Give & Take

Clean Cut

He tapped his fingers impatiently on his desk as he stared at nothing in particular. His study room had its own collection of books, a couch with its own coffee table and a pool table that was only there as display. He was trying to figure out how to make it so the male that currently resided in one of his guest rooms, would come out of the meeting alive. Minhyun knew by bringing him there alive, the earl would surely suggest something horrible befall upon the poor innocent man but he didn't want that. Minhyun needed that man alive and for himself, his own purpose. He stood up and walked  out from his room, making his way to the storage room where tons of the citizen's gifts were stored and never touched until now. He looked through the various sizes and stopped whenever he found something that caught his attention. After a few moments, he found just the thing he wanted. He made his way back to the guest room after proper preparation for what he was about to do and took out the key from his chest pocket. As he opened the door, he noticed how Baekho was buttoning up the long sleeved shirt including the sleeves as well. The male took notice of Minhyun as well as he went stiff.

"I see you cleaned up and shaved as well."

"Uh...yes," the other replied nervously and moved his gaze downwards. "Are we... Going to see the Earl now?"

Minhyun didn't like the look on Baekho's face. It was one that had already given up on life and had nothing else to look forward to. Minhyun shut the door.

"What makes you say that?"

"Because... That's what I'm here for, right? You're the hero and... I hurt the Earl, someone prestigious so..." Minhyun watched the male clutch his shirt tightly and he let out a hum, gaining a confused look from the other.

"Did you really think I would make a room just for you, give you new clothes and food just for you to die as if you're on death row?" Minhyun asked curiously and judging from how Baekho nodded, Minhyun guessed the other had already accepted that death was his only path in life. He sighed and walked over to him. He lifted his hand and watched the other flinch as it got close. He touched Baekho's ear and his eyes immediately turned wary.

"What are you doing?" he asked in a soft whisper. Minhyun rubbed it and Baekho cringed a little. He removed his hand and opened the black box in his hand. In it was a needle and a peridot gem ear stud that held a reddish hue in it. Baekho eyed it with trembling eyes. "What is that?"

"A ear stud," Minhyun replied while taking out the needle. "I need you to stay still."

"You're going to pierce my ear?" Baekho asked with a frightened tone as Minhyun nodded almost casually while grabbing his ear again before he could run away, hands clawing at the air as he was still afraid to touch the hero. "No, wait. It'll hurt!"

"I know that."

"T-"

"Shh." Baekho whimpered as he felt the warm tip of the needle against his ear. He shut his eyes tightly when he felt the metal sink into his skin, holding back his cries of pain as the other mercilessly kept going until it pierced through entirely. He gritted his teeth and his nails dug into his skin. Tears stung his eyes as he finally gripped Minhyun's arm once the other had let go of his ear.

"It hurts. It really hurts," Baekho whined and Minhyun scoffed.

"Just for a bit. Look. You're not even bleeding."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because... I want to," was the unsatisfying response he got in return. Baekho didn't see the point of getting his ear pierced but Minhyun made fast work of it, giving it a gentle blow after he was done as well. He slid in the ear stud and clipped it on. He eyed the teary male before smirking a tiny bit. "Good. Now we can leave."