Crepuscular Clocksmith

7. Venom

Four days later, it rained again. The misty weather of late summer came in Yunho's favour as he took a taxi to his favourite Chinese place and ordered various sorts of dumplings and a big bowl of sweet and sour noodles. Cradling the heavenly package in his lap, he rode back to the shop and hurried through the door doused in a foggy haze.

"I'm here with food," Yunho called as he put his umbrella down. A meow answered him from inside, then San came sneaking over on his grey paws. He rubbed up against Yunho's leg, begging him for pets, and Yunho wasn't one to refuse. While he tickled under San's chin and relished in the cat's purrs, his eyes searched the shop for Mingi.

The naga hovered in the corner, pushing himself up on his tail to stand taller than usual. Two of his hands balanced his weight on the wall, the other two were busy watering the flowers hanging from their pots. Their deep green leaves rustled with contentment at the pleasant shower.

Yunho treaded into the store, careful not to step where Mingi's thick tail spread across the floor. The naga threw a smile over his shoulder clad in a brown sweater today that matched the season. He wore dainty golden bracelets on all four of his wrists, and they complimented his skin and the bright ventral side of his tail.

Yunho made a mental reminder that Mingi wore jewellery. It might come in handy.

"I brought your dumplings," Yunho grinned as he placed the bag on the desk. Now, Mingi lowered his watering can. His stretched body sunk into itself, tail curving as he descended towards the ground to hover at Yunho's height. While Yunho dug through his pockets, Mingi left his can on the counter to inspect the bag of food that already filled the parlour with a mouth-watering scent.

"Noodles, as well? I owe you."

"It's on me, enjoy it."

A warm smile lingered on Mingi's lips as he distributed the food across the table. When his finger caught some sauce, he licked it off with plush lips and a pink tongue.

"Here, I also have this. It's a broken locket my grandma gave to me as a child. The mechanism got stuck with the years of use and I have been unable to open it ever since. You can have it if you want to tinker with it."

Yunho thoroughly enjoyed watching Mingi work. The serenity of his face when he took apart some ancient sundries took all the stress of his day from his shoulders. Only whatever tiny brass he fiddled with counted at that moment. His nimble fingers cradling the filigree tools always sent a tug of something through Yunho's guts, making life a bit more exciting.

Chewing on his dumpling with full cheeks, Mingi opened his hand for Yunho to dangle the necklace inside. A careful nail nudged at the jammed hinge.

Once he had gulped his bite down, Mingi nodded his chin at the necklace.

"This isn't from here."

Sheepish, Yunho ducked his head. He was afraid to be outed all too soon.

"I know. I thought you might want to keep it for the store. So long as it works, of course."

Mingi's gaze on Yunho's face was unreadable. Yunho prayed his ears didn't blush to give him away as he kept his expression a mask of indifference.

"Thank you, Yunho. I will repair it later."

A weight dropped off Yunho's shoulders. Playing off his tension, Yunho took a dumpling himself. He left most to Mingi, aware of the man's hunger and the skinny lines of his body underneath his wide sweaters. The naga relished his every bite, not one to gobble food like his earthbound kin was.

For a while, they shared the food in mutual bliss. Yunho kept sneaking glances at Mingi and utter satisfaction at seeing him cherish the food he had brought filled his chest. Mingi used his upper right hand to eat, as the lower ones were tucked closer to his body and used for his more elaborate tasks.