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Felix could not stop himself from staring benignly at the beautiful jewelry that continues to decorate his thin wrists day in and day out. It has been several moons since I.N made his return yet, after promising so certainly that he would come again to visit, and the young prince as found himself missing the mysterious fellow. His gold eyes flash constantly through his mind as he continues his royal duties of sitting for pamper, practicing etiquette, and polishing his ever-growing vocabulary with his advisor. All in all, to him, mundane and mindless work.
It has him pacing from corridor to corridor, metallics blinding his poor hazel eyes from their shine and wealth. His eyes never tire, but oh, does his mind wish for rest. Felix sits at his polished carpented chair, woodwork glistening as the sunshine blares through the large study’s windows. His advisor is sat beside him with books stacked in front of them, one pages-filled opened. Its typography is difficult to the average worker’s eye, whose never trained in the specifics or hardly educated at all. It upsets the royal whenever he visits kingdoms on a whim.
No matter where he goes, the people are still so miserable. Felix paws at his golden bracelet, the fox charm dingles from the hinges connecting it to the main body.
“Your highness?”
“O-Oh, yes?” Felix jumps at the sudden voice, but notices the advisor’s expressionless patience and bows his head slightly with guilt. The other man sighs and teaches again the economic terms for certain degrees of success and failures. He tries not to sway away from the lessons again, but the blond can’t help but revert his thoughts back towards the wishing tree and all the families destitute in the nations abroad. He is yet without power, although, he doubts he’ll have any sort of power soon, but he prays internally that god has his mercy with each living mortal he passes through.
Just then, hears a tap on glass. It's concentrated and pointed, like nails meeting with the material. Sharp nails must be making such noise and it chills and warms Felix’s heart simultaneously at what could be the one making a disturbance. The advisor looks his way towards the windows, but shakes his head against the vast castle greenery that greets him in return. They attempt to ignore the sounds again, but Felix is so caught up at his suspicion, he stealthily looks up from the pages of the book towards the attacked window and gasps quietly at the sight before him.
There he’s perched, by the thin ledge that accompanies each window panes, with a sharp smile that bares similarly angular teeth and slit eyes that holds interest and mischief in the swirl of gold. It surprises the young prince more than unsettles. How could his dear lover present himself out in the open for anyone with well sight to see a strange man standing from a large height? Felix remembers their first meetings, in the darkness of night and the shadows within the dimly lit accommodations. It must be important to the man to be invisible to the average civilian in day.
So, what is he doing outside of the library?!
“Your highness, what are you staring at?” His advisor redirects him away from I.N back to him, where his eyebrows twitch in growing frustration. Felix is stumped to what the answer with, but nervously giggles and fakes a cough.
“So sorry! I’m just a little…o-out of it! Yes, my head was hurting in the wee mornings, but I knew I had to attend today’s lessons!” He fakes illness, swinging his body in all directions with weakened eyes. The sun was a hot blinding light, so it assisted with his acting as the blaring star beamed in his eyes making them squeeze shut like a wince and his head to heat up and start a pounding like drums. Even if only faint, Felix can hear I.N snickering at his position. Its pitch was almost like a fox’s laugh, squeakily and teasing to where the blond wanted to pout from his seating.
Alas, he continued his act until his advisor sighs and closes the book after bookmarking their current reading. “I see. Then, another time, your highness? I shall let the staff know you are feeling quite ill today and are in need of remedies.” He says without much hesitation, placing the book back in its rightful place.
“Y-yes, yes! I’ll see myself back in my quarters, although, please inform them to not let anyone besides my brother and lord enter? I don’t want to spread my misfortune, lest we have the whole palace sick.” Felix throws in another few coughs and sniffles for good measure to completely seal the deal and his advisor nods, giving a silent bow before exiting the library. It leaves the young prince alone with the countless of histories shelved from arces of land and hundreds of years. He is interested in some tales and archives that lay between each other, but that has always been his elder brother's hobby amongst other things.
The blond grasps at a smaller book at the edges of a shelf and caresses the cover with care. His findings seldom have no labels, but today he must be the utmost curious about his pickings today. He randomly opens up to a page and reads an except to whatever found between the words.
“Ah, how interesting? I never knew the current lineage was so nosy about these things.” A voice protrudes through the silence of the library, disturbing the young prince from his reading. I.N was right behind him and his snickering was louder than first heard, embarrassing and annoying Felix. His laughter only grew louder as the smaller of the two attempts his revenge against the sneaky fox with attacks to his body that could hardly leave a tiny scratch.
“Why you—! What was that out there?!” Felix questions.
“What was what? I-I’m sorry, please give me a few more moments to collect myself!” I.N tempts to relax his laughter, coughing out a few more chuckles before gathering his breath and taking Felix’s hand to kiss gently and warmly. “Apologies, darling. I swear I meant to greet you more lovingly.”
Such sweetness causes the young prince to blush and his ears to turn the brightest pink. Despite the annoyance, Felix giggles and wraps his arms around the taller male’s neck once released from his hold. His waist is held as well and they pull each other closer than godly necessary. It was as obvious as words could tell of how much the blond missed his beloved wish. Truly, he tried not to, but at some points it felt he was simply a figment of his imagination—a desire that held no candle to the real world. It feels so good to be able to hold his crumb of resistance, of love.
“Heh, didn’t know you missed me this much, dear.” I.N murmurs as leans into the dip where his neck ends and his shoulder begins, digging closer as if to engulf himself in Felix’s scent. He doesn’t smell much different to other days, a simple spritz of rose water and poppies, but if it has the fox-like man wanted more he’ll gladly let him indulge.
“Sorry, you just smell so sweet.”
“You don’t smell half bad yourself.” Felix giggles. He separates from the warmth that is his beloved and cusps his cheeks to plant a small kiss upon his nose. He does it so instinctively that he fails to remember the lack of time spent together to encourage this behavior. The blond pulls himself back and panics at his action, attempting to apologize for his lack of awareness. I.N is stumped by the affection, but he doesn’t seem to dislike the kiss. If he were to have animal ears, they’d probably be pin up straight with surprise.
That vision brings small chirps of laughter out of Felix, smiling against the surprise.
“Oh! Back to the original question,” He leads I.N out of the library and stealthily guides him through the castle corridors that glimmer and gleamed with richness and beauty beamed by the still raised sun towards his sleeping quarters. There doesn’t seem to be so much bustle and movement throughout the halls, so Felix relaxes more of his tense breath and enters his room with relief.
Inside, it is as you expect royalty to sleep in—a king or queen-sized bed layered with soft cotton sheets and silk ruffles lining the blankets and pillow cases, loomed over with white tulle curtains and extra ruffles for more formality than anything. The space is then occupied with a vanity square, a loveseat by the balcony doors and doors leading to a large bathroom and walk in closet respectively. Lastly, all tastefully finished with a fur mat laid without crease or wrinkle and fit with perfect fluff ratio. It’s all so regal and elegant for a prince, but Felix doesn’t seem much of the amazement within.
It only starks as a reminder to his own gold prison—one he shares, but suffers alone just the same. At least, the presence of his newly beloved brings a smile to his face as he giggles at the lack of reaction within the empty brown eyes of I.N’s. Rare enough that he sees anyone of any background find the shimmer and metal dull or boring and it’s fine to see within his wish’s expression. Suppose the shadows are much more welcoming and homely than riches could ever be.
“Now, answer me. What were you doing outside of the library?” Felix leads the other towards his bed and sits at the edge with him, comfortably resting one of his legs over I.N’s attire as he stares into the shineless irises. “It was dangerous let alone risky lest my advisor saw you!”
“He wouldn’t have been able to see me though.” I.N assures wrapped in a tone of cockiness. It has the blond sighing tiredly, but he cocks his eyebrow at the confidence.
“Really, he never wouldn’t have seen me if I don’t permit him to.”
“Huh?” That was the first Felix ever heard of that. No other wishes from that countryside ever mentions wishes having their own ability of invisibility or invitation; only if the wisher wished for it alongside the original desire. He asks curiously, “Is that even possible?”
I.N chuckles, his eyes closing into horizontal slits before taking the other’s tiny palms and writing symbols within. Nothing else happens, but his gifted bracelet with the fox charm dangles and dances around his wrist against the finger gliding gently across his skin. Felix giggles at the ticklish sensation it sends, but it ends just as quickly as it begun. He looks up to I.N and sees him more handsome and healthy than their first meeting. From pale skin turning tanner under the afternoon sun and gorgeous fox eyes more lively with glimmer.
“There. Now, you’re always able to see me as you wear my gift.”
“Wow!” Felix amazes at the power. He never thought it was possible, but the thought of I.N letting him always see him without worrying about invasion of privacy makes his heart warm from the moment. He hasn’t been entirely affectionate this meeting, only through their hug in the library, but who needs verbal declarations of love when being invited into the other world of your beloved is much more romantic? This is still everything he wanted! He beams at the other who covers his eyes with a set of laughter.
“My word, aren’t you brighter than the literal star behind us!” I.N jests, laughing at the blush occurring through his face and ears. He even pokes at the small protruding freckles that were visible against the pink.
“H-Hey—” In between the sweet moment between lovers, there’s a knock on the grand door. No one enters yet, but silence makes its own way as guest in the room. Felix panics, remembering his lie that has probably spread across the entire castle walls. He rushes in a flurry to change out of his more formal dress shirt and into pyjamas fit for a sick little boy. He dusts himself with white setting powder for a more paleish complex and blush under his eyes and nose for an easier identification. In his hurry, he completely ignores the other man in the bedroom who looks at the flurry of blond with amusement and a teasing smile.
“Ah, right. My cute lamb caught himself an illness of lying and has to act in front of his brother.”
“I know!” He hushes the other in a whisper, hoping it doesn’t reach outside the doors, and enters his bed harshly with a tissue box by his side. Felix isn’t a liar, he believes. He always tries to be virtuous and saying mistruths was always against being a good samaritan and beloved member of the choir. Yet, in his hurry against the sudden invitation of his lover, he goes against this principle! If anything happens against this lie, he places entire blame on I.N! He’s a sneaky little fox, that’s for sure!
…Okay, most blame against him. Felix knows he’s at fault as well for not being truthful in the end.
Once he was all prepared for his performance, he throws in a few final coughs and sniffles and invites the knocker in. The doors open and peaks in Hyunjin, dressed in underdressed protective gear with the slicked back hair and a belt with an empty sword sheath that turns more behind him. He looks like the epitome of princely even with the sweat that drips from his hairline and the tired eyes that threaten to hang in his presence. It’s clear he came back from a practice and is probably feeling worn out after the rigorous training, but still made time to check on his darling brother who lies in bed surrounded by tissues but internally filled with guilt. His strong face softens with worry and the elder walks carefully towards Felix, going to sit bedside to him.
“I’m sorry if this is a horrible time for you, but I heard from the maids of your ailment.” He starts, his voice already breaking with care. It deepens the pits of the blond’s shame further.
“Y-Yes…” He coughs. “I’m sorry, i-it came so fast I couldn’t warn anyone about it…” He lies.
Before Felix could say his apologies against Hyunjin’s time, he pauses him with a raise of his hand and uses the same one to pat his head gently. “No need for that. Trust me, you might as well saved me through the lesson!” He reassures, but the younger still lets his guilt spill over his expression.
“I’m s-sure it wasn’t too bad…”
“No, it wasn’t.” The noire sighs before laying his head onto the blanket covered thighs of Felix. “I’m being childish, aren’t I?”
“I wouldn’t say so—” He coughs, albeit weakly. “Fencing is difficult, no?”
“Sure, but it’s not of the difficulty that bothers me.” Hyunjin huffs, closing his eyes against the softness of the blanket. Now, it was Felix’s turn to pet his brother’s head comfortingly, taking in the healthy strands trailing down to his shoulders and matte black shade that compliments his paler complexion. It was no secret nor rumor of the sheer beauty that was the heir to the Hwang legacy, who replicated his mother’s poise and charm and his father's brain and strength. He remembers now of not only the constant mailings of several suitors, both male and female, and the nights where both of them read them and rejected them all.
Most were respectful and professional, each wrote with words larger than even an average duke’s vocabulary, where they simply ask to court or meet the gorgeous prince in all of his glory to woo his hand. They were the ones Hyunjin felt guilt for when conducting rejection letters of when he was not of any means ready for marriage. Of course, there were some, if few, with the arrogance and lack of tact that the commoners assume all royals have that leave them more disturbed than anything. Those are swiftly denied and ignored.
Then, once the elder was getting closer and closer to eighteen, there comes the instance to find a suitor of any kind. If he was not to find one of his own by then, then it was up to the courts and his own parents to decide and arrange for him. Not noting the delicate heart of their son, who paints scenes of the romance of his dreams and sighs at the birds falling in love outside the windows leading towards their gardens and greenhouse. They aren’t even aware of the nights where they giggled like school children as they shared their own little lives beyond each other in the castle, restricted by their own fates for the kingdom. Where the heir admits to his disciple of his fairytale romance with destined meetings and distance yearning.
‘Imagine, they only just need a glimpse of me and they're immediately in love with me.’
‘You wouldn’t like that though, you’d want it from the heart.’
'Right, but it's from me being myself like how when sneak into the townsquare, we try to help school children with language. They look at me being good with children and the kindness in my smile and want me forever.’
'It'd be true love!’
‘Exactly!’ And they’d giggle at the scenario, vivid imaginations the both of them.
Here, there was no kindness to be in awe of, only wealth. Destines predetermined, he’s force to lock them all away now in care for his fiancé of another kingdom Felix doesn’t remember the name.
There was a rushing knock on the door, repeating in quick sessions that barely allow time for the recipient to rest their knuckles from the polished wood of the sleeping quarters’ doors. Felix was just getting ready for bed, already having taken off all the make up of the evening that was starting to melt under the tension and awkward conversation between himself and the neighboring prince meant to consummate an alliance.
In the form of marriage between the two heirs.
He was shy after twenty as he witnessed the intimate announcement gave to by the king towards all the subjects at dinner that night. Felix remembers the quick gasps from actors and directors alike, then roarous applause given by the elders who looked pleased with themselves, the other members of congregation who congratulate their own parts well, and two queens with smiles wide and crescent shaped eyes that close off the need to look at the heirs in question’s reactions. The other man is without siblings, so he sits alone at the statement with a simple nod and regards towards his arranged beloved. He doesn’t look disturbed—in fact, the young blond could even say he was relieved to have been set with the beautiful rose that was his brother. He was pleased and not so upset; there wasn’t worry with him.
But, no one worried for Hyunjin. Only Felix and Minho by the doors looked at the noire for sign of retreat, explosion, or offense towards this disposition clearly against the human heart. Nothing happens, however. He just sits and nods, looking towards the other heir and smiles convincingly at his comments. His true love, a possible commoner man, dies.
So, Felix knows exactly who interrupted him at this time of night. He quickly dropped his brush, reminding himself to clean his vanity by the time the brush hits the stained marble floor, but it was ultimately useless as no other thoughts nor distractions pervaded his mind other to open the doors quietly to not awaken anyone else in the halls. With a wooden creak, He is greeted to a teary, puffy eyed husband to be. His own amber eyes glow with unshed tears at the sight of his beloved brother’s sadness. The younger lets the elder in and rest on top of the soft mattress together, holding each other tightly as the elder sobbed over the death of his happy romance story swapped with chains in emerald and gold.
He mourns as well, for what is spelt for the heir is the same for the spare. Two messiahs, arm in arm as they’re sent to their deaths in the hands of strangers all for their people’s sake.
How unfortunate.
He’ll assume he won’t be remembered by the other as well.
If there was a moment to ever be envious of Hwang Hyunjin, it never came for him. Felix just looks at him with reverence and affection towards the boy who first treated him humanely and shares his deepest feelings with. Their connection has always gone so deeply for them. Why, now, he doesn’t ask for further elaborate at the statement and nods, continuing to rub the tension that slowly starts to flee from his massaging hands. What is there to question when the obvious is blatant?
“There, there, Hyunnie…” Empty comforts, but it’s all he could give in his lie, Felix lightly coughs to continue the performance. The air moves, never pausing as the brothers rest against each other. Their differences couldn’t be any more stark, from their blond and ebony hair, their freckles and mole spots, their heights, their duties as rightful servants to the kingdom but unfortunate martyrs toward the crown that weighs every monarch’s home. It’s a breath of incense to them being like this. Stuffy from the demons, but free from within.
Although, Felix had forgotten the mischievous man he finds himself falling in love with. He is no demon—never having preyed on his religious soul, but, he is now aware of his prankster attitude. Catching him in the corner of his healthy eyes, the blond can see the fox-like man grin widely, showing his sharp canine teeth. The shine in his eyes reflects farther than the sun can pass, becoming more golden and slit. It unnerves Felix for just a little—the idea of his lover playing a trick in a sensitive time like now. Has he no sense?
There, he witnesses the first true case of a soot covered heart. I.N smiles, pushing antique glass from the table of the vanity inch by inch to the peak before its death. Destruction is whah follows after, when the last tip over from the sharp claws of his lover pushes the glass towards the floor and it shatters. Glass shards only fly centimeters but the cracks in the angel’s own heart felt like it flew miles. It was abrupt and cut-through, leaving nothing to the imagination as Hyunjin gets up suddenly from his brother’s lap to inspect the damage.
“W-What was that?” There was a shake in his voice. To Hyunjin, it was only he and Felix in the bedroom and they were so caught up in each other that it never mattered what was in the wind. Felix could only answer the wind. Hyunjin looks over to him, standing up from his inspection with doubt in his eyes. The windows were barely open, for why would a sick person let the autumn winds let them bedrid them even more. The younger brother shakes, not from fear—well, anxiety is fear, isn’t it?
Felix can’t even look over to scold I.N because if he did, Hyunjin would think he’s crazy from his possible fever. He can excuse it with the illness as well, but then they would get the royal physician here and how to explain faking your sickness then? Everyone would distrust him more, more than he feels for himself lying and willfully ignoring the man who giggles at the fear now pervading the bedroom. He was already crazy for wishing on true love like a young child, but no one else should especially his beloved brother.
The silence now was suffocating to Felix. Insence airclogs up his throat and wells up his eyes from its burn, almost a hell in his mouth. His lover, who was meant to ease him and quell his pain, was the exact one to cause it for his little satisfaction. They will definitely have a talk once they’re alone.
“I-I’m not sure…” Felix dumbly replies, adding a cough or sniffle or two to continue his sick act.
Hyunjin didn’t speak after that. He stands up from his inspection to jump into Felix’s arms despite knowing his (faux) illness still plagues him at the moment. They both yelp when they hit the silk of the pillowcases, melting into the softness of the pillows, blankets, and mattress underneath them. The blond attempts to laugh at the sudden action, but the noire holds him in his arms with a pensive face, disregarding any other responsibilities he has left as he wraps his arms tighter.
“I don't know what happened to cause it, but I clearly can't leave you alone!” Felix can hear a ‘tsk’ come from I.N’s lips and almost smirks at the audible frustration of the man. Good! Serves him right for trying to scare them! Hyunjin pouts as the younger pats his head, but sinks deeper into the softness of his hand.
“Come on, Jinnie! You got important stuff to do, no?”
“I can handle it tomorrow! You’re sick and whatever pushed that to break is still in the room, so I’m staying to protect you.” Felix forces his heart to continue its normal pace even with the fear of Hyunjin ever being aware of someone else inside his room. Can he sense I.N too despite not being able to see him? He has attended prayers and masses with him, even if he isn’t completely religious as he. Did it come to help him against I.N’s prank? His brown eyes look over to the fox like man when Hyunjin’s eyes were closed in the affection.
I.N is only standing in the corner of the room, by the vanity where he knocked over glass. His face is unreadable, his lips are pulled into a straight line and his eyes which were human brown glow gold within the shadow covered corner. He is looking over to the window. His prankster and joking attitude were completely gone and his visible frustration double at just witnessing the glass panes and the wealth that shape it. What was there that Felix isn’t seeing?
It’s like his eyes were darting from each crevice and speck seen on the glass that he could reach. Frantically, it’s like something consumed his lover and controls him the way he threatens to pounce at the grand windows with vigor. I.N walks to the windows, close to opening them by the handles installed by the middle of the entire framework. He looks back, noting the worried and anxious expression on Felix’s face hopefully. He looks down at Hyunjin who has suddenly taken a nap right on his beloved’s lap, peacefully breathing as the younger prince’s hand rests on his flawless noire hair as if it could protect him.
Now that Hyunjin wouldn’t be able to hear them, Felix finally talks to I.N again. “What the heck was that?”
“What was what?” I.N asks, tilting his head as if truly having no clue to what he did. Felix frowns, showing no humor.
“I’m serious. You knocked over antique, I.N”
“I did.”
“Why?”
I.N shrugs and smirks. “I was bored and you weren’t paying attention to me.”
“Are you serious?” I.N nods. Felix sighs. “Please don’t do that again. You scared Hyunjin and almost had me reveal you…”
“But, would he have even believed you?” I.N asks casually, but it puts a stop to the blond’s chastising. Would his brother believe him? That he found love in a man invisible to the world, but to him? Sure, the heir hasn’t been able to see as his surroundings close him in and learns more the role of being by his side as the backup and safety net, but he must know that he can find love himself? Quite literally, he wished for it! The noir looks assumed at the clear pondering on the blond prince.
“Don’t think too hard on it, darling. I can answer it for you.” I.N walks over, sitting beside the brothers and leaning close to the shell of Felix’s ear to whisper. “He wouldn't have.”
“B-But—”
“I’m only merely a ghost or hallway wind to him.” I.N smirks before biting on the lobe, emphasizing the sharpness of his teeth when pressing his lips closed around his ear. Felix almost screeches from surprise, but remembers the comfortable sleeping heir on his lap. He opts to cover his mouth before any sort of suggestive sounds could escape him.
“I-I.N!” The fox chuckles.
“Don’t worry, darling, I wouldn’t scare him too bad. There are worst things out there.”
Felix gazes deeply at the fox. “What things?”
The fox licks his lips, his canines shine bright against the afternoon glow . “Nothing to worry your pretty head about, dear lamb.”
Minho hasn’t had a peaceful night of rest ever since Jeongin has invaded his life via Felix’s romantic human heart. Of course, demons don’t need sleep as powerful creatures of hell, but after close to a century up on the mortal surface has gotten him fixated on the same habits as these weak men. He has his room close to the royal brothers, the younger who he mainly tends to, that is fluffed up with not similar material but cotton and feather fresh off of the wool and plucked from well tended chickens.
His succumbing to sloth never lies in what he has spent years perfecting and infiltrating for his kind. This is simply procedure at this point. Except, his sloth has led him blind by forces forcing themselves in his perfected little home. The king and queen suspect nothing of him, servants and other castle staff alike smell nothing else short of rose water on him, and his sweet little angels adore him like their elder brother. He has managed complete sleuth.
Yet, this damn brat forsakes him so. To Lucifer down below, he will exorcise this demon himself if he so needs to. Nights he come where in daytime, Felix pouts and looks out windows as if waiting for his little bird to fly in and sing him sweet nothings. Songs to him that serenade romance, but enchant sins into his pure soul. Under those moonlights that cover him in ironic glow, he talks about anything. How hell is operating, jesting at the current enlistment of the battalion or cursing out his weakened abilities in the surface.
Minho doesn’t care to properly listen. He wants nothing to do with this greedy and lustful thing.
Except, he can’t afford to do so when the night where Jeongin had evidently overstayed his welcome from noon illuminated a orange tint through the castle windows. The moon hasn’t shifted color, still her beautiful shade of pale, yet this grand home has fallen under dangerous hues. This could only mean one thing, Minho concludes—and he doesn’t like what it could mean. The hare rushes the last of his duties before retiring for the night, setting up secret sigils and enchanting the flora that hangs from their gold weighs up upon the corridor pillars. Sleep isn’t coming to him tonight.
Out in the west wing, when Minho passes towards the brothers’ bedrooms, he can see a person running towards. Their bare feet pitter patter across the waxed and layered carpet floors with urgency and a lack of confidence, entirely like average soul. He remembers his secret hunts when traveling into the towns, where he nabs his own little souls to quench the hunger. They run, naked and afraid, screams erupt from their fragile throats as if their fates could be helped. It’s hilarious and makes for a tantalizing scene before he sinks his hellish claws onto their human bodies.
It’s not funny this time. Hyunjin runs like prey— legs that threaten to give out, wide scared eyes, and unruly hair with an outreach towards him, hoping the false servant could help his dear little prince. He looks like a young child in this light, where he cries for his family to protect him from scary monsters. For how long Minho forced himself to serve this oblivious family, he’s grown to view Hyunjin and his brother Felix so familiarly. Meals aren’t meant to be family. It’s weak and feeble thinking that allows voids of hearts to sink deeper.
“M-Minho! Thank g-god, you're still awake!” Once Hyunjin reaches, he throws his body weight ontop of the hare. Some of Minho’s clothes become damp with his tears and sweat that he tried to repress his disgust to comfort his duty.
“H-Hyun—Your highness, what keeps you awake and roaming at this time of night?” Minho tries to keep his voice steady not just for his own performance’s sake. The orange tint from before saturates itself further as Hyunjin cries and grips onto Minho’s sleeves.
It’s with a few sniffles and whimpers that Hyunjin spits out the worst answer he could possibly want to hear. “D-Demon! It was c-chasing me a-and drooling over me—” Everything else is tuned out.
“Demon?” Did Jeongin go back on his declaration? Wouldn’t be the first he lies to him, but he has made it so clear first night of his return that Felix was his entree, main course, and dessert. Not like Minho fully trusts his words, but it’s odd. What would that have to do with drooling over Hyunjin? The human continues to cry and tries to drag him away from his post as the orange sinks deeper into their sights.
“C-Come on, let’s go! We still have to get to Felix—”
“Oh, he’s perfectly fine, heir of Hwang.” Minho truly must be cursed right now to be hearing Jeongin from across them on the other side of the corridor, the moonlight phase through what seems to be utterly nothing and only has the reddish orange hue that now shrouds them and threatens to burn like fire. He is no longer with his human looks that charm and enchant unsuspecting princes, but in his true shadows that absorbs it's surroundings and covers intentions most evil and devilish. The only thing you could notably see of the fox is his animal ears, shapely tail, and predator golden eyes.
“W-What the fuck?” Hyunjin grips Minho tighter. “Who are you…?”
No one with mortal eyes could see the smirk absolutely enveloping Jeongin’s face, but his eyes squint mischievously to make room for this menacing hidden expression. Minho pushes Hyunjin behind him, hoping that his own purple eyes don’t shine too much to give away his true identity. Jeongin laughs at the action.
“You wish to protect the heir from me when I’m not the one hunting the crown.” He cackles as he revels the fear and anxiety he's putting the human and Minho through. “You truly have become human, hyung.”
“H-Hyung? Hyung, who is he?!” Hyunjin shouts, but the ringing in Minho’s ears is far from his fault. The fox continues to laugh and laugh, bellying up as if this scene was the most funniest thing yet. Minho pushes Hyunjin away as he draws his secret daggers underneath his cuffed sleeves. He made these out of his own two hands and the demonic energy he harnessed for when Jeongin came back. Now, he has reason to deploy them.
“Nothing. He’ll be gone by morning, your highness.”
“Bring it, hare.” The shadow echoes, taunting Minho. Hyunjin stands stupefied and the hare has a mind clear enough to know that he cannot face Jeongin with all of his strength. The surface may when weakened him, but compared to the age of the fox, he surpasses him in both knowledge and technique. Unfortunately, his reveal is just at the horizon. The threat stands in front of him with a dasterdly smile and darkness that extends in rapid speeds towards him. Minho springs into the air, smoothly evading the incoming shadows and throws his daggers down to pin them away from Hyunjin.
“Your highness, run!” Minho can’t afford to give up Hyunjin’s name to anyone more. He can’t run with him lest Jeongin manipulates the shadows to appear whenever. The hare snaps his fingers and the dangers lit up ablaze, lightening up the area surrounding them. That causes the fox to burn and shriek out a cry. Hyunjin takes that moment of injury and weakness to run from the scene on Minho’s words, letting his long legs take him wherever.
Unfortunately, they don’t go far. Just by the corner, he’s snatched before Minho can even recover from surprise. Then, barking and growls reverbe throughout the entire wing. It’s a surprise the castle hasn’t awoken from this level of sound.
“You don't have to worry about waking anyone up, Lee Minho. That is your human name, isn’t it?” A voice, methodical and smooth, creeps around the corner pillars. Minho’s first sight is Hyunjin being held by his wrists from black claws and bloody paws. He is absolutely wailing and begging for release, writhing in the intruder’s tough grips. Alas, this demon made sure no one would hear his mortal cries. He attempts to move closer towards his prince, but feels a sudden bite to his legs, causing him to groan in pain. Looking down, he sees a doberman’s head peaking through the floors and
“Boo, party’s over. Hellhound’s here.” Jeongin scoffs, his eyes squint with scrutiny at the intruder. He retracts his shadows and allows a bit of light to illuminate his form, giving way to a fox snout and sharp teeth. His expression hides nothing to the imagination and it could only mean one person that the fox holds slight contempt to. Only at night, sins come alive and hell opens up to the surface to feast. But, some demons higher up in the hierarchy hold enough stamina and power to withstand any holy blessings given to the ground millenias ago.
Of course, The Hellhound is one of them. The whole general to their demonic army, head advisor to their lord in hell. A battalion seems so intimidating to those unknown, but he walks into the moonlight as if he controls the environment. The heir’s tears are more visible now, flowing endlessly and dripping with fear in the hands of The Hellhound. The creature licks up the tears to quench his thirst.
There's only a name now left at the tip of the hare’s tongue.
“Kim Seungmin.” Minho spits out with a growl. Seungmin smirks against Hyunjin’s cheek—his lips gives way to bloodied fleshy molars and pride.