Chapter Text
“Don’t cry Leo, sometimes when a girl picks on you at the playground, it means she likes you,” Hyuna hugged her son, burying fingers into his golden curls.
Leo continued to wail.
“Let me tell you a secret, I picked on your dad all the time,” Hyuna winked, “I stole his things and pretended that I found them.”
“Pfft,” Till couldn’t suppress his laughter, “boss, you are ridiculous.” He sank to one knee. “Leo, don’t listen to her, she's a bad influence.”
“Uncle Till!” The fat tears spilling through Leo’s blue-green eyes stopped. He sniffled.
Till picked him up and raised him towards the sky.
Leo giggled and spread his arms like an airplane.
“You!” Hyuna narrowed her eyes.
“Uh oh, Leo, help! I am in trouble,” Till whispered. Hyuna had been his manager for the past five years. He knew that tone well. He ducked behind Leo.
“We need to talk,” Hyuna reached for the little boy, “Leo, go play with your dad.”
“No, he’ll make me practice the violin for the next two hours,” he pouted, shaking his head. He looks identical to Luka, except he has his mother’s eyes. “Mom over there, a giant space beetle!” The little rascal pointed behind Hyuna’s shoulder.
As she was distracted, he wiggled free and bolted towards the other side of the stage. He blew a wet raspberry. Unfortunately, he ran straight into a tall figure in a tailored white suit.
“Looking for me?” Luka smirked.
Leo sighed and gazed at his hands, “oh hello Daddy.”
“Let’s get a sorbet,” Luka held Leo’s little hand.
“Okay!” Leo’s face lit up, his golden eyelashes still wet from tears.
“After your violin practice,” Luka finished his sentence and winked at Hyuna. She snorted and blew him a kiss.
Leo tossed a helpless look in Till’s direction before leaving the empty stage.
After the sound of their footsteps vanished Till sat on the ground, his shoulders slumped. His gaze was unfocused. I have been avoiding this conversation. I guess there’s no escape now.
“Don’t go online,” Hyuna began, “and don’t tell me you are fine.” She knew him too well.
Till couldn’t fool her with the calm and pensive expression.
“I’m not bothered by it. There will always be haters, who derive pleasure when others fuck up,” Till shrugged. The headlines scrolled behind his closed eyelids.
“A Star has Fallen.”
“Did the musical prodigy lose his touch?”
“The End of an Era.”
“Unfinished Song: Artist Leaves in the Middle of a Performance."
"Fans Demand Answers."
He laid flat on the stage: a place filled with myriads of lights and a cheering crowd; A place that once brought him comfort, exhilaration, and inspiration; A place where he once felt alive. “I’m sorry that I let you down Hyuna. The sponsors must be furious.”
“Stop it,” Hyuna, “Luka will clean everything up. That’s what we are for. It happens to the best of us,” She lays down on the stage next to him. “We are all worried about you, Till. You are not ok. When was the last time you took a break?” Her voice reverberated through the empty oval-shaped stadium, “When was the last time you stopped to look at the stars.”
Half of the roof was open, above them, meteors glided by.
Till couldn’t answer. He hid his eyes behind the back of his hand. Over the past year, something within him died. The world lost its color. Hyuna dragged him out of bed more times than he could count.
“You are going on vacation Till.”
Till knew Hyuna’s matter-of-fact expression well. She would not take no for an answer.
“I made all of the arrangements,” Hyuna said, “I cleared your schedule for the near foreseeable future, I told your mom that you are leaving tonight, and the security team is waiting at the back with your bag.”
Of course, she planned everything. A wave of gratitude washed over him, his vision blurred. The security team tailed him everywhere because of paparazzi and stalkers, aliens and humans alike. The thought of going outside often made him nauseous, “So where am I going?”
Hyuna grinned, “Somewhere far, you don’t need to look like you have the whole mafia tailing you when you get there.”
Till’s shoulders and jaw relaxed. His lips parted as he let out a sigh of relief. I can’t remember the last time I went outside without hiding.
“You will be staying with an old friend of mine. He is a little peculiar, but I trust him with my life. I also think he likes aliens better than humans. But he is the sweetest person you’ll ever meet.” Hyuna patted him on the back, hard, “So cheer up okay?” She handed him sunglasses and a mask.
Till pulled Hyuna into a tight embrace, “I love you, boss.” He meant every word.
Hyuna patted him on the back, “Love you too.”
Till took off his sunglasses as the vibration beneath intensified as the ship left the orbit. He couldn’t recall the last time he stopped to look at the stars.
He didn’t have to think of the lyrics of his next song.
He wrote love songs, but he never experienced love before. The media named him the galaxy’s most eligible bachelor, unbeknownst to them, Till had close to zero experience. He was a clueless twenty-six-year-old virgin. He chuckled. Over the past year, Luka helped him with the lyrics.
He stretched and let out a yawn and drifted to sleep.
Two days later, he landed on the planet where the sky turned dark red at night. Giant insects resembling dragonflies glided through the air. Their bioluminescent wings lit up the way for their aircraft to land.
The pilot, an alien of few words with three rows of eyes and tusks bowed and rolled Till’s suitcase down the ramp of the ship before waving goodbye.
Till swung the guitar case over his shoulder. The moss that carpeted the entire surface of this planet was soft under his feet. Giant mushroom forests swayed in the distance. He felt naked without his sunglasses. Walking for fifteen minutes, he did not pass a single soul. His shoulders relaxed. He felt giddy. The air smelled like fresh earth after the rain.
Before the sky darkened completely, he stood in front of the address Hyuna sent. Who is this old friend of yours? I should have asked her.
Soft piano music wafted through the air. Till stood before the cylindrical structure that resembled the remains of an ancient tree. New life took over its rugged bark. Vine of multiple colors encircled it. On the second floor, a glass window spanned from the floor to the ceiling. A wooden sign with the word Unknown swayed in the gentle wind.
The temperature couldn’t be more perfect.
This place is beautiful. Till stood outside for two minutes admiring all of the details.
Till pushed the door open. A chime sang. The piano stopped.
Footsteps approached from the spiral stairs above.
The door creaked open again behind Till. A warm fuzzy nose nuzzled his hand. He let out a gasp as the creature that resembled a two-headed dog taller than him growled. Where have I seen this creature before? It can’t be. Years ago, he remembered being cornered by the same creature but much smaller at a playground and the image of a certain dark-haired snot-nosed brat flashed in his mind.
“Cerberus, be nice,” Hyuna’s friend, a tall figurine in a simple black shirt descended.
The alien dog charged at his owner, almost knocking him over while licking his face.
“Sorry, he forgets about how large he is sometimes,” he rubbed his dark eyes dotted with specks of red, “Till!” he exclaimed.
“Ivan?” Till recognized that one pointed canine tooth from anywhere. I guess Hyuna didn’t tell him much about me either.
“It’s good to see you again,” Ivan grinned while running his hands through the fur of the giant beast, “it’s no wonder Cerberus recognizes you.” He grabbed Till’s luggage with ease. Muscles bulged from beneath his tight black shirt.
Till swallowed. Since when did he become so tall? “Good to see you too.”
“And sorry,” Ivan blushed, “I sent Cerberus to scare you on purpose back then.”
Till snorted, “You still remember huh,” Till followed Ivan up the spiraling steps into the cafe.
From the counter to the tables and chairs, everything was hand-carved and made of wood.
“I do,” Ivan scratched his head.
Behind the counter, a giant slug-like creature with one blue-green eye took a break from grinding coffee beans with his malleable appendage. Ivan spoke to him in a language Till didn’t understand.
“Freddie says hello,” Ivan rested Till’s suitcase next to the counter.
“Nice to meet you, Freddie,” Till waved.
“Freddie runs the cafe when I am at work,” Ivan splashed water on his face at the sink to clean up the slobber from Cerberus. A few beads of water ran down his wet midnight locks. He sprinkled tea leaves into an enormous beige cup studded with blue stars and filled it with steaming water. With a pair of tongs, Freddie added a slice of lemon and a mint leaf.
“Thanks,” Till sat on the stool next to the counter. He sipped. Refreshing sweetness filled his mouth, “wow.”
Ivan grinned as he poured himself a cup, “the herbs on this planet are something else.”
Freddie gave him a lemon slice and made a sputtering sound of delight.
“So what happened? Where were you all these years?” Till tilted the cup up and finished everything.
Ivan chuckled, “It’s a long story, but first and more importantly, are you hungry?”
The shock of meeting Ivan again made Till forget about his growling stomach, “maybe a little.”
Ivan put on huge black gloves, and the oven creaked open revealing a golden pie. The sweet aroma wafted through the cafe.
Freddie laid out 3 plates with his 3rd appendage.
With a long knife, Ivan cut a slice.
Till’s jaw dropped a little.
“Don’t mind the color,” Ivan served a slice. The inside turned out glowing fluorescent purple, “it’s made with a local fruit,” he put one finger on his lip, “it tastes like rhubarb.”
“Thanks,” Till sunk his fork in to take a bite. This is the last color that I would associate with food. The perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess melted inside his mouth. His eyes widened.
From Till’s reaction, Ivan beamed. He packed half of the pie in a box and pushed it in Freddie’s direction, “it’s for his wife and kids.” Ivan explained.
After they finished the pie, Freddie reached for the box and glided through the door.
The chime sang one melodic note.
Cerberus curled up next to the grand piano fast asleep.
Ivan washed the dishes and watched Till inhale another slice of pie from the wooden stool next to him.
Till stole a glance at Ivan from the corner of his eye. He was once that annoying snot-nosed brat. But now, some things have changed. He became taller, beneath his tight black shirt the muscles were well-defined. Ivan’s dark eyes with specks of red stayed the same as well as his snaggletooth. To Till'ss surprise, his heart raced a little. He shook his head, “so where were you all these years?”
Till couldn’t remember the last time he paused to have coffee and dessert with a friend.
“After you moved away, Unsha adopted me,” Ivan tapped his fingers on the counter.
“No way, Unsha, the transportation tycoon who was assassinated before he was tried?!”
Ivan nodded, “it was more of a publicity stunt. He was being accused of embezzlement and transportation of illegal drugs, and being the head of a crime syndicate. He adopted Sua and I from the slums.
Till leaned towards him, resting his chin against his palm.
“He did not give a shit about us, only appearances. He cleaned us up and sent us to the most prestigious music school.”
“You are good,” Till remembered the piano melody.
“Thank you,” Ivan’s cheeks were slightly red. “Then he was betrayed by those closest to him. I left school and helped his wife pay his debts. Her name was Lina.” He glanced towards the ground, “she was kind. The closest thing I had to a mother. Between running away from the debtors and seeking treatment for her deteriorating health, we never stayed in the same place for more than a few months. We hid on a planet ruled by gangs and the scum of the universe. To make a living I played piano at a bar, and that’s where I met Hyuna.”
“I’m sorry,” Till reached out to touch him but hesitated.
“Sorry, I got carried away, I don’t know why I just told you my life’s story,” Ivan flashed a sad smile.
Despite the years that passed since they last met, a strange familiarity washed over them.
“Enough about me, how are you? Your mother and Hyuna?”
Till reached for his phone and showed him the picture of him after a performance holding a little boy with golden hair and Hyuna’s blue-green eyes. Hyuna and Luka jumped in the background at the last second when the picture was taken.
Ivan’s face lit up, “So she did marry that prick after all. I'm happy for her. What a beautiful little boy!”
Till snorted, “You have to tell me more about Luka, so I can tease Hyuna later.”
“Luka used to come to Hyuna’s performance at the shady bar. In the beginning, she asked me to pretend to be her boyfriend to avoid him. She trusted me because she knew I wasn’t into women.” Ivan grinned.
Till’s heart skipped a beat for some reason. What is wrong with me? He wanted to kick himself. Why am I happy to hear Ivan say that he was not into women?
“I guess his persistence paid off,” Ivan smirked, “as long as she is happy.”
“She is, she has Luka wrapped around her little finger,” Till sat up straighter, “he is whipped.”
"Hyuna has everyone wrapped around her little finger," Ivan echoed. “How is your mom?”
“She’s good, she is a music professor at the university.”
“And you?”
“I’m alright,” Till raised his arms to stretch out his back.
“You are famous right?”
“Maybe slightly,” Till scratched his head. Slightly was a severe understatement. Till couldn’t go outside without looking like the entire mafia tailed him.
“You are going to have to play for me sometimes,” Ivan left the stool, he picked up the guitar case.
“Sure thing.”
“Sorry, you must be tired from traveling, let me show you around and start a bath,” Ivan swung the guitar case over his shoulders and lifted Till’s suitcase with ease.
Till followed Ivan behind the wooden door with the sign “Staff only”. The spiral stairs led them to the third floor.
“This used to be the trunk of an ancient tree, as you can probably tell.”
“It’s an amazing place,” Till’s fingertips brushed against the smooth wall. He had a feeling this place could heal anything.
Down the semicircular hallway, Ivan showed him to the room furthest away, “Here you are.” Glass windows spanned from the floor to ceiling. Meteors glided through the deep red velvet sky. This planet is gorgeous. No other signs of civilization were in sight, only the forest of giant mushrooms and ferns as tall as buildings. Mesmerized by the beauty of this foreign planet, Till didn’t notice Ivan leaving.
The room was simple, with a large bed lined with lilac sheets and a navy circular rug at the center studded with constellations. A simple wooden desk was by the windows with mauve drapes.
“The bath is ready,” Ivan joined him again, “I left the towel by the sink.”
“Thanks, Ivan.” Till closed the bathroom door. He stepped out of his clothes and stared at himself naked in the mirror. He rubbed the dark bags beneath his eyes, his shoulders slouched forward. My posture is terrible. He stood up straighter. I look like shit. He sighed and stepped into the bathtub.
Warmth surrounded him, washing away the fatigue from his travels and from the restraints of his life being a celebrity. He sunk into the bathtub and blew bubbles. Ivan sits here too, naked. He spluttered and coughed. Why am I imagining that? Ivan's firm chest and well-defined biceps flashed through his mind. All of his blood rushed south. What the fuck.
The tip of his ears turned red because of his arousal. It’s Ivan. It’s that snot-nosed brat that used to steal my toys and break them on the playground.
“Are you alright?” He heard Ivan’s concerned voice outside. He tried to suppress his cough, “do you need me to come in?”
Till panicked and his hands went straight to covering his boner, “no, I’m fine!” That sounded too harsh, “thanks.” His pulse skyrocketed. That was close. Why would Ivan ever like me? I am such a loser. I am clueless in bed. I am only thinking about Ivan like this because he turned...hot.
Hot was an understatement. Ivan was gorgeous. I would stalk him. What the fuck am I thinking? Till slapped his cheeks with both hands.
Between his busy schedule and the need to be sequestered from the public because of fame, Till’s pathetic love life was non-existent. He couldn’t remember the last time his heart raced like this. He laid back in the bathtub.
He dried himself with a white fluffy towel and snuck down the hall back into his bedroom hoping not to run into Ivan.
He crawled under the covers, and fatigue from his travels took over. He drifted to sleep.
The next morning, Till rubbed his eyes, and outside two suns illuminated the sky.
He brushed his teeth and unzipped his suitcase. He pulled on a white shirt with graffiti on it and a pair of dark orange pants.
Ivan stepped out of the shower, “Good morning Till, hope you slept well.”
“I did. Thanks.”
“Let me show you the rest of this place,” Ivan beamed and waved an arm for Till to follow him.
Ivan’s room was in the shape of a semicircle in the shape the an ancient tree trunk. A large round bed occupied one end. His blanket was nearly folded. His walls were decorated with a tapestry of different shades of blue and green and dotted with lilac. He didn’t have much possession to begin with.
“This is my favorite part,” Ivan pushed the glass door open.
Till stepped onto the balcony. Vine with violet leaves rustled in the wind. Plants, both familiar and unfamiliar to him lined the walls. There were tomatoes, herbs, and a vegetable patch. Clematis flowers of different shades of blue and violet dotted the walls, he reached for one and gingerly touched its petals.
“Those were Lina’s favorite,” the rim of Ivan’s eyes red, “she loved sitting here every morning, I would bring her coffee. I am glad her last days were filled with peace.”
“I’m sorry, Ivan,” Till’s elbow rubbed against Ivan’s, resting on the edge of the balcony. Ivan didn’t move.
Ivan shook his head, “she was in so much pain at the end. I think she is in a better place now.”
Till wanted to reach out to hug him.
“Anyways, sorry, I didn’t mean to bring you up here to make you sad,” Ivan turned to walk towards the other end of the balcony, where he kept a chicken coop, “hope you like omelets.”
I don’t want to be a freeloader, “Hey Ivan, how can I make myself useful? Is there anything I can do for you?”
Ivan’s lips curled up, “you can help me feed the chickens, then grab some tomatoes and basil.”
“Got it,” Till replied with enthusiasm.
After breakfast, Ivan swung a black bag over his shoulder, “I’m going to work soon.”
TIll finished his coffee, and it made him feel alive again, “I never asked, but what do you do?”
Ivan grinned, “I am a doctor. I can treat both aliens and humans. This planet has a small human settlement, most of the humans stop here to refuel before taking off to the other side of the galaxy. Today I will be visiting one of my alien clients in his home because he couldn’t move around too well.”
“When did you learn all of this?” Till’s eyes widened.
“When Lina and I were broke and on the run, we came to this corner of the galaxy where nobody gave a shit. They needed a doctor so badly that I went to school for free.”
Besides being gorgeous, he is smart too. Till swallowed.
“Would you like to come with me? I could use another pair of hands.”
“Sure,” Till leaped from the chair.
They waved goodbye to Freddie and descended the circular stairs. Ivan rubbed Cerberus’ nose on his way out.
A dark red helicopter resembling a dragonfly perched behind the Cafe. Ivan pressed a metallic button and the helicopter came to life. A line of violet and green lights glowed along the side. There was only enough room at the front for the pilot and a passenger. Behind him was a stretcher and cabinets containing medical supplies.
The propeller whirled quietly and they were airborne.
Till’s gaze transfixed into the distance. He could never stop gazing at this planet at the edge of the galaxy. The two suns illuminated the forest and the swamp below. One of his hands pressed against the glass like a curious child.
Ivan chuckled, “Beautiful isn’t it?”
Till nodded.
They didn’t need words to fill in the silence. The landscape beneath them changed, the endless swamp receded and was replaced with black rocky shores.
“We are almost there,” the screen before Ivan revealed a glowing green X. Then amidst static, an alien whose face resembled a fish began to speak in another tongue. Ivan responded in the same soft and undulating tone.
Till couldn’t understand a thing.
“He is saying that his grandfather couldn’t hear as well,” Ivan translated, “I come to visit him a few times a year for this.” The helicopter landed next to the mouth of a cave leading into the swamp. The dark water bubbled, bioluminescent blue orbs bobbed on the surface.
Ivan scooped one into his palm, “This is a type of algae, they are alive and friendly, we can borrow them as lights when we go in.” He passed it to Till, who was fascinated by its soft and warm glow.
Out of the back of the helicopter, Ivan unrolled two orange hazmat suits and a bucket, “are you ready to help this ancient alien hear better?”
“Ivan, if we are removing alien earwax, why do we need a bucket?” Till copied Ivan and zipped himself into the hideous orange suit.
“You'll see,” Ivan smirked. He stuck the bioluminescent algae on his shoulder and another on top of Till’s head.
Till couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous and unflattering they looked.
Ivan shrugged, “There’s no one else here.”
Till followed Ivan down convoluted passages and Ivan wrapped his arm around Till’s shoulder to help with through a rocky part of the terrain. The muscles of his firm chest pressed against Till's back.
If we die here nobody would know. I can’t believe Ivan does this all on his own.
Soon the cavern widened, and crystalline stalagmites hung from the ceiling like massive swords. They stopped at the edge of the water.
Suddenly the surface rippled.
Till held back a gasp. A massive worm-like creature with a fish-like head and ears resembling an elephant rested its head on land.
Till understood the reason for the buckets. This alien is large enough to eat us alive. Till stiffened.
Ivan stood in front of him and greeted the creature by rubbing the side of his face against the alien’s, “Come say hello Till. They can sense fear, and it’s alright.”
If you say so, Ivan. Till copied him and pressed the side of his face against the alien. The moment they touched, warmth washed over Till. Even though they did not speak the same language. He sensed the creature's gratitude and love. He wasn't afraid anymore.
“Now I need you to help me with lifting his ears.”
Till nodded and lifted the flap with all of his might.
“Alright, now I will go in and dig,” Ivan crawled into the ear of the massive alien.
After emptying the bucket five or six times, Ivan came out covered in gray-colored slime, beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face. His dark locks caked over his forehead, “we are done.”
Till finally let go of the massive ear, the muscles of his upper body burnt, “I’m going to need to take a long bath after this.” Warmth gathered at the pit of his stomach. He glanced at Ivan in the hideous suit covered by alien earwax and started to laugh. He couldn’t stop until his stomach hurt.
Ivan laughed with him.
The large creature slid back into the water and when he returned he opened his mouth and left a pile of massive white grubs at Ivan’s feet.
Till gasped, trying not to make any sudden movements or look rude. What the fuck is that?
“This is a rare treat, a delicacy found on this planet,” Ivan grinned with delight, “I am dirty so please help me gather them.”
Till didn’t move. “What the hell is that?”
“They are plants found in the bottom of the ocean. I have been vegetarian for years and these taste like potatoes but much better. I’m excited for stew tonight. Trust me.”
Till raised an eyebrow and gathered them. Whatever you say, Ivan. I have never been more excited to take a bath. His stomach still ached from laughing. Slowly they made their way back to the mouth of the cave.
Relieved to be back to the surface. Ivan detached the fluorescent spheres of algae and released them back into the water. He whistled two notes.
“What are you doing?” Till peeled off the hideous orange suit.
“I am telling them thanks.”
Till imitated him, "Did I get it right?"
“Yes, perfect!”
Both suns had set by the time they flew back.
Till was glad to be back inside the bathtub again. He hugged his knees. He admitted hasn't had this much fun in years.
Ivan. His heart raced. Why do I want to do things to him all of a sudden?
He wanted to throw himself at Ivan. He wanted those strong arms to wrap tightly around him. He wanted to grab him by the front of the shirt, kiss him rip off his clothes, and do what else exactly? Till blushed.
After drying himself with the large fluffy white towel. He noticed Ivan’s navy blue towel folded neatly on the rack attached to the wall.
Ivan you freak, you once stole my recorder and sucked on it.
This isn’t as bad as what you did Ivan. Till convinced himself before burying his face into it.
Ivan even smells sexy.
Fuck, now I am a pathetic lonely freak and a pervert.