♜
mingyu is pacing back and forth in his room, ignoring the concerned wonwoo who's legs were already covered with a blanket. while both men knew they would barely get any sleep for the night, wonwoo had made the wise decision to at least let his body rest before sunrise. yet with a crucial decision combined with a lot of thoughts on his mind for a few days in a row already, there was an even smaller chance he would get the sleep he so deeply desired that night.
"mingyu, can you.. maybe stop walking around for a moment and come sit with me? there's something important i need to tell you.." wonwoo's hoarse voice came out as merely a whisper, too afraid to look up to see if his words managed to get through him. however, the man in question seemed to be too occupied in his thoughts to even notice the voice that called for his attention.
wonwoo could barely speak any words nor clear out his thoughts, his mind in a haze of agitation. especially with mingyu not paying any attention to him, which was quite understandable in the situation they were in. he couldn't blame him for his panicked behavior as wonwoo himself was also afraid for what awaited them at dawn.
"mingyu-"
"-i can't believe how it came to this point? can you believe it? no, right? it's horrible. can you even imagine with what kind of army they might come with tomorrow-"
"-mingyu, please listen for a mo-"
"-what if it was just a simple threat after all? what if they don't even show up? that coward. i dare to say he would put up such a mischievous act just to mess with seungcheol-"
"-mingyu can you pl-"
"-but what if the army is bigger than we could even imagine. what if it is at least ten thousand men? we won't even stand a chance-"
"-mingyu!"
it was the first time ever wonwoo raised his voice, making mingyu flinch the slightest in the process. it was as if the servant came back to life with the sound of the elves voice. "i'm sorry dear, what is it?" his tensed body seemed to calm once wonwoo got up from the bed, reaching out for his upper arm to rub the fabric of the blouse he wore.
"there is something i need to tell you." wonwoo said, bravely swallowing away the lump that rose up in his throat. a complete silence fell over the room, them reveling in their own little world they created in their heads, shutting out the panicked voices from far away in the hallways of the castle. it was only him, a vulnerable elf, together with a strong knight who was known for his deeds of bravery.
"what is it? are you afraid?" mingyu assumed, pointing out the possible battle field that awaited them the day after. however, wonwoo shook his head, which came quite unexpected to the servant whose mind was occupied with the day after only. was there even space for more sorrows?
wonwoo took a deep breath, flinching a little when mingyu grabbed a gentle hold of both his hands. it was that little gesture that gave him courage, making him look up and stare directly in mingyu's enchanting pair of eyes. "i love you mingyu." his words came out smooth like honey, gliding off his tongue as if they were said so easily. yet its meaning was more powerful than both expected, making the already heavy atmosphere around them heavier than it was already.
mingyu still didn't seem to understand how those four little words brought wonwoo on the verge of tears, still not understanding the impact of them after he had said them several times already. "and i love you too woo. how come you are almost crying when you tell me this."
"because i love you." wonwoo said it a little more convincing this time, raising his volume the slightest. "i think the moment has come mingyu. it's here, i can feel it in every blood vessel of my body. it's this weird exciting feeling that runs through my veins and makes me feel alive."
"oh no." mingyu's eyes widened once realization hit him. it's his necklace. and with that, he let go of wonwoo's hands, taking a step backwards as his eyes filled with tears on an instant. he couldn't bare to see wonwoo's smile covered in tears, as well as the elf who just came to terms with his own feelings. "wonwoo, please don't say this to me now."
a heartbreaking sob followed next as wonwoo fell to his knees, reaching for his heart as if he was in immense pain. "i found it mingyu. you gave me purpose. you finally gave my lifeless life purpose. and i finally said it." he only scarcely choked out those words before he went in a state of unconsciousness.
mingyu's vision was hit with a blinding light flash out of a sudden, wonwoo's lifeless body rising up from the ground as his eyes were closed. it took a split second for mingyu to be able to open his eyes and stare directly at the centre of the star-like appearance. wonwoo was surrounded with a golden glow, making him look like an actual angel, as ethereal as he already was, his hair floating with the impact that came along with it.
the moment lasted for merely a few seconds, all magic disappearing as soon as it came while wonwoo's body sunk to the ground again, meeting the wooden surface gently. once the room returned to its usual, home-like environment again, mingyu rushed forwards. he lifted wonwoo by his shoulders and lay his head in his lap, gently brushing through his pitch-black hair to get him back to consciousness, which fortunately did not took him long.
with a groggy whine, wonwoo's long lashed fluttered open. "did it came off?" he whispered, wanting mingyu to be the first to see it. thus, with trembling fingers, mingyu lifted the necklace that was supposed to be around wonwoo's neck for a life-time. and to both their surprise, it fell off. its lock opened and wonwoo was released from the small jewelry.
"it did." mingyu choked out, tears welling up in his eyes. "but that means.."
"that means i am mortal now, gyu." another tear fell from wonwoo's eyes as he raised both his hands up to rub mingyu's unshaven cheeks. "i gave up my immortal life because i realized being a lifetime with you holds beyond more purpose than what my own kin has to offer."
mingyu dropped forwards, capturing wonwoo in the most heartfelt kiss the two men had shared ever since they met. the time they spent together had not been the longest, but with both realizing how their lives were so much more meaningful with each in it, they knew wonwoo had made the right decision of becoming mortal.
or was it?
