Eclipse | Changlix

i.

Seo Changbin had always admired the stars, the effulgent moon and the clearness of the periwinkle sky. He frequently thought that the luminous spheres of plasma were discerning and percipient, how they watched over this dying world and gleamed with all their coruscating glory, but stayed far away enough to remain as observing bystanders, smartly away from the humans that continued to consistently and ignorantly destroy their planet without a second thought.

A digital clock gleamed annoyingly in the distance, the bold numbers 10:04 flashing and illuminating the dimly lit room in an eerie vermilion glow. He breathed out a sigh of relief. There was still time.

The stars, the efflulgent moon and the periwinkle night sky were in more ways than one, Changbin's best friends. He had been a deity since birth, assigned to look after the night and help to maintain the tranquility and quietude that surrounded it. His friends - other demigods - never failed to remind him that his overly analytical and misanthropic nature hindered him from the overrated concept of socialising with mortals. Naturally, he didn't care. Humans never stuck around anyway, in more ways than one.

However, tonight was different. The stars gleamed brighter, as if in anticipation.

He was - and probably always will be - an over thinker. Each small decision he made was closely evaluated to make sure that the desired outcome would be secured.

And so, the current turmoil that battled like an imminent storm in his mind was this: whether he should or whether he shouldn't help the struggling, disorganised and obnoxiously irritating mess of his new neighbour with the boxes situated outside of their new flat.

Changbin scoffed slightly to himself. He was being pathetic, no wonder the other weather deities consistently berated him for being 'an antisocial wreck.' For once, just once, maybe he should help...

Okay, so maybe it was clear to say that his decision had already been made.

With counterfeit confidence in his footsteps and a coffee coloured jacket dangling over his left arm, he hesitantly left the safe confinements of his flat to trudge his way to his next door neighbour's door. Swiftly, he pressed the taunting doorbell before the logical side of his mind could flash warning signs that screamed at the male to go back, to forget this ever happened.

A screech, a dropping of yet another box and then, silence.

Just as he was about to go back, the door slammed open, revealing a lanky male with messy brown locks and adorab- no, stupid flushed cheeks. The caramel haired man cringed at the cacophonous sounds.

"Damn, was I really that loud? I'm sorry, I'll try to keep it down," He whispered softly, the sonorous tone of his voice comically quiet in comparison to the utter racket he had made not even seconds prior.

The stranger's voice was honey and milk, soft, like the petals of a rose, but unexplainably deep, the rich vibrato comparable to even the most entrancing of symphonies.

In that one second filled with bated breath and ringing white silence, Changbin finally worked up the courage to reply.

Annoying neighbour was cute. Undoubtedly so.

"It's fine, I don't care," A lie. Changbin's effort to remain composed was almost laughable. "I just wanted to ask if I could, um, help?"

Like a light switch, the other male instantaneously brightened up, elated grin blinding. "Yeah, sure! My mum panicked too much with the packing, that's for sure. There's way too much for me to put away by myself, so I really appreciate it! My name's Felix by the way, Felix Lee."

"Changbin." The aforementioned male greeted back, albeit awkwardly.

If Changbin was the effulgent moon, this stranger was the coruscating sun.

In a matter of minutes, he had known Felix's entire life story, his dreams and aspirations, ("basically, I want to make people happy. I want them to laugh, to smile, to be themselves. What a long shot, right?") his favourite flower ("red roses. You better not forget.") and the second word he spoke as a baby (because apparently, saying the first word was overrated. Figures).

He laughs loud, Changbin notices. The sound is a consonance of twinkling street lights and adrenaline pumping promises, the kind where the only witness of such affairs were the stars that smiled down upon you in glimmering highs.

Crap. He was whipped already.

And yet, Changbin still had not articulated many words, not used to the unadulterated optimism radiating out of the Australian. Thankfully, the younger boy didn't seem to mind, somehow speaking twice as much as if to make up for his own lack of utterances.

"What's your favourite colour?" He had asked.

Nothing. Still, Changbin remained sedulously and incredulously stubborn, refusing to answer any of his incessant questions.

"Would you rather lose the ability to hear or the ability to see?"

"If you were a song, which one would you be?"

A few more questions hung in the air, each one being met up with the familiar blunt silence.

"Not much of a talker huh," He beamed, placing a cumbersome box on the kitchen counter. "that's fine. I'll do the talking for us-"

Felix's eyes widened as he coughed. This wasn't what surprised Changbin however - it was how he kept choking and wheezing, eventually leading to him covering up his mouth in sheer displeasure. When the hacking ceased, he tore his sleeve away, revealing a large smudge of crimson surrounding his lips.

"W-what-"

"Shh. Don't. I just wanna spend my last few months living for once, please, please just let me."

The stars brimming in his irises begged for consideration, burning even brighter than the night he looked over.

"Alright," He muttered, tone reluctant.

Felix grinned. However, the strain of his scarlet tinted lips told Changbin that the younger was feeling anything other than buoyant. Felix hastily dug around for something to wipe his mouth with.

"Black," A mellifluous voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Huh?" He questioned, confused.

"Black. My favourite colour is black." Changbin smiled.