Crepuscular Clocksmith

20. Rags of the Past

Mingi sat on the porch and glowed with happiness. He radiated like the sun, attracting all the others to share his warmth. Proud of his beautiful lover, Yunho sat by his side on the floor with Mingi's tail slung across his lap, uncaring of his dirty clothes.

"I can't believe it. It was right here all this time, and we never thought of this," Yeosang huffed with a smile as he wiped his sweat. Jongho rubbed his back. They all had the muscle ache coming for them.

"It wouldn't have been possible before you got to know Jongho. I'm overjoyed it ended like this," Wooyoung beamed. His eyes were soft for the naga in their midst, who didn't listen to them. He was too busy basking in the sunset and the wind on the entirety of his body. It skimmed fond fingers through his locks, throwing them here and there in greeting, and he looked ethereal. Though a creature dwelling under rocks and caves, he wasn't one to be denied the beauty of nature that had created him.

Yunho was in love as he marvelled up at Mingi.

"I'm contented I could help. I would have hated it if this went on and you guys were gone and couldn't look after him anymore," Jongho grinned a gummy smile as he tugged his gloves off. His fingers pushed his sweaty hair back as he glanced at the neighbouring house.

"I'll be back in a moment. They should know we are finished and I will pay the reparation costs." He took off without a word, not leaving them time to protest and split the money. Yeosang blushed when he followed the line of Jongho's broad back with his eyes.

The payment was taken care of.

Wooyoung and Yeosang sat down, as well, sharing congratulatory drinks. They relished Mingi's touched mood, basking in the success that had to wait for over twenty years.

Yunho was the first to notice when Mingi's disbelieving smile distorted into a grimace of pain. The first sobs of realisation spilt over his lips and Yunho was right by his side to cradle him in a soothing embrace. He kissed the crown of Mingi's head, letting him cling to him with all his might.

"There you go. You did so well, Mingi. You endured so much," Yunho whispered to him. Precious tears wet his shirt at his shoulder, but he didn't mind them.

"You're free now. Can go wherever you want. So many things to catch up on."

Yunho would be happy to show him, but he swallowed the words for now. This wasn't about him, or them. It was only about Mingi.

Unable to form words, Mingi cried into his shoulder for a while. Yeosang and Wooyoung watched with fond smiles, eyes glistening at the naga's joy.

By the time Mingi pulled back to wipe his face with all four hands, darkness had engulfed them. While Yunho helped with a tissue, San crawled over to the power outlet. A moment later, the fairy lights strung around the deck clicked on. They basked the group in a soft hue and led Jongho back to find them.

"What now?" Yeosang asked once Mingi had calmed. With puffy eyes and lips, the naga peeked over at him.

"Where do you want to go? You need a new nest, one that soothes your agitated spirit. But you can't build it here, as I had hoped. We leave soon."

"Perhaps you could build it in the new shop?" San suggested, meaning well, but Yeosang shook his head.

"I don't want him to be locked up in his place of work any longer. He deserves the freedom of moving at ease now that the weight on his shoulders is lifted."

Jongho mumbled under his breath, thinking whether the flat above the shop might be free for Mingi to access.

Yunho had a better idea. He had a spare room ever since he moved into his apartment. Originally, it had been planned to be his office, but he didn't like the dread attached to a lonely room of work, so he worked at his bedroom desk instead. The leftover room had become a chamber for his own sundries, full of books and seasonal decorations or hobby items.