Hell Born

*Epilogue: Yunho & Mingi*

Yunho made a promise to himself that he would be there for every second of Mingi's life. He would be the one to hold him when he cried, be the person to bring a smile to his face when he was happy and that he would take care of him for as long as he could. 

Hand in hand, they would stroll through the park, listening to each other's queries and interesting thoughts to pass the time. They would hold one another while overlooking the lake whilst awaiting the sunset to observe the beautiful night sky above. 

They spent as much time together as possible. The two had even managed to make that tiramisu without burning the house down, believe it or not. 

Yunho trusted Mingi with everything he had and vice versa. Even on that fateful night when the angel was ready to end his celibacy, Mingi would only do it if he was one hundred per cent sure. 

Then one day, a pivotal conversation arose between them as they were taking one of their evening strolls. "Yunho…" Mingi said quietly, earning a hum from the angel. "We can't spend forever together, you know…" 

"Princess, what do you mean?" 

"You know what I mean," The man stopped dead in his tracks, with Yunho following suit. The expression of uncertainty on Mingi's face worried him and he indeed understood what he meant but didn't want to face the facts himself. "At the end of the day, I'm only a human. You're going to live forever while I'll be the first one to-" 

Yunho couldn't bear to hear him finish that sentence. He brought Mingi into a hug, halting his words and bringing forth the tears he had been trying to suppress. "Mingi, princess, please, don't think like that. You're only human but it doesn't matter! We have this life together. Then we'll meet in the next and then the one after that! And I'll make sure that happens, God be damned!" 

He heard his partner sniff, moving back so they could look at one another again. "Will you be okay when I'm gone?" Mingi asked tearfully. 

"I'll be okay, I promise. When you rest, I want you to rest easy. I assure you, I will be alright." 

And so it began. 

As time went on, the differences between human and divine began to shine through their relationship. Mingi could no longer keep at the same speeds he used to. While he had grown a full head of grey hair, Yunho had retained the youthful blonde he always had. The human's body just wasn't the same as it used to be. 

Yunho knew he was doing his best to hang on, fighting the forces of nature just to remain by his side. But in the end, it was all in vain. When it came time to say goodbye, he could do nothing but sit by his side, shaking with the failing will to control his emotions. 

"I've never seen you cry before. Don't tell me you'd waste your first tears on me, Yunnie." He chuckled lightly, airy in its delivery only serving to further pain his partner's heart. "I thought stone-faced angels didn't cry." 

"That angel is gone, remember? Because you showed him how to open up and love someone." Mingi hardly had the strength to smile. He was weak; Ninety years old while Yunho had remained the same. His hands were cold and not even the glow from the angel beside him could keep them warm. "Please remember that I love you, I adore you more than anything in this universe and that will never change."

Yunho had made a promise that he would be there for every second of Mingi's life. From the moment they met, to his last days on Earth and that was a promise he never broke. 

The angel stood over his lover, a sad smile on his face as he looked at the grave next to it. "Look princess, I put you next to your first love. I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do. I won't interrupt you." 

By his side were all the others, Hongjoong and Seonghwa, the wedded couple, San and Wooyoung; even Jongho and Beomgyu had stopped travelling to attend the funeral. 

"Are you going to be okay?" Hongjoong asked the angel, resting a hand on his shoulder. 

"I have to be. I made a promise that I would be alright." Everyone glanced at each other when Yunho excused himself, worried for how he would move forward from this.

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The park was much lonelier when strolling by oneself. There was no one to keep you company besides the ambient whispers of the willows around. 

Couples and children spending their day no longer brought endearment to Yunho's heart, only envy as he reminisced on how that had been them at one point. 

Still as worn as ever, the bench didn't hold the same charm it used to. Creaking under the weight of the angel, it would soon fall apart, destined to be thrown out. Nothing could be more disheartening. 

Even when Yunho's hand glided across the vacant space beside him, it could only do so much to pervade the hole that only his other half filled. 

Soon enough, his eyes began to fog, fist clenching when he finally let the truth sink in. Mingi wasn't coming back. 

"I know I promised I'd be alright," he whispered, noticing the tears fall down his face. "But it's hard. It's so hard not having you here with me princess…" It was hard for him to speak. Nearly every word was interrupted by a choke or sob, drenching his sentences in pure grief.

"I'm sorry I can't rest with you, Mingi."