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There’s a rumor going around about the photography studio down in Rift Street; there's people there who can enter photos and go back to the past. But no one would believe such a thing can really exist right? Lately… Strange things have been happening.
“Ugh.. It’s hot today too.” Fanning himself, Kayn tugs the collar of his shirt to let air circulate through his body and to feel a release of moist cloth no longer sticking to his chest. He was seated on the couch near the wide sliding door out to their small garden, slumped, his eyes stared up to the ceiling fan making its slow rotations.
A door slides shut as someone walks out and the sight of green hair appears, Ezreal maneuvers around the coffee table to plop himself down next to Kayn, once settled, he examines the photos in his hand and shuffles through them. Curious, Kayn leans over, taking up Ezreal's personal space, to see the photos that the man has in hand. After arriving with one photo, he dips in and takes the photo out of the pile, handing it over to the man next to him.
Taking the photo out his hand, Kayn sees a family of three: wife, husband and daughter in the middle– not much older than six years old– with a dog sitting next to them. The background surrounding them is a bright, decorative playground themed around zoo animals. “So, what's our job?” He asks as he gives the photo back to Ezreal, watching as he takes it and laps over the other photos.
He takes notice of his crystal blue eyes, no matter how much he has seen them since he only sees them whenever Ezreal uses his ability, he always finds himself drawn into them; finding himself drowning in those watery blues feeling a sense of familiarity to them, the color dims back to his usual yellow-gold color, both a beautiful shade of hue that Kayn is attracted to– not that he’s into his best friend, he can appreciate beauty in a beautiful person is all.
“The client divorced his wife the day after this picture was taken. They had a big fight over their daughter and in the end, broke it off on bad terms. The client never got to see his daughter after the divorce.” Ezreal puts the photos down and glances over to Kayn who returns the eye contact, he gives a small hum before leaning back on the couch. “Am I giving words in his steed?”
Ezreal nods his head, “that's all you have to do, remember the rules Kayn.” He scowls as he lifts his hand, awaiting for the other.
Kayn rolls his eyes and sits up to meet his partner in the eyes again. “Yeah yeah Ez, I don't need another chant in my ears today.” Raising his hand, he slapped it against the awaited hand and within seconds, Kayn vanished.
Snap.
“Yay! Can I go play now?” The little girl looks up to her mother, who gives her a big smile before nodding her head, “of course, have fun dear! If you ever get hungry, come back and mommy will feed you.” The little girl runs off to the playground as the mother watches her from afar. Kayn stares at his phone, seeing his appearance in the camera view– his red eyes were prominent– before glancing over to his wife and taking in his surroundings.
‘There's a bunch of families here.’
This playground was abandoned for a couple of years, the town made a plan to destroy it, however the neighborhood didn't agree with it and fought for renovation.
‘That's stupid, why fight for a playground? Don't these old guys have better things to do?’
He hears a sigh and decides not to say anymore.
Start a conversation with her about your promotion. You recently got promoted to executive at your job, she'll burst at you about it.
‘Really? Do they divorce because of his promotion?’
Kayn.
‘Fine.’
Her name is Delia, your daughter's name is Lily.
“Delia.” Grabbing the attention of his wife, she turns to look at him with a solemn stare, already feeling an odd aura her, he continues on, “about my promotion..”
“Richard, I don't want to hear it. Your promotion will cause us to live on the streets.” She turns away, back to watching over her daughter.
“Don't say that, this will open up opportunities for us! We can finally get enough money to move out of this town, into the city! This is what is best for Lily.” He exclaims, trying to reel his wife back to him but only gets returned with the cold shoulder.
‘So much for that conversation.’
Well, that's how it is. The town they're living in is far from the city but not considered the countryside.
‘Aren't you from the countryside?’
Ah, questions that will never get answers huh? Kayn is so sloppy~
‘Whatever, what's going to happen next my dear farmer boy Ez?’
Hmm, definitely your dick being squash when you get back.
‘Oh so sorry my pop star princess.’
For now, you two just watch your daughter play in silence for a while.
‘That's boring. Sing me a song while we wait.’
Oh, a customer is in the lobby, have fun in silence idiot!
‘Wait! Ez!!’
He hears Ezreal's voice drift away while talking to someone and stands awkwardly next to his wife. He looks around again to see families either picnicking or seated at nearby tables. He might as well try to make themselves sit in silence than anything. He turns to look at his wife when he notices the picnic basket.
“Should we take a seat? It's not good to hold on to the basket for however long.” He gestures to an empty table, she looks up at him before looking over and starts to head her way over, he follows not too far behind.
He sits on the opposite side of her and takes his attention off her to his daughter playing happily, if he was going to be in silence for the time being– bored out of his mind– he might as well watch other people do things.
He notices his wife gets up and heads over to the playground, confused, he sees his daughter waving to her and pointing out to one of the seesaws. A small smile etched on to his face, he quickly coughs to get rid of it. He continues watching them have fun around the playground and eventually starts walking back to their table together.
His wife sat down with their daughter in tow, “mommy I'm hungry!” she exclaims while lightly patting down the tablecloth.
“Aww, is Lily hungry? You played so much today!” Squishing her cheeks, she lets go and opens up the picnic basket. Taking out a couple of tupperware, she places all of them on the table; sandwiches to snack bites to cut up fruits. The kid beams in joy as she starts to dig into the food. He grabs a sandwich and eats while tuning in once and awhile to the conversation.
Don't you want a family?
‘Pft, that's out of nowhere, I'm fine with the way things are now. You and Yone are enough.’ Kayn watches his wife and daughter smile happily at the conversation they've engrossed themselves with the fun they had together.
One day you'll want one.
‘Yeah in your dreams Ez, this guy is gonna make a hit record in the music industry before he settles down!’ Scoffing in his confidence, he senses Ezreal rolling his eyes and an unknown emotion that was distinct but quickly dismissed the next.
Kayn doesn't hear anymore from him, they finish up eating and see most families also heading out as the sun begins to set, they clean and pack up their things. He sighs, handing over the tablecloth to his wife, he feels a tug on his pants. He looks down to see his daughter with her hands up to him, hesitating, he bends down to pick her up off the ground and into his arms. He feels her snuggle herself against him, wrapping her little arms around his neck and her head laying gently on his chest.
He lightly smiles, gently patting the girl's hair– tightening his grip while also ensuring she won't fall– he glances over to his wife whose face is saddened at the sight but turns away before any of them notice.
Say this and the job will be done, ready?
‘I’m all ears Ez.’
“Lily, one day, Papa won't be able to see you when you grow up to be a big and strong mecha lion,” the little girl giggles at the comment but her glistening eyes tugs at Kayn's heart– he hesitates, “but just know I love you with all my heart, whether we are across the ocean or living on Mars, Papa loves you, so much.”
A smile broke across his face, it was a wide one that held the whole world in his arms, yet, it burst into tears as he held her tight. He felt his daughter return the embrace, it was overwhelmingly warm– he didn't know kids can hold this much, “I love you too papa.”
A chime rings across the lobby, a tall white haired man walks in and examines the place before heading further inside to the living room and spots the two boys sitting on the couch next to each other.
“Finished?” He asks them seemingly snapping them out of a trance, Kayn groans when he realizes who it is. Ezreal grabs the photos on the table and keeps them suspended in the air. The man walks over to grab them and looks over to see if any are missing. “Alright, that's a wrap then. I'll send them back to our client tomorrow.”
Kayn waves him off which earns a glare from him, “next time make sure it doesn't involve a family divorce Yone, I think I'll throw up having to deal with another kid.” Yone rolls his eyes.
“And how else are you going to pay your debt?”
“Become a famous musician duh.”
Ezreal lets out a snort, Kayn pushes him with some force out of annoyance which results in a few chuckles here and there, not too long before Kayn wraps his arm around his partner's shoulder and tugs him closer to ruffle his hair causing him to burst into laughter. Yone sighs, he rubs his temple before giving the two a small smile.
“Have a goodnight you two, I'll see you guys in the morning.” He waves at them– Ezreal returns it but Kayn sticks out his tongue in response– before turning away and heads out the front door. Hearing the door chime, the pink haired man lets go of the other and gets up.
“Mm~ Alright I'm going to bed, take care of locking up for me, partner!” Kayn stretches and heads up the stairs quickly before Ezreal could protest, leaving him by himself. He shakes his head and gets up from the couch, he starts by checking the front door and locking it. He turns off the lights in the lobby and heads over to their living room space. He checks to see the sliding door is locked and turns the light off, he stops in his tracks as he sees the full moon high above the sky.
His eyebrows lowered, he unlocks the sliding door and slides it open; walking out, he takes a deep breath of the cold air, filling his body with shivers. He wraps himself up with an imaginary blanket and his eyes drift upwards again to see the moon.
The quietness was surrounded, crickets were lulling the night away as he continued to bask in the moonlight.
That day was also under a full moon.
“K-Kayn?…”
He closed his eyes, his head lowered as he reopens them to see the stone path beneath him. He unwraps himself and stares down at the hands that once hold the entire world with nothing but love and longing. That day, his hands were stained.
He turns over his arm to see the time on his watch.
12:01
He should be going to bed. He turns and heads back inside. He locks the sliding door and walks over to the stairs and starts to retire for the night. He walks inside his shared room with Kayn to see the man snoring away with his blanket spread out everywhere. Ezreal walks over with light steps and fixes the blanket to make sure the blanket doesn't fall off.
He gets his phone out of his pocket and goes over to their desk to charge it. He dresses himself quietly into his sleepwear and heads up to the top bunk to sleep. He lays in bed, staring up at the ceiling as if it's the most interesting thing in the world– unfortunately it wasn't. He closes his eyes, falling asleep to the snores of Kayn below.
One day you'll want one.
‘Yeah in your dreams Ez, this guy is gonna make a hit record in the music industry before he settles down!’
…In my dreams you're still alive.
The image of Kayn holding the little girl in his arms while the wife was next to him, a wide smile on his face as he holds the one he loves by hand, walking together into the sunset that shadows over them. Ezreal watches from afar, the darkness around him engulfs him, his hand slowly raises itself and reaches out to the Kayn.
Kayn in his dreams was alive.
The image dissolves as liquid as his surroundings bleed a dark red, seething through his shoes, his eyes widened as he looks at the endless bodies around him; all which were scratched out of memory and flooded by the increasing amount of pools that rises up to his ankles.
He sucks in his breath, he backs up but ends up tripping on a body and braces himself upon impact. He blinks and his eyes follow the familiar clothing up to the scratched out face. He looks away– closing his eyes before reopening them again– and slowly falls down to his knees, he looks up to the giant roman numeral clock with no hands and with a white display over it like digital, a time is displayed.
19:97
He watches the second go up by one and scrunches up in pain as he closes his eyes and lowers himself down into the pools of red.
19:98
Snapping his eyes open, he sits up and looks around. It was still dark, he looked up at their clock and read the time, 3:45, he took a deep breath before releasing it and looked down at his hands. He hears movement below him and carefully leans over the railing to see the pink haired man still sleeping.
Taking the blanket off him, he quietly heads down the ladder and settles himself down on his knees next to Kayn's bed. The sleeping man was facing him, breathing in and out softly. Ezreal hesitates before leaning in and resting his chin on the mattress, his hand comes up and overlaps it over Kayn’s hand that was beside his chest, engulfing it with warmth. He closes his eyes and listens to Kayn's breathing for the rest of the night.