Archive of Our Own

“Coordinates for Vormir are all set in, good luck.” 

Baku adjusted his black suit before waving back at Taeoh, Gotak preparing the controls to set the course. 

Truth be told, they were a little nervous about going to Vormir. Out of all the infinity stones, the soul one was the least known, some even considering it a myth or legend by the lack of information or appearance of it. Not to mention that, after Thanos went in with Gamora, the girl didn’t come back, they were going completely blank and unprepared for what they were about to face.

But still, they needed the infinity stones, and Vormir seemed to be the only place where they could get it, even if it sounded like bad news.

So, Sieun and Suho went for the space and mind stones in Seoul, along with Juntae who went to get the time stone all by himself; Gayool went alone to Asgard to get the reality stone, Taeoh and Juyang decided to go to Morag for the power stone, and Baku and Gotak volunteered themselves to go look for the soul one.

Given that it was necessary to travel through space to get to Morag and Vormir, they first arrived at Morag, where they dropped off Taeoh and Juyang, to then go all the way to Vormir.

“Are you sure we’re on the right path?” Baku asked, taking out a bag of gummies to chew on the way. 

“Should be. Taeoh swore it was right. Just shut up and let me drive peacefully, you jerk.” 

“Ouh, sassy.” Baku laughed a little, turning his head to look at his best friend. Gotak was wearing his usual black suit, fitting tight but comfortable for him to move around just fine in a fight. His black hair was a little bit messy, and his green bright eyes were focused on the direction while paying attention to the radar to make sure they weren’t lost. 

He looked completely unbothered, but Baku knew better. Gotak was as worried as he was, even more; they both felt uneasy about the whole situation, a crippling and unsettling tingle warning them of future danger. But still, a mission was a mission, and if they were together, Baku was sure they would make it out alive and unharmed.

Baku saw him all peaceful and decided he needed to be a little shaken, just for the fun of seeing Gogo all raided up. “You have become such a grown up, Gogo. Last time I saw you sitting tied in your seat you were crying because of the roller coaster.”

And, as expected, Hyuntak shot back. “You moron. Shut up! That was when we were ten. TEN! Can’t you just get over it already?” 

“Oh, I’m never letting you forget about it. You were such a crybaby back then.” 

Gotak scoffed before turning to him, a grin growing in his face. “Me? A crybaby? Look who’s talking. Just yesterday you were crying because I ate your fries.”

Now it was Baku’s turn to be offended, turning everything into a dramatic act as usual. “Yah! You knew how much I wanted those fries and you still ate them! That 's betrayal.”

“Whatever.” 

The universe outside them looked just as extraordinary and unreal as the first time they saw it. Purple, blue and black colors all mixing to create an astonishing scene taken out from a sci-fiction movie. The stars all blinked and blinded them before tuning down, the indescribable silence and darkness embracing the ship in a comfortable way.

It was all too shocking, the beauty of the panorama in front of them taking their breath out.

“You know…” Baku started, fidgeting a little bit with his suit and avoiding Gogo’s curious gaze. “I’m glad you didn’t die back then, I don’t know what I would’ve done if you had disappeared the way half of the population did.” 

The confession weighed awkwardly in the air, Hyuntak face unreadable, measuring the meaning of Baku’s words.

“What are you saying? You would’ve continued and found a way of getting me back, just like now.” He said it as if it was the most obvious fact, but it was not, not to Humin, and somewhere Gotak knew it too.

“You know I wouldn’t have. Not without you.” The deepness of Baku’s eyes on him and the quiet, shaky tone he used made Gotak feel too shaken, too seen.

“Yah! Why are you saying this all of a sudden?” He said, because avoiding it was better than confronting it.

“I’m just saying, I would never be able to live without you, Gogo. We’ve been through so much together, I don’t think I would even be able to breathe if you were ever gone.” 

It was true, every single word Baku said was true. And Hyuntak knew it. Gogo’s was Baku’s brakes, the one who made sure he kept going, the one who was there to laugh or to cry with him. Gogo was Baku’s everything, and the world seemed meaningless without him.

But Humin didn’t know Gogo felt the same, or maybe he did and just never mentioned it. 

The one to always protect him was Baku, the one to always console him was Baku, the one that brightened his days was Baku. What would Gogo be without Baku?

“Stop getting all sentimental on me, you idiot… but I guess I’m glad you didn't die as well.” The last part was said quietly, but Baku caught it, he always did, and the way he smiled just made Gotak blush and tear his eyes away to spare his dignity.

“When we get back, let’s go out to eat some samgyeopsal, I’ve been craving it for days.” 

“Just don’t eat the whole restaurant again or they’ll kick us out.” 

“I’m a superhero, they can’t kick us out.” 

Their chatter and laughter went on as the journey continued, falling into the same comfort and familiarity they’d always felt with each other.

They stopped though when the massive sphere came to view, the circular shape of the planet appearing in their sight, looking too majestic and intimidating at the same time.

“Wow. Under different circumstances, this would be totally awesome.” Baku muttered, and Gotak just nodded at his side.

The landing came with a bit of a turbulence, but they managed to safely land on a scattered field close to the giant mountain.

The landscape was honestly impressive, no sight of life, just dust and sand and lakes everywhere until their eyes couldn’t reach. Everything was a beautiful tone of purple and lavender, painting the sky with a dreamy mood. The weather was chilly, fitting the abandoned and lonely planet, making them shiver under the passing breeze.

“So, we have to go all the way up there?” Baku asked, jumping off from the ship and scanning their surroundings.

The mountain presented itself in a threatening and somber light, the peak of it looking back at them with an unnerving sigh. It felt intimidating, a chill going down their spines the longer they looked at it.

“Yup, so better get going. The faster we arrive, the faster we leave.” 

The walk to the mountain took them between ten and fifteen minutes, but the hiking up the mountain was what Gotak would consider hell. It wasn’t challenging itself, but the inclination was a little bit dangerous, and rocks covered their path, making it complicated to not fall off.

“Fuck, how much do we have to go?” Gotak complained, his steps looking heavier and slower every meter. 

“We’re almost there, Gogo, hang in a little bit longer.” Baku, fucking Baku, although tired, seemed more composed and in form than Gotak was, his longer legs making it easier for him. Gotak cursed him under his breath before moving again, sweat running down his face.

“Maybe Gamora slipped and fell off, wouldn’t surprise me with the amount of rocks there are.” Gogo said while kicking one of them off the cliff, making Baku giggle a little in front of him.

“Want me to carry you? I’m still as fresh as ever.” He taunted, flexing his muscles and walking backwards to look at Gotak.

“Fuck off before I push you off the cliff.” 

Finally, after what felt like hours of hiking, they arrived at what seemed to be the top of the mountain. The air became colder up there, the uneasiness increasing until they couldn’t shake it off. 

“Welcome.” 

Both Baku and Gotak reacted at the same time to the unknown voice, Baku taking out his sword and Gotak showing off his pistol, ready to fight whoever was behind them.

The sight though was not from a threatening enemy, but of a levitating human silhouette with a black cape on that covered its face.

“Go Hyuntak, son of Go Juhyun. 

Park Humin, son of Park Jinchul.”

Both of them looked at each other indecisively before getting closer to the stranger with a robotic and echoey voice, their fight stances still up, wary of any type of danger.

“Who are you?” Gotak asked, eyes untrusting. Still, the figure didn’t mind their defensive posture but rather ignored it.

“Consider me a guide to you… and to all who seek the soul stone.” The voice spoke out again, always calm, always unshaken.

“Oh good. You tell us where it is, then we’ll be on our way.” Gotak responded, pistol still threatening.

The figure now advanced, bringing with it a chill and dull breeze that activated both of their danger senses. Now up close, Baku and Gotak glared at the skully red face in front of them. It had the resemblance of a human being, as well as the anatomy, but its face just seemed taken out from a Halloween costume.

“If only it were that easy.”

The figure guided them to the tallest peak of the mountain, Baku being slightly ahead of Gotak to attack first if the stranger resulted to be a threat. 

The two tall rocks made themselves bigger as they advanced to them, giving a sense of opening doors that any human being with common sense would know not to go through. But right now Baku and Gotak only had the guide as a sort of clue about the stone, and they were willing to face any challenge to bring everyone back home.

At the peak between the high rocks, the ground was carved with symbols that gave the mountain a feeling of a sacred place, a site no one should enter without knowing what they were to face.

The skull led them to the cliff of the mountain, and the sight of the fall in front of them was terrifying in a way, worrying them both. 

“What you seek lies in front of you. As does what you fear.”

Baku scanned the place, looking for any hint of what they were looking for, while Gotak just stayed on the cliff, looking down and trying to measure the distance between the peak and the ground.

It was high, hella high, clouds surrounding them and their ship not even visible from where they were standing. 

“The stone’s down there.” Hyuntak said, catching Baku’s attention, walking to the cliff at Gotak’s side and looking down as well. 

“For one of you.” The stranger confirmed, and its voice made Gotak and Baku fear what he would say next.

“For the other… In order to take the stone… you must lose that which you love.”

The words weighed on them, and the atmosphere shifted, becoming more tense, more sorrowful.

“An everlasting exchange. 

A soul for a soul.”

Hyuntak and Humin looked at each other, still taking in every word the skull said, not quite believing what they heard.

A soul for a soul.

Gotak sat in a rock near the doors, while Baku paced around the place, fidgeting with his sword, kicking a few rocks, everything to try and calm his mind from what they had been told.

“Maybe he’s making this shit up.” He eventually said, getting closer to Gotak who seemed to be in deep thought.

Ever since becoming superheroes, hell, even before that, all of them had to sacrifice a lot for the greater cause. They accepted that, convinced that they fought for a better change, they were meant to protect the people and fight against injustice. They lost something in every battle, they mourned losses after every fight, but nothing could’ve prepared them for this.

Half of the population was gone, and it was their duty to bring them back. The whole point of the mission was to bring them back, the whole purpose of their lives was to protect, fight and try. They could bring them back, if only they could get the soul stone. But how could they? 

“No.” Gotak answered, slightly shaking his head. “I don’t think so.” 

“Gogo…” Baku countered, still denying the truth, still trying to find a way out.

“Thanos left here with the stone… without his daughter. That’s not a coincidence.” 

Baku closed his eyes, stopping his pace and just… breathing. 

“Whatever it takes.” Gotak muttered, the realization sinking in his chest, the hope of leaving here with Baku fading away.

Baku glared at the cliff, remembering all of the suffering the world had gone through, remembering everything he had ever fought for. 

“Whatever it takes.” 

Gotak looked at him and got up, the distance between them shrinking every step he took.

“If we don’t get that stone, billions of people stay dead.”

“Yeah.” Humin agreed, his expression now conflicted. “Then I guess we both know who it’s gotta be.” 

“I guess we do.”

They looked at each other, their eyes connecting, holding the other’s hand refusing to let go.

But Gogo’s gaze was too defeated, too wrong, and Baku’s eyes were too determined, too sad.

“I’m starting to think we mean different people here, Gogo.” Baku said, and the way he said it sounded cautious, challenging in a way. His grip around Gotak’s hand tightened, and his shoulders became stiff.

“For the last five years I’ve been trying to do one thing. Get to right here, Baku. That’s all it’s been about, bringing everybody back.” Gotak debated, the determination and pleadiness bright in his eyes.

“No.” It was all Humin said, and the way he said it, too low, too deep, too raw, made Hyuntak’s skin crawl and his eyes to start tearing up.

“What, do you think I wanna do it?” He fought back. “I’m trying to save your life, you idiot.” 

“Yeah, well, I don’t want you to. How 's that?” Baku said, towering over Gotak, fear growing in his chest. “You don’t do that, Gogo. I’m the one who sacrifices himself, you don’t lose your life for me.” 

“You idiot. You always do this! You always sacrifice for the sake of others when you don’t have to! They need you, Humin, they need you to guide them. It’ll be fine.” He yelled, weakly punching Baku’s chest while glaring at him with fire in his eyes.

“I said no.”

Both of them had heated up, but their eyes showed just how scared they really were. Hyuntak looked deep into Baku’s eyes, the ones he always loved, and forced himself to calm a bit and think rationally. “We need that stone, Baku.” 

Humin shook his head, not giving in to the stubborn Gotak. “If getting that stone means losing you then fuck the entire universe.”

Billions of people, without mentioning all of the other creatures in the universe, had died at the hands of Thanos. Their friends were battling to get the rest of the stones, the whole world had been mourning for five years, and they were there to bring everyone back. But Gotak wouldn’t let him sacrifice himself, he knew him too much, and he wasn’t letting Hyuntak under no circumstances jump just for the sake of one little stone.

He wasn’t losing him for this, he wouldn’t lose him for anything. 

“We need to bring them back, Baku.” Still, Gotak kept fighting, because Baku always did too much, because he always saved him, and now it was his time to do something for everyone else. Not just by fighting at Baku’s side, but by actually acting on his own.

Humin stared at Gotak, watching his green eyes that always mesmerized him, his scar that sat at the bridge of his nose giving him a mysterious look, his rough hands from fighting through all of his life, and decided he wasn’t losing him. Not now, not ever.

“… okay.” Baku whispered, hands reaching for the sides of Gotak’s arms, holding him close. His eyes looked at Gogo with adoration, and Hyuntak felt like tearing up.

Relief filled his entire body after Baku agreed, feeling better after knowing Baku was going to be safe, alive. And Baku saw the way Gotak relaxed in his arms, the way he slightly closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “You win.” 

“You’re a pain in my ass, you know?” Baku laughed a bit, but no actual joy reflected his words. Gotak just smiled at him, admiring the last moments he had with Baku before jumping off.

Humin held Gogo tighter, bringing him closer to his chest, arms embracing his waist and connecting their foreheads to feel each other. And Gotak didn’t fight it back, just let Baku hold him one last time, enjoying the warmth that always came from being with Baku, a few tears running down his cheeks at the thought that he would never feel him again, never hear him again, never see him again.

“I love you, Gogo.” Baku whispered softly, his words spreading through the air, making Hyuntak close his eyes for the intimacy of the moment. When he opened them again, he saw Baku looking at him with a bright smile, his eyes soft, his tears wetting his face a bit. God, Hyuntak loved him so much. He was giving his life for him, and he didn’t even doubt it. He would do anything for Humin just as he did so much for Gotak.

“Please forgive me.” 

And then Hyuntak was tackled to the ground, his whole body aching from the slam, his head almost banging against some rocks. His vision turned white for a few seconds due to the shock and the brutal force of the hit, and his body tensed in his usual fighting stance. 

Humin was on top of him, holding him with an unmovable force but his eyes as soft as ever, conflicting all of Gotak’s senses. They had never fought before, at least not really, and feeling firsthand all of Humin’s strength made his brain stop working and his heart to beat faster. 

Hyuntak’s eyes were wide in panic and surprised, his body stiff and stunned by the sudden burst, and Baku hated himself a bit for hurting him, but he wasn’t letting Hyuntak sacrifice himself, not if he could stop it.

“Live on without me, Gogo.” Humin whispered, still holding Gotak down, still unmovable as ever. 

No, Hyuntak was determined to do it himself, he wasn’t letting Baku sacrifice himself again.

So, despite being smaller and weaker than Baku, Gotak collected all of his strength to manage to turn Humin around, now getting on top of him, freeing himself from Baku’s grip.

Gotak got up and aimed at Humin with his widow bites, threatening him to stay down. Baku just looked at him with a startled expression after being taken down by Gotak.

“You go live on your own.” He said, and shot him with the widow bites, electrocuting Humin to make him stay down. It hurt a bit, but Gotak did what needed to be done to assure Humin’s safety.

He turned around, glaring at the cliff, and started running the fastest he could, drowning down his fear and committing to get the stone. 

Gotak almost made it to the cliff before an explosion knocked him down, sending him flying a few meters away from the drop and landing on the ground.

The collapse made all of his body ache, his right side hurting from the crash and his head spinning around.

When he opened his eyes, all he saw was Baku running to the cliff while locking eyes with him, his expression sorrowful, but a ghost of a soft smile directed to Gogo making him freeze.

Baku was going to sacrifice himself again. Baku was going to sacrifice himself for him. He stayed on the ground while seeing his best friend, his everything, give up his life to save him yet again, like Baku had always done.

When was the last time Gotak saved Baku? Humin always said Gotak had saved him a million times, that he was the reason he kept going. But when conflict arised, Humin was always the one to save Hyuntak’s back. He was always the one who suffered the consequences of it. He was always the one to sacrifice his wellbeing for Gotak.

Baku was in charge of their team. He was the support of their friends, he was the light and hope of their society when a tragedy occurred.

He needed to get back and guide them, help them create a better world. 

Humin was the only one who could do it. 

And now he was giving up his life to save him again. Gotak had failed yet again to protect him just like Humin always made sure to protect Hyuntak.

Baku jumped, and Gotak’s fear of actually losing Baku spread throughout his whole being. 

No, he wasn’t letting Baku die for him, Baku had done enough for Gotak. It was his time now, it was time he saved Baku for once. 

Humin was crushed by Hyuntak after jumping off, his body instinctively hugging the other’s body to make sure he didn’t fall. They swung a bit in the air before Baku felt a string pulling him up, both of them slamming into the rock, Gotak almost slipping from his grip before catching him by the arm.

Humin was shocked. He had knocked Hyuntak down, and he had jumped off to make sure Gogo was safe, but Hyuntak had jumped off the cliff for him, and now he was hanging with a massive free fall under him. 

Baku turned around and saw Hyuntak’s grappling hook stuck to the rock above them, and looking down, he saw the string connected to his waist. Gotak must have attached the hook to his suit when he hugged him. 

“Fuck.” Humin muttered after seeing the hook attached to his suit, turning back to Gotak that was still holding on to him. Humin now realized that his grip on Hyuntak’s arm was the only thing preventing Gotak from falling to his death.

Gogo, still in this position, still in this situation, looked as beautiful as always, glossy green eyes, red cheeks from the effort, and his hair moving from the wind.

His body held onto Baku like he didn’t want him to let go, but his eyes said otherwise, filled with a mix of fear and aching and relief all at once. 

Humin, on the other side, was a mess. Expression full of panic, body tense for holding his weight and Gogo’s up, hands shaky at the fear of Gotak slipping off, grunting at the effort of reaching Hyuntak. He tried to reach for Gotak’s hand, but the hook didn’t let him move too much or then both of them would fall.

He was doomed, there was no way of getting to Gogo. 

Hyuntak had won.

“Wait.” Humin pleaded, looking at Gotak with panicked eyes, silently begging him not to do it, to fight back. But Hyuntak was resolved to bring everyone back, he was determined to do something for Baku once.

So he relaxed his body, making it more difficult for Humin to hold onto him, and let his arm start slipping away.

He looked down to the massive fall down him, and accepted this was actually his last moments before dying. 

But now he wasn’t scared, because Baku was with him, holding him as always, accompanying him like he had always done since they were five years old. He would die for Baku, and he was fine with that.

“Let me go.” Gogo whispered, and his soft and tranquil voice broke Baku more, making him more desperate to save him, trying so hard to keep him alive.

“No.” He refused, letting his tears fall freely, never letting his eyes tear from Gotak’s. “No, please no… Gogo.” He wasn’t letting Gogo die, not now, not like this. But there wasn’t much he could do, and he hated himself for it. 

Gotak just relaxed more under his grip, nodding with his head, now smiling at him in the same way he always did when it was only the two of them, sharing a quiet moment, escaping from reality. 

“It 's okay.” 

No. No. He wasn’t letting go of Hyuntak. He wasn’t losing him. Gogo wasn’t sacrificing himself for him.

Damn Thanos. Damn the infinity stones. Damn the universe. Damn everyone. Gogo wasn’t dying for them.

But still, about to die, Gotak made sure to comfort Baku and try to make him feel better, just like he always did after Baku lost control over his actions, just like he always did when Gogo was hurt and Baku was furious for it, just like he always did when Baku was down.

“Please.” He tried one last time, his voice coming out absolutely broken. Gotak just smiled at him, his eyes soft, not smirking like when they joked around, not annoyed like when Baku teased him, not cocky like when he tricked Baku back, just… calmed. Happy, even.

And then Gotak pushed himself off with his feet, and his arm slipped from Baku’s grip.

“NO!” He tried to shout, he tried to reach back, but Gogo was already gone. 

Humin watched helplessly as Gogo fell downhill, not tearing his eyes from his body even when Gogo’s head slammed against the hard ground.

He watched the blood stream from Gogo’s head, his body go numb after crashing, his eyes staying open reflecting what once used to be green bright eyes to now a lifeless soul. 

Humin screamed, kicked, sobbed, and tried to free himself from the hook to go down with Gogo, but everything he tried didn’t erase the fact that his Gogo was now gone and that he had failed to save him.

Gotak was dead. Go Hyuntak was dead. His Gogo was dead. And all because of him.

The world became black, fading in the edges until all Humin could see was darkness, and he wasn’t sure if it was because he had closed his eyes to escape his nightmare, or because he had fainted from the shock of seeing Gotak’s dead body.

When he woke up again, he felt numb, like drowning in a river. He was laying in a small lake, and he wasn’t sure what was real and what was not.

He got up, and his first instinct was to reach for Gotak.

His hands tried to find him near him, make sure he was alive. But Hyuntak wasn’t there, and the memory of him jumping off started clearing in his mind. 

No, this was a nightmare. Gogo was here, alive, he knew that. He felt that. 

But his right palm felt heavy, still submerged in the lake. 

Inside of his fist, the soul stone rested against his palm in an almost mocking way.

A soul for a soul.

And Humin felt his world come crumbling down.