Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Chances
When their fathers came bursting into the - their - apartment, he tried to make them see reason. Tried to keep Intouch out of it. He begged on his knees for his father to understand, to give his blessing, to let them be. But seeing as In‘s father was adamant at keeping them separate, Korn knew what he must do to ensure his Intouch will live a happy life.
So, he grabbed for his father‘s gun and pointed it at his own head. He ignored the pleadings, the scolding, the insistent words to make him drop the weapon and see reason. All he saw, all he did was looking at the love of his love. His beautiful, gentle and warm Intouch. His innocent and kind lover was trying to free himself from the grip of his father, tears in his eyes, begging Korn to stop, desperately calling for him.
But what his sweet Intouch did not know was that Korn did this for him. He knew that it wouldn’t have been a wise idea to get involved with a young boy with kind eyes and a bright smile. He knew back then and still followed his bastard heart on a whim of curiosity, still went and sat down to have lunch - well, dinner then - with a boy who bugged him about it since weeks. He knew and still fell for this precious soul knowing what it will do to that innocent boy.
Now, Korn sees this situation - him and his lover cornered by their father‘s in their own apartment - as the opportunity it is. An out for Intouch, a way for Korn to ride himself and the darkness, the cruelty following him around and banish it from Intouch‘s life. He can end it right here and now. Make it all go away and open a new beautiful and care-free life for his love. All he needed to do now is pull a trigger.
Before though, he needed to say his farewell to his lover. He needed to make sure Intouch knew how much Korn loved him. Finally, he opened his mouth and uttered the words with all his love „In, I love you“ and smiled.
Bang
It was done. His body collapsed to the ground, his soul leaving his body on the way to it‘s next travel. But before it could go anywhere, a force kept him in place. Distantly, he could here cries and screams coming from a familiar voice. He turned his focus on it and saw Intouch cowering over his corpse sobbing and screaming for him to wake up. His father and In‘s father stood frozen in place, shook clear in their eyes. Korn‘s still-lingering soul watched on. Watched as Intouch seemed to break, watched on as he held tight, watched as he weeped.
Korn knew this would crush Intouch but in the end it would give him a future. A real future, a chance at life and an escape to the endless hurt Korn brought upon him. It was better this way. This was how it was supposed to be. Korn‘s soul made peace with the ending and wanted to go on to the next stage but the force wouldn’t let him, not yet.
He turned his focus back at the scene in front of him and then he saw it. Intouch grabbed for the gun in Korn‘s dead grip. No. No. No. That cannot be. Korn wanted to scream, wanted to awake his cold body to stop In from doing something stupid. But he couldn‘t. All Korn could do in his state as a soul was watch it unfold. Watch as Intouch took the gun to his own head and without hesitation shut his eyes and pulled the trigger.
Bang
Another scream, this time from Intouch‘s father. Korn was screaming himself hoarse in his state as a soul, his screams however fell on deaf ears. His heart broke as his lover‘s small body collapsed onto his own lifeless body. He couldn’t believe what he was saw. Intouch, the wonderful sweet boy, followed him into death. He threw away any chance at a life for sharing a death with Korn‘s undeserving soul.
And so, the force lifted and let Korn‘s soul drift on in his journey.
But he didn‘t go into a place known as the afterlife, not to hell, not to heaven, not to anything inbetween. No. Korn awoke in the human realm. In his own body. Alive and breathing. And definitely a few years younger then when he died.
Confusion and disbelief ran through Korn. How was this possible? Did he dream? Was he dreaming now? Was this some sort of afterlife? He didn‘t know. But it didn‘t matter now. If this is real then Korn needed to find out where he ended up and find Intouch.
Getting up from bed was the first step. He did all he usually would do on a normal school day - he packed his school bag, showered, got dressed and left the house to get to school. According to his books, Korn assumed that he probably is in third year of his university studies in economics. That means he is about 20 years old.
Good. If this is real then Korn would be able to handle his life as a 20 year-old. All he needed to was find out if this is either some sick sort of way to torture one‘s soul in hell or a possible jump back in his own timeline. Both sounded quite unrealistic if he was being honest.
Anyway, at university he did all he usually did - which meant being a lone brooder and keeping to reading one of his more advanced books. Which is when it happened:
A group of freshmen walked by laughing and whispering between each other when someone walked up to him. „Hello“ a sweet, very familiar voice said „what‘s your name?“ Stunned, Korn froze in place. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t be happening right now.
Korn lifted his head to look at the person who addressed him and there he was. Intouch. Smiling bright and looking charmingly curious. Gods, no. This couldn’t be true, could it? If this is hell‘s way of torture then consider him thoroughly tortured. Success, guys. But if this wasn’t hell and this was real then-
„My name is In“ the boy in front of him pointed a finger at himself, a startlingly bright smile on his face. As if in trance, Korn answered „Korn“ Stupid, he shouldn’t have said anything. His stupid heart melting at the sight of the love of his life. His stupid brain throwing all coherent thoughts to the wind and answering the sweet voice‘s questions and every demand and curious look with whatever the boy possessing the sweet voice wanted.
Korn ripped his gaze away from Intouch‘s beautiful happy-shining eyes down to the book in his lap. He couldn’t do this - shouldn’t, in fact. If this was real and Korn was given a second chance at life then this time he would make it right. This time he would make sure that Intouch will survive and live unscathed by his darkness.
It seemed as he was too deep in thought because In‘s voice drew him out of his musings with an insistent call for him. Determined to end this conversation, Korn snapped his book closed and eyed Intouch with an indifferent and annoyed expression. „Can you stop bothering me?“ he asked, forcing his voice to sound extremely annoyed and dissatisfied.
That of course did not bring Intouch out of his cool, who answered sweetly „Yes, Sir. I will stop bothering you now.“ Korn breathed out and nodded, considering the conversation done with and dropped his focus back on his book. „I have just one last thing to say“ Intouch pressed on. Korn did not look up and prayed that In wouldn’t say anything adorable next. „What“ he urged In to continue with a tone so annoyed it was a miracle Intouch was still talking to him.
„I really like you. Can i start hitting on you?“ Intouch confessed, nervous and excited like a little puppy. Korn froze in place. Of course he would say that, just like the first time. Korn didn’t understand where Intouch‘s crush came from back then and still didn‘t even now. But here he was once again, getting confessed by Intouch right in front of his friends. Korn wanted to run, he wanted to scream at In to stop it, he wanted to embrace Intouch and never let him go.
Korn didn‘t do any of that. What he did instead was slowly raising his head and looking at Intouch. „Nonsense“ he spit out. But Intouch being the insistent little bugger he is, pressed on. „I am serious“ In pouted. Korn looked back down to his book not being able to handle it. „You didn’t say no, so it means yes“ Intouch went on speaking sweetly.
Shit, he forgot how Intouch always took no answers as a yes. In all fairness, it mostly was. But now that wasn‘t good. He needed to stop the problem at the root, stomp the flame of passion out before it can even burn. He needed to make sure Intouch won‘t fall for him and won‘t go after him. He needed to make sure Intouch lived.