For Peace

7. Storm Brewing

Mild smut warning in the second half of the chapter

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At noon, after many hours of dragging their exhausted feet under the warm shine of the spring sun, the companions rested. They tucked away into the shelter of the woods and built their nest under the roots of a mighty fallen tree. Best if they travelled at night when they could hide from watchful eyes.

Before they lay to rest, Seonghwa approached Mingi for healing. The witch was devious as ever when he soothed the ache in the priest's chest and Hongjoong watched with his arms crossed and a frown sticking to his features. It was over fast, for Mingi preserved his energy for the ritual.

Seonghwa slept in the cradle of Hongjoong's wing, safe from nightmares and anything that might try to attack him during the night. The leathery skin spent blissful shade and was smooth to the touch when he ran his fingers across it before falling asleep. Though it was eerie to feel the delicate bones connect under the thin skin of his bat wings, Seonghwa didn't associate the touch with being unpleasant.

When he roused, night had fallen and settled above Morden like a soothing blanket. How nature could contrast so with its inhabitants remained a mystery written in the stars.

Most of Seonghwa's companions were still asleep. Mingi did his thing between sleeping and waking, and Yongguk sat by his side to watch over the group. Spread out like starfishes, Wooyoung and San were sprawled all over each other. Jongho was so huddled in his cape that he almost disappeared, and Yunho and Yeosang had curled up around Perie.

Seonghwa's shifting alerted Hongjoong to his awakening. The gargoyle lifted his head off his arm and met Seonghwa's glimpse over the priest's shoulder. His stormy grey skin and the black horns nestled into his messy white locks instilled terror. All that Seonghwa felt was a tug of attraction.

When Seonghwa pushed himself up from their burrow quietly, Hongjoong followed suit. Yongguk nodded at them when they removed themselves from the camp so their conversation wouldn't wake the others.

They strolled the meadows near the edge of the forest. For a long while, Seonghwa was silent and pondered what to say. Hongjoong shared the rare peaceful atmosphere.

After mulling every uninspired topic in his mind until he almost burst from how badly he wanted to use the little time alone he had with Hongjoong, Seonghwa came up with something.

As soon as he worded it out loud, he wished he could take it back.

"Do you feel the chain? Does it weigh around your neck?"

Seonghwa winced the second he ended, but Hongjoong didn't mind. He lifted his hand to his neck, caressing it as the golden collar hid away. Even Mingi, who could touch it and turn it visible, couldn't remove it. Not that he wanted to.

"I don't. I know it's there, binding me to my oath, you, God, whatever. Since it accompanied me for a long time, I forget about it." The reminder cast wrinkles to his forehead, but he wasn't too resentful about the foolish question. Seonghwa breathed a sigh of relief.

"What would happen if it broke?"

Hongjoong shrugged.

"I don't know. It's what made me a gargoyle in the first place. A creature made to serve the church and its sacred magic. Without it, I might not even be a gargoyle anymore. Sounds like bliss." He chuckled to himself.

Upset, Seonghwa clenched his hands into fists.

"I want to free you of it. I would shoulder the same journey I forced you to come along on with me to break it."

"How knightly of you." Hongjoong smirked his crooked grin that was half devious, half amused. In combination, Seonghwa's heart fluttered.

"You helped me so much. I would be long since dead if you hadn't brought me this far. I want to be good to you, too." Seonghwa lowered his eyes, depressed that he couldn't do more. While he trusted Hongjoong with his life, Seonghwa was nowhere near powerful enough to repay his countless favours.