Give & Take

Shaky Promises

He was antsy because tonight was the night Minhyun said he would be home. If nothing happened. He promised to not leave him alone so Baekho stood at the window, fingers tapping impatiently on the sill as he gazed outside and waited for any sign of his carriage.

He waited.

Even when Jonghyun showed up, he could barely pay him any attention and apologised multiple times for his distant stares at the window.

And waited.

Until it was midnight but there was still no sign of Minhyun. He didn't want to lose hope yet. Maybe the hero was just running a little late and helping other people out. He pursed his lips and breathed in.

"You have to eat something, sir," the head maid spoke softly to him as his dinner went untouched beside him. He glanced at it and shook his head.

"I want to wait for Minhyun," he said and even the head maid seemed worried.

"He might come back in the morning. Perhaps it'll be better if you get some rest."

"But...but he promised."

"Yes. But he's a busy man."

"Yeah... Yeah, maybe you're right," Baekho sighed and moved from the window. He took the food and offered a thin smile to the head maid who bowed as he headed back into the room. He sat down on the bed and pouted as he poked his cold food. What else could Minhyun be doing out there anyways? What if he had forgotten his promise? Baekho didn't want to think that that was a possibility since this house did belong to Minhyun. He tried to eat but couldn't stomach much so in the end, he didn't really eat as he opted to sleep the night away instead. Maybe he would wake up with Minhyun beside him.

~~~

He panted as he clutched his sword tightly. His guards had already fallen beside him. Blood was seeping down his forehead and arms. It felt unnatural but he wasn't healing. This wasn't good. The creature with sleek black fur and the figure of a large wolf growled lowly in front of him. He had been fighting all night ever since he found it after it had managed to ambush him and his guards. Minhyun felt his vision blurring out and he gripped the sword. Heal. Why wasn't he healing? The creature howled and jumped towards him again, claws stretched out to slash him again. Minhyun breathed in and pulled his sword up, deflecting the blow as he gets pushed backwards. He fell back and the creature stepped onto him. He gasped and tried to cut its leg but it bit down on his sword and pull it away from his slippery grip. Minhyun groaned and struggled to get out of its grip. He didn't want to die like this. There was someone waiting for him back home. He reached behind him and pull out the knife that he had brought as emergency. With all the remaining strength he could muster, he hissed and stabbed the creature in its chest. The creature howled and one swing of its paw directly against his head made him pass out.

~~~

Baekho sat up and frantically looked around the room. Still no sign of Minhyun. He grumbled and pulled his legs up to his chest. Where was he? He sighed and pushed himself out of bed despite wanting to just roll around until the hero came home but he felt uneasy. He exited the room and tried to find for a guard or someone, anyone who could tell him if Minhyun would be back any time now. He found a couple of guards and hurriedly asked them about Minhyun but none of them had a reply that satisfied Baekho. He saw a carriage boy at the barn but even he couldn't tell since he wasn't in charge of following Minhyun. He ran back inside and found the maid, asking her as well but her reply wasn't any different from the rest. Nobody knew when Minhyun would be home or if he was alright.

He sat in the living room and stared blankly at the door, waiting and waiting again. Needless thoughts crossed his mind but he snapped out of it when he heard a carriage and hurriedly picked himself up. The maid was at the door before him and down from the carriage came a guy Baekho didn't recognise, making him hide sheepishly behind the door instead.