since- well, since the last time it was just him and Changkyun.

It was amazing how things changed since they met, years ago. It was almost five, to date. They met on the streets, running from those same people that they were hoping to sabotage today. They stayed together through the disease. Through everything. And now here they were, apart of something bigger than themselves, dancing away in the dead grass.

Changkyun spun Jooheon, having to let go of one of his hands to do so, and Jooheon nearly lost his balance because of the dizzying spin, if it hadn't had been for Changkyuns hand on his waist. At this closeness, he noticed Jooheons sweet smell- he couldn't place what it was exactly, but he knew it was familiar. He didn't mind. It was nice on him. Jooheon was still, caught in Changkyuns arms.

Even when he was still the world spun. But for a different reason.

Changkyun was smiling, and he looked so happy. Jooheon was out of breath and smiling back.

His best friend. Who he cared about more than anything in the whole entire world. Jooheon couldn't be happier.

Changkyun felt different. He saw things differently. He saw his best friend, but more than just that. He saw red flushed cheeks and a beautifully adorable smile, and his heart pounded. He didn't mean to put his hand on Jooheons waist, it just happened. He didn't regret it. He didn't let go.

But most importantly, Jooheon didn't pull away.

Instead, he started swaying them into a slower dance, casually resting his arm on Changkyuns shoulder.

"This is pretty gay," Jooheon was laughing at the prospect, not noticing Changkyuns awkward laugh that followed it.

"Yeah."

As they danced the white flowers were forgotten, because for now they weren't needed. But in not long they would litter the streets, designating unmarked graves.