S86: Want your feeling
Title: Want your feeling
For: S86
Pairings: Zitao/Suho
Rating: R
Length: 7.4k
Summary: Sehun can’t take his eyes off him, somehow drawn to him. He watches in fascinated horror as the fey approaches him.
The cold wind blew into his jacket, and he rolled his shoulders as he felt a shiver go up his arms. He shifted his gaze away from the skies, looking down at the staff and hoping that it would happen this time. He looked up to the olive coloured eyes glistening with hope, and sent a smile of reassurance to her.
Minseok looked to the fey on his left administering the ceremony. Sometimes, when Minseok stares at Jongin, he thinks he can still see glimpses of tan skin reminiscent to the first time he encountered him on a summer day. Though, when Minseok flickers his gaze to the blue hue on his lips, it is a reminder that he received the Cold. His tan had represented his youth and freedom in the human realm where it began to fade the day he entered the faerie circle.
Please, please be her this time.
Jongin holds the staff toward the girl with both hands, face remaining expressionless even as the frost of the staff begins to spread to his fingertips.
“As tradition, it is in my position as a Cold to warn you against taking this test. By taking this test, do you understand that if you are not the companion of the Summer King, you will bear the Cold?” Jongin says.
“Yes,” the girl says, albeit her face has reduced colour significantly.
“Do you understand that while bearing this Cold, you will spend the rest of your fey life warning the following humans unless one of them takes the test?”
“Y-yes.”
Minseok digs his fingernails into his palms as he sees the dawning of fright in her face. He looks at Jongin, wanting to prompt him not to say the next words.
“However, if you decide to decline this test, you can become a Summerlingl.”
At those words, Minseok knew that it was far too late to change her mind now.
///
“Stop poking me there,” Sehun says, shoving Zitao’s shoulder with his.
“But you refuse to come with us to The Nest,” Zitao frowns.
They are there.
“Don’t want to,” Sehun whines. “I don’t want to see you grinding on Suho. Why don’t you go to Siren instead? I heard from Chen that it has better music.”
“Maybe,” Zitao hums.
Sehun wishes that he could tell Zitao about Them. Them who place glamours on themselves and dance with everyone else. Them who glamour the misshapen nails, faces set in a strange way, the way They attacked their own.
“I’ll only go if you come to Siren with us though,” Zitao says.
“Yeah, yeah,” Sehun says as he looks around.
There’s too many of Them today, more than usual and it’s worrying. Sehun has been told that the only times the amount of fey increase is when there is a momentous occasion or a war is brewing. Either one is out of balance with what Sehun knows as the natural order in his world.
“Why do you always stick your neck out around here? We’ve been to Suho’s house for I’m-not-sure-how-many-times already,” Zitao says, shaking his head. “Are you interested in any of the guys here?”
“No, no,” Sehun says adamantly, averting his eyes as soon as he makes eye contact with one of Them.
The view of Suho's home finally welcomes them after Sehun deflects a lot of Zitao's tiring dating questions.
Zitao is greeted warmly with a too long kiss from Suho for Sehun’s liking. Sehun pulls a face which Suho notices and returns.
“Hey Suho,” Sehun says, giving a brief wave and walking through the door to Suho’s house to escape the coos Zitao is whispering.
Sehun is thankful for Suho’s home converted from one of the old train carriages. The unused railroad track is surrounded by iron, not allowing the fey to go near the area. This is the place where Sehun feels most at ease.
“Gotta go toilet, so put on the tv. I want to watch the next episode of the games,” Zitao yells, walking down the hallway.
Sehun flops down on the brown couch, groaning out loud from how hot it is lately. This summer does not look like it’s going to be kind to him this year.
“Here, have some watermelon. I cut some before you arrived,” Suho says, placing a plate down atop a stack of books on the coffee table.
“You’re the best hyung,” Sehun says, grabbing a piece and sinking his teeth in. Some dripped down the edge of his mouth which he swiped with his tongue.
“You’re so dirty,” Suho says, pulling a face. He hands Sehun a tissue and turns on the television.
“Have you noticed the increase of fey lately?” Sehun says, making sure to keep his voice low.
“Yes, it’s almost as if they’re here to find or protect something,” Suho frowns. “They’re walking around more confidently, knowing something we don’t.”
“As long as we don’t act any differently, it should be fine,” Sehun mumbles, taking another bite of watermelon. He watches as the next gymnast is announced to perform and almost chokes on his watermelon at the number of flips.
///
“It’s so hot,” Zitao moans, sluggishly sitting down on the bench.
“At least this place has some cold air keeping us alive,” Sehun says, nodding to the fan propped on the wall. The last time they went to this burger joint, there was only the momentary breeze of the door sliding open whenever a customer walked in.
Zitao grunts, taking too fast slurps of his smoothie.
Sehun looks behind him to see what the new quote of the day Chef put up on the blackboard, and stops.
There’s a fey. A fey staring right at him.
Sehun can’t take his off him, somehow drawn to him. He watches in fascinated horror as the closer the fey approaches him, the more glamour is placed to tone down his unearthly features and allow himself to be seen by all humans. His golden hair begins to fade to a darker brown, his green eyes ebbed away into a warm dark brown. Although his features are downplayed by the glamour, he sees girls eyeing the fey with attracted gazes.
The fey approaches him and Sehun looks at him with wide eyes.
“Hello,” the fey says, smiling brightly at him.
Zitao is looking at him with an appreciative gaze and gives Sehun kick on his leg underneath the table. Sehun is frozen and a course of something cold runs up his body and he encloses his hands in tight fists.
"Hello," Sehun says in greeting, the 'o' wobbling at the end.
It feels as if everything is too tight around him. What he has had nightmares about ever since he was younger was happening to him right now.
Sehun attempts to calculate a plan in his head to leave. He glances at the door then flickers his gaze back to the fey. The fey must notice this and Sehun sees a glimpse of a small frown appear on his face.
"What is your name?" He asks, his smile wide.
"Sehun," Zitao blurts out, when Sehun takes too long to respond. "Oh Sehun."
"Oh Sehun," the fey repeats, enunciating each syllable. "My name is Minseok and I’m visiting town for the next few weeks. I heard there is a summer festival this tonight so would you like to go together?"
“Uh, no. I’m going out with Zitao to...to a really important event,” Sehun says, stuttering out the words. Sehun smothers the words Zitao is ready to sprout to this fey by digging his heel to Zitao's white sneakers.
“That’s a shame. May I have-”
“We have to go now though,” Sehun cuts in, glancing down at his phone which doesn’t read any new notifications. “Meeting up with another friend now. Bye.”
Sehun looks away from Minseok’s face and ignores the indignant squawk from Zitao as he goes out the door. Sehun huffs as soon as he’s a few metres away from the shop. He rubs at the cold sweat dripping at the back of his neck and upper lip. Even though he’s in this sweltering heat, there’s the uncomfortable cold on his body.
That fey monarch, Minseok, must be the reason why there are so many gathered around the town. Why? There was that peace treaty the fey had signed with humans known only to some people, but still valid nonetheless. They were allowed to venture in the human realm however no monarch was to come through unless something dire was to occur.
“What was that about?” Zitao asks coming out of the diner now, shaking Sehun out of his thoughts. Sehun can sense the incredulous expression on Zitao’s face.
“I’m not interested in going out with anyone right now,” Sehun says, walking down the street keeping his head down.
“Not interested in him? You’re a noodle compared to him. ” Zitao says, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“His hair looks like it was a dye gone wrong,” Sehun lies.
“Do you see how thick he is though?” Zitao says. “When you stand next to each other, you’re going to look like a twig to a trunk.”
“Good thing we’re not going to each other again since he’s leaving soon. Anyway, aren’t we meant to go to the new bar? They are going to run out of the free drinks soon,” Sehun says.
“And you’re going to continue to run away from all the guys interested in you,” Zitao rolls his eyes.
Sehun shrugs, trying to fake aloofness while his heart is thumping loudly in his ears. They walk down the street and into the bar.
///
“Is this the important appointment that you needed to go to?” says an amused voice behind him.
Turning around, Sehun sees Minseok and unconsciously takes a step back. Minseok’s eyes twinkle mischievously. Looking to his right, he sees Zitao’s smug expression on his face.
Damn you, Sehun frowns at him. He should’ve dragged Zitao out with him at the burger joint.
“I need to-” Sehun starts saying before Minseok cuts in.
“Go somewhere? Why do you run away when we only just met each other?” Minseok says, his lips curling.
“I’m...not interested in dating anyone right now,” Sehun says slowly, trying to come up with a plan to leave the club with Zitao safely.
Minseok laughs, a bark in the air.
Stuff my butt, he looks good when he laughs, Sehun thinks.
“Neither am I,” Minseok says, a teasing lilt to his voice. “Are you a dancer?’
“I used to dance in high school, but not really anymore,” Sehun says.
“Would you dance with me?” Minseok asks.
A dance proposal in a club, by a fey monarch. This is getting too strange the more Sehun sees him.
Sehun is wracking his brain for ways to leave without looking suspicious for Minseok to follow him after. Apparently too much since he didn’t notice himself getting pulled by Minseok to the throng of people moving to the beat.
Sehun doesn’t know what to do and continues to avert his eyes from Minseok. When he does take a glance, Minseok catches his gaze and gestures to dance along with him.
Just as Sehun is about to say an excuse, a tall fey with a ponytail at the nape of his neck pops up and whispers something to Minseok’s ear. Minseok’s eyebrows furrows and he says something harshly to the fey in a low voice. The fey leaves the crowd and when Minseok looks at him, his expression softens.
“I have to leave now but would I be able to meet you again? The summer festival is still running to this weekend,” Minseok says, his eyes hopeful.
“I’m busy with something,” Sehun says, rushed.
“Another important event?” Minseok looks so amused at Sehun’s excuses at this point.
Minseok continues, “What you should know is that I am very much interested in you...to becoming a friend. Would you please come with me just this once?”
“I...only this once and we won’t see each other again?” Sehun says, regretting those words as soon as they left his mouth. His mind is going haywire trying to think of all the ways to just let Minseok leave him alone and stop the embarrassment. “Do you promise to not meet me after?”
Minseok’s eyes gleam, and a flash of his golden eyes glint.
“I promise I won’t meet you like this after summer.” Minseok says. “Now I must leave.”
Minseok gives a light squeeze to Sehun’s right shoulder and leaves.
“Like this?” Sehun wonders aloud.
Sehun watches as Minseok walks away, letting down his glamour to conceal himself from the human eye. Sehun swears he can see golden dust following his path.
///
The summer festival is brimming with laughter and the strum of guitars in the distance as Sehun makes his way to the fountain in the middle. Sehun notices the fairy lanterns hanging on each stall set up, lighting his pathway.
Sehun briskly walks repeating the words he rehearsed in his head like a mantra. He was going to stay for a maximum 30 minutes then get out of there as fast as possible.
Approaching the fountain, he sees the form of minseok sitting down on the fountain edge looking elsewhere. Sehun finds him with his distinct facial features and remnants of a golden trail, like how he had left him that night at the club.
“I didn’t think I would be able to find you this easily,” Sehun says, looking down at Minseok.
Sehun feels something heavy drop in the pit of his stomach. Minseok isn’t wearing his glamour, his hair is blond and his skin is glowing golden. Minseok isn’t noticeable to the human eye right now. Sehun just talked to him. Sehun just screwed all hope of keeping this secret from Them.
“You can see me?” Minseok gapes at him. He stands up and looks at Sehun, staring at him inquisitively.
Sehun can barely register his shock at his mistake. His tries to pick the words to talk, but his mind is blank.
“How can you see me?” Minseok says, stepping closer to Sehun.
“I’m not sure, I should just-” Sehun says, stumbling over his words.
“So you can see all the Fey here?” Minseok asks, gesturing to Them playing in the water.
Sehun looks to see blue Fey splashing water at each other, their almond eyes squinting at each other.
“Yes, I can….”
They both watch as the Fey swipe each other, quickly turning into a game of tag. Sehun hears their wings flap as they ascend into the air, pushing one another with smiles on their faces.
“Let’s go and look around,” Minseok says, voice cutting the thick tension in the air which Sehun felt around himself.
It was as if Minseok just accepted the fact Sehun could see Fey easily. Sehun watches as Minseok places the glamour over himself in front of him. Sehun moans at the large surge of warmth beaming from Minseok in the process. Prior the glamour, his glow was going through Sehun in what felt like waves and it felt so good, so so good.
“Have you heard of apple bobbing before?” Minseok says, gesturing to the sign in the distance. He begins walking, and Sehun joins him in stride.
Sehun figures that if Minseok isn’t making a large deal about his Fey vision, then it shouldn’t be too bad to enjoy himself. They’re not going to meet afterwards anyhow.
They visit the apple bobbing section and Sehun tries to stifle his snorts seeing Minseok’s reaction to the snot running children all playing the game. They visit the different stalls set up and try out the different games. Sehun barks in laughter, seeing Minseok get sprayed down with water losing at a game of chance. Minseok’s laughter pierces his ears when a kid wack his dick while playing a round of tunnel ball.
The festivities of the night time sparkle. The laughter twinkling as bright as the stars, in the skies above.
Minseok leads him down a rocky trail to an opening where there is a field of green peppered with flowers. Sehun thinks that the lights shining on the trees are faeries, but maybe it’s just his imagination. There is a bonfire with a mix of fey and humans dancing and passing drinks around. In the outskirts of the light from the bonfire, he sees some talking with one another and others making out against the tree trunk.
Sehun imagines Minseok’s thick arms pushing his shoulder against the same tree and closing in on his face. Minseok’s sharp floral scent infiltrating his senses, he can imagine-
No no. Nope. No Sehun.
“Are you coming?” Minseok yells at him, the beating of the drums louder near the base of the bonfire.
Sehun shakes his head to clear his thoughts and jogs to catch up with Minseok entering the crowd of people.
They dance together, around and around the bonfire in circles. Faces and bodies merge together as Sehun dances with whoever. He may have even danced with that fey who wore the ponytail at the club, or perhaps it was one of the drunken guys he knew from the neighbourhood with grass placed on his head by his friends.
While dancing, Sehun gets pushed around and almost trips into the bonfire. Sehun shouts out, waiting for the impact but Minseok makes a grab of his shoulders and pulls him close to himself.
“Careful, careful. Are you alright?” Minseok says, concerned.
“I’m all good,” Sehun sniffs, breathing in the strong floral scent.
“I wouldn’t want you to be half good. You look like you’re enjoying yourself a lot,” Minseok says.
“Yes, yes. Actually, I like those girls before, those giggly ones who were wearing the flowers in their hair. They were doing flips in the air and it was cool.”
“They were using their wings so I advise you not try it,” Minseok says. “Let’s sit down where it’s quiet, and you can clear your mind.”
Sehun is lead with Minseok’s hand tight on his forearm, dazed and confused to why he was feeling like this. They sit down on a log, away from the others.
Sehun looks down at the log and notices flower crowns hanging on the corner. “Look, there’s flower crowns.”
“Here, let me put one on you,” Minseok says. He grabs one and fits it on Sehun’s head, the leaves tickling the tops of his ears.
“Me too,” Sehun says. He grabs another flower crown and places it on Minseok’s bed of hair. “Now you fit the summer prince description.”
“Was it that easy to tell I was the summer prince?” Minseok asks.
“Must have been how good looking you were while bobbing apples,” Sehun snorts.
Minseok shoots him a glare, his face relaxing into light laugh.
“Interesting you think that. It makes me wonder more about what you’re thinking in that head,” Minseok says, looking closer at him.
“I’ll answer things for you since it’s not like we’re going to meet one another again after tonight. I saw you looking at these phones strangely. So shoot.”
“How can you see fey?” Minseok asks.
“My grandma was able to see them and so did my father. I’m not really sure how we can, since I’m sure that none of my relatives had…relations with fey,” Sehun answers, tilting his head to the side. “My turn. Why do you continue to follow me?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was out of pure interest?” Minseok says.
“I call lies, but I’ll say yes.”
“Have you ever wondered about how the fey world looked like?”
“Yes, but then I remember how violent fey can be. Especially towards humans.”
“I can say the same thing about humans,” Minseok says calmly. “There are humans who treat one another and the creatures on this earth cruelly, and there are also ones who don’t. We’re similar in that respect”
“Fear of the unknown I guess,” Sehun hums and nods his head, swallowing in those words Minseok just said. “I have something I really want to know. Do you have powers different from all the other fey?”
“Yes, I do. Though I have both the summer and winter in me from my parents.”
“Could you show me?” Sehun asks.
Minseok faces towards him and while staring in his eyes, he lets down his glamour. The light momentarily blinds him at the burst of sunshine emitting from Minseok, more than he’s ever seen him. The warmth envelops Sehun once again but even more intense this time. He can’t help the moan escaping from his mouth, the pit of his stomach clenching. He looks dazedly at minseok with his golden hair framing his face. Beautiful.
“You’re so bright,” Sehun says, mouth agape.
“You should probably go home. It’s getting late,” Minseok says, his voice strained. “Use your phone to call the friend who came with you.”
“Fine,” Sehun pouts.
By the time Zitao arrives, Minseok has left without a goodbye.
///
Sehun can hear Them whispering as he walks down the road on his way from buying groceries for dinner at Suho’s. Also, as a thank you meal for Zitao for guiding his confused ass home last night.
‘He might be the new one.’ ‘Do you think he know?’ ‘If the prince doesn’t claim the human for himself, there’s always a round with me.’
Sehun scrunches his nose at the last comment he hears.
Suddenly alongside him is Minseok.
“Hey.”
“Oh hey.”
“Are you feeling well? Are you feeling dizzy at all from last night?”
“Other than falling off my bed this morning, I feel fine,” Sehun says.
“That is pleasing to hear,” Minseok says. “Although, humans are usually blinded for a while longer.”
“You’re getting a bit too into yourself right now,” Sehun jokes.
“You acknowledge my beauty?” Minseok laughs.
“I thought you weren’t going to meet me again after the fest,” Sehun says. He makes sure to watch the gap on the footpath.
“I promised something else, but I am pleased to see you,” Minseok says.
They walk together along the beach.
“Would you mind staying in my company? It would be my pleasure to accompany wherever you are headed.”
“Then let me ask you questions about fey in return,” Sehun offers.
“What happened to being fearful and running away?” Minseok teases.
“It’s too late now. I think They aren’t going to leave me alone now,” Sehun nods towards the fey whispering around them. Neither are you.
“The fey are simple creatures especially in the summer time. They are often quick in changing what they are interested in and shift their attention to something else just as quickly.”
They continue to walk along the beach and Sehun is able to reap more from Minseok’s knowledge of Them. In return, Sehun answers questions Minseok has about the new trends since the last time he had visited the human realm.
They are walking closer to the iron gate, the entrance to Suho’s place. Sehun looks at Minseok and sees a grimace on his face, but he is still able to walk through the gate, unlike the other fey who hang around far away.
“Are you able to withstand iron?” Sehun asks, mildly shocked. He thought the rule about Fey and iron not mixing was a concrete rule.
“Momentarily. Though, with a companion to complete me, iron will not affect me at all.”
“Companion? Like a friend to share your load with?”
“No, a partner,” Minseok stares at Sehun. “A romantic one.”
Sehun doesn’t know why his cheeks darken.
They arrive in front of Suho’s front door and Sehun turns to look at Minseok.
“I will leave you now and we may see one another again,” Minseok nods. He turns and is about to make his way out the gate.
“Wait,” Sehun says. Minseok turns around.
“If by a really slim chance we meet again, which we won’t, will you promise me something?”
“What is it?” Minseok says, amused at the words Sehun has uttered.
Sehun bites his lip before he says, “Can you promise that you will never hurt me.”
Minseok’s eyebrows raise. “I promise you that I will never do anything to hurt you on purpose. I would never do to that to you,” Minseok says, his gaze low.
“Now good evening,” Minseok says.
He places a kiss on Sehun’s cheek and stares at sehun’s eyes for a while longer before turning around.
He feels dazed one more, but not like before. More like how he felt when he had his first kiss with Jongdae in Year 8. That heady confused rupture of feelings all at once that he strongly felt for Luhan in Year 11 while kissing him at the back of his house. It felt like a crush.
He’s so screwed.
His despair at his realisation is stopped abruptly hearing the footsteps of Suho coming up the steps of the small patio.
“Hey,” Sehun says, nodding at him. “Gonna make food tonight.”
“If you make a mess in my kitchen again, I’m never letting you enter my home again,” Suho says, sliding in the key and opening the door.
“I’ll just ask Zitao to let me in,” Sehun says as he steps inside and places the groceries on the counter.
“Also, is a fey monarchy after you?” Suho asks.
“I’m not really sure?” Sehun answers honestly.
“I saw one just walking down the road away from this direction,” Suho says. “As long as he’s not without a companion it should be fine.”
“What are you talking about?” Sehun asks, licking his bottom lip.
“The monarchy roam in the human realm for one of 2 reasons. One, to ensure a healthy balance of havoc is maintained. Secondly, to find themselves a new companion. By finding a new companion, all powers will be given to the descendent and become King of the summer court. “
“A companion…” Sehun mutters.
///
Sehun is overloaded with more shifts at work and he isn’t able to explore and go out as much. He is walking down the road when he spots Minseok standing on the corner to turn into Suho’s home.
Minseok invites him to enter the bar with a wave of his hand, his smile spread widely on his face. Sehun doesn’t refuse, knowing that Minseok won’t do anything to harm him after the promise.
As they dance together, they begin to get closer with one another. They edge closer and Sehun feels hands on his hips and Sehun’s fingers curl at the edges of Minseok’s hair, rubbing at the nape of his neck. His hands explore and begin to touch his face. He traces his face and his lips. They’re so plush, his eyes so beautiful.
“You’re pretty,” Sehun says. He beats himself internally at how lame that sounded.
Minseok lets out a bark of laughter.
“You think so?”
Sehun lower his gaze.
“Look at me,” Minseok says. He keeps his left hand on Sehun’s hip and his right hand is curved on Sehun’s cheek.
“I don’t think you’re the least bit aware of how pretty you are to me,” Minseok says. His lips close in on Sehun’s cheek and places a soft kiss there. He follows down his jaw line, printing invisible marks on Sehun’s skin, bursts of what feels like sunshine warmth everytime he places his lips on his skin.
Sehun is moaning now, his head lolled on one side, gaze soft as he leans on the hand on his cheek. His hands are now edging away from Minseok’s face and down the column of his back. Sehun’s hands smooth along Minseok’s waist at the edge of his shirt. His fingers curl along there and his hands explore underneath. He feels the definition of Minseok’s body and moans again when Minseok’s lips are now at the junction of his neck and shoulder, blowing warmth there.
Sehun turns his head towards Minseok’s face and nips at his lips. He presses a soft kiss on Minseok, then presses harder. Everything is warm and lovely, as Sehun closes his eyes to melt further into Minseok.
He feels Minseok edge his fingers on his skin, his palm splayed on his stomach. Sehun tries to catch Minseok’s lips again and whimpers when Minseok moves his face away and looks at him in concern.
“You’re so hot,” Minseok says, his fingers rubbing on his skin.
“You’re so hot too,” Sehun laughs softly. He captures Minseok’s lips again, catching him off guard.
“We should go outside, and let you get some air,” Minseok says, placing distance between them.
He leads Sehun outside, still continuing to pepper a few kisses on his forehead and cheek as they move through the bustling crowd. They both have a firm hold on one another, possessive to make sure everyone knows not to go near them.
“You’re a good kisser, you taste like sunshine, like a summer prince,” Sehun says, edging closely trying to kiss him again.
“You didn’t indulge in any alcohol so I wonder why you’re like this,” Minseok says.
“Because of you,” kiss “drunk off your kisses,” Sehun smiles toothily at him.
“You are a very confusing human,” Minseok says. “Now, let’s get you home.”
They walk home together with an arm around each other’s waists, by the very insistent request of Sehun. “Zitao and Suho always do this whenever we go outside together so I wanted to try it out.”
They arrive at the entrance of Sehun’s apartment and Sehun pulls Minseok into another kiss.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Minseok whispers against his lips. He presses a kiss on Sehun’s nose as a goodbye.
///
He sees minseok in glamour with his face smiling in greeting the next afternoon after his shift. Minseok kisses Sehun on the cheek, lingering for a while. He thinks he hears Minseok sniff his neck, and he wrinkles his nose at the ticklish feeling.
“How was work?” Minseok asks, nudging Sehun.
“Same boss yelling orders at me,” Sehun whines, pulling a face. “How was your day?”
“I had an interesting encounter with a stranger. It’s not unusual to see humans confess to me but they are more upfront about it in this decade in the human realm.”
“This decade? It sounds like such a long time since you were here.”
“Fey and human times run at different times. Fey time is slower in comparison.”
“Huh. Also, why are you wearing your glamour today? The other times you didn’t.”
“Jealous others will look at me?” Minseok smirks.
“Course no,” Sehun scoffs. “You should take it off, you’re breaking your streak of 7 days.”
“Since you asked so kindly,” Minseok says.
He removes his glamour and Sehun gasps. He stops and now faces Minseok. “What happened to you?”
He doesn’t focus as he places his hands on Minseok’s cheeks and lets out a gasp. It’s so cold. Where Minseok’s glowing face was, is now replaced with shallow cheeks and his face a pasty white.
Sehun thinks back to the time at the summer festival when he saw how brightly Minseok shined and how different he looked right now. He looked smaller and frail.
“Encounter with my mother,” Minseok says, sighing.
Sehun doesn’t know why he does this but he takes Minseok’s face in his hands. He places his hands on both sides of his face to feel how cold his cheeks are. Not really thinking clearly, instinctively, Sehun leans into Minseok’s face and places a kiss on his cheeks, focusing his mind on where his lips touched. He can feel the warmth moving from his lips to Minseok.
Minseok looks up at him in awe, in standstill awe.
“My King, my Beloved,” Minseok says looking at him. His face brightens in his complexion looking more at him.
“I didn’t-no, I didn’t do that,” Sehun stammers, looking down at his hands and back to Minseok rapidly brightening before him. “This doesn’t mean anything.”
“Only my companion would be able to heal me like this,” Minseok says.
He shakes his head some more looking at Minseok’s hopeful expression.
“We’re just friends. This is what friends do when someone gets hurt,” Sehun says, his voice growing louder to convince himself. He turns away and runs away and down the road.
Minseok doesn’t say anything, only looking at Sehun’s back moving away into the distance.
“Are you not going to go to him?” his advisor asks. “That is your Beloved. He is growing more like a fey each day, and much more rapidly than the others before him.”
“No, he will come to me. He will come,” Minseok murmurs, a small smile on his face as he touches his warmed cheek.
///
Sehun pants as he makes it to Suho’s door. He knocks but hearing no response, he grabs the spare key under the doormat and enters inside.
Zitao mentioned something about finally visiting that new club with Suho, which Sehun is thankful for. He needs some time to sort his head about what just happened.
How was he able to ‘heal’ Minseok? Why did he get hurt?
Sehun thinks about how after blowing on his cheeks, Minseok was glowing brightly, brighter than he had ever seen him before. There was pure joy on his face. Sehun scowls as he catches himself smiling while wondering these thoughts.
He knows he just said those words of being ‘only friends’ out of fright, but how was he able to heal him?
Sehun pushes it to the back of his mind and instead do what he normally does on saturday nights when he visits Suho’s place. He knows as he opens the tv and grabs a bag of chips, that wishing this to go away will not change anything, but he couldn’t care less as soon as he sees the gymnast land a perfect score.
///
For the following week, Sehun rushes to and from work not acknowledging the presence of Minseok waiting at the corner. He tries to not feel the pang in his heart when he sneaks glances at the crestfallen face of Minseok while walking past.
Sehun goes straight to Suho’s house and Suho doesn’t question it at all. Although Zitao does, trying to badger answers out of him about Minseok. In response, Sehun just grunts and Zitao no longer asks him.
Honestly, Sehun does miss Minseok’s company. Even explaining how applications work and the changes that have happened in the human realm. He does miss him a lot.
Sehun sighs at his thoughts, sinking deeper into Suho’s sofa.
The doorbell rings and Sehun walks to the door, grabbing the money on the table. It must be the chicken order.
“I’ll grab it,” Sehun yells to Suho still sitting on the sofa.
He opens the door expecting to see the red uniform, but instead sees Minseok.
“Good evening,” Minseok says. His face edges close to give his greeting peck, but he stops himself short and retracts. Sehun tugs at the corner of his mouth at that.
“Hi,” Sehun says.
“May I talk to you?” Minseok asks.
“Do you have money to pay the chicken guy?” Zitao yells out from the living room.
“I think it was just a doorbell prank. I’m going to take out the trash now though,” Sehun yells back.
Sehun steps out the door and closes it behind him. He walks to the bench on the patio and sits down, Minseok following and sitting next to him at a distance.
“How have you been?”
“Fine,” Sehun says curtly. “What happened that day? Did I heal you?”
“Yes, you did,” Minseok says, a gentle smile on his lips.
“Why? How?”
“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you before, what I was telling you on that night,” Minseok says. “You are becoming part fey. You have accumulated powers now.”
Sehun doesn't say anything only looking in shock at him.
“This usually happens with potential summer companions, where they slowly develop them as soon as we come in contact with one another. There's always development, but you were much faster than other ones. It makes it seem as if you are the one.”
“The one?”
“You are my beloved, who completes me. You are my other half,” Minseok says. “I believe you are.”
“This is so sudden, I don’t- How did you know me?”
“I dreamt of you one day. This was the same with previous companions of past monarchs.”
“Oh,” Sehun sounds out.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I didn’t realise how fast you were going to develop your powers.”
“How do you become a companion?”
Minseok perks up and looks at Sehun now, his expression still apprehensive.
“You have to take a test in order to become my partner. although there are conditions. if you agree to take the test, you have the risk of having the Cold if you do not pass it. The alternative is to become a Summerling.”
“Summerling?”
“The ones that you saw before following me around. They frolic and dance in the festivities of summer.”
Sehun recalls them. They were led by their emotions following the moods of the prince.
“Are you okay, love?” Minseok touches Sehun’s hand.
“Just a lot to take in,” Sehun mumbles. He plays with Minseok’s fingers.
“I’ll help you,” Minseok says.
“I don’t want to become fey and leave my friends and family behind,” Sehun says, looking down. “But I do want to be with you.”
Minseok hugs him and they stay like that.
Minseok kisses his forehead, “I’ll meet you tomorrow. Zitao is probably worried about you right now.”
Sehun nips on Minseok’s lips. “Please.” they kiss then minseok leaves.
Sehun looks at his back.
///
Sehun gapes as he sees the house. It was a deep walk in the forest and although the summer heat is upon the town, the house was covered in white snow. Glaciers were hanging from the roof in threatening spikes at the entrance of the house.
A man donned in white opens the door. His black hair is a stark difference to his pale skin and blue lips.
“Oh, you’ve arrived a few minutes too early,” the man says.
His eyes are almost silver Sehun notices as he stares at him longer.
“Since when have you worried about minutes, Jongin?” Minseok asks.
Jongin shrugs. He opens the door wider and steps to the right to let them both enter the house.
The interior of the house is white and just as cold as the entrance, if not colder. Sehun feels shivers crawl up his arms and the nape of his neck.
“Would you like a coat?” Jongin offers, gesturing to a wardrobe in the corner of the living room.
“It’s fine,” Minseok says. He grabs sehun’s hand and warmth replaces the cold, gliding on his skin. Jongin stares at where their hands are joined and Sehun pulls back his hand to his side.
“So I see you are here to take the test?” Jongin says.
Sehun nods his head and Jongin turns around. He beckons with his hand and walks down a staircase and to a white door framed in black. With a gentle shove to his back from Minseok, Sehun follows after him.
Entering the room, Sehun gapes taking in the number of books in the shelves. Small ornaments and trinkets decorate the shelves in between the spaces. Sehun swears he can see some of the figurines twirling and dancing.
Jongin grabs a staff almost his height, showcased in a case at the back of the room. The staff is gold with a vine weaved around it with an intricate pattern of flowers. Dusts of both gold and silver twist around it and glint in the air.
“This is the staff which is a part of this test. Stand here and hold it opposite me,” Jongin says. Sehun follows what he says, and steels himself to continue to look at Jongin even though his eyes are eerie.
“As tradition, it is in my position as a Cold to warn you against taking this test. By taking this test, do you understand that if you are not the companion of the Summer King, you will bear the Cold?” Jongin says.
Sehun feels something cold creeping on the staff and to his fingertips.
“Yes, I understand,” Sehun says, his voice shaky.
“Do you understand that while bearing this Cold, you will spend the rest of your fey life warning the following humans unless one of them takes the test?”
“Yes.”
“However, if you decide to decline this test, you can become a Summerling.”
At those words, Sehun glances at Minseok. The Summer Prince looks at him with a gentle smile, nodding his head. Sehun takes it as one that means to do whatever he wants to do.
“I will take this test,” Sehun says, gripping the head of the staff tighter.
“I hope that your fate is a good one,” Jongin says, a small smile stretched on his face.
Jongin leans closer to Sehun, his face only a small distance away from his now.
“Better than my fate,” Jongin whispers.
Sehun feels a cold air blow from Jongin’s lips and through his. The cold penetrates his body, his throat burning and his fingers clammy. His chest, his legs, his mouth feels tight and stiff. Golden light emits behind Sehun and a silver light shines where Jongin’s presence was. Sehun’s vision is pure white and he hears a piercing ringing in his ears.
Suddenly, the light, sound and the cold left Sehun’s body.
Sehun lets go of the staff and staggers to lean on a shelf. He breathes heavily, his vision still blurry, throat parched.
Warmth embraces him from behind and when Sehun looks behind he sees Minseok looking concerned up above him.
Minseok’s hand placed on Sehun’s neck burns warmly but in an instant it is gone and he no longer feels parched either. His head feels clearer with Minseok’s touch.
“What happened?” Sehun asks.
“You’re my King, my Summer King,” Minseok whispers, gliding his fingers ever so lightly on his skin to his fingers. He squeezes Sehun’s hand and helps pull him up to stand.
Sehun is dazed and only squeezes Minseok’s hand back. He hasn’t registered how to react yet, only looking around the room to see Jongin lying on the floor. He hears a pained groan come from the white form.
“Jongin!” Sehun yells.
Sehun hurries to where Jongin is and pulls back his robes to take a good look at him, concerned that something bad happened.
Except where Jongin’s pale face was is now replaced with tan skin and his chapped blue lips are pink and thick. Sehun sees warmth emitting from Jongin, his body dusted with what looks like gold.
“Dust?” Sehun says, confused.
“That’s one of the gifts you receive as becoming a summer fey. You can see the health of other fey by the gold dust surrounding them,” Minseok says with a grin.
Jongin lets out a moan. “I haven’t felt this warmth in so long. I’ve missed this, feeling real.”
“This whole thing is unreal to me right now,” Sehun says, shaking his head.
“You’ll learn it all and I can give you a few tricks about turning fey,” Jongin nods. “Especially how to lose some on your tail when they get annoying, like Minseok.”
Minseok scoffs.
“I’ll be sure to,” Sehun smiles. He helps Jongin stand on his feet. In Jongin’s ear he whispers, “I hope both our fates are only good ones from now on.”
Jongin beams at Sehun. He turns to Minseok now and his teeth gleam in the brightly lit room, as he says, “I have no regrets. It was an experience entering this world and I hope that we will be happy in our paths.”
Minseok nods in response, his eyebrows furrowed.
“We’ll talk later,” Jongin says, waving goodbye to them at the door. “Let’s have fried chicken together next time we meet.”
“Jumbo size at Miko’s,” Minseok says, cracking a smile.
Jongin shares the grin with him and Sehun feels a buzz from Minseok next to him. Jongin’s door closes with a thud.
“I guess that means I’m a fey now,” Sehun says, looking at his hands and down his body. He didn’t really know what he was expecting but he feels a good buzz under his skin. He feels good, complete.
“I am proud of you for braving the test,” Minseok says as they walk along the pathway.
They walk in silence for the rest of the way to Suho’s home. (Sehun knows Zitao will throw things at him when he finds out and Suho will most likely shoot questions at him in quick succession. )
Sehun grasps Minseok’s hand in his and warmth thrums in his body.
For: S86
Pairings: Zitao/Suho
Rating: R
Length: 7.4k
Summary: Sehun can’t take his eyes off him, somehow drawn to him. He watches in fascinated horror as the fey approaches him.
The cold wind blew into his jacket, and he rolled his shoulders as he felt a shiver go up his arms. He shifted his gaze away from the skies, looking down at the staff and hoping that it would happen this time. He looked up to the olive coloured eyes glistening with hope, and sent a smile of reassurance to her.
Minseok looked to the fey on his left administering the ceremony. Sometimes, when Minseok stares at Jongin, he thinks he can still see glimpses of tan skin reminiscent to the first time he encountered him on a summer day. Though, when Minseok flickers his gaze to the blue hue on his lips, it is a reminder that he received the Cold. His tan had represented his youth and freedom in the human realm where it began to fade the day he entered the faerie circle.
Please, please be her this time.
Jongin holds the staff toward the girl with both hands, face remaining expressionless even as the frost of the staff begins to spread to his fingertips.
“As tradition, it is in my position as a Cold to warn you against taking this test. By taking this test, do you understand that if you are not the companion of the Summer King, you will bear the Cold?” Jongin says.
“Yes,” the girl says, albeit her face has reduced colour significantly.
“Do you understand that while bearing this Cold, you will spend the rest of your fey life warning the following humans unless one of them takes the test?”
“Y-yes.”
Minseok digs his fingernails into his palms as he sees the dawning of fright in her face. He looks at Jongin, wanting to prompt him not to say the next words.
“However, if you decide to decline this test, you can become a Summerlingl.”
At those words, Minseok knew that it was far too late to change her mind now.
///
“Stop poking me there,” Sehun says, shoving Zitao’s shoulder with his.
“But you refuse to come with us to The Nest,” Zitao frowns.
They are there.
“Don’t want to,” Sehun whines. “I don’t want to see you grinding on Suho. Why don’t you go to Siren instead? I heard from Chen that it has better music.”
“Maybe,” Zitao hums.
Sehun wishes that he could tell Zitao about Them. Them who place glamours on themselves and dance with everyone else. Them who glamour the misshapen nails, faces set in a strange way, the way They attacked their own.
“I’ll only go if you come to Siren with us though,” Zitao says.
“Yeah, yeah,” Sehun says as he looks around.
There’s too many of Them today, more than usual and it’s worrying. Sehun has been told that the only times the amount of fey increase is when there is a momentous occasion or a war is brewing. Either one is out of balance with what Sehun knows as the natural order in his world.
“Why do you always stick your neck out around here? We’ve been to Suho’s house for I’m-not-sure-how-many-times already,” Zitao says, shaking his head. “Are you interested in any of the guys here?”
“No, no,” Sehun says adamantly, averting his eyes as soon as he makes eye contact with one of Them.
The view of Suho's home finally welcomes them after Sehun deflects a lot of Zitao's tiring dating questions.
Zitao is greeted warmly with a too long kiss from Suho for Sehun’s liking. Sehun pulls a face which Suho notices and returns.
“Hey Suho,” Sehun says, giving a brief wave and walking through the door to Suho’s house to escape the coos Zitao is whispering.
Sehun is thankful for Suho’s home converted from one of the old train carriages. The unused railroad track is surrounded by iron, not allowing the fey to go near the area. This is the place where Sehun feels most at ease.
“Gotta go toilet, so put on the tv. I want to watch the next episode of the games,” Zitao yells, walking down the hallway.
Sehun flops down on the brown couch, groaning out loud from how hot it is lately. This summer does not look like it’s going to be kind to him this year.
“Here, have some watermelon. I cut some before you arrived,” Suho says, placing a plate down atop a stack of books on the coffee table.
“You’re the best hyung,” Sehun says, grabbing a piece and sinking his teeth in. Some dripped down the edge of his mouth which he swiped with his tongue.
“You’re so dirty,” Suho says, pulling a face. He hands Sehun a tissue and turns on the television.
“Have you noticed the increase of fey lately?” Sehun says, making sure to keep his voice low.
“Yes, it’s almost as if they’re here to find or protect something,” Suho frowns. “They’re walking around more confidently, knowing something we don’t.”
“As long as we don’t act any differently, it should be fine,” Sehun mumbles, taking another bite of watermelon. He watches as the next gymnast is announced to perform and almost chokes on his watermelon at the number of flips.
///
“It’s so hot,” Zitao moans, sluggishly sitting down on the bench.
“At least this place has some cold air keeping us alive,” Sehun says, nodding to the fan propped on the wall. The last time they went to this burger joint, there was only the momentary breeze of the door sliding open whenever a customer walked in.
Zitao grunts, taking too fast slurps of his smoothie.
Sehun looks behind him to see what the new quote of the day Chef put up on the blackboard, and stops.
There’s a fey. A fey staring right at him.
Sehun can’t take his off him, somehow drawn to him. He watches in fascinated horror as the closer the fey approaches him, the more glamour is placed to tone down his unearthly features and allow himself to be seen by all humans. His golden hair begins to fade to a darker brown, his green eyes ebbed away into a warm dark brown. Although his features are downplayed by the glamour, he sees girls eyeing the fey with attracted gazes.
The fey approaches him and Sehun looks at him with wide eyes.
“Hello,” the fey says, smiling brightly at him.
Zitao is looking at him with an appreciative gaze and gives Sehun kick on his leg underneath the table. Sehun is frozen and a course of something cold runs up his body and he encloses his hands in tight fists.
"Hello," Sehun says in greeting, the 'o' wobbling at the end.
It feels as if everything is too tight around him. What he has had nightmares about ever since he was younger was happening to him right now.
Sehun attempts to calculate a plan in his head to leave. He glances at the door then flickers his gaze back to the fey. The fey must notice this and Sehun sees a glimpse of a small frown appear on his face.
"What is your name?" He asks, his smile wide.
"Sehun," Zitao blurts out, when Sehun takes too long to respond. "Oh Sehun."
"Oh Sehun," the fey repeats, enunciating each syllable. "My name is Minseok and I’m visiting town for the next few weeks. I heard there is a summer festival this tonight so would you like to go together?"
“Uh, no. I’m going out with Zitao to...to a really important event,” Sehun says, stuttering out the words. Sehun smothers the words Zitao is ready to sprout to this fey by digging his heel to Zitao's white sneakers.
“That’s a shame. May I have-”
“We have to go now though,” Sehun cuts in, glancing down at his phone which doesn’t read any new notifications. “Meeting up with another friend now. Bye.”
Sehun looks away from Minseok’s face and ignores the indignant squawk from Zitao as he goes out the door. Sehun huffs as soon as he’s a few metres away from the shop. He rubs at the cold sweat dripping at the back of his neck and upper lip. Even though he’s in this sweltering heat, there’s the uncomfortable cold on his body.
That fey monarch, Minseok, must be the reason why there are so many gathered around the town. Why? There was that peace treaty the fey had signed with humans known only to some people, but still valid nonetheless. They were allowed to venture in the human realm however no monarch was to come through unless something dire was to occur.
“What was that about?” Zitao asks coming out of the diner now, shaking Sehun out of his thoughts. Sehun can sense the incredulous expression on Zitao’s face.
“I’m not interested in going out with anyone right now,” Sehun says, walking down the street keeping his head down.
“Not interested in him? You’re a noodle compared to him. ” Zitao says, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“His hair looks like it was a dye gone wrong,” Sehun lies.
“Do you see how thick he is though?” Zitao says. “When you stand next to each other, you’re going to look like a twig to a trunk.”
“Good thing we’re not going to each other again since he’s leaving soon. Anyway, aren’t we meant to go to the new bar? They are going to run out of the free drinks soon,” Sehun says.
“And you’re going to continue to run away from all the guys interested in you,” Zitao rolls his eyes.
Sehun shrugs, trying to fake aloofness while his heart is thumping loudly in his ears. They walk down the street and into the bar.
///
“Is this the important appointment that you needed to go to?” says an amused voice behind him.
Turning around, Sehun sees Minseok and unconsciously takes a step back. Minseok’s eyes twinkle mischievously. Looking to his right, he sees Zitao’s smug expression on his face.
Damn you, Sehun frowns at him. He should’ve dragged Zitao out with him at the burger joint.
“I need to-” Sehun starts saying before Minseok cuts in.
“Go somewhere? Why do you run away when we only just met each other?” Minseok says, his lips curling.
“I’m...not interested in dating anyone right now,” Sehun says slowly, trying to come up with a plan to leave the club with Zitao safely.
Minseok laughs, a bark in the air.
Stuff my butt, he looks good when he laughs, Sehun thinks.
“Neither am I,” Minseok says, a teasing lilt to his voice. “Are you a dancer?’
“I used to dance in high school, but not really anymore,” Sehun says.
“Would you dance with me?” Minseok asks.
A dance proposal in a club, by a fey monarch. This is getting too strange the more Sehun sees him.
Sehun is wracking his brain for ways to leave without looking suspicious for Minseok to follow him after. Apparently too much since he didn’t notice himself getting pulled by Minseok to the throng of people moving to the beat.
Sehun doesn’t know what to do and continues to avert his eyes from Minseok. When he does take a glance, Minseok catches his gaze and gestures to dance along with him.
Just as Sehun is about to say an excuse, a tall fey with a ponytail at the nape of his neck pops up and whispers something to Minseok’s ear. Minseok’s eyebrows furrows and he says something harshly to the fey in a low voice. The fey leaves the crowd and when Minseok looks at him, his expression softens.
“I have to leave now but would I be able to meet you again? The summer festival is still running to this weekend,” Minseok says, his eyes hopeful.
“I’m busy with something,” Sehun says, rushed.
“Another important event?” Minseok looks so amused at Sehun’s excuses at this point.
Minseok continues, “What you should know is that I am very much interested in you...to becoming a friend. Would you please come with me just this once?”
“I...only this once and we won’t see each other again?” Sehun says, regretting those words as soon as they left his mouth. His mind is going haywire trying to think of all the ways to just let Minseok leave him alone and stop the embarrassment. “Do you promise to not meet me after?”
Minseok’s eyes gleam, and a flash of his golden eyes glint.
“I promise I won’t meet you like this after summer.” Minseok says. “Now I must leave.”
Minseok gives a light squeeze to Sehun’s right shoulder and leaves.
“Like this?” Sehun wonders aloud.
Sehun watches as Minseok walks away, letting down his glamour to conceal himself from the human eye. Sehun swears he can see golden dust following his path.
///
The summer festival is brimming with laughter and the strum of guitars in the distance as Sehun makes his way to the fountain in the middle. Sehun notices the fairy lanterns hanging on each stall set up, lighting his pathway.
Sehun briskly walks repeating the words he rehearsed in his head like a mantra. He was going to stay for a maximum 30 minutes then get out of there as fast as possible.
Approaching the fountain, he sees the form of minseok sitting down on the fountain edge looking elsewhere. Sehun finds him with his distinct facial features and remnants of a golden trail, like how he had left him that night at the club.
“I didn’t think I would be able to find you this easily,” Sehun says, looking down at Minseok.
Sehun feels something heavy drop in the pit of his stomach. Minseok isn’t wearing his glamour, his hair is blond and his skin is glowing golden. Minseok isn’t noticeable to the human eye right now. Sehun just talked to him. Sehun just screwed all hope of keeping this secret from Them.
“You can see me?” Minseok gapes at him. He stands up and looks at Sehun, staring at him inquisitively.
Sehun can barely register his shock at his mistake. His tries to pick the words to talk, but his mind is blank.
“How can you see me?” Minseok says, stepping closer to Sehun.
“I’m not sure, I should just-” Sehun says, stumbling over his words.
“So you can see all the Fey here?” Minseok asks, gesturing to Them playing in the water.
Sehun looks to see blue Fey splashing water at each other, their almond eyes squinting at each other.
“Yes, I can….”
They both watch as the Fey swipe each other, quickly turning into a game of tag. Sehun hears their wings flap as they ascend into the air, pushing one another with smiles on their faces.
“Let’s go and look around,” Minseok says, voice cutting the thick tension in the air which Sehun felt around himself.
It was as if Minseok just accepted the fact Sehun could see Fey easily. Sehun watches as Minseok places the glamour over himself in front of him. Sehun moans at the large surge of warmth beaming from Minseok in the process. Prior the glamour, his glow was going through Sehun in what felt like waves and it felt so good, so so good.
“Have you heard of apple bobbing before?” Minseok says, gesturing to the sign in the distance. He begins walking, and Sehun joins him in stride.
Sehun figures that if Minseok isn’t making a large deal about his Fey vision, then it shouldn’t be too bad to enjoy himself. They’re not going to meet afterwards anyhow.
They visit the apple bobbing section and Sehun tries to stifle his snorts seeing Minseok’s reaction to the snot running children all playing the game. They visit the different stalls set up and try out the different games. Sehun barks in laughter, seeing Minseok get sprayed down with water losing at a game of chance. Minseok’s laughter pierces his ears when a kid wack his dick while playing a round of tunnel ball.
The festivities of the night time sparkle. The laughter twinkling as bright as the stars, in the skies above.
Minseok leads him down a rocky trail to an opening where there is a field of green peppered with flowers. Sehun thinks that the lights shining on the trees are faeries, but maybe it’s just his imagination. There is a bonfire with a mix of fey and humans dancing and passing drinks around. In the outskirts of the light from the bonfire, he sees some talking with one another and others making out against the tree trunk.
Sehun imagines Minseok’s thick arms pushing his shoulder against the same tree and closing in on his face. Minseok’s sharp floral scent infiltrating his senses, he can imagine-
No no. Nope. No Sehun.
“Are you coming?” Minseok yells at him, the beating of the drums louder near the base of the bonfire.
Sehun shakes his head to clear his thoughts and jogs to catch up with Minseok entering the crowd of people.
They dance together, around and around the bonfire in circles. Faces and bodies merge together as Sehun dances with whoever. He may have even danced with that fey who wore the ponytail at the club, or perhaps it was one of the drunken guys he knew from the neighbourhood with grass placed on his head by his friends.
While dancing, Sehun gets pushed around and almost trips into the bonfire. Sehun shouts out, waiting for the impact but Minseok makes a grab of his shoulders and pulls him close to himself.
“Careful, careful. Are you alright?” Minseok says, concerned.
“I’m all good,” Sehun sniffs, breathing in the strong floral scent.
“I wouldn’t want you to be half good. You look like you’re enjoying yourself a lot,” Minseok says.
“Yes, yes. Actually, I like those girls before, those giggly ones who were wearing the flowers in their hair. They were doing flips in the air and it was cool.”
“They were using their wings so I advise you not try it,” Minseok says. “Let’s sit down where it’s quiet, and you can clear your mind.”
Sehun is lead with Minseok’s hand tight on his forearm, dazed and confused to why he was feeling like this. They sit down on a log, away from the others.
Sehun looks down at the log and notices flower crowns hanging on the corner. “Look, there’s flower crowns.”
“Here, let me put one on you,” Minseok says. He grabs one and fits it on Sehun’s head, the leaves tickling the tops of his ears.
“Me too,” Sehun says. He grabs another flower crown and places it on Minseok’s bed of hair. “Now you fit the summer prince description.”
“Was it that easy to tell I was the summer prince?” Minseok asks.
“Must have been how good looking you were while bobbing apples,” Sehun snorts.
Minseok shoots him a glare, his face relaxing into light laugh.
“Interesting you think that. It makes me wonder more about what you’re thinking in that head,” Minseok says, looking closer at him.
“I’ll answer things for you since it’s not like we’re going to meet one another again after tonight. I saw you looking at these phones strangely. So shoot.”
“How can you see fey?” Minseok asks.
“My grandma was able to see them and so did my father. I’m not really sure how we can, since I’m sure that none of my relatives had…relations with fey,” Sehun answers, tilting his head to the side. “My turn. Why do you continue to follow me?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was out of pure interest?” Minseok says.
“I call lies, but I’ll say yes.”
“Have you ever wondered about how the fey world looked like?”
“Yes, but then I remember how violent fey can be. Especially towards humans.”
“I can say the same thing about humans,” Minseok says calmly. “There are humans who treat one another and the creatures on this earth cruelly, and there are also ones who don’t. We’re similar in that respect”
“Fear of the unknown I guess,” Sehun hums and nods his head, swallowing in those words Minseok just said. “I have something I really want to know. Do you have powers different from all the other fey?”
“Yes, I do. Though I have both the summer and winter in me from my parents.”
“Could you show me?” Sehun asks.
Minseok faces towards him and while staring in his eyes, he lets down his glamour. The light momentarily blinds him at the burst of sunshine emitting from Minseok, more than he’s ever seen him. The warmth envelops Sehun once again but even more intense this time. He can’t help the moan escaping from his mouth, the pit of his stomach clenching. He looks dazedly at minseok with his golden hair framing his face. Beautiful.
“You’re so bright,” Sehun says, mouth agape.
“You should probably go home. It’s getting late,” Minseok says, his voice strained. “Use your phone to call the friend who came with you.”
“Fine,” Sehun pouts.
By the time Zitao arrives, Minseok has left without a goodbye.
///
Sehun can hear Them whispering as he walks down the road on his way from buying groceries for dinner at Suho’s. Also, as a thank you meal for Zitao for guiding his confused ass home last night.
‘He might be the new one.’ ‘Do you think he know?’ ‘If the prince doesn’t claim the human for himself, there’s always a round with me.’
Sehun scrunches his nose at the last comment he hears.
Suddenly alongside him is Minseok.
“Hey.”
“Oh hey.”
“Are you feeling well? Are you feeling dizzy at all from last night?”
“Other than falling off my bed this morning, I feel fine,” Sehun says.
“That is pleasing to hear,” Minseok says. “Although, humans are usually blinded for a while longer.”
“You’re getting a bit too into yourself right now,” Sehun jokes.
“You acknowledge my beauty?” Minseok laughs.
“I thought you weren’t going to meet me again after the fest,” Sehun says. He makes sure to watch the gap on the footpath.
“I promised something else, but I am pleased to see you,” Minseok says.
They walk together along the beach.
“Would you mind staying in my company? It would be my pleasure to accompany wherever you are headed.”
“Then let me ask you questions about fey in return,” Sehun offers.
“What happened to being fearful and running away?” Minseok teases.
“It’s too late now. I think They aren’t going to leave me alone now,” Sehun nods towards the fey whispering around them. Neither are you.
“The fey are simple creatures especially in the summer time. They are often quick in changing what they are interested in and shift their attention to something else just as quickly.”
They continue to walk along the beach and Sehun is able to reap more from Minseok’s knowledge of Them. In return, Sehun answers questions Minseok has about the new trends since the last time he had visited the human realm.
They are walking closer to the iron gate, the entrance to Suho’s place. Sehun looks at Minseok and sees a grimace on his face, but he is still able to walk through the gate, unlike the other fey who hang around far away.
“Are you able to withstand iron?” Sehun asks, mildly shocked. He thought the rule about Fey and iron not mixing was a concrete rule.
“Momentarily. Though, with a companion to complete me, iron will not affect me at all.”
“Companion? Like a friend to share your load with?”
“No, a partner,” Minseok stares at Sehun. “A romantic one.”
Sehun doesn’t know why his cheeks darken.
They arrive in front of Suho’s front door and Sehun turns to look at Minseok.
“I will leave you now and we may see one another again,” Minseok nods. He turns and is about to make his way out the gate.
“Wait,” Sehun says. Minseok turns around.
“If by a really slim chance we meet again, which we won’t, will you promise me something?”
“What is it?” Minseok says, amused at the words Sehun has uttered.
Sehun bites his lip before he says, “Can you promise that you will never hurt me.”
Minseok’s eyebrows raise. “I promise you that I will never do anything to hurt you on purpose. I would never do to that to you,” Minseok says, his gaze low.
“Now good evening,” Minseok says.
He places a kiss on Sehun’s cheek and stares at sehun’s eyes for a while longer before turning around.
He feels dazed one more, but not like before. More like how he felt when he had his first kiss with Jongdae in Year 8. That heady confused rupture of feelings all at once that he strongly felt for Luhan in Year 11 while kissing him at the back of his house. It felt like a crush.
He’s so screwed.
His despair at his realisation is stopped abruptly hearing the footsteps of Suho coming up the steps of the small patio.
“Hey,” Sehun says, nodding at him. “Gonna make food tonight.”
“If you make a mess in my kitchen again, I’m never letting you enter my home again,” Suho says, sliding in the key and opening the door.
“I’ll just ask Zitao to let me in,” Sehun says as he steps inside and places the groceries on the counter.
“Also, is a fey monarchy after you?” Suho asks.
“I’m not really sure?” Sehun answers honestly.
“I saw one just walking down the road away from this direction,” Suho says. “As long as he’s not without a companion it should be fine.”
“What are you talking about?” Sehun asks, licking his bottom lip.
“The monarchy roam in the human realm for one of 2 reasons. One, to ensure a healthy balance of havoc is maintained. Secondly, to find themselves a new companion. By finding a new companion, all powers will be given to the descendent and become King of the summer court. “
“A companion…” Sehun mutters.
///
Sehun is overloaded with more shifts at work and he isn’t able to explore and go out as much. He is walking down the road when he spots Minseok standing on the corner to turn into Suho’s home.
Minseok invites him to enter the bar with a wave of his hand, his smile spread widely on his face. Sehun doesn’t refuse, knowing that Minseok won’t do anything to harm him after the promise.
As they dance together, they begin to get closer with one another. They edge closer and Sehun feels hands on his hips and Sehun’s fingers curl at the edges of Minseok’s hair, rubbing at the nape of his neck. His hands explore and begin to touch his face. He traces his face and his lips. They’re so plush, his eyes so beautiful.
“You’re pretty,” Sehun says. He beats himself internally at how lame that sounded.
Minseok lets out a bark of laughter.
“You think so?”
Sehun lower his gaze.
“Look at me,” Minseok says. He keeps his left hand on Sehun’s hip and his right hand is curved on Sehun’s cheek.
“I don’t think you’re the least bit aware of how pretty you are to me,” Minseok says. His lips close in on Sehun’s cheek and places a soft kiss there. He follows down his jaw line, printing invisible marks on Sehun’s skin, bursts of what feels like sunshine warmth everytime he places his lips on his skin.
Sehun is moaning now, his head lolled on one side, gaze soft as he leans on the hand on his cheek. His hands are now edging away from Minseok’s face and down the column of his back. Sehun’s hands smooth along Minseok’s waist at the edge of his shirt. His fingers curl along there and his hands explore underneath. He feels the definition of Minseok’s body and moans again when Minseok’s lips are now at the junction of his neck and shoulder, blowing warmth there.
Sehun turns his head towards Minseok’s face and nips at his lips. He presses a soft kiss on Minseok, then presses harder. Everything is warm and lovely, as Sehun closes his eyes to melt further into Minseok.
He feels Minseok edge his fingers on his skin, his palm splayed on his stomach. Sehun tries to catch Minseok’s lips again and whimpers when Minseok moves his face away and looks at him in concern.
“You’re so hot,” Minseok says, his fingers rubbing on his skin.
“You’re so hot too,” Sehun laughs softly. He captures Minseok’s lips again, catching him off guard.
“We should go outside, and let you get some air,” Minseok says, placing distance between them.
He leads Sehun outside, still continuing to pepper a few kisses on his forehead and cheek as they move through the bustling crowd. They both have a firm hold on one another, possessive to make sure everyone knows not to go near them.
“You’re a good kisser, you taste like sunshine, like a summer prince,” Sehun says, edging closely trying to kiss him again.
“You didn’t indulge in any alcohol so I wonder why you’re like this,” Minseok says.
“Because of you,” kiss “drunk off your kisses,” Sehun smiles toothily at him.
“You are a very confusing human,” Minseok says. “Now, let’s get you home.”
They walk home together with an arm around each other’s waists, by the very insistent request of Sehun. “Zitao and Suho always do this whenever we go outside together so I wanted to try it out.”
They arrive at the entrance of Sehun’s apartment and Sehun pulls Minseok into another kiss.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Minseok whispers against his lips. He presses a kiss on Sehun’s nose as a goodbye.
///
He sees minseok in glamour with his face smiling in greeting the next afternoon after his shift. Minseok kisses Sehun on the cheek, lingering for a while. He thinks he hears Minseok sniff his neck, and he wrinkles his nose at the ticklish feeling.
“How was work?” Minseok asks, nudging Sehun.
“Same boss yelling orders at me,” Sehun whines, pulling a face. “How was your day?”
“I had an interesting encounter with a stranger. It’s not unusual to see humans confess to me but they are more upfront about it in this decade in the human realm.”
“This decade? It sounds like such a long time since you were here.”
“Fey and human times run at different times. Fey time is slower in comparison.”
“Huh. Also, why are you wearing your glamour today? The other times you didn’t.”
“Jealous others will look at me?” Minseok smirks.
“Course no,” Sehun scoffs. “You should take it off, you’re breaking your streak of 7 days.”
“Since you asked so kindly,” Minseok says.
He removes his glamour and Sehun gasps. He stops and now faces Minseok. “What happened to you?”
He doesn’t focus as he places his hands on Minseok’s cheeks and lets out a gasp. It’s so cold. Where Minseok’s glowing face was, is now replaced with shallow cheeks and his face a pasty white.
Sehun thinks back to the time at the summer festival when he saw how brightly Minseok shined and how different he looked right now. He looked smaller and frail.
“Encounter with my mother,” Minseok says, sighing.
Sehun doesn’t know why he does this but he takes Minseok’s face in his hands. He places his hands on both sides of his face to feel how cold his cheeks are. Not really thinking clearly, instinctively, Sehun leans into Minseok’s face and places a kiss on his cheeks, focusing his mind on where his lips touched. He can feel the warmth moving from his lips to Minseok.
Minseok looks up at him in awe, in standstill awe.
“My King, my Beloved,” Minseok says looking at him. His face brightens in his complexion looking more at him.
“I didn’t-no, I didn’t do that,” Sehun stammers, looking down at his hands and back to Minseok rapidly brightening before him. “This doesn’t mean anything.”
“Only my companion would be able to heal me like this,” Minseok says.
He shakes his head some more looking at Minseok’s hopeful expression.
“We’re just friends. This is what friends do when someone gets hurt,” Sehun says, his voice growing louder to convince himself. He turns away and runs away and down the road.
Minseok doesn’t say anything, only looking at Sehun’s back moving away into the distance.
“Are you not going to go to him?” his advisor asks. “That is your Beloved. He is growing more like a fey each day, and much more rapidly than the others before him.”
“No, he will come to me. He will come,” Minseok murmurs, a small smile on his face as he touches his warmed cheek.
///
Sehun pants as he makes it to Suho’s door. He knocks but hearing no response, he grabs the spare key under the doormat and enters inside.
Zitao mentioned something about finally visiting that new club with Suho, which Sehun is thankful for. He needs some time to sort his head about what just happened.
How was he able to ‘heal’ Minseok? Why did he get hurt?
Sehun thinks about how after blowing on his cheeks, Minseok was glowing brightly, brighter than he had ever seen him before. There was pure joy on his face. Sehun scowls as he catches himself smiling while wondering these thoughts.
He knows he just said those words of being ‘only friends’ out of fright, but how was he able to heal him?
Sehun pushes it to the back of his mind and instead do what he normally does on saturday nights when he visits Suho’s place. He knows as he opens the tv and grabs a bag of chips, that wishing this to go away will not change anything, but he couldn’t care less as soon as he sees the gymnast land a perfect score.
///
For the following week, Sehun rushes to and from work not acknowledging the presence of Minseok waiting at the corner. He tries to not feel the pang in his heart when he sneaks glances at the crestfallen face of Minseok while walking past.
Sehun goes straight to Suho’s house and Suho doesn’t question it at all. Although Zitao does, trying to badger answers out of him about Minseok. In response, Sehun just grunts and Zitao no longer asks him.
Honestly, Sehun does miss Minseok’s company. Even explaining how applications work and the changes that have happened in the human realm. He does miss him a lot.
Sehun sighs at his thoughts, sinking deeper into Suho’s sofa.
The doorbell rings and Sehun walks to the door, grabbing the money on the table. It must be the chicken order.
“I’ll grab it,” Sehun yells to Suho still sitting on the sofa.
He opens the door expecting to see the red uniform, but instead sees Minseok.
“Good evening,” Minseok says. His face edges close to give his greeting peck, but he stops himself short and retracts. Sehun tugs at the corner of his mouth at that.
“Hi,” Sehun says.
“May I talk to you?” Minseok asks.
“Do you have money to pay the chicken guy?” Zitao yells out from the living room.
“I think it was just a doorbell prank. I’m going to take out the trash now though,” Sehun yells back.
Sehun steps out the door and closes it behind him. He walks to the bench on the patio and sits down, Minseok following and sitting next to him at a distance.
“How have you been?”
“Fine,” Sehun says curtly. “What happened that day? Did I heal you?”
“Yes, you did,” Minseok says, a gentle smile on his lips.
“Why? How?”
“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you before, what I was telling you on that night,” Minseok says. “You are becoming part fey. You have accumulated powers now.”
Sehun doesn't say anything only looking in shock at him.
“This usually happens with potential summer companions, where they slowly develop them as soon as we come in contact with one another. There's always development, but you were much faster than other ones. It makes it seem as if you are the one.”
“The one?”
“You are my beloved, who completes me. You are my other half,” Minseok says. “I believe you are.”
“This is so sudden, I don’t- How did you know me?”
“I dreamt of you one day. This was the same with previous companions of past monarchs.”
“Oh,” Sehun sounds out.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I didn’t realise how fast you were going to develop your powers.”
“How do you become a companion?”
Minseok perks up and looks at Sehun now, his expression still apprehensive.
“You have to take a test in order to become my partner. although there are conditions. if you agree to take the test, you have the risk of having the Cold if you do not pass it. The alternative is to become a Summerling.”
“Summerling?”
“The ones that you saw before following me around. They frolic and dance in the festivities of summer.”
Sehun recalls them. They were led by their emotions following the moods of the prince.
“Are you okay, love?” Minseok touches Sehun’s hand.
“Just a lot to take in,” Sehun mumbles. He plays with Minseok’s fingers.
“I’ll help you,” Minseok says.
“I don’t want to become fey and leave my friends and family behind,” Sehun says, looking down. “But I do want to be with you.”
Minseok hugs him and they stay like that.
Minseok kisses his forehead, “I’ll meet you tomorrow. Zitao is probably worried about you right now.”
Sehun nips on Minseok’s lips. “Please.” they kiss then minseok leaves.
Sehun looks at his back.
///
Sehun gapes as he sees the house. It was a deep walk in the forest and although the summer heat is upon the town, the house was covered in white snow. Glaciers were hanging from the roof in threatening spikes at the entrance of the house.
A man donned in white opens the door. His black hair is a stark difference to his pale skin and blue lips.
“Oh, you’ve arrived a few minutes too early,” the man says.
His eyes are almost silver Sehun notices as he stares at him longer.
“Since when have you worried about minutes, Jongin?” Minseok asks.
Jongin shrugs. He opens the door wider and steps to the right to let them both enter the house.
The interior of the house is white and just as cold as the entrance, if not colder. Sehun feels shivers crawl up his arms and the nape of his neck.
“Would you like a coat?” Jongin offers, gesturing to a wardrobe in the corner of the living room.
“It’s fine,” Minseok says. He grabs sehun’s hand and warmth replaces the cold, gliding on his skin. Jongin stares at where their hands are joined and Sehun pulls back his hand to his side.
“So I see you are here to take the test?” Jongin says.
Sehun nods his head and Jongin turns around. He beckons with his hand and walks down a staircase and to a white door framed in black. With a gentle shove to his back from Minseok, Sehun follows after him.
Entering the room, Sehun gapes taking in the number of books in the shelves. Small ornaments and trinkets decorate the shelves in between the spaces. Sehun swears he can see some of the figurines twirling and dancing.
Jongin grabs a staff almost his height, showcased in a case at the back of the room. The staff is gold with a vine weaved around it with an intricate pattern of flowers. Dusts of both gold and silver twist around it and glint in the air.
“This is the staff which is a part of this test. Stand here and hold it opposite me,” Jongin says. Sehun follows what he says, and steels himself to continue to look at Jongin even though his eyes are eerie.
“As tradition, it is in my position as a Cold to warn you against taking this test. By taking this test, do you understand that if you are not the companion of the Summer King, you will bear the Cold?” Jongin says.
Sehun feels something cold creeping on the staff and to his fingertips.
“Yes, I understand,” Sehun says, his voice shaky.
“Do you understand that while bearing this Cold, you will spend the rest of your fey life warning the following humans unless one of them takes the test?”
“Yes.”
“However, if you decide to decline this test, you can become a Summerling.”
At those words, Sehun glances at Minseok. The Summer Prince looks at him with a gentle smile, nodding his head. Sehun takes it as one that means to do whatever he wants to do.
“I will take this test,” Sehun says, gripping the head of the staff tighter.
“I hope that your fate is a good one,” Jongin says, a small smile stretched on his face.
Jongin leans closer to Sehun, his face only a small distance away from his now.
“Better than my fate,” Jongin whispers.
Sehun feels a cold air blow from Jongin’s lips and through his. The cold penetrates his body, his throat burning and his fingers clammy. His chest, his legs, his mouth feels tight and stiff. Golden light emits behind Sehun and a silver light shines where Jongin’s presence was. Sehun’s vision is pure white and he hears a piercing ringing in his ears.
Suddenly, the light, sound and the cold left Sehun’s body.
Sehun lets go of the staff and staggers to lean on a shelf. He breathes heavily, his vision still blurry, throat parched.
Warmth embraces him from behind and when Sehun looks behind he sees Minseok looking concerned up above him.
Minseok’s hand placed on Sehun’s neck burns warmly but in an instant it is gone and he no longer feels parched either. His head feels clearer with Minseok’s touch.
“What happened?” Sehun asks.
“You’re my King, my Summer King,” Minseok whispers, gliding his fingers ever so lightly on his skin to his fingers. He squeezes Sehun’s hand and helps pull him up to stand.
Sehun is dazed and only squeezes Minseok’s hand back. He hasn’t registered how to react yet, only looking around the room to see Jongin lying on the floor. He hears a pained groan come from the white form.
“Jongin!” Sehun yells.
Sehun hurries to where Jongin is and pulls back his robes to take a good look at him, concerned that something bad happened.
Except where Jongin’s pale face was is now replaced with tan skin and his chapped blue lips are pink and thick. Sehun sees warmth emitting from Jongin, his body dusted with what looks like gold.
“Dust?” Sehun says, confused.
“That’s one of the gifts you receive as becoming a summer fey. You can see the health of other fey by the gold dust surrounding them,” Minseok says with a grin.
Jongin lets out a moan. “I haven’t felt this warmth in so long. I’ve missed this, feeling real.”
“This whole thing is unreal to me right now,” Sehun says, shaking his head.
“You’ll learn it all and I can give you a few tricks about turning fey,” Jongin nods. “Especially how to lose some on your tail when they get annoying, like Minseok.”
Minseok scoffs.
“I’ll be sure to,” Sehun smiles. He helps Jongin stand on his feet. In Jongin’s ear he whispers, “I hope both our fates are only good ones from now on.”
Jongin beams at Sehun. He turns to Minseok now and his teeth gleam in the brightly lit room, as he says, “I have no regrets. It was an experience entering this world and I hope that we will be happy in our paths.”
Minseok nods in response, his eyebrows furrowed.
“We’ll talk later,” Jongin says, waving goodbye to them at the door. “Let’s have fried chicken together next time we meet.”
“Jumbo size at Miko’s,” Minseok says, cracking a smile.
Jongin shares the grin with him and Sehun feels a buzz from Minseok next to him. Jongin’s door closes with a thud.
“I guess that means I’m a fey now,” Sehun says, looking at his hands and down his body. He didn’t really know what he was expecting but he feels a good buzz under his skin. He feels good, complete.
“I am proud of you for braving the test,” Minseok says as they walk along the pathway.
They walk in silence for the rest of the way to Suho’s home. (Sehun knows Zitao will throw things at him when he finds out and Suho will most likely shoot questions at him in quick succession. )
Sehun grasps Minseok’s hand in his and warmth thrums in his body.