wilted flower ─ changlix ✓

three

changbin and felix worked quickly after seeing the smoke, packing everything up and making sure that they left nothing behind. not that there was anything to pack, other than the soaked blanket. changbin stuffed it into the backpack, much to felix's dismay,

"binnie, it's going to ruin the bag," he complained, trying to reach behind changbin and unzip the bag. changbin twisted out of his reach and stuck his tongue out at felix. felix laughed and shook his head, "give it to me you big man-child!"

changbin's heart fluttered at the sight of felix's laugh. he loved when he made felix laugh, it was like his own vitamin source.

in short, he was whipped. and he knew it.

with a grin he turned around and began walking in the direction of smoke, despite felix's protests behind him.

"alright, but don't blame me when the bag starts stinking of damp mildew or something," felix grumbled as he caught up to changbin. he slipped his arm through changbin's, and changbin looked at him in confusion. felix noticed his stare and shrugged, "it's cold, you're warm."

"i'm warm?" changbin said in surprise, he had been feeling pretty chilly, and hadn't expected to be of any comfort. not that he minded felix's affectionate touch.

"oh yes, my mistake," felix lilted, "i meant that you're hot."

changbin burst out into laughter, unlatching their arms and waving felix away, "lix, please. i know i'm hot, you don't have to tell me."

"ooh, look who suddenly gained a burst of confidence," felix joked, "me likey."

"honestly lix," changbin replied, "if i didn't know better. i'd say you have a big fat crush on me."

"good thing you know better then, binnie," felix said innocently. changbin's face fell at that, his good humour being replaced with a somber expression.

he often lost himself in their conversations, falling for felix's charms. at times like this he almost tricked himself into believing that felix might love him back in the same way. then he would say something that would send him crashing back down to reality.

he was like a skydiver without their parachute, forced to live the experience over and over again. the euphoria of flying, and the pain of falling.

felix didn't notice the sudden shift in mood, and ran ahead to try and catch a leaf that was drifting down from a tree. he would have random bursts of childish energy, and changbin couldn't help but smile.

he knew that felix would never purposely hurt him, changbin was only hurting himself by holding onto the foolish notion of a perfect love.

they continued for a few hours at the same pace, stopping only for minutes a time if a bathroom break was needed. the clouds had dissipated as they walked further, and the trees had began to grow further apart, allowing the sun to shine in all it's full glory.

changbin could feel the sweat trickling down the back of his neck as they walked. they couldn't stop, the sooner they got to the village, the better. they would only be safe once they got to the bunker, and until then, every minute wasted was a bigger chance of death.

he was painfully hungry and he could hear that felix was slowing behind him as well, letting out low raspy breaths as he tried not to think about their parched throats. he looked up at the sky, using his hand to shield his eyes from the strong sunlight, and noted that the sun was at a low angle, meaning it was a few hours past noon.

"i think we can stop for a break and eat something," he called, turning quickly to face felix. his sudden turn caused felix, who had been walking directly behind him to keep up with his fast pace, to slam into him, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

changbin let out an "oomf" as his breath was knocked out of him. he tried to regain his breath, but felix's close proximity made that a difficult task. felix only laughed as he placed his hands on each side of changbin's head to push himself up.

felix was seemingly unfazed by the fact that he was hovering only inches above changbin. he was more preoccupied laughing at the look on changbin's face, and the stupidity of their situation.

"uh... lix, can you get off?" changbin said finally, when he noticed that felix was too caught up in his laughter.

"oh right! sorry," he snickered as he got off changbin and offered his hand to changbin. "hey, are you blushing?"

changbin immediately felt his cheeks redden even further with embarrassment. his heart was still beating irregularly from what had just happened, and he didn't understand how felix could be so calm about it all.

"no, don't be ridiculous. i'm just red from walking in the heat all day." he ignored felix's hand and stood up, pretending to dust himself off so that he could avoid eye contact. before felix could reply, he moved toward the shade of the trees, so that they could be out of the blistering heat. "now come on, let's eat a little so we can then keep going."

changbin didn't look at felix. but if he had, he might have seen the younger deflating slightly at his quick denial.