✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Lightmaker • hyunchanlix *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Four - Divine Light *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

After Salem left, Chan sat in silence, staring at his hands. There was so much blood in his history, and at one point, he'd actually wanted that blood to be Felix's.

What was he thinking? How could he have gotten so lost?

Felix had been there for just as long as Salem. Chan had known Felix since the two of them were kids. He knew Felix. He knew Felix, and yet he allowed himself to be so blinded by his grief.

And what for? Why? Why was he so angry? Nothing about Salem's death was Felix's fault. Why did it take Salem herself telling him that for him to realize it?

Felix didn't deserve any of it. Neither did Hyunjin, or Chan's siblings, or anyone under Chan's leadership.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It's not enough.

Sorry will never be enough.

He had to do something. He had to prove it.

<><><><><><><><>

"Salem wasn't your fault, Felix."

Felix looked up from the book he was translating with Hyunjin to see Chan standing in the entrance to the research tent.

Felix looked confused. "What?"

Chan took a deep breath. "I've realized that I was wrong, and I was completely unfair to you and to everyone else that I promised to lead. Salem's death wasn't your fault, Lix. I can't begin to understand how I ever thought that in the first place. It wasn't fair to you, and I don't know why it took me so long to see it. For that, I'm sorry, and I will apologize until the end of time for the way I treated you. You're my best friend."

Felix's eyes widened, tears filling them. He stared at Chan in disbelief.

Chan was teary-eyed as well, and for once he wasn't looking at Felix in hatred.

"I said some harsh things as well, so I'm sorry." Felix apologized.

Chan shook his head. "Nothing that wasn't true. You don't need to apologize for being honest with me."

Felix let out a sob, gaining worried looks from both the Magicfolk with him, but he waved his hand, brushing their worry off. "Happy tears, happy tears. I promise."

"Can we start over?" Chan asked, looking hopeful.

Felix shook his head and said, "We don't need to. You're my best friend, Chan. Always have been, always will be. Nothing is ever going to change that."

Chan gave Felix a grateful, tear-filled smile and held his arms open, inviting Felix into a hug.

Felix stepped into Chan's embrace, hugging him like the vampire was going to disappear if he let go. The vampire embraced him just as hard, being careful of the younger's wings.

Chan turned to Hyunjin once Felix pulled away. "I wasn't fair to you, either. Salem was your sister. You were just as affected as I was. I had no right to treat any of you the way I did."

Hyunjin tilted his head, observing Chan with a curious look on his face. "What made you realize your error?"

Chan smiled softly. "Let's just say Salem made me think."

Felix smiled. "I haven't seen you smile in a year, Chan."

Hyunjin's smile widened into a grin, throwing an arm over the vampire's shoulder. "It's good to have you back, brother. You wanna run? For old time's sake."

Chan grinned back at Hyunjin. "I'll beat you."

Hyunjin smirked. "Nope, we all know I'm gonna beat you."