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It started off as a normal walk through the woods. Changbin would visit the wilderness on a day-to-day basis in search of a distraction from his hectic life as a grown adult. The constant breeze and the sunlight that seeped through the trees were enough to do the trick.
Every once in a while, Changbin would pluck the vibrant orange flowers that decorated the side of the trail. Seungminnie would definitely love these for the balcony. He’d think, a small smile plastered on his lips.
He finally arrived at the opening that overlooked the rest of the woods, the trees basking in the remaining hours of the sun’s wake. Changbin was at peace. The birds chirping, the scenery, the constant tinkering sound— tinkering sound?
Changbin’s head snaps to the left, eyes scanning the area in search of the source but to no avail. Curiosity taking the best of him, he takes slow steps towards the sound. Once he’s close enough, Changbin crouches getting a good look at the tinkering culprit and his eyes turn into saucers.
In front of him sits an orange-haired fairy with wings that glisten in the sunlight. The tinkering sound emitting from the creature every time he speaks to the pair of mushrooms.
Changbin’s frozen on the spot that he doesn’t even react when the fairy turns around, jumps up to the air in a frightened state, and quickly hides behind one of the mushrooms. He’s brought back to reality shortly after, eyes blinking for a moment. This can’t be real. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. The fairy peeks his head out from his hiding spot. Nope. I’m definitely seeing this. I’m not crazy.
The fairy finally comes out of hiding, albeit hesitant. His wings flutter for a bit, attracting Changbin’s attention. They were beautiful . An auburn color decorating them despite them being see-through. The fairy flew up until he was at Changbin’s eye level. A tint fading onto the human’s cheeks when he notices that the fairy wasn’t wearing any sort of clothing.
He looks away earning a tilt of the head from the fairy. “You don’t smell dangerous. . .” Changbin perks up at the soft and delicate voice. “You‒ You can actually talk?” The fairy giggles, “Of course I can, silly!”
Oh. His heart shouldn’t have skipped a beat but it did and Changbin can’t find a good, solid reason to complain. Before another word can escape from his mouth, the fairy speaks up, “I’m Chan! And you are?”
The corners of his mouth tug upwards, a small smile that is reciprocated by Chan. Changbin brings his hand out in front of him, “I’m Changbin.” Chan moves closer to him, placing his tiny hand on top of Changbin’s.
“It’s nice to meet you, Changbin.”
They meet up every day around sundown. Changbin would arrive at the opening to find Chan waiting patiently for him. A smile never failed to form on his lips whenever his eyes laid upon the fairy.
Weeks have passed ever since their first encounter and both are currently in a meadow. Changbin laying on his back, eyes shut and enjoying Chan’s presence who is seated on top of a flower. The fairy’s humming comes to halt and Changbin suddenly feels a weight on top of his chest.
“Changbin, wake up! I made you something!”
He opens his eyes and is presented with a. . . crystal? Chan rolls his eyes fondly, noticing his confused expression, “I made you a necklace! It’s similar to the one I have.” Changbin sits up, quickly catching the fairy.
“Matching necklaces. . .?” Chan ponders for a moment before nodding his head enthusiastically.
Changbin takes the necklace from Chan, admiring his craft. A deep-blue crystal wrapped up in a gold-like wire. He glances up at Chan and notices the same necklace but only smaller.
“Thank you, Chan. I’ll cherish this forever.” Chan smiles brightly, a blush creeping onto his pointed ears. Changbin places the necklace around his neck and the fairy perks up, “Let me put it on for you!” His wings quickly flutter, flying behind Changbin, and securing the necklace.
“It looks beautiful on you, Binnie.” It’s Changbin’s turn to blush.
“Re‒Really? You think so?” The fairy nods, a fond glint in his eyes.
Chan flies closer to him, placing a small hand on top of the crystal, “I’ll be with you anywhere you go,” he glances away, ears turning impossibly redder, “I trust that you can take care of me.” His heart was ramming against his ribcage so hard that he wouldn’t be surprised if Chan felt it. With his index and middle finger, Changbin pets Chan’s head, the fairy leaning into his touch almost on instinct.
“I promise to never hurt you, my pretty little fairy.”
When Changbin arrives at their regular meeting place, he’s greeted by a blue-haired fairy who’s rather a bit feisty.
“So you’re Chan’s mate, huh?” The said fairy is quick to come and interrupt, “Jisung! Stop speaking nonsense!” Jisung scoffs, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“But that’s what you sai‒” Chan’s hand frantically covers Jisung’s mouth. The fairy spares Changbin a worried smile and the human can’t help the awkward laugh that emits from his throat. Chan backs away from Jisung, flying to Changbin’s side.
“Jisung, this is Changbin. Changbin, this is Jisung. He’s a friend of mine.” He nods at the other fairy who merely glares at him. “I don’t think he likes me,” Changbin whispers to Chan but Jisung still manages to catch on.
“You trespassed our territory, how could I not?” Chan quirks an eyebrow, “Sung, we aren’t territoria‒” Jisung sends the older fairy a sharp look, “I’m trying to sound menacing!”
“I’m sorry about him. He can be. . . a handful sometimes.” Changbin glances at Jisung before returning his gaze towards Chan, “Don’t worry about it.”
Jisung relented on his “menacing” facade that same day, the fairy warming up to him immediately. The blue-haired fairy had even shown Changbin his rock collection, rambling on and on about them.
“I hope you know how ridiculous you sound right now.” Seungmin interrupts Changbin who was just in the middle of telling him about Chan and Jisung.
“I’m serious, Minnie! Fairies exist and I’m friends with two of them!” rebukes the older.
Seungmin finally lifts his head from the textbook placed out in front of him, staring at Changbin with an unamused face. Changbin contemplates for a moment, pursing his lips. Then, all of a sudden, a light bulb lights up inside his head; a brilliant idea striking him.
“Come with me to meet them! Later today!”
Seungmin bursts into a fit of laughter, going quiet once he notices that Changbin isn’t laughing along, “Oh god, please tell me you’re joking.” Changbin shrugs, lips forming into a slight frown.
“I’m being serious, Min.”
“Hyung, I can’t go slacking off to meet some fairies. I’ve got exams coming up.”
“Just today! You won’t be disappointed!” Seungmin leans back on his chair. All that Changbin can do is pull off some puppy eyes in hopes the younger will agree. Seungmin rolls his eyes, “Fine. I’ll go.” The older jolts up, going over the table to engulf the other in a crushing hug.
“You won’t regret it!”
“I’m already regretting this.”
“We’re not even there yet!”
Changbin gives a light slap to Seungmin’s shoulder who remains unfazed. They continue their silent journey, both boys enjoying their surroundings. When he sees the hideout of the fairies up ahead, Changbin speaks up, “We’re here!” He takes a hold of Seungmin’s wrist and bolts, practically dragging the younger boy behind him.
Completely ignoring Seungmin’s protests, Changbin silences him up by chanting Chan and Jisung’s names. He deems himself successful when two small, levitating figures pop out from a bundle of flowers.
Changbin comes to a halt when he’s a few feet away, Seungmin nearly bumping into him. “Chan! Jisung! I brought a friend.” Chan’s the first to greet a gobsmacked Seungmin, “Hello! I’m Chan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Jisung sits on Changbin’s shoulder, lowly whispering, “He’s safe, right?” A nod of the older’s head is enough for him to join Chan in greeting their new guest.
Seungmin and Jisung seem to get along pretty well despite their obvious differences. The fairy keeping Seungmin all to himself and both Changbin and Chan can’t find it in them to complain.
“I take the hint that Jisung likes Seungmin a lot?” He smiles at Chan who remains his attentions on the other two. Chan nods slowly before giving his response, “He’s showing Seungmin his rock collection so that should count to something, right?”
Changbin chuckles, fingers idly combing through the long, sharp grass. No words are exchange for a moment, the whispers of the faint breeze and the chatter of Seungmin and Jisung combining into one.
“Hey, Changbin?” Chan speaks in a gentle and soft tone, almost as if he were hesitant. Changbin locks eyes with Chan’s, “Hm?” His wings drop and Changbin takes notice that they lose their shine.
“You wouldn’t disappear on me, right?” He blinks, taken aback by a sudden question like that. Chan stares attentively at him, searching for any sort of answer that could suffice. Changbin lends out his hand towards him, “I’ll never leave, Chan. I promise you that as well.”
“Why do you ask?” Chan settles on the palm of Changbin’s hand, ears already a rosy pink.
“Well. . . you see. . . when fairies meet someone. . . they really, really like. . .” His ears turn a deeper shade, “They get. . . attached to them. . ?” It comes out as a question, the fairy both timid and uncertain. Changbin offers Chan a smile in an attempt to try and ease his tense state.
“I see,” Changbin caresses his cheek with his finger, “I like you very much, Chan, and I don’t see myself anywhere else but here with you.”
Chan’s eyes widen the slightest before forming into small crescents as he smiles. His wings flutter open and all of a sudden he’s nuzzling his head up against Changbin’s cheek.
A few feet away, Jisung and Seungmin stare in their direction, an amused look on the blue-haired fairy.
“Took them long enough.”