chasing lights

9 | the prettiest face

They spend pretty much all day exploring the forest area outside the hideout. Minho had baked some custard buns in the morning for them because Chan apparently mentioned once that he loved them the most. And because Minho is a total sweetheart, he made them, surprised Chan and had him all touched and shit the entire time. Jisung only rolled his eyes at the entire scene, but still ate the buns when they were out and about.

In the early evening, Jisung is the second one to go into the main bathroom, insisting that he should go after Minho because he does not want to bathe with probably no warm water left at the end. Chan said he did not mind the cold water anyway and that he would rather make sure the other two can bathe properly and with the water all warmed up. The warm water would generally be more than enough for the three of them. But with Minho's hair being far too long and him washing it not every single day, but still very much regularly, those days would leave them with one person having to take a cold bath.

Minho is sitting on the big, soft fur carpet on the floor, warming himself in front of the fire, thoughts settled and the entire atmosphere just cozy and comfortable as a whole. He feels good, less sad or like something is missing as he would usually be. It does not really surprise him that he got used to the outside world so easily, but he seems to love it more and more instead with every single minute that is passing. It is nice to finally have something happening in his life, not be limited to the exact same sight and routine every single day, over and over and over again.

Minho enjoys to be out here, feel alive, see how happy Bbokkie is as well, know what it feels like to have friends. He feels all sorts of new things and everything is just as exciting as the next, has him waiting, anticipating, looking forward to whatever is going to follow.

His newest friend sits down beside him, smiling gently and bumping their shoulders together once, just before they both chuckle at one another. They have talked so much since meeting and deciding to travel together and Minho is grateful. He is glad that things have turned out this way. Because he and Chan get along really well, clicked immediately.

He has learned so many things from him already too, has heard all sorts of stories from him about all sorts of different things. His life back home as a guard, the burden of all those expectations he has been born into. The day he met Hyunjin for the first time when he saw the man dancing for a large crowd during one of the lantern festivals five years ago, how he asked him out for drinks afterwards, how the rest is history. He likes the way Chan looks and sounds when he talks about Hyunjin, recognizes the amount of affection from the various descriptions in the books he has read ever since he can think. The man is deeply in love and Minho thinks it is incredibly touching how much, how loyal he still is to Hyunjin, tries what he can to get him back.

They talk so much that it kind of makes Minho sad already to know they will probably not see each other much anymore once the whole journey is over. Once Minho is back in the tower, Chan and Hyunjin back out to chase after Jisung, who is going to go god knows where once he has his necklace back. Their futures are written, set in stone. And Minho knows none of them involve him. Not for long. Only as this little in between thing, this filler chapter, needed for some sort of character development in the stories of their lives.

Today though, they are talking about magic. Hyunjin and Bbokkie, to be precise. Because Chan wants to make use of the time they have together right now, seems to want to say this all while Jisung is out of sight, out of earshot.

"You said you know how to get Hyunjin back, right? That you would do everything to make that happen.", Minho says at some point, voice calm but interested. Chan appreciates the genuine everything that Minho possesses. Because he can tell it matters to him too. That Minho cares because he genuinely does, wants Chan and Hyunjin to be able to hold each other again in all the ways Chan has told him about and more. He wants them to reach their goals, get married, be together forever. "And that it could possibly help Bbokkie as well?"