Give & Take

His Best

They reached home safely without a hitch. Baekho didn't say a word even as Minhyun helped him down the horse and led him into the house. He quietly followed Minhyun all the way to his room and sat down on the bed. Minhyun felt sad to see Baekho like this. He never wanted the other to suffer this much. He tried his best to protect him but even then, he felt like his best just wasn't enough. He squatted down in front of the sullen male and held his hands after removing the gloves.

"Baekho."

"Before you say anything else, can I... Ask for just one selfish request?" Baekho asked to Minhyun's surprise. He nodded, of course. There was no way he was going to deny this rare request. "Can we... Sleep together tonight?"

"Huh?" That was not what he expected at all.

"Like we did... The other day. It helped ease my mind. I didn't have to think. That is... If... You don't mind."

Despite his earlier eagerness to hear out Baekho's request, he wasn't really sure if he wanted to. Sure, he would love to but after what just happened, he felt like it would be wrong of him to do so. Especially if Baekho just wanted to do it as a distraction. He squeezed his hands and breathed in.

"No."

Baekho raised his brows before his look dropped again. "Is it becau-"

"It's not because you're a monster. I would never think for a second that you are one. I just don't think I'll be able to pull it off right now and I don't want to make things worse but... There is something else we could do if you need something to take your mind off things."

"What is it?"

Minhyun gently moved Baekho's hair away from his eyes. "Let's climb the roof."

"Eh?"

"I'll show you." Minhyun got up to his feet and helped Baekho up as well. He brought a blanket along and led Baekho out from his room. His first stop was the kitchen so he could make a flask of hot chocolate for them to share and then he led Baekho to a stairway that led up to the rooftop. "My father installed this a long time ago and I used to come up here with him all the time. I stopped when he was gone."

Baekho raised his brows as Minhyun pushed the little door open. It was just wide enough for them to fit through as they both emerged onto the rooftop.

"Watch your steps." Minhyun pulled Baekho up before setting up a spot for them to sit. He laid the blanket on the tiles and pulled it up around them as they sat down. He opened the flask and poured some out into the cap. "Here."

Baekho thanked him softly before directing his attention to the night sky. It was pretty. Small twinkles in the sky scattered everywhere. It reminded him of the moments where he would lay down in a forest clearing and just stare at the sky without a worry in his mind. It did help clear his mind a little. "Thank you, Minhyun. This helps too."

"No problem." Minhyun scooted closer to Baekho until their shoulders touched. They shared the drink while just staring up at the sky and out to the city. The quiet giving them a sense of peace. As if they were the only two person alive in this world right now. "Baekho, you know how my mother died, right?"

Baekho sipped the drink and nodded slowly. "I saw it with my own eyes."

"What about my father? Did you..."

"No. When it started, your father was already gone. How did he die?"

Minhyun looked down at his hands and sighed. "My father wanted to help the villagers have a better life. He was going to be mayor of the town too. A really excellent man. He decided to visit them, travelling all the way to the outskirts by himself with a few others but... It was the same day as the black plague's beginning."