In a past that Yetao doesn't remember...
Yetao and Bambam had fought about something, leaving Yetao to sulk alone in his room. Zihao, unable to bear seeing his mommy sad, devised a plan. He carefully imbued a bracelet with his shell's qi and approached Yetao with the gift.
"This is for you, mommy. Don't be sad," Zihao offered, his eyes wide with innocence.
Yetao's face immediately brightened at Zihao's sweet gesture. He slipped the bracelet onto his wrist without hesitation. As soon as it touched his skin, Yetao felt a sudden surge of energy coursing through him. He began jumping on the bed, laughing uncontrollably.
Alarmed by the change, Zihao called out, "Mommy's acting weird, help me!" He fake-cried, summoning Bambam who rushed into the room immediately.
With a mischievous smirk, Zihao closed the doors from outside, leaving them alone. Bambam quickly noticed something wasn't right.
"This bracelet..." Bambam murmured, noticing the strange energy emanating from it. He carefully removed it from Yetao's wrist. "Taotao... get to your senses," he said worriedly, cupping Yetao's flushed cheeks.
Instead of calming down, Yetao's eyes welled with tears. "Why are you so dumb?" he demanded, leaving Bambam completely clueless.
"You keep avoiding me, when you're the one who kissed me first," Yetao continued. "What more should I do to make you understand that I'm fine with it?"
Bambam blinked in surprise. "You're fine with it?" he asked cautiously.
Yetao responded with a determined nod.
"Why are you fine with it when I did it without your consent?" Bambam questioned. "Taotao... you shouldn't be fine with it. If anyone kisses you without your consent, you should use your qi to beat them up. If they sealed your powers, then bite their lips and kick them on..." he cleared his throat, "...where it hurts most. But you should never be fine with it, okay?"
Yetao grew annoyed listening to Bambam's lecture. "What am I? A five-year-old? Is he seriously educating me on this?" he thought bitterly. Without warning, he grabbed Bambam's face and pulled him closer, kissing him firmly before giving his lip a light bite.
When he pulled away, Bambam was speechless, blinking in shock.
"Of course I'm fine with it since I like you," Yetao declared. "Did you think I'm a pervert who enjoys everything?" he shouted, frustration evident in his voice.
Bambam's heart raced at the confession. "So you like me?" he asked softly, cupping Yetao's cheeks.
Yetao nodded.
"You're fine if I do this?" Bambam placed a gentle kiss on Yetao's cheek and looked for his reaction.
Another nod.
"Then, if I do this?" Bambam playfully nibbled Yetao's nose, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut at the ticklish sensation. But he nodded once more.
"Then—" Bambam began to ask again, but Yetao cut him off.
"I said I'm fine with whatever you do. Don't ask me permission each and every time," Yetao pouted, his patience wearing thin.
Without further hesitation, Bambam captured Yetao's lips in a kiss. They remained locked in their embrace for some time until Yetao, exhausted from the day's emotions, dozed off mid-kiss.
Bambam found himself alone with his thoughts, running a hand through his hair as heat spread across his face. Not wanting to disturb the sleeping Yetao, he carefully positioned himself beside him. That night, Bambam cuddled Yetao to sleep, their hearts finally beating in sync after so much misunderstanding.
In current...
Bambam awoke from his dream of a distant memory, blinking as the vast sky came into focus above him. Yetao was still beside him, cuddling close just as he had been in the dream. The parallel wasn't lost on Bambam, a bittersweet reminder of what once was and what now is.
The soft sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention. Turning his head, he saw Thio walking toward them, his movements carrying that same innocent determination Bambam had once seen in Zihao. A slight smile curved his lips, masking the regret that threatened to surface.
"I'll not lose you too, Thio," Bambam muttered, his voice barely audible above the gentle lapping of waves against the shore.
Thio tilted his head curiously, catching the words but not their full weight.
The ocean seemed to respond to Bambam's emotions, its waves creating a rhythmic, soothing sound that consoled him in his moment of reflection. Some memories from the past couldn't be forgotten—the pain of loss, the bitter taste of failure—but perhaps they could be rewritten by avoiding the same mistakes twice.
His arm tightened almost imperceptibly around the sleeping Yetao. This time would be different. This time, he would protect everything he loved... even at the cost of his own life. The vow settled in his heart, as deep and resolute as the ocean before them.