wilted flower ─ changlix ✓

six

for a second felix imagined himself to be back in his room, waking to the birds chirping cheerfully, and the light of the sun pouring in shafts through the cracks of the blinds.

instead the sunlight weaved it's way through the branches of the trees and felix felt the lumpy bed of dirt and rocks below him. the lack of clouds gave access for the new sky to display it's fresh blue, still pale in the early hours of the day. felix finally opened his eyes, reluctantly releasing himself from the peaceful bliss of his dreams.

however, he didn't move just yet. he was laying with his back against changbin's chest, and changbin had his arm wrapped around his waist in a warm embrace, restricting felix's movement. felix didn't know when they had ended up like this, but he knew that he sure as hell didn't want to move from here.

he could feel changbin's heartbeat against him, and closed his eyes, trying to let the steady rhythm lull him to sleep. at times like these felix could convince himself that they were something... more than what they were. even a few more minutes like this was all he asked for, before changbin woke up and he was forced back into reality.

unfortunately, the world wasn't feeling generous.

it never did.

"mmph," changbin grumbled, his breath brushing against the back of felix's neck and making goosebumps stand up against his skin. felix felt changbin's arm tighten around his waist, pulling their bodies closer. he let a gentle smile grace his features before sighing, changbin was only doing this because he was still half asleep.

felix turned in changbin's arms so that they were facing one another, barely inches away fro one another. changbin's eyes opened slightly at the movement, his eyes still heavy from drowsiness.

"good morning, sleeping beauty," felix said softly, raising an eyebrow. changbin's eyes widened for a second before he removed his arm and sat up. felix immediately missed the warmth of changbin's body and groaned as changbin got to his feet, "come on, i was comfortable!"

"lix, you know sleeping in isn't an option," changbin chastised, gesturing for felix to get up as he reached to pull the now dry blanket from the branch and stuffing it into the bag. felix stood up, still grumbling to himself and hugged himself in a vain attempt to preserve any heat.

"are you hungry?" felix questioned, to which changbin shook his head, "then let's start walking. it's only half a day's journey to the village."

"for once, we agree," changbin grinned, swinging the bag onto his back and scanning the area.

and so, the sun continued its familiar path up the sky as the two boys continued their unfamiliar one. felix trailed behind changbin, once again caught up in his own world. his eyes roved their surroundings.

maybe this was some sort of vengeance for everything humans had done, cutting down trees and destroying and killing things left and right. ignorant to the damage caused. now, it was nature's turn to return the damage.

felix noticed a small stretch at the base of a tree, where a patch of wildflowers pushed from the ground. their vibrant colours stood out against the dark trunk of the tree. felix normally loved flowers, but something about these ones felt as though he were being mocked.

despite the terror humans were experiencing, the wildlife remained beautifully unbothered.

it was nonsensical, he knew. they were only flowers, after all. it wasn't like they had caused this. but despite himself, felix felt a burst of anger. anger at the fact that those flowers could remain ignorant of all that was happening. that innocent people had to be put through this. least of all changbin, who only ever thought about felix, and felix's safety.

felix suppose that may have been part of why he fell for him. the sense of protection and complete comfort he felt around him. clenching his fists, he made sure changbin didn't notice as he went over and ripped a few of the flowers from their roots. their long stems dangling, as if trying to find their way back into the ground.

moving back behind changbin, he set himself to creating slits in the stems and creating a chain with the flowers. making something that was savagely beautiful.

"binnie!" he called, once he had connected the last flower to the first, a small smile on his face as he looked at the flower crown in his hands. considering the fact that he had done it while walking, it was surprisingly well done. a few of the petals drooped, as if in retaliation to felix's ungracious handling of them, but all in all it was a pretty thing.

changbin turned, and his eyes widened in surprise, "wow lix, that's really pretty!"

"almost as pretty as you," felix winked, catching up to changbin. changbin rolled his eyes and moved to walk again, but felix held out a hand to catch his arm, making him stop. "wait, wear it."

"what, why don't you wear it?"

"because i made it for you."

"lix-" changbin tried to argue,

"do it for me, pretty pretty please?" felix pouted, holding the flower crown in front of his chest as though it was his most precious possession. after a short staring contest, changbin finally relented with a sigh, and felix bounced happily.

he reached up and gently placed the flower crown on changbin's head. the two of them locked eyes, and he almost swore he saw changbin blushing at his touch. heat blossomed in his own cheeks and he quickly moved back to put some space between them.

the flower crown slipped down on one side, covering changbin's eye. felix burst into laughter at the sight, "you look so adorable!"

"i'm glad you can find amusement in the fact that my eye nearly got poked out," changbin said monotonously as he adjusted it, but felix could see the twinkle in his eyes. "...thank you, it's gorgeous."

"it suits you," felix grinned as they continued walking. changbin was about to reply, when he spotted something and held an arm out to stop felix.

peering past changbin, felix noticed that the thick trees slowly dispersed to give way to their destination.

nestled in the small clearing, was the village.