Work Text:
Incoming Text Message.
Friday 7:19 p.m.
You’re on the wait list at DAR-LINK. We’ll text you when your room is ready.
Incoming Text Message.
Friday 8:02 p.m.
Your room is ready! Please make your way to the check-in stand.
Reply
1 for on my way
2 to cancel
3 if running late
Choi Minho stuffed an entire artificially-enhanced sotteok sotteok into his mouth, imagining the succulent flavor, when the alert pinged him. Eagerly, he punched 1 on his cellphone with greasy fingertips. On Friday nights, the line at DAR-LINK took hours to get into a private pod, so it was a surprise to receive the alert so soon.
However, Minho wasn’t going to complain. Instead, he quickly swept through the room to round up the others. Yunho only kept your slot open for ten minutes and would skip their reservation if they weren’t prompt enough.
Yunho was chill for the most part; this was Changmin’s policy. The DAR-LINK owner was grumpy and believed in promptness. It was Changmin’s tech and his machine, and Minho was a loyal customer, who followed the Terms & Conditions…the ones he remembered anyway.
Eyeing the backs retreating through the door, Minho counted to three and quickly realized he was missing a friend. SHINee—the name they had dubbed themselves months ago—had come out to their favorite gaming cafe, Odd Eye. Sure, NeonGlitch up the block held better amenities, with sleek noise-canceling gaming stations and a full-body VR, but Odd Eye suited SHINee. They liked the old, worn-out furniture and too crammed-in vibe. Odd Eye played better music too—a mixture of synth and pop electronica.
Despite Minho’s commands for their group to head out, Kim Kibum remained parked at his usual spot. Kibum’s face was drenched in a purplish glow from the lighted tubing along the walls, turning his perfect skin otherworldly. Minho couldn’t help the long pause he took as he mulled over the sight. Kibum was starlike—so pretty yet forever out of Minho’s reach.
At the moment, Kibum welded a gaming controller and harsh expletives each time his avatar crashed its spacecraft into the ground while trying to land smoothly. A space pilot career wasn’t in Kibummie’s future unless he learned to handle the turbulence and wind. Odd Eye was an older cafe, but its gaming simulations were high-quality. The one Kibum liked to play could make you feel like you were truly flying through the stars at light speed. Minho didn’t need a simulation for that; he could just stare at this perfect face and feel his insides turn over.
Oh, today was going to be one of those days, wasn’t it? Minho turned his attention away, not wanting to get caught in his admittedly creepy staring, but within seconds, he was back at it—observing Kibum from the shadows.
Flying was one of the few skills Minho had ever seen Kibum not master. The two of them often took turns on this particular simulator. Minho was good, even holding the top score from that perfect run he’d had months ago. He often considered whether Kibum’s obsession with beating the course had something to do with the fact that Minho was better than him.
Minho never said anything, but he did like kicking Kibum’s ass on the nights he sat behind the wheel. Others in the arcade would swarm to watch Minho bob and weave with expertise. Tonight Minho had been on the basketball simulator trying his hand at professional point guard, while Kibum had once again taken all night on this particular game.
As the course reset itself, Kibum yanked his headset off in frustration, only to catch a glimpse of Minho resting against the machine. He startled immediately as though Minho was a ghost come to haunt his waking dreams. Putting the helmet down, Kibum rolled his eyes.
“Why are you sneaking up on me?” Kibum hissed, turning his attention away to the control panel being projected on the screen in front of him. He punched in his avatar code with pointed jabs, preparing to start over.
Minho approached in slow steps, letting his posture become as harmless as possible. Kibum was always in a mood when he lost, so Minho didn’t want to make the situation any harder on himself than need be. He thumbed a gesture over his shoulder. “We’re up at Yunho and Changmin’s place. Let’s go.”
Continuing to type instructions into the simulator, Kibum ignored Minho’s request, fingers flying over the panel’s options. He always selected the same course. A hard flight, harder than the one Minho had won his own top score on. This was the part Minho admired about Kibum’s quest to beat him. Kibum would beat Minho one day; Minho was just waiting. The secret was, Minho had no problem losing and kind of dreaded the moment the competition would end. It had become their thing, whether Kibum knew that or not.
Kibum shook his head. “The reason we can never afford anything is because you idiots insist on giving Changmin all our money. DAR-LINK is a scam. Stay out of there.”
“It’s not a scam!” Minho had experienced DAR-LINK for himself—unlike Kibum—so he knew that Changmin had developed something special. Other shops weren’t nearly as realistic, and Changmin’s tech was unquestionably like stepping into another life. An entire world existed inside a three-by-nine foot pod. “DAR-LINK gives you a direct connection to your soulmate. It’s real.”
Snorting as though Minho was being stupid, Kibum shook his head again. “Plugging a rusty power cord into your brain isn’t how you connect to your soulmate, you dummy. It is how a corrupt government gets permission to read all your thoughts and emotions.” Kibum had the headset in his hands and shoved it back over his ears. “I hope the blowjob is worth it. Those DAR-LINK advertisements may jabber on and on about soulmates, but I know sex simulations are why half the people really go there.”
Minho felt the way his cheeks heated up. He hadn’t had sex in a DAR-LINK universe in a long time. Not from a lack of trying. Unfortunately, Changmin’s tech—while perfect—wasn’t insulated from an individual’s own failures to convince their soulmate to love them…or sleep with them. DAR-LINK couldn’t change hearts; it merely presented opportunities.
Opportunities were why Minho liked DAR-LINK in the first place. He never stood a fucking chance in this universe. Exhibit A, Kibum refusing to come with him.
“Aren’t SHINee supposed to be against the continued capitalist takeover of the country? Commodification of our lives? Out of control technology? Fighting the man?” Kibum asked, and Minho couldn’t answer that.
Minho loved SHINee and didn’t mind that their activist fight often simply meant graffitiing catchy slogans across the corporate skyscrapers of Seoul’s business centers. He liked the danger of getting caught. He liked their alternative lifestyle—living in their dirty dorm and riding their bikes to and from everywhere. Minho wasn’t the one organizing the fight. That was more Jonghyun and Kibum’s deal.
“Jonghyun is coming,” Minho pointed out.
“Jonghyun just likes that inside DAR-LINK he can finally be taller than everybody else,” Kibum said, gravely disappointed. “This type of technology is dangerous. It always shows you something that is too good to be true, and when you believe it, you become the sucker. Those people aren’t meeting their soulmates. They are letting fucking Changmin and Yunho turn them into vegetables. Talk to someone who actually stays in there and returns, and you’ll change your mind about the entire thing.”
Minho raised an eyebrow at Kibum. “I thought DAR-LINK was a scam,” Kibum rolled his eyes, quickly turning his attention away without an answer, hitting the ‘GO’ button on the simulator. “Suit yourself. We’ll pick you up when we’re done. By the way, you’re hitting the throttle too hard. That’s why you crashed.”
For a millisecond, Kibum looked stricken over Minho daring to breach their silent rivalry and give him advice, but collected his expression back into indifference. “Whatever. Don’t bother picking me up. I’ll get home myself,” he said, but there was a subtle move of his fingers off the controller and back onto the information panel where Kibum’s favorite course was already queued up and about to begin.
Smirking, Minho thought to himself as he exited the cafe in a sprint to catch up to the others: Good luck, darling. I’ll see you soon amongst the stars.
14 October, 2237
Welcome back, Choi Minho.
Why stick to one universe to find your soulmate? Search multiple stars for your darling at DAR-LINK.
This is Link #172.
DAR-LINK never ceased to amaze Minho with its ability to pull a truth from the depths of his soul that he didn’t even know rested there. It scared certain people—DAR-LINK had its haters beyond Kim Kibum—but not Minho.
Instead, the technology was comforting. It allowed him to see what boiled beneath the surface of his own subconscious. As many times as Minho had been connected to DAR-LINK, it had never presented the same universe twice, which happened to adventurers here and there. His buddy Suho always returned to the same place; something about aliens and clones that sounded terrible.
Minho had asked Yunho about the phenomenon once, and Yunho seemed to think it had to do with a person’s mind rejecting the technology’s main purpose. Your mind could reorient you to certain points in space over and over, or even resist leaving your original universe altogether. If those theories were true, Minho held the opposite problem.
He was particularly susceptible to the technological advances and never found the same universe inside DAR-LINK. Each time he plugged into the DAR-LINK pod, only magical possibilities awaited. He lived for those moments when he opened his eyes and found a new universe laid out in front of him. His fascination had slowly become a mild addiction to DAR-LINK…to Changmin’s game. He was a frequent user, even visiting on off-hours without SHINee.
Tonight, not to his surprise, his DAR-LINK account had enough user credits saved up from the prior month that he received a free upgrade to his pod. A relaxing essential oil mist and a cushioned bed.
Minho had never been sure if the extra add-ons were worth the cost since he was forever tight on money. Like most people living in Seoul these days, he often was scrambling for part-time work here and there, barely making ends meet, but he always found a way to save his pennies for one more credit.
Yunho talked a good game when trying to upsell features. Relaxation and comfort helped if you were trying to link up with your soulmate inside DAR-LINK. If you were actually wanting to stay tethered to another universe. Beyond the excitement of traveling to new universes, this was the real reason Minho loved this place.
DAR-LINK was first and foremost a love service. The most technologically advanced romance business Seoul had ever seen, and it had taken off in popularity for this reason ever since its launch three years ago. There were believers—like Minho—who wanted to find true love—and skeptics—like Kibum—who ranted that meeting your soulmate should mean doing things the old-fashioned way.
Two main problems existed with this theory that Minho could see. One, the old-fashioned way seemed so much slower and he was an impatient boy, who wanted a kiss from his darling now. Two, while DAR-LINK never showed him the same world twice, it did always present just one soulmate. Some adventurers found multiple soulmates, but unlucky him…he had only one.
And, if your soulmate was Kim Kibum and you were Choi Minho, you were going to have to search and search the stars for a universe where you’d be given the time of day. It didn’t matter how comfortable Yunho made your pod, you needed to be prepared for rejection after rejection.
Minho had met dozens of Kim Kibums—hundreds now—and at no time had the two of them ever come close to reaching the end. DAR-LINK would actually give you a choice to remain in the link if you and your soulmate were truly in love, but Minho hadn’t ever seen that code come up.
What he always saw was the bad code. THE LINK HAS BEEN SEVERED.
He knew the message well—and the stupid coaching videos that would play afterwards where Changmin explained everything Minho had done wrong to fuck up the link.
Occasionally, Changmin would provide decent advice, some of which Minho had even implemented in real life. He had stopped telling Kibum about the football scores each week over breakfast, and Kibum had slowly stopped avoiding him in the mornings. Minho thought they’d been bonding, but apparently, Kibum thought he was boring, which Changmin had kindly pointed out.
You live, you learn.
Over all these months, Minho had spectacularly failed in DAR-LINK many times, but it never stopped him from coming back. In fact, he sensed a good feeling in the air tonight.
A chance to win.
He would do his absolute best to be courteous, interesting, and sexy, so Kim Kibum would have no choice but to fall in love with him this go around.
After spending nearly ten minutes indecisively sorting through outfit options, Yunho rudely connected Minho into DAR-LINK without even a warning. Minho showed up in a new universe a few seconds later awkwardly wearing a black hoodie and gym shorts. He hoped that this version of Kibum wasn’t as judgy over fashion as his own was.
Welcome to Universe-945011158.
Target identified.
Location: Seoul National University, Building Nine, 6th floor.
Link Duration: 3 mins 9 secs
DAR-LINK was sophisticated enough to locate a person on cue between universes, but Minho did always think labeling Kibum a TARGET sounded sketchy.
Minho didn’t want to target Kim Kibum; he wanted to flirt with him. Hold him. Kiss him. Marry him. In Minho’s dreams, they often made-out on the rooftop of their building, followed by a love declaration under the stars. He desperately wanted to have something with Kibum. Anything. DAR-LINK was meant to find soulmates, and Minho held a certainty deep inside himself that Kibum belonged to him.
This was why once DAR-LINK directed Minho to the general vicinity, he could feel Kibum’s energy beckoning like a siren’s call. It always felt this way, no matter the universe.
“I can physically and emotionally feel Kibum inside of the link,” Minho had ended up telling Changmin some months ago when he couldn’t come up with any other way to describe the phenomenon. “Only inside of here. Back home? We can be standing in the same room, and we’re millions of light years apart, you know?”
With his robotic, cerulean eyes narrowed, Changmin had taken a hard look at Minho then handed him a fresh copy of the DAR-LINK Terms & Conditions. “Minho, all of this is for entertainment purposes only,” Changmin advised, as he often did. “My machine isn’t perfect and can cause some links to go haywire. You should think about what you really want for yourself and stop paying attention to bad code.”
Minho concluded that Changmin didn’t want to provide explanations for the technology he had built. Not to critics. Not to the public. Certainly, not to Minho. Minho didn’t think the problem was bad code, but he knew his link often didn’t respond as expected. None of that stopped the excitement.
Target approaching.
Distance: 50 meters.
Your Darling is here. Get yourself together, Choi Minho.
Some time ago, Minho had asked Changmin to reprogram the companion in his link to not be modeled after him, but the request had not come to fruition. He actually thought the version of Changmin who set sail with Minho across universes was getting more judgmental and disappointed on every journey.
You’re really going to stand that way?
“This is how I stand,” Minho muttered back in response. Not out loud. DAR-LINK had a sophisticated communication system through a neural connection. He could tell Changmin to fuck-off without even moving his lips. "I’m casual right now."
To prove it, Minho rested his shoulder up against the wall, crossing his arms, aiming for an unbothered attitude and a ‘would you look at that I just happened to be here’ body language. His eyes darted around the faint pink-hued lobby of the dormitory building where DAR-LINK had brought him.
Often it was hard to pinpoint the time period when entering a new universe, but this could've been the same century as his own. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky traffic was visible through a hazy neon cityscape. This was a different version of Seoul, one that looked slightly less barren, with more trees and less pollution.
He liked the past most. Though once he had gone to a universe where there was nothing but horses. In that ancient time Kibum didn’t bathe nearly as much as Minho realized he preferred. This universe was at least familiar.
Alongside buzzing surveillance drones hovering in the corners, there were aqua holographic bulletin boards advertising University services, old furniture for sale, and upcoming events. Pushed against the steel walls were angular white couches and metallic LED plants. The white tiled floor was reflective, polished to a high. As Minho bent over to observe his reflection, Kibum showed up.
Kibum didn’t come alone. He also appeared to be right in the middle of an elaborate feat. Kibum and another man showed up in one of the doorways, talking loudly and carrying between them a large barrel contraption with glass tubing attached to the sides. They immediately headed up the attached stairwell, not slowing down or even noticing a casual Minho in the corner.
Target departing the area.
“Hey!” Minho scrambled to attention, running up the stairs, shouting after Kibum, who was not slowing down. The cold maze of sterile, repeating hallways would’ve confused Minho for hours if not for a rhythmic bass humming along in the background. He followed the sound of the music until he was standing outside a flickering door. There was a biometric scanner preventing further entrance.
“Unauthorized. Only staff or students are allowed in residential housing without a guest pass. This is also a private birthday party,” the scanner said in a dispassionate, robotic tone. “Provide the name of the resident you are here to visit for verification.”
I will attempt to reprogram the door. Give me a few minutes.
“Yah! Let’s not try that again," Minho relayed back to Changmin. “You know what happened the last time. I don’t want to get arrested in here.”
Government worker Kim Kibum in Link #23 had been hard to locate, and Changmin’s hacking skills into the Ministry of National Defense had left something to be desired during that particular adventure. Even if the most likely result inside this universe would be getting kicked off campus, Minho didn’t want to cut this link any shorter than necessary. From that tiny glimpse of Kibum back in the lobby, Minho had been left absolutely breathless. This version of Kibum was hot, and Minho wanted to meet him.
I deserve more trust.
“Kim Kibum! I’m a guest of Kim Kibum.” Minho provided Kibum’s name, praying security would be easy on him. A melodic ring sounded, and on the door’s computer popped up a picture-in-picture projection. Much to Minho’s dismay, it was Kibum who answered the call.
Kibum observed Minho in silence for a few seconds through the video call. He looked equal parts intrigued and unimpressed, so Minho flashed a friendly, unobtrusive smile.
“Why are you lying about being invited? Was it Johnny? I told him not to invite his loser friends to my party. Anyway, we’re full. I’ll get in trouble if I let anyone else inside,” Kibum told Minho, haughtily.
Infinite universes could make you feel unimportant in the grand scheme of things. So many possibilities were out there roaming amongst the stars. Out of thousands of versions, how could you know where you stacked up against everything else? Yet, it was comforting to always find that the universes were a combination of the same parts and pieces. Minho didn’t know this Kibum, but he knew Kibum so could make enough connections to easily lie his way through any hesitations.
“It was Taeyeon-noona, actually. I know you two are friends, and that’s about it,” Minho said, as politely as possible. Kibum appeared more baby-faced the longer Minho observed the projection—at least five or six years younger than Minho’s version. Minho didn’t want to come off as a creep so added, “I’m a doctoral student here. Taeyeon has been encouraging me to take time off from my studies and told me about this party.”
Kibum’s nose curled in disgust. “Ugh, Taeyeon. Some people enjoy working. She needs to understand that.”
Minho’s Kibum had never completed his university studies—only rich kids did that sort of thing back home—but Minho could imagine much like anything Kibum set his mind to doing, this Kibum was a workaholic perfectionist, who didn’t know the purpose of breaks. All friends telling Kibum to slow down did was annoy him, even in Minho’s own universe.
“You don’t look like a PhD student, but it’s my birthday. So.”
The video abruptly turned off with a Transmission Ended message. The security on the door shifted, as the scanner began a greeting, Choi Minho, welcome to the Pleasure Shop. It is Kim Kibum’s twenty-first birthday. Gifts may be dropped off in the room to the right. Drinks are on the second floor. Unruly guests will be escorted off the premises immediately.
“Got it,” Minho replied in a distracted tone, craning his neck around, already searching the neon-lit hallways for his target. “Could you tell me where the birthday boy is now?”
“The birthday boy is right here,” a smooth voice said from behind Minho.
With a shudder radiating up his spine, Minho spun on his heels and found Kibum standing in the hallway. This Kibum was young, but Minho had been right. He was gorgeous, and wearing a tight body suit with metallic boots. His hair was longer on one side and shaved on the other, and he had covered his eyelids in glittery silver eyeshadow. Kibum looked like a heroic character from those intergalactic adventure movies Minho used to adore watching as a child—mysterious and otherworldly.
Target found. Target available for courting activities. Please proceed with caution. Begin with a casual compliment.
“Do you want to go up to the roof and look at the stars together?” Kibum raised both eyebrows at Minho’s opening line, looking Minho up and down. Minho couldn’t explain the loss of control he always had inside DAR-LINK, but there was nothing he could do about the inexplicable connection he felt to Kibum each time. His soul wasn’t concerned about appearing too dumb or awkward. It wanted Kibum —every version of Kibum he could have.
“Just you and me?” Minho added for good measure.
Dictionaries indicate casual means showing little concern, lacking a high degree of interest or devotion, or done without serious intent or commitment.
Changmin didn’t approve of Minho’s flirtations, often chiding Minho for being too audacious. However, Minho didn’t know how to keep his excitement inside. Here was a Kibum he hadn’t ever met before. It was like a birthday gift.
“Are you going to take me up there to kill me?” Kibum asked with a curious expression, taking an obvious step backwards, like he was ready to bolt. “I met you five seconds ago, hyung.”
Hyung. Minho hadn’t considered the dynamic much, but being older than Kibum wasn’t a terrible proposition. This bossy, cantankerous creature would have to listen to Minho.
Minho’s biggest challenge was Kibum never listened. However, as many of Kibum as Minho had met, Minho was always careful to follow the protocol and never forced a connection that wasn’t there. Maybe he was too sentimental for his own good, but he wanted Kibum to grow to love him naturally despite DAR-LINK’s unnatural technology.
“We don’t have to go—”
“Oh! Well, I didn’t say I didn’t want to go with you. Just don’t kill me. Let me go get my jacket,” Kibum said, and suddenly had a shy smile directed at Minho, cutely tucking hair behind his ear.
Of course, Minho didn’t think this link was meant to last, considering the age difference, but he swooned anyway. His Kibum was never shy with him. Ever. He wondered what that would’ve been like as he watched Kibum from this universe scamper off down a darkened hallway.
This continuous comparison between targets will never allow a lasting link to develop. Your effort would be better spent back in Universe-350871797 as that’s where your loyalty resides.
Changmin had grown too comfortable in speaking his mind to Minho on anything and everything. As Minho entered the party, following where he saw Kibum exit, he reminded Changmin the problem with Universe-350871797.
“Kibum barely talks to me. He will definitely never love me. I need this. Kibum likes me in here,” Minho thought with a hard swallow. It was tough to admit, but he knew the truth deep down about his chances.
At DAR-LINK, we never want to discourage our most loyal customers from searching for true love. However, we are an honest establishment. As we have pointed out many times, you will never love another target the way you love the target in Universe-350871797. The likelihood of you developing a bond strong enough to remain in a new link is incredibly low.
His sadness shifted into a scowl at this speech he had heard many times before. Maybe his Kibum was right. Technology was bad.
“Please mute yourself for an hour,” he commanded Changmin. He didn’t want to hear about low percentages. Low percentages were for Universe-350871797. In DAR-LINK though? There was a chance a version of Kibum who loved him was out there, and Minho was determined to find him. He didn’t care how long it took.
By then, Kibum had returned with a knit sweater pulled on over his outfit. He came close enough to take Minho’s hand and began to pull him through the crowd. Several partygoers gave them long sideways looks as they passed. Minho was a stranger who was impeding on their territory. It wasn’t hard to fathom Kibum having many admirers, and here was Minho taking him away. They exited through a side door onto a brick balcony overlooking the city.
Kibum walked them to the railing and glanced upward for several seconds. “Let’s look at the stars together. Is that a pick-up line you use on everybody? It’s dumb,” he declared even though he had come along with Minho anyway.
An industrial light bolted to the building was providing a harsh yellow light overhead, but it didn’t matter. Minho stared at the familiar lines of Kibum’s face. His slightly rosy lips and high cheekbones came together in beautiful harmony. Another good feature of DAR-LINK was Minho didn’t have to avert his eyes or pretend he didn’t notice or care about how gorgeous Kibum was. Tragically, this version would never be seen again, but that offered a certain freedom, too.
“Is there something on my face?” Kibum asked, and Minho was certain more than a minute had passed between comments. Changmin was right. Minho needed to get it together.
“Hm?” Minho attempted a casual response, softening his gaze into a perplexed expression. “What was that?”
Crossing both arms over his chest, Kibum scrutinized Minho again. Closer. One eye turned an abnormal milky white shade, and Minho felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. After a few seconds passed, the eye turned back to its original black color.
“Hyung, have we met before?” Kibum finally asked with more than a note of curiosity, but genuine concern. He came a step further into Minho’s personal space. “I feel like I know you from somewhere, but I’m not sure how that can be the case. You’re too old to be in any of my classes.”
Minho was taken aback. “Old?” He ran a hand over his hair. “You sure you don’t mean mature?”
“No. I mean—” Kibum gestured at Minho. “Hyung, you’re not bad looking. You must be what … thirty-five?”
Minho’s deflation was instant. There had been a momentary glimmer of hope that this version of Kibum found him good-looking, too, only to have his ego shot down rather quickly. “I’m twenty-seven.”
“Tragic. That’s ancient.”
Minho tried not to get offended and mostly failed. Being Kibum’s hyung wasn’t as interesting as it seemed at first. “How old are you, birthday boy?”
“Twenty-one.”
“We’re both still in our twenties!” Minho huffed out in protest. He wagged a finger at Kibum’s annoyed expression. “You shouldn’t insult your elders. What happened to manners?”
“Says the guy crashing a stranger’s party without an invitation. You’re probably here to eat up the food and drink all my soju.”
“No! I’m here, because you and me—”
As a reminder telling the target about the link would be in violation of protocol. You would not be able to remain in Universe-945011158 if that is the decision you are making.
“Aren’t you on mute?" Minho reminded Changmin and the warning signal flashing in his mind cut off again. However, Changmin was right. Minho had nearly fucked this link all up, and the timer was showing he’d been plugged in for less than an hour. That amount of time was hardly worth the credit, and Yunho wasn’t big on refunds.
Plus, it would be difficult to explain the infinite universes to Kim Kibum. Minho had tried that technique a couple times, and Kibum was a skeptic all around, even moreso when Minho tried to sneakily bring up the whole soulmates in every universe part. Kibum always rejected that idea.
Kibum’s eyes narrowed. “You and me…what?”
“Forget it,” Minho said. Calming the emotions swirling inside his chest, he walked to the other side of the rooftop. He gestured upward towards the sky. “There’s a really fantastic view here. You can see everything.”
“I toured all the dorm buildings until I found this one. You can’t see stars like this anywhere else on campus,” Kibum had turned his attention to the twinkling dots of light shining above them. “I don’t know why, but I’ve always had a weird need to look up there. Hyung, do you feel like that, too?”
There was a hopeful note to Kibum’s question, which made Minho turn his gaze back again. Kibum’s eyes were so bright, round as dark marbles, full of possibility, and Minho was struck by the sincerity. Even though his own Kibum didn’t believe in soulmates, none of that changed reality.
Their link was always in the background. Sometimes the connection took longer to take hold, but twenty-one-year old Kim Kibum was already feeling it. Minho could see the understanding growing in his eyes. Their eyes looked different once they recognized Minho, completely opposite from his own Kibum’s eyes.
Minho nodded softly at Kibum. “I do like the stars,” he answered in as measured of a tone as possible. No need to push. No need to break things. This wasn’t a Universe to stay in anyway. He could see that. “They always remind me of someone.”
It was windy out, and the breeze was softly rustling through Kibum’s bangs as they stared at one another. Kibum only smiled eventually, turning away for a few seconds. Minho could admit that finding Kibum over and over again inside of DAR-LINK did have one negative outcome.
Every time Minho met a new Kibum and played out a new version of their story again, Minho realized how easy it was for the two of them to fall in love. However, Kibum in Universe-350871797—the one Minho had known for what felt like his entire life—his Kibum—that one never showed an ounce of interest in anything close to love. Kibum’s eyes never lit up when Minho came around. Instead, it was all frustration and annoyance each time. It was a hard reality to accept.
“I think I know you,” Kibum told Minho eventually, but this time it came out with a touch of awe. Soulmates were awe-inspiring. Minho had traveled the stars, and Kibum never stopped taking his breath away. “I don’t know how that’s possible, though. We’ve never met before I’m sure of that.”
We’ve met nearly two hundred times, Minho thought to himself. So many times. In fact, he worried he had given DAR-LINK too much of his damn money.
Your quest to locate your darling is a worthy endeavor. Minho-ya, a price tag should not be put on your life’s happiness. In fact, DAR-LINK has a limited-time offer for a loyalty discount on all future credits if you sign up now.
It was Yunho. The mid-link advertisements always made Minho irked, and he rejected the offer quickly, trying to concentrate his attention back on Kibum, who was waiting patiently for a response.
Despite the fact that Minho wouldn’t able to stay here, the link was solid. Healthy and vibrational. It was the type of richness you could feel deep in your bones. Minho got lost in Kibum’s eyes every single time. He stood too still for too long, and there was nothing but stars. Never mattered which universe it was. Kibum eventually turned Minho inside out.
In Universe-945011158, Kibum seemed frightened like a cutely trapped kitten by the looming intensity once he caught wind of Minho’s long-gone stare. He blinked once, twice, then his eyelashes flickered up and down, reminding Minho of silvery butterfly wings. Kibum tried not to look too closely, tried not to assume, but an offer was made in between every breath.
“Hyung, what’s your name?” Kibum whispered out in a low voice, but sounded more desperate than before. “I’m Kibum. I know we just met, but I don’t have a boyfriend or anything.”
“You don’t? Someone cute like you?”
Kibum went red in the cheeks at the compliment, but he kept his eyes fixed on Minho like he was scared that if he looked away Minho would disappear. “Do you say these things to everyone? Hyung, are you a flirt?”
“Only for people I like,” Minho admitted, and that made Kibum physically duck his head away. It was a nice feeling. He liked the versions of Kibum who responded to his advances. It turned Minho so weak. “I might be too old for you.”
Immediately, Kibum lifted his head back up. “We’re both in our twenties,” he said.
This wasn’t right, Minho knew that, but he truly couldn’t help it. Fate tugged in one endless direction. Minho was merely a mass of atoms tangled up in destiny. Or, this was what he told himself when he slowly leaned forward and kissed this too innocent version of Kibum on the lips.
It was sweet the way Kibum turned to jelly beneath Minho’s hands. Kibum pushed waywardly into the kiss, but enough that Minho could have easily wrapped both arms around his shoulders to steady their bodies. He kept one hand on Kibum’s jaw, directing the kiss towards an unhurried cadence, smoothing out the odd pressure Kibum gave back at first. Kibum kissed as though he hadn’t before, and he was young enough that maybe it was true, which made Minho feel bad and excited at the same time.
Simply put, Minho didn’t think it was very nice to be in the middle of a kiss and the other guy was contemplating how you compared to another version of yourself. How could he stop his brain from going there though? He pressed his tongue into Kibum’s mouth several times, stealing away the parts that he could. Simply to see.
In response, Kibum tenderly squeezed his fingers against Minho’s neck, gasping against his lips. They pulled apart, and Minho was prepared for that one kiss to be enough. Except there was a fresh-faced Kibum standing in front of him with a determined twist to his wet lips, donning skintight boots and smudgy eyeshadow, looking very much like a temptation.
Kibum licked out against his bottom lip, tasting where Minho’s mouth had been, and Minho stared at the note of dark red. It was the same shade as the warning signal Changmin was also flashing on system telling Minho to chill out.
This target is not the same as the target in Universe-350871797. Be more careful than this, Choi Minho.
However, the moment for care was done. Kibum had already darted for Minho, tackling him backwards with a surprising strength compared to his size. He put Minho flat on his back, colliding with the dirtied concrete, and climbed over Minho’s hips. Kibum looked down at Minho with those bright eyes that Minho could never shake from his mind. Their eyes always looked the same when they fell in love with him.
“I think I might be going crazy,” Kibum said in a breathless rush of air. “Hyung, tell me who you are. Please.” He kissed Minho again without waiting for an answer. He had figured this kissing thing out. Stuck his tongue straight down Minho’s throat. Eager and heartfelt. Kibum turned on Minho in two seconds, pressing his weight into Minho’s groin. It felt good. They rubbed against each other causing heat to radiate up and down Minho’s spine, until Minho pulled himself together and did his best to shield his emerging hard-on with his hands.
Minho wrenched his mouth away, placing a hand on Kibum’s shoulder blade. “Hey, hey. Slow down. We really shouldn’t do this. You don’t know me.”
All Kibum did was give a smile that softened over his face. “It doesn’t matter who you are. I love you,” he said, and the words hit like a bomb.
Always did.
With deep sadness swirling inside his gut, Minho wondered why these moments only happened to him in DAR-LINK. Why could he meet Kim Kibum here and have it all work out? He’d spent a year in real life trying to get Kibum to text him back, and in here he got confessions in under an hour.
Why could so many versions of Kibum love Minho so easily, while Minho had to fight for scraps of affection from his Kibum? Only in here lived a Kim Kibum who could tell him so sweetly the precious words he longed to hear.
The words went down Minho’s throat like ash, his stomach flipping completely over. He turned his head away, shutting his eyes, already noticing this reality was growing untethered. This link wasn’t correct. Minho didn’t love this Kibum enough. This wasn’t the person he was searching the stars to find. He couldn’t stay.
Kibum tightened his grip against Minho’s jacket, but nothing was going to help. “Hyung, are you—”
Error. This link has been severed.
Choi Minho, you are being returned to Universe-350871797.
You have two credits remaining.
The pod’s walls came into view after a split second, alongside the faint scent of ozone lingering in the air. Minho sighed as he pulled off the DAR-LINK headset, tossing it aside. He rubbed a hand over his eyes, feeling more tired than usual for the amount of time he had been connected.
Your DAR-LINK summary is ready to be viewed.
Wincing, Minho didn’t know if he wanted to hear every little thing he had done wrong, but watching game tape was important. He steeled himself and hit play on the video. Changmin’s disappointed face filled the screen.
Choi Minho, if it was your first link, I’d understand, but you knew Link #172 was not strong enough for you to remain. You made Kibum fall in love with you anyway. What were you thinking?
There was no thinking when it came to Kibum. It was lizard brain and lust and destiny. Minho was a mere mortal, so how could he withstand coming face-to-face with his soulmate and not give into the temptation? Of course, he didn’t want to cause actual problems, though.
“What’s going to happen to him?” Minho asked solemnly. Deep down he already knew the answer, but sometimes people were selfish. He could pretend Changmin was the authority on the Universe—an all-knowing (sarcastic) guide who would never lead Minho astray—who was the only one with the truth.
His stomach roiled as the memory of the link spun in starts and stops around in his mind. Images of the party. Of their kiss. Of Kibum alone on the rooftop. Minho knew what it was like. How many times had he sat alone beneath the night sky wondering why he had been given a soulmate he couldn’t ever have? It was a perfect hellish torture. And he’d put that on Kibum, and Minho felt the regret clinging to his ribs.
“Maybe he didn’t notice I left,” he said.
Imagine this. On your twenty-first birthday a mysterious stranger shows up and asks you out to see the stars. He gives you compliments. Kisses you. It takes you literally two seconds to fall deeply, terribly in love with this man. However, before you even know his name, the man disappears into thin air. Do you think you’d be okay?
Minho swallowed down on the thickly unpleasant notion. “Kibum will remember me?”
The technology to travel the multi-verse is ages away from being invented, so Kibum will search for you the hard way. Too bad you also no longer exist in that world.
“How come?”
At age thirteen, you decided to do something incredibly stupid involving a diving board. Freak accident. Hard to imagine yourself doing something foolish, I know.
“I’m dead in that Universe, and you’re insulting me.”
Kibum would’ve been perfectly content never knowing about you. He would’ve lived happily. Now he will never stop searching for you.
Minho had made a bigger mistake than anticipated, and he continued to picture the Kibum he had met and kissed tonight still alone on that rooftop, staring up at the stars. He imagined how cold and lonely the kid must feel without Minho there, wondering, and waiting. Minho often felt like that himself. Bizarrely alone and left behind.
He had acted selfishly. DAR-LINK was too good sometimes, made you forget yourself. “Is there anything I can do? Maybe send me there again. I’ll go now and make things right.”
Yunho butted into the conversation by then.
Credits are not refundable or replayable. This is clearly stated in the Terms & Conditions. However, in these unseemly circumstances, DAR-LINK now offers a Memory Wipe Add-On. For the low-cost of ₩73000, your darling doesn’t have to be doomed to a lifelong broken heart. How does that sound?
This was a serious situation with Kibum’s happiness hanging in the balance, but Minho’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You think I have seventy-three thousand won?”
We offer payment plans. Six, eight, and twelve month terms. For our most loyal customers like you, we can consider no interest. I need something for collateral though.
“I don’t have anything.”
Choi Minho, your handsome smile is enough to satisfy me. I’ll work up the invoice. Are you planning on using another credit tonight? There’s no one in line, and your buddies haven’t made it back yet. Your credits do expire soon.
Despite a disastrous first attempt, Minho still had a good feeling about tonight, and the two remaining credits were already burning a hole in his pocket. He put the headset on and laid down in the pod, getting himself comfortable again. “Yep. Put me back in, hyung,” he said.
This time Minho wouldn’t let himself fail.
14 October, 2237
Why stick to one universe to find your soulmate? Search multiple stars for your darling at DAR-LINK.
You’ve returned sooner than anticipated, Choi Minho.
This is Link #173.
Welcome to Universe-782022733.
Target identified.
Location: Gangseo, SBS Public Hall, 1st Floor
Link Duration: 0 mins 22 secs
Enormous white clouds were visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows in front of where Minho stood. Through the glass, it appeared to be rush hour. Wall-to-wall traffic and bustling sidewalks with determined people streaming across the crosswalks. It was Seoul, but one of those older versions with the fascinating contraptions that flew on the ground. Minho always thought they moved so slowly compared to the hovercrafts he was used to seeing in Universe-350871797. Food was better in these types of universes. More food-like.
Minho wondered whether he would have time to find a night market before trying to track down Kibum, when he suddenly realized the link was wrong. Wrong happened all the time despite Yunho’s insistence DAR-LINK had a 100% incident-free rate. Depended on what you called incidents.
He had witnessed and committed more than a few major crimes inside of the system, but nothing had ever stuck on his record. The numbers weren’t the numbers; this was a fact of life. Back home, it was a given you couldn’t trust what they told you. Everything was bought and paid for by someone…even love.
WE SOLD AWAY OUR FUTURE.
This was Kibum’s favorite phrase to graffiti on the buildings in SHINee’s fight against their corporate overlords. So DAR-LINK fudged its numbers, but dangerous situations were rare.
Traveling through space and time to new Universes could do a number on your gut, leaving a well-meaning adventurer with the worst bout of motion sickness in their life. Minho had learned to toughen up enough and ignore it, though. He also didn’t need the stomach-churning nausea to tell him the person standing alone in this room with him was himself. He was looking right at the other guy.
The other Minho. The him from this world.
DAR-LINK was mostly good about avoiding these situations, but Minho had long ago surmised that part of Changmin’s technology was based on luck. With a billion Universes to choose from it wasn’t often Minho encountered himself inside the machine. When it happened, Minho would run like hell, or pull out a good theatrical performance, pretending he was a ghost or a crazy person, and the other version would run away. It was mostly an annoyance. A system glitch Yunho could offer to fix with a fee.
But this was going to be a hassle.
Critical error. It is a violation of protocol to tell the target about the link.
Minho had one advantage. The other Minho looked like he was now choking on the scrumptious pastry he had been eating when one of his other halves appeared in front of him. The clock on the wall blinked overhead; it was early in the morning. Breakfast. Minho bet the meal was delicious. Everything in the older universes tasted delicious.
“Who is the target? Me or him?” Minho asked Changmin using the neural connection, letting his jacket slip off his shoulders, preparing for whatever type of fight this was about to be.
He knew himself well, and they always got mad. The other Minho already had a look in his eye, a wild spark that spelled out he wasn’t letting anyone waltz in and take him down, but there was nothing to prepare Minho for this fight.
“Credits are not replayable,” the other Minho said, and the turning recognition was, to put it mildly, quite a surprise. “Get out.”
Choi Minho, I agree with you. Select the option to disconnect.
Replayable? Was the other Minho an adventurer too? Was that possible?
Nothing about an existential crisis was listed in the Terms & Conditions waiver Minho signed. He didn’t think…but admittedly hadn’t quite read every single line. However, he had encountered many anomalies traveling the stars, but never someone else who knew about the multi-verse.
Link #173 was certainly different, and Minho immediately wondered if this meant finally he had reached the end game and something was about to change. He had long suspected the Universe he was meant to find was going to be a Boss Battle.
The hardest course.
And well…the other Minho looked absolutely ripped—as if he exercised every single day—and seemed more than prepared to come to blows.
Maybe Minho was the final boss.
“Have we met before?” Minho asked in a polite tone that was betrayed by the way he set his feet into a fighter’s stance, holding up tightened fists. He was running on instinct here, and instinct told him, there could only be one. Fight or flight, and the second option seemed best. “You’re the one who needs to get out. Destiny brought me here.”
The other Minho had yet to make a move. He stood stoically, face settled into hard lines, muscular arms folded across his chest. It was worse that he looked unconcerned with Minho. Minho was definitely a threat. He could win!
“Destiny?” The other Minho shook his head several times. “You don’t know anything about destiny, or the stars, or any of this. If you did, you would not be here. Kid, get back in your pod and go home.”
Minho—instantly offended—dropped his fists down a touch, jaw slackening. Ready to whine. “Don’t call me kid. We look the same age. You’re not even going to fight me?”
The other Minho stepped around him, headed for a food tray set out on a counter. He picked up another of the delicious breakfast pastries and started eating again, unbothered. After taking several bites, mouth dusted in fine sugar, he glanced at Minho and noticed Minho’s desperation.
With a drawn-out sigh, he offered up the rest of the food. Minho devoured the sweet bread like an animal, stuffing all of it inside his cheeks and munching furiously. Food didn’t taste this good back home.
“How long have you been playing?” The other Minho asked, a little too pityingly. “A hundred links? Three hundred?”
Minho stopped chewing, swallowed down hard. “You really know about DAR-LINK? Yunho? Changmin? Those guys?”
There was definitely a pitying glint in the other Minho’s eye when he gestured at the food table again. Arranged neatly beside the succulent-looking food were dozens of DAR-LINK juice bottles. Minho picked one up, reading the branded label with a hard knot growing in his gut.
WE SOLD AWAY OUR FUTURE rang loudly in both ears.
He put the bottle back down, not understanding. “Are you me?”
Snorting, the other Minho rolled his eyes. “What? Like, you from a different credit? No. I’m not you, idiot. But I am someone who reached the end, and that means I’m not letting some fool come in and mess up my save.”
Minho’s eyes grew wide. “The end?” It became obvious that a small piece of him had thought there was no end to any of this, but here was proof otherwise. “You actually won?”
The other Minho held up his chin. “This isn’t a game. It’s dangerous,” he declared in a patronizing tone. It only lasted a second until it was replaced with bragging. “But yes. I won.”
Now Minho was impressed. A winner of the multiverse standing in front of his own two eyes. “How many credits did it take? I’m on number 173. I think I’m getting close to the end myself. Each time is a little different, but I can tell I’m getting closer. Any day I’ll make it. Maybe even tonight. I have a good feeling.”
Regret flashed in the other Minho’s eyes as he said, “803 was the link that held.” Eight hundred and three! Minho practically choked on the number. Years. That would take years, and so many credits. So much money.
To reach that number of links would take approximately six hundred million won. Payment plans can be arranged if you would like to pre-purchase those credits. Since you are struggling financially, I’ll throw in a limited 35% off offer for your loyalty to DAR-LINK. We’ll add the credits to your account today. Choi Minho, don’t put a price on true love. Your darling waits in the stars.
Yunho had some nerve, but thirty-five percent off was a good discount, Minho thought to himself. Did he want to pass that up?
“Cut yourself off now. Go back home,” the other Minho advised, interrupting the musing over accepting Yunho’s latest discount offer.
It was a reminder that Minho had no good options back in Universe-350871797. His future was in the stars if he could find it.
Already putting his fists back up, he gave the other Minho a harder look. A jealous one. This version had won, and Minho wanted to take everything for himself. If it was going to cost him more money than he could even fathom to reach the end, then he was going to play out the credits to their fullest. He had to be sure Universe-782022733 wasn’t where he belonged. Even if there was someone who looked like him saying otherwise.
“You’re telling me to leave, but how do I know your Kibum isn’t the one I’m meant to find? How do I know he isn’t my soulmate? Maybe you are the system glitch here, and I need to get rid of you to reach my own happy ending.”
Now the other Minho looked ready to fight. He glared, jaw clinching down. “Kibum is mine.”
“How do you know?”
The other Minho stepped up. “I just know. I knew it right away. The second I saw him.”
Minho truly was jealous. His total attempts weren’t as high as this other Minho, but he had been through enough credits to know that the feeling of certainty had never washed over him. He always felt connected to Kibum inside DAR-LINK, as if he knew the Kibums he met, as if he could love each and every one of them, but he had never known with his whole soul that he had found the right one. The link had never felt strong enough to stay tethered forever. In the back of his mind, Minho actually knew that about this universe too. He was too stubborn to admit that while faced with this other Minho who had everything he wanted.
“If you’re so sure, where is he? Let me meet him, and we’ll find out,” Minho suggested. Oddly enough, the other Minho appeared to hesitate. Blinking a few times. “We don’t even have to tell him. We’ll let the stars sort it out.”
The other Minho had a stricken look on his face. “Kibummie will know it’s not me!”
“Well, Kibum is kind of stupid, so he might not.”
The other Minho lifted his chin. “Mine will know. We’re in love.”
“God. Kibum is right. I am annoying.”
“You have a Kibum, too, then. What’s he like? Doesn’t matter. Go back to him. Leave us alone, okay? Please.”
Minho bristled. “It’s none of your business what mine is like.”
Eyes narrowing, the other Minho caught onto the truth easily. “Oh. You do have a Kibum, but it is fucked up with him. I can tell. That’s why you’re out here chasing after other people’s husbands.”
“Husband?!” Minho shouted immediately in a too loud voice. This Minho was rich with winnings. “You married him? He married you?”
I’ve run the numbers, and the likelihood of you developing a bond strong enough to remain in Link #173 is 8.66 percent.
Higher than the last credit. And this Kibum wanted to get married. Minho could not shake off the temptation. He was apologizing to himself before he knew what he was thinking.
“That’s not how DAR-LINK works. I’m not going to steal anything. Kibum is mine. My soulmate. Somewhere out there is a version I get to keep too, and I’m not going to let anyone—even myself—stop me from finding him. So I’m sorry I have to do this—”
When Minho was twenty-five he had enlisted into the marines. It was one of those things that had turned him against his own government. Against the way things were. Once out of the military, Minho had caught up with Jonghyun and the rest of SHINee and started doing everything he could to fight back. That didn’t mean he didn’t remember his training. It only took a second, and he rammed a knee straight into the other Minho’s groin, wrenching his arm high up behind his back, causing him to double-over in pain. He shoved the heel of his fist into Minho’s nose for good measure.
The other Minho went down to the ground without much fight. He cradled his body as he watched Minho. Surprisingly, he didn’t look that mad about the injuries. “I hope the blow job is worth it,” he gritted out.
Minho froze for a second, staring. Echoes of Universe-350871797 that popped up inside of DAR-LINK always made the hairs on the back of his neck stand-up. It was as though he had strayed close to something.
The multiverse was as amazing as it was precarious; you had to be careful or you might break something you couldn’t fix. He backed away from himself, then turned and ran towards the blinking target light on DAR-LINK’s navigation system.
You are finally acting responsibly. Should this work out, you’d have to rid Universe-782022733 of the other version of yourself. I could help you arrange that.
“Let’s talk about murder after Kibum and I fall in love. Shall we?”
You should also try to have a more open mind. The link will hold when you let it.
“Are you suggesting I’m the problem?”
You can’t fall in love if you’re already in love. Right?
Minho had made it to the correct location. It was a tall white door labeled:
Key
Staff Only
Before entering, he froze with his hand on the door knob. “Sometimes I think your machine knows too much, like it already knows the end, and I’m being manipulated. There is something else inside here…something out there calling me. That’s what it felt like when the other me spoke. It’s so strong," he thought.
The log shows you encountered a system override. Not an error many customers experience. Only a handful since DAR-LINK launched. However, we’re working on future upgrades to eliminate these annoyances. If you’d like to make a 1 million won donation and become an Gold-Level supporter, you’ll be in the beta group who receive new enhancements when they are ready.
“What exactly is the system overriding?”
It is a violation of protocol to tell a target about the link.
“If you’re not going to answer me, mute yourself. Actually, go to sleep. I can’t having you watching this."
I don’t want to watch you having sex anyway. I’ve seen enough of that to last a lifetime.
“Liar,” Minho thought. He had come to embrace Changmin as his ride-or-die sidekick inside the multi-verse. He wasn’t certain Changmin necessarily cared whether or not he and Kibum eventually found their happy ending, but Changmin was always ready to show Minho the way. Plus, the sarcasm was a feature, not a bug.
“What do you think I should say?” he mused out loud, patting a hand over his hair, not yet entering the room due to the nerves fluttering about inside his gut.
His husband was in there.
Kibum from Universe-782022733 is not your husband.
Minho frowned. Changmin was such a buzzkill. Reality checks weren’t necessary. His Kibum was enough of a reality check. Inside DAR-LINK, there were possibilities, and that was all Minho wanted to think about right now. He wanted possibilities of a young Kibum falling in love with him at first sight…and a Kibum who loved him enough to marry him. He didn’t want to think about what was and wasn’t his.
“Let’s just pretend he is. What should I say?” he asked again, worrying at his bottom lip with his teeth. “I love you?”
Let’s try hello first.
Hello.
Minho could do that. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with courage, and then released a long breath. As he turned the handle, the door flung open, revealing a room bustling with a surprising number of people rushing around with their arms full and their attention scattered. Dead center was the man in question.
Minho approached unnoticed, closely eyeing Kibum, who was sitting in a chair with three people poking and prodding at his hair and skin and clothes. Behind them was a vanity, bright lights, and an ungodly number of products that Minho didn’t recognize.
It was the multiverse stew. Often the elements were so similar, and Minho had encountered a number of Kibums who were famous in their universe. However, it was no wonder that this Kibum was a celebrity. He was especially striking, beautifully dressed in a head-to-toe gold outfit, adorned with jewels and chains.
Minho wanted to fawn over him immediately, but managed to hold himself together just long enough for Kibum to glance up in the mirror. Their eyes met, and Minho’s skin grew hot as heat spread over his cheeks once Kibum was smiling fully at him.
“Where’s my food?” Kibum asked curiously, glancing down at Minho’s empty hands with amused eyes. “I thought that’s where you went. Why did you change clothes?”
It was always nice when the Kibums inside of DAR-LINK were happy to see Minho. It was such a stark contrast to the mild hostility his Kibum had whenever Minho popped up. This hurtful mish-mash of annoyance and contempt. Sometimes Kibum looked like Minho was the last person in the entire world he wanted around. So, how was he supposed to ignore this Kibum looking at him like his entire world had walked into the room? Minho was not strong enough to not be affected.
“Hello,” Minho said in his kindest voice. He wanted this Kibum to like him most, and knew exactly what to say next. “Kim Kibum, I love you more than you will ever know. Let’s be together forever.”
At this rate, neither version of you will have a husband. Be chill.
Around them, the attendants began to snicker, calling out Minho’s sentiment as cute and adorable. The one brushing Kibum’s hair loudly suggested to the entire room that Minho was the perfect husband. So attentive. So loving.
“You’ve been gone for ten minutes, and you come back like this,” Kibum replied, shaking his head. He adjusted the collar of his outfit, turning his eyes to the mirror, away from Minho’s lovelorn look. “Remember how I said you could come to Inkigayo only if you agreed not to be distracting? I have to concentrate on my performance.”
Minho wasn’t thinking, distracted by this Kibum’s aura. If Kibum was a celebrity, Minho was already his biggest fan. “Performance? What kind of performance?” he asked eagerly. He saw Kibum’s face flicker with concern, and quickly scrambled for the right words, not wanting to mess this up. “I meant to say you—my husband—look so hot. ”
Something bad is happening to your ability to speak.
“This one is exactly my type. I want to keep him,” Minho told Changmin. He couldn’t put into words how good-looking Kibum was at the moment. So sexy. All he knew was he had to shoot his shot.
They are all your type. Are they not?
“Honey, are you feeling okay?” Kibum asked Minho, even standing up from the chair, excusing himself from the staff. He walked up to Minho and took a longer look at his face. The stare made Minho’s insides feel like he was traversing the stars; Kibum’s eyes were so endless and heavenly. He was lost in them for at least an eternity. “You seem a little off. If you’re feeling sick, you should go back home. You’ve seen me perform this song a million times. I won’t be mad.”
Oh. Minho loved the versions of Kibum, who treated Minho gently, whose brow wrinkled in concern at the idea that their husband might not be well. Minho’s heart even sped up at the mere hint of this affection. Minho lapped the attention up, letting a goofy smile out. His husband was hot and kind. He was everything.
Preparing to say so, Minho straightened his spine, only to be interrupted by a man bursting through the door. He wore a headset and a serious expression. With flailing arms and loud commands, he hurried Kibum and the others out of the room, shouting that there was only a few minutes until filming had to begin.
Kibum flashed worried eyes at Minho, but it didn’t seem as though these concerns were enough to stop the show. He laid a hand on Minho’s shoulder, squeezing, and Minho practically swooned from the warm touch. “This won’t take long. I have my stage and a few reels to film after. Give me two hours max, then we can go home. We’ll stop for dinner on the way.”
Any mention of food was enough to encourage agreement, and Minho nodded back eagerly. “I’ll wait for you always,” he said in enough of a lovelorn tone that Kibum’s attendants started giggling again. They covered their mouths, eyes filled with mirth, as they exited the room one-by-one. A scowl settled on Kibum’s face at the continued mockery.
“I mean…I’ll wait until you finish. Of course, I will,” Minho tacked on, attempting something more casual than the grand declarations threatening to burst free. He could be casual.
Debatable.
"Shut up. He loves me." Minho didn’t believe himself either—but all his thoughts were interrupted when Kibum reached for him, pulling their bodies closer, and kissed Minho on the mouth goodbye. He swiped away the lip balm that was left behind, and Minho licked after the taste of peppermint and Kibum’s fingers without thinking as his husband disappeared through the door.
He’s not…what’s the point? You don’t listen.
By then, Minho’s head was too far up in the clouds to even hear Changmin’s admonishments. This Kibum. This Kibum. Minho could actually fall in love with this one. He was absolutely perfect. Perhaps Minho loved him already in fact.
What about Kibum in Universe-350871797?
In the next beat, the vision of Kibum that flashed through his mind was so vivid that Minho thought for a split-second he had stumbled into a bizarre bonus level inside of DAR-LINK. Yunho was always fiddling with special features.
However, it wasn’t some elusive coin heaven where you could stockpile credits to your heart's content. Instead, a memory of meeting Kibum— his Kibum —for the first time was hard-wired into Minho’s brain, and it jogged loose. Once Minho realized he was only remembering the day at the garage when Jonghyun had dragged along Minho to meet his friends and Minho had suddenly inherited a squad of brothers...and a prickly new cute roommate, Minho snapped out of his head.
His match was here in this Universe, and he couldn’t convince this Kibum they belonged together if he was busy thinking about someone else. DAR-LINK didn’t teach him that lesson. It was Romance 101. Besides, wasn’t it better to let the impossible go?
Good, Choi Minho. Very good.
Minho smiled to himself, standing alone in Kibum’s empty dressing room, chest puffed out. It did please Minho to gain Changmin’s approval. It was a feat nearly as impossible as making someone who hated your existence fall in love with you, but Minho didn’t need to worry about that anymore.
He eventually followed the others to go view Kibum’s performance from backstage, staying alert. It had been a while since the altercation, but there were no signs of the other Minho. All he could do was hope that one of Yunho’s system glitches had sent the other man spiraling into the ether.
What did send Minho spiraling into the ether was Kibum’s electric performance. He looked like a god up there, completely enthralling from start to finish. If Minho hadn’t been in love before, he definitely was by the end of the set. He would’ve insisted how much he liked the song, but really all he could remember of it was Kibum’s gyrating hips.
After a short time the performance ended and Minho found himself with Kibum in the backseat of a vehicle transporting them across the strange version of the city he knew so well. Minho was enamored with the sights and sounds of Seoul whizzing outside the window. All the crowded restaurants and shops and buildings which he wanted to explore up close.
They stopped for food on the way as promised. Kibum told Minho to wait, then minutes later returned with the most delicious meal Minho thought he’d ever smelled. He had his nose half-way in the bag when Kibum started laughing.
“I told you that the intense training you are doing isn’t good. All you’ve been eating is chicken and boiled vegetables. Now you are craving everything,” Kibum admonished, even as he opened the carton and offered up one steaming piece of meat, poking it with a utensil. He held the morsel towards Minho’s mouth. “Don’t say no. You need carbs.”
As if Minho ever would. He ate the whole bite in a flash, stuffing the food inside his cheeks. “Mmm. Delicious,” he said, between vigorous chews. “Can I have more?”
Kibum carefully placed the hot carton in Minho’s hands and shifted the vehicle into another gear. They started driving again, pulling back onto a road thick with traffic. There was a brief silence as Minho continued shoveling his face full of the delicious food, barely taking breaths in between.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Kibum interrupted, and chuckled when Minho looked up. “CommeDes doesn’t even make this much of a mess.”
“Whumdes?” Minho muttered around the chewing, holding his head askew as he wondered after the unfamiliar name. Most times, there was crossover between figures in their lives. This was a new name, though.
“Shit!” Kibum slammed his hand lightly on the steering wheel. “Hand me my phone from my bag. I forgot the kids have to go get their annuals done next week. I’m going to leave a message. The office will call me back.”
On autopilot, Minho reached down into the large tote bag near his feet, rummaging around for the device, but his mind was whirling. He handed the phone over, nearly at a loss for words. “We have kids? How?” he sputtered. There were many things Kibum could do, but did he birth a baby in Universe-782022733? “Was it a natural birth? Adoption? Theft?”
Kibum gave Minho a long side-eye as he dropped the phone in his lap. He pressed a hand to Minho’s forehead for a brief second. Once he turned his attention back to the road, the car sped up. “I need to get you to bed. You’re obviously unwell. Not feverish, but delusional. Why would you think I gave birth to your child?”
Minho swallowed, growing confused. “We’re married, and you love me,” he said.
“Romantic. I do love you, but not a day goes by that I don’t regret being talked into marrying you.” Minho’s face grew pained, and Kibum gestured with his hands as the car engine revved up again. “You’re at the house all the time! Also, even if it were biologically possible, I wouldn’t birth another you into this world. How could I burden myself with more than one of you? One is plenty.”
“I’m sure you’re annoying, too,” Minho muttered back, defending himself, or maybe defending the other Minho. They weren’t annoying. They were passionate. Kibum had an attitude problem; all of them did. “I’d have your baby,” he sulked.
Kibum smirked at the comment, flashing pearly-white teeth. “Oh, honey. I know. You love to tell me that while we’re having sex,” he said, smile growing wider and wider. Minho swallowed as a deep shiver zipped through his lower body at this new desire unlocked.
“In fact, if you manage to get over this weird ailment, I’ll put a baby in you tonight even.” Minho managed to only blush a little, and Kibum shook his head. “You’re so easy. Let’s get you home.”
Despite the teasing, Minho put on a smile of his own. Home. He was going home with Kibum; that was his wish. This Universe was really the one, wasn’t it? “Okay, let’s go home,” he agreed.
After becoming an adventurer, Minho often loved to consider the mysteries of the cosmos. This great unknown was similar to the tinkering Jinki-hyung and Taeminie did with those metal models down in the garage. To most it looked like piles of aluminum junk, but to them, there was art to uncover.
The same could be said for every universe Minho found. Someone out there had decided how to fit together the parts and pieces, and it was comforting to Minho that Kibum was a piece that went with him. Minho and Kibum.
The entire ride home, Minho was certain destiny had finally arrived. Destiny was five-foot-ten, a little mean, but also endlessly fascinating. Minho’s own puzzle to sort out. A fun game to win over. Also, Kibum had a cute smile, which never hurt anything.
He thought hard about his future during the rest of the ride and up the tight-squeeze of stairs towards a condo door with a pile of packages in front of it. Even considered how he might have to stay here forever and what that would be like. He surely had parents in Universe-782022733 too…and friends…and he’d have to find a new gym but definitely could find a decent one.
“I don’t even know what’s in these,” Kibum muttered to himself as he bent down to scoop up a few of the boxes. Minho grabbed the rest. “Do you think we should move?”
“Move?”
“Yeah.” Kibum punched in the code on the door, and Minho hummed back in a question. “We kind of ended up here, huh? Maybe it’s time we find a real house together. I didn’t mean what I said in the car. I like having you around. I don’t know…I’ve been thinking…doesn’t this still feel like my place sometimes? Honey, we have enough money to find a house together.”
Minho stood in silence holding the increasingly heavy boxes, thinking this sounded like a conversation for grown-ups. He slept on a bare mattress on a bunk bed in a garage with four other equally non-grown-up dudes. He had no idea how to decide to buy a house with his husband.
“I guess so,” he said anyway.
Kibum’s face shuttered into a mildly hurt expression as the sound of dogs barking came from the other side of the door. “Not exactly the enthusiastic response I hoped for. Even if you don’t want to go, you married me. If I move, you’re coming with me.”
They walked through the door and were greeted by two excited dogs that Kibum cooed at repeatedly, telling them Daddy was home. Minho realized these were the kids in question as Kibum took off his coat and shoes, gesturing for Minho to do the same, chiding at the same time that there was a hot shower in his future.
Reaching for Minho’s hand, Kibum dragged Minho along behind him. Minho wasn’t a grown-up yet, but he could figure out how to be one if it meant getting to live in this house or the new one with this Kibum. The condo was well-lit and spacious, cluttered with knick-knacks and artwork. He could tell he lived here because a myriad of sports and gym equipment that Kibum would never own was scattered in corners.
“I like this place,” Minho said as they moved through the house.
Kibum glanced at him, offering a smile. “I know you do. Change can be—”
However, Minho didn’t get to find out what change could be because they came upon a large open room with the hugest sofa Minho had ever seen. It looked soft and comfortable from the way the other Minho was passed out asleep on it, limbs and hair askew. Guess it was too much to assume this Universe had accidentally shipped this guy off to parts unknown. The other Minho was still kicking and sure to ruin everything.
“Fuck,” Kibum said, immediately rushing over to the sofa. He started shaking the other Minho awake, pushing at his shoulder. “Honey, wake up.”
“I can explain,” Minho started to say, and Kibum silenced him with a death glare. “I didn’t—”
It is a violation of protocol to tell a target about the link.
"There are two of us. I have to say something,” Minho yelled back at Changmin in a frantic thought. This was an unprecedented situation, and he suddenly considered whether he should get rid of the other Minho now or later. It would need to be done eventually if he was going to stay.
The other Minho was awake looking relieved to see Kibum there. “I knew you would know he wasn’t me,” the other Minho said, dragging Kibum into a tight hug. Over Kibum’s shoulder, he shot Minho a told-you-so look. “Kibum is my husband. You had your chance, and you lost. Now scram.”
Kibum leaned away suddenly. “His chance?" he raised an eyebrow. “What’s the matter with you? I thought you were going crazy.”
“I felt sorry for him,” the other Minho explained. “You know how hard it is to come all this way. This one seems a little unstable, too. He was starving when he arrived.”
The pair turned their attention on Minho again in a scrutinizing once-over, but it was suddenly observing the two of them side-by-side on the couch together that sent an itch up Minho’s spine, an out of place feeling shuddering over him. He watched as the other Minho took Kibum’s hand into his and pressed a soft, deliberate kiss to the back. They were cute in their own way, but Minho didn’t want to give up. You had to fight for love.
No offense, but he appears more physically fit than you. Earlier might have just been a lucky shot. Would you like me to calculate your percentages of being punched in the face?
Minho didn’t respond to Changmin’s insults because by then Kibum had come over to him again. Kibum reached for Minho’s hand, offering a kind smile. Without thinking about whether the other Minho would attack him or not for touching his husband, Minho grinned sheepishly, cheeks growing warm.
“Yah! I’m here, too,” the other Minho whined from the opposite end of the couch. “Is it because he’s younger than me? I can be young again.”
Kibum had squeezed their hands together in a tight grip, and Minho thought it was the nicest feeling in the world to be touched by the man he loved. He stared at Kibum with a feeling close to awe, growing more and more lost in those eyes by the second. They were like stars.
“No. It’s because he looks at me the way you used to when we started dating,” Kibum sassed, tossing a pointed stare at his husband, then gently steered Minho away. “Come on. If you’re still hungry, I will make you more food for dinner. Better than takeout.”
“You can cook?” Minho asked, wide-eyed. He stopped them, clutching Kibum’s hands to his chest, attempting to convey the years of pent up meaning in his words. “You’re perfect, aren’t you? Kim Kibum, I will love you forever. I promise.”
Reaching out to straighten the collar on his jacket, Kibum chuckled a little, but Minho swore he saw a faint blush come over Kibum’s face, too. “You’re cute,” Kibum told him. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do with you, but you can at least stay for dinner until time’s up.”
“No, he can’t!” Minho yelled at the offer, but was mostly pouting by that point. “Kim Kibum, are you asking him to stay to annoy me or because you actually like him?”
Kibum shrugged. “I like you, so of course I like him. He’s you.”
“You like me?” Both Minho’s said at the same time.
Kibum glanced between the two of them then shook his head, suddenly seeming to regret the circumstances. Minho didn’t wait for the dinner invite to be rescinded though, and quickly scurried after Kibum. He retook Kibum’s hand and followed the love of all his lives into the kitchen, smiling the entire time.
“Pathetic,” the other Minho bellowed as they left.
However, Minho had no worries about appearances. This was his time. His chance. He wasn’t wasting a good credit trying not to be pathetic. “Hey, I meant what I said. I really love you,” he insisted.
Kibum closed the fridge with his foot, balancing an armload of ingredients. He gave Minho a glance but looked away directly after. “That’s sweet. You’re too sweet,” he said, which wasn’t exactly a reciprocation. “How hungry are you? I can make a normal amount or a Minho normal amount. You two probably have the same appetite.”
Others might have found the comparisons worrisome, but Minho thought it was a good thing that Kibum would carry a wealth of knowledge about him during the early precarious stages of their relationship. There wouldn’t be any surprises whenever Minho did a deep dive on the intricacies of football over their morning coffee or discussed his new exercise routine. This Kibum already knew the basics, more or less.
“Tell me about where you come from,” Kibum suggested as he carried on with preparing the meal. “Is it nice there? Worse? When travelers show up, sometimes they are trying to escape a rough situation. Come to find out, the future isn’t always idyllic. I hope that’s not the case for you, too.”
“Travelers?” Only at that moment did it occur to Minho that there wasn’t much concern about his unnatural presence in this world. Kibum and his beautiful eyes had provided too much distraction to notice no one was surprised by him. “Am I not the first version of me to come here?” he asked.
“You’re the fifth one. It’s been enough years that I assumed there wouldn’t be more.”
“FIVE?!”
Kibum chuckled as he squeezed a healthy amount of white sauce into a bowl and started mixing it with the vegetables. “Honestly, I feel that way too. Five of you is a whole lot. As if I hadn’t figured it out already, the universe still insists on making this point. It’s never anyone else. Only you.” He placed the bowl to the side, pulling off the plastic glove. “I always thought it had something to do with the fact that the you from this universe died. The machine sent more of you because the odds of winning the game were higher. The first time you showed up, I was eleven. Imagine how that went.”
“Oh god…” Minho thought back to the version of Kibum from earlier in the night and how undignified his behavior had been toward that poor kid. Surely there was a version of him that harbored some amount of self control.
I hate to tell you this but…
“Well, I called the cops on you. In my defense, you were very suspicious and dumb.” Kibum’s eyes carried towards the door of the kitchen where the other Minho was visible through the entryway.
He had given up the complaints and turned on a sporting program, seemingly unconcerned about his husband and their guest. Minho wondered if that overconfidence should be concerning; he had a chance here, right? This Kibum did say he liked him.
“That idiot showed up when I was eighteen, and I haven’t been able to get rid of him since…”
Minho peered once more at his counterpart. The other Minho had more age lines around his eyes and tons of muscles, but all in all, that was him in there. The two of them weren’t very different.
“Why? Why him?” he asked, curiosity taking over. “What does he have that I don’t?”
Kibum chuckled, coming close enough to put a hand on Minho’s shoulder. The warm touch was soothing, and it made him think the Kibum back in Universe-350871797 never touched him at all. Such a shame.
“For starters, I’ve known him for more than a few hours. Even though I know you, he isn’t a stranger to me. We have a history, you know? There’s a lot we’ve been through together. DAR-LINK makes it seem easier than it actually is in reality to fall in love. The connection the machine made between me and him only went so far. We had to do the rest of the work,” Kibum explained, letting loose a healthy sigh. “And…it was work. If you’re expecting me to tell you this soulmate thing is easy, I can’t.”
Soulmates were supposed to be easy. Love was fated, which meant it shouldn’t have been hard to start a relationship. However, this Kibum—this Kibum who had won the game and gotten married—was saying differently. Now Minho was thinking how nothing with his Kibum was easy at all. What did that mean?
The puzzling thought must have been obvious on his face, because Kibum chuckled again, this time louder. “Oh my. I really must be giving you a run for your money back where you’re from…” He grabbed Minho by the bicep tightly and dragged him over to a dining table just outside the kitchen. “Come on, over here. Tell me about your guy. Tell me about me. Are the two of you not getting along?”
It was Minho’s turn to laugh. Not getting along was the understatement of the year. “You barely speak to me back there. I’d say you tolerate me. You don’t love me.”
Kibum had on a sympathetic look, which wasn’t exactly helping the situation. Minho wasn’t sure he wanted pity from someone who had Kibum’s beautiful face. “How old am I? The younger we are, the harder it is to admit I love you. There’s a good deal of growing up we both must do before it can ever work.”
“Admit it?” Minho couldn’t help the amusement over the thought. “Are you suggesting the Kibum in my world is secretly in love with me, and that’s why he never talks to me? I don’t believe that.”
“Yah!” Kibum exclaimed, swatting at Minho’s hand. “I’m him. I know myself, and I always love you. That doesn’t mean I want to tell you that. It’s not as easy as you think it is.”
These words should’ve made for excitement, but instead, Minho felt the pout blossoming over his mouth. He didn’t want to be lied to about this, and it felt like when his mother used to attempt to cheer him up about his favorite team losing a game. Any disappointment she’d try to make him smile, but he always hated the pandering.
“You don’t have to lie to me. I know what’s possible back in my world. And it’s impossible. I can’t make him fall in love with me. I’ve already lost there,” Minho said firmly.
If it was possible to find happiness with his Kibum, wouldn’t he have already done so? Besides, it wasn’t as though he hadn’t been trying. “I flirt with him all the time, and he’s not receptive to me,” he insisted.
Do you?
Kibum also had on a skeptical expression, and said at the same time as Changmin, “Do you?”
After a few seconds, even Yunho popped up.
DAR-LINK has a suite of hands-on training modules for modern flirtation techniques. Looking at your user profile, Changmin recommended them to you after Link #1. You never completed any of them. However, I can still give you the discount to purchase the training package.
“I know how to flirt!” Minho shouted back to all three of them. “That’s not the problem. Kibum just doesn’t like me that way. I accepted it a long time ago. My only chance to be with him is to find a Kibum inside of DAR-LINK who actually likes me.”
However, Kibum was not deterred from this line of questions. “I’ve seen your so-called flirting techniques with my own two eyes, and it’s not great. You come off a little too enthusiastic. At first, I thought you were slightly out of your mind….not to mention annoying. There are many layers about you I have to work past,” he said.
“Shouldn’t it be easier? If we are soulmates,” Minho asked. He had it in his mind that things should work better, like the technology in Changmin’s amazing machine. Soulmates were perfect tech, and it was obvious that’s not what him and his Kibum were. They were malfunctioning.
Kibum made a face. “Do you always like me? There’s nothing about me you find off-putting?”
Minho’s brain processed the question at rapid speed, and a million data points popped up in his head. Often, he hated Kibum’s harsh personality. His biting words and over-the-top logic. He was a know-it-all too and didn’t even like sports. Also, he spent a little too much time staring at himself in the mirror. Off-putting was the most simple way to say it.
Minho was stubborn though, crossing both arms over his chest. “Nothing. I like everything about you. I wouldn’t change the annoying things you do even though I hate them,” he insisted.
A slow smile passed over Kibum’s face. There was a moment where Kibum glanced towards the other Minho, practically swooning. If Minho thought this way, then the other Minho must too. Good for them, Minho thought bitterly, practically rolling his eyes.
Eventually, Kibum returned his attention back to the conversation. “Consider that your Kibum wants to feel the same way. He doesn’t want to change you, but that means being sure he can handle a relationship. Being with you is a big commitment,” he suggested, and Minho realized a glimmer of something was starting to brew inside. He tried desperately to press it back down. “Or again …maybe you are just a terrible flirt. He has no clue what you want.”
“I want to kiss him,” Minho stated on auto-pilot, and Kibum snorted. “I mean not him. He’s not the one for me. The version of Kibum I find in DAR-LINK, I want to kiss that one.”
Kibum’s eyes narrowed. “It is easier to flirt with me in DAR-LINK than in reality. Isn’t it?”
I like this one. Smart.
Speaking of annoyances, the over-the-top certainty this Kibum had about Minho was causing his temper to flare, the same way it did when the Kibum in his world lectured him on chores around SHINee’s building. Minho disagreed often to ensure some pushback on Kibum’s ego, otherwise Minho felt too much like he was being bossed around. This accusation, however, stung in an unexpected sort of way.
It pressed into the too-sensitive crevice of his heart where he kept all the lovey-dovey feelings about Kibum buried. The whole-hearted fixation on completing the link one day suddenly seemed slightly embarrassing, and Minho found himself looking at the table, cheeks heating up.
“Isn’t it?” Kibum repeated again, tone all-too knowing by then. He got that way when he was sure he was right, and Minho wondered if he was. “You can flirt in here. Kiss me. Live out all your fantasies, because what if deep down you know none of it will ever be permanent?”
Minho glanced up, brow crinkling in confusion. “That’s not true. That would mean my heart’s not in it. I put everything into DAR-LINK. Time. Money. I’m searching the universe for the one."
“Except you’ve already found the one. You have to know a strong enough connection cannot be made in the machine if you’re already in love back there. The link will always be severed. Like I said, it’s easier to flirt in here if you know you’ll never see any of us again.”
“I don’t think—” Minho’s voice trailed off, and he grew silent.
Was Minho fooling himself? It didn’t feel that way. It felt like winning in DAR-LINK was all that mattered to him some days. All he had in that messed up, broken world was the hope that he’d find a Kibum to love him one day.
“So…I can’t find my soulmate in here, because I’m too hung up on him. I just need to figure out how to fall out of love. I can do that.”
From across the room, Minho heard himself say, “No, you can’t.” The other Minho was leaned up against the doorframe, his hulking figure taking up the whole entryway. He had been eavesdropping and apparently now had personal advice to offer. “Unfortunately, our hearts don’t work that way, especially not about Kibum. If you’ve already chosen him, you can’t undo it.”
“I didn’t choose anyone!” Minho yelled, throwing up his hands, nearly helpless. “I’m telling you we’ll never be together. There’s no link there, just a lot of hostile silences. We’re barely friends,” he mumbled at the end, sulking once more.
Kibum and the other Minho shared a long glance, as though they were deciding something between themselves. His parents were like that sometimes, a conspiring duo in action.
Clearing his throat seconds later, Kibum leaned across the table. “We’ll help you,” he told Minho with a genuine smile. This Kibum was handsome, Minho suddenly thought, distracted momentarily from his emotional outburst. “We’ve been in your shoes, so we can tell you what to do better than anyone in any Universe. It’s probably not as hopeless as you are making it sound.”
Minho chimed in, “Kibum-ah is actually really open to you marching up and laying one on him. That’s what I did. I kissed him. After that, he confessed everything. Yours would probably be the same way.”
“I did not!” Kibum said, sounding offended. “You confessed to me.”
Minho shook his head, emphatic. “This one did confess first,” he whispered to Minho. “Said I love you and everything. That could be you. Think about it.”
Despite himself, Minho was thinking about the advice. It was hard not to be drawn in by this Kibum and Minho’s certainty. They had built a whole life together. Minho could easily see the history of their relationship hung on the walls, photos of them stretching out over the years, not just the one day or two that Minho got in DAR-LINK. This was years.
Their home was filled with stuff that was clearly Kibum’s and the other Minho’s things too—all of it blended together. This was a beautiful simulation, one Minho might’ve developed himself if he were asked how he wanted life to be.
If they had successfully made such a strong link that this was the outcome, Minho couldn’t help but consider their advice to be expertise. He was one of those people who didn’t mind being coached. In fact, he often sought out teachers to improve himself. These days, aside from his DAR-LINK obsession, he was off-and-on learning coding from Taeminie. He wasn’t certain he was learning much except how to get a headache, but he was making attempts. Jonghyun was teaching him guitar. Jinki was his mechanics teacher.
Kibum might simply be another thing to learn.
“I could never walk up and kiss him. He’d kill me,” Minho stated, but then he glanced over at Kibum, feeling his face heating up the longer he looked at him and the longer he considered actually taking action. “How come it can’t work the other way? You kissing me.”
“I might. If I get tired of your nonsense enough. If I get tired of waiting.”
Minho couldn’t help but scoff. “He’s not waiting.”
Kibum sighed loudly, appearing agitated by the protests. “All he’s doing is waiting, but you’re in here chasing after other versions of him. Think about it, why would he kiss you? Say you made a strong connection in DAR-LINK, that means you leave that world in a way, then he’s left alone. I wouldn’t take that chance. Of getting my heart broken? No way. We’re into self-preservation.”
“You could tell me stop,” Minho refuted, eyes narrowing. He didn’t like how this advice was starting to sound like every mistake was his own. Kibum in his Universe never made things easy. He was often difficult and moody.
Leaning closer, Kibum’s mouth jaw into hard lines. “You could be less of a chicken.”
“Hey!” Both Minho’s said, affronted at the implication they were scared.
Kibum’s eyes turned to slits. “I dare you to do it. Pretend I’m your Kibum then look me in the eye and kiss me if you’re not scared. I think you are, but we’ll bet on your courage.”
“Oh geez. You can’t dare me to do things. That’s cheating,” the other Minho scolded.
The other Minho was correct. Dares were dangerous. Minho could instantly feel the desire to win percolating in his bones, the will to succeed against any challenge.
This was immediately followed by a far more familiar desire. Kibum. A beautiful version of Kibum was daring him to kiss him, and that overtook any good sense Minho had. He felt instantly overtaken by the need to have this Kibum.
As the initial adrenaline rush wore off, Minho began to rationalize. “You’re married,” Minho reminded Kibum. “You can’t kiss other people.”
“My husband’s right here, and I doubt he cares. Besides, you’re not other people. You’re him.” Kibum paused for a moment, then sharply added, “Is it wrong to be selfish? I want every version of me to be happy. I put on a good show, but the truth is I’d be miserable without you.”
Loud footsteps reverberated off the tile as the other Minho left his perch, stomping up to them. He reached for Minho’s hand and pulled him to a standing position. “No Kibum is going to be sad on my watch, not if I can help it. You need to stop staying what is impossible.” He gestured at Kibum, at his husband, then at Minho. “Go ahead. Make a move.”
“But—this isn’t—” Minho tried to protest, only to receive a gentle shove in the back by the other Minho, propelling forward several feet until he was nearly toe-to-toe with Kibum, who had also stood up to face him. The room went a bit shadowy, and Minho was suddenly blinking bashfully back at the man who so mirrored the boy back home. His dreadful, terrible soul-crushing crush.
Despite being annoyed by the other Minho acting like he knew everything and shoving him around, Minho felt the heat slowly building inside his body. His eyes did another long scan over the other Kibum. He was gorgeous in every way imaginable, and Minho liked that in this moment he didn’t need to hide the way his gaze meandered lower and lower, down Kibum’s elongated neck. He thought about touching there so often, and the temptation to do so now was nearly too much. Every finger tingled with the desire to reach out and take, but he decided to speak his truest desires first.
“Do you want to go look at the stars? Together, I mean.”
Kibum giggled, eyeing them both with a teasing look. “That’s exactly what he asked me,” he said, coming even closer, placing his hands along Minho’s jaw. The warmth from his palms made Minho instantly hot all over, blushing even more. His own Kibum had never touched him really, and Minho wasn’t certain where to look. “Can’t you kiss me right here instead?”
“I still think our first kiss on the rooftop under the stars would’ve been a romantic way to do it,” the other Minho complained loudly. He was so loud. Moment-ruining loud. Minho wanted to tell him to get lost. This was his moment. “I was going for memorable.”
“Honey, you were delaying it,” Kibum accused his husband, while still meeting Minho’s eyes, eyebrow quirking. “Minho, what do you think? We don’t need to go anywhere special, huh? I’m waiting for you. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Trouble was, Minho was growing more confused by the second, losing track of the edges of DAR-LINK and reality. He wondered briefly if this was what a strong link actually was like. You simply lost track of the fact that you were in a machine.
This Kibum quickly started to look and sounds like the Kibum back in Minho’s own universe. His heart was beating faster in his chest, his palms growing more sweaty as he swiped at his pants. The nerves threatened to overtake him, but Minho realized the only way to win was through courage.
“I was waiting for you, too,” Minho managed to confess to Kibum, which one he couldn’t be so sure anymore. However, once the lid was off, his feelings bubbled up to the surface. He had been holding this inside for far too long. “I talk to the others about you a lot. They say I should go for it. That I’m standing in my own way. That—if I love you, I should say something.”
Softly, Kibum smiled, his eyes endlessly dark and radiant. Minho was always so lost in them, and he was now too, swaying close enough that he could practically feel the whisper of Kibum’s breath along his cheeks. His assumption had always been—immediate rejection—but that wasn’t the trajectory of this course.
This course…this link…it had a lot of promise.
Without further second-thoughts about his Kibum, Minho leaned into this reality, and pressed his mouth to Kibum’s with as much reverence as he could muster. There were no stars, no endless universes, but there was the faint noise Kibum made when Minho’s lips landed on his. He seemed a tad surprised by the behavior, despite his own requests, twitching beneath their close proximity and Minho’s hand stretching up into his hair. Kibum settled into the kiss, meeting Minho’s mouth with matching enthusiasm.
They kissed for several seconds, caught up in their exploits, ignoring everything else. All rationale thoughts faded out of Minho’s mind though, until he felt like he was floating on air, the tips of his toes barely touching the earth.
It was out of this world.
Delicately, and after some time passed, Minho pulled back, and he realized somewhere along the way he had taken Kibum into his arms, clutching his body close to his own. Kibum looked disheveled afterwards, hair and clothes mussed up as Minho untangled his grip. Minho took a step or two away, head bowed, but he could feel the giant grin stretching over his face.
Now who was the chicken?
How pleased Minho was with himself only lasted seconds. From across the room, the other Minho tossed a bucket of cold water on the victory.
“That’s all you have to show? You barely kissed him and then what?” the other Minho lamented, increasingly upset. “Minho, we love a dummy. Make it clearer than that about what you’re after, or Kibum-ah will figure out how to look the other way. He will never make things easy on us.”
Kibum, who had managed to catch his breath by that point, argued against his husband’s claims. “How would I not understand a kiss like that? I can barely see straight. You never kiss me like that anymore. So sweetly.”
The other Minho only snorted, crossing his arms over his chest, not even remotely jealous over his husband complimenting another suitor’s kissing skills. He appeared to care more about being right.
It was painful how similar they—two Minhos in one room—could be, but there was that advice to trust yourself which made Minho more sympathetic to the other Minho’s analysis about the situation. If he wanted to win, this other Minho knew how.
Minho carefully collected his thoughts. Put on a brave face, tilting his chin up a little as he met Kibum’s curious expression. “You told me that people only care about plugging into DAR-LINK for the sex simulations. Truth is though, I usually have to settle for other people, because you and I…we never…well, you know. Do you get what I’m trying to say?” he asked, growing embarrassed.
The other Minho had come up on the opposite side of Minho. Kibum was now looking back and forth between them, his long eyelashes fluttering swiftly. Something had shifted in his demeanor.
“See how he understands what we want now? You can always tell. His eyes are different,” the other Minho commented astutely.
However, Kibum pointed a finger at that, backing his way out of the dining area. “You two stay over there,” he instructed, but put a hand on his forehead as he left, rubbing furiously. “There’s two of them. I can’t handle this.”
Making promises Minho wasn’t certain could be kept, the other Minho trailed after his husband, saying, “Come on, you know we’ll do all the work. Doesn’t he look like a quick learner?” Kibum glanced back at Minho, who flashed his most studious smile, nothing but teeth and hope. “Don’t you want to help him? Also, if he doesn’t know what to do, the you back in his world is never going to be satisfied.”
“I know what to do!” Minho said quickly, a little offended. “I can satisfy him. I love him, don’t I? I want more than sex. I’ll…I’ll really mean it when we’re together. We can make love under the stars even.”
To which, the other Minho gestured emphatically for Kibum to listen, as if to say see.
Kibum sighed out. “Come with me,” he said, grabbing for Minho’s hand once again.
His grip was firm as Kibum led them down a dark hallway into a softly-lit bedroom. Minho loved the way their hands fit together, and he found himself threading their fingers together and squeezing. He always wanted to hold Kibum’s hand and never had nearly enough chances to do so.
Their bedroom was neat inside, with a few scraps of clothes strewn about here and there. It smelled faintly of lavender. He stood Minho at the foot of the bed, calves touching the mattress, and Minho tried to appear calm but inside his heart was doing somersaults.
“I want to make it clear that I’m not actually into voyeurism so don’t try this with me back there. I’m not even sure what to call this,” Kibum explained.
Minho wanted to ask what that statement meant, but the other Minho had also entered the bedroom by then with a determined look on his face. He crossed over closer to where Kibum and Minho were standing, already tugging his jacket off, tossing it aside.
“A galactic intervention. Otherwise, his head will be stuck in the stars forever. Pay attention—” Turning around, the other Minho practically lunged for Kibum, placing a hand on the small of his back, as he tugged their bodies flush together. He kissed Kibum like there were no credits left in the machine, like this was his one shot. He kissed him furiously until Kibum appeared dazed, only left with a heavy breath, chest heaving up and down. The other Minho dragged his fingertips along Kibum’s jaw, as he murmured out, “I kiss you better than him, don’t I?”
“You kiss fine,” Kibum tried out, but it was hardly a good lie. A moment later, a teasing smile came out. “You don’t want to make love to me under the stars? I’m disappointed.”
The other Minho shook his head loosely. “Unlike him, I’m not too scared to tell you I don’t care about the damn stars. I want you anywhere. Like right now, I want to fuck you in the bed,” the other Minho said, and for a few seconds, the other Minho kissed along Kibum’s jaw.
At this, Minho felt an intense feeling wash over him. It was envy and desire and horniness constructing goosebumps all the way down his forearms, his muscles twitching. He had never heard himself speak that way, especially not to Kibum. There was something about himself like this that he liked. He suddenly longed to become someone with such uninhibited honesty, maybe. However, he wasn’t certain what he was supposed to be doing. Watching them? Keeping score?
Awkward, isn’t it?
Unfortunately, Minho didn’t have time to tell Changmin ‘sorry for all those times I made you watch me have sex in DAR-LINK’ before he was pulled further into a situation he was certain Changmin would not want to see equally as much. Two Minhos and one Kibum surrendering to the possibilities of multiverse.
It was dizzying how the other Minho and Kibum were kissing in one breath, as though there was nobody else in the room, and then reaching for Minho in the next beat, beaconing for their guest to join them like they had rehearsed this entire dance. Maybe Minho had gotten trapped here without realizing what any of this really was. He actually didn’t put up much of a fight when the other Minho asked him to lay back and Kibum climbed over him, straddling his hips.
Why would Minho fight his own fantasies?
Kibum’s face had blushed a pretty pink across his cheeks and down his slender neck. Helplessly, Minho stared up at this vision of perfection suddenly closer than he had ever imagined Kibum could be. This made Minho happy and unbelievably turned on.
He felt the tightness in his pants grow. His cock did not know much about the multiverse either, and there was a strong physical reaction to Kibum’s presence that Minho couldn’t control. Enough that Minho slid his hands along Kibum’s body, gripping fingers into his thighs, testing out the pressure of his own hands where they had never been.
“He likes that. He likes both of us,” the other Minho noted as though maybe Minho himself couldn’t see that Kibum looked a tad overwhelmed, much different than the neatly put-together celebrity Minho had seen so far.
Especially when the other Minho began to kiss down the sides of his neck, Kibum drew in a hard gasp, sound nearly choked. Probably had a good deal to do with the four attentive hands suddenly exploring every nook and cranny.
Occasionally, they would trade off—him and the other Minho. After kissing Kibum until he grew starry-eyed and breathless, the other Minho would kindly let Minho kiss his husband too, guiding Kibum into Minho’s clutches.
There was an eagerness to please Kibum that Minho could feel inside of himself, so he didn’t hesitate to do as he was directed. He kissed Kibum the way he had seen himself do it—all tongue and passion—and Kibum responded more and more fervently each time.
Minutes later, Kibum pulled back and didn’t seem to know which one of them he was looking at any longer. Minho wondered how DAR-LINK would categorize this encounter. An anomaly? Bad code? Perhaps this was that so-called bonus round. He was here to collect as many credits as possible in thirty seconds.
Kibum seemed to be on a similar wavelength. He grabbed for the collar of Minho’s shirt and tugged at the buttons hurriedly, bending forward to press tiny kisses across his face and undress him. “I need you inside me,” Kibum whispered.
Minho’s eyes grew wide, as his cock twitched, now unbelievably hard. “Me?” he asked, certain Kibum couldn’t mean that. “You want me to…really?”
For a split-second, Minho had forgotten about the other Minho, mistakenly mixing up reality with DAR-LINK’s version of it. However, the other Minho hushed any dissent, admonishing, “You don’t know enough to make him beg. Just do what he wants.”
“I know plenty,” Minho muttered back, but the idea that Kibum might want him enough to beg for it sounded outlandish. The other Minho had experienced a life that seemed like a fairytale in Minho’s mind. It was two parts admiration and one part disbelief.
How did Minho become him? How did he win?
Minho didn’t know how to make Kibum lose that much control, so he quickly got in line, reaching for the zipper of his pants to undo the fly. Kibum turned his attention to Minho’s dick immediately, slipping a delicate hand inside the band of Minho’s underwear, wrapping slender fingers around his length, stroking him off.
After searching DAR-LINK for so long, finally, here was a Kibum who wanted to touch him like he wanted, and Minho lost himself in instant bliss.
Kibum continued the manipulations, but Minho felt the quiet observation as their eyes met. Kibum didn’t look nearly as lost as he had moments before, and Minho couldn’t help but wonder if that was because the other Minho had stopped kissing him for the time being. He had gotten up from the bed, padding over to the nightstand to fish out lube and other supplies, commenting on what they needed aloud, actually being too noisy for Minho’s liking. Minho was trying to have a romantic moment with the love of his life here.
“You don’t understand, yet?” Kibum asked, sounding disappointed. If what he wanted to get across to Minho was important, Kibum should have considered not touching him, because Minho was having trouble following. “Obviously not. You’re still here. You could go back home and get what you really want.”
“Kibum-ah, I want you,” was all Minho could think to say. Yet, he also felt a sick feeling churning in his stomach.
Go back home? How could Kibum say that when he was making Minho feel so good? When they were soulmates?
By then, the other Minho had returned. He dropped the bottle of lube in the small space beside Minho’s head, inches away from it smacking Minho directly in the face. The other Minho wasn’t acting jealous, but he came back into the bed, wrapping his arms around Kibum tightly, pulling his body up against his broad chest. Kibum slumped against him, his spine curling over.
Minho couldn’t help but notice how easily they fit. Kibum reached for the other Minho’s hand, threading their fingers together. This gesture finally made Minho notice the matching pair of gold rings they both wore. The rings gleamed in the dim lighting of the bedroom, and Minho found himself staring at their hands, his jaw slackening at being reminded they were married. He and Kibum were married.
Somehow this Minho had managed to win so hard he had literally married their crush. Minho could suddenly feel how attached to the idea his brain had become.
Seeing it—seeing what they were—had opened up a neural pathway he hadn’t ever considered. Part of him wanted that ring, and another piece wanted a ring but wanted to earn it the hard way. He could travel through Mordor—otherwise known as Kibum’s heart—and find a ring for himself, couldn’t he? The ring existed here; it could exist in other worlds.
As if to agree, the other Minho said, “I think he’s starting to understand.” He pressed his lips to the back of Kibum’s neck, allowing a hand to rest over Kibum’s stomach, the other tracing up and down his arm.
They made a human pretzel from how little space remained between them. There was an air of ease and sensuality to their movements. If anything else what tonight showed Minho was that he and Kibum—together—they looked hot. His pulse raced harder and harder, causing his body to practically overheat.
This—what they had—this was what Minho wanted. A feeling surfaced beneath his skin, that sickening itch again, stronger than before. Sure, this was what Minho wanted, but if he took it—if he found a way to get rid of the other Minho—would this Kibum ever be his? Or would he always be a guest in their bed?
Continuing to ponder his own place in this world, Kibum reached out, hands going once more to Minho’s cock, stroking him off, fast and deliberate. Air caught in the back of Minho’s throat, a moan threatening to spill out, which beckoned Kibum close enough to kiss a line up Minho’s torso and neck and up to his mouth. Kibum kissed Minho, left more than a kiss behind.
Instead, Minho wondered if Kibum wasn’t actually stealing away parts and pieces, things he hadn’t agreed yet to surrender. The more they kissed, the more Minho thought he was being split open, dissected and sown back up. He realized as Kibum pulled back some, lightly thumbing at the corner of his mouth and giving him a soft grin like he knew he had kissed Minho to within an inch of his life, it was because Kibum had kissed the other Minho thousands of times. He already knew how Minho wanted it. Minho, still on kiss number three, suddenly understood he had shown up halfway through the semester to an important test.
Attempting to shut away the kiss-drunk feeling, Minho watched bleary-eyed as Kibum moved over him, observed how those lean muscles worked beneath his skin as he splayed Minho’s arms open and folded their hands together. He wanted this, he told himself as Kibum rutted against him, their cocks pressed tightly together between them. Kibum sounded good, the way his breath hitched when the other Minho shifted close from behind. Minho could feel how all their hips were pressed together. For a good while, he and the other Minho were there together—hands and mouths—directing most of the attention on their shared desire resting at the center. He followed where the other Minho’s hands went, memorizing the instructions, memorizing how Kibum could turn to jelly at their touch.
Sometimes Minho simply watched, his eyes boring holes into the scene they made. He couldn’t take his eyes off how the other Minho’s brow crinkled, tongue caught between his teeth, as he grabbed the lube and worked Kibum open. Kibum pressed himself into Minho, who was still laying under him. Kibum curled up against Minho’s chest, making a keening noise, sounding so soft. The other Minho’s manipulations didn’t look like they hurt, but it didn’t look that comfortable judging the hard expression. Minho moved to rest a hand on Kibum’s forehead, brushing the bangs from his face, comforting him. He wanted to scold the other Minho to be more careful and gentle, but then Kibum started writhing more and more, sounding quickly undone, telling the other Minho how good he was being to him.
Even as Minho still laid so close, it was easy to slip away. Easy for them to grow lost in each other like Minho wasn’t really there. Around Kibum, unfortunately, it was an existence he knew all too well. That untethered feeling of not mattering enough to be seen.
Precisely then was when it dawned on Minho that he couldn’t stay here. Not because the link was too strong, because he still thought maybe he could defeat this Minho if he tried. He couldn’t stay here because he had started to wonder through all of this, as he watched the dreamy pleasure drifting across Kibum’s face, as he listened to Kibum beg for Minho to keep going, Minho had started to worry and wonder about who was going to be good to the other Kibum—his Kibum—if he wasn’t there?
If he stayed in DAR-LINK, Kibum would be back there by himself. Just like that kid from earlier tonight. Was Minho searching the stars for his destiny or leaving behind a trail of broken hearts? Because Kibum was waiting, wasn’t he?
Minho finally recognized the churn in his stomach as the machine’s signal that reality was growing unsteady. He could feel the floating feeling beneath his feet and between his toes like he was no longer quite touching the ground. Soon, he would be yanked out of here and returned home.
However, before he left, Minho wanted to ensure that he was leaving Kibum in good hands, with the one that deserved him and wasn’t going to fuck it up. Maybe that was what Minho really needed to be doing in DAR-LINK, ensuring happy endings for himself.
Every version of Kibum and Minho could win, Minho thought as he took the other Minho’s shoulder. Their eyes connected and suddenly the universe opened up, and the other Minho recognized immediately what was happening. Minho’s eyes must have looked different.
“That’s right. Scram,” the other Minho told him, sounding so haughty. Fair enough. He had already won and deserved to brag. “You know what to do now?”
“I do,” Minho agreed. He had learned a lot in this universe. His eyes dropped back to Kibum for a moment, and Kibum smiled at him, nodding with encouragement. Minho had said it earlier, but he liked this Kibum. He was his type, and Minho thought he would miss him maybe more than any of the rest of them.
He felt brave enough to give Kibum a small kiss goodbye on the mouth before he really had to go. As he pulled away, Minho looked at the other Minho, also brave (or annoyed over his defeat) enough to leave some parting advice of his own.
“Minho, stop delaying it. I know why you like this place, but Kibum wants to buy a house with you. Somewhere that is both of yours. We should be a grown-up and do what he wants,” Minho told himself.
It wasn’t terrible to see the jolt in the other Minho’s body at being called out. The last thing he saw was the two of them turning to look at each other with wide eyes, the other Minho already asking in concern for details, Kibum already denying what Minho meant, but Minho thought they were married and would work it out.
And then the universe was gone.
Error. This link has been severed.
Choi Minho, you are being returned to Universe-350871797.
You have one credit remaining.
Your DAR-LINK summary is ready to be viewed.
Choi Minho braced for impact. Changmin’s dress-down would knock sense back into his brain. After the encounter he’d just had, some sense was needed. Heat still fluttered across Minho’s skin from where Kibum had touched and kissed him.
His shirt was drenched in sweat, but at least he hadn’t come all in his pants. Wet dreams in DAR-LINK were a meme on the customer servers—everyone experienced them—but in reality, you ended up traipsing into the lobby as a walking billboard for the wonders of simulated sex. He was glad to avoid all that this time.
He dialed in food service, ordering a few selections from the menu, because he was starving again. Adventuring left you with a ravenous feeling every time. Probably a side effect mentioned in the Terms & Conditions he signed but never read. It didn't matter. Yunho made a delicious stew, and he would enjoy it.
By then, the link summary had loaded. After pressing play, Minho had expected Changmin’s not-so-cheery face to pop-up on the monitor. Changmin always found things to correct. His posture. His approach. His lack-of-approach. Even his walking.
However, Changmin did not appear on the video. Instead, Minho recognized the familiar DAR-LINK graphics. When Minho had especially fucked up, instead of lecturing, Changmin would make Minho sit through footage of the entire link, much like detention.
Minho barely pouted, settling back in his pod, growing comfortable; he wouldn’t mind replaying the threesome part, wondering if two Minhos and one Kibum would look as sexy on camera as it had felt.
Those expectations were dashed when Minho realized the link footage that had popped-up was not his own. As soon as he read the adventurer’s name on the lower right of the screen, Minho scrambled for the pod’s headset and jammed it back on, knowing immediately he needed to experience this final credit in full.
Two Years Ago
23 September, 2235
Why stick to one universe to find your soulmate? Search multiple stars for your darling at DAR-LINK.
Thank you for creating a new account, Kim Kibum. If you need assistance while out on your adventure, the DAR-LINK support team is always by your side. You can reach out to us via the neural connection automatically integrated into the headset. If you think it, we can hear it! Someone will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
Stay safe out there. We do not encourage promiscuity, violent crimes, or reckless behavior, but this is your link to navigate as you wish. A last reminder that cheating is against the Terms & Conditions. Do not tell anyone about DAR-LINK, especially your target. If you do, your account might be terminated without warning.
Are you ready to meet your soulmate?
This is Link #1.
Rolling his eyes, Kibum punched the button for departure. He had read the Terms & Conditions front to back several times. DAR-LINK still sounded sketchy to him, and he wasn’t about to sign Changmin’s contract without knowing all the rules. It was a violation of protocol to tell the target about the link. If you did, Changmin might boot you out…without a refund. Kibum had been saving up for a new motorbike so forking over that cash tonight to Yunho had made him feel stupid. Sure, he didn’t believe that DAR-LINK was everything it advertised itself to be, but he wasn’t going to get kicked out on a technicality and waste his money.
Once departed, the thing Kibum noticed first was that Changmin’s simulation was amazing. The technology truly felt as though he was hurling across a great distance—an unfathomable distance even—surrounded by the most extraordinary stars he’d ever seen. The fantastic balls of light appeared close enough that he thought he could nearly reach out and grab one.
Keep all extremities inside the pod until we reach our destination. If I lose any hands, it goes on my record.
A voice thundered inside Kibum’s mind unexpectedly, and he looked around the intricate dashboard, covered in hundreds of switches and knobs, laid out in front of him, searching for the source of the intrusion.
Whoops! I’ve adjusted the volume. Is this better?
“Yes,” Kibum said, sighing out. His skull didn’t feel like it was splintering open.
Hey, you can answer me using our neural connection. It’s easier and faster that way. Trust me you’ll appreciate the privacy once you are in the link. I’m BOK-SILLee, by the way. Your DAR-LINK companion.
Neural connection sounded far less intrusive than it actually felt, especially because Kibum didn’t remember either Yunho or Changmin mentioning there would be a cute voice inside his head the entire time. He tried out the feature anyway, sending back a thought to BOK-SILLee, “I’m Kibum. How old are you?”
Mr. Changmin programmed me just over a year ago. I’m his latest and most advanced assistant model, but I’m still honing my skills. You are only my second client. And…you asked my age. Would you prefer BOK-SILLee to use more honorifics? I can add that to your customizations.
“I was only curious. You sound young,” Kibum explained. He didn’t know why, but immediately he had formed an attachment to the little friend set to assist him. Was it because Changmin had installed a bug inside his brain? Was he going to regret this? He had always suspected DAR-LINK was a government scheme. A conspiracy to wire-tap everyone’s thoughts and achieve population control. It sounded crazy, but most things in the world were crazy these days. At least if he did figure out something shady was going on, he would be able to help his friends and cut them off from DAR-LINK once and for all. “Call me Kibum. I do hope you know what you are doing in here.”
We are arriving at Universe-645139119 at any moment. Here you will meet your darling. As you know, DAR-LINK has been developed after many years of extensive testing with hopes of connecting you to your soulmates.
“Soulmates? Multiple?” Kibum had read the Terms & Conditions, but he didn’t understand this part. Soulmate always seemed like a singular occurrence, yet Changmin promised otherwise. Even if it wasn’t a full-blown conspiracy, DAR-LINK was at a minimum one of those gacha games Taeminie liked to play at the arcade. Many opportunities, low probabilities of winning, and addictive promises. Truly, who didn’t want to fall in love?
“No offense, BOK-SILLee, we just met. I should let you know now I’m far too picky to believe this machine is going to find me one soulmate, let alone soulmates. But…my dumbass friends never shut up about DAR-LINK, and curiosity got the best of me. Anyway, when do we arrive, I’m starving.”
Side effects are already developing. We will have to keep an eye on your stamina. Being away from Universe-350871797 wears your body down, and you’ll need to eat and often. BOK-SILLee can’t have his GOOD and GREAT client passing out.
Sit back and enjoy the music. We arrive shortly.
BOK-SILLee did speak like it believed what it was saying, but to Kibum, everything still sounded close to make-believe. Were these really stars? Did it truly feel like he was traveling through space and time? Or was it all in his head? He couldn’t be sure; however, BOK-SILLee had decent taste in music. He settled back in the pod and closed his eyes, letting the soothing rhythm of his flight settle over him.
Landing was brutal; the impact felt as though it jarred a vertebra out of place in Kibum’s spine or loosened a tooth. Perhaps waltzing into another universe where you didn’t belong wasn’t exactly healthy; after all, there had been quite a bit of language about release of liability clauses and accidental waivers. The duo running DAR-LINK had no intention of being sued if somebody was hurt inside their simulation.
It’s safe to exit your pod. Notice the mini-map in the corner of your display. The red heart you see is the location signal of your darling; we’ve gotten lucky, Mr. Kibum. The signal is quite strong. This target won’t go disappearing on us.
I’m programming the GPS to help you navigate there.
They had landed in a rather sparse area with familiar mountains and hills in the distance, but mostly all to be found were trees and a sky filled with cottony cumulus clouds. Ahead, he could see buildings and signs of life. Kibum stretched his arms, turning his neck back and forth to work out the kinks. A lit-up walking path appeared like a video game, and he quickly came to a long paved road. There was no mistake about the direction he needed to head, considering the blinking heart at the end. His cynicism was quickly replaced by a throbbing nervousness the lower the distance meter went down.
Distance: 5 kilometers…
Distance: 3.25 kilometers…
Distance: 1 kilometers…
Distance: 500 meters…
Following a nearly two hour trek, Kibum came to a fortress of a building. It looked governmental, with many tall windows and high-security. There were several military-type personnel guarding an entrance, while others in bright orange jackets milled around in an open garage. Inside it were many fancy-looking airplanes. If this was the place, Kibum didn’t know how he was supposed to get inside, nor was he sure he wanted to bother. The military gave him a stomachache.
Welcome to the research and development unit of the Jeju Flight Training Center. You’re correct about the security clearance. BOK-SILLee is equipped with advanced hacking and decryption capabilities. Give me a moment to get you in the system. Good news is the other you in this world went missing a few months ago. That will be one less headache to navigate.
…there! You’re all set, Cadet Kim Kibum.
BOK-SILLee was talking absolute gibberish, but Kibum continued following the path laid out for him. It was the damn blinking light and destination meter. The reading now said TWO MINUTES UNTIL DESTINATION. If a crazy machine was telling you your soulmate was two minutes away—inside a shady-looking military building, perhaps—you would still go see about it. Or, Kibum would. He had cynicism laced with romantic tendencies in his heart, but he had to know if the blinking heart at the end was real.
After a deep breath, Kibum approached the busy entrance, praying BOK-SILLee knew what it was doing with the security. To his surprise, the men guarding the door only asked for his name and biometrics on a touchscreen. They waved Kibum through the door dismissively when his clearance passed, but also gave the two men next in line more attention and a hearty salute.
Kibum had already completed his military service back in his own universe. He recognized the bottom of the food-chain treatment. Maybe if nobody paid attention to him, he could get inside, lay eyes on this so-called darling, then head home. He had no intention to stay longer than that.
Oh no. My training did not prepare me for someone who might not want to stay in the link. Is Mr. Kibum sure? BOK-SILLee gets a bonus if his client is able to remain with his darling in Universe-645139119.
It’s okay. BOK-SILLee will keep calm. Mr. Changmin insists I think better on my feet. I will run your probability models in the background.
Please proceed to the target destination while I do.
Great. Kibum had already broken the system. He proceeded through a series of well-lit hallways, following the GPS navigation closely. Eventually he came to an unmarked door, but this had to be the place. His navigation was popping off, beeping furiously with more and more fervor. In a fit of panic, Kibum brushed at his hair, then twisted the door handle open.
Three very bad things happened at once. First, Kibum stepped into the room and a dozen heads turned to stare at him, providing little room to make a secret entrance. Sitting in the rows of chairs were familiar faces—Jinki and Taemin and Jonghyun—which threw Kibum off-kilter, until he realized they didn’t seem to recognize him. Second, at the front of the room was Changmin, suspiciously dressed in a military uniform and thick black glasses. He gave Kibum a notable stare, and Kibum worried for a moment the jig was up and he’d be arrested. Instead, Changmin turned to the class.
“We have a new cadet joining us today. It’s about time you made it, Cadet Kim. Don’t be late to another one of my training sessions,” Changmin said, circling around to a table, where he checked off something on a piece of paper. He off-handedly gestured at an empty two-person desk. “Take a seat.”
Third, the door swung open behind Kibum once he had sat down. There was a flurry of activity as someone raced into the room juggling a shoulder bag and explanations. Kibum immediately got a good-look at the culprit, and sorry to say, it was Choi Minho with a buzz cut. Choi Minho, who plopped down in the seat beside Kibum. Choi Minho, whose big brown eyes widened to hilarious degrees at the sight of Kibum. Choi Minho, who set Kibum’s GPS alarm off for the final time.
Target found.
Distance: 0 meters.
Congratulations, Mr. Kibum. Your Darling is here. Let’s proceed.
“Proceed to what?” Kibum thought in a panic, still staring at Minho, who stared back at him as though he was witnessing a ghost. This fucking machine had to be joking! Kibum felt himself growing infuriated by the second, so much that he couldn’t even speak. Choi Minho was not his soulmate.
Changmin managed to pull Kibum out of this tumultuous fury. He came to the front of the room, tucking a pen in his pocket. “As you know by now, I hand-selected each of you to take part in these special trainings. I’ve been working on this new technology for years, and it’s finally ready for test subjects. You signed your waivers, and there’s no getting out of it now. So…welcome to Project Replay. My partner Yunho will be here later to collect some more information. Until then, let’s get started.”
14 November, 2235
Why stick to one universe to find your soulmate? Search multiple stars for your darling at DAR-LINK…
Target found.
Distance: 0 meters.
Good morning, Mr. Kibum, your Darling is here. Link strength is excellent today. Your probability of remaining in Link #1 is VERY HIGH. BOK-SILLee is proud of your progress.
Kibum rolled both eyes at BOK-SILLee’s message. Every morning since making the mistake of entering Changmin’s deathtrap Kibum’s well-meaning assistant had offered up a daily report. The reported probabilities continued to test his patience. BOK-SILLee could not tell Kibum when the simulation would end. It just kept saying his probability to remain in this link was VERY HIGH. Probability wasn’t the same as desire to remain stuck here; he wanted to go home.
As we’ve discussed Mr. Kibum, the link is a two-way connection. DAR-LINK is a conduit, not a prison, and you are free to leave Universe-645139119 as soon as you sever the connection.
Bloody BOK-SILLee. Cute was the main thing it had going for it, because intelligence was touch and go. Its insistence that Kibum was the one responsible for making this ongoing nightmare continue was working his nerves. However, he didn’t have time to dwell on their disagreements. The morning alarm was sounding on the intercom in his barrack, which meant him and his roommate needed to have breakfast and get suited up. Despite how terrible the situation was, it was an exciting day. Their unit was scheduled for flight training.
Tossing away the covers, Kibum used his foot to rudely kick at the underside of Choi Minho’s bed, directly in the spot he knew the idiot always tucked his face into the mattress. Kibum had woken up one night to use the restroom and saw how much slobber and gangly limbs were involved in Minho’s sleep patterns. Back in the other universe, Minho was the same way—a heavy sleeper. Kibum kicked and kicked until there were signs of life then hopped out of bed, quickly making his bed neatly, squaring off the sheet edges too.
“Get up,” Kibum muttered when Minho’s head popped up over the side. He had red crease marks along the sides of his face, eyes slightly puffy. Minho groaned something at Kibum that was unintelligible. “Next time don’t come back to the room drunk then.”
Minho groaned again, flopping over onto his back. Kibum didn’t pay any attention, but instead went about his business of getting ready for the day. In his own universe, Kibum hadn’t been much of a soldier, but here he was secretly enjoying his status as a hotshot flight cadet.
Changmin’s unit was secretive and therefore already idolized; often rumors circulated they were training to fight aliens or head away to distant planets. It was nothing like that, but Kibum had taken rather easily to life in flight school. All those hours spent in the arcade hadn’t been for nothing.
From the little information Kibum managed to gather, Project Replay had turned out to be the origins of DAR-LINK. Their often redacted dossiers spoke about the multiverse and held pod diagrams—models that looked similar to the pod Kibum had arrived to this universe in but still a work in progress. There were no mentions about soulmates either, but Changmin made them practice brain exercises several hours a week, insisting mental fortitude would be needed for traveling. Kibum had wondered more than once if being so gung-ho about being the perfect cadet was what was actually keeping him here.
It was far too early in the morning to solve these mysteries. Instead, Kibum stripped off his pajama top, letting it fall into the hamper. It was getting full again, and they would need to do laundry soon. This was always a chore with Minho around; he was less helpful and more nuisance. At the thought, Kibum’s eyes wandered up to the full-length mirror attached to the wall near their shared dresser.
Minho hadn’t gotten his lazy ass out of bed, but as expected, he had rolled over onto his side, watching Kibum as he undressed. Minho’s reflection in the mirror was obvious even in the dim lighting of the room. Minho was always watching Kibum; sometimes he was too stupid to even hide it. The worst part was Kibum didn’t find it that strange. The idiot back in his own universe acted the same way, like a little deviant, forever attempting to catch glimpses of Kibum without his clothes on.
Mr. Kibum, if it bothers you, could you not get dressed in the bathroom? I checked the occupancy, and it’s empty.
“BOK-SILLee, go to sleep,” Kibum directed with ire as his face went hot, but he collected the remainder of his uniform and high-tailed it out of the room down to the community bathroom, on his way out shouting for Minho to get ready.
It was a beautiful day, nothing but clear skies and calm winds. Changmin couldn’t have drawn-up a better scenario for their training. They were going to practice more complex maneuvers all afternoon.
Five minutes before their report time, Minho and Kibum arrived at their aircraft. Athena Two. Athena One belonged to Jonghyun and Jinki. Athena Three was Taemin and another cadet called Jongin. There were a few others too, but over a short time, Changmin had made it obvious which duos were his focus, often giving those pairs special assignments and instructions. It was gratifying to be singled-out, but that came with drawbacks.
“Kibum-ah, here. You know if you don’t eat enough, you’ll get those weird headaches,” Minho said, waving around a protein bar.
Minho looked nonchalant enough, but Kibum was certain the other day after he had passed out due to DAR-LINK’s side effects, Minho had been scared shitless. Ever since he had been shoving food at Kibum, insisting he eat. “I can’t have you passing out up there. You need to see how much better I am than you.”
Snatching away the food, Kibum nearly growled. “You got lucky yesterday,” he said. It was the same as the other universe. Well, maybe not the exact same.
The first time Kibum had sat co-pilot he had been in awe of the delicate way Minho handled the aircraft, smoothly navigating every twist and turn Changmin threw at them during the course. It had been a thing of beauty, completely unlike the halted and jerky way Kibum had managed during his own attempts.
Minho was kicking his ass on who was the better pilot…and knew it by how much he was crowing with pride. “Admit it. I’m better than you,” he said, a Cheshire grin spreading over his lips. “I’ll tell Yunho you’re being obstinate. We’re supposed to be making a neural connection.”
“Screw, Yunho,” Kibum muttered, and there were suddenly heads turning in shock to observe the morning conversations. “Everyone mind your own business.”
It was Jonghyun, who spoke first. “They’re fighting again,” he teased, elbowing Jinki in the side. He gave Kibum a sly glance, one that spelled obvious trouble. “Did Minho-ssi tell you how plastered he got last night? I thought we were going to have to hose him down.”
Jinki only nodded, forever a patient observer to the others in the group. “It was so cute and earnest, the way he drunkenly kept telling people you were coming, but we didn’t see you there,” he said, not accusingly, but it was notable the way Minho was picking at his nails while clearly listening.
Kibum bit off a huge bite of the protein bar and chewed vigorously. “I had to wash my hair,” he told them. Since he wasn’t long for this universe, he had been trying to maintain a sense of decorum and distance. These weren’t his real friends. “Besides…I didn’t think it was a big deal if I missed witnessing you losers suck down cases of soju. I wanted to be alert today. Remember last week when Athena Three went down? That’s not going to be me.”
“All of it was entirely Taemin’s fault. He kept trying to get footsy in the cabin,” Jongin insisted with a sheepish blush. “I told him to stop, or we’d crash. He doesn’t listen.”
Taemin was there, tossing a lazy arm around Jongin’s shoulders, propping a helmet against his hip. “Playing footsy helps us fly better. You all understand that, right? I had a vision of it all.”
Jonghyun shook his head. “I can’t take the vision again. Come on, hyung, if you’re good, I’ll get handsy with you too,” he said, laughing as Jinki went red but followed after him. He had a final point for the Athena Two crew, though. “Be nice, huh? You’d be the best of us if you admitted you don’t hate each other.”
Minho was really on one that morning, too, turning to Kibum after the others headed off. “You could’ve sent a ping through comms saying that you weren’t coming,” he said, not even with the usual over-the-top pouting, but instead obvious bitterness. “I never would’ve left you waiting like that.”
Kibum didn’t like when Minho tried to have serious conversations with him. He didn’t like any conversation, but the serious ones made him feel uniquely strange. Always made it seem like Minho and he owed something to each other.
“I didn’t think it mattered that much,” Kibum said, which appeared to piss Minho off. It was a bizarre sort of satisfaction Kibum held inside from seeing the reaction.
These advanced flirting techniques being exhibited by Mr. Kibum are teaching BOK-SILLee a whole lot. Act like you don’t like your darling until they like you. I see how this is going to be so prosperous in the near future.
“You’ve gotten sarcastic lately, BOK-SILLee, and I don’t like it. How do I reprogram your settings?” Kibum asked, using the neural connection to check the settings menu for the hundredth time. He had even tried turning BOK-SILLee off completely when its observations were too much to handle. Much like the entire simulation, there was no off switch. “Also, how many times do I have to tell you I’m not flirting with stupid Choi Minho? I don’t like him at all.”
BOK-SILLee understands. In fact, it has prepared multiple reports for Mr. Changmin about this phenomenon. The strength of each link is supposedly built on a love connection, but we possibly need to consider hatred. Assuming you dislike your darling as much as you say, you have built an unbreakable link.
Off the charts.
Releasing a long breath, Minho glanced off to the distance. The self-righteousness inside Kibum faded a little, and for the briefest of seconds, he did feel bad about hurting Minho. Sometimes it was like being mean to a puppy and could make you feel too cruel once the dust settled. He didn’t have the opportunity to apologize.
“Let’s just go,” Minho said, jamming his helmet on, not looking back to see if Kibum followed behind him.
WARNING: Ground collision imminent.
Distance: 50 meters.
Kibum braced for impact. No one had been playing footsy, but Minho and he were still arguing as Athena Two was taking a nosedive. The blaring sirens, blinking lights, and quickly approaching rocky terrain didn’t matter as much as making one final point to settle this stupid discussion. Minho had been being a brat all afternoon, and Kibum was sick of it.
“What the hell is your problem?” Kibum bellowed, jabbing at the dashboard to make one of the multiple alerts going off stop. “This is exactly why I don’t talk to you.”
Minho began pressing buttons too, but it was difficult to tell how much their troubleshooting would correct the bad trajectory. “I keep telling you that you are hitting the throttle too hard, and you keep not listening to me. If we crash, it’s your fault!”
They crashed.
Kibum was furious and potentially delirious as he ejected from his seat, pushing his way out of the aircraft, following after where Minho had stalked away. They were lucky to be alive, lucky that Athena Two had gently skidded against the earth, rather than smashed and killed them both. By this time, evening had come, so it was dark and chilly. Now they would have to walk several kilometers to the training center.
He ran behind Minho and shoved him in the back with every ounce of strength that he could muster. It was sickeningly good to watch the way Minho went flying, toppling over onto the ground. Minho’s tantrum had made Kibum lose control over the emotions he’d been holding inside from the moment he had landed here. The moment DAR-LINK had told him TARGET FOUND and he’d seen Minho’s awful face. It was crushing to find the exact person he had left a whole universe to escape staring back at him.
“I hate that it’s you!” Kibum finally screamed, looming over where Minho sat on the ground in a prone position, looking up at Kibum, shocked. “It’s not supposed to be!”
“What are you talking about?” Minho said in confusion, which only made Kibum grow even angrier. This loser didn’t even know the truth. Kibum was dealing with this reality all alone and it sucked, more than it sucked that Minho was the darling DAR-LINK had revealed to him. Patience had crashed right alongside the aircraft, and Kibum desperately wanted to go home.
Minho recollected himself and his surly attitude in order to return the gesture, running forward and tackling Kibum to the grass as though he were a rugby player, screaming like a lunatic, “I hate that it’s you too!”, and they both went sailing into thorny bushes.
It was ridiculous how Minho seemed instantly concerned when Kibum groaned in pain. “Are you okay?” he asked, eyes checking over any potential injuries.
“Get off of me!” Kibum clawed at Minho’s shoulder with blunt fingernails until Minho slumped backwards.
It was even stupider how Kibum grew a second wind once he was free and tackled Minho again. Kibum didn’t stand a chance, but he had channeled every bitter thought about this boy into his heart and was ready to rumble. Their argument turned into a bizarre boxing match filled with hair pulling and insults. They continued rolling around and fighting until Minho managed to put his full weight on top of Kibum’s hips keeping his legs still, then grabbed for his wrists to pin him down.
Minho was stronger and bigger and faster, and Kibum knew he couldn’t win this way. Once his options had run out, Kibum finally ceased fighting back. They eyed each other with malice, catching their breaths, chests rising and falling together in rabbit-quick succession.
In the next beat, they reached out at the same time, and their mouths crashed together. Their kiss turned hot and heavy instantaneously, nothing but a collision of lips and tongues. Their hands roamed all over each other’s bodies, as the thick air around them filled with harsh moans and button snaps and whispered encouragement.
Kibum’s brain was overrun…malfunctioning…he didn’t know what was happening. He simply needed to get his hands on Minho, and didn’t know how to stop until they were doing way more than kissing.
Don’t worry, Mr. Kibum, you can proceed. BOK-SILLee will put itself to sleep.
“You’re sure about this?” Of course, Minho had the nerve to interrupt. He pulled far enough away to allow Kibum to have a better look at him. He had dirt and grass in his hair, a red nick under his eye. He looked terrible, but Kibum could feel deep in his chest, radiating down to his groin, how much he wanted Minho.
Minho continued in a breathy voice, “I wanted to kiss you the moment I saw you. I’ve been mad about it because you acted like you hated me. I didn’t know what to do.”
Kibum’s frown intensified. “Is that why you kept stealing and hiding my uniform?”
Shaking his head, Minho tacked on an impish grin, crooked and cute. He looked stupid, but Kibum only wanted him more. “No. That was punishment for you being an asshole,” he confessed, then placed a finger against Kibum’s mouth, hushing any disputes. “If you’d been nicer, I would’ve done this sooner.”
Minho leaned forward, resuming their kiss, muttering different comments in between like, “I can’t stop thinking about you...” and “I’ve been with guys before…” but all the while lavishing close attention on Kibum.
At one point, Minho held Kibum’s face delicately in both palms, directing their kiss to be anything but delicate. It was deep in a way that was verging on uncomfortable, as though Minho wanted to split Kibum open and dissect all his parts. It was a wicked consumption Minho carried out against him.
Eventually, Kibum was stripped out of his remaining clothes and underwear. He didn’t think this area was concealed enough for this—and voyeurism surely was against the rules—they technically weren’t even supposed to date while on duty—but he didn’t stop Minho from getting his hands and fingers and mouth involved in preparing Kibum for more. They didn’t slow down; instead, they were full throttle. Energy manifested in each touch and kiss, working Kibum into a frenzy, until his cock was hard between his legs and Minho was stroking him off.
It felt like when Athena Two took off. Kibum’s heart sped up to dizzying degrees as he placed a hand on Minho’s shoulder, squeezing hard to stay grounded. Otherwise, he thought he might float away into the stars and never return again. Nothing he had experienced prior matched Minho’s intensity. Nothing had ever felt so dreamy and hazy and real all at once.
Minho asked before anything went too far, asked again if Kibum wanted to go all the way like they were teenagers, but Kibum could hardly form the words to tell Minho everything was okay. He touched Minho’s cheek and smiled weakly. He probably was a mess, but Minho stared back as if he was awestruck.
“Kibum-ah, your eyes are pretty right now. Like stars,” Minho told him after a bit.
“You dummy,” Kibum complained, but he thought perhaps that was the nicest compliment he had ever received. Minho was so absurd. So dumb. So handsome, too. “Are we doing this or what?”
They crashed a second time, this time into one another.
Later, Kibum would remember their encounter in snatches of memory here and there. He would remember Minho’s mouth against his throat, biting kisses into sensitive skin until marks were left behind. Or, he’d remember the way Minho sounded when he pressed his cock inside of Kibum and the way he didn’t stop until their bodies were flush together. He remembered how Minho fucked him sweetly at times then rougher and rougher, making Kibum moan in pleasure, his voice carrying loudly into the night air. He remembered clinging to Minho’s shoulders and Minho burying his face into his skin. They had stayed cocooned—their bodies morphing into a bizarre creature—until they both came in blinding white light, nothing but an explosion of stars.
They were still holding each other a good time later, still in that field where Athena Two had crashed, laying on their backs staring up at the bright stars. Minho eventually wrapped his arm around Kibum, allowing himself to become a makeshift pillow. Kibum curled into the crook of Minho’s body, not wanting to leave, but feeling a pressure to get going again.
“They might be looking for us,” Kibum whispered, running soft fingertips across Minho’s bare chest. He didn’t know if he had ever felt more serene and safe than he did right then. Wildly and for the first time, he thought he could stay here forever.
I hope Mr. Kibum enjoyed himself tonight. As a reminder, your probability of remaining in Link #1 is VERY HIGH. If things proceed in this manner, there’s no need to worry.
BOK-SILLee hasn’t mentioned this, but we will eventually need to take care of the other you in Universe-645139119.
“The other me? What are you talking about?” Kibum startled at the words, sitting up, not realizing until Minho cradled him from behind that he was making a scene.
Suddenly, he was desperately trying to remember the Terms & Conditions he had read weeks ago—something he hadn’t thought about much lately—but it was as though most of his memory had blurred away. He couldn’t remember much, not in any good detail anyway.
The other you who was here first. BOK-SILLee will locate him and send him on his way for good.
Kibum didn’t like the sound of sending someone on their way. Had he agreed to murder? Against himself? “Are you saying I keep him trapped in a basement or something?” he asked.
BOK-SILLee would suggest a more humane approach. Unfortunately, the DAR-LINK technology is only in its earliest existence in this iteration. Otherwise, we could just ship the other you off to Universe-350871797.
It was the mention of Universe-350871797 at that precise moment that sent Kibum crashing for a third time. He was drawn into a dream—a hallucination—but he was standing in SHINee’s old place again. Back in their garage where Jinki and Taemin’s tinkering and contraptions were piled around, and all their scummy furniture and dirty dishes in the kitchen accumulated.
That day Jonghyun had been insistent everyone be around to meet SHINee’s new member. A good strong kid who would help in their fight against the government, or whatever it was they called it.
Kibum had sulked around upstairs all morning, not wanting someone new to come break their ease and camaraderie. From the rumors he had heard, this friend of Jonghyun’s was loud and annoying too. He had also surmised that SHINee’s garage held no other empty beds except the top bunk in his own room. Where else was this intruder going to go but with Kibum?
In this bad mood, Kibum had been stomping down the metal stairs the moment he saw Choi Minho—his Minho—the first time. It had been unbelievably annoying to feel himself instantly fall for someone he knew he was going to hate, but alas, it was too late.
“I’m Minho. Nice to meet you,” Minho had said, holding out a friendly hand, brushing off the rebuke when Kibum pointedly declined to take it. The boy gave a sideways glance to Jonghyun, who only nodded encouragingly. “Um…tonight…do you want to go look at the stars or something?”
Kibum was already annoyed with the situation, making a disgusted face. “No. Not with you anyway,” he replied with a sharp tongue, then strutted away with as much dignity as possible, even though he could feel his hands shaking from the excess energy.
No one had ever left him so unsettled. Even in that field, universes away, Kibum could still feel how it had felt. The wind picked up, blowing chilly air into their safe space.
Minho hugged Kibum closely, pressing his chest against Kibum’s back. “Kibum-ah? Is everything okay?” he asked, wrapping his arms even tighter, squeezing. “You’re not going, are you? Let’s stay and look at the stars a little longer. Since I finally got you here, I don’t want to leave.”
Kibum smiled lightly over Minho’s romantic notions about the stars from universe to universe. He forced himself to concentrate entirely on the present as Minho dropped featherlight kisses against his shoulder. It was something Kibum had figured out while in the machine. You could only hold one reality in your mind at a time. If you fought against it—tried to keep all realities a possibility—your body couldn’t take it. He was calmer, less hungry with less headaches when he lived in this one world.
As his heart slowed, Kibum allowed himself to be held by Minho even as an unsettled feeling already grew inside his stomach. The feelings he had been trying to escape when blasting off in Changmin’s pod returned with a vengeance.
Kibum had been dealing with his crush on the Minho back in his Universe for what felt like eternity. It was a pain in the ass. It was the weird thing his heart did every time the idiot was within three feet of him, which given the fact that Minho seemed determined to talk to him every single day and that they shared a room, the three feet violation was a constant irritation. He didn’t know how to get rid of these aggravating feelings, and he had tried. He had called himself going to the roof most afternoons to clear his mind. From up there, not only could he get a good look at the sky, but he often spied on Minho in the courtyard kicking a football around. Minho always took his shirt off, and Kibum never missed a chance to catch the view. This method had seemed safer than the suffocating times Minho would toss his shirt off while they were alone in their bunk at night, and Kibum would have to acknowledge the fact that Minho was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. Nothing—not even how annoying his Minho was—could change that.
And now, it turned out maybe not even another guy who looked equally as beautiful could make those dreadful feelings go away. There were things about the Universe that were so difficult to understand, and his love for Choi Minho would forever be the most so.
The other Minho settled inside Kibum’s heart again like a power cord was finally plugged back into the right outlet. As the walls of Changmin’s machine returned, each seam holding this reality together becoming more visible, Kibum desperately tried to stay focused on Universe-645139119.
He didn’t know it in the moment, but even as Minho and he packed up their belongings from Athena Two and marked the location so a crew could come fetch their ship for repairs, even as they walked back to the barracks and had sex again in their bunk, and gave each other blowjobs the next morning in the shower, even through all that, the link had already begun to sever.
Choi Minho left Yunho and Changmin’s place with one credit remaining in his DAR-LINK account, an achievement which had never been unlocked before tonight. Usually, Minho burned through credits as fast as he could, but there was a sense that as he and the others left the building, trekking through the tight alleys towards their neighborhood, he might not ever spend that last credit.
While they had been adventuring through the multiverse, the weather in Seoul had gone icky, the gentle downpour turning the cement wet. It hardly rained much these days, so normally Minho would’ve been delighted from the falling precipitation and the neon lights reflecting off the pavement.
Instead, he stood silently outside the restaurant, waiting while Taemin and Jonghyun and Jinki went inside to order takeout with what little money they had left. They carried bags filled with their steaming hot dinner on the backs of their motorbikes, headed home to the garage.
In all honesty, Minho had always believed the end would look different than this. A celebration screen, a highest total points list, or maybe a chance to buy a ‘I Beat Changmin and Yunho’s Game’ sticker for ₩36000. Something. Anything.
Otherwise, how could Minho be so sure he finally had the full story?
Changmin—the jerk—hadn’t even had the courtesy to speak with Minho after those recordings finished. Instead, the transmission cut and Yunho came on the intercom and said the next appointment had arrived so Minho had to leave the pod so it could be sanitized.
On the way home, Minho tried to be gracious, thought maybe Changmin’s lesson was more than cantankerous dismissal, but actually an opportunity for Minho to make up his mind….develop a winning strategy…slowly realize everything he’d been hoping to find had always been here—in Universe-350871797—directly under his nose.
There was a tiny part of Minho that was irritated by Kibum’s lies about DAR-LINK, but he kept remembering the feeling he’d had in the recorded simulation. Kibum desperately wanted to remain with that Minho, but he still hadn’t stayed. The link had ended in an error. Kibum returned to the universe they shared, and Minho knew why.
It was the same reason all one hundred and seventy-three of Minho’s links had severed too. Changmin had been saying it all this time. You can’t fall in love if you’re already in love.
SHINee returned home a few minutes before midnight. The others scampered off to the kitchen to sort out dinner, and Minho drifted off unnoticed, making his way up the stairs. It was a conversation that shouldn’t wait, he decided. In fact, it had been put off for so long that it was no wonder Kibum was always irritated with him.
As expected, Kibum was hanging out in their room when Minho entered. It always made Minho laugh over how their room was nearly divided straight down the middle. Minho’s sports paraphernalia arranged on one side, and Kibum’s randomly assorted knickknacks on the other. A few months ago, Kibum had acquired an ancient vinyl record player from a consignment shop, which he had carefully arranged on a makeshift table in the corner next to a leafy plant. Tonight one of the records Minho actually liked was playing. An upbeat and fun song. Music that made you want to dance.
Kibum wasn’t dancing; he was sprawled out on his bed, legs tucked beneath him, reading a book and scribbling in a notebook. Minho never knew what Kibum was studying but assumed there were plans for world domination in there.
His soulmate was squirrelly and dangerous when he wanted to be. He was wearing a set of lavender pajamas, hair still wet from the shower, which made him look soft and comfortable. Even in these dark times, when the world was very hard and uncomfortable, Kibum found a way to take care of himself.
Minho liked their little space. Somewhere that was both of theirs. He entered the room quietly, shrugging off his damp jacket to hang it on a coat rack they kept nailed to the wall. Kibum hadn’t glanced up yet, but Minho had a feeling his presence was noted from the way Kibum shifted his position to discourage any communication.
“What was your score?” Minho asked as he typically did, poking under Kibum’s skin to gain a reaction even if it was negative. “Did you beat me?”
Kibum sighed dramatically, placing the pen into the crook of the notebook, shutting it lightly. He finally looked over. “What have I told you about the talking?” he said, but his eyes narrowed at Minho a second or two later. “What’s up with you? You are looking at me weird.”
“Am I?” Minho asked, but shrugged his shoulders innocently. “Nothing’s up. I’m just…looking at you how I look at you, I guess. We bought food. It’s downstairs.”
He came over and sat down on the edge of Kibum’s bed. Normally Kibum didn’t like intrusions, and he didn’t look pleased but was watching Minho more carefully. “You’re not going to ask me how it went? Give me a lecture like usual?”
“Give you a lecture that you don’t listen to like usual?” Kibum had broken eye contact and returned all his attention back to his studies. “Get on with it. Say whatever stupid thing you’re going to say.”
Too much talking had already been done. Over 173 links. Minho had talked to dozens and dozens of Kibums, pouring his feelings out, persuading, and arguing. There had been enough talking to last lifetimes. After that long journey, Minho finally knew what he needed to do.
Minho reached out and placed a hand on top of the book, interrupting, which Kibum noted. “Actually…maybe I’m busy,” Kibum said, irritated, not even pausing to look up. “Go make Jonghyunnie entertain you.”
It was a good thing Minho had been training for Kibum’s rebuffs throughout his time in DAR-LINK, and pressed his body forward, taking up more space, fully grabbing the pen and paper from Kibum’s hands and closing the notebook. Minho glanced up slowly, making eye contact with Kibum again. Kibum’s eyes fluttered open a little wider, and Minho heard the soft gasp and could tell the moment Kibum understood Minho’s intention. His eyes, of course, looked different.
“Kibum-ah…”
Minho really was out of words. He didn’t know how to explain everything he knew. He couldn’t explain the peace and burden that came with knowing that it was always them together across each universe. Perfect or not, it was always them. He couldn’t explain his encounters in DAR-LINK—all the Kibums he’d met. Not in a short amount of time anyway. Definitely not in a better way than straightforwardly kissing Kibum.
So, Minho finally did.
Leaning closer, he kissed his mouth against Kibum’s and tried to say it all. Only a second passed, and Kibum leaned into the gesture, returning the kiss with pliable lips, raking his hands up Minho’s body and up through his hair, pulling him close. Finally getting the chance to kiss and touch Kibum—his Kibum—turned into an explosion that coursed wildly through his veins. He felt fire racing through his fingers, down to his toes, reaching deep inside his mind, until he was overrun by the certainty that this was the link that was meant to hold. Suddenly, Minho saw every star in the universe as Kibum kissed him.
None of the other Kibums had ever made Minho feel like this. Even the ones he had managed to kiss. This Kibum pulled Minho closer and closer, wrapping him into a tight embrace, and Minho seeped out into Kibum’s arms, going pliant and dopey, despite their slight size difference. He enjoyed as Kibum held his face and continued kissing him so lovingly, not fighting it, or calculating the best percentages to achieve a top score, but instead only relished being in the presence of his soulmate. His darling.
Target found.
Game over.
This was the message Changmin might have sent Minho had his wise assistant been around to witness this moment when the universe finally worked itself out. Minho figured he owed one to Changmin—Yunho too. He still had tons of questions about DAR-LINK….about the end game when it came to Changmin’s machine and technology…about the universes he’d seen where Changmin seemed to be operating as a sly orchestrator rather than casual observer.
However, Minho didn’t have all those answers yet. He had this. He had Kibum, and DAR-LINK had led him back here where he was meant to be.
They kissed until Minho lost track of time, until his lips felt bruised, until they had collapsed sideways onto the bunk bed and started getting handsy with each other. Minho didn’t know if they should have sex on the first night, but he wanted everything with Kibum, and couldn’t stop himself. It didn’t feel like the first night. It felt like two hundred nights had passed for him and said as much between hot kisses down Kibum’s perfect neck.
There was a soft rumble as Kibum chuckled. He placed a hand on top of Minho’s head, causing him to lean back. Minho saw Kibum’s eyes turn so loving, and Minho hoped this look would be forever meant for him and not some other version.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” Minho said when he finally spoke. “You could’ve told me, you know?”
Kibum shut his eyes for a moment, accepting Minho’s confirmation that there were no secrets any longer. They both knew the truth about what DAR-LINK had shown them.
“Telling the target about the link would be in violation of protocol, remember?” Kibum joked, giving Minho a sort of sheepish shrug. “Did you even read what Yunho told you to sign?”
Minho let out a huff. “I read it!” he protested. “Sort of...”
“It doesn’t matter. Changmin’s weird rules aside, I didn’t want to force a decision on you. It broke my heart to leave that world. That other you. If you had found a better of version of me, I didn’t want—”
“There is no better version of you!” Minho jumped in to say quickly, reaching for Kibum’s hands. “I searched everywhere, and it was never right. Not even close.”
Kibum sighed as though the words washed over in a good way. “Coming back was harder than I expected. Sometimes you would act so similar to him, but then you weren’t. It made me so upset that I could barely stand to be around you. All I could do was hope you would decide to stay someday.”
Squeezing Kibum’s hands in his own, Minho swore, “I won’t leave again.” He made sure Kibum was listening before he continued. “Whenever I was in the machine, I just thought about you anyway. That’s why the links kept disconnecting. I was too in love with you to truly want to be with anybody else. I had already found the right you, but I didn’t think I stood a chance. I was foolish and scared, but in DAR-LINK, I could be anything.”
Kibum placed his hands on Minho’s shoulder, offering a soothing gesture to his confession. “A sexy space pilot?” he teased.
“That wasn’t me,” Minho reminded him, teasing back. “It was something like that though, I guess. I could be a handsome stranger. A devoted fan. Someone without any fears. That’s only because I knew there weren’t any consequences. That’s not what I want anymore. I want to play out this credit with you.”
“I came back to this universe for the same reason. I couldn’t let you go,” Kibum confessed, then gave Minho another kiss on the mouth, slowly deepening it until Minho was once again left breathless. Their touches grew more intentional, more serious, and Kibum moaned softly into Minho’s mouth.
Kibum grasped at Minho’s shoulders, prying himself away for a moment, even as Minho chased after his lips. “Wait, wait, before we do anything more. We have to do something else first,” he told Minho in a breathless rush. His eyes went soft again. “Minho-ya, do you want to go look at the stars with me?”
Minho grew so touched, might have begun to tear up a little, but managed to blink the wetness away. He laughed lightly and nodded. “Yes. That’s all I ever want to do with you. I mean…that’s not all I want to do.”
Kibum slapped him on the shoulder. “You dummy. I’ll do anything you want later. Come on.”
Kibum grabbed Minho’s hand and led them out of the room, ignoring the loud chatter of their friends coming from downstairs, as they snuck around to the stairs that led up to the rooftop. Despite the weather, the stars were definitely out. It was Minho’s favorite thing to look up there and wonder.
They came up to the side of the brick railing, chins tilted up, taking in the magnificent view. Minho caught himself glancing over at Kibum from time to time, watching him too, but he didn’t have to wonder about this so much anymore. Kibum was meant to be here with Minho. They belonged together. In this universe.
Minho smiled brightly, knowing he had finally won. Life was going to be one long bonus round from here on out. He could feel it. “I’m glad it’s you,” he told Kibum, wrapping an around his waist, letting their hips come together. “I’m so glad.”
Tucking into the crook of Minho’s arm, Kibum glanced up at him and pressed a soft kiss to his mouth. “I’m glad it’s you too,” he said, and they stayed that way for a while, holding each other. “I think he probably found the other me. He would’ve looked.”
There was no need to ask who Kibum worried about still. Seeing how much Kibum had sacrificed to come back made Minho feel naive for having been so wrong for so long
All Minho could do was offer some solace. “I know he did because I’m him, and that’s what I would’ve done. I traveled to dozens of universes, and the thing that was always the same was you and I were meant to be together. He definitely would’ve done everything to find the other you. They are happy, too.”
Kibum squeezed his arms around Minho in a silent thank you. “I hope so,” he said.
Minho pondered what he’d been through for a while, until adding, “I bet we bought that house we wanted too.
Lifting his head, Kibum eyed him. “House?”
“Yeah. When I say I saw a lot, I saw a lot on my adventures.” Minho gave Kibum a playful smile. “In one Universe, you were a hot idol who married me.”
Kibum practically hissed at this. “Married you?”
“Yeah!” Minho said excitedly. “You married me. We had kids and were thinking of buying a house. There’s a lot for us to discuss actually. The multiverse gave me a lot of ideas for our relationship.”
“Our relationship?” Kibum looked stressed. “You are already making me regret this.”
Minho leaned in and pressed a sweet kiss to Kibum’s lips. “I know,” he said, but this link was only going to grow stronger. This link was going to hold forever. Kibum needed to accept that. “It’s always us.”
Kibum let out a sigh, smiling. “Always,” he said.
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