ᓚᘏᗢ •ﻌ•

❄◌✴︎˚Chan｡✴︎◌❄

It’s the first time Chan has slept through the night in a long, long time. Even before he almost died, he’d been dealing with insomnia in varying degrees since his father passed. He knew that was the point of sharing a bed with Hyunjin, but Chan hadn’t realized it would work so well.

Hyunjin.

The Seubalpae is currently tucked against Chan’s chest, an arm and a leg each slung over him, the picture of contentment. Chan wonders idly if this should feel more wrong. 

Even without using his gift, Hyunjin just seems to make things more comfortable. Between the intimacy of laying in bed together, and the way it’s always easier to share secrets and stories in the moonlight, the questions about the Seubalpae’s relationship had just flowed out of him the night before. He’s been so curious, ever since that first meal they shared, after Jisung had come downstairs. 

Based on what Hyunjin told him, he has nothing to worry about. Though there are several scenarios running through Chan’s mind that counter the surety with which Hyunjin told him that no one would mind their being in this predicament. This whole thing was meant to just be a way to help Chan sleep. Now that he’s up, the expectation of cuddles should be over. The longer he thinks about it, the more he feels like he should try to extricate himself from the sleeping man’s embrace. 

“Mmm Channie?” Hyunjin mumbles against his skin. “What’s wrong?”

He hopes now that Hyunjin’s awake, he’ll move away on his own. Instead, Hyunjin squeezes him a bit tighter before bringing a hand up to stroke Chan’s cheek. That lavender mist fills the space between them, and Chan feels the knot in his chest loosen. 

“I was just thinking about the others,” Chan says. He takes a deep breath and continues, “I know you said they wouldn’t mind this, but I can’t help but worry that you’re wrong. Obviously you know them better and everything, but…”

Hyunjin watches him, expression serious as he trails off. Then he’s moving back, away from Chan to sit up and face him. Even though it’s what he felt like should happen, Chan would be lying if he said it made him feel better. He sits up as well, but stays quiet.

After a sigh, Hyunjin tells him, “I understand your apprehension, but there’s nothing inherently wrong about cuddling, Chan. Have you never cuddled with a friend?”

Heat flares across Chan’s cheeks. Maybe he is sexualizing something innocent. Of all things Hyunjin, and the rest of them really, does not seem like one to be unfaithful or willing to do something that might harm the ones he loves. It wouldn’t be the first time, considering his mind went straight to the gutter when Hyunjin brought up sleeping together last night. He needs to have a more wholesome mindset. I’m not at court anymore. These men really don’t want anything from me.

“I guess I haven’t,” Chan says to his hands, shame keeping him from making eye contact again. “I suppose I forget how different your lives have been from mine. I’m sorry I doubted you.” 

Hyunjin’s hand finds Chan’s; his thumbs rubbing soothing circles into his palms. “You don’t have to be sorry. I guess maybe we should’ve talked more before bed after all.” Hyunjin pauses, so Chan risks a glance up. He pouts his lips in thought for a minute before continuing. Adorable. “I understand if you don’t want to, but can you tell me about your friends back home, or growing up, if that’s easier for you?”

Chan sighs. How do you explain to someone so clearly loved and appreciated by so many that you’ve barely ever really had real friends. “I mostly spent time with different nobles’ children while they were at court, when I wasn’t in my private lessons or the throne room.” He hesitates before adding, “The Queen encouraged me to keep my distance, and I think the other children might’ve resented having to spend time with me.”

The sadness and pity are clear on Hyunjin’s face. “What about in more recent years?” he asks.

“Well as the crown prince, I’m very– I mean I was very busy,” Chan winces at the error. He’s not crown prince anymore. As far as anyone outside the eight of them in the cabin knows, Chan is dead. He realizes, however, that he’s okay with that; just a couple days in this afterlife have been great. He finishes answering the question with, “I didn’t really have time to cultivate personal relationships. Most of my social interactions had a number of strings attached.”

Hyunjin’s eyes start emanating that calming light. It’s odd, though, Chan can’t tell what emotion he’s trying to affect. He’s grown very accustomed to the lack of closeness to others, resigned to what he’s been taught is the life of a royal. He’s sure he isn’t any more sad or regretful than he’s been since the first question about friends. Then, he actually looks through the mist and sees Hyunjin’s eyes are a little glassy. 

On instinct, Chan reaches out to cup his cheek as he asks, “Hyunjinnie, what’s wrong?”

Unfortunately, before he can respond there’s a soft knock, and Minho is opening the door, likely checking to see if Hyunjin’s up and getting ready for work. His eyes sharpen almost immediately, and Chan flinches back. Minho is at Hyunjin’s other side in a second. For some reason, his eyes are on Chan when asking, “Are you alright?”

Chan turns his gaze back on Hyunjin, eager to hear the answer. Then Minho snaps in front of his face and repeats the question. Incredulous, he asks, “Me?”

“Of course,” Minho says with a roll of his eyes. “What else would overwhelm him but your emotions?”

“I’m fine, Min–”

“Overwhelm him?” Chan is dumbfounded. “There’s nothing wrong, though? He already soothed me several minutes before he got upset. Hyunjin, if I did something–”

Hyunjin interrupts him now, simultaneously slapping a hand over Minho’s mouth. “You didn’t do anything, Channie, and it’s not what you think, Minho. I just went a bit deep on accident. We should probably get ready for the day.”

Chan sees his own frown reflected on Minho’s newly uncovered face. But Hyunjin insists, “Really, I’m fine, and Chan feels better now, right?”

Chan nods slowly, feeling like he should push more but at the same time, he knows it’s not his place. Minho shrugs before standing and pulling Hyunjin up to his feet. 

Chan debates following them out, but decides to wait a couple minutes before emerging from the room. Hyunjin must still be in the bathroom nearest his room, so he forgoes washing up until everyone who actually needs to get ready for the day is through. He goes downstairs to sit on the couch until Seungmin encourages him to come eat some of the breakfast he and Felix prepared. 

The Seubalpae chat sleepily, making plans for the day and discussing their trip to Changbin’s parents’ house. When Minho comes downstairs, he makes eye contact then cocks his head towards the couch in a silent invitation to come talk. Chan takes a couple deep breaths to calm his nerves and joins him. Despite his kindness, Chan struggles to shake the feeling that Minho would rather he weren’t here. 

They sit on the couch with Minho just staring him down long enough that Chan feels like he needs to break the silence or just die from the awkwardness of the moment. “Is, um, is Hyunjin okay?” He asks. 

Minho blinks at him slowly, and Chan wonders if coming over here was a mistake. Finally, Minho says, “Hyunjin is fine. I do think it’s important for you to know, though: when you share things with him, even when he doesn’t seem to be actively using his gift, he tends to understand the heart of what you’re saying.” He pauses, looking Chan up and down. “Even if you don’t.”

Chan latches onto that last part. With how confused he was at Hyunjin’s reaction, he wonders how much of his own feelings he might not understand. For all his time spent alone, Chan thinks he has pretty good self-awareness. It’s his understanding of others that’s lacking. 

Before he can turn any of those thoughts into a coherent response, Minho clears his throat, suddenly looking a little less than comfortable. He continues, “He also knows his own heart very well. The rest of ours, too, in theory.”

“In theory?” Chan asks with a slight smirk. Something about the way Minho said it, begrudgingly so, that tickles him. 

“Usually,” Minho snaps, but there’s no fire behind it. “Jury’s still out on this one, though.”

Chan can only guess at what he means, and with Minho, who he’s so unsure of things generally, he’s a little at a loss. So he just nods, waiting to see if he’ll add anything that will add clarity. 

Instead, Minho pats his thigh and says, “Anyway. Rest up today. Depending on how anxious Sneezy is feeling to get to Bin’s parents’ place, there’s a chance that we’ll leave when we get home tonight.” Then he’s getting up and grabbing Seungmin, teasing him about the nickname Chan bestowed on him. 

Soon enough, the Seubalpae are out the door, leaving Chan to ponder how to spend his day. Thoughts on what they might learn from Changbin’s parents, he heads outside. He’s never sung with the intent of using magic before and feels awkward wondering how he should start; normally the tunes just pour out of him when he’s alone and focused or feeling heavy emotions. It feels silly to start singing without purpose or an instinctive need. 

What should I even sing?

He decides to sing the cleaning song that he made up yesterday, since he’ll be doing much the same thing today, just focusing on the upstairs. Within a minute, Chan has several woodland helpers surrounding him. The sight fills him with profound wonderment and joy. He really called them to him. 

“Hello friends!” He greets them happily. “If you don’t mind, I’d love more help with the laundry today. We’re doing the bedding from my bed and a lot of towels, so it could take a while to do it on my own.”

The fox chirps in what seems to be agreement before gekkering to the rest. 

“Thank you,” Chan tells them, then looks back into the cottage. “You can wait here, and I can bring stuff down. That way you won’t have to worry about the stairs.” He rushes inside, grabbing the basket he used yesterday then collecting the sheets and blanket from ‘his’ room first. He feels compelled to check the mirror first, needing to know what his eyes look like right now. Felix had told him it looks like they have green rings when he uses his magic. 

Chan is happy to be alone when he gasps at his own reflection. He feels a rush of unfamiliar self-appreciation when he sees how the lush, forest green rings have overrun his irises. Something about the glow and the knowledge that they display his power makes him feel beautiful. 

But he knows he can’t linger here; his furry friends are waiting to help him. So, Chan gathers the towels from this bathroom and the other, then heads back down. When he gets outside, the doe is back and she’s brought a friend. They block his way when he attempts to bring the basket to the tub to help with the washing. He ends up letting them carry the basket between them and turning back to the fox. 

“Well, if you all will handle the laundry, I guess I’ll dust and do this morning’s dishes,” Chan says. He thinks about how the Queen uses her magic to make others do her bidding and believe her lies, and a pit forms in his stomach. He almost walks away but stops himself and crouches down to be closer to eye level with the animal. He asks, “I’m… am I forcing you all to help me against your will?”

The sound it makes can only be described as a laugh. It shakes its head. That makes Chan feel better. Maybe they just come because they’re willing to help. He thanks the fox and the chipmunks that accompany him inside. He starts up a new song as they gather small cloths and climb up among the Seubalpaes’ knick knacks to start the dusting. 

Once again, Chan’s chores are done in no time at all. He helps the birds hang the bedclothes on the lines to dry, and while he’s out notices that some of the other animals have clearly been organizing some of the garden tools. 

“I really feel like I should do something for you all,” Chan says with a sigh. He pets the doe between her ears. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything to offer.” 

So he gives the only thing he can. He sits on a stump and sings some more. With everything done, the animals all just gather around to listen. That’s where they are when they hear voices approaching. Chan only falters for a moment, unsure if he should go back in to hide, but then he hears Changbin’s laugh. A few of the animals run off, but when Chan asks if he should continue, the doe at his side nods her head. 

That’s how the Seubalpae find him: surrounded by woodland creatures, bright green rings alight in his eyes. He looks more at ease than they’ve ever seen him. Chan’s voice is clear and calming, absolutely lovely.

When they reach him, Chan smiles up at them, noticing Jisung is fast asleep, drooling a bit on Jeongin’s shoulder, as he welcomes them home. Jeongin heads inside with his passenger but the others sit amidst the fauna, some quietly reveling in the uncharacteristic willingness to coexist so closely. 

Changbin, however, only seems to focus on Chan’s face, a look of wonder on his own. It makes Chan feel a bit shy, and he considers stopping when the song is complete, but then another voice joins his. Startled, Chan locks eyes with Seungmin. They finish out the song in perfect harmony, and Chan needs to sing more so that he can hear Seungmin’s lovely voice again. 

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

After a while, the songs come to an end, and the animals disperse. The men all head inside, chatting excitedly.

“Chan, that was,” Changbin begins excitedly.

Felix finishes for him, “Amazing!”

“And they all helped clean again?” Minho asks, wonder plain on his face as the prettiest smile breaks across it. 

For a second, Chan forgets why he ever found the man intimidating or unfriendly. He’s beautiful. Then he realizes that the question was directed at him. “Oh, yes. Yeah, they helped with everything.”

“Fascinating,” Minho says, turning to Changbin. “You can’t think of anyone who communicates with animals?”

“Oh, what about that girl,” Seungmin says with a light slap on Changbin’s arm. “Remember back when we helped your sister move? Her neighbor’s daughter got that funky looking bear to help you so I didn’t have to lift furniture.”

“How could I forget the moon bear!” 

A bear helped move furniture? Despite all that’s happened the last few days, Chan isn’t sure he’ll ever get used to what magic can make happen. He tunes back in enough to learn that the bear was the family’s pet, bonded to the girl through her magic. Not too similar to his situation. Still, it is something.

Then Minho claps a hand on Chan’s shoulder, and he fails not to jump. Minho cackles and says, “Come on. If you really wanna earn your keep, you better start learning to cook so I don’t have to slave away at the stove after a long day at the mine.”

“Of course,” Chan says eagerly. 

He does want to make life easier for the men who have saved his life. Learning to cook is an easy way to do so. Minho is a good teacher, too. He plays at impatience and indifference, but this one-on-one time shows Chan that it's possible that Minho is all bark and no bite. 

Minho stills his hand with a soft touch. “We only chop like that if we’re interested in cutting the tip of our fingers off,” he snarks. But then he’s slotting himself behind Chan, curling his own fingers over Chan’s to correct him, guiding him to make a few more cuts. It’s little things like that, the softness with the sassiness that makes Chan feel welcome, like he belongs. 

By the time the meal is prepared, Chan is feeling a new warmth when he looks at the formerly dubbed Grumpy. As they sit down to eat, Jeongin insists that he sits between him and Jisung so they can tell the telekinetic what he missed during his nap, including having Chan sing little snippets of the songs. When he does, he finds that both of them have lovely voices as well, joining in when they recognize the song. 

“Maybe you all should’ve been a band instead of miners,” Chan laughs, though he means it whole heartedly. 

“I mean, I do play a mean air guitar,” Changbin jokes, showing off his skills. 

Felix grins, hands rubbing at Changbin’s impressive arms. “Don’t let him fool you, Chan. Our Binnie is very talented with his mouth, too.” 

“Yah,” Changbin says, ears and cheeks flaring.

“What?” Felix asks with a glint in his eye that tells everyone giggling around the table that he knows exactly why Changbin spoke up. “You rap so well, and you can even beatbox. Seemed worth mentioning, since Channie thinks we could be a band.”

“Right, of course,” Changbin mutters. When Chan makes eye contact with him, he giggles a little, too. “Anyway, Chan we were talking today, and I think we’ll hold off until this weekend to go see my parents. Seungmin’s eyes were glowing along with his sneezes today, so we think he might be on the mend. If you don’t mind waiting, especially now that we’ve seen your magic, I don’t think it would be the worst thing to wait. I did get a letter out to them, though.”

“Of course. Whatever is best for you all,” Chan tells him before turning to Seungmin. “I’m glad you’re starting to get better.”

As shocking as the mystery of Chan having magic he shouldn’t be able to have is, he doesn’t mind not waiting to find out how it’s possible. Maybe it’s cowardly, but he can’t help but want to keep everything as it is now. Chan has had so much change in his life lately, and what he thought he knew, in such a short amount of time. He’s craving stability, and he’ll take it however he can get it.

“Chan?”

“Sorry, what?” Jeongin is looking at him expectantly, and Chan realizes he’s zoned out again. 

“Are you alright?” Jeongin’s smile has dimmed a bit as his eyes search Chan’s face.

“Yes, I’m sorry,” Chan says, chagrined. He doesn’t want to burden any of them any more than he already has. I need to stay present. “Just a little lost in thought. What did you say?”

Jeongin’s ears take on a pink hue. “Nothing important. Just asked what your favorite fruit is. Lix said he might teach you to bake a pie tomorrow since you did so well with dinner tonight.”

Chan looks at Felix’s sunshiny grin, then back to Jeongin. He gives them a smile of his own. “That’s a great idea. I’ll do my best.”

“And?” Jeongin asks, eagerness returned to his expression.

Chan is dumbfounded for a moment when a pear floats behind Jeongin’s head. His eyes snap to Jisung who gives him a wink. “Right,” he laughs, “I actually really like pears, though peaches are my favorite.”

“That’s perfect!” Jeongin is too cute when he smiles like that. “There are some wild peach trees not too far from here.”

“Maybe your animal friends can bring you some?” Jisung suggests. 

From there, they talk about favorite fruits and desserts, and Chan manages to stay in the moment the whole time. The Seubalpae tease and joke with him, treating him like he’s just part of the group. Hyunjin must’ve told them about their conversation the night before, because they all seem a bit freer with the causal touches and pet names. 

Chan is happy that they aren’t afraid to be themselves around him, though he spends a good portion of the night blushing at all the innuendos Minho, Jisung, and Felix throw around. When Felix makes a joke about him and Hyunjin in bed together, Chan just about dies, but he can’t help but imagine what that would’ve been like. 

“Stop messing with him, Lix-ah,” Hyunjin calls, looking quite red himself. 

“It’s fine,” Chan finds himself saying, though he certainly made no active choice to do so. Seven pairs of eyes turn on him, and he’s sure he’s officially turned into a tomato. His voice loses its stability as he tries to explain himself. “I-I mean, I can take it – the jokes. It actually feels nice to be included. Plus, it is a funny thought.” 

There are a few giggles at that, but Minho’s tone is sharp when he asks, “And what do you think makes it funny?”

“Min,” Changbin says.

A couple of the others start to say something as well, but Minho cuts them all off, and persists, “No, I really wanna know what he’s thinking.”

“I, um,” Chan stutters out, feeling like he made a mistake, but he’s not quite sure what it was. So, he does the only thing he can think to do and tells the truth. “The idea that Hyunjin would be with me like that. He has all of you already, and look at him, he’s clearly out of my league.”

“Out of your league?” Hyunjin sounds completely flabbergasted for some reason. 

“I got this, Hyuni,” Felix interrupts. The man comes around in front of Chan and inexplicably cups both hands around his face, leaning in to look him dead in the eyes. “Darling, I don’t care what that wicked Queen has told you, you don’t need to be a prince for people to want to be with you. And you are very handsome. Whenever you doubt that, I want you to remind yourself that that bitch was so jealous of you being prettier than her that she literally got homicidal.” 

“Lix, I’m not sure that–”

Despite the fact that it definitely wasn’t the nicest thing he’s ever heard, Chan is suddenly choking back a sob. It cuts off any other comments following Felix’s proclamation. From what they’ve said, he knows that Felix has seen a lot about his life in the last few days. Something about that knowledge in addition to his kindness breaks another piece of Chan loose. 

“Oh Chan-ah, it’s okay,” Hyunjin murmurs. Chan can tell he’s using his gift again, the wave of emotion is receding. “Maybe it’s time to call it a night guys. Channie, how about you go get ready for bed?”

It’s the kind of thing you ask a child when you want to avoid a whole situation, but he doesn’t mind. He latches onto the idea, nodding and getting up from the table. He hears Hyunjin following him up the stairs, telling him that they can talk if he wants or he can help him go to bed. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I reacted like that,” he says, embarrassment fighting against Hyunjin’s soothing. 

“You never have to apologize for being human, Channie,” Hyunjin tells him. “Triggers often surprise you. Sometimes it can be the simplest thing that sets you off, even if it doesn’t seem logical.”

Chan nods, not really comforted by his words. He knows it’s true, but that doesn’t make him feel any less ridiculous. It’s not very late, but he changes quickly and lays down. He doesn’t expect Hyunjin to get in bed beside him. He figured the empath would soothe him quickly and return to the others. Chan turns over to look at him questioningly, but Hyunjin speaks before he can ask.

“Just get comfortable. Let me help you sleep.” Hyunjin curls his body around Chan’s. Even without his power, the action itself sends a comforting warmth through him. It’s extremely rare for him to have someone take care of him like this. Even last night it had been up to Chan to initiate the contact, albeit by Hyunjin’s suggestion. Chan starts to tear up before he feels himself even out. A yawn escapes him as Hyunjin gives him a little squeeze. “No more thinking. I’ve got you.” 

Chan is out within the minute. In his dream, he and the Seubalpae are gathered in a glade, all his forest friends mixed in among them as they sing together. 

❄◌✴︎˚Chan｡✴︎◌❄

It’s the first time Chan has slept through the night in a long, long time. Even before he almost died, he’d been dealing with insomnia in varying degrees since his father passed. He knew that was the point of sharing a bed with Hyunjin, but Chan hadn’t realized it would work so well.

Hyunjin.

The Seubalpae is currently tucked against Chan’s chest, an arm and a leg each slung over him, the picture of contentment. Chan wonders idly if this should feel more wrong. 

Even without using his gift, Hyunjin just seems to make things more comfortable. Between the intimacy of laying in bed together, and the way it’s always easier to share secrets and stories in the moonlight, the questions about the Seubalpae’s relationship had just flowed out of him the night before. He’s been so curious, ever since that first meal they shared, after Jisung had come downstairs. 

Based on what Hyunjin told him, he has nothing to worry about. Though there are several scenarios running through Chan’s mind that counter the surety with which Hyunjin told him that no one would mind their being in this predicament. This whole thing was meant to just be a way to help Chan sleep. Now that he’s up, the expectation of cuddles should be over. The longer he thinks about it, the more he feels like he should try to extricate himself from the sleeping man’s embrace. 

“Mmm Channie?” Hyunjin mumbles against his skin. “What’s wrong?”

He hopes now that Hyunjin’s awake, he’ll move away on his own. Instead, Hyunjin squeezes him a bit tighter before bringing a hand up to stroke Chan’s cheek. That lavender mist fills the space between them, and Chan feels the knot in his chest loosen. 

“I was just thinking about the others,” Chan says. He takes a deep breath and continues, “I know you said they wouldn’t mind this, but I can’t help but worry that you’re wrong. Obviously you know them better and everything, but…”

Hyunjin watches him, expression serious as he trails off. Then he’s moving back, away from Chan to sit up and face him. Even though it’s what he felt like should happen, Chan would be lying if he said it made him feel better. He sits up as well, but stays quiet.

After a sigh, Hyunjin tells him, “I understand your apprehension, but there’s nothing inherently wrong about cuddling, Chan. Have you never cuddled with a friend?”

Heat flares across Chan’s cheeks. Maybe he is sexualizing something innocent. Of all things Hyunjin, and the rest of them really, does not seem like one to be unfaithful or willing to do something that might harm the ones he loves. It wouldn’t be the first time, considering his mind went straight to the gutter when Hyunjin brought up sleeping together last night. He needs to have a more wholesome mindset. I’m not at court anymore. These men really don’t want anything from me.

“I guess I haven’t,” Chan says to his hands, shame keeping him from making eye contact again. “I suppose I forget how different your lives have been from mine. I’m sorry I doubted you.” 

Hyunjin’s hand finds Chan’s; his thumbs rubbing soothing circles into his palms. “You don’t have to be sorry. I guess maybe we should’ve talked more before bed after all.” Hyunjin pauses, so Chan risks a glance up. He pouts his lips in thought for a minute before continuing. Adorable. “I understand if you don’t want to, but can you tell me about your friends back home, or growing up, if that’s easier for you?”

Chan sighs. How do you explain to someone so clearly loved and appreciated by so many that you’ve barely ever really had real friends. “I mostly spent time with different nobles’ children while they were at court, when I wasn’t in my private lessons or the throne room.” He hesitates before adding, “The Queen encouraged me to keep my distance, and I think the other children might’ve resented having to spend time with me.”

The sadness and pity are clear on Hyunjin’s face. “What about in more recent years?” he asks.

“Well as the crown prince, I’m very– I mean I was very busy,” Chan winces at the error. He’s not crown prince anymore. As far as anyone outside the eight of them in the cabin knows, Chan is dead. He realizes, however, that he’s okay with that; just a couple days in this afterlife have been great. He finishes answering the question with, “I didn’t really have time to cultivate personal relationships. Most of my social interactions had a number of strings attached.”

Hyunjin’s eyes start emanating that calming light. It’s odd, though, Chan can’t tell what emotion he’s trying to affect. He’s grown very accustomed to the lack of closeness to others, resigned to what he’s been taught is the life of a royal. He’s sure he isn’t any more sad or regretful than he’s been since the first question about friends. Then, he actually looks through the mist and sees Hyunjin’s eyes are a little glassy. 

On instinct, Chan reaches out to cup his cheek as he asks, “Hyunjinnie, what’s wrong?”

Unfortunately, before he can respond there’s a soft knock, and Minho is opening the door, likely checking to see if Hyunjin’s up and getting ready for work. His eyes sharpen almost immediately, and Chan flinches back. Minho is at Hyunjin’s other side in a second. For some reason, his eyes are on Chan when asking, “Are you alright?”

Chan turns his gaze back on Hyunjin, eager to hear the answer. Then Minho snaps in front of his face and repeats the question. Incredulous, he asks, “Me?”

“Of course,” Minho says with a roll of his eyes. “What else would overwhelm him but your emotions?”

“I’m fine, Min–”

“Overwhelm him?” Chan is dumbfounded. “There’s nothing wrong, though? He already soothed me several minutes before he got upset. Hyunjin, if I did something–”

Hyunjin interrupts him now, simultaneously slapping a hand over Minho’s mouth. “You didn’t do anything, Channie, and it’s not what you think, Minho. I just went a bit deep on accident. We should probably get ready for the day.”

Chan sees his own frown reflected on Minho’s newly uncovered face. But Hyunjin insists, “Really, I’m fine, and Chan feels better now, right?”

Chan nods slowly, feeling like he should push more but at the same time, he knows it’s not his place. Minho shrugs before standing and pulling Hyunjin up to his feet. 

Chan debates following them out, but decides to wait a couple minutes before emerging from the room. Hyunjin must still be in the bathroom nearest his room, so he forgoes washing up until everyone who actually needs to get ready for the day is through. He goes downstairs to sit on the couch until Seungmin encourages him to come eat some of the breakfast he and Felix prepared. 

The Seubalpae chat sleepily, making plans for the day and discussing their trip to Changbin’s parents’ house. When Minho comes downstairs, he makes eye contact then cocks his head towards the couch in a silent invitation to come talk. Chan takes a couple deep breaths to calm his nerves and joins him. Despite his kindness, Chan struggles to shake the feeling that Minho would rather he weren’t here. 

They sit on the couch with Minho just staring him down long enough that Chan feels like he needs to break the silence or just die from the awkwardness of the moment. “Is, um, is Hyunjin okay?” He asks. 

Minho blinks at him slowly, and Chan wonders if coming over here was a mistake. Finally, Minho says, “Hyunjin is fine. I do think it’s important for you to know, though: when you share things with him, even when he doesn’t seem to be actively using his gift, he tends to understand the heart of what you’re saying.” He pauses, looking Chan up and down. “Even if you don’t.”

Chan latches onto that last part. With how confused he was at Hyunjin’s reaction, he wonders how much of his own feelings he might not understand. For all his time spent alone, Chan thinks he has pretty good self-awareness. It’s his understanding of others that’s lacking. 

Before he can turn any of those thoughts into a coherent response, Minho clears his throat, suddenly looking a little less than comfortable. He continues, “He also knows his own heart very well. The rest of ours, too, in theory.”

“In theory?” Chan asks with a slight smirk. Something about the way Minho said it, begrudgingly so, that tickles him. 

“Usually,” Minho snaps, but there’s no fire behind it. “Jury’s still out on this one, though.”

Chan can only guess at what he means, and with Minho, who he’s so unsure of things generally, he’s a little at a loss. So he just nods, waiting to see if he’ll add anything that will add clarity. 

Instead, Minho pats his thigh and says, “Anyway. Rest up today. Depending on how anxious Sneezy is feeling to get to Bin’s parents’ place, there’s a chance that we’ll leave when we get home tonight.” Then he’s getting up and grabbing Seungmin, teasing him about the nickname Chan bestowed on him. 

Soon enough, the Seubalpae are out the door, leaving Chan to ponder how to spend his day. Thoughts on what they might learn from Changbin’s parents, he heads outside. He’s never sung with the intent of using magic before and feels awkward wondering how he should start; normally the tunes just pour out of him when he’s alone and focused or feeling heavy emotions. It feels silly to start singing without purpose or an instinctive need. 

What should I even sing?

He decides to sing the cleaning song that he made up yesterday, since he’ll be doing much the same thing today, just focusing on the upstairs. Within a minute, Chan has several woodland helpers surrounding him. The sight fills him with profound wonderment and joy. He really called them to him. 

“Hello friends!” He greets them happily. “If you don’t mind, I’d love more help with the laundry today. We’re doing the bedding from my bed and a lot of towels, so it could take a while to do it on my own.”

The fox chirps in what seems to be agreement before gekkering to the rest. 

“Thank you,” Chan tells them, then looks back into the cottage. “You can wait here, and I can bring stuff down. That way you won’t have to worry about the stairs.” He rushes inside, grabbing the basket he used yesterday then collecting the sheets and blanket from ‘his’ room first. He feels compelled to check the mirror first, needing to know what his eyes look like right now. Felix had told him it looks like they have green rings when he uses his magic. 

Chan is happy to be alone when he gasps at his own reflection. He feels a rush of unfamiliar self-appreciation when he sees how the lush, forest green rings have overrun his irises. Something about the glow and the knowledge that they display his power makes him feel beautiful. 

But he knows he can’t linger here; his furry friends are waiting to help him. So, Chan gathers the towels from this bathroom and the other, then heads back down. When he gets outside, the doe is back and she’s brought a friend. They block his way when he attempts to bring the basket to the tub to help with the washing. He ends up letting them carry the basket between them and turning back to the fox. 

“Well, if you all will handle the laundry, I guess I’ll dust and do this morning’s dishes,” Chan says. He thinks about how the Queen uses her magic to make others do her bidding and believe her lies, and a pit forms in his stomach. He almost walks away but stops himself and crouches down to be closer to eye level with the animal. He asks, “I’m… am I forcing you all to help me against your will?”

The sound it makes can only be described as a laugh. It shakes its head. That makes Chan feel better. Maybe they just come because they’re willing to help. He thanks the fox and the chipmunks that accompany him inside. He starts up a new song as they gather small cloths and climb up among the Seubalpaes’ knick knacks to start the dusting. 

Once again, Chan’s chores are done in no time at all. He helps the birds hang the bedclothes on the lines to dry, and while he’s out notices that some of the other animals have clearly been organizing some of the garden tools. 

“I really feel like I should do something for you all,” Chan says with a sigh. He pets the doe between her ears. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything to offer.” 

So he gives the only thing he can. He sits on a stump and sings some more. With everything done, the animals all just gather around to listen. That’s where they are when they hear voices approaching. Chan only falters for a moment, unsure if he should go back in to hide, but then he hears Changbin’s laugh. A few of the animals run off, but when Chan asks if he should continue, the doe at his side nods her head. 

That’s how the Seubalpae find him: surrounded by woodland creatures, bright green rings alight in his eyes. He looks more at ease than they’ve ever seen him. Chan’s voice is clear and calming, absolutely lovely.

When they reach him, Chan smiles up at them, noticing Jisung is fast asleep, drooling a bit on Jeongin’s shoulder, as he welcomes them home. Jeongin heads inside with his passenger but the others sit amidst the fauna, some quietly reveling in the uncharacteristic willingness to coexist so closely. 

Changbin, however, only seems to focus on Chan’s face, a look of wonder on his own. It makes Chan feel a bit shy, and he considers stopping when the song is complete, but then another voice joins his. Startled, Chan locks eyes with Seungmin. They finish out the song in perfect harmony, and Chan needs to sing more so that he can hear Seungmin’s lovely voice again. 

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

After a while, the songs come to an end, and the animals disperse. The men all head inside, chatting excitedly.

“Chan, that was,” Changbin begins excitedly.

Felix finishes for him, “Amazing!”

“And they all helped clean again?” Minho asks, wonder plain on his face as the prettiest smile breaks across it. 

For a second, Chan forgets why he ever found the man intimidating or unfriendly. He’s beautiful. Then he realizes that the question was directed at him. “Oh, yes. Yeah, they helped with everything.”

“Fascinating,” Minho says, turning to Changbin. “You can’t think of anyone who communicates with animals?”

“Oh, what about that girl,” Seungmin says with a light slap on Changbin’s arm. “Remember back when we helped your sister move? Her neighbor’s daughter got that funky looking bear to help you so I didn’t have to lift furniture.”

“How could I forget the moon bear!” 

A bear helped move furniture? Despite all that’s happened the last few days, Chan isn’t sure he’ll ever get used to what magic can make happen. He tunes back in enough to learn that the bear was the family’s pet, bonded to the girl through her magic. Not too similar to his situation. Still, it is something.

Then Minho claps a hand on Chan’s shoulder, and he fails not to jump. Minho cackles and says, “Come on. If you really wanna earn your keep, you better start learning to cook so I don’t have to slave away at the stove after a long day at the mine.”

“Of course,” Chan says eagerly. 

He does want to make life easier for the men who have saved his life. Learning to cook is an easy way to do so. Minho is a good teacher, too. He plays at impatience and indifference, but this one-on-one time shows Chan that it's possible that Minho is all bark and no bite. 

Minho stills his hand with a soft touch. “We only chop like that if we’re interested in cutting the tip of our fingers off,” he snarks. But then he’s slotting himself behind Chan, curling his own fingers over Chan’s to correct him, guiding him to make a few more cuts. It’s little things like that, the softness with the sassiness that makes Chan feel welcome, like he belongs. 

By the time the meal is prepared, Chan is feeling a new warmth when he looks at the formerly dubbed Grumpy. As they sit down to eat, Jeongin insists that he sits between him and Jisung so they can tell the telekinetic what he missed during his nap, including having Chan sing little snippets of the songs. When he does, he finds that both of them have lovely voices as well, joining in when they recognize the song. 

“Maybe you all should’ve been a band instead of miners,” Chan laughs, though he means it whole heartedly. 

“I mean, I do play a mean air guitar,” Changbin jokes, showing off his skills. 

Felix grins, hands rubbing at Changbin’s impressive arms. “Don’t let him fool you, Chan. Our Binnie is very talented with his mouth, too.” 

“Yah,” Changbin says, ears and cheeks flaring.

“What?” Felix asks with a glint in his eye that tells everyone giggling around the table that he knows exactly why Changbin spoke up. “You rap so well, and you can even beatbox. Seemed worth mentioning, since Channie thinks we could be a band.”

“Right, of course,” Changbin mutters. When Chan makes eye contact with him, he giggles a little, too. “Anyway, Chan we were talking today, and I think we’ll hold off until this weekend to go see my parents. Seungmin’s eyes were glowing along with his sneezes today, so we think he might be on the mend. If you don’t mind waiting, especially now that we’ve seen your magic, I don’t think it would be the worst thing to wait. I did get a letter out to them, though.”

“Of course. Whatever is best for you all,” Chan tells him before turning to Seungmin. “I’m glad you’re starting to get better.”

As shocking as the mystery of Chan having magic he shouldn’t be able to have is, he doesn’t mind not waiting to find out how it’s possible. Maybe it’s cowardly, but he can’t help but want to keep everything as it is now. Chan has had so much change in his life lately, and what he thought he knew, in such a short amount of time. He’s craving stability, and he’ll take it however he can get it.

“Chan?”

“Sorry, what?” Jeongin is looking at him expectantly, and Chan realizes he’s zoned out again. 

“Are you alright?” Jeongin’s smile has dimmed a bit as his eyes search Chan’s face.

“Yes, I’m sorry,” Chan says, chagrined. He doesn’t want to burden any of them any more than he already has. I need to stay present. “Just a little lost in thought. What did you say?”

Jeongin’s ears take on a pink hue. “Nothing important. Just asked what your favorite fruit is. Lix said he might teach you to bake a pie tomorrow since you did so well with dinner tonight.”

Chan looks at Felix’s sunshiny grin, then back to Jeongin. He gives them a smile of his own. “That’s a great idea. I’ll do my best.”

“And?” Jeongin asks, eagerness returned to his expression.

Chan is dumbfounded for a moment when a pear floats behind Jeongin’s head. His eyes snap to Jisung who gives him a wink. “Right,” he laughs, “I actually really like pears, though peaches are my favorite.”

“That’s perfect!” Jeongin is too cute when he smiles like that. “There are some wild peach trees not too far from here.”

“Maybe your animal friends can bring you some?” Jisung suggests. 

From there, they talk about favorite fruits and desserts, and Chan manages to stay in the moment the whole time. The Seubalpae tease and joke with him, treating him like he’s just part of the group. Hyunjin must’ve told them about their conversation the night before, because they all seem a bit freer with the causal touches and pet names. 

Chan is happy that they aren’t afraid to be themselves around him, though he spends a good portion of the night blushing at all the innuendos Minho, Jisung, and Felix throw around. When Felix makes a joke about him and Hyunjin in bed together, Chan just about dies, but he can’t help but imagine what that would’ve been like. 

“Stop messing with him, Lix-ah,” Hyunjin calls, looking quite red himself. 

“It’s fine,” Chan finds himself saying, though he certainly made no active choice to do so. Seven pairs of eyes turn on him, and he’s sure he’s officially turned into a tomato. His voice loses its stability as he tries to explain himself. “I-I mean, I can take it – the jokes. It actually feels nice to be included. Plus, it is a funny thought.” 

There are a few giggles at that, but Minho’s tone is sharp when he asks, “And what do you think makes it funny?”

“Min,” Changbin says.

A couple of the others start to say something as well, but Minho cuts them all off, and persists, “No, I really wanna know what he’s thinking.”

“I, um,” Chan stutters out, feeling like he made a mistake, but he’s not quite sure what it was. So, he does the only thing he can think to do and tells the truth. “The idea that Hyunjin would be with me like that. He has all of you already, and look at him, he’s clearly out of my league.”

“Out of your league?” Hyunjin sounds completely flabbergasted for some reason. 

“I got this, Hyuni,” Felix interrupts. The man comes around in front of Chan and inexplicably cups both hands around his face, leaning in to look him dead in the eyes. “Darling, I don’t care what that wicked Queen has told you, you don’t need to be a prince for people to want to be with you. And you are very handsome. Whenever you doubt that, I want you to remind yourself that that bitch was so jealous of you being prettier than her that she literally got homicidal.” 

“Lix, I’m not sure that–”

Despite the fact that it definitely wasn’t the nicest thing he’s ever heard, Chan is suddenly choking back a sob. It cuts off any other comments following Felix’s proclamation. From what they’ve said, he knows that Felix has seen a lot about his life in the last few days. Something about that knowledge in addition to his kindness breaks another piece of Chan loose. 

“Oh Chan-ah, it’s okay,” Hyunjin murmurs. Chan can tell he’s using his gift again, the wave of emotion is receding. “Maybe it’s time to call it a night guys. Channie, how about you go get ready for bed?”

It’s the kind of thing you ask a child when you want to avoid a whole situation, but he doesn’t mind. He latches onto the idea, nodding and getting up from the table. He hears Hyunjin following him up the stairs, telling him that they can talk if he wants or he can help him go to bed. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I reacted like that,” he says, embarrassment fighting against Hyunjin’s soothing. 

“You never have to apologize for being human, Channie,” Hyunjin tells him. “Triggers often surprise you. Sometimes it can be the simplest thing that sets you off, even if it doesn’t seem logical.”

Chan nods, not really comforted by his words. He knows it’s true, but that doesn’t make him feel any less ridiculous. It’s not very late, but he changes quickly and lays down. He doesn’t expect Hyunjin to get in bed beside him. He figured the empath would soothe him quickly and return to the others. Chan turns over to look at him questioningly, but Hyunjin speaks before he can ask.

“Just get comfortable. Let me help you sleep.” Hyunjin curls his body around Chan’s. Even without his power, the action itself sends a comforting warmth through him. It’s extremely rare for him to have someone take care of him like this. Even last night it had been up to Chan to initiate the contact, albeit by Hyunjin’s suggestion. Chan starts to tear up before he feels himself even out. A yawn escapes him as Hyunjin gives him a little squeeze. “No more thinking. I’ve got you.” 

Chan is out within the minute. In his dream, he and the Seubalpae are gathered in a glade, all his forest friends mixed in among them as they sing together. 

❄◌✴︎˚Jeongin｡✴︎◌❄

Back down in the kitchen, Minho and Felix have started cooking dinner while Hyunjin is sorting the clean laundry. Jeongin helps him finish up but gets confused when he finds eight more or less even stacks of clothes rather than seven. 

“So I’m guessing one of these is for Chan, but which one?”

Hyunjin pats the stack between what seems to be Minho and Changbin’s clothes. “Right here. I want to give him some options until we can help him get more clothes. I think Minho, Bin, and Jisung’s clothes seem most likely to fit him best, right?”

“Yeah,” Jeongin nods in agreement. “Maybe instead of helping in the mine tomorrow you and Lix should go to the market to find stuff for him? I’d say you should take him with you, but…”

“We don’t want anyone to recognize him and report back to the Queen,” Hyunjin finishes for him. He looks up in the direction of the bathroom upstairs. “He didn’t talk much when he woke up, but it doesn’t seem like he had a bad day, even if he clearly spent all of it cleaning.”

“That’s good at least,” Jeongin says. They gather their stacks of laundry and head up the stairs. As they go to put Minho and Felix’s clothes away, he shuts the door, just in case. “Did he happen to say anything about his nightmares?”

Hyunjin shakes his head sadly. “He never does. I’ve honestly been thinking about asking him if I can sleep in his room with him. That way I can soothe him right away when they start.”

It’s a pretty good idea, and with the way Chan seems to trust them, he’d probably allow it. At the same time, it may be slightly problematic, logistically speaking. “Would you sleep in the bed with him?”

“That’s the thing. I don’t want to have to sleep on the floor, but maybe that would be too much?” Hyunjin clearly has been thinking about this a lot. He starts rambling. “I wouldn’t stay up all night, obviously, so I could end up crowding him and making him feel worse, like trapped, y’know? Plus, based on what we know, he’s probably never even shared a bed before. Maybe he’d be too uncomfortable to even fall asleep, which would definitely defeat the purpose. Or what if he feels so weird about it that he stops letting me come in to soothe him at all?”

Jeongin puts his hands on Hyunjin’s shoulders in what he hopes is a calming, grounding gesture. “I think you’re worrying a little too much. He seems very comfortable with everyone, especially you and Binnie. I can’t speak to if he’d feel trapped, but we can tell him that you tend to cuddle in your sleep, and let him tell us how he feels about that.”

Hyunjin sighs, letting his head drop down onto Jeongin’s shoulder. “You’re right. I just really don’t want to make his situation any worse than it already is.”

“Yeah,” Jeongin says as he moves one hand to pet the older man’s hair. “I really can’t imagine being in his position. But you know what?” Hyunjin tilts his head a bit so that he can peak up at him. “He’s lucky to have found us. I can’t think of a more healing and safe place for him to be, and I think on some level he must know that.”

Hyunjin lifts his head, a grin spreading across his face. He pulls Jeongin in for a hug and starts trying to pepper his face with kisses. As Jeongin feigns disgust, pushing his face away, he says, “Aww, I can’t wait to tell everyone how much our Innie loves us.”

“Ugh, why are you all so annoying today?” Jeongin grumbles, finally giving in and letting Hyunjin press a long, wet kiss on his cheek. “You’re the worst. I hope Chan does want to sleep with you so I can lock myself in a room away from you losers.”

Nuzzling his nose against Jeongin, Hyunjin whispers, “You know you can’t fool me with your mean words, Iyen-ah.”

He does know that, but it doesn’t stop him from groaning and pushing him away. “Can we put everyone else’s clothes away so I can go be somewhere that you aren’t?” He appreciates the way Hyunjin only smiles and nods rather than pointing out that they could simply take stacks of clothes that would require that they split up to take them to different rooms. 

They finish up in Chan’s temporary room. As they turn to leave it, Chan walks in; clearly Changbin hadn’t thought to leave clothes in the bathroom for him, because the prince walks in with just a towel slung low on his hips. He looks good. His hair is still dripping slightly, creating little rivulets that run over the hills and valleys of his sharp collarbones, impressive pecs, and washboard abs. His arms and shoulders were already obviously muscular with a shirt on, but seeing them in their full glory is something else. 

Jeongin doesn’t realize they’re both just staring until Chan lets loose a nervous giggle. His eyes fly up to the prince’s face to see the pretty blush across his cheeks begin spreading down to his lovely chest. He elbows Hyunjin, who immediately springs into action. 

Unfortunately, his mouth works just a little faster than his brain. “Oh, sorry! We were just leaving you some clothes.” He gestures to the stack of laundry they’d just put on the dresser. “And I, um, wanted to ask if you’d be open to sleeping with me tonight?”

Jeongin slaps his hand up over his eyes to block his view of a wide-eyed, rapidly reddening Chan and hisses, “Hyunjin.”

Understanding falls across Hyunjin’s face before his expression turns panicked. “Oh my gods! What I meant was, just like, sleeping. I wanna make you feel– wait no, soothing! I want to be able to soothe you right away, to take you out of your nightmares without having to wake you up and get you out of bed.”

Jeongin is trying so hard not to either burst out laughing or die from secondhand embarrassment. 

“Obviously it’s fine if you’d rather not; I was just trying to think of what might be better for you rest-wise.” Hyunjin finishes with a sigh. It’s hard to say whose blush is deeper at this point, Chan’s or Hyunjin’s. 

Jeongin takes Hyunjin’s arm and starts pulling him toward the door. To Chan, he says, “We’ll get out of your way so you can get ready for dinner and think about it.” He pauses for a beat and adds, “And just so you know, he sometimes gets cuddly in his sleep, but it’s not on purpose.”

They’ve almost made it to the stairs when they hear Chan’s voice. They turn to see him peeking his head back out into the hallway when he says, “I think it would be alright. Sleeping in the same bed.”

Hyunjin beams back at him. He looks so beautiful and sweet that Jeongin wouldn’t be surprised if Chan is thinking he wouldn’t mind sleeping with him, too. 

They carry on, heading downstairs, and Hyunjin whispers excitedly, “That made me so nervous! I’m glad I didn’t make him uncomfortable. That could’ve been terrible.”

It’s so endearing, seeing him like this. Jeongin just rolls his eyes at him and tells him to calm down about it before he tells the others. At the same time, though, watching the way Hyunjin happily floats the rest of the way downstairs, he can’t help but think, I really do love him so much.

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

❄◌✴︎˚Hyunjin｡✴︎◌❄

Hyunjin plasters himself to Changbin’s back as soon as he gets down to the kitchen. He murmurs into his neck, “Gods, I’m so embarrassing sometimes.”

“What happened, baby?” Changbin chuckles as he continues to set the table. 

“You know how we talked about sleeping arrangements this afternoon?” Hyunjin asks. 

Felix pops up beside them. “Oh! Did you ask Chan about it?”

They all look up when Jeongin barks out a laugh from where he’s leaning against the sink. Hyunjin sticks his tongue at him. “It’s not funny, Innie!”

“I mean,” Jeongin shrugs and gestures to himself. “It’s pretty hilarious from where I’m standing.”

“I was nervous!” There’s a warm wash of light over the table. Hyunjin slaps Felix’s shoulder, knowing it’ll do nothing to stop him from watching what happened upstairs. “Hey, hey! No fair! Just let me tell the story!”

Felix starts guffawing as the gold fades from his gaze, and Hyunjin catches Minho jump at the sudden sound out of the corner of his eye. Felix takes his face between his hands and presses a kiss to his lip. “Baby, I’m sorry, but it was actually really cute.”

“Is someone going to tell us the story, or should I go ask Chan?” Minho asks. Though he then sits at the head of the table, making the threat moot. 

“I just misspoke is all,” Hyunjin shrugs, knowing that is not gonna be enough. When Minho moves towards the stairs, he sighs heavily. Then he mumbles out, “IkindofaskedChanifhewantstosleepwithme.”

Jeongin and Felix break into another round of giggles, but Minho and Changbin look confused. “Can you try that again using actual words?” asks the latter.

One more sigh, and Hyunjin gives in. “I kind of, accidentally, asked Chan if he wants to… sleep with me tonight. I just phrased the question awkwardly. Obviously, I wouldn’t ask him to have sex so soon, so he was cool about it.” He sucks his lips between his teeth, eyes falling shut, as he braces for what he knows is coming. Felix is already giggling. 

“So soon, huh?” Jeongin manages to get out before he bursts out laughing. Minho only holds out as long as Jeongin does, cackling along with him. 

Hyunjin considers just sinking into the floor. Then at least he’ll be out of this conversation. He knows that they’re just messing around with him, but he also knows they wouldn’t be if it weren’t clear that he’s a little taken with the prince. Luckily, Changbin takes pity on him and stifles his own laughter. 

“Alright, alright, leave Hyuni alone. Why don’t you go wake up Sleepy and Sneezy.” A few more giggles follow the use of Chan’s nicknames for them as Changbin wraps Hyunjin in a hug. Softer, he asks, “Help me finish setting the table?”

By the time Jeongin returns with Chan, Jisung, and Seungmin in tow, Felix is just finishing up serving bowls of rice to each setting. 

Hyunjin can feel the slight apprehension radiating off of Chan as he takes in Minho frowning down at the platters piled high with meats and veggies. When Minho immediately begins serving him first, it spikes just a little before shifting to gratitude when Minho gifts him what likely seems to be a rare smile. 

Once everyone is served, Jisung turns to Chan with a yawn and asks, “So your high– I mean, Chan, how did you manage to get so much done today? Or are we just, like, really bad at housekeeping, and it’s just way easier than I think?”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re all great at housekeeping,” Chan rushes to say with this adorable blush spreading across his face. He graciously ignores Jeongin’s faux coughed ‘except Ji.’ “I actually had a bit of help.”

Jisung sits upright, his tiredness seems to evaporate immediately. Around the table, the Seubalpae all trade glances. Changbin is the one to ask this time. “Who was here? Someone from the kingdom?”

“Oh no, no. It wasn’t a person,” Chan assures them, though it doesn’t provide any clarity. Hyunjin locks eyes with Felix, knowing he’s considering looking back at what happened today. “It was actually a group of animals. Some of them have even helped me before. That’s how I found your cottage to begin with.”

More eyes land on Felix, and Hyunjin can feel the embarrassment and shame welling up in Chan. “It’s not that we don’t believe you, Chan. It just…” Hyunjin trails off as he searches for the right words. 

“No, I know,” Chan nods with a sad smile. “It sounds crazy. I really don’t understand how it happened, but they really did just appear and start doing things I was planning to get done.”

Seungmin tilts his head in thought. “What happened before they showed up?”

“Nothing really. I’d just gotten started and decided to whistle while I worked. Then some birds started to whistle along with me.” Chan smiles at the memory. “Before I knew it, there was a whole group of them there to help. They were pretty insistent actually.”

“And you said they’ve helped you before?”

“Yes! When I was walking through the forest, I started singing to try to lift my spirits and pass the time. A few birds started to follow me, singing along with me. I stopped to rest for a while and a larger group of critters stopped to listen.” Chan’s ears start to turn pink again, but he goes on, “After a bit I told them I needed to find food and shelter. They brought me nuts and berries, and then a fox led me here.”

A pensive silence settles over the table. Hyunjin looks over to Changbin and says what he assumes most of them are thinking. “It sounds like magic.”

“Do you mind if I…?” Felix ventures.

Chan nods. “Yes, go ahead. But I definitely don’t know how to do any magic.”

The golden light of Felix’s eyes washes over the room. They all wait with baited breath. When the light fades, his eyes are wide. “Will you sing for us now?” He asks excitedly.

All eyes turn back to Chan. The apprehension in him is cresting, so Hyunjin lays his hand over one of Chan’s. He whispers to Chan before addressing the group. “Don’t worry about it. Lix-ah, can you just tell us what you saw? This is kind of overwhelming.”

Felix’s eyes widen further, if possible. “Oh, I’m sorry, Channie. I’m sure this is a lot. But,” he pauses, looking to Hyunjin for the go ahead to drop the bomb. He gives Chan’s hand a squeeze and nods. Felix must wait until the lavender shows in his eyes before adding, “Your eyes look gorgeous with those green rings.”

The room erupts in sound as several of them question how it that be possible. As he said, Chan didn’t even know people used magic before he got here. He can’t have used it without knowing; human magic doesn’t work that way. Human magic also doesn’t manifest that way. 

It is, however, how Nidabeorinian magic manifests.

But that doesn’t make any sense. Humans think Nidabeorin is just a myth, and Seubalpae haven’t been welcome in Baekguk for decades. To Hyunjin’s knowledge, since long before Chan’s birth. Could he be wrong?

He lets his power sweep over the room, a calming mist spreading among them. When the group settles, Seungmin speaks up again.

“Bin, maybe it is worth it to make that visit to your parents.” He looks over at Chan with a gentle smile. “We can find out if there’s a remedy for my cold, and maybe they can help us to get a better understanding of Chan’s magic.”

“I think that’s a great idea, Minnie,” Changbin agrees. “I’ll arrange it. Would you be open to going to meet them, Chan?”

Chan nods but keeps quiet. The rest of dinner is much more subdued. Felix tries to brighten the mood afterwards by suggesting a card game. As usual, it was just the right thing. They spend the rest of the evening joking and laughing. When it comes time to turn in, Hyunjin changes in the room with Seungmin and Jisung before heading down the hall. 

He knocks lightly on the door to Chan’s room. Almost as if he were just standing by waiting, Chan opens it seconds after and gestures for him to come inside. They approach the bed and pause. Hyunjin can’t tell if the awkwardness he’s feeling is just his or both of theirs.

“So, um,” he chooses to break the silence himself, “which side of the bed do you prefer?”

Chan chuckles. “I was thinking about asking you that. I’ve never… well I’ve never shared a bed with someone else, so I don’t have a side.”

“Never?” Hyunjin asks impulsively, though he regrets his rudeness immediately.

Chan’s ears are bright red, and the blush is racing to color his cheeks as well. He shakes his head and quietly says, “Not overnight, at least.”

Hyunjin’s blushing at the implication now. He really keeps stepping in it. If it weren’t for his gift helping him to know he doesn’t make Chan uncomfortable, he’d probably have to avoid him for a few days. Instead, he puts on a smile and tells him, “In that case, I’ll take the right. Sungie typically prefers the left, and I sleep with him most often lately.”

Hyunjin blows out the lamp, leaving the moon shining through the window as the only source of light in the room. They climb into bed, several inches of sheets between them, awkward silence still filling the room.

Chan clears his throat, and perhaps emboldened by the darkness, asks. “Can I, um, ask you a personal question?”

Hyunjin nods before realizing he probably can’t see him. “Sure, go for it.”

“I noticed… well, I noticed a lot of things, but one thing is that you all shift around rooms some nights, and you just said you sleep with Jisung the most.” He pauses, but Hyunjin decides to wait for the actual question, even though he thinks he knows what it is. Chan goes on to say, “Plus, there are only four bedrooms for the seven of you. What, um, or how would you describe your relationship with the rest of the guys?”

Hyunjin isn’t at all ashamed of their relationship. He loves all his boyfriends. So much so that ‘boyfriend’ doesn’t actually seem like the proper label for them; it doesn’t feel strong enough. Still, it doesn’t stop him from fiddling with the edge of the blanket, embarrassed, not about his loves, just to be speaking candidly with a new friend who’s laying beside him. Still, Chan deserves an answer, especially if he wants to stay here with them, and if Hyunjin is being honest with himself, he wants Chan to know.

He explains, “We’re all in a romantic relationship together. We’ve all been together for years now. Does that…” He was going to ask if it makes him uncomfortable, but Hyunjin is pleased to know that it doesn’t. So instead he asks, “Do you have any other questions about us? You’re welcome to ask anything, about our relationship or otherwise.”

Chan stays quiet for a minute, and Hyunjin wonders if he’s just considering going to sleep when he speaks again. Turns out he actually has quite a few questions. “Since you’re all together there’s no jealousy or anything? Even when you’d rather choose to, like, bunk up with one over the others? Are polyamorous relationships the norm for dwarves, I mean, Seubalpae? Did you all get together at once or were some of you together already? And –”

“Wait, wait,” Hyunjin laughs. Having all these questions must be a good sign. He’s struck once more by this feeling that he can’t quite quantify, quite an unusual occurrence for the cottage’s resident empath. Like Chan’s immediate acceptance of their relationship is a sign that him being there with them is right. “Let me answer those first, or I’m going to start forgetting what you asked.”

Chan giggles as well, apologizing and telling him to go ahead.

“Okay, so to start,” Hyunjin begins to explain, trying to tackle the first couple of questions by describing his and Jisung’s compatible sleep habits and how none of them feel like they can’t just ask to switch things up or crawl into bed with another pair at the drop of a hat. “I think jealousy is natural to an extent, but like, in a playful way. With so much love to spread around, there’s no need for anger or frustration.”

Chan nods along, and isn’t surprised to hear that polyamory is just as common as one-on-one relationships in their culture. He seems… relieved to hear that only Changbin and Seungmin had already been in a relationship prior to them all starting to date. They had all met around the same time, except for Jisung, who came along not too long before they moved out here. 

“Yeah, we all just kinda started spending more time together, and the more we did, the more we started falling for each other. Then, we met Jisung, and things fell into place so easily it felt like fate,” Hyunjin smiles at the memory and looks over at Chan now that his eyes have adjusted to the low light. At some point, one or both of them must’ve shifted, because they’re closer than they were when they first got in bed. Hyunjin finds that he doesn’t mind it at all.

“That sounds,” Chan searches for the right word. “Magical? I love that for you all. And, um, you guys don’t get jealous of each other, but is Jisung or anyone gonna mind you sharing my bed tonight?” 

Hyunjin grins and shakes his head. “We all wanna help you, Channie, so they get it. If this will help you to get to a better place, that’s all we care about. Plus, Jisung will have his hands full tonight; he won’t even miss me.” He feels Chan’s relief surging again. He uses the good feelings as encouragement to ask, “And what about you? You won’t mind if I end up cuddling you in my sleep tonight?”

“Oh,” Chan gulps audibly. A few emotions flare up in him, but Hyunjin does his best to ignore them so he can listen to the answer Chan actually intends to give him. “I don’t think I’ll mind. I do run kind of hot, though, so it might get uncomfortable for you.” He punctuates the sentence with a yawn.

“I think we’ll be fine.” Hyunjin decides to act on what he thinks he’s feeling. Without a doubt, he’ll end up wrapped around the man, so maybe it’s better to see that they’ll both feel okay about it earlier rather than later. “It’s probably time we actually try sleeping. If you want to start out cuddling, to see if it works for us, I think that would be alright, too. Plus, touch can enhance my gift, so if you start having a nightmare, I might be able to start soothing you right instinctively.”

Chan agrees hesitatingly, and they shift around so that he’s spooning Hyunjin, easily able to turn away if he ends up wanting to. The second he wraps his arm around Hyunjin’s middle, Hyunjin sighs. It feels so much like he has Changbin behind him, so comfortable that he falls asleep almost instantly. 

❄◌✴︎˚Jeongin｡✴︎◌❄

Back down in the kitchen, Minho and Felix have started cooking dinner while Hyunjin is sorting the clean laundry. Jeongin helps him finish up but gets confused when he finds eight more or less even stacks of clothes rather than seven. 

“So I’m guessing one of these is for Chan, but which one?”

Hyunjin pats the stack between what seems to be Minho and Changbin’s clothes. “Right here. I want to give him some options until we can help him get more clothes. I think Minho, Bin, and Jisung’s clothes seem most likely to fit him best, right?”

“Yeah,” Jeongin nods in agreement. “Maybe instead of helping in the mine tomorrow you and Lix should go to the market to find stuff for him? I’d say you should take him with you, but…”

“We don’t want anyone to recognize him and report back to the Queen,” Hyunjin finishes for him. He looks up in the direction of the bathroom upstairs. “He didn’t talk much when he woke up, but it doesn’t seem like he had a bad day, even if he clearly spent all of it cleaning.”

“That’s good at least,” Jeongin says. They gather their stacks of laundry and head up the stairs. As they go to put Minho and Felix’s clothes away, he shuts the door, just in case. “Did he happen to say anything about his nightmares?”

Hyunjin shakes his head sadly. “He never does. I’ve honestly been thinking about asking him if I can sleep in his room with him. That way I can soothe him right away when they start.”

It’s a pretty good idea, and with the way Chan seems to trust them, he’d probably allow it. At the same time, it may be slightly problematic, logistically speaking. “Would you sleep in the bed with him?”

“That’s the thing. I don’t want to have to sleep on the floor, but maybe that would be too much?” Hyunjin clearly has been thinking about this a lot. He starts rambling. “I wouldn’t stay up all night, obviously, so I could end up crowding him and making him feel worse, like trapped, y’know? Plus, based on what we know, he’s probably never even shared a bed before. Maybe he’d be too uncomfortable to even fall asleep, which would definitely defeat the purpose. Or what if he feels so weird about it that he stops letting me come in to soothe him at all?”

Jeongin puts his hands on Hyunjin’s shoulders in what he hopes is a calming, grounding gesture. “I think you’re worrying a little too much. He seems very comfortable with everyone, especially you and Binnie. I can’t speak to if he’d feel trapped, but we can tell him that you tend to cuddle in your sleep, and let him tell us how he feels about that.”

Hyunjin sighs, letting his head drop down onto Jeongin’s shoulder. “You’re right. I just really don’t want to make his situation any worse than it already is.”

“Yeah,” Jeongin says as he moves one hand to pet the older man’s hair. “I really can’t imagine being in his position. But you know what?” Hyunjin tilts his head a bit so that he can peak up at him. “He’s lucky to have found us. I can’t think of a more healing and safe place for him to be, and I think on some level he must know that.”

Hyunjin lifts his head, a grin spreading across his face. He pulls Jeongin in for a hug and starts trying to pepper his face with kisses. As Jeongin feigns disgust, pushing his face away, he says, “Aww, I can’t wait to tell everyone how much our Innie loves us.”

“Ugh, why are you all so annoying today?” Jeongin grumbles, finally giving in and letting Hyunjin press a long, wet kiss on his cheek. “You’re the worst. I hope Chan does want to sleep with you so I can lock myself in a room away from you losers.”

Nuzzling his nose against Jeongin, Hyunjin whispers, “You know you can’t fool me with your mean words, Iyen-ah.”

He does know that, but it doesn’t stop him from groaning and pushing him away. “Can we put everyone else’s clothes away so I can go be somewhere that you aren’t?” He appreciates the way Hyunjin only smiles and nods rather than pointing out that they could simply take stacks of clothes that would require that they split up to take them to different rooms. 

They finish up in Chan’s temporary room. As they turn to leave it, Chan walks in; clearly Changbin hadn’t thought to leave clothes in the bathroom for him, because the prince walks in with just a towel slung low on his hips. He looks good. His hair is still dripping slightly, creating little rivulets that run over the hills and valleys of his sharp collarbones, impressive pecs, and washboard abs. His arms and shoulders were already obviously muscular with a shirt on, but seeing them in their full glory is something else. 

Jeongin doesn’t realize they’re both just staring until Chan lets loose a nervous giggle. His eyes fly up to the prince’s face to see the pretty blush across his cheeks begin spreading down to his lovely chest. He elbows Hyunjin, who immediately springs into action. 

Unfortunately, his mouth works just a little faster than his brain. “Oh, sorry! We were just leaving you some clothes.” He gestures to the stack of laundry they’d just put on the dresser. “And I, um, wanted to ask if you’d be open to sleeping with me tonight?”

Jeongin slaps his hand up over his eyes to block his view of a wide-eyed, rapidly reddening Chan and hisses, “Hyunjin.”

Understanding falls across Hyunjin’s face before his expression turns panicked. “Oh my gods! What I meant was, just like, sleeping. I wanna make you feel– wait no, soothing! I want to be able to soothe you right away, to take you out of your nightmares without having to wake you up and get you out of bed.”

Jeongin is trying so hard not to either burst out laughing or die from secondhand embarrassment. 

“Obviously it’s fine if you’d rather not; I was just trying to think of what might be better for you rest-wise.” Hyunjin finishes with a sigh. It’s hard to say whose blush is deeper at this point, Chan’s or Hyunjin’s. 

Jeongin takes Hyunjin’s arm and starts pulling him toward the door. To Chan, he says, “We’ll get out of your way so you can get ready for dinner and think about it.” He pauses for a beat and adds, “And just so you know, he sometimes gets cuddly in his sleep, but it’s not on purpose.”

They’ve almost made it to the stairs when they hear Chan’s voice. They turn to see him peeking his head back out into the hallway when he says, “I think it would be alright. Sleeping in the same bed.”

Hyunjin beams back at him. He looks so beautiful and sweet that Jeongin wouldn’t be surprised if Chan is thinking he wouldn’t mind sleeping with him, too. 

They carry on, heading downstairs, and Hyunjin whispers excitedly, “That made me so nervous! I’m glad I didn’t make him uncomfortable. That could’ve been terrible.”

It’s so endearing, seeing him like this. Jeongin just rolls his eyes at him and tells him to calm down about it before he tells the others. At the same time, though, watching the way Hyunjin happily floats the rest of the way downstairs, he can’t help but think, I really do love him so much.

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

❄◌✴︎˚Hyunjin｡✴︎◌❄

Hyunjin plasters himself to Changbin’s back as soon as he gets down to the kitchen. He murmurs into his neck, “Gods, I’m so embarrassing sometimes.”

“What happened, baby?” Changbin chuckles as he continues to set the table. 

“You know how we talked about sleeping arrangements this afternoon?” Hyunjin asks. 

Felix pops up beside them. “Oh! Did you ask Chan about it?”

They all look up when Jeongin barks out a laugh from where he’s leaning against the sink. Hyunjin sticks his tongue at him. “It’s not funny, Innie!”

“I mean,” Jeongin shrugs and gestures to himself. “It’s pretty hilarious from where I’m standing.”

“I was nervous!” There’s a warm wash of light over the table. Hyunjin slaps Felix’s shoulder, knowing it’ll do nothing to stop him from watching what happened upstairs. “Hey, hey! No fair! Just let me tell the story!”

Felix starts guffawing as the gold fades from his gaze, and Hyunjin catches Minho jump at the sudden sound out of the corner of his eye. Felix takes his face between his hands and presses a kiss to his lip. “Baby, I’m sorry, but it was actually really cute.”

“Is someone going to tell us the story, or should I go ask Chan?” Minho asks. Though he then sits at the head of the table, making the threat moot. 

“I just misspoke is all,” Hyunjin shrugs, knowing that is not gonna be enough. When Minho moves towards the stairs, he sighs heavily. Then he mumbles out, “IkindofaskedChanifhewantstosleepwithme.”

Jeongin and Felix break into another round of giggles, but Minho and Changbin look confused. “Can you try that again using actual words?” asks the latter.

One more sigh, and Hyunjin gives in. “I kind of, accidentally, asked Chan if he wants to… sleep with me tonight. I just phrased the question awkwardly. Obviously, I wouldn’t ask him to have sex so soon, so he was cool about it.” He sucks his lips between his teeth, eyes falling shut, as he braces for what he knows is coming. Felix is already giggling. 

“So soon, huh?” Jeongin manages to get out before he bursts out laughing. Minho only holds out as long as Jeongin does, cackling along with him. 

Hyunjin considers just sinking into the floor. Then at least he’ll be out of this conversation. He knows that they’re just messing around with him, but he also knows they wouldn’t be if it weren’t clear that he’s a little taken with the prince. Luckily, Changbin takes pity on him and stifles his own laughter. 

“Alright, alright, leave Hyuni alone. Why don’t you go wake up Sleepy and Sneezy.” A few more giggles follow the use of Chan’s nicknames for them as Changbin wraps Hyunjin in a hug. Softer, he asks, “Help me finish setting the table?”

By the time Jeongin returns with Chan, Jisung, and Seungmin in tow, Felix is just finishing up serving bowls of rice to each setting. 

Hyunjin can feel the slight apprehension radiating off of Chan as he takes in Minho frowning down at the platters piled high with meats and veggies. When Minho immediately begins serving him first, it spikes just a little before shifting to gratitude when Minho gifts him what likely seems to be a rare smile. 

Once everyone is served, Jisung turns to Chan with a yawn and asks, “So your high– I mean, Chan, how did you manage to get so much done today? Or are we just, like, really bad at housekeeping, and it’s just way easier than I think?”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re all great at housekeeping,” Chan rushes to say with this adorable blush spreading across his face. He graciously ignores Jeongin’s faux coughed ‘except Ji.’ “I actually had a bit of help.”

Jisung sits upright, his tiredness seems to evaporate immediately. Around the table, the Seubalpae all trade glances. Changbin is the one to ask this time. “Who was here? Someone from the kingdom?”

“Oh no, no. It wasn’t a person,” Chan assures them, though it doesn’t provide any clarity. Hyunjin locks eyes with Felix, knowing he’s considering looking back at what happened today. “It was actually a group of animals. Some of them have even helped me before. That’s how I found your cottage to begin with.”

More eyes land on Felix, and Hyunjin can feel the embarrassment and shame welling up in Chan. “It’s not that we don’t believe you, Chan. It just…” Hyunjin trails off as he searches for the right words. 

“No, I know,” Chan nods with a sad smile. “It sounds crazy. I really don’t understand how it happened, but they really did just appear and start doing things I was planning to get done.”

Seungmin tilts his head in thought. “What happened before they showed up?”

“Nothing really. I’d just gotten started and decided to whistle while I worked. Then some birds started to whistle along with me.” Chan smiles at the memory. “Before I knew it, there was a whole group of them there to help. They were pretty insistent actually.”

“And you said they’ve helped you before?”

“Yes! When I was walking through the forest, I started singing to try to lift my spirits and pass the time. A few birds started to follow me, singing along with me. I stopped to rest for a while and a larger group of critters stopped to listen.” Chan’s ears start to turn pink again, but he goes on, “After a bit I told them I needed to find food and shelter. They brought me nuts and berries, and then a fox led me here.”

A pensive silence settles over the table. Hyunjin looks over to Changbin and says what he assumes most of them are thinking. “It sounds like magic.”

“Do you mind if I…?” Felix ventures.

Chan nods. “Yes, go ahead. But I definitely don’t know how to do any magic.”

The golden light of Felix’s eyes washes over the room. They all wait with baited breath. When the light fades, his eyes are wide. “Will you sing for us now?” He asks excitedly.

All eyes turn back to Chan. The apprehension in him is cresting, so Hyunjin lays his hand over one of Chan’s. He whispers to Chan before addressing the group. “Don’t worry about it. Lix-ah, can you just tell us what you saw? This is kind of overwhelming.”

Felix’s eyes widen further, if possible. “Oh, I’m sorry, Channie. I’m sure this is a lot. But,” he pauses, looking to Hyunjin for the go ahead to drop the bomb. He gives Chan’s hand a squeeze and nods. Felix must wait until the lavender shows in his eyes before adding, “Your eyes look gorgeous with those green rings.”

The room erupts in sound as several of them question how it that be possible. As he said, Chan didn’t even know people used magic before he got here. He can’t have used it without knowing; human magic doesn’t work that way. Human magic also doesn’t manifest that way. 

It is, however, how Nidabeorinian magic manifests.

But that doesn’t make any sense. Humans think Nidabeorin is just a myth, and Seubalpae haven’t been welcome in Baekguk for decades. To Hyunjin’s knowledge, since long before Chan’s birth. Could he be wrong?

He lets his power sweep over the room, a calming mist spreading among them. When the group settles, Seungmin speaks up again.

“Bin, maybe it is worth it to make that visit to your parents.” He looks over at Chan with a gentle smile. “We can find out if there’s a remedy for my cold, and maybe they can help us to get a better understanding of Chan’s magic.”

“I think that’s a great idea, Minnie,” Changbin agrees. “I’ll arrange it. Would you be open to going to meet them, Chan?”

Chan nods but keeps quiet. The rest of dinner is much more subdued. Felix tries to brighten the mood afterwards by suggesting a card game. As usual, it was just the right thing. They spend the rest of the evening joking and laughing. When it comes time to turn in, Hyunjin changes in the room with Seungmin and Jisung before heading down the hall. 

He knocks lightly on the door to Chan’s room. Almost as if he were just standing by waiting, Chan opens it seconds after and gestures for him to come inside. They approach the bed and pause. Hyunjin can’t tell if the awkwardness he’s feeling is just his or both of theirs.

“So, um,” he chooses to break the silence himself, “which side of the bed do you prefer?”

Chan chuckles. “I was thinking about asking you that. I’ve never… well I’ve never shared a bed with someone else, so I don’t have a side.”

“Never?” Hyunjin asks impulsively, though he regrets his rudeness immediately.

Chan’s ears are bright red, and the blush is racing to color his cheeks as well. He shakes his head and quietly says, “Not overnight, at least.”

Hyunjin’s blushing at the implication now. He really keeps stepping in it. If it weren’t for his gift helping him to know he doesn’t make Chan uncomfortable, he’d probably have to avoid him for a few days. Instead, he puts on a smile and tells him, “In that case, I’ll take the right. Sungie typically prefers the left, and I sleep with him most often lately.”

Hyunjin blows out the lamp, leaving the moon shining through the window as the only source of light in the room. They climb into bed, several inches of sheets between them, awkward silence still filling the room.

Chan clears his throat, and perhaps emboldened by the darkness, asks. “Can I, um, ask you a personal question?”

Hyunjin nods before realizing he probably can’t see him. “Sure, go for it.”

“I noticed… well, I noticed a lot of things, but one thing is that you all shift around rooms some nights, and you just said you sleep with Jisung the most.” He pauses, but Hyunjin decides to wait for the actual question, even though he thinks he knows what it is. Chan goes on to say, “Plus, there are only four bedrooms for the seven of you. What, um, or how would you describe your relationship with the rest of the guys?”

Hyunjin isn’t at all ashamed of their relationship. He loves all his boyfriends. So much so that ‘boyfriend’ doesn’t actually seem like the proper label for them; it doesn’t feel strong enough. Still, it doesn’t stop him from fiddling with the edge of the blanket, embarrassed, not about his loves, just to be speaking candidly with a new friend who’s laying beside him. Still, Chan deserves an answer, especially if he wants to stay here with them, and if Hyunjin is being honest with himself, he wants Chan to know.

He explains, “We’re all in a romantic relationship together. We’ve all been together for years now. Does that…” He was going to ask if it makes him uncomfortable, but Hyunjin is pleased to know that it doesn’t. So instead he asks, “Do you have any other questions about us? You’re welcome to ask anything, about our relationship or otherwise.”

Chan stays quiet for a minute, and Hyunjin wonders if he’s just considering going to sleep when he speaks again. Turns out he actually has quite a few questions. “Since you’re all together there’s no jealousy or anything? Even when you’d rather choose to, like, bunk up with one over the others? Are polyamorous relationships the norm for dwarves, I mean, Seubalpae? Did you all get together at once or were some of you together already? And –”

“Wait, wait,” Hyunjin laughs. Having all these questions must be a good sign. He’s struck once more by this feeling that he can’t quite quantify, quite an unusual occurrence for the cottage’s resident empath. Like Chan’s immediate acceptance of their relationship is a sign that him being there with them is right. “Let me answer those first, or I’m going to start forgetting what you asked.”

Chan giggles as well, apologizing and telling him to go ahead.

“Okay, so to start,” Hyunjin begins to explain, trying to tackle the first couple of questions by describing his and Jisung’s compatible sleep habits and how none of them feel like they can’t just ask to switch things up or crawl into bed with another pair at the drop of a hat. “I think jealousy is natural to an extent, but like, in a playful way. With so much love to spread around, there’s no need for anger or frustration.”

Chan nods along, and isn’t surprised to hear that polyamory is just as common as one-on-one relationships in their culture. He seems… relieved to hear that only Changbin and Seungmin had already been in a relationship prior to them all starting to date. They had all met around the same time, except for Jisung, who came along not too long before they moved out here. 

“Yeah, we all just kinda started spending more time together, and the more we did, the more we started falling for each other. Then, we met Jisung, and things fell into place so easily it felt like fate,” Hyunjin smiles at the memory and looks over at Chan now that his eyes have adjusted to the low light. At some point, one or both of them must’ve shifted, because they’re closer than they were when they first got in bed. Hyunjin finds that he doesn’t mind it at all.

“That sounds,” Chan searches for the right word. “Magical? I love that for you all. And, um, you guys don’t get jealous of each other, but is Jisung or anyone gonna mind you sharing my bed tonight?” 

Hyunjin grins and shakes his head. “We all wanna help you, Channie, so they get it. If this will help you to get to a better place, that’s all we care about. Plus, Jisung will have his hands full tonight; he won’t even miss me.” He feels Chan’s relief surging again. He uses the good feelings as encouragement to ask, “And what about you? You won’t mind if I end up cuddling you in my sleep tonight?”

“Oh,” Chan gulps audibly. A few emotions flare up in him, but Hyunjin does his best to ignore them so he can listen to the answer Chan actually intends to give him. “I don’t think I’ll mind. I do run kind of hot, though, so it might get uncomfortable for you.” He punctuates the sentence with a yawn.

“I think we’ll be fine.” Hyunjin decides to act on what he thinks he’s feeling. Without a doubt, he’ll end up wrapped around the man, so maybe it’s better to see that they’ll both feel okay about it earlier rather than later. “It’s probably time we actually try sleeping. If you want to start out cuddling, to see if it works for us, I think that would be alright, too. Plus, touch can enhance my gift, so if you start having a nightmare, I might be able to start soothing you right instinctively.”

Chan agrees hesitatingly, and they shift around so that he’s spooning Hyunjin, easily able to turn away if he ends up wanting to. The second he wraps his arm around Hyunjin’s middle, Hyunjin sighs. It feels so much like he has Changbin behind him, so comfortable that he falls asleep almost instantly. 

❄◌✴︎˚Chan｡✴︎◌❄

Chan wakes with a gasp. He grabs at his own chest, feels the way he’s drenched in sweat. Will these nightmares ever end?

There’s a soft knock at the door, and he wonders if that’s what woke him. He hears Hyunjin’s soft voice call his name through the door. Chan considers feigning sleep, but remembering what Hyunjin said about his empathic sense, he scrambles out of bed to go unlock the door. He hesitates, lamenting his appearance, then opens it. 

“Hi Channie,” Hyunjin says gently. Changbin is behind him. “I, we, were wondering if you’d be open to me helping you sleep again?”

Relief floods through him, but there’s guilt, too. “I’m sorry to have kept you up.”

“Oh, honey, no,” Hyunjin coos. 

He moves as if to touch Chan and thinks better of it. Chan tries to hide his grimace, sure Hyunjin must be disgusted.

“Remember what Seungmin said?” Changbin asks. “You’ve been through something terrible. You don’t need to apologize. Jinnie just wants to help. We all do.” He pauses, looking Chan over. “Do you want me to grab you some fresh sheets?”

Shame washes over Chan, and Hyunjin elbows Changbin in the gut.

“I’m fine; you don’t need to go to the trouble,” he murmurs to the floor. 

“Binnie, can you go grab him some water?” Hyunjin does touch him this time, taking his hand and leading him to sit on the dry side of the bed. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Chan. Nightmares are really hard on the body. I actually have a condition that makes me sweat extra. Even without a nightmare, if the room is too warm or if someone cuddles me for too long, I end up soaked.”

It alleviates some of his discomfort with the moment, but not all of it. Chan tries to swallow the lump in his throat. “I really am sorry, though.” He pushes on before Hyunjin can interrupt him. “I know you said you just want to help, but it doesn’t change the fact that I showed up on your doorstep suddenly and now you’re up in the middle of the night to take care of me.”

Hyunjin looks at him sadly and pats his hand. “Why don’t you lay back down now?”

Changbin is back then, and after taking a long sip of the water he brought with him, Chan complies. Hyunjin brushes back his sweaty hair with a serene smile. Lavender mist seems to diffuse out of his gaze, and Chan is already feeling calmer. When he feels Changbin’s weight settle on the bed behind Hyunjin, he doesn’t think much of it. He’s nearly asleep before one of them speaks again.

“Never apologize for fighting and doing your best,” Changbin whispers. “We’ve got you now.”

When Chan drifts off, he dreams of walking hand in hand with Changbin through a field of lavender. Up ahead he sees the rest of the dwarves, smiling and laughing. Hyunjin looks back at him with a blinding smile and tells them to catch up. 

It’s probably the best sleep of his life.

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

Chan wakes up much later than he thought he would. By the light peeking out from behind the curtain of his window, it’s mid, if not late, morning. When he ventures out, it’s clear he’s alone in the cabin. So he cleans himself up, realizing that without Seungmin here to heat the water, bathing is much less pleasant if you aren’t willing to take several trips from the stove to the bathroom. The Seubalpae had offered him a collection of clothes, and he likes how comfortable they are compared to his usual garb.

On the dining table is a plate with bread, cheese, and a bit of dried meat. Next to it is a note that reads:

Good morning Chan!

We hope you slept well. We didn’t want to wake you just to say goodbye. We’ll be back around seven this evening. Try to relax today. Don’t push yourself to do anything because you think you have to. (That’s an order from Changbinnie.) Your rest and recovery should come first. Also, you should be sure to eat before you do anything else.

We have one earnest request for you: please do not leave our land on your own. While the Queen thinks you’re dead for now, if you were to run into the wrong person, they might reveal you. No one usually comes here unannounced, so you should be safe.

♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎

Chan can’t help but think, I don’t deserve all this. They’re all too kind.

He decides to mostly listen to them, but he’s not sure that just sitting around is going to help him relax or recover. Working is relaxing. It allows him to put the hard things out of his mind. So, he finds the Seubalpae’s cleaning supplies, all helpfully stored together in the little closet off the kitchen. Chan peers around the room, not entirely sure where to start, but resolves to check the place top to bottom and make a list.

The first thing he needs to do is figure out how he’ll handle the laundry, considering how long it may take to dry. He finds the wash tub outside easily, remembering from his tour with Felix. The lines for drying are at the bottom of the tub along with a bucket they likely use to fill it with water. Filling it will be a bit of a chore, but Chan isn’t afraid of hard work. He sets up the lines, and gets started.

Chan whistles to himself, making up a little tune. Soon enough, much like they did by the river, a few birds join him. They flit around and match his melody, so he adds in some vocalizations. The next time he returns to the water pump, he sees that his fox friend is back. He’s sure it’s the same one.

“Hi there, friend!” He calls to it as he puts the bucket under the spigot. He inclines his head. “I don’t think I thanked you for bringing me here before. I’m so grateful to you.”

The fox chirps and jumps up, its forepaws landing on the pump and helping to fill the bucket. Chan can’t believe it. 

“Are you helping me again?” he asks, embarrassed to find tears pricking his eyes. “You’ve already done so much for me, you don’t need to do that.”

The fox gives him a sassier look than he even thought an animal capable of. He laughs and grabs the handle. He starts whistling again. The tub is full in no time. He thanks the fox again, but it follows him toward the house. 

Chan gathers up a bunch of the Seubalpae’s clothes, and when he steps outside again, a deer is in his path. He tries to sidestep her, but she stays in his way. One of the birds swoops down and takes a sock off the top of his pile, laying it on the doe’s back. He looks around at them quizzically. Are these animals really trying to help me do these chores?

As if to answer his question, two more birds snag a shirt to stack on the sock. Chan decides not to question it anymore. He lays the rest of his load on the deer’s back and watches as she dutifully drops them off at the tub where a few raccoons are waiting. He walks over with the soap, and takes in the turtles that have somehow found their way into the water. One of the raccoons takes the soap, and they get to work, using the turtles’ shells as washboards. 

Despite his recent decision to go with the flow, Chan can’t help but wonder if he’s lost his mind. He shakes it off and heads inside, leaving the door wide open as well as opening the windows. All the while he’s whistling along with the birds. 

Rag in hand, he starts dusting. A few squirrels pop up on the window sill, bunnies and chipmunks fill the doorway. “Feel free to jump in, if you want to,” Chan tells them, and they hop to it. Some dust or sweep with their tails. A few of them even start on the dishes. 

Chan only needs to offer them a few instructions - making sure the squirrels don’t just sweep dirt under the rug, ensuring they’re clean and using soap to clean the dishes. Otherwise, the animals are excellent help. 

And Chan is having fun.

The Seubalpae requested that he relax and recover, and regardless of the physical experience, Chan feels that he’s doing just that. Soon he’s not just whistling, he starts to sing:

“Just whistle while you work (whistle) / And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place / So hum a merry tune (hum) / It won't take long when there's a song / To help you set the pace / And as you sweep the room, imagine that the broom / Is someone that you love, and soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune / When hearts are high the time will fly / So whistle while you work.”

It feels like it takes no time at all for the first floor to be spotless. A group of birds even go so far as to fill a vase the bunnies found with a bouquet of flowers. The laundry gang even semi-folded the clothes when they dried, leaving clean stacks on the couch. Chan thanks them all profusely for all their hard work, and they take their leave. 

All that’s left to do is make dinner. While Chan has plenty of experience cleaning, he has never tried cooking. He had wanted to have something ready for the Seubalpae when they get home, but he doesn’t want them to have to eat crap. He takes another look at the kitchen and sighs. 

Maybe I can take them at their word, Chan thinks. Changbin said not to do things just because I think I should. 

So instead, he tries to sort the clothes by size so that it might be easier for the Seubalpae to collect their own clothes. Maybe when they return, Chan can find out where to put their clothes away and get a sense for who wears what. That done, he curls up on the remaining free space on the couch, feeling comfortable and at home. 

He hopes that the Seubalpae get back soon. 

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

❄◌✴︎˚Jeongin｡✴︎◌❄

      Hyunjin nudges Jeongin on the shoulder, bumping him out of his thoughts. “What’s on your mind, Innie?” he asks in a low voice.

“Nothing, really. Just thinking about Prince Chan.” 

Felix already told them about seeing that the Queen believes Chan is dead, so Jeongin knows that he should be completely fine on his own. But Jeongin also knows that if he had almost been murdered by his parent, step or not, he’d be spiraling so hard there’d be a hole in the ground. Granted, growing up with the Queen hadn’t sounded nice. Maybe not having been loved much changes your perspective.

He realizes that Hyunjin is still watching him. He gives him a weak smile. “Worried about how he’ll do on his own today, I guess,” he admits. 

“I get that,” Hyunjin sympathizes, taking his hand to swing between them as they walk. “I don’t think he seems entirely ready to try to process all this consciously, so I think he needed time alone today. Whether it’s to just decompress or to freak out about everything without having a bunch of strangers around, I’m not sure. I just hope it helps him.”

Jeongin just nods in agreement. 

They’re almost to the mine now, and he looks forward to losing himself in their work today. Even after the extra time they spent opening up a new level on Friday, there’s still a lot to be done to get it fully operational. Changbin believes they can get it done today.

Despite the amount of activity, the day drags on, but finally, it’s time to head home.

Felix sidles up next to him and slings an arm over his shoulder. “How ya feeling? You guys were able to clear so much today!” 

“Tired,” Jeongin sighs. With a sidelong glance at Jisung, he adds, “Minnie and I are lucky our powers don’t wear us out so bad. Though, I know the sneezing is driving Min up a wall.”

“Minho, too,” Felix giggles. He takes a longer look at their resident telekinetic. He looks exhausted, but not dead on his feet like he was Friday. Still, maybe someone should carry him the rest of the way. “He’ll adjust. I think he needs to be moving inorganic material more often throughout the day. You guys use your powers so often for little stuff all the time. He just needs to build up his stamina.”

Jeongin nods. Jisung’s parents moved them into a less magic friendly community for a while when he was younger, and while they were generally supportive, they made him abstain from using his innate gift as much as possible. If not for that, knowing Jisung, he’d likely be stronger than all the rest of them at this point. 

His thoughts circle back around to carrying Jisung home. Jeongin could do it, but as Felix pointed out, he’d done a lot today. Then he has another thought. “Hey Lix-ah, do you think since organic material is so much less tiring for him, Jisung could, like, carry himself home? Like float himself so he doesn’t have to walk?”

Felix presses his lips together in thought. “Great question. I feel like when he’s all physically tired like this from using his magic, probably not? But maybe? I guess that’s the kind of thing his folks probably would’ve warned him against trying.”

Jeongin hums in agreement, his thoughts on parents, their expectations, and their restrictions. The way he, and really all the rest of them, grew up in regard to their magic was more or less aligned, but they’d all had different levels of freedom and responsibilities that helped to shape them. 

He can’t help but think about Chan again. He’d given them a decent picture, but exactly what kind of rules had he grown up under? He’s not at all what Jeongin would’ve expected a prince to be like. He seems so kind and trusting, even after facing a mortal betrayal. Yet, he also seems so resigned to having been treated like trash, almost as if he felt he deserves it. And he was so sure there’s no one he could count on to care that he’s still alive. He can’t help but make comparisons.

“Do you ever think…” Jeongin looks down at the path in front of him. He realizes he’d been silent for a while, so he peeks up to make sure Felix was still with him. “If he hadn’t left and met us, would his life have been his own? Or would he have gotten pigeonholed into a situation where he could never be his true self? Never be loved for who he is?”

Felix seems to be considering the question seriously. After a moment, he says, “You know what, Innie? I don’t think that ever would’ve happened. I can’t imagine seeing a future where Jisung isn’t with us. I think if he hadn’t left, we would’ve gone to find him. He belongs with us, and his happiness is our responsibility.”

“I like that.” Jeongin smiles softly. To his knowledge, Felix has only managed to see the future once, so he knows he doesn’t mean it literally. He can understand that feeling of rightness with their little family making it feel impossible to imagine them not all being together. Now for his other line of thought. He asks, “And what do you think about the prince? I know his situation isn’t the same as Sungie’s, but do you think, maybe…”

“Maybe he’s meant to be with us, too?” Felix asks gently when he trails off. Jeongin can’t decide if Felix’s ability to finish his question immediately like that means that he might feel that way or if he’s just very obvious. 

“Maybe?” He asks weakly. He knows Felix wouldn’t judge him, but he feels kind of embarrassed sharing these thoughts. “I know we barely know him, but something about him feels… good? Right?”

The warm smile he gets in answer eases the knot in his stomach. Felix agrees, “He has good energy. Even if it has been in small ways, he’s shown that he fits well with us. But time will tell. I’m definitely on your side if we end up having a discussion about whether or not we want him to stay with us long term.”

They walk the rest of the way back  in easy silence, hands linked and arms swinging between them.

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

When they arrive home, they can already tell Chan has been busy today. Jeongin is surprised to see him asleep on the couch, surrounded by stacks of laundry. Clearly Jisung is too.

“How did he get so much laundry done while also cleaning literally everything in here,” he asks, awe present in his tone. 

Before anyone can respond, Chan cries out in his sleep. Hyunjin rushes to his side while the rest of them crowd around them in a semi circle. With a couple sneezes, the room is alight. Now, Jeongin notices the sweat coating him and the grimace in his expression. 

Hyunjin gently lays a hand on Chan’s brow, lavender mist radiating out from his eyes. It’s like the whole room lets out their breath in a collective sigh when the prince’s whole body seems to relax. 

Seungmin taps Jeongin on the shoulder, leaning in to whisper, “Let’s go get baths set up for him and Jisung.” 

While they have the plumbing set up for a pump to reach the bathrooms upstairs, it’s generally up to the two of them to fill the bath tubs. They’ve perfected the process; Jeongin freezes then Seungmin melts, leaving them with evenly warmed water, much more quickly than the alternative.

After both tubs are full, Jeongin wraps Seungmin in a hug. His nose is red, and he’s so obviously over this magical cold. “Maybe we should write to Changbin’s parents or go see them to find out if there’s anything else to be done for you?”

“It’s fine, babe. Annoying as they are, they’re just sneezes, and they’ll go away eventually,” Seungmin shrugs but holds on tight. “Plus, it gets me extra Innie hugs.”

Jeongin attempts to pull back out of principle, but Seungmin clings to him, whining about how he needs him to feel better. Sighing, Jeongin slides his hands down to Seungmin’s thighs, and lifts him fully into his arms, Seungmin’s legs wrapping around his waist. “You big baby,” he says gruffly, but he fears the fondness is still clear in his voice. He relishes the way he can feel the warmth of the fire starter’s body through his shirt. 

He takes Seungmin into the room closest to the stairs and gently lays him down, settling on top of him for just a few seconds. He presses a kiss to the underside of his jaw, then utilizes the way Seungmin relaxes to almost immediately to slip out of his grasp.

“Iyen-ah,” Seungmin whines. 

“I’m gonna go get Ji. You should take those clothes off and actually get into bed,” he says, ignoring the older man’s grabby hands. “You know Binnie said extra rest might help.” He heads for the door, but turns back. “Actually, maybe you should get in the big tub with him. Get all cleaned up, then you can nap together.”

He can hear Seungmin grumbling as he goes, but when he carries Jisung back up the stairs, he finds him sitting in the water already.

“Ooh,” Jisung giggles. “First Innie carries me upstairs, and now I have Minnie here to wash me? Am I a prince? Is it my birthday?”

Jeongin and Seungmin roll their eyes in tandem. “Should I actually just throw him in the trash?”

“I mean, it seems like the right choice.” Seungmin nods in agreement.

“Hey hey hey!” Jisung squirms in his grasp. Jeongin places him on his feet when he settles. He pouts, “Here I thought you guys were being nice to me.”

Seungmin puts on a cute little voice and coos, “Oh, poor Jisung-ah. Come here, I’ll be nice.”

Jisung slips into the tub in front of Seungmin, who pulls him back against his chest instantly. The steam curls around them. Jeongin sits on the edge to card his hand through his hair, remembering his earlier conversation with Felix. As much as he likes to tease and mess with Jisung, he loves him more. His happiness is our responsibility. Not because someone made it so, but because we want it to be. 

“You two get cleaned up,” he says after pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. Not wanting them to know just how soft his thoughts had turned, he doesn’t add the next part until his back is to them. “And let’s all room together tonight.”

Jeongin opens the door in time to see a sleepy looking Chan walk by on his way to his own bath. He definitely sees past Jeongin into the bathroom based on the way his eyes widen briefly. Glancing back himself, he sees that Jisung has already turned around to kiss Seungmin. He shakes his head as he exits, but the smile doesn’t leave his face. 

❄◌✴︎˚Chan｡✴︎◌❄

Chan wakes with a gasp. He grabs at his own chest, feels the way he’s drenched in sweat. Will these nightmares ever end?

There’s a soft knock at the door, and he wonders if that’s what woke him. He hears Hyunjin’s soft voice call his name through the door. Chan considers feigning sleep, but remembering what Hyunjin said about his empathic sense, he scrambles out of bed to go unlock the door. He hesitates, lamenting his appearance, then opens it. 

“Hi Channie,” Hyunjin says gently. Changbin is behind him. “I, we, were wondering if you’d be open to me helping you sleep again?”

Relief floods through him, but there’s guilt, too. “I’m sorry to have kept you up.”

“Oh, honey, no,” Hyunjin coos. 

He moves as if to touch Chan and thinks better of it. Chan tries to hide his grimace, sure Hyunjin must be disgusted.

“Remember what Seungmin said?” Changbin asks. “You’ve been through something terrible. You don’t need to apologize. Jinnie just wants to help. We all do.” He pauses, looking Chan over. “Do you want me to grab you some fresh sheets?”

Shame washes over Chan, and Hyunjin elbows Changbin in the gut.

“I’m fine; you don’t need to go to the trouble,” he murmurs to the floor. 

“Binnie, can you go grab him some water?” Hyunjin does touch him this time, taking his hand and leading him to sit on the dry side of the bed. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Chan. Nightmares are really hard on the body. I actually have a condition that makes me sweat extra. Even without a nightmare, if the room is too warm or if someone cuddles me for too long, I end up soaked.”

It alleviates some of his discomfort with the moment, but not all of it. Chan tries to swallow the lump in his throat. “I really am sorry, though.” He pushes on before Hyunjin can interrupt him. “I know you said you just want to help, but it doesn’t change the fact that I showed up on your doorstep suddenly and now you’re up in the middle of the night to take care of me.”

Hyunjin looks at him sadly and pats his hand. “Why don’t you lay back down now?”

Changbin is back then, and after taking a long sip of the water he brought with him, Chan complies. Hyunjin brushes back his sweaty hair with a serene smile. Lavender mist seems to diffuse out of his gaze, and Chan is already feeling calmer. When he feels Changbin’s weight settle on the bed behind Hyunjin, he doesn’t think much of it. He’s nearly asleep before one of them speaks again.

“Never apologize for fighting and doing your best,” Changbin whispers. “We’ve got you now.”

When Chan drifts off, he dreams of walking hand in hand with Changbin through a field of lavender. Up ahead he sees the rest of the dwarves, smiling and laughing. Hyunjin looks back at him with a blinding smile and tells them to catch up. 

It’s probably the best sleep of his life.

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

Chan wakes up much later than he thought he would. By the light peeking out from behind the curtain of his window, it’s mid, if not late, morning. When he ventures out, it’s clear he’s alone in the cabin. So he cleans himself up, realizing that without Seungmin here to heat the water, bathing is much less pleasant if you aren’t willing to take several trips from the stove to the bathroom. The Seubalpae had offered him a collection of clothes, and he likes how comfortable they are compared to his usual garb.

On the dining table is a plate with bread, cheese, and a bit of dried meat. Next to it is a note that reads:

Good morning Chan!

We hope you slept well. We didn’t want to wake you just to say goodbye. We’ll be back around seven this evening. Try to relax today. Don’t push yourself to do anything because you think you have to. (That’s an order from Changbinnie.) Your rest and recovery should come first. Also, you should be sure to eat before you do anything else.

We have one earnest request for you: please do not leave our land on your own. While the Queen thinks you’re dead for now, if you were to run into the wrong person, they might reveal you. No one usually comes here unannounced, so you should be safe.

♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎

Chan can’t help but think, I don’t deserve all this. They’re all too kind.

He decides to mostly listen to them, but he’s not sure that just sitting around is going to help him relax or recover. Working is relaxing. It allows him to put the hard things out of his mind. So, he finds the Seubalpae’s cleaning supplies, all helpfully stored together in the little closet off the kitchen. Chan peers around the room, not entirely sure where to start, but resolves to check the place top to bottom and make a list.

The first thing he needs to do is figure out how he’ll handle the laundry, considering how long it may take to dry. He finds the wash tub outside easily, remembering from his tour with Felix. The lines for drying are at the bottom of the tub along with a bucket they likely use to fill it with water. Filling it will be a bit of a chore, but Chan isn’t afraid of hard work. He sets up the lines, and gets started.

Chan whistles to himself, making up a little tune. Soon enough, much like they did by the river, a few birds join him. They flit around and match his melody, so he adds in some vocalizations. The next time he returns to the water pump, he sees that his fox friend is back. He’s sure it’s the same one.

“Hi there, friend!” He calls to it as he puts the bucket under the spigot. He inclines his head. “I don’t think I thanked you for bringing me here before. I’m so grateful to you.”

The fox chirps and jumps up, its forepaws landing on the pump and helping to fill the bucket. Chan can’t believe it. 

“Are you helping me again?” he asks, embarrassed to find tears pricking his eyes. “You’ve already done so much for me, you don’t need to do that.”

The fox gives him a sassier look than he even thought an animal capable of. He laughs and grabs the handle. He starts whistling again. The tub is full in no time. He thanks the fox again, but it follows him toward the house. 

Chan gathers up a bunch of the Seubalpae’s clothes, and when he steps outside again, a deer is in his path. He tries to sidestep her, but she stays in his way. One of the birds swoops down and takes a sock off the top of his pile, laying it on the doe’s back. He looks around at them quizzically. Are these animals really trying to help me do these chores?

As if to answer his question, two more birds snag a shirt to stack on the sock. Chan decides not to question it anymore. He lays the rest of his load on the deer’s back and watches as she dutifully drops them off at the tub where a few raccoons are waiting. He walks over with the soap, and takes in the turtles that have somehow found their way into the water. One of the raccoons takes the soap, and they get to work, using the turtles’ shells as washboards. 

Despite his recent decision to go with the flow, Chan can’t help but wonder if he’s lost his mind. He shakes it off and heads inside, leaving the door wide open as well as opening the windows. All the while he’s whistling along with the birds. 

Rag in hand, he starts dusting. A few squirrels pop up on the window sill, bunnies and chipmunks fill the doorway. “Feel free to jump in, if you want to,” Chan tells them, and they hop to it. Some dust or sweep with their tails. A few of them even start on the dishes. 

Chan only needs to offer them a few instructions - making sure the squirrels don’t just sweep dirt under the rug, ensuring they’re clean and using soap to clean the dishes. Otherwise, the animals are excellent help. 

And Chan is having fun.

The Seubalpae requested that he relax and recover, and regardless of the physical experience, Chan feels that he’s doing just that. Soon he’s not just whistling, he starts to sing:

“Just whistle while you work (whistle) / And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place / So hum a merry tune (hum) / It won't take long when there's a song / To help you set the pace / And as you sweep the room, imagine that the broom / Is someone that you love, and soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune / When hearts are high the time will fly / So whistle while you work.”

It feels like it takes no time at all for the first floor to be spotless. A group of birds even go so far as to fill a vase the bunnies found with a bouquet of flowers. The laundry gang even semi-folded the clothes when they dried, leaving clean stacks on the couch. Chan thanks them all profusely for all their hard work, and they take their leave. 

All that’s left to do is make dinner. While Chan has plenty of experience cleaning, he has never tried cooking. He had wanted to have something ready for the Seubalpae when they get home, but he doesn’t want them to have to eat crap. He takes another look at the kitchen and sighs. 

Maybe I can take them at their word, Chan thinks. Changbin said not to do things just because I think I should. 

So instead, he tries to sort the clothes by size so that it might be easier for the Seubalpae to collect their own clothes. Maybe when they return, Chan can find out where to put their clothes away and get a sense for who wears what. That done, he curls up on the remaining free space on the couch, feeling comfortable and at home. 

He hopes that the Seubalpae get back soon. 

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

❄◌✴︎˚Jeongin｡✴︎◌❄

      Hyunjin nudges Jeongin on the shoulder, bumping him out of his thoughts. “What’s on your mind, Innie?” he asks in a low voice.

“Nothing, really. Just thinking about Prince Chan.” 

Felix already told them about seeing that the Queen believes Chan is dead, so Jeongin knows that he should be completely fine on his own. But Jeongin also knows that if he had almost been murdered by his parent, step or not, he’d be spiraling so hard there’d be a hole in the ground. Granted, growing up with the Queen hadn’t sounded nice. Maybe not having been loved much changes your perspective.

He realizes that Hyunjin is still watching him. He gives him a weak smile. “Worried about how he’ll do on his own today, I guess,” he admits. 

“I get that,” Hyunjin sympathizes, taking his hand to swing between them as they walk. “I don’t think he seems entirely ready to try to process all this consciously, so I think he needed time alone today. Whether it’s to just decompress or to freak out about everything without having a bunch of strangers around, I’m not sure. I just hope it helps him.”

Jeongin just nods in agreement. 

They’re almost to the mine now, and he looks forward to losing himself in their work today. Even after the extra time they spent opening up a new level on Friday, there’s still a lot to be done to get it fully operational. Changbin believes they can get it done today.

Despite the amount of activity, the day drags on, but finally, it’s time to head home.

Felix sidles up next to him and slings an arm over his shoulder. “How ya feeling? You guys were able to clear so much today!” 

“Tired,” Jeongin sighs. With a sidelong glance at Jisung, he adds, “Minnie and I are lucky our powers don’t wear us out so bad. Though, I know the sneezing is driving Min up a wall.”

“Minho, too,” Felix giggles. He takes a longer look at their resident telekinetic. He looks exhausted, but not dead on his feet like he was Friday. Still, maybe someone should carry him the rest of the way. “He’ll adjust. I think he needs to be moving inorganic material more often throughout the day. You guys use your powers so often for little stuff all the time. He just needs to build up his stamina.”

Jeongin nods. Jisung’s parents moved them into a less magic friendly community for a while when he was younger, and while they were generally supportive, they made him abstain from using his innate gift as much as possible. If not for that, knowing Jisung, he’d likely be stronger than all the rest of them at this point. 

His thoughts circle back around to carrying Jisung home. Jeongin could do it, but as Felix pointed out, he’d done a lot today. Then he has another thought. “Hey Lix-ah, do you think since organic material is so much less tiring for him, Jisung could, like, carry himself home? Like float himself so he doesn’t have to walk?”

Felix presses his lips together in thought. “Great question. I feel like when he’s all physically tired like this from using his magic, probably not? But maybe? I guess that’s the kind of thing his folks probably would’ve warned him against trying.”

Jeongin hums in agreement, his thoughts on parents, their expectations, and their restrictions. The way he, and really all the rest of them, grew up in regard to their magic was more or less aligned, but they’d all had different levels of freedom and responsibilities that helped to shape them. 

He can’t help but think about Chan again. He’d given them a decent picture, but exactly what kind of rules had he grown up under? He’s not at all what Jeongin would’ve expected a prince to be like. He seems so kind and trusting, even after facing a mortal betrayal. Yet, he also seems so resigned to having been treated like trash, almost as if he felt he deserves it. And he was so sure there’s no one he could count on to care that he’s still alive. He can’t help but make comparisons.

“Do you ever think…” Jeongin looks down at the path in front of him. He realizes he’d been silent for a while, so he peeks up to make sure Felix was still with him. “If he hadn’t left and met us, would his life have been his own? Or would he have gotten pigeonholed into a situation where he could never be his true self? Never be loved for who he is?”

Felix seems to be considering the question seriously. After a moment, he says, “You know what, Innie? I don’t think that ever would’ve happened. I can’t imagine seeing a future where Jisung isn’t with us. I think if he hadn’t left, we would’ve gone to find him. He belongs with us, and his happiness is our responsibility.”

“I like that.” Jeongin smiles softly. To his knowledge, Felix has only managed to see the future once, so he knows he doesn’t mean it literally. He can understand that feeling of rightness with their little family making it feel impossible to imagine them not all being together. Now for his other line of thought. He asks, “And what do you think about the prince? I know his situation isn’t the same as Sungie’s, but do you think, maybe…”

“Maybe he’s meant to be with us, too?” Felix asks gently when he trails off. Jeongin can’t decide if Felix’s ability to finish his question immediately like that means that he might feel that way or if he’s just very obvious. 

“Maybe?” He asks weakly. He knows Felix wouldn’t judge him, but he feels kind of embarrassed sharing these thoughts. “I know we barely know him, but something about him feels… good? Right?”

The warm smile he gets in answer eases the knot in his stomach. Felix agrees, “He has good energy. Even if it has been in small ways, he’s shown that he fits well with us. But time will tell. I’m definitely on your side if we end up having a discussion about whether or not we want him to stay with us long term.”

They walk the rest of the way back  in easy silence, hands linked and arms swinging between them.

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When they arrive home, they can already tell Chan has been busy today. Jeongin is surprised to see him asleep on the couch, surrounded by stacks of laundry. Clearly Jisung is too.

“How did he get so much laundry done while also cleaning literally everything in here,” he asks, awe present in his tone. 

Before anyone can respond, Chan cries out in his sleep. Hyunjin rushes to his side while the rest of them crowd around them in a semi circle. With a couple sneezes, the room is alight. Now, Jeongin notices the sweat coating him and the grimace in his expression. 

Hyunjin gently lays a hand on Chan’s brow, lavender mist radiating out from his eyes. It’s like the whole room lets out their breath in a collective sigh when the prince’s whole body seems to relax. 

Seungmin taps Jeongin on the shoulder, leaning in to whisper, “Let’s go get baths set up for him and Jisung.” 

While they have the plumbing set up for a pump to reach the bathrooms upstairs, it’s generally up to the two of them to fill the bath tubs. They’ve perfected the process; Jeongin freezes then Seungmin melts, leaving them with evenly warmed water, much more quickly than the alternative.

After both tubs are full, Jeongin wraps Seungmin in a hug. His nose is red, and he’s so obviously over this magical cold. “Maybe we should write to Changbin’s parents or go see them to find out if there’s anything else to be done for you?”

“It’s fine, babe. Annoying as they are, they’re just sneezes, and they’ll go away eventually,” Seungmin shrugs but holds on tight. “Plus, it gets me extra Innie hugs.”

Jeongin attempts to pull back out of principle, but Seungmin clings to him, whining about how he needs him to feel better. Sighing, Jeongin slides his hands down to Seungmin’s thighs, and lifts him fully into his arms, Seungmin’s legs wrapping around his waist. “You big baby,” he says gruffly, but he fears the fondness is still clear in his voice. He relishes the way he can feel the warmth of the fire starter’s body through his shirt. 

He takes Seungmin into the room closest to the stairs and gently lays him down, settling on top of him for just a few seconds. He presses a kiss to the underside of his jaw, then utilizes the way Seungmin relaxes to almost immediately to slip out of his grasp.

“Iyen-ah,” Seungmin whines. 

“I’m gonna go get Ji. You should take those clothes off and actually get into bed,” he says, ignoring the older man’s grabby hands. “You know Binnie said extra rest might help.” He heads for the door, but turns back. “Actually, maybe you should get in the big tub with him. Get all cleaned up, then you can nap together.”

He can hear Seungmin grumbling as he goes, but when he carries Jisung back up the stairs, he finds him sitting in the water already.

“Ooh,” Jisung giggles. “First Innie carries me upstairs, and now I have Minnie here to wash me? Am I a prince? Is it my birthday?”

Jeongin and Seungmin roll their eyes in tandem. “Should I actually just throw him in the trash?”

“I mean, it seems like the right choice.” Seungmin nods in agreement.

“Hey hey hey!” Jisung squirms in his grasp. Jeongin places him on his feet when he settles. He pouts, “Here I thought you guys were being nice to me.”

Seungmin puts on a cute little voice and coos, “Oh, poor Jisung-ah. Come here, I’ll be nice.”

Jisung slips into the tub in front of Seungmin, who pulls him back against his chest instantly. The steam curls around them. Jeongin sits on the edge to card his hand through his hair, remembering his earlier conversation with Felix. As much as he likes to tease and mess with Jisung, he loves him more. His happiness is our responsibility. Not because someone made it so, but because we want it to be. 

“You two get cleaned up,” he says after pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. Not wanting them to know just how soft his thoughts had turned, he doesn’t add the next part until his back is to them. “And let’s all room together tonight.”

Jeongin opens the door in time to see a sleepy looking Chan walk by on his way to his own bath. He definitely sees past Jeongin into the bathroom based on the way his eyes widen briefly. Glancing back himself, he sees that Jisung has already turned around to kiss Seungmin. He shakes his head as he exits, but the smile doesn’t leave his face. 

❄◌✴︎˚Felix｡✴︎◌❄

Felix actually drools a bit as he looks down at Changbin and Seungmin. His boys. He surges forward to suck a few marks on Changbin’s cheeks, giving in to the desire to put a physical claim on him the way he did with Seungmin. He squirts some lube onto his fingers and rubs them together to warm it.

“You have such a pretty hole, Binnie,” he purrs. Then he gets a better idea. He leans in to lick a fat stripe across it. He grins against him as he feels Changbin shudder at the feeling. Then he’s circling his tongue around before plunging in. He thrusts and wiggles his tongue around, sucks at Changbin’s rim. 

Soon, he’s loose enough for Felix to work a couple fingers in along with his tongue. He relishes the way Changbin whines and squirms under his ministrations. It pains him to pull back, but he knows he won’t be able to stimulate Changbin’s prostate the way he wants to with his tongue in the way. He adds another finger and curls them to press right on his sweet spot. 

Changbin moans loudly, though it’s quickly muffled by Seungmin’s hand. He shushes him sweetly. “Shh, Binnie, I know it’s unlikely that someone will come in and interrupt us, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hear us if we get too loud.”

“Feels so good, Minnie,” Changbin mumbles behind his hand. 

“I know, baby,” Seungmin kisses him again. “Lixie always knows how to make us feel good.”

Even if the praise is indirect, it goes to Felix’s head a bit. He pumps his fingers in and out, in and out, only occasionally stopping to rub circles on Changbin’s prostate. He sinks his teeth back into his backside, adding bite marks to the hickies he started with. He’s spurred on by the continued whimpers and moans falling from Changbin’s lips. 

“Lix,” Changbin pants. 

Instead of continuing, he groans, clenching around Felix’s fingers. Felix knows he’s getting close. So, he pulls out slowly and watches as Changbin’s empty hole winks at him, begging to be filled back up. Felix adds a bit more lube to his hand and reaches to stroke Seungmin a few times while he nips at Changbin’s rim again.

This time when he pulls back, he moves aside, grabbing a cloth to wipe his hands. Before he can ask if he’ll get the pleasure of watching Changbin ride Seungmin, the latter is flipping them. 

He seems to know what Felix was thinking. As he lines himself up to enter Changbin, Seungmin flashes him a smile. “Remember, Binnie’s in our room so that he can rest for tomorrow. Can’t have him doing too much work.”

“Fuck,” Changbin groans as Seungmin slowly slides into him. He’s just this side of too loud.

Seungmin lets out a moan of his own, gritting his teeth as he bottoms out. He’s breathing a bit heavier, when he suggests, “Lix-ah, you might have to keep his mouth busy, if he can’t be quiet.”

Changbin squirms below him, already wanting Seungmin to start moving. He does look up at Felix, though, with a big smile. “I think that might, ah!” He’s interrupted by Seungmin pulling out almost fully to thrust back in again, hard. He pants between the words. “Ah, oh, yeah. Help me, Lix. Keep me quiet.”

He and Seungmin trade matching grins before he cups Changbin’s face. “But baby, how can I do that and watch Seungmin rail you?”

Changbin whines, “Please Lixie?”

Seungmin picks up a rhythm, not quite going hard yet, but his thrusts each elicit a sigh or gasp. He slows a bit as he says, “Oh, Lix has a point, Bin. You’re gonna have to control yourself.” The second he stops speaking, Seungmin speeds up, pounding into Changbin now, grunting a bit as he goes.

Changbin mewls and gasps. “P-please. F-fuck. L-lix, ah. Sit on my, my, ah, sit on my face.” He lets out another too loud moan, but Felix cuts it off with a kiss.

“Since you asked so nicely,” Felix purrs when he pulls up. “Minnie, baby, can you slow down while I get situated?”

“‘Anything for you, babe,” he growls out, though it takes him a few seconds to comply. 

Felix straddles Changbin’s head and sinks down slowly. He feels the warmth of Changbin’s tongue as it enters him and sighs. Seungmin resumes his rhythm as soon as he’s settled. Changbin’s more than a little sloppier than usual, but with the way Seungmin is giving it to him, Felix can’t blame him in the least. Plus, it still feels amazing and is only enhanced by the rumbling moans and groans Changbin is breathing into him.

“Fuck, yes,” Felix breathes. “Good boy, Binnie. Makin’ me feel good.”

Seungmin looks so hot. His body moves so fluidly, his muscles tensed and sweat starting to drip. Felix’s cock is weeping. He was already almost painfully hard. Between the feeling of Changbin inside him and squeezing his thighs, and the sight of Seungmin pounding him into the mattress, he’s sure he won’t last very long. 

Changbin is getting sloppier and sloppier, and Felix briefly wonders if he could fold himself up enough to maintain his position and suck Changbin’s dick. But instead, he lifts himself up, with effort as Changbin attempts to pull him back down. Luckily, his proximity to his orgasm drains some of the strength from him. Felix shifts off of him, ignoring Changbin’s cries. He’s easily distracted again as Seungmin lifts his lower body up higher, changing his angle to ram into Changbin’s prostate. 

Felix immediately slaps a hand over his mouth as he adjusts his position to Changbin’s side. He removes it to take Changbin’s own hand to replace it with. “I know it’s hard, but you’ve gotta keep yourself quiet now, Bin-ah.” That said, he lowers himself down, taking Changbin’s entire length into his mouth in one motion.

He bobs his head twice and when he hollows his cheeks, Changbin is crying out. He swallows down every drop of cum, sucking him dry before pulling off with a pop. 

Felix takes his cock in hand as he watches Seungmin adjust again and speed up his thrusts. Seungmin’s teeth dig into his lower lip as he tries to contain his own sounds of pleasure. Soon his movements become more erratic and he’s filling Changbin up beautifully.

Rather than collapsing onto Changbin as he likely would have done, Seungmin reaches over to Felix. He grabs him by the hair and pulls him closer, crashing their lips together. Felix’s moves to hold onto Seungmin’s shoulders. A hand slightly bigger than his own replaces his in an instant, and Felix shudders. Changbin doesn’t relent, stroking him fast, using his precum to ease the glide. 

Felix was already so turned on, that when Seungmin bites down on his lip while simultaneously tightening the grip in his hair, he explodes. White ropes paint Seungmin’s body and Changbin’s hand. This time Seungmin does lay down, bringing Felix with him. They’re all breathing heavily, spent. 

All too soon, Changbin is wiggling underneath them. “You cannot fall asleep on me, we need to clean up.”

Seungmin hums, and Felix snuggles in before saying, “But Binnie, you’re so comfy.”

Changbin lets out a whine, and the two of them laugh. When they start to get up, Changbin hisses as Seungmin’s softened length slides out of him finally. As the one who is least covered in body fluids, Felix throws on a pair of shorts and ventures out to get a wet towel. They take turns cleaning each other up, and climb under the covers. 

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Changbin spoons against him, already falling asleep. Seungmin lays in front of him. His hand drifts up and down Felix’s side, and he kisses him gently. 

They hear a snore from Changbin, and Seungmin whispers against his lips, “Before we go to sleep, can you double check things with the Queen?”

Felix nods. He was going to do it anyway. He and Seungmin likely were thinking the same thing. In the darkness, the glow of his eyes works to illuminate his lover’s face. He has a second to appreciate Seungmin’s beauty until he’s seeing the Queen earlier that day. 

The Queen sits in her throne room. There’s a decent sized audience in front of her. She sits still as a statue and looks down her nose at the peasants dirtying up her floor. There are murmurs floating around questioning Prince Chan’s absence. 

One of her attendants comes up beside her. "That’s all for this group, Your Majesty. Would you like me to call the room to order?”

She waves him off like an annoying insect. “No need, they will attend to me when I require it. It grows tiresome, having to waste my energy ensuring no one gets the wrong idea of what happened to him. How many more audiences like this do I have?”

“As of now,” the attendant consults a list. “This is your final audience. After them, I’m sure word of mouth will be enough to dispel any remaining agitation.”

The queen scoffs. “Alright. My amulet.” She holds out her hand for it. He sets the talisman in her palm gently. She carefully slots it into its spot on the choker she’s wearing. It’s almost like a little mirror, glittering on her neck. 

She stands then, and the room takes on an unnatural stillness. 

“People of Baekguk, my dear subjects, welcome. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to address your concerns.” Her words are warm, but her tone is frosty. No one seems to notice the disparity or the lack of emotion on her face. “I understand that you have a spokesperson. Please, express yourself so I may do my best to set things right.”

It takes a few seconds, but a middle-aged man steps forward. The Queen’s eyes flick down to the floor, and he kneels. 

Despite his clear nerves, his voice is clear and strong when he speaks. “You Majesty, thank you for hearing us. We have heard the troubling news about our beloved prince, but it was just days ago that he was in our neighborhood. He was in fine health as always. He even joined in a game of Jegichagi with several of our children. He moved with ease, even keeping the shuttlecock aloft where his guards could not when they attempted to join in as well.” 

He clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable with the way the Queen simply stares down at him, her expression souring slightly. He goes on, “The Prince was jovial and full of vitality. We cannot fathom how he might’ve been so ill for so long and hid it so well.”

“Unfathomable as it may be to you,” The Queen interrupts, clearly tired of playing the caring sovereign. “Chan was ill for quite a long time. You all clearly are thinking of another time he visited. The Prince hadn’t left the palace in months, barely able to leave his chambers. Your grief has confused you. Chan was sick and has now succumbed to his illness. Now, return to your homes and remember.”

The murmurs are different now. There is less confusion, more sadness. The people are lamenting Chan’s illness, so like his father in his passing. They’re grateful that the Queen allowed them to come share in her grief. 

Felix locks in on the Queen’s nightly routine next. It manifests readily, and he can’t help but be satisfied with his control.

“Magic mirror on the wall,” she says almost giddily as she runs a brush through her silky, blonde locks. “Tell me, have I done all I need? Do all within the kingdom believe that sniveling brat’s death was a foreseen ending for a worthless waste of space?”

“O Queen,” a diplophonic voice radiates out from the mirror’s surface. “Your subjects’ thoughts reflect your desire. While scant few may doubt, the point is moot when met with your power.”

The Queen cackles. She strides away from the mirror, now speaking to herself rather than the magical object. “Perfect. Now I can move on and begin to put more plans into action.”

She looks out her window, the light of the moon and stars giving her a soft view of the kingdom below. She dawns a sinister smile, and hisses, “Mine.”

When he returns to himself, Felix meets Seungmin’s gaze in the fading light of his power. He shudders. 

“She’s so cold,” he says, trying to shake the feeling of her from his mind. Seungmin runs a thumb over his cheek, offering comfort with the small touch.

He’d felt this before as well, but since he wasn’t very familiar with her, he wasn’t as in the moment. The first couple times, it felt like standing too close to something Jeongin is freezing. This time, when he returned to himself, it was like falling through the ice on a pond. After seeing her a couple times and having heard what Chan had to say about her, Felix was much more grounded in his vision this time. It helps him to understand better, but the connection cuts deeper. He’s not sure how to convey it. 

“She is beautiful, but in a scary way?” He says it like a question. “Her people seem to know the truth and still support her, but I wonder if it’s out of fear or if she’s… brainwashed them in a different way.” 

“A different way?” Seungmin prompts.

“She’s been using mirror magic to convince the people of Baekguk that Chan was sickly and, unsurprisingly, died because of it,” Felix explains. “But the important thing is that we’re all safe. She won’t be sending anyone to look for him now. 

“Shit,” Seungmin sighs. “And she believes it, right? That he’s dead, I mean.”

“Yeah, she was gloating to herself about it,” Felix says, scrunching his face in disgust. “I’m glad he’s away from her. She’s so awful.”

Seungmin pulls him in close and presses a kiss into his hair. “He’ll be safe here. We can help him heal.”

They lay there in silence for a minute, and Felix starts to drift off. Not before he hears Seungmin whisper. He can’t tell if he’s talking to Felix or himself. 

“Gods help the kingdom of Baekguk, though.”

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The following morning, Felix is still settled between his loves when he wakes. It’s so cozy, he considers going back to sleep, but he has a plan for the day, so he should follow it. He crawls over Seungmin, sure that he’s less likely to grab him and keep him in bed.

He runs into Minho in the hall, who grunts sleepily, and Felix can’t help but think about how Chan dubbed him Grumpy and giggle. They make their way to the kitchen, working in tandem to get a simple breakfast and some coffee and tea made. When everything is about ready, just waiting on water to boil, Minho slumps against him.

“How’d you sleep, honey?” He purrs into Minho’s black and blue hair.

Minho pulls back to look at him. “You mean that thing people do when they lay in bed at night instead of pacing and stressing about the distressed royal a room over?”

“Did Jinnie really not offer to help him at all last night?” Felix asks. He really did expect Hyunjin to offer to soothe Chan into sleep right off the bat after hearing how stressed he’d been knowing he couldn’t do anything for him.

“He was very focused on not wanting to push something on someone who’s been so mistreated, and knowing that Chan knows he can help, so he feels like it’s better to wait to be asked,” Minho explains. He’s clearly trying to maintain his Grumpy facade, but Felix is warmed by the fondness in his tone.

“Well maybe you should go sneak back into my spot in bed,” Felix suggests, giving him a light squeeze around the shoulders. “It’s so comfy cozy, you’ll be asleep in seconds.”

Suddenly Minho shifts and is lifting Felix into the air by his thighs. They settle onto the couch together as he tells him, “No, we agreed to talk this morning. I can always try to take a nap later.”

So Felix fills him in on what he saw yesterday. They talk for a while trying to analyze the Queen’s actions and the way she seems to wield her power. Others join them as the morning stretches on, and Felix regrets not having just waited for everyone to gather to talk with how much he ends up repeating himself. 

Their conversation ends when Chan drags himself down the stairs. Hyunjin sinks into Felix’s side to whisper, “I’m the worst. I should’ve just gone to him.”

“No, Jinnie,” Felix murmurs, stroking his hair. “You were trying to respect his space and leave him in control. It makes sense that you didn’t wanna push him. But he’s up now, and you can always remind him of your offer.” 

“Thanks, Lix-ah.” Hyunjin presses a kiss to his cheek then follows the prince into the kitchen. 

He’s replaced by Jeongin. On an impulse, Felix wraps his arms around him and gives him a little shake. He’s met with giggles and protestations that he ignores until he has the chance to give him a tiny bite on the shoulder. 

Jeongin sighs heavily when he releases him, as if the affection is a burden. “You ready to head to the river?” 

Yesterday he’d gone with Seungmin to try to learn more about Chan’s relationship with the Queen. This morning Minho helped Felix come up with the plan to mimic her by using a water “mirror” and look farther into the past and gain a more well rounded picture. They agreed that they don’t want to force Chan to focus so much on these things when he’s clearly struggling. 

“Is Seungminnie ready?” Felix asks rather than answering.

Jeongin nods his head toward the kitchen. “He’s just grabbing the springform pan.” 

The two of them rise as Seungmin walks by, headed to the door. Together they make their way toward the river. They don’t rush, soaking up the sun shining through the forest’s leaves. Felix loves simple moments like this. Seungmin sings a bit, with Jeongin and Felix chiming in periodically. They all burst out laughing when Jeongin trips over a root and nearly faceplants. 

When they make it to the river, they keep up the playful vibe, taking off their boots and rolling their pantlegs up so they can wade into it. They splash around a bit, and sweetie that he is, Jeongin picks a small bouquet of fringed pinks from the riverbed and presents them to Felix with a flourish. 

All too soon, however, it’s time to turn to the task at hand. 

Jeongin fills the springform pan about midway with water before freezing it solid. Seungmin takes it from him, and with a sneeze, he warms the sides and bottom of the pan, not enough to melt much, but enough to be able to open the pan and slide the ice into Jeongin’s hands.

“That worked beautifully,” Felix tells them, awe in his voice. Jeongin holds it up for him, and rather than reflecting his image as a mirror would, he sees a distorted version of Jeongin’s smiling face. “I really hope it works.”

“We’ve already seen that water can help you,” Seungmin says. “If what I read is correct, the ‘mirror’ will serve as a greater connection to the Queen and the palace.” 

Felix settles down on his favorite rock for seeing and his eyes light up. He focuses on Chan’s family, reaching far into the past. He watches the way the King and Queen interact with each other and with Chan. It’s clear that Chan’s father loved him, which Felix is glad to know, but it’s also clear that he did not have the time to dedicate to him.

Felix is particularly interested in seeing the end of His Majesty's life. Despite feeling that the water mirror is helping him to reach into the past, Chan’s lack of closeness with the King makes him the hardest to look for. Then he remembers what Seungmin said about the mirror acting as a connection to Her Majesty’s own mirror magic. He focused not on all three of them, but just the King and Queen, trying to look more through her than at her. 

Felix finds himself in the chamber they shared:

The Queen sits upon her vanity bench, brushing her long dark hair, staring into her own shockingly green eyes. She sets the brush down and one hand comes up to finger along the edge of the small mirror broach at the hollow of her throat. 

“Looking glass, looking glass, please be candid: Who is the most powerful in the land?”

The mirror before her ripples for a moment before her reflection vanishes and is replaced by an image of her and her husband. It intones, “His Majesty the king holds the most power in this land, closely followed by you, My Queen.”

The pleased look drops from her face. “Magic mirror, but surely we are equals?”

“Magic power flows through your veins, but royal blood and loyalty of the masses provides a greater claim.”

Before she can say more, a booming voice calls out, “Geyonghui, my dear, I’m off to break my fast. Will you be joining me in the advisors’ chamber afterward?”

A wicked smile graces her lips before she calls back, “Actually, I’ll join you in this morning’s meal. One of my ladies told me of the benefits of eating passionfruit to start your day, and I think we should both make it part of our routine.”

The King arrives at her side, caressing her cheek with a fond look in his eye. “Whatever you say, my love. Shall I wait to escort you?” 

“No, dear,” she tells him, patting his hand. “Hae will braid my hair quickly, and I’ll be down. Just don’t eat the fruit without me; it shall be our new morning ritual.”

Before the maid arrives, she opens a drawer in her vanity. Glancing back over her shoulder to be sure no one will see, she pulls on a small tab, nearly hidden by the make up brushes inside. It reveals that the brushes sit on a false bottom. The hidden bounty of the drawer boasts several vials and jars. The Queen selects a few and retrieves an empty perfume bottle. 

“I may not have royal blood and mindless sheep that follow whoever is on the throne, but as you said,” she glares at the mirror once more before continuing, “my powers are strong.” She mixes a few powders and liquids together in the bottle, all the while muttering in an ancient language. She tops the concoction with a bit of spring water she saves for such an occasion. That black-heart smile is back. “But hear this, looking glass. Soon, I will be the only one reflected on your surface.” 

With a blink, the scene in Felix’s mirror shifts. It’s like he’s seeing it in fast forward. Over the course of what appears to be the next couple weeks, the Queen uses the potion in the perfume bottle, injecting it into the passionfruit’s wrinkled skin before it’s served to the King.

More key moments come to him, from the bedchamber, advisors’ chamber, throne room, training rooms. As time passes, he sees the King getting weaker and weaker. His illness becomes apparent to all in two weeks’ time. Even after he’s no longer eating the passionfruits, the Queen slips the potion into ale, then teas, eventually infusing it into his medical treatments. It’s clear he’s nearing the end as he begins to spend all day abed. 

The Queen sits at the King’s bedside, ever the dutiful wife. She attempts to quiet his feeble utterances, but for the first time in weeks, he momentarily takes on a tone of command: “Geyonghui, listen to me. I… I’m not long for this world, love.” He hushes her when she tries to deny his claim. “I need you to promise me that you will bring Chan up right, that you will be his mentor, his confidant. Guide him so he can become the king I know he’s destined to be.”

The Queen’s crocodile tears flow heavily, but she nods and says, “Oh, my dear Kyungsoo. I will continue to raise him as my own. I will hold the throne until he’s ready, then he will follow in your footsteps, love. I swear it.”

He thanks her weakly and asks that the boy be brought in for what ends up being their last conversation. He holds 10 year-old Chan’s hand, patting it gently, his kind smile made into more of a grimace because of the pain. His voice is exponentially dulled following his show of strength with the Queen. “Channie. My beautiful son. My heir. It is my greatest regret that I will not be here to see you grow into a man. Listen to Geyonghui and the advisors, they will lead you to your future. Dry your tears, my boy. I will always be with you.” He attempts to tap on the spot over Chan’s heart, but he barely has the strength to reach it, “Right in here. And you will be great. I love you, my sweet son.”

The moment he opens his arms, Chan surges forward to hug him. Sobbing into his chest, he begs his father not to leave, not to die, and tells him over and over again that he loves him. 

That night, the Queen takes that final step, unwilling to just let the poison take its time. As the King sleeps, she draws near, pillow in her hands. She’s heartbreakingly gentle as she smothers him. It seems he can’t even wake enough to try to fight, and then he’s gone. 

Felix closes his eyes for nearly 30 seconds before he registers the body beneath his own. At some point, Seungmin must’ve lifted him to sit in his lap while he was seeing. He leans back against him with a sigh as he hears the water mirror hit the ground. Then he feels Jeongin’s arms come around him from the front. 

“My gods, Innie,” Seungmin sucks in a breath, shuddering. 

Felix looks to see that Jeongin has reached around him to tuck his icy hands under Seungmin’s shirt to lay them against Seungmin’s bare skin. Then he realizes how dark it already is. He looks from Jeongin’s face to Seungmin’s and asks, “Why didn’t you stop me earlier? It’s so late!”

Jeongin gives him an easy smile. “We didn’t mind waiting you out.”

“But the water mirror—“

“We traded off.” Felix can feel Seungmin shrug. “And we planned to give you around 12 more minutes before pulling you out.”

“Exactly,” Jeongin adds as he helps to lift Felix out of Seungmin’s lap so he can stand. “Will you tell us about what you saw on the walk back or do we have to wait for the others?”

Felix gives them a brief summary of all he saw as they head for the cottage. He’s feeling exhausted, but despite their nonchalance, he knows the other men must feel somewhat drained after standing and holding a block of ice for hours. 

When they arrive at home, Chan is near the door, probably headed to the stairs. Felix moves without thought, and immediately wraps him in a hug. Stunned, Chan returns it, but Felix can feel him looking at the other two, likely trying to understand what’s happening. He lets go and flops onto the couch, not caring that it’s currently occupied by Changbin and Jisung. 

It remains quiet for a minute before Minho is scolding the trio for staying out so late and letting them all know dinner will be ready soon. 

“Binnie?” Felix looks up at him with wide eyes, hoping he knows what he wants without having to truly ask him. 

Changbin doesn’t generally heal them from exhaustion. Using your power is like using a muscle: if you want gains, you have to endure. Healing would take away a bit of the progress, but Felix went beyond his skill today, and the comfort it would bring seems worth it. 

Changbin’s hand rests on Felix’s chest and he watches as the healer’s eyes begin to pulse. It doesn’t last long, but when he finishes, Felix feels a bit lighter. 

During dinner, Felix keeps his revelation fairly shallow. He wants to avoid drudging up even more bad feelings and memories for the prince, for now at least. If Chan realizes this, he doesn’t let it show. 

Afterwards, Felix decides to turn in early. He only partially wakes up to greet Jisung when he slides into bed with him a bit later. Then he’s drawn back into the blissful emptiness of the unconscious. 

❄◌✴︎˚Felix｡✴︎◌❄

Felix actually drools a bit as he looks down at Changbin and Seungmin. His boys. He surges forward to suck a few marks on Changbin’s cheeks, giving in to the desire to put a physical claim on him the way he did with Seungmin. He squirts some lube onto his fingers and rubs them together to warm it.

“You have such a pretty hole, Binnie,” he purrs. Then he gets a better idea. He leans in to lick a fat stripe across it. He grins against him as he feels Changbin shudder at the feeling. Then he’s circling his tongue around before plunging in. He thrusts and wiggles his tongue around, sucks at Changbin’s rim. 

Soon, he’s loose enough for Felix to work a couple fingers in along with his tongue. He relishes the way Changbin whines and squirms under his ministrations. It pains him to pull back, but he knows he won’t be able to stimulate Changbin’s prostate the way he wants to with his tongue in the way. He adds another finger and curls them to press right on his sweet spot. 

Changbin moans loudly, though it’s quickly muffled by Seungmin’s hand. He shushes him sweetly. “Shh, Binnie, I know it’s unlikely that someone will come in and interrupt us, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hear us if we get too loud.”

“Feels so good, Minnie,” Changbin mumbles behind his hand. 

“I know, baby,” Seungmin kisses him again. “Lixie always knows how to make us feel good.”

Even if the praise is indirect, it goes to Felix’s head a bit. He pumps his fingers in and out, in and out, only occasionally stopping to rub circles on Changbin’s prostate. He sinks his teeth back into his backside, adding bite marks to the hickies he started with. He’s spurred on by the continued whimpers and moans falling from Changbin’s lips. 

“Lix,” Changbin pants. 

Instead of continuing, he groans, clenching around Felix’s fingers. Felix knows he’s getting close. So, he pulls out slowly and watches as Changbin’s empty hole winks at him, begging to be filled back up. Felix adds a bit more lube to his hand and reaches to stroke Seungmin a few times while he nips at Changbin’s rim again.

This time when he pulls back, he moves aside, grabbing a cloth to wipe his hands. Before he can ask if he’ll get the pleasure of watching Changbin ride Seungmin, the latter is flipping them. 

He seems to know what Felix was thinking. As he lines himself up to enter Changbin, Seungmin flashes him a smile. “Remember, Binnie’s in our room so that he can rest for tomorrow. Can’t have him doing too much work.”

“Fuck,” Changbin groans as Seungmin slowly slides into him. He’s just this side of too loud.

Seungmin lets out a moan of his own, gritting his teeth as he bottoms out. He’s breathing a bit heavier, when he suggests, “Lix-ah, you might have to keep his mouth busy, if he can’t be quiet.”

Changbin squirms below him, already wanting Seungmin to start moving. He does look up at Felix, though, with a big smile. “I think that might, ah!” He’s interrupted by Seungmin pulling out almost fully to thrust back in again, hard. He pants between the words. “Ah, oh, yeah. Help me, Lix. Keep me quiet.”

He and Seungmin trade matching grins before he cups Changbin’s face. “But baby, how can I do that and watch Seungmin rail you?”

Changbin whines, “Please Lixie?”

Seungmin picks up a rhythm, not quite going hard yet, but his thrusts each elicit a sigh or gasp. He slows a bit as he says, “Oh, Lix has a point, Bin. You’re gonna have to control yourself.” The second he stops speaking, Seungmin speeds up, pounding into Changbin now, grunting a bit as he goes.

Changbin mewls and gasps. “P-please. F-fuck. L-lix, ah. Sit on my, my, ah, sit on my face.” He lets out another too loud moan, but Felix cuts it off with a kiss.

“Since you asked so nicely,” Felix purrs when he pulls up. “Minnie, baby, can you slow down while I get situated?”

“‘Anything for you, babe,” he growls out, though it takes him a few seconds to comply. 

Felix straddles Changbin’s head and sinks down slowly. He feels the warmth of Changbin’s tongue as it enters him and sighs. Seungmin resumes his rhythm as soon as he’s settled. Changbin’s more than a little sloppier than usual, but with the way Seungmin is giving it to him, Felix can’t blame him in the least. Plus, it still feels amazing and is only enhanced by the rumbling moans and groans Changbin is breathing into him.

“Fuck, yes,” Felix breathes. “Good boy, Binnie. Makin’ me feel good.”

Seungmin looks so hot. His body moves so fluidly, his muscles tensed and sweat starting to drip. Felix’s cock is weeping. He was already almost painfully hard. Between the feeling of Changbin inside him and squeezing his thighs, and the sight of Seungmin pounding him into the mattress, he’s sure he won’t last very long. 

Changbin is getting sloppier and sloppier, and Felix briefly wonders if he could fold himself up enough to maintain his position and suck Changbin’s dick. But instead, he lifts himself up, with effort as Changbin attempts to pull him back down. Luckily, his proximity to his orgasm drains some of the strength from him. Felix shifts off of him, ignoring Changbin’s cries. He’s easily distracted again as Seungmin lifts his lower body up higher, changing his angle to ram into Changbin’s prostate. 

Felix immediately slaps a hand over his mouth as he adjusts his position to Changbin’s side. He removes it to take Changbin’s own hand to replace it with. “I know it’s hard, but you’ve gotta keep yourself quiet now, Bin-ah.” That said, he lowers himself down, taking Changbin’s entire length into his mouth in one motion.

He bobs his head twice and when he hollows his cheeks, Changbin is crying out. He swallows down every drop of cum, sucking him dry before pulling off with a pop. 

Felix takes his cock in hand as he watches Seungmin adjust again and speed up his thrusts. Seungmin’s teeth dig into his lower lip as he tries to contain his own sounds of pleasure. Soon his movements become more erratic and he’s filling Changbin up beautifully.

Rather than collapsing onto Changbin as he likely would have done, Seungmin reaches over to Felix. He grabs him by the hair and pulls him closer, crashing their lips together. Felix’s moves to hold onto Seungmin’s shoulders. A hand slightly bigger than his own replaces his in an instant, and Felix shudders. Changbin doesn’t relent, stroking him fast, using his precum to ease the glide. 

Felix was already so turned on, that when Seungmin bites down on his lip while simultaneously tightening the grip in his hair, he explodes. White ropes paint Seungmin’s body and Changbin’s hand. This time Seungmin does lay down, bringing Felix with him. They’re all breathing heavily, spent. 

All too soon, Changbin is wiggling underneath them. “You cannot fall asleep on me, we need to clean up.”

Seungmin hums, and Felix snuggles in before saying, “But Binnie, you’re so comfy.”

Changbin lets out a whine, and the two of them laugh. When they start to get up, Changbin hisses as Seungmin’s softened length slides out of him finally. As the one who is least covered in body fluids, Felix throws on a pair of shorts and ventures out to get a wet towel. They take turns cleaning each other up, and climb under the covers. 

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

Changbin spoons against him, already falling asleep. Seungmin lays in front of him. His hand drifts up and down Felix’s side, and he kisses him gently. 

They hear a snore from Changbin, and Seungmin whispers against his lips, “Before we go to sleep, can you double check things with the Queen?”

Felix nods. He was going to do it anyway. He and Seungmin likely were thinking the same thing. In the darkness, the glow of his eyes works to illuminate his lover’s face. He has a second to appreciate Seungmin’s beauty until he’s seeing the Queen earlier that day. 

The Queen sits in her throne room. There’s a decent sized audience in front of her. She sits still as a statue and looks down her nose at the peasants dirtying up her floor. There are murmurs floating around questioning Prince Chan’s absence. 

One of her attendants comes up beside her. "That’s all for this group, Your Majesty. Would you like me to call the room to order?”

She waves him off like an annoying insect. “No need, they will attend to me when I require it. It grows tiresome, having to waste my energy ensuring no one gets the wrong idea of what happened to him. How many more audiences like this do I have?”

“As of now,” the attendant consults a list. “This is your final audience. After them, I’m sure word of mouth will be enough to dispel any remaining agitation.”

The queen scoffs. “Alright. My amulet.” She holds out her hand for it. He sets the talisman in her palm gently. She carefully slots it into its spot on the choker she’s wearing. It’s almost like a little mirror, glittering on her neck. 

She stands then, and the room takes on an unnatural stillness. 

“People of Baekguk, my dear subjects, welcome. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to address your concerns.” Her words are warm, but her tone is frosty. No one seems to notice the disparity or the lack of emotion on her face. “I understand that you have a spokesperson. Please, express yourself so I may do my best to set things right.”

It takes a few seconds, but a middle-aged man steps forward. The Queen’s eyes flick down to the floor, and he kneels. 

Despite his clear nerves, his voice is clear and strong when he speaks. “You Majesty, thank you for hearing us. We have heard the troubling news about our beloved prince, but it was just days ago that he was in our neighborhood. He was in fine health as always. He even joined in a game of Jegichagi with several of our children. He moved with ease, even keeping the shuttlecock aloft where his guards could not when they attempted to join in as well.” 

He clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable with the way the Queen simply stares down at him, her expression souring slightly. He goes on, “The Prince was jovial and full of vitality. We cannot fathom how he might’ve been so ill for so long and hid it so well.”

“Unfathomable as it may be to you,” The Queen interrupts, clearly tired of playing the caring sovereign. “Chan was ill for quite a long time. You all clearly are thinking of another time he visited. The Prince hadn’t left the palace in months, barely able to leave his chambers. Your grief has confused you. Chan was sick and has now succumbed to his illness. Now, return to your homes and remember.”

The murmurs are different now. There is less confusion, more sadness. The people are lamenting Chan’s illness, so like his father in his passing. They’re grateful that the Queen allowed them to come share in her grief. 

Felix locks in on the Queen’s nightly routine next. It manifests readily, and he can’t help but be satisfied with his control.

“Magic mirror on the wall,” she says almost giddily as she runs a brush through her silky, blonde locks. “Tell me, have I done all I need? Do all within the kingdom believe that sniveling brat’s death was a foreseen ending for a worthless waste of space?”

“O Queen,” a diplophonic voice radiates out from the mirror’s surface. “Your subjects’ thoughts reflect your desire. While scant few may doubt, the point is moot when met with your power.”

The Queen cackles. She strides away from the mirror, now speaking to herself rather than the magical object. “Perfect. Now I can move on and begin to put more plans into action.”

She looks out her window, the light of the moon and stars giving her a soft view of the kingdom below. She dawns a sinister smile, and hisses, “Mine.”

When he returns to himself, Felix meets Seungmin’s gaze in the fading light of his power. He shudders. 

“She’s so cold,” he says, trying to shake the feeling of her from his mind. Seungmin runs a thumb over his cheek, offering comfort with the small touch.

He’d felt this before as well, but since he wasn’t very familiar with her, he wasn’t as in the moment. The first couple times, it felt like standing too close to something Jeongin is freezing. This time, when he returned to himself, it was like falling through the ice on a pond. After seeing her a couple times and having heard what Chan had to say about her, Felix was much more grounded in his vision this time. It helps him to understand better, but the connection cuts deeper. He’s not sure how to convey it. 

“She is beautiful, but in a scary way?” He says it like a question. “Her people seem to know the truth and still support her, but I wonder if it’s out of fear or if she’s… brainwashed them in a different way.” 

“A different way?” Seungmin prompts.

“She’s been using mirror magic to convince the people of Baekguk that Chan was sickly and, unsurprisingly, died because of it,” Felix explains. “But the important thing is that we’re all safe. She won’t be sending anyone to look for him now. 

“Shit,” Seungmin sighs. “And she believes it, right? That he’s dead, I mean.”

“Yeah, she was gloating to herself about it,” Felix says, scrunching his face in disgust. “I’m glad he’s away from her. She’s so awful.”

Seungmin pulls him in close and presses a kiss into his hair. “He’ll be safe here. We can help him heal.”

They lay there in silence for a minute, and Felix starts to drift off. Not before he hears Seungmin whisper. He can’t tell if he’s talking to Felix or himself. 

“Gods help the kingdom of Baekguk, though.”

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ

The following morning, Felix is still settled between his loves when he wakes. It’s so cozy, he considers going back to sleep, but he has a plan for the day, so he should follow it. He crawls over Seungmin, sure that he’s less likely to grab him and keep him in bed.

He runs into Minho in the hall, who grunts sleepily, and Felix can’t help but think about how Chan dubbed him Grumpy and giggle. They make their way to the kitchen, working in tandem to get a simple breakfast and some coffee and tea made. When everything is about ready, just waiting on water to boil, Minho slumps against him.

“How’d you sleep, honey?” He purrs into Minho’s black and blue hair.

Minho pulls back to look at him. “You mean that thing people do when they lay in bed at night instead of pacing and stressing about the distressed royal a room over?”

“Did Jinnie really not offer to help him at all last night?” Felix asks. He really did expect Hyunjin to offer to soothe Chan into sleep right off the bat after hearing how stressed he’d been knowing he couldn’t do anything for him.

“He was very focused on not wanting to push something on someone who’s been so mistreated, and knowing that Chan knows he can help, so he feels like it’s better to wait to be asked,” Minho explains. He’s clearly trying to maintain his Grumpy facade, but Felix is warmed by the fondness in his tone.

“Well maybe you should go sneak back into my spot in bed,” Felix suggests, giving him a light squeeze around the shoulders. “It’s so comfy cozy, you’ll be asleep in seconds.”

Suddenly Minho shifts and is lifting Felix into the air by his thighs. They settle onto the couch together as he tells him, “No, we agreed to talk this morning. I can always try to take a nap later.”

So Felix fills him in on what he saw yesterday. They talk for a while trying to analyze the Queen’s actions and the way she seems to wield her power. Others join them as the morning stretches on, and Felix regrets not having just waited for everyone to gather to talk with how much he ends up repeating himself. 

Their conversation ends when Chan drags himself down the stairs. Hyunjin sinks into Felix’s side to whisper, “I’m the worst. I should’ve just gone to him.”

“No, Jinnie,” Felix murmurs, stroking his hair. “You were trying to respect his space and leave him in control. It makes sense that you didn’t wanna push him. But he’s up now, and you can always remind him of your offer.” 

“Thanks, Lix-ah.” Hyunjin presses a kiss to his cheek then follows the prince into the kitchen. 

He’s replaced by Jeongin. On an impulse, Felix wraps his arms around him and gives him a little shake. He’s met with giggles and protestations that he ignores until he has the chance to give him a tiny bite on the shoulder. 

Jeongin sighs heavily when he releases him, as if the affection is a burden. “You ready to head to the river?” 

Yesterday he’d gone with Seungmin to try to learn more about Chan’s relationship with the Queen. This morning Minho helped Felix come up with the plan to mimic her by using a water “mirror” and look farther into the past and gain a more well rounded picture. They agreed that they don’t want to force Chan to focus so much on these things when he’s clearly struggling. 

“Is Seungminnie ready?” Felix asks rather than answering.

Jeongin nods his head toward the kitchen. “He’s just grabbing the springform pan.” 

The two of them rise as Seungmin walks by, headed to the door. Together they make their way toward the river. They don’t rush, soaking up the sun shining through the forest’s leaves. Felix loves simple moments like this. Seungmin sings a bit, with Jeongin and Felix chiming in periodically. They all burst out laughing when Jeongin trips over a root and nearly faceplants. 

When they make it to the river, they keep up the playful vibe, taking off their boots and rolling their pantlegs up so they can wade into it. They splash around a bit, and sweetie that he is, Jeongin picks a small bouquet of fringed pinks from the riverbed and presents them to Felix with a flourish. 

All too soon, however, it’s time to turn to the task at hand. 

Jeongin fills the springform pan about midway with water before freezing it solid. Seungmin takes it from him, and with a sneeze, he warms the sides and bottom of the pan, not enough to melt much, but enough to be able to open the pan and slide the ice into Jeongin’s hands.

“That worked beautifully,” Felix tells them, awe in his voice. Jeongin holds it up for him, and rather than reflecting his image as a mirror would, he sees a distorted version of Jeongin’s smiling face. “I really hope it works.”

“We’ve already seen that water can help you,” Seungmin says. “If what I read is correct, the ‘mirror’ will serve as a greater connection to the Queen and the palace.” 

Felix settles down on his favorite rock for seeing and his eyes light up. He focuses on Chan’s family, reaching far into the past. He watches the way the King and Queen interact with each other and with Chan. It’s clear that Chan’s father loved him, which Felix is glad to know, but it’s also clear that he did not have the time to dedicate to him.

Felix is particularly interested in seeing the end of His Majesty's life. Despite feeling that the water mirror is helping him to reach into the past, Chan’s lack of closeness with the King makes him the hardest to look for. Then he remembers what Seungmin said about the mirror acting as a connection to Her Majesty’s own mirror magic. He focused not on all three of them, but just the King and Queen, trying to look more through her than at her. 

Felix finds himself in the chamber they shared:

The Queen sits upon her vanity bench, brushing her long dark hair, staring into her own shockingly green eyes. She sets the brush down and one hand comes up to finger along the edge of the small mirror broach at the hollow of her throat. 

“Looking glass, looking glass, please be candid: Who is the most powerful in the land?”

The mirror before her ripples for a moment before her reflection vanishes and is replaced by an image of her and her husband. It intones, “His Majesty the king holds the most power in this land, closely followed by you, My Queen.”

The pleased look drops from her face. “Magic mirror, but surely we are equals?”

“Magic power flows through your veins, but royal blood and loyalty of the masses provides a greater claim.”

Before she can say more, a booming voice calls out, “Geyonghui, my dear, I’m off to break my fast. Will you be joining me in the advisors’ chamber afterward?”

A wicked smile graces her lips before she calls back, “Actually, I’ll join you in this morning’s meal. One of my ladies told me of the benefits of eating passionfruit to start your day, and I think we should both make it part of our routine.”

The King arrives at her side, caressing her cheek with a fond look in his eye. “Whatever you say, my love. Shall I wait to escort you?” 

“No, dear,” she tells him, patting his hand. “Hae will braid my hair quickly, and I’ll be down. Just don’t eat the fruit without me; it shall be our new morning ritual.”

Before the maid arrives, she opens a drawer in her vanity. Glancing back over her shoulder to be sure no one will see, she pulls on a small tab, nearly hidden by the make up brushes inside. It reveals that the brushes sit on a false bottom. The hidden bounty of the drawer boasts several vials and jars. The Queen selects a few and retrieves an empty perfume bottle. 

“I may not have royal blood and mindless sheep that follow whoever is on the throne, but as you said,” she glares at the mirror once more before continuing, “my powers are strong.” She mixes a few powders and liquids together in the bottle, all the while muttering in an ancient language. She tops the concoction with a bit of spring water she saves for such an occasion. That black-heart smile is back. “But hear this, looking glass. Soon, I will be the only one reflected on your surface.” 

With a blink, the scene in Felix’s mirror shifts. It’s like he’s seeing it in fast forward. Over the course of what appears to be the next couple weeks, the Queen uses the potion in the perfume bottle, injecting it into the passionfruit’s wrinkled skin before it’s served to the King.

More key moments come to him, from the bedchamber, advisors’ chamber, throne room, training rooms. As time passes, he sees the King getting weaker and weaker. His illness becomes apparent to all in two weeks’ time. Even after he’s no longer eating the passionfruits, the Queen slips the potion into ale, then teas, eventually infusing it into his medical treatments. It’s clear he’s nearing the end as he begins to spend all day abed. 

The Queen sits at the King’s bedside, ever the dutiful wife. She attempts to quiet his feeble utterances, but for the first time in weeks, he momentarily takes on a tone of command: “Geyonghui, listen to me. I… I’m not long for this world, love.” He hushes her when she tries to deny his claim. “I need you to promise me that you will bring Chan up right, that you will be his mentor, his confidant. Guide him so he can become the king I know he’s destined to be.”

The Queen’s crocodile tears flow heavily, but she nods and says, “Oh, my dear Kyungsoo. I will continue to raise him as my own. I will hold the throne until he’s ready, then he will follow in your footsteps, love. I swear it.”

He thanks her weakly and asks that the boy be brought in for what ends up being their last conversation. He holds 10 year-old Chan’s hand, patting it gently, his kind smile made into more of a grimace because of the pain. His voice is exponentially dulled following his show of strength with the Queen. “Channie. My beautiful son. My heir. It is my greatest regret that I will not be here to see you grow into a man. Listen to Geyonghui and the advisors, they will lead you to your future. Dry your tears, my boy. I will always be with you.” He attempts to tap on the spot over Chan’s heart, but he barely has the strength to reach it, “Right in here. And you will be great. I love you, my sweet son.”

The moment he opens his arms, Chan surges forward to hug him. Sobbing into his chest, he begs his father not to leave, not to die, and tells him over and over again that he loves him. 

That night, the Queen takes that final step, unwilling to just let the poison take its time. As the King sleeps, she draws near, pillow in her hands. She’s heartbreakingly gentle as she smothers him. It seems he can’t even wake enough to try to fight, and then he’s gone. 

Felix closes his eyes for nearly 30 seconds before he registers the body beneath his own. At some point, Seungmin must’ve lifted him to sit in his lap while he was seeing. He leans back against him with a sigh as he hears the water mirror hit the ground. Then he feels Jeongin’s arms come around him from the front. 

“My gods, Innie,” Seungmin sucks in a breath, shuddering. 

Felix looks to see that Jeongin has reached around him to tuck his icy hands under Seungmin’s shirt to lay them against Seungmin’s bare skin. Then he realizes how dark it already is. He looks from Jeongin’s face to Seungmin’s and asks, “Why didn’t you stop me earlier? It’s so late!”

Jeongin gives him an easy smile. “We didn’t mind waiting you out.”

“But the water mirror—“

“We traded off.” Felix can feel Seungmin shrug. “And we planned to give you around 12 more minutes before pulling you out.”

“Exactly,” Jeongin adds as he helps to lift Felix out of Seungmin’s lap so he can stand. “Will you tell us about what you saw on the walk back or do we have to wait for the others?”

Felix gives them a brief summary of all he saw as they head for the cottage. He’s feeling exhausted, but despite their nonchalance, he knows the other men must feel somewhat drained after standing and holding a block of ice for hours. 

When they arrive at home, Chan is near the door, probably headed to the stairs. Felix moves without thought, and immediately wraps him in a hug. Stunned, Chan returns it, but Felix can feel him looking at the other two, likely trying to understand what’s happening. He lets go and flops onto the couch, not caring that it’s currently occupied by Changbin and Jisung. 

It remains quiet for a minute before Minho is scolding the trio for staying out so late and letting them all know dinner will be ready soon. 

“Binnie?” Felix looks up at him with wide eyes, hoping he knows what he wants without having to truly ask him. 

Changbin doesn’t generally heal them from exhaustion. Using your power is like using a muscle: if you want gains, you have to endure. Healing would take away a bit of the progress, but Felix went beyond his skill today, and the comfort it would bring seems worth it. 

Changbin’s hand rests on Felix’s chest and he watches as the healer’s eyes begin to pulse. It doesn’t last long, but when he finishes, Felix feels a bit lighter. 

During dinner, Felix keeps his revelation fairly shallow. He wants to avoid drudging up even more bad feelings and memories for the prince, for now at least. If Chan realizes this, he doesn’t let it show. 

Afterwards, Felix decides to turn in early. He only partially wakes up to greet Jisung when he slides into bed with him a bit later. Then he’s drawn back into the blissful emptiness of the unconscious. 

He gets it. While Minho and Hyunjin made lunch and Changbin stewed in the living room, Seungmin, Jeongin, and Jisung watched Felix lead Chan around the property as they hung up their freshly laundered sheets. They all felt terrible for the prince. 

It was hard to imagine your family turning against you like that, blood related or not. They’d felt that last night, but hearing about how the Queen had raised him this morning had twisted the knife. His shy and unconfident demeanor is clearly not just a result of his ordeal in the woods, though that certainly didn’t help. 

Seungmin gives Hyunjin a gentle squeeze and leans to whisper in his ear. “Baby, I know this is a lot, but do you think you can level things out a bit?” There’ll be plenty of time to be upset in the days to come, he rationalizes. 

Hyunjin’s eyes glow prettily, and Seungmin can feel the tension in the room lessen. Then he speaks up to the group at large, “Well, I think this calls for a little celebration.” He pointedly ignores the look Minho gives him at that. “A welcome for Chan. Lix-ah, maybe you can bake him your special brownies for dessert tonight? Chan, do you like chocolate?”

“Of course,” Chan smiles, mood visibly lifted. Seungmin gives Hyunjin’s thigh another squeeze, this time in thanks. 

“Thank goodness, ‘cause only crazy people don’t like chocolate,” Jisung asserts, matter-of-factly. 

Jeongin giggles, “Yeah, we would’ve had to do some serious debating about your staying here.”

The joke has the potential to tank the mood, but it lands well. Most of the group is laughing now, and people have actually begun eating. Seungmin leans back into Hyunjin’s space to kiss his cheek and whisper “good job.”

He pretends not to notice the way Chan’s eyes dart away from them and the pink coloring his ears. Would the prince have seen a relationship like theirs at court? Seungmin can’t remember the laws regarding same sex partners and polyamory in Baekguk. They hadn’t said anything to Chan about what they all were to each other, but they weren’t exactly subtle. Still, he hadn’t spent much time around them yet… Seungmin tucks those thoughts away for now.

“Would it be alright if I ask some things about you all?” Chan says shyly, and Seungmin wonders if now was the time to discuss it after all.

“Of course!” Felix is lucky his affinity isn’t for fire, because he could melt a man with that smile. 

“I know this must be basic knowledge,” Chan says to his plate. “But you’re all… dwarves?”

Seungmin almost laughs. Not what he was expecting. 

“We are,” Minho says. He narrows his eyes, though his tone is playful enough. “Is that a problem?”

Chan looks up at him, slightly panicked. Changbin elbows Jisung when he snorts out a laugh. “Of course not! I just, um, I don’t think I’ve ever met a dwarf before? Or, I guess, knew that you were, um, real?”

Jisung laughs outright this time, and he’s not the only one. 

“Hush,” Hyunjin giggles, then addresses the prince. “Well, dwarves are in fact real, but obviously we aren’t all like what you might’ve heard in stories. We’re not that much different from regular humans.”

“Beg to differ,” Minho interrupts, and Jeongin swats at him.

Hyunjin sticks his tongue out and continues, though he changes tactics a bit. “Have you heard The Tale of Nidabeorin?”

“Everyone has,” Chan nods eagerly. “It’s the kingdom that sank into the mountain, right?”

Seungmin can’t help but smile at him. Hyunjin pats the hand still resting on his thigh, encouraging Seungmin to take over. 

“Right. What people forget is that King Nideul was a great sorcerer who had a natural affinity to the earth, like our Minho here. The kingdom didn’t just disappear into a mountain. After the Great War, King Nideul decided that they were too vulnerable and that it was better to retreat away from the world of humans.”

Chan listens with rapt attention. He looks so awed. Seungmin feels proud to be sharing their history with someone who really seems to be listening to learn, not just to be entertained. 

“With the help of his top mages, he hid the kingdom. They worked to enlarge the mountain and those around it, then purposefully brought the kingdom inside it. As you can imagine, not all his subjects agreed with the choice. In the centuries after, many chose to leave, becoming more of a nomadic people; while they were still Nidabeorinian, they became Seubalpae as well. The dwarves you know today, the ones who are more often in your bedtime stories, are the Seubalpae who have ‘crawled out of the mountain,’ misshapen and strange, origin and aptitudes completely separated from the ‘mythical’ people of Nidabeorin.”

“Wow,” Chan breathes.

“Yeah, our Seungminnie is the best storyteller,” Jisung says, half joking, half adoring. “Not that it’s just a story, of course! It’s our history.”

Chan nods again, and Seungmin can see the thoughts going a mile a minute behind his eyes. “Okay, so like in the story, the people of Nidabeorin are all magical, and that’s why you all can do magic? Or, can you all do magic or just some of you?”

“All dwarves are born with an affinity to some form of magic,” Jeongin explains. “Like humans, we can go beyond and learn other types of magic, but none of us have studied anything extensively.”

“So, you just said ‘dwarves,’ and that’s what Minho said last night, too.” 

Chan seems to be working through it out loud, so they wait when he pauses. Seungmin notices that when he’s concentrating, Chan has a tendency to stick his tongue into his cheek. It’s kind of adorable. 

“But Seungmin called you Seubalpae. Did you call yourselves dwarves for my benefit?” Chan susses it out well.

“Considering you didn’t know we were real, wouldn’t you?” Hyunjin asks. “At least if we say dwarf, you have a frame of reference.”

“But,” Chan looks affronted on their behalf. He turns to Jeongin. “You said it yourself: people think of dwarves as short, ugly, mountain men. That’s not you at all! Most of you are taller than me. Plus, you’re all so beautiful!”

The way more than half the table flushes would be much more amusing, if Seungmin couldn’t feel his ears burning. 

“Your magic!” Chan rushes to say. “You said you have affinities toward certain things. Minho is like the old king?”

Minho’s smirk makes it feel like there’s a nonzero chance that he’ll ignore the question to redirect back to the ‘beautiful’ comment. Luckily, he seems to take pity on the prince. “I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say I’m like him. I do have an affinity for earth, though. We call it ‘rock puppetry.’ It’s actually part of why we work as miners.”

“Puppetry? Wait,” It seems like Chan can hardly decide what to ask about first. “You’re miners?” 

“Rethinking your assertion that we aren’t weird mountain men?” Minho asks casually.

Changbin comes to the rescue this time. “Don’t be mean, Min. We do work as miners, yes. It’s easier for us than it is for others, and we don’t mind the hard work.”

“Yeah, I’m able to temper the rocks so that it’s easier to dig,” Jeongin explains. “I freeze the water molecules in the rock, so they break more easily.”

“And of course I have to stay close to make sure you don’t freeze any of us to death,” Seungmin teases, earning him a flick on the forehead. “Hey!”

Chan’s eyes are wide, though. “Could that really happen?”

Jeongin actually considers the question for a second. “I mean, not really? Not on accident like that, anyway. I could freeze a person, but I’d have to really concentrate on them. Probably touch them, too.”

“This is all really so interesting.” Chan looks them over. “So you three have abilities associated more with nature, ‘cause yours is fire, right Seungmin?” He pauses long enough for Seungmin to confirm. “Then Hyunjin and Changbin’s are associated with the body.”

Chan looks at Felix, clearly unsure of how to categorize his gift of sight. Then his head snaps to Jisung, likely realizing he has no idea what he can do.

As if on cue, Jisung supplies the answer to the question he hasn’t asked. “I’m gifted with telekinesis. It works best with organic materials, but I’ve had to get way better with metals in the mine.”

“Wow,” Chan says again. “You’re all so… amazing. Can you always tell when you use your magic? I guess I didn’t notice if Jeongin’s did, but Seungmin’s eyes didn’t glow when he lit the lamps. But he was all sneezy?”

Jisung giggles and repeats “Sneezy” under his breath.

Seungmin rolls his eyes at him fondly. He directs his attention to Chan. “Well, normally my eyes glow as well, but right now I have this weird, magical cold, for lack of a better term. It disrupts how my power appears to manifest.”

For the third, and Seungmin gets the feeling is not the final time, Chan lets out an awed, “wow,” before asking, “What color?” Chan scrunches his face for a second. “I hope these aren’t rude questions? I guess I don’t know magic etiquette."

Cute, Seungmin smirks. “It’s not rude, don’t worry. And we know this is all new to you. We won’t be offended if you overstep a little.”

“Speak for yourself,” Jeongin adds, but he shoots Chan a wink. They both blush at that. Flashing two pairs of dimples with their bashful smiles.

Very cute.

“Seungminnie’s eyes flicker orange like a fire,” Felix says. “It’s so hot; hopefully you get to see it soon.”

Chan and Jisung giggle at his use of hot. Though, Jisung tags on, “It really is, though.”

“I bet.” Chan’s eyes go wide as he seems to realize what he said and immediately stutters out an explanation. “I-I  mean that I, it probably looks really cool.”

“For sure,” Changbin says with a smile. “You were distracted and missed Innie’s eyes last night. Wanna show him how you sparkle, baby?”

Jeongin’s ears go red again at the pet name. He shakes it off and grabs the cup in front of him. The silver glow of his eyes is reminiscent of a crystal chandelier catching the light. It’s lovely, captivating. Even for those of them who see it all the time. Seungmin can see Chan becoming enamored. Jeongin lifts the glass to show the frozen contents as if the frost on the outside wasn’t hint enough at his success. 

“That’s so cool!” Chan beams. He turns to Jisung, only getting a little shy when he asks, “Can I see yours, too?”

That cocky smile Seungmin loves spreads across Jisung's face. “Ask and you shall receive.” Magenta pools with violet concentric circles rippling across their surfaces materialize in the telekinetic’s eyes as he focuses on a tomato on his plate. It floats up and moves in the shape of a heart before gently coming to rest between Hyunjin’s perfect teeth. 

“My turn!” Felix’s sunshiny visage is enhanced by the glinting gold of his eyes. It makes him look ethereal. 

“What are you looking at, Lixie?” Seungmin prods. The others have done little tricks for Chan, but he wonders if Felix is using his demonstration to glean a bit more information to help with the prince’s situation. 

When the gold fades, Felix tosses a wink his way. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

So he was, Seungmin thinks. If he were looking at something innocuous, he surely would’ve just told them. There’s nothing else of note for him to try to hide. 

All eyes turn to Minho, the only one who has yet to show off. He rolls his eyes, but Seungmin knows he likes being the center of attention. 

Ever the one to try to make people uncomfortable for fun, Minho seems like he’s peering directly into Chan’s soul, though the Seubalpae know that he’s focusing on the window just behind him. 

Seungmin always likes to look at Minho’s eyes when he’s using his power. There’s something about the steady bronze gold that feels particularly grounding. It’s like a pool of molten metal in a smith’s shop, so much potential power just itching to manifest. 

It seems Chan agrees with the way he sways forward, mouth dropping open slightly. Minho walks toward him, eyes still ablaze, weaving around Jeongin to stand directly in front of the prince. He leans down so they’re nearly nose to nose. Seungmin wants to check the others’ reactions, but he can’t seem to look away. Minho gently brings a finger up to Chan’s chin, lifting it slightly to close his mouth. Chan swallows visibly, a pretty blush coloring his cheeks. 

“All done with this?” Minho asks as he grabs the plate in front of him.

Chan shakes his head as if to clear it and emits a nervous giggle. “Um, yeah. I mean, yes. Thank you.” 

Chan jumps when there are a couple of thunks on the table in front of him. He whips his head down to see two cats made out of stone and dirt walking past each other to walk around him. He turns and watches as they join a third cat that sits on the window sill and chitters its teeth at them, the sound of its rock teeth hitting each other mimicking a true cat’s sound. He turns back to Minho, mouth ajar, when they jump out as one and disappear.

Minho takes his own plate over to the sink along with Chan’s. Hyunjin moves to follow his lead, and Chan seems to realize something. He hops up and grabs Changbin and Seungmin’s plates. 

“I meant what I said,” he explains. “I won’t be a burden on you all. I want to do my part; let me clean up.”

Seungmin takes hold of his wrist before he can move away. Felix leans over to take the dishes from him, and Seungmin nods in thanks. He stands as he tells Chan, “You don’t have to worry about that. At least not right now. You’ve been through… an ordeal. It’s okay to take a little time to yourself. Binnie may have healed your body, but it might be good to spend some time to work through your thoughts and feelings.”

“I’m happy to help,” Hyunjin puts his hand on Chan’s shoulder. Seungmin realizes he’s still holding onto Chan’s wrist. He gives it a gentle squeeze and lets go. 

Felix comes up on Chan’s other side. “Me too. And we don’t just mean using our magic. We know how much it can help to just talk.”

Chan looks like he might cry again as he nods and allows them to lead him into the living room. Seungmin watches them go, a soft smile on his face. He turns and is immediately wrapped up in Changbin’s strong arms.

“Look at our lil Seungmin-ah,” he teases, “so mature and thoughtful.”

Seungmin scoffs and pretends to try to push him away. He ultimately ends up simply wrapping his arms around Changbin’s shoulders. “Yeah, yeah. How are you feeling about all this? We haven’t had a chance to talk.”

He can feel Changbin sigh against him. “I don’t know, honestly. I’m happy he didn’t ask us to truly help him. Based on the little we know, I think it’ll be good for him to be here with people who are good and can show him what it is to actually be cared for.”

Seungmin hums in response. That implication of what it means to be ‘cared for’ is beyond what Changbin means, but Seungmin can’t help but think about the way he’s already seen Chan look at some of them and the intensity of his moment with Minho. He considers asking Changbin if he’s picked up on anything, but decides to leave it for now.

“Will we really leave him here alone on Monday and just go to work as usual?” 

Changbin considers the question for a moment. “I don’t see why not. Unless Lix sees any danger, I’m not really concerned right now. He might appreciate the alone time, too. I know he walked the forest alone, but he hasn’t had much time to process in a safe environment.”

“True,” Seungmin nods. “And I guess I don’t feel weird about him being in the house without us.” 

He looks over to the living room where Chan is tucked between Hyunjin and Felix. Hyunjin has his arm wrapped around Chan’s shoulders, his hand buried in Felix’s hair. They look so sweet like that. He turns back to Changbin. 

“If he’s set on ‘earning his keep’ we should probably get cleaning stuff together so it’s all easy for him to find and access.” 

“Good point,” Changbin releases him then, turning to look for Minho, presumably. “Can you find a good bucket for mopping, just in case.”

And they’re off, covertly collecting supplies. 

That night, he and Felix are getting ready for bed when the door opens. They both whip around to check the door, as they’d expected to be alone for now. Seungmin looks at Changbin with the question in his eyes.

“We decided that Hyunjin should be close so he can try to soothe Chan if need be,” He starts to explain. “They bullied me into leaving, saying that he and Minho could handle it and that I need more sleep. Probably actually so that Min can slack off tomorrow if he’s tired.”

“Makes sense,” Felix says, stripping out of the last of his clothes. “Hyuni won’t be able to sleep when he feels Chan’s distress anyway. So, Chan won’t come in here looking for you, right?”

Changbin’s eyes are hooded as he appraises him. It’s not like it’s anywhere near the first time he’s seen Felix naked, especially considering it’s his preferred nighttime ‘attire.’ Not to mention they’ve been sleeping together for years now. Still, Felix can have that effect on people. 

When he fails to respond, Seungmin speaks up, “Bin, should Lixie put clothes on just in case or no?”

He snaps out of it, “Oh no, we’re good. Honestly, you should probably take your clothes off, too, Minnie.” He delivers the last part so matter-of-factly, it’s kind of hilarious.

“Great idea, Binnie,” Felix winks at him, moving around the bed towards Seungmin as Changbin approaches him from the other side. 

Seungmin just sighs and allows them to disrobe him fully. Hands roam over his body, and as soon as his shirt is gone, Felix’s mouth is on him. He moves from Seungmin’s neck down to his collarbone before beginning to suck a hickey onto his chest. He lets out a little moan when Felix digs his teeth into his pec. Then he feels Changbin at his back, hands on his hips while the older man presses against him, doing his part to start marking up Seungmin’s shoulders as well. 

“Mmm,” Seungmin hums out. “Can we move this party to the bed?”

Felix moves up to nip at his neck once more before heading to the bedside table to grab the lube. Changbin lifts Seungmin and tosses him onto the bed with a laugh, before diving on top of him. Changbin’s tongue is in his mouth almost immediately, and Seungmin opens up to him readily. He reaches out, getting two nice handfuls of Changbin’s ass. 

He feels more than sees Felix get onto the bed with them. Seungmin knows when he’s wrapped his hand around Changbin’s length by the way he jolts against his lips. 

“Since you’re so eager,” Felix rumbles out, his voice an octave lower than usual. “How do you want things to go tonight, baby?”

Changbin groans into Seungmin’s mouth before sitting back to respond. “Lixie, can you prep me for Minnie?”

“Of course, baby,” Felix moves to get behind him, and Seungmin lets go of Changbin’s ass to allow Felix to pull him up by the hips. “Minnie, you can probably keep your hands there and hold him like that to make it a little easier for me.”

“Whatever you say, baby,” Seungmin murmurs as Changbin brings his attention to his neck. He takes hold of Changbin’s ass again, this time pulling a bit to spread him open for Felix.