chasing lights

16 | all the lights

When Minho comes walking into the kitchen in the morning, having left Jisung all tucked in and with a peck on his forehead before going downstairs with the plan to prepare breakfast before his man gets up, Chan is already awake and waiting right there. He is dressed formally, Minho can tell. Because apart from the high quality garments on his sturdy frame, the man is wearing earrings and a pin, either of which silver, the pin embedded with an additional, small, white opal in the shape of a crescent moon. Minho whistles when he comes walking inside, grinning from ear to ear as he makes his blushing friend spin for him to see all of his outfit. It has Chan laughing a little, his dimples visible to the other.

"Not bad!", Minho compliments him, honestly so and slaps his ass firmly as well. Just for good measure. To get that startled yelp in response and have Chan jumping away simultaneously. But they both laugh it off afterwards. "No, really. You look great."

"Thanks, man.", Chan says, then pulls Minho into the tightest hug, gives him another squeeze before he pulls away and makes sure to leave a hand on his shoulder while he keeps their gazes locked. "Happy birthday, my friend. May all the moon's magic be with you until the rest of your life, keep you safe, keep you healthy and make you find your way, take you exactly where you are meant to be.", he says and Minho thanks him, wants to ask what he means with the last part, but when Chan simply gives his shoulder another squeeze and then pulls away completely to walk towards the entrance and put on his boots, the fancy ones, he only takes one glance up the staircase and Minho can very much tell what he was implying. "I'm not the one to tell you where you belong. But I think you might already have some idea yourself, right?"

He leaves Minho behind after that with an entire ocean of questions and the need to ask about it all as soon as possible. But Chan was already running late and simply waited for Minho to get up so he could wish him a happy birthday before fulfilling his duty as the son of the head guard. Chan is to spend half of today at the royal court to have some sort of reporting situation with his father. Minho cannot remember too clearly from all the things Chan had told him about the day before. He could also not really tell Minho more details, considering how confidential those would have been and with Minho's entanglement with Han Jisung, Chan could not take any risks. No matter how important of a friend Minho is to him.

But Chan had also made sure to tell Minho that he would always be there to welcome him, if he ever decided to come back to the kingdom anytime after tonight. He would help where he could to get him situated and eased in, said he could always need someone strong amongst his trainees as well.

It made Minho feel flattered, happy. Just so good to know that there are ways, if he ever ended up deciding on coming back. Minho would never be all alone again and Chan said and promised he would make sure of that. Yet, Minho understands too well that there are simply things Chan could not tell him about. Especially not while their deal is still ongoing and while Minho is still very much feeling for Jisung what he is in fact feeling for Jisung. He understands.

Minho bakes again for the day, prepares breakfast with Bbokkie while Chan and Hyunjin are out. Everything feels too nice, too calm and warm to be true. It does not feel like this is it. Does not feel like there would only be hours left at this point and Minho and Jisung promised each other last night not to dwell on that fact either. They promised to make the best out of today, make it the best birthday Minho has ever had.

They are living a full on domestic, house husband type of lifestyle today, with Jisung coming down to an incredible whirlwind of different smells, each one intoxicating in its own way. He approaches Minho quietly, hugs him from the back and trails kisses all along his neck and shoulders, which has the older giggling in return, has him turning around once he has set down whatever kind of kitchen utensils he was holding before.