DLMLU ~ Hiatus ~

Neverbloom

☆ミ　☆彡

"So you really have no idea why Xiao is here?" Felix asked as they continued walking back to the house.

"No idea. I thought we would get rid of him when we left the orphanage. How he ended up in Seoul is beyond me. But he noticed me around the same time you did that day." Minho truthfully spoke.

"Whatever the reason. Avoid him, Hyung. He is bad news. He had you wrapped around his finger at that hell hole. I'm scared it will affect you; you've been getting better thanks to the people we've met."

"I know, Lix. I know. But don't overthink yet. Maybe it was just one-offs." Minho tried to relax him. He wanted to fix their bond, not make it worse.

"Enough about him. Time for tea," Minho said, breaking the tension.

"Tea?" Felix raised an eyebrow, curious, and he couldn't help but let out a light laugh, enjoying the moment.

"You and Changbin? I was leaning more toward Team Chan," Minho teased, trying to gauge his reaction. Felix's expression changed abruptly; he stopped in his tracks and noticed his face flushing a deep shade of red, which he desperately tried to hide behind the colourful package Minho had given him. The sight was amusing and endearing as Minho burst into loud laughter at his flustered state. He could tell that something deeper was going on beneath the surface.

"Is he good to you?" Minho asked, a note of concern lacing his voice. "Well... we aren't a thing," he replied, his tone uncertain. 

"What? But he had this protective aura this morning," Minho insisted, recalling how Changbin seemed to be naturally looking out for Felix. He watched as Felix's cheeks turned an even brighter shade of tomato red. It had been a long time since he had seen him this bashful, and it was refreshing to witness.

"I'm scared to try anything," he admitted softly. "Chan and Changbin are both giving off these weird vibes. Chan probably sees me as a brother by this point, but Changbin-hyung... really confuses me. My mind goes blank whenever I'm around him, and my heart races. It's like his eyes soften when he looks at me, but he's cold toward everyone else. He may come off as a jerk to others, but somehow—" Felix paused mid-sentence, suddenly realizing he had been rambling on, his eyes wide as if surprised by his honesty.

"Be honest with him, Felix. The way I've seen it. He genuinely cares for you." Minho looked back at the street before them, squinting to get a better look before realizing who was ahead of them. His breathing quickened.

"I don't know Minho-Hyung. He just—" Felix's voice halted the moment Minho cupped his mouth to silence him. He placed a single finger on his own lips, motioning to hush for a second. Following his brother's gaze, Felix looked in the direction again, and it was indeed him.

Xiao.

Minho swiftly yanked Felix into the narrow alley, a shadowy refuge that shielded them from prying eyes. His grip on his brother's hand was firm, filled with urgency, as he darted forward, Felix struggling to keep pace behind him. The familiar streets of their neighbourhood loomed around them, just a short ten-minute walk back to the safety of home, but now they faced an unforeseen detour. Thoughts raced through Minho's mind, a whirlwind of concern and determination. He couldn't bear the idea of dragging Felix anywhere near Xiao; danger lurked too closely. As he cast a furtive glance over his shoulder, his mind flickered back to their festive plans—to celebrate not just Felix's special day but also Jisung's birthday. Now, those moments of laughter and joy felt like a distant dream, replaced by the urgent need to keep Felix safe. Minho carefully resolved to navigate this precarious situation, determined to shield his brother from whatever darkness awaited.