The Black Fox & The White Tiger

Monochrome Vows

Minhyun lifted the sword, feeling it's grip in his hand. He struck forward towards Baekho who shut his eyes reflexively. The sword didn't hit him but it was landed right beside his ear. His heart was thumping like crazy. No way. Minhyun really swung the sword in his direction. He let out a breath he hadn't realised he had been holding.

"What are you stalling for?" Black Baekho asked while coming closer.

"I don't know...," Minhyun replied, staring into Baekho's scared teary face. Baekho opened his eyes a little and stared into Minhyun's eyes that seemed to be searching his for something.

"Minhyun... you proposed to me, remember? After our coronation. Look at your hand and mine," he said with battered breath. Minhyun looked. They were both wearing identical rings. He turned to black Baekho and checked his hands. They were regular metal rings, nothing like theirs. Minhyun looked at Baekho with a confused expression.

"You and I...."

"We're married," he wept. "Don't you remember our vows? We even wrote custom ones just for fun and I didn't want to do it at first because it was so cringy.... If black signifies evil, then I shall be the evil that consumes you whole. If white signifies purity-."

"Enough," black Baekho snapped and reached for the sword but Minhyun pulled it back out. He swung at the other, connecting the swing with his rings. They made a loud crackle as black Baekho stepped back out of range of the sword. Baekho felt his left hand regaining control of his wrist.

"Then I shall be the purity that cleanses you...," Minhyun said softly, barely audible to either of them.

"Minhyun," Baekho called his name again, making him turn to him. He reached out to touch Minhyun's cheek. His ring gleaming as he did so, giving him an idea that would possibly make Minhyun pissed off. "I'll break the ring if you hurt me because you promised that you'll never hurt me."

Minhyun's eyes seemed to widen. "You would dare?" Baekho was a little startled by what Minhyun said and his tone that sounded sharp.

"Kang Dongho, if you ever break that ring, I swear you'll suffer 10 times more than what my father did to you and I'm never letting you leave the bedroom even if you beg me to let you go. You're mine and mine only." Minhyun pulled Baekho forward, crashing their lips together harshly. Baekho was definitely baffled and a little afraid by what Minhyun said but he started crying again. He was so glad Minhyun remembered him. He couldn't even tell if the other had been pretending to not remember him or if he had really managed to remember everything.

"No way. You didn't forget him?" Black Baekho hissed as Minhyun parted from the kiss. He gave him another kiss before facing his real enemy.

"If you think a little hypnotism would work on me, you better try again," Minhyun replied, not about to tell them that he had indeed forgot for a short moment before everything came flooding back to him.

"Then I shall keep doing it until you forget him completely!" Black Baekho growled as he approached Minhyun. Minhyun glared at the other, swinging the sword swiftly. Unlike Baekho who did heavy swings, Minhyun was faster and he had lesser openings. The other couldn't get to him at all but he had another trick up his sleeves. Baekho was trying to get the cuff off his other wrist when his whole body started flying towards the black Baekho.

"Shi-" Baekho couldn't stop himself as black Baekho grabbed the right cuff with the hand that Minhyun hadn't strike earlier, pulling Baekho into a chokehold. Minhyun gritted his teeth. He had been careless and forgotten about Baekho's other cuff but now he knew how to make it stop working.

"Put the sword down if you don't want anything to happen to him," black Baekho said.

"Don't do it," Baekho gasped, scratching the other's arms in a feeble attempt to make him let go.

"Baekho, do you trust me?" Minhyun asked and smiled. Baekho quickly nodded. Minhyun took quick steps forward, attacking with precision. Both Baekhos were startled, of course since black Baekho wasn't expecting Minhyun to actually do a bold move like that and Baekho didn't want Minhyun to actually hurt him. The sword cut through the rings on the hand that was holding Baekho's wrist, making another crackling noise again. Baekho realised what Minhyun had done and elbowed the other in the stomach as hard as he could. Black Baekho loosened his hold on Baekho and the other took the chance to shove him away. Minhyun quickly grabbed Baekho and started running. After all, a confrontation with the other wasn't helpful when they couldn't win him in terms of strength. Minhyun was just thankful that he knew how to use a sword.

"We need to get the bracelets!" Baekho quickly told Minhyun.

"What bracelet?"

"The one he took from my hand earlier. It should be in that room with all the screens." Minhyun nodded and led them in that direction. While they ran, Minhyun noticed the stun gun the other had used on him before and took it just to be on the safe side. He hoped the other's strength didn't mean he had an immunity towards electric too. They entered the room and Baekho quickly picked the bracelet up, glad the other hadn't moved it or he wouldn't know where to find it since he had been knocked out earlier. He slid on his bracelet and hastily put another on for Minhyun. He paused just before he could activate them.

"What's wrong?" Minhyun asked, seeing him hesitate.

"I can't go yet. Minhyun, you have to leave without me first."

"No, I'm not going to do that. We just got back together. Why in any universes would I run away by myself?"

"B-but-"

"Baekho, just tell me what is it."

"I need to save to others. I promised to save them."

"Then we will do it together, okay? I'm not leaving you and you're not leaving me either." Minhyun pulled him into an intimate kiss, missing the other so much. Baekho felt his cheeks heat up but knew this wasn't the right time to be wanting more. Minhyun pulled away and smiled, finally feeling like he could breathe properly again with the other by his side.

"I love you, Baekho."

"I love you too."

"Let's go then."