Give & Take

Expensive Dinner

"No."

Minhyun curled his fist. Too fast. Faster than he expected.

"What do you mean no? You are the people's hero. You have the responsibility to make them feel safe."

"Even so, I won't give up Baekho. He is safe within my home."

"But the people don't feel safe."

Minhyun gritted his teeth. "Then they'll have to get pass me to get to him. I'm not handing him over."

The mayor sighed. "Look. If you don't hand him over because you've got feelings for him, then you shouldn't let that cloud your judgement. You're different from the rest of us just as he is. What's one life compared to so many others?"

Minhyun's grip on his scabbard tightened as he told himself not to draw his sword. Not at the mayor. That wouldn't end well for him either. "His life is worth more than theirs."

The mayor sighed and rubbed his temples. "I'm not going to be able to get through to you on this one, am I?"

"Because you're wrong about this. Baekho isn't some mindless murderer. He just lack control of his powers."

"And that's why he's so dangerous! None of us can heal like you, Minhyun."

Minhyun looked away from the mayor, feeling his anger reach its limit. He knew the people had every right to be afraid of Baekho but that didn't mean they should just sentence him to death because of it. He was living and breathing just like any of them yet all these selfish assholes only thought about themselves. Wipe them all out, Minhyun thought. But he kept his cool. "I'm leaving."

"No, you're not. I have every right to ask my guards to restrain you if you refuse to cooperate with me."

Minhyun glared at the mayor. "You dare?"

"If I have to. I'm not going to lose my position because of you, Minhyun."

"Status won't bring you far in life, mayor. Not when you're playing a dangerous game with me." Minhyun pushed the guard of his sword upwards to unhook it from the scabbard when he noticed the mayor's guards moving. "If you dare lay a finger on Baekho, I will see to it that you regret it."

~~~

Baekho was eager to go out with Minhyun. A dinner date. That sounded ridiculously fancy somehow. He had on a suit that Minhyun had prepared for him just for tonight. It was velvet red with white sequins and fit him just right. Minhyun had a matching one and that made him all the more enthusiastic to put it on. He realised he was probably really spoiled by the hero by now. He didn't have to think about whether he would have a full stomach anymore. He didn't have to think of a place to hide when the rain came. He didn't have to wash himself off in the river. He knew he shouldn't take all these for granted so he really tried his best to appreciate all that Minhyun had given him. After smoothing out the suit, he slid his hair up and using one of the many hair wax that Minhyun had, he tried to style his hair. Up? Down? He didn't know how to make himself look good but he did know someone who did. He poked his head out from the window and tried to find for Minki but the other was nowhere to be seen. He sighed and decided to just go with up. It made him look different, so much confident although he felt ridiculously shy inside. He was changing so much of how he looked just in hopes that Minhyun would like him more. That was all he had to think about after all. When Minhyun would stop liking him and all these would be taken away. He knew he shouldn't think that way but it didn't help that he never really had a home ever since his own had been taken from him. He just didn't want to lose home a second time.

The door downstairs opened and shut, signifying someone entering or leaving. Baekho hoped it was entering since it could mean Minhyun was home. He opened the door and peeked out. Surely enough, it was the hero who walked in but he had a frown between his brows and Baekho caught sight of him wiping blood off his hands with a handkerchief that was going to join all the others in a burner. Chill ran down his spine as always. He could never get used to it. The thought of someone's death. He tried not to let that dampen his excitement or his emotions. Minhyun came upstairs and was stunned when he saw Baekho moving away from the door.