A New Hope... Pet

Back during summer camp, Val had told Kim to meet him again in London at Diagon Alley after camp was over, before he went back home. He'd said something along the lines of this time he'd do things the right way, whatever that had meant. Kim had to admit, he was curious about what Val had in mind for him. So he'd come to Diagon Alley and was now waiting for him to show up and tell him what exactly he had in mind for them to do there.

Valentin arrived dressed in simple black garments from head to toe with a tight fit. Once he spotted Kim, Val extended an arm to bring him into his embrace. "I'm so glad you could make it."

Even though Kim wasn't exactly the sort of person who liked being touched, he welcomed Val's touch due to what they'd gone through together earlier that summer. Letting him wrap his arms around him, Kim did the same and inhaled Val's unique scent. A little sigh escaped his lips but was muffled into Val's shirt. The two stayed like that for a short period of time and he nodded into Val's shirt. "You made me curious. I had to come."

The sweet and exotic-smelling resin of agarwood incense clung to Val's hair while the indolic scent of stargazer lilies clung to the seeker's freshly pressed clothes. Kim's little sigh brought a smile to Val's face, and immediately Val began to relax into his hold of the boy. "Today will present a beautiful new beginning for you. I just need you to trust me. Come." Languidly, Valentin buried his nose in the side of Kim's neck and breathed in. Placing a tiny kiss behind his ear before forcing himself to pull slightly away, Val linked elbows with the Korean and began to walk north -- up to the entrance of the pet shop.

Being intimately close with someone else was not something Kim was used to but it felt good to be close to Val. As long as there was no one else around them at the time. As Val spoke to him, Kim couldn't help but wonder what the seeker had in mind for him. But decided to place his trust in him. The little sweet kiss behind his ear made his lips twitch into what could have almost been a smile. He gave Val a peck too. On the cheek. Before the two withdrew, linked elbows and then began to walk off. Until they reached the pet shop. Kim balked at the entrance and blinked. "...I don't want someone to replace Puffie." There was no way he would get another pygmy puff. No one could make him forget about the adorable pink puffball.

"No one could ever replace Puffie," Val said, slipping his hand off of Kim's elbow and taking his hand instead as they stood in front of the door. "...Just like no one can ever replace you. Tell me *sveta,* am *I* a replacement for Puffie to you?" Val's hand was slightly cold in temperature and certainly quite a bit less fluffy, at least.

Kim looked down as Val took his hand and asked him if he was a replacement for Puffie to him. "...no. You are my rock. My anchor to this world. The one who makes me feel like I'm in heaven sometimes."

Valentin's left arm circled around Kim's neck, turning the boy to look him in the amethyst eyes while his right hand remained clasping Kim's. "You are so precious to me. I lament that I can't always be at your side the instant you have need of me. I only have this one body..." Tilting his head as he examined the shape of Kim's lips, Valentin blinked softly once, then twice. His voice smoothed out further into a soothing blanket of pure velvet tones. "Indeed, I can't be replaced either... but I do want to appoint someone to act in my stead who can be there for you when we are apart. You know I'm fast and won't abandon you, but the distance takes time. I don't want you to hurt terribly at such moments. I long for your happiness. Let me find you a familiar to guard your heart, to hold you together, until I can be with you again. You and I are connected through our Parselmouth ancestry -- so I'd like to find you a serpent to accompany you... even if its kisses aren't quite the same as mine."

Kim understood Val's words. They made sense. He couldn't be there for him most of the time during the school year as they both went to different schools. But at least they had magical means of staying in touch. Yet he knew it wasn't the same. As Val continued to speak, Kim blinked at his words. Once again they made sense. "Your words speak the truth, Haneul. But I am not certain whether I will be able to find someone suitable at this place..." He said, trailing off a little as his eyes averted from Val. He also didn't want to run into anyone that reminded him of Puffie inside.

Val watched Kim, learning the flickers of emotion that painted the other's face like the changing sky at sunrise, and he smiled a bit brighter. "That's alright. If this place is not suitable, we'll find another, and another, until you are totally satisfied. You'll find I can be remarkably patient when it counts." Val's white eyelashes beat with three coy strokes. "If not, I never could have made it to first string seeker, let alone the rest. Just so, I want you to find someone who will teach you things, as well as bring comfort. Surely this is a tall order, but I want nothing but the best for you." Valentin released Kim and pulled the door open, nodding gentlemanly as he held it open.

Kim regarded Val for a moment and as those white eyelashes batted at him he felt a warmth within his chest, making him feel more comfortable. He nodded and watched as Val pulled the door open and held it like that for him to go through. "What are you, a knight in shining armor?" Kim said with a faint smile and shook his head a little as he walked into the pet shop. Inside there were lots of animals and various critters all over the place. He could smell familiar scents and almost caught sight of - Kim felt the urge to turn around and run out of the shop, his heart starting to beat wildly. But Val was there, blocking his way out. He turned around and grabbed his arm, taking a deep breath to let it out slowly. As they made their way over to the reptile section, with Kim clutching Val's arm all the way and trying not to look at the pygmy puff section, they eventually reached their destination. Kim cautiously looked over at the section. There were many serpents around but none of them really called out to him. That is, until one of them slithered over to him with a bright look in its eye. "Ssweet..." It hissed in Parseltongue and tilted its head to the side as it gazed at Kim. "Sssssweet...?" It said again and raised its head upward to gaze at Kim again and as Kim hesitantly stretched out his hand towards it, the serpent slithered up his arm and coiled around his neck, its scales sliding over his entire body in the process. "Ssweeetnesssss... ssweeet.... cuuutteee.... MINE!!!" Kim couldn't help but smirk at this and glanced over at Val who was still standing by his side. One of Kim's hands still clutched Val's arm. But the other arm and his neck were now occupied by the serpent who it seemed had laid claim to him. "You think he can be your proxy?" He asked, raising a brow at the seeker.

Valentin laughed gently at Kim's remark about being a knight in shining armor. "It's interesting how many people have described me this way, independently of one another. Of course, you already knew this about me, Prince of Sweets. You were there at my knighting ceremony, after all."
(viewtopic.php?t=20826&start=20&start=0#p389282) With a wink, Valentin seemed to purr through a light chuckle. The taller boy would gladly lend his fearlessness to Kim now, blocking the doorway with his athletic frame any time Kim seemed to be veering for the door. Yet, the tighter Kim clutched Val's arm, the warmer the seeker's smile became. "You're doing great." Valentin put his arm around Kim's back momentarily, beaming with pride at the other facing his fears and beginning to open his wounded heart once again. As a bright-eyed serpent slithered over to the pair, Valentin stuck out his tongue playfully. It was such a pleasure each time he understood Parseltongue, and to be in the presence of snakes always felt like being with family. "See, this one recognizes you, my Prince of Sweets. Perceptive... just like I need them to be." The snake then began slithering up Kim's arm, and Valentin watched -- patient but guarded. He wouldn't share Kim with just anyone. However, as the serpent slithered all the way up his prince's body, making a home for itself around Kim's neck and declaring its claim, Valentin grinned. This one was quite possessive, wasn't it? Val couldn't help but feel a little jealous, which was how he knew that this was the right one. Still, Valentin would not let go easily. Responding to Kim with a small, "hm," Valentin showed he was still thinking. A small smile sneered across the captain's face as he spoke back to the snake: "Yes, you have read him well: this is Kim, the Prince of Sweets. He is very dear to me. Let us take care of him together." Extending his pale white hand to let the snake examine him, Valentin bowed his head. "I am Valentin Azat Schnell, from the lands of Akbugha's white serpent, Aq Yılan."

Val's words made Kim's smile dim a little as he was reminded of Sophia. But the addition of the serpent and his near death-hold on Val kept him anchored for now, preventing him from losing himself too much. As the snake and Kim got to know eachother, the former settled into position, feeling as if this was the one who would take him away from captivity and allow him to have the freedom he'd always dreamed of. The latter, reached up with his free hand to run his fingers down the smooth scales of the coils that wrapped around his neck and trailed down his arm. Kim didn't say anything but simply continued to stroke the serpent. Glancing up at Val as the other male spoke to the snake, Kim's lips twitched into a faint smile. It was nice to see the two of them getting along and he decided it might not be such a bad thing getting a pet like this. Like Val said, it might be good to have someone act as a proxy for him during school years. Until the two of them could meet again. And despite himself, Kim did feel drawn to the serpent. Perhaps Haneul was an oracle. The snake regarded Valentin as the non-Parselmouth spoke to it and lifted its head to stare at him. For a moment it didn't move and then it slithered part of its body over towards the outstretched hand near Kim's body. The serpent quickly wrapped itself around Val's hand and wrist and then raised its head to regard the white seeker before it. "Sssssweeeeeeet!" It hissed at him in its own language and then bobbed its head as if it was agreeing with Val's previous words. The snake regarded him for another few seconds and then rubbed its head against Val's wrist briefly before disintentangling itself from the seeker's arm and made its way back to Kim. Returning to its favorite place, coiled around his neck and upper arm, it rested its head down again on him. Kim turned to regard Val and gave him a slight smile. "He seems to like you." He told him and leaned back against him for a moment. "I guess you were right, the three of us make a great pair together." Even though a pair was only two, the three of them were as one and Val was Kim as Kim was Val. So really, there were only two there which made it a pair.

As the snake wrapped itself around Val's hand and wrist, the seeker began to smile at the sensation of its rippling scales. Valentin nodded back, enjoying especially the nuzzle of the snake's head before it returned to its home around Kim's neck. Certainly Val was a sucker for physical affection, and as much as the snake seemed to like Val, Val liked it back. Bumping his snowy-haired head against Kim's shoulder, the seeker sighed. "Yes, perfect. This is the right one." The snake was assertive, brave, physical, and already attaching strongly to them both. Valentin only got good impressions. This one could stand in for Val while the less bold ones kept sleeping or cowered in their enclosures, afraid of the new frontier of potential freedom. "... What about a name?"

Kim reached up with his free hand to run his fingers through Val's snowy white hair and patted his head affectionately. As Val's head descended upon his shoulder, Kim's hand reached up to keep it there for a time. When the male asked about a name, Kim thought for a few seconds. "Kibo." He finally said with a smile and looked down at Val from where his head still rested against his shoulder. The dark haired teen tilted his head downward and placed a kiss on top of Val's head. "It means hope in Japanese and represents what you give me." Kim told him.

Val might as well have been the most affection-loving cat in the store for as happy as he seemed receiving Kim's attentions. He wouldn't even have to feel jealous in sharing Kim's shoulder with the new snake with this kind of treatment, so Val nuzzled a section of the serpent's tail there with his nose. Especially when held pressed to his shoulder, Val seemed to glow. "Kibō..." repeated Val, trying it out. When Kim planted a kiss atop Val's head, the seeker closed his eyes and lifted his hand to grasp the sleeve at Kim's elbow. Sinking some weight into Kim's shoulder, it was like the captain was melting under the warmth of the other's words. "Perfection."

Kibo's scales shimmered a little as Val nuzzled a section of its tail with his nose. But otherwise continued to remain stationary, content with where it was at the moment. Kim took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his own eyes closing as he rested his head on top of Val's head. The dark haired teen's fingers curled around Val's head, lightly stroking it every couple of seconds. All around them the rustling of animal feathers, the chirping of some birds and sounds of different reptiles and animals could be heard. It all worked together to create a relaxing harmony for those who had come in to choose a pet. Or to just simply be around them for a time.

The added weight of Kim's head on top of his eased the last of the tension out of Val, who sighed with satisfaction. Everything was going so flawlessly. Hypnotized by the rhythmic petting and the sounds of creatures all around, Valentin had no reason at all to move, immersed in bliss. The year was turning out to be a complete reversal of the persistent suffering Valentin had been enduring in years previous, and just as his own curse seemed to have broken on finding his blood brother, Val had the fortune of finding Kim again in the dead of night. Determined to lift them both out of the darkness together, Val was prepared for a long and bitter fight, as he had become accustomed to. Yet, here in the pet shop, stumbling right into the perfect match with Kibō, everything felt easy and light. After battling so long through the winter storms of Durmstrang, it was like spring had begun to melt through the hardship ever since finding that snowdrop. The only thing Val knew to do with such blessings was to share it, and gathering both Kim and Kibō together would form an ample basin for pouring off more of his overflowing love. "Never let go of your hope. More is possible than you can see. You are more than you will ever know." Val's eyelids flickered open, feeling the eyes of another upon them. Staring back at the shop keeper for a long and dauntless minute until she averted her gaze, Val didn't move, defending the sanctity of the moment. Then, when Kim seemed filled up to the brim with love, Val slithered out of the embrace. "Kim, would you be a dear and go find a snack for the road to feed to Kibō? It will be a long journey, after all." When Kim seemed properly distracted, Val sneaked away to where the shop keeper stood and paid for not only the snake, but also purchased any associated food, leaving an overly large tip for making the shop keeper endure them. Valentin Schnell was known for being quick, and so too, his galleons flew from his hand with lightning speed.

Kim hummed at Val's words. "Don't forget that applies to you too." He murmured into Val's ear, wanting him to feel loved and cared for as well. After all, if he was happy Val was happy and if Val was happy he was happy, the two of them were one. Kim couldn't have Val feeling as if Kim was more important than Val himself because as Val had consistently kept saying, the two of them were one. One couldn't be more important than the other one if they were bound together. Kibo seemed to have settled around Kim comfortably and did not appear to have any inclination to leave his position. When Val suggested he go find a snack for the road to feed Kibo, Kim nodded. It didn't have to be a long trip, they could always travel by Floo Powder. But Kim did want to spend more time with Val while the two of them had time. Floo Powder was a sure way to end their time together faster and neither of them seemed to want that. After searching the pet shop for snacks, he selected a bottle of insects and bugs. Even though serpents tended to eat mice, selling such thing at a shop that also sold rats and similar creatures to mice would not be looked upon favorably by some. When he came back around to the front of the shop, he placed the bottle on the counter, only to find that Val had already paid for Kibo and also the item he'd selected. Kim made a face as he turned towards Val, reaching out to grab hold of his arm. He pulled at it, pouting a little. "Haneuuulllll.... you don't have to do this!" Kim complained to him.

As Kim was getting to know how to care for Kibo, he would also be learning how to care for Val's personal needs. The captain wasn't used to being taken care of, as so many viewed him as a self-sufficient monolith because of his magnanimous habits, toughness, and leadership. For Kim to even show interest in Val's needs proved unexpected, receiving a bashful blush and a nod. When the Korean returned, Valentin eyed his selection of bugs with a wry smile. The Prince of Sweets really did have such a considerate heart, Val decided. After being beaten to the cash register, Kim made a face that simply seemed cute and endearing to his knight. "You're right, I didn't have to, just like this--" Valentin slung his arm around Kim's waist and pulled him into a hot kiss, leaning the boy back just enough to not endanger Kibo's stability. Val had plenty of things he'd rather do with Kim than talk more about the bill, and he suspected Kim would soon appreciate this impatience, too.

The look on Val's face made Kim smile. Well, it served him right! Val should know his own worth too and not just take care of others. But he had to admit, Kim was seeing Val in a different light now, he was kind of cute like this. As he was complaining to Val about paying for him, the white haired seeker agreed with his words which made Kim raise a brow. Before he could react, Val pulled him into a hot kiss, leaning him back just a little bit, enough so that it swept him off his feet but also didn't dislodge Kibo either. Kim couldn't help but smirk up against his soulmate's lips. Kibo opened one eye and gazed at Val but after a few seconds of contemplation, he closed his eye again. Returning the kiss, Kim pushed back on Val's chest a little. "Not here, Haneul. We might have an audience!" He chastised him and nodded towards the counter where the shopkeeper was. "Let's go. You can ravage me somewhere else." Kim joked with a shake of his head. Not that such a thing would happen...

With Kim's chastising, a red flush splashed across Val's cheeks before they dimpled with a grin. Val enjoyed that Kim was feisty enough to challenge him back. Growing up in the spotlight and being rewarded for public spectacle since the beginning, Val would surely receive such scolding again when accompanying Kim. The fearless boy needed reasons to limit himself in such ways, although Kim's request would suffice here. "Can't be letting me get jealous now. You picked up a snake and now it's my turn." Valentin rotated around Kim to scoop him up at the knee into his arms. Bracing the dark-haired boy with his other arm around his back, Val began carrying Kim (and the snake still firmly wrapped around him) out of the pet shop. Pushing open the door with his shoulder, Val looked both ways before striding out into the street with his serpentine payload. "Where to, sweet prince? Any requests, Kibo?"