Chapter Text
"Are you ready yet?"
Changbin tries desperately not to roll his eyes. There's not much point - Chan isn't even in the room to tell him off for it, but it still seems rude either way. Still, he's being pushed closer and closer towards breaking point.
"We're going to be late!"
Maybe if they'd told him about the plans for the day a little earlier than ten minutes in advance, that would be a different story. It's not Changbin's fault that they'd suddenly decided to invite him in the first place. The weather outside is terrible - of course it would take him a little while to pull a thick coat and proper snow boots on. What, do they want him to freeze or something?
He's choosing to ignore the fact that he could have refused the invitation. Even if with every passing second, he's almost wishing that he had.
"We're not going to be late," Changbin calls. He makes sure to raise his voice just enough - he can hear the low murmur of voices outside his bedroom door; Chan and Felix likely distracted in some lovey-dovey conversation already. "It's a Christmas Market. It's literally open until the middle of the night."
Outside, he can hear Felix stifle a laugh, and Chan groans. "It's been fifteen minutes. You cannot feasibly take longer than that to put on a coat and some shoes, Bin. It's impossible."
"Just because I want to look half-decent-"
The sound of Felix laughing gets louder. Changbin can practically hear Chan mutter 'for goodness sake' under his breath. There's a bang on the door, before he calls out again. "Are you decent? Actually, I don't care. I'm coming in anyway."
That's all the warning he gets before the door swings open, and Chan pushes in. He'd arrived with Felix to Changbin's apartment already dressed for the snow outside, and the sight of him in so many layers whilst being inside is rather amusing. His cheeks have gone a little pink.
They've been friends for so long that even if Changbin had been naked, it's nothing that Chan wouldn't have already seen. Their parents had been letting them share the bathtub when they were four years old. They've been through so much together that Changbin's not sure he can possibly get embarrassed when it comes to Chan.
Felix, however, is a more recent addition to the group.
He'd met Chan in a coffee shop, of all places. Apparently, his crystal earrings had caught the light in just the right way to send splintered rainbows into Chan's eyes - and they'd run right into each other. After that, it had only been a few seconds before they'd recognised the familiar lilt of an Australian accent, and the rest was history.
They'd only been dating for about six months, but it feels like a lot longer in Changbin's opinion. There's no denying that they're made for each other.
"Bin."
Chan's voice is tinged with desperation. When Changbin looks up from trying the laces on his shoes, his eyes are slightly downturned. It's not like Chan to appear this vulnerable. He's the exact type of person to bottle it all up until he cannot possibly go on any further. If there's something that he wants to say-
"What is it?"
Chan sighs, one hand coming up to tug at his hair. "You don't have to come if you don't want to. I know it was pretty last minute to spring it on you. But- Lix is really into this kind of stuff, and it's our first Christmas together, and I just don't want to mess it up- y'know?"
Changbin stands up. In the time it's taken for Chan to open up, he's managed to pull his gloves on and wrap a thick scarf around his neck. It doesn't exactly match his usual aesthetic, but it's nice to feel slightly like a big marshmallow. "You want me to third wheel as moral support?"
"If you don't want to-"
"I'm kidding." Changbin laughs. He pats Chan on the back, pushing him towards the door. "If I didn't want to go with you, I wouldn't have agreed. As long as you're fully aware that I'll be making 'throwing up' faces behind you the whole time, we're good."
They step out into the corridor as he speaks, and Felix raises an eyebrow as he's finally let in on the conversation. "The whole time?"
Somehow, Felix looks just as amazing as ever. He's wearing boots with a slight platform, his dungaree legs tucked stylishly half-in and half-out. The highlight on his cheeks catches in the light of Changbin's terrible hallway LEDs, and his eyelids shimmer with a soft purple and gold eyeshadow. It doesn't matter that he looks just as wrapped-up as the rest of them - there's no universe where Felix wouldn't shine like a star.
"The whole time," Changbin confirms. He drops his hand from Chan's back, refusing to smile when his friend looks a little too much like a baby deer, stumbling over to his boyfriend. "Wanna see?"
Felix's nose wrinkles. "Maybe later," he says. There's no hiding the way that his eyes slide over the wall to the clock. "Shall we get going?"
—
The walk to the Christmas market is surprisingly short. Although the wind is so biting that Changbin’s cheeks turn a cherry red only three second after stepping outside, at least it isn’t snowing any more. The residue of the flurries they’ve had over the course of the last few days has piled up at the side of the pavements, and any more would have made it practically impossible to walk anywhere.
He trails behind Chan and Felix as they walk hand in hand. Apparently, mourning his love life is actually a good tactic to zone out - it feels like he blinks and they’re at the entrance to the stalls.
The market is set up with wooden stalls, all with clouds of steam and the smells of freshly cooking food pouring out of their backs. There are glittering lights strung over each shop, and they form a path leading up to a huge tent.
That, according to Felix - their resident expert on all things Christmas-sy - is where the main attraction is.
“Come on!” His face has lit up at the sight of it. Changbin and Chan have both been distracted (more than a little) by the amazing concept of so much warm food, but Felix has a one-track mind. “This is what I’ve been waiting for! It won’t be too busy if we get there early, come on !”
He doesn’t pause to explain what the ‘main attraction’ is. Maybe he assumes that they both know. Maybe Chan knows as well, and it’s just Changbin that’s been left in the dark.
Whatever the reason is, it’s why he’s a pace and a half behind them, and it’s why he notices the boy standing off to one side of the tent.
“Hang on,” Changbin calls. Chan glances behind him, Felix on too much of a bee-line to even look back, “I’ll join you in a moment, I’m just-” That quickly, the crowd closes around them. Changbin has just enough of a view of Chan to see him send a quick thumbs up.
The boy is still off to the side, struggling with some boxes. In only a few moments, Changbin has reached his side. “Need some help?”
“Huh?”
The boy’s voice is somewhat muffled behind the huge cardboard box he’s trying to carry. There are at least three in his arms, and another five on the ground beside him. Changbin’s gathered them up in an instance - never one to miss an opportunity to flex his muscles, he worked on them for years for a reason , y’know - and laughs. “Where do you want me to put these?”
It must finally click in the boy’s mind. “Oh!” He says, and then, “-just over here.”
They lug the boxes around the back of the main tent. By the time they reach the destination - a small shelter with a reasonably-sized pile of boxes already there - they’re both out of breath anyway.
The boy straightens up as Changbin puts down his boxes, a smile on his face. He’s got a very wide grin, he can’t help but notice, and his eyes are dark and shiny. “Thanks,” he says, “I’m Jeongin.”
“Changbin,” Changbin says, sticking out his arm so they can shake hands. Jeongin’s grin only grows as they do so. “It’s not a problem. I noticed you were struggling, so I thought I could help out.”
"Well," Jeongin says, "I have to do something in return. I can't just be walking around owing you a favour. That won't do."
Changbin bites back the urge to back away. They'd only met a few moments ago. He'd just wanted to be useful. "I mean- why not?"
It sounds slightly strangled by the end. Somehow, Jeongin has managed to gather all of his contempt into a single expression - mouth screwed up like he's just bitten into a lemon. The whites of his eyes almost completely disappear as he dips his head, scoffing like Changbin has just said something stupid.
"...Or not."
"I'll find something," Jeongin tells him. He pauses for a moment, before the fox-like grin spreads over his face again. "Follow me."
Changbin's not sure he wants to follow a boy he'd met less than five minutes ago. He considers heading back - but a glance over his shoulder tells him that the show is still going on. He can just make out Chan's coat at the back of the crowd, with what looks to be Felix leaning his head on his shoulder.
Whatever the boy has to offer, hopefully it won't take too long. Changbin's been working out lately, anyway - he's pretty sure he could take Jeongin in a fight if he needed to.
They move in silence, although it's not a long walk, thankfully. Jeongin stops outside of a small tent. It's just slightly behind the one that the main show is taking place in, hidden enough that the noise of the crowd is almost completely muffled. A few similar tents are pegged out nearby.
"Here we are," Jeongin says, as if Changbin hadn't already noticed that by the fact they'd stopped walking. "Hopefully it'll all be-"
He lifts the fabric that acts as an entrance as he speaks, grabbing Changbin's hand and pulling him inside.
It's completely different to how it appeared from the outside.
Dried bunches of herbs brush the top of Changbin's head, only a few steps inside. Small briefcases are piled up in one corner, and on the other side is an actual bookcase - filled to the brim with leather-bound spines. There's a table set out in the middle, covered in all manner of items that he can hardly put names to.
The tent has a warm glow to it, hard to place until Changbin notices a couple of electric lamps hanging from the poles running across the ceiling, sending flickering shadows across the ground, despite it still being light outside.
"Minnie," Jeongin says, practically throwing himself into the chair on the far side of the table, brushing items to the side in an attempt to make some space, "Don't mind me."
For the first time, Changbin notices the other person in the room. He looks only a little older than Changbin, wearing a shirt that must be too thin considering the cold outside, and blending so well into the shadows that Changbin still does a double take after realising he's there.
He's holding one of the thick books in his hands, letting the tip of the cover rest on his knees. He also looks very unimpressed. "That's hyung to you."
Jeongin tuts, waving a hand in his general direction.
The boy doesn't seem too affected by this. "And why," he continues, "Is there a random person in our tent? Innie, you know we're not supposed to bring people in here. Please tell me you know what you're doing."
Jeongin finally looks up. He's cleared enough of a space, apparently, and his signature grin is back in place. "Changbin," he says, "This is Seungmin. My roomie. Seungmin, this is Changbin. He helped me out, so now I'm going to read his fortune. You can sit down, by the way."
The last part is directed to Changbin. He hesitantly takes the other seat, right opposite Jeongin's own.
Seungmin had looked like he was about to stand up, only to settle back into position as Jeongin had spoken. He turns a page of his book as he does so, and then looks back to Changbin. "I assume he didn't tell you about the fortune-reading bit?"
"It's news to me," Changbin admits.
He doesn't get much further than that. Jeongin leans over and takes his right hand, pulling off the glove and setting it to the side. The palm of his hand is turned until it faces the ceiling of the tent, and Jeongin spreads his fingers apart manually. He's not wearing gloves himself, but his own hands are strangely warm.
"Relax," he gets told. "This won't take long. I'm an expert."
In the corner, Seungmin scoffs. Great, Changbin can't help but think internally.
Jeongin either doesn't hear, or decides not to grace him with a response. His finger traces the lines on Changbin's palm with a strange tenderness. It tickles slightly, but it isn't uncomfortable. There's a definite intent behind his movements.
They stay there for what seems like a little too long before Jeongin hums. He lets Changbin's hand drop to the table - now strangely cold that it's no longer being held - and leans back into his chair. "Huh."
Slowly, Changbin draws his hand back towards his body. He’s not sure if there can be bad responses to having your palm read, but the frown of Jeongin’s face isn’t filling him with confidence.
Seungmin’s head has also pricked back up. He puts his book down again, though this time it’s with much more finality. There’s a gleam in his eyes as he gets to his feet, and curiosity on his expression as he makes his way over to the table. “That’s an interesting sound. What is it?”
Jeongin’s frown deepens. “No,” he tells Changbin, grabbing his hand and putting it back onto the table, “Look at this, Minnie.”
“I can’t read palms,” Seungmin says, but that doesn’t stop his eyes from raking up and down Changbin’s skin. His lips purse slightly. “Stop showing off and just tell us. You’re going to make him nervous.”
At the same time, they both glance up to Changbin. Two sets of dark eyes staring him down. He shifts in his seat - now very aware that as long as Jeongin is still clutching his hand, he can’t even lean away.
“Well,” Jeongin says, eventually. It feels like a century has passed. “It’s- uh. It’s not looking too good for you.”
“ What? ” Changbin can’t help it. He tugs his hand back, escaping the fortune teller’s grip and cradling his palm to his chest. “Am I going to die? When? I’m not ready!”
Jeongin’s eyes go wide- “Oh, nothing like that. You’ve got a very long life line, actually. It’s just…” he trails off, glancing at Seungmin as if he wants the other boy to break the bad news instead. Seungmin shoots him an unimpressed stare - a reminder that he has just as much knowledge as Changbin. “Well. Other than the life line, there’s nothing else. Usually I can tell when you’ll meet your soulmate, get married and have a thousand kids - blah blah blah - but it’s not there .”
He squints at Changbin. “You might just be the unluckiest person on the face of the planet.”
What?
Suddenly, Changbin’s throat has gone very dry. He still hasn’t made up his mind about whether he believes any of this, but he doesn’t like the way that Jeongin and Seungmin are staring at him. “Oh.”
“Yeah,” Jeongin says, eyeing Changbin’s hand like he wants to get another look. “It’s pretty cool, actually. Really unfortunate- but cool.”
Thankfully, Seungmin smacks him over the head. That at least makes Changbin feel a little better.
“You moron,” he says, “Is that how you’re going to leave him? Tell him he’s never going to meet his soulmate, and then kick him back out into the snow? I thought you said that he helped you?”
Jeongin yelps, rubbing the spot on the back of his scalp. “He did help me. It’s not my fault that he’s super unlucky! Besides,” he turns his head, fixing Seungmin with an expression that Changbin can’t quite work out, “there’s nothing that I can do to help with a soulmate problem.”
There’s a brief pause.
“No,” Seungmin says.
Jeongin’s eyes appear to grow at least two times in size. His lower lip sticks out, he clasps his hands together - “Hyung.”
“That’s not going to work, and you know it.”
“Seungmin hyung.”
One more flutter of his eyelashes, and Seungmin is burying his face in his hands. “Fine,” he says, “but you know I’m still an apprentice. I don’t even deal in soulmates! If this all goes wrong, I’m accepting absolutely none of the blame. This was all you.”
“Deal,” Jeongin replies a little too quickly.
Honestly? Changbin feels like he could have slipped out of the tent a minute ago and neither of them would have noticed. If he wasn’t way too invested - and still mourning the fact that he’ll never meet his soulmate - he would have been out in the blink of an eye. With every passing second, he only seems to be getting more and more confused.
Seungmin flips open one of the briefcases and starts rummaging inside. The contents are hidden from view, but the sound of glass clinking is pretty distinct. He glances behind himself once, looking Changbin up and down, before producing a small vial.
There’s a liquid inside it. It’s such a tiny bottle that there can’t be more than a thimble-full, but it’s distinctly glittery and a pearly pink.
“Here you go.”
It takes him a moment to realise that Seungmin is talking to him. He’s holding the vial out, like he wants Changbin to accept it. Before he knows exactly what’s happening, the bottle is being deposited into his hands anyway, and he’s left cradling a… well, he’s not sure he can even begin to describe it.
“What’s… this?”
“It’s a potion,” Jeongin says, rolling his eyes. “A little bit of help. You did me a favour - I wasn’t about to leave you in complete misery, y’know. This should help you change your future.”
Changbin looks at the bottle. He looks back up to Jeongin. “…change the future?”
“I’m not an expert at potion-brewing, but it should give you a little push in the right direction,” Seungmin cuts in, before Jeongin can add something else completely cryptic and unnecessary. “Hopefully.”
“Most of the time his potions do nothing,” Jeongin says.
Right.
It’s a potion. Of course the mystery vial is filled with a potion that’ll help him find his soulmate. Because otherwise he’s been told by a fortune teller that he’ll be lonely forever. Those are all very believable things, and he’s honestly surprised that he didn’t walk out as soon as he’d seen the tent in the first place.
“I wasn’t going to mention that,” Seungmin says, obviously annoyed. “You’re the one that suggested this in the first place!”
“I’m paying back the favour by giving him the chance,” Jeongin argues. “It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work. As long as there’s a chance that it could, then it counts.”
“That’s not how it works, you idiot-”
For some reason, Changbin finds himself shrugging. His mind goes back to Chan and Felix, probably so lost in each other that they haven’t even noticed how long he’s been missing. If anything had to prove that soulmates were even real in the first place, those two would be all evidence needed.
He refuses to be a third wheel forever.
In one fluid motion, he unscrews the lid to the vial. There’s the brief scent of mint and caramel, and then he tips the liquid down his throat like a shot, wincing at the taste on instinct.
Jeongin and Seungmin freeze. They stare at him with huge eyes. No one dares to breathe, the tension hanging so thick in the room that it would be impossible in the first place.
Changbin knows his own eyes are just as wide. The glass is strangely cool in his hand, despite not being exposed to the chill weather.
And-
Nothing happens.
Jeongin’s mouth opens and closes, but Seungmin gets there first. He plucks the bottle out of Changbin’s open palm, shoving it into a hidden pocket in his trousers. “There. Nothing happened. Bad luck, but that’s the favour repaid.”
“I-” Changbin’s mouth is a little dry. He’s not sure what he expected to happen, but there’s a strange deflation in the pit of his chest. A disappointment for something he hadn’t realised had been building up. “My friends are waiting for me.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” Seungmin says, curt as ever. He shoots a glare at Jeongin that Changbin probably wasn’t supposed to see, and then sends him a sympathetic smile. “Would you like me to show you back to the main crowd?”
“I’ll be fine.” He feels a little light-headed from dismay, but manages to plaster an equally strained smile. “Thanks, though.”
He turns and pushes through the entrance of the tent. He can feel two pairs of eyes on his back, and the way Jeongin had looked just as crestfallen as Changbin feels doesn't quite leave his mind. The weather outside is biting, though. It makes it a little easier to clear his head.
Time to get back to Chan and Felix. The sooner he can forget the events of the past half an hour, the better.
He’s not sure why he’d even expected anything to happen in the first place. All that talk of reading palms, potions and soulmates - it had to be part of a big scam. He shouldn’t have felt let down when - the water and food colouring - hadn’t done anything.
Biting his lip, he turns to the main tent, in the direction of the stalls, and promptly shoves all talk of such nonsense to the back of his mind.