𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 // 𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝒉𝑜

thirty three.

     Minho froze, still as a statue.

He was so shocked that he didn't pull away as Hanuel kissed him, her touch light as a feather in contrast to their harsh words moments ago. He must've been dreaming, the cruelty of a fantasy made more sense than this.

When he didn't respond, Haneul drew back a few inches, her clouded eyes not leaving his lips. "I don't know if I'll regret this when the magic wears off, but I do know I want it."

Her smile quirked up, a snarky "I told you so" dancing in her gaze; so unlike her, the magic boosting her confidence and giving it an unwavering foundation. He barely registered she was referring to acting on her desires, as he'd so confidently denied she would a minute before. Underworld help him.

This time he instinctively closed his eyes, his traitorous hand reaching up to brush her tangled hair back as her lips caressed his, careful not to touch her with his still-split knuckles. In spite of her blustering, Haneul's movements were shy–but the tempo of her breathing hitched, and Minho selfishly surrendered.

He surged up on his knees, reverently cupping her face with both hands. She smelled so good this close, he could feel her silken lashes brushing against his skin. Minho shuddered with a gasp; it took all of his strength not to pull her flush against him.

Haneul slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, her sleeves falling off her shoulders entirely with the movement. Minho couldn't resist letting one of his hands wander to the skin there, grinning against the startled sound she made.

They melted against each other, Haneul's glittery makeup smearing on Minho's cheekbone as he craned his neck to place a lingering kiss just under her ear. His thumb brushed comforting circles on her collarbone as she jumped against the feel of lips traveling down her neck. She grimaced–not in pain–when his teeth scraped her skin.

     "Minho," she breathed, eyes glassy and bewildered, fingers tightening in spasms into his hair. Was this actually happening?

     But Minho jerked back before she could fully grasp herself. His chest was heaving and the demon furrowed his brows, giving one agonized glance at her face before he scrunched his eyes shut and forced himself to stand.

     "You should... you should get changed."

     The rasp in his throat sent goosebumps shooting down her spine. Haneul glanced down at herself, noting the promiscuous nature of the position they had just been in while her dress was actively slipping. She brought her arms up and wouldn't meet his eye.

     "Okay," Haneul breathed. Her lips tingled deliciously and she licked them. Minho's eyes softened momentarily, but he grounded himself. The demon's knuckles split even further before he soundlessly turned and slipped out of the room, closing the door with barely a click.

     Her trembling hands reached to rub her eyes, head spinning. Haneul groggily changed out of the opulent dress and flopped down on the bed. Her mood was thoroughly killed, but sleep hung just beyond her consciousness, and she felt as though she was already there. It took no effort to drift away.

-

     The water ran in a freezing stream on his neck, but Minho didn't move and let it flow in icy rivulets down his skin.

That damn kiss.

He should've shoved her away the second she had moved. Divine magic was part of everything in their realm; it laced their very being. Minho cursed himself for thinking that she would have any kind of tolerance for it.

     The phantom touch of her knuckles brushed his neck. Minho physically flinched away from it all, steeling himself against the aching warmth blooming in his chest. She hadn't known what she was doing. It would have been wrong anyway.

     A knock sounded at the door. Changbin's voice filtered through the running water. "Hey, are you okay? We need to talk about what we want to do in terms of security. No one noticed Haneul tonight, but we still need to be–"

     The demon was cut off by Minho sweeping the bathroom door open. "Careful," Changbin finished, raising a brow when his friend shouldered past him. "Everything okay?"

     "Yes. Just fine."

     Changbin obviously wasn't convinced but knew better than to push Minho, instead trailing behind him towards the living room.  "How is she?"

     "Asleep, hopefully," Minho groaned, easing down on one of the sofas. "She was... incredibly unstable at the party. I thought you both could handle her."

     Seungmin appeared from the kitchen, a half empty glass of alcohol in hand. "And I thought we were supposed to keep a low profile. Come on, Minho. Attacking one of the guests because they were dancing with her? You shouldn't have allowed your jealousy to–"

     "I was not jealous," Minho scoffed incredulously. Seungmin just pinned him with a glare.

     "And that's not Haneul's eyeshadow on your face."

     Unbidden, Minho's hand reached up to rub his cheek. And indeed, sparkling black shadow glistened on his skin, betraying him. Changbin's face was lighting up with sudden realization and he brought a shocked hand to his mouth.

     "No way, you actually..? Okay, I have to know who made the first move, because–"

     "Absolutely not," Minho snarled. "Haneul is basically drugged, she didn't know what she was doing, and I was not about take advantage of someone while they were intoxicated."

     Changbin just shrugged with a stupid grin. "Well you know what they say, drunk actions are sober thoughts."

     "Changbin..." Seungmin sighed, at a loss for words. "My point, Minho, was that you cannot allow this to get any more complicated than it already is. The past will repeat itself, and it won't be any kinder to her this time. I know you trust Iseul, but she has eyes everywhere. If she were to dig up information on you and it circulated through her household, who do you think her parents would immediately report to? Do you really want your father to find out that not only a girl you care about, but Haneul is here?"

     The warmth behind his ribs guttered out, and Minho couldn't help but slump back with a defeated frown. The impenetrable walls he had built up over the years cracked just a bit.

     "I just... I don't think I can do this. The council had to know that she would attract demonic attention to this level someday, knew that I had been given an impossible task. I can't..." Minho trailed off, swallowing against the sudden roughness in his throat. "I can't let her suffer again, Seungmin."

     His friend softened, blinking in surprise at Minho's candor. "I know."

     Minho leaned forward, balancing on his knees as he scrubbed his ashen face. Slowly, Seungmin walked over, setting his glass down to rest a light hand on Minho's back. The demon didn't push him away.

     "I'm just so tired."

     Changbin grimaced for his friend and watched as Seungmin wrapped an arm around him, rubbing his shoulder with gentle motions when Minho began to shake silently.

     "I know."

broke the physical barrier but at what cost💔
writing a kiss is so awkward lmao

hope you enjoyed<3