chasing lights

6 | royal staff

Minho comes running as soon as he hears Jisung's scream. Still barely dressed, hair undone and just as wet as the rest of him. But more importantly, without a weapon at hand. Bbokkie chirps after him, tries to rush after the running human to hold him back or warn him or whatever it is he is trying to achieve. But Minho cannot be stopped.

Reckless. That sure is a good word to describe his behavior. Especially so because there are many possible reasons why Jisung was screaming in the first place and majority of those could be quite life threatening for Minho as well. But they just escaped death together once already and Minho will not leave Jisung behind just like that. Because that is not the kind of person he is or would ever even want to be.

He stops in his tracks the moment he sees him, his name on his lips in a worried call. A call that catches the attention of the man sitting on Jisung's back and even the horse by his side. A stunning horse, silky soft and tall, decorated with all sorts of accessories. The man might have just attacked Jisung, but he most definitely cares an awful lot about his steed.

The man looks up and he and Minho lock eyes, both of them freezing in place for just a moment. Minho, because he is unsure about what the next step after barging in and calling out for Jisung would be and the other because, well, Minho is quite the sight to behold. Especially his hair is nothing, if not unique in all ways imaginable. The guy just blinks at him a few times, still stunned, while the physically weaker thief beneath him struggles in his slightly wavering grip to at least turn his head, drag his face that slightest bit more through the dirt to look at Minho.

"Run! Don't just stand there, Minho, take Bbokkie and run-"

"I'm not leaving without you! I think we both know very well that I need you, so stop trying to get rid of me because it's not gonna work.", Minho calls back, has the other guy all stunned again, more than before, but looking at his horse in his absolutely confused state. Because he and Han Jisung both know that the thief would usually not care, would probably even defend himself now as well, throw the other guy under the carriage and save himself. But Jisung stays quiet, thinking he would tell Minho something really stupid, if he was not being held down by a royal guard right now. "And you,", Minho says, directs the young guard's attention right back to himself, "let him go."

"Huh?", the guy asks, almost amused, yet also offended at the audacious request, but speaks without any plans of getting off of Jisung's back. He presses down harder instead, has Jisung grunting in response to his tighter grip, "Sorry, but what makes you think I would let the most wanted thief in the entire kingdom slip out of my grip now that I finally got him? This guy's coming with me."

"No, he's not. Not now at least. I need him for like two weeks and then you guys can go back to chasing each other to your hearts content.", Minho says, does not even let the guard complain about how ridiculous the idea is or ask about what he even means with it. Minho does not let Jisung speak up either about how disposable he apparently is, crack some joke about Minho using him like this when he could at least use him sexually instead. No, because Minho really does need Jisung to reach his goal. He is the only person by his side, knows too much already to just leave now. "I have spent my entire life dreaming about seeing those damn lanterns from close up. Every single year since I can think. My birthday is in two weeks and Jisung promised me to help me make my dream come true, so I don't care if you plan on joining us the entire time either, but if you're not letting him get back up and return to my side, then I am ready to fight you for him too."

"You- you would fight for him?" The guard asks, as if that part of Minho's entire request was the only important one to think about. Minho steps the slightest bit closer, carefully so because the horse is already getting closer to him as well, probably to check whether he is an actual threat or not. The guard simply watches them, while Jisung tries to completely ignore the strange little flip in his chest. Not the time for this to happen. Certainly not the time. "Why?"