Work Text:
For a week since his surprise arrival at Jongho’s home in Mador, Wooyoung and Jongho spent the days catching up and preparing for Wintrice Day. Jongho had informed Wooyoung about Wintrice Day, a holiday that proved to be considerably different from the Winter Festival Wooyoung celebrated in Namaria. For one thing, there were no grand parties and festivities, nor were there fireworks, the main event at the Winter Festival in Alari. No, Wintrice Day was much different. “So, you stay home, with your family, and your mom makes homemade cinnamon pastries,” Wooyoung clarified, snuggled into Jongho’s side under the cozy blanket. “What else?”
“Well, that, and you give gifts to people,” Jongho answered, his eyes closed and voice still hoarse with sleep.
“Like, everyone?” Wooyoung gawked, sitting up slightly to peer over at Jongho, his blue eyes wide and very much awake.
“No, just family and friends, I guess.” Jongho stretched, almost to the point of taking up the whole bed. “People you care about,” he added once he opened his eyes, meeting Wooyoung’s blue ones. Wooyoung hummed and laid back down, devising a plan for his new objective. A knock pulled him out of his thoughts.
“Breakfast!” one of Jongho’s little sisters called from the other side of the door before running off, the thud of her footsteps amusing Wooyoung and Jongho both as they chuckled together.
Wooyoung leaned in to plant a kiss on Jongho’s cheek. “Time to get up,” he feigned the sweetness in his voice teasingly, laughing at Jongho’s lazy groan. Stretching one more time, Jongho sat up and followed Wooyoung out the bedroom door and towards a warm breakfast.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Hongjoong had returned to Alari from his voyage as a crewmember on one of Namaria’s patrolling vessels, and had spent the last two days catching up on sleep. Now, he was recharged and ready for a new adventure! Except, the next boat he was assigned to did not leave Namarian shores until close to spring. Thus, his current adventure took the form of assisting Yunho in his latest research, a new, improved upon firework for the Elves to witness the night of the Winter Festival.
“Pass me that vial.” Hongjoong did as told and retrieved the vial from his side of the table, offering it to Yunho, but before the mage could take it, Hongjoong jerked his hand back.
At Yunho’s puzzled expression, the ex-pirate smirked. “I didn’t hear you say please,” he taunted.
Yunho’s brows gave an irritated twitch. “I don’t have time for this, just hand it over,” he huffed, reaching across the table for the vial that Hongjoong waved over him.
Hongjoong’s grin widened, pleased to revisit one of his favorite pastimes since he went out to sea. “Manners, Yunho,” he reprimanded the mage. “Say please and it's yours.” At Yunho’s lunge forward, the man practically laying on the table, Hongjoong dodged backwards and out of his reach.
With an exasperated groan, Yunho removed himself from the table and stood. “May I please have the vial?” he asked in his most polite tone. A satisfied smile graced the Half-Fairy’s lips as he placed the vial in Yunho’s awaiting palm.
“Much better,” Hongjoong commented as he watched Yunho pour a few droplets from the vial into the solution he currently worked with.
“Just as I will be much better when you leave for your next assignment,” he retorted, mixing the contents in the bowl.
Hongjoong scoffed cockily. “You don’t mean that. Be honest, you missed me.”
“What I miss is making you drink horrible, putrid-tasting potions!” he cried angrily, and the red that began to spread from the tips of his ears did not go unnoticed by Hongjoong.
“Well, it feels good to be back,” Hongjoong divulged, sitting on the chair across from Yunho.
“And by that, you really mean that it feels good to bully me again,” quipped Yunho, eyes still locked onto his work. Hongjoong let out a giggle in answer, resting his head on his arm. Yunho’s eyes snapped up to meet Hongjoong’s defiantly. “One of these days I’m going to turn you into a squirrel!” he declared. “See how much you can torment me then!”
“Whatever you say,” Hongjoong agreed in a teasing tone.
“Sounds like you guys are flirting more than you are working,” interjected San from the doorway.
“No one is doing any kind of flirting!” Yunho defended, his cheeks reddening at the question.
San smiled innocently. Noticing the array of mixtures and bottles on the table, San asked, “Need any help?”
“Well, we do need a flame,” Hongjoong answered, looking to Yunho for confirmation.
The mage nodded, collecting himself. “Yes, we do, and you are just the Demon for it!” He quickly assembled the firework shell, adding in the most recent solution, and once it was sealed, he set it on the ground. At San’s concerned expression, Yunho explained, “I’ve scaled it down considerably, so it's safe to set off indoors. Now, if you’ll just light the fuse,” he directed San, and the Demon moved to crouch beside the firework. At the tip of his finger, he conjured a flame, and ignited the fuse. The firework shot into the air and exploded, though in a strange, disfigured shape.
“Was that right?” San asked tentatively.
Yunho shook his head. “No, it's meant to be a snowflake.”
Hongjoong held up the design he had redrawn of Yunho’s original, rather sloppy draft. “That’s alright, we’ll just try again.” Hongjoong hoped his encouragement would inspire the mage.
“But we will need your fire, San. If you put some in this jar, I can use it myself,” he offered, presenting the Demon a glass jar with a shrug.
“Alright,” San agreed. “I should probably see how Yeosang’s doing now that Wooyoung’s gone, anyway.” He lifted an arm and aimed his open palm towards the jar. Yunho held it tight and braced himself, recoiling somewhat when the first of the magical flames shot out from San’s palm and into the container. Hongjoong passed him the lid, and the moment the stream of fire ceased, Yunho cupped the lid over the flames before they tried to escape. As Hongjoong gawked at the supernatural flames flickering in the jar, Yunho thanked San and bid him farewell.
“Now, onto attempt number two,” Yunho murmured, his mind getting pulled back into his work, as Hongjoong prepared the ingredients all over again.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
“Yeosang!” San called from down the hallway, the once glassless arches that were open to the birds and warm breeze of summer now closed windows, the illusion magic removed for the colder seasons. Yeosang perked up at the sound of his name, a delighted twinkle in his eyes when he saw who it was that called him. Politely dismissing the person he was speaking with, Yeosang approached San.
“What trouble have you gotten into today?”
San giggled. “No trouble today. Not yet, at least. Just wanted to see you.”
Yeosang smiled faintly, but before he could respond, an Elven servant approached, an envelope in hand. “For his Lordship Yeosang.” Yeosang accepted it with a curt nod of thanks. He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside. San read from beside Yeosang.
“An invitation?” he inquired.
“It's from my parents,” the Elf supplied. “Every year they host dinner the night of the Winter Festival.” Yeosang continued to scan the invitation and stopped on a particular sentence.
Noticing his bewildered expression, San peeked over and read the sentence aloud. “You may choose to invite with you a guest, Elven or otherwise.” San frowned, stumped. “What's that supposed to mean?”
“It means they are inviting you,” Yeosang clarified flatly.
“Me?” San gawked. “I thought your mother hated me! Surely they mean someone else.”
Yeosang shook his head. “I’m the only other invitee. There’s no one else they could be referring to.” San’s wide eyes and hopeful smile fell when Yeosang continued. “It doesn’t matter anyway. We’re not going.”
“Why not? I mean, I get that she hates me, and I wasn’t exactly kind to her the last time we met,” San thought back to the night of the ball, the night he managed to scare Yeosang’s mother out of forcing her son to return to their estate in Thelledell, “but they had the decency to invite me. Maybe she wants to make things right?” When Yeosang said nothing, San added, “With me and with you.” As he predicted, this caught the Elf’s attention, as he looked up from the letter. “When was the last time you saw your parents?”
“That night, when Mother came,” Yeosang answered quietly, referring to the night of the ball. “Father visited Alari in autumn.”
“It’s up to you what we will do,” San told the Elf, his gaze sweet, supportive. “I don’t want to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Though, I think this could be a good thing.”
Yeosang wanted to argue and tell San that his strict mother would only ruin their holiday, that she would only start fights with the both of them, but he stopped himself. If there was a chance to fix his relationship with his mother, he would take it. Especially with San at his side. If he was with San, Yeosang knew that everything would be okay.
“I’ll think about it.”
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Despite the cold, Wooyoung had convinced Jongho to guide him through the streets of Mador for some last minute gift shopping. Jongho had forgotten to get a Wintrice Day present for their elderly neighbor anyway, so it worked out according to Wooyoung’s plan. Before heading out, Wooyoung had made sure to exchange some of his Elven coins for Human currency via Jongho’s mother, who helpfully advised him that most of the shops here had decent prices. Though, Wooyoung was less worried about prices, and was more concerned with what to get Jongho. It seemed he had everything he could need, and had not mentioned wanting anything more, leaving Wooyoung completely clueless. He would just have to figure it out as they shopped, he supposed.
Wooyoung wore the black cloak out again, though Jongho was adamant about layering multiple coats over and beneath it to keep the Elf sufficiently warm. However, apparently that wasn’t enough, because Wooyoung was even provided gloves and a warm scarf, one of the many Jongho’s mother had crafted while bedridden. And even then, as they strolled together down the snow covered streets, Jongho kept Wooyoung’s hand in his coat pocket, their fingers interlaced.
The first shop they stopped at was an odds and ends variety, offering up anything from tools to clothing to games, they had it all. Yet, as he and Jongho searched through each of the shelves littered with miscellaneous goods, nothing happened to catch their eyes. That was, until a wooden box atop one of the shelves beckoned them. They opened the box and found a collection of small compasses of gold, eight in total. Instantly, Jongho and Wooyoung shared the same idea: one for each of them in their little group they had formed during their journey. The pair grinned excitedly at one another.
“Find something you like?” the shopkeeper inquired from behind them.
“Yes, I believe we have,” Jongho beamed.
After purchasing the box of compasses, they followed the street lamps lining the snow covered cobblestone to the next shop, a jeweler. While Jongho scanned the wares for a gift for his elderly neighbor, perhaps a new set of pearls or a unique bracelet, Wooyoung considered some sort of promise ring as his present to Jongho. He browsed the ring section of the shop, eager to pick out something that Jongho would enjoy. To his disappointment, however, none of the rings seemed to fit Jongho’s style. Wooyoung knew Jongho would prefer a ring that was simple, like a silver band, but there were only rings with gems, and bands with ornate designs, nothing that called out to Wooyoung. Defeated, he joined Jongho at the register as the Human purchased a pair of dangling earrings for his neighbor.
Although Jongho was finished with his Wintrice Day shopping, Wooyoung was not, though Jongho couldn’t know that. Under the guise of Jongho showing off his town, Wooyounng was able to continue to shop. The next store they passed was a bookshop, though Wooyoung didn’t take Jongho to be much of a reader. He hadn’t even glimpsed a book in his entire house! So, they moved down the line, and passed a toy store, a candy shop, a craft store, and a perfume shop. This was Jongho’s hometown, but none of these stores seemed to reflect him at all! Finally, there was the armory, the single store that could have a potential present for Jongho. Wooyoung led them inside.
“You need something here?” Jongho questioned.
Wooyoung shook his head. “No, but you might need something here.”
They entered the shop, Wooyoung letting Jongho take the lead. He watched the brunette’s eyes, and followed them to the wares they examined, awaiting any signs of interest, any raise of the eyebrows, any narrowing of the eyes. Wooyoung even expected Jongho to inspect some of the wares with his hands as well as his eyes. But he didn’t. Nor did he express interest in any of the weapons, armor or gear. At a loss once more, Wooyoung left the store empty-handed.
“That’s all of them,” Jongho said as they exited the weapons store. “It’s probably time we head home.” At Jongho’s words, Wooyoung frowned, a slight pout to his lips. “Aren’t you cold?” The question seemed to remind him of his own state, as Jongho shivered, tightening his grip around Wooyoung’s hand.
Wooyoung latched onto Jongho’s side, rubbing his free hand over the other’s arm in an effort to warm him. “I’m cold, but,” Wooyoung sighed, the defeat at not picking out a present for Jongho setting in, “I’m not ready to go back yet.” After a moment of silence as they continued to stroll, Jongho redirected them across the street. “Where are we going?” Wooyoung asked lazily, his head resting on Jongho’s shoulder.
“You’ll see,” was all Jongho responded with, guiding them around a corner and across another street where they reached an upscale-looking tavern. At the far end of the building burned an inviting fire, which Jongho motioned for Wooyoung to warm himself at while he put in an order. As Wooyoung relished in the warmth of the flames and the soft cushioning of the loveseat beneath him, Jongho joined him, two mugs in his hands. “Hot chocolate,” Jongho stated, carefully handing Wooyoung a mug.
“I thought you didn’t like sweet things.” Wooyoung cautiously took a sip from the steaming mug, thankful when his tongue was not burned. He hummed pleasantly at the warmth and the rich taste.
“I don’t, but it’s warm and I wanted to share a drink with you. A memory to share, I guess.” Jongho shrugged and took a swig from the mug.
“Don’t get all sappy on me now,” Wooyoung grinned, playfully pushing him away. “Save that for when I actually have to leave.”
“Don’t even mention that, or I may have to keep you here.” Jongho put down his drink on the table before them and hugged Wooyoung from the side, pulling the Elf towards him. “I’ll stop you from leaving,” he rambled, “steal the prince away from his kingdom.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Wooyoung recalled the first time they met with a chuckle. “It won't be like this forever,” Wooyoung said, playing with Jongho’s dark hair. “We’ll work something out. Hopefully soon,” he added with an optimistic smile.
“Soon,” Jongho agreed, finally feeling warm again.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Two days and numerous experiments later, Hongjoong was back in the workroom with Yunho, tediously managing multiple mixtures of various colors, adding ingredients, changing the consistency, and every so often mixing colors together to create new ones, though, Yunho would reprimand him when he did that. He watched Yunho, his fascination with the way he handled San’s fire still strong even after the many times the mage activated the fireworks. The mage cautiously opened the jar of flames, reaching his hand in slowly. With a hiss, his hand recoiled away and he shook it to rid himself of the sting. “Oh, behave, fire!” he ordered it, more annoyance than command in his tone. Again, his hand reached into the fire, and this time the flames chose to behave. He pinched, and pulled out a small flame which he brought to the firework shell. Letting the fuse catch fire, the mage took cover from the miniature explosion by the table where Hongjoong sat. They both watched on as the firework shot into the air and took on a circular shape, with extending branches growing off of it.
The pair turned towards each other with matching expressions, elated, wide grins. “We’re so close, I know it!” Yunho exclaimed, excitedly going over the array of mixtures on the table with his eyes.
Hongjoong pushed one bowl in particular toward him. It was pink and matched the mage’s current hair color. “This one feels lucky.” Yunho examined it, stirring to test its consistency.
“What’s in it?” the mage questioned.
Hongjoong pointed at a small bottle of a pale pink substance. “Timid Blossom,” Hongjoong read from the label.
Yunho hummed in thought. “Let’s hope luck is with you today,” he said, taking the bowl and preparing a new firework shell.
“Luck is always with me. Otherwise I wouldn’t be where I am today,” the ex-pirate mused.
“You’ve been a lot of places,” Yunho countered. “What makes this place special?”
Hongjoong thought for a moment, his eyes locked onto Yunho’s, who stared right back, as if frozen in place while he awaited the answer. After some contemplation, Hongjoong replied. “I’m not sure yet. There’s just something here. Something that I can’t explain yet.”
Yunho stayed quiet for a moment, so as to not disrupt Hongjoong in his thoughts. When the Half-Fairy met his gaze again, Yunho spoke. “Well, tell me when you figure it out, okay?”
Hesitantly, Hongjoong returned the smile Yunho offered him. “I will.”
When it became apparent that neither of them were attending to their tasks, Yunho hurriedly returned to his work, sealing the shell and placing it on the ground. Hongjoong observed again as Yunho scooped up one of San’s flames and fed it to the waiting fuse. “Let’s see if that luck of yours has run out,” Yunho called out before the boom sounded, and a white snowflake appeared in its wake, before the little fires went floating down. Hongjoong stood from his chair in awe and Yunho clapped joyfully at their success.
When he met the playful eyes of Hongjoong, he received a wink. “Hasn’t run out yet!”
Yunho smiled brightly at him. “Alright, only forty-nine more to go!”
“We’re making fifty of them?” demanded Hongjoong. “We’ll miss the Winter Festival!”
“Is that really such a bad thing?” Yunho retorted. “If I remember correctly, at the last festival we attended, you let a Fairy throw you from 50 feet in the air.”
Hongjoong provided no response to Yunho’s statement. “Let’s just get this over with,” he said in surrender, though Yunho did not miss the amused smirk on his lips.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Wintrice Day was finally here, and Wooyoung found himself throwing snowballs at Jongho’s sisters as well as some of the other children playing in the street, as Jongho and his mother watched from the doorstep, hot mugs of tea in hand. When his snow fortress was under fire from snowballs in all directions, and the children had tackled him to the ground while he was distracted, it became apparent to Wooyoung that the free-for-all had turned into a nine against one. “Wait, wait!” he cried out desperately through his laughter as the children continued to climb on him. “It’s not fair! I need someone else on my team!” As if he had said the magic words, all four of Jongho’s little sisters bounded over to their cackling brother.
“Jongho, play with us!” one of them exclaimed with excitement, while another took the hand that was not holding a mug and pulled him towards their battlezone.
“Please,” another pleaded, drawing out the word cutely.
“Wooyoung needs someone on his team!”
“Yeah!” shouted Wooyoung from across the snow. “Look what they did to my fort!” Wooyoung pointed accusingly at the now destroyed wall of snow.
“Sounds like he needs a mercenary,” Jongho’s mother chimed, offering a hand to take Jongho’s tea. Jongho handed her the drink before being pulled by his sisters into the small square of their arena.
“Let me show you what a real fort looks like,” Jongho challenged as he approached Wooyoung, who was now brushing off the lingering snow from his fall. Wooyoung grinned but rolled his eyes.
“You have two minutes,” one of the girls declared, though Jongho knew she had little understanding of how long two minutes actually was. “Go!”
As soon as the children ran off to prepare their own battle strategies, Jongho began to dig into the snow and Wooyoung followed suit. They gathered the snow and shaped it into a wall, as Wooyoung had done previously. Though this one was turning out to be much stronger, firm to the touch and both wider and taller than the previous one had been. They should have had about half a minute to prepare their snowballs when one of the children gave the order. “Attack!” A stream of snowballs flew towards them. They ducked behind their wall as snow was catapulted at their wall and hurled over their fort entirely. Luckily, their fortress did not crack.
The pair got to work, hurriedly putting together sloppy, lopsided snowballs. Once they had a good pile going and more on the way from Wooyoung’s quick hands, Jongho peeked over their wall and launched one at his sister, who he spotted running towards her own fort with an armful of snow. He brought back his arm, taking a brief second to aim, and threw the snowball at her. She screamed excitedly when she saw it coming towards her, dropping the snow in her arms to run even faster to the protection of her sister’s fort. The snowball just missed her leg, and she managed to get to safety in time. Jongho listened to the frantic whispers of his sisters as they created more snowballs. From the other fort, one of the other children called out to him. “This means war!” A flurry of snowballs were sent towards him, but Wooyoung and Jongho were quick to throw out their own. Some of them hit their smaller fortress, others went right over, and some were right on the mark, making contact with a shoulder or an extended arm getting ready to throw a snowball of its own. From the corner of his eye, Wooyoung saw a snowball headed straight towards Jongho. He threw himself onto the Human, pushing him down into the snow at the foot of their fortress, safe from the rounds of snowballs. Wooyoung giggled from atop Jongho. “I saved you,” he teased, placing a chaste kiss on Jongho’s lips. Jongho reached up to readjust Wooyoung’s hat that had gone askew with their fall, carefully hiding Wooyoung’s Elven ears beneath it. “Now we’re even,” Jongho said, letting out an embarrassed laugh and Wooyoung beamed.
“Are you guys still playing?” called out one of Jongho’s sisters. Jongho fought to hold back his chuckle while Wooyoung doubled over in a fit of laughter.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Seonghwa looked out the window longingly, wishing that he, too, could partake in the festivities below. With everyone but him either gone or occupied— Yunho and Hongjoong continuing their experiments with the fireworks, San and Yeosang having left Alari the day before, Wooyoung in Mador with Jongho, and then there was Mingi, on a hunting expedition in the North— Seonghwa was left to his own devices. However much he wanted to throw on his coat and join the Elves in celebrating, he did not possess the courage to be alone amongst all those other people. Since leaving the river Desos, his social anxiety had improved, though he was still accustomed to one of his friends being beside him, usually Mingi. Without someone to support and calm his nerves, Seonghwa didn’t believe that he was capable of leaving his room and venturing out into the festival.
Just as he stood from his chair, deciding to turn in for the night, a knock sounded at the door, startling him. He stepped towards the door, opening it slightly, and at the sight of a wagging wolf tail, he opened it all the way, a smile spreading on his lips. He stared incredulously at the tall figure before him. “I thought you were up North,” he remarked, half-hiding behind the door. “What happened to your hunting trip?”
“We returned a day early for the holiday,” Mingi answered as he stepped inside the room and Seonghwa closed the door behind him.
“Oh, then, are you going to the festival?” Seonghwa ventured, hoping that he didn’t have to spend his evening alone.
“Only if you come with,” the wolf said, meeting Seonghwa’s gaze with his own knowing one.
Seonghwa smiled in gratitude at Mingi’s understanding. “I’ll need to get ready first,” the Undine replied, beginning to sift through his wardrobe for something. Ever since he came to Alari, his wardrobe had slowly expanded with all of the dresses the seamstresses designed for Seonghwa, eager to work on elegant gowns over another basic tunic for Wooyoung or the king.
“Dress warm,” Mingi advised from the chair Seonghwa had previously been sitting in, watching out the window just as he had. “It’s pretty cold out there.”
“It must be freezing if you say it's cold,” Seonghwa joked, stepping into the warmest winter dress he had, dark blue and lined with white fur. “But I think this should suffice.” Seonghwa stood before Mingi and pulled on a matching cape. “What do you think?”
Mingi smiled politely. “I think it suits you.”
Seonghwa quickly turned towards the door in an attempt to hide his face which suddenly felt warm. “Shall we go?” He made for the door and Mingi hummed in agreement, following him out the door.
They found themselves at the festival shortly after, nursing warm beverages to combat the cold. Seonghwa had just finished his cup when Mingi turned to him. “Wanna skate?”
“Skate?” Seonghwa repeated.
Mingi pointed towards the outskirts of the city, a frozen lake in the distance, illuminated by the lights of the city and the moon. Seonghwa watched as Elves glided across it and wondered how such a thing was possible. “You’ve got to try it!” Mingi urged, genty taking Seonghwa’s hand and leading him through the throng of people dancing, singing and drinking. The Undine wanted to let go, his heart beating too fast for comfort, but another part of him hoped that Mingi would hold him like this for the rest of the night.
When they arrived at the lake, and Mingi handed him a pair of skates, Seonghwa began to change his mind about following Mingi here. “I’m supposed to stand on these?” he paled.
“It’s easier than it looks,” the wolf explained, sitting beside Seonghwa and tying the laces on his skates.
“I only learned to walk a few months ago,” the Undine reminded him, his mind recalling the darkness of the Desos River, and the light Mingi had brought with him when he found him in that shallow pond.
“It was more than a few months ago,” Mingi attested, laughing. “You’ll be fine!”
“Then I’ll just have to take your word for it,” Seonghwa figured, stepping into his skates. “You haven’t led me astray so far.”
Mingi offered an assuring smile, his face softening. “Trust me on this.” He stood, waiting for Seonghwa to finish with the laces. When he did, he stood to meet Mingi’s gaze.
“I always do.”
Seonghwa moved with careful steps onto the lake, though, when the blade beneath him made contact with the ice, he froze. Before he could step away and quit, Mingi was right there for Seonghwa to lean on momentarily. “Just another step forward,” he murmured close to the Undine’s ear. “You won’t fall.”
“I might,” Seonghwa replied, his distress clear in his tone.
“You won’t,” Mingi argued firmly. “I promise I won’t let you fall.” Mingi reached for Seonghwa's hand, holding it up to give the water-being extra balance, and stepped onto the ice himself. With shaky legs, Seonghwa followed suit, stepping forward to stand beside Mingi. “Getting onto the ice is half the battle. You’re doing great!” Seonghwa’s slow shuffling faltered at Mingi’s praise, causing him to grasp Mingi’s arm even harder.
“If this is what great looks like, I can’t imagine what bad would be!” Seonghwa attempted to shuffle faster, keeping his eyes trained on every step, and the slippery ice below.
Mingi laughed, but he skated a little faster, outside of Seonghwa’s reach. “What are you doing?” Seonghwa panicked, eyes wide and scanning Mingi’s face for an answer.
“I'll stand here. You skate to me,” he directed, both of his arms extended for Seonghwa to grab onto when he skated close enough.
Seonghwa’s brows knitted in fear, though he managed to stay standing. “Mingi,” he stammered out, “I don’t think I can.”
“You can. Just push and glide, like this.” Mingi demonstrated the movement, then repositioned himself back before Seonghwa.
“Okay,” he agreed with a deep sigh. Gently, he pushed himself forward with one foot, gliding slowly towards Mingi. The Wolf backed away to make up the distance. Again, Seonghwa pushed forward, this time with a little more confidence, catching up to Mingi before he would back away again. “I’m doing it!” Seonghwa exclaimed in disbelief as he reached Mingi even faster than before.
Mingi glided away even farther now, the distance daunting to Seonghwa. “Think you’re ready for this?” Mingi asked across the gap of ice between them.
Seonghwa nodded. “I want to try.” Steeling himself with a breath, he glided briskly forward, looking up to see Mingi’s proud smile. He kept moving, the cold air hitting his face, his momentum continuing to propel him forward. Forward, and forward, until a crack in the ice made him trip. Before he could even attempt to catch himself, he collided into Mingi, who had skated the distance between them in a matter of milliseconds. Mingi held him steady, Seonghwa still recovering from shock. He let Mingi support his weight, frozen and panting raggedly against Mingi’s coat. If his heart wasn’t already beating fervently in his chest, the proximity would have made it so. Mingi had one arm wrapped around his shoulders, the other supporting his back.
“See, I kept my promise, didn’t I?” Seonghwa giggled breathlessly at that.
“You did,” Seonghwa agreed, feeling warm again. His breathing evened out, and the shock had begun to wane. After a brief mental battle with himself, he decided that it was time to deprive himself of Mingi’s embrace. “Thank you,” he said, finding it difficult to look Mingi in the eyes. “But we should probably hold hands from now on,” he added, shyly taking Mingi’s hand in his. If he could get away with this for tonight, then he would let himself.
Mingi seemed to have no qualms with it, grasping Seonghwa’s hand with a gentle firmness. “I think you’re right,” he admitted softly. Holding the other’s warm hand, Seonghwa allowed himself to envision the day he could confidently confess to Mingi.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Half an hour had passed since they arrived at Yeosang’s family’s estate in Thelledell, and the Elf was surprised that his mother had remained civil, with both him and San. Though, by the way she drummed her fingers on the table, Yeosang could see that she was not delighted by their company. He couldn’t help but blame himself. Maybe if he had tried harder, he could have been the perfect son, the son she could love. And, he couldn’t help but wonder, if he had been perfect, would it have been possible for his family to tolerate San? It didn't matter now, not while his mother sent an icy glare San’s way. A storm was surely brewing.
“San,” his mother began, venom dripping in her pronunciation of the Demon’s name, “how is it that you came to know Yeosang?” Yeosang froze. He really regretted not preparing some white lies with San beforehand. Neither of them could confess that San had tricked Yeosang into a Demon contract without creating pandemonium within his parents.
Without missing a beat, San answered her incriminating question. “Yeosang and I met after he escaped the Humans that had kidnapped Wooyoung. I happened upon him in the forest, and wanted to help.” Yeosang’s father raised a skeptical brow. “But, Demons can’t use their magic for others unless they are under contract together.”
“That explains those markings,” she spat, frowning at Yeosang’s forearm, where San’s Demon seal was once engraved into his skin. San suddenly had the urge to mark Yeosang again, if only to disturb his mother.
His father tried to lighten the mood. “San is staying at the palace, correct?”
Yeosang nodded and San spoke. “For now, until Wooyoung’s coronation.” It was true that he would be staying in Alari until the Spring, but San intended to stay as long as possible if it meant remaining by Yeosang’s side.
“I suppose we will be seeing you there, then.” Yeosang’s mother offered a wry smile. Before anyone could react, three servants entered the dining room, balancing plates of bountiful proportions, though their pleasant aromas could not dispel the tension within the room.
As the food was placed on the table, and everyone’s plates were filled, the room remained deafeningly silent, save for the clanking of silverware, and it stayed so until the end of the meal. When they had finished, and were waiting on dessert, Yeosang excused himself and San in order to show the Demon around his childhood home. Their final stop was Yeosang’s bedroom, though it felt more akin to a memory than a real place. They sat at the edge of the bed, and San’s eyes began to well with tears. “San?” Yeosang asked softly. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, staring at the ground. “I can feel the dark energy of this place. It’s stronger in here.” San shook his head. “I shouldn’t have pressured you into returning to this place. I’m sorry, Yeosang.” His tears began to fall now, though he cried silently.
Yeosang held his face, gently tilting it to face him properly, their eyes now able to meet. “You didn’t pressure me at all, I chose to come back,” he assured, watching as San’s tears slowly ceased to fall. “More than that, it’s different now— I’m different.” At San’s silent, awaiting gaze, Yeosang explained. “I don’t feel as helpless as I once was. This room— this house— was once a cage. Now it's all a memory. That day in the woods, when you made a deal with me, you woke me up from a bad dream. All that she put me through, all that she asked of me,” Yeosang smiled weakly at San, “it's all over. You helped me see that.” Yeosang wiped the remaining tears from San’s cheeks, and leaned in to give him a sweet peck on the lips. “Thank you.” San hugged him close and Yeosang reciprocated, climbing into his lap. “If anything, I feel bad for bringing you here. I’m sorry that she says those things.”
San leaned away from Yeosang and out of their embrace to look him sternly in the eye. “Don’t apologize. Don’t you blame yourself for any of this. She is the one who should apologize, to you especially.” San kissed away the tears as they fell from Yeosang’s eyes. “My perfect angel,” the Demon whispered, “you are free of sin.” Usually, Yeosang hated the title ‘Angel of Thelledell’, but he couldn’t help but smile when it came from San’s lips.
“Let’s have dessert and go home,” Yeosang suggested tiredly.
“Deal.”
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
They spent the rest of their Wintrice Day indoors, helping Jongho’s mother to prepare that night’s dinner, along with the traditional cinnamon pastries, talking by the warmth of the fireplace, and playing games with Jongho’s family. By the time dinner had filled their bellies and the fire required more logs, it was deemed time to exchange presents. From Jongho, each of the girls received a new toy, and his mother was gifted with skeins of yarn in various colors for her knitting. Meanwhile, Jongho received a new black leather belt to match the armor he usually dawned, equipped with a pack for storage as well as a place to keep his sword. Wooyoung was surprised when Jongho’s mother presented him with a knitted scarf.
“Is this for me?” he questioned, confused.
Jongho’s mother nodded. “Jongho said these colors would suit you best,” she added as Wooyoung took the soft material in his hands, admiring the interwoven yellow and green yarns.
“Thank you!” He stood to hug her, and she hugged him back warmly. She smiled down at Jongho, grateful that her son had found someone so genuine and kind. Jongho watched on, feeling his heart swell with pride.
It wasn’t long before it was time for the children to turn in, and Jongho’s mother with them. Wooyoung and Jongho chose to linger by the fire, Wooyoung cuddled into his side. He startled when Jongho readjusted, sitting up to reach beneath the couch and pulling out a box. “This is for you.” Jongho handed the present to Wooyoung. Wooyoung’s face lit up and he simultaneously felt his heart fall. Here he was, relieved that Jongho had not gotten him a present, only to be surprised with one at the end of the night, when any chance at a last minute gift was long gone for Wooyoung. “Jongho,” he sighed, disappointed in himself. “I didn’t get you a present. I tried to find something, but nothing we saw seemed a good fit. You weren’t interested in anything at the armory, either, so I—”
“Wooyoung.” The Elf was interrupted by Jongho’s firm tone. “You don’t need to get me anything.”
“Yes, I do! It’s Wintrice Day and you deserve a present from me,” Wooyoung argued, pouting.
Jongho smiled and took Wooyoung’s hands in his. At this, Wooyoung looked up to meet Jongho’s reassuring gaze. “Wooyoung, you being here is the best present I could ask for.” Wooyoung couldn’t help the grin that took over his frown. “See, you know it too. Look at that shameless smile,” Jongho teased. “Now, open your present before I take it back.”
“Yeah, right,” Wooyoung scoffed before opening the box. Inside was a folded piece of dark green fabric. Wooyoung lifted it up, the soft velvet cloth unfolding to reveal a long elegant cloak, hood and all. Wooyoung gasped, and stood to gauge its entire length. “This is beautiful!” He tried it on, giving a little half-spin to admire the sway of the fabric following his movements. “Warm, too!” he added, sitting back on the couch with Jongho. “I love it!” Wooyoung pulled Jongho into a sudden embrace. “Thank you.”
“No, Wooyoung, thank you. Thank you for giving me another chance.” Jongho held Wooyoung closer to him, wishing they could stay like this forever.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Wooyoung packed the non-perishable leftovers from their Wintrice Day dinner into the pack attached to his horse’s saddle, Jongho beside him and watching in silent agony. “Goodbye, Wooyoung!” a child’s voice rang through the chill air, and all four of Jongho’s sisters emerged from the front door. They nearly trampled him with their somber hugs, even lamenting Wooyoung’s departure before breakfast. Wooyoung knew Jongho couldn’t be feeling much different— they both knew this morning would be difficult.
Jongho’s mother followed them out the door, wearing a bittersweet smile as she also invited Wooyoung into a hug. “Thank you for coming to see him,” she whispered. “He hasn’t been the same since he’s come home, but you’ve changed that now. Never have I seen him smile this much!” she chuckled gleefully. “Thank you.” She released Wooyoung from their embrace. The Elf smiled kindly at her.
She and the girls then retreated into the house, and Wooyoung waved at them through the icy window. After they had disappeared further into the house, Wooyoung turned back to Jongho. The Human kept his eyes glued to the melting snow at their feet, breathing out a deep sigh. “This isn’t goodbye, remember?” Wooyoung attempted to lift Jongho’s spirits, leaning down to catch Jongho’s eyes. At Jongho’s smug expression, Wooyoung revised his statement. “Okay,” he gave in, “it's a goodbye for now. Just until we see each other again.”
“When will that be?” Jongho questioned, the concern clear in his voice.
“Spring,” Wooyoung answered immediately. “Spring,” he said again with a firm nod. “The week of my coronation, you, your mother and sisters can all stay at the palace.”
Jongho smiled at the finality of it. “Spring it is,” he agreed. “Before you go, I have something to return.” Jongho lifted his hand and removed Wooyoung’s royal ring he had bestowed upon Jongho at Umren Anore. “You fulfilled your promise to retrieve it when we met again, so,” he gently brought up Wooyoung’s limp hand and placed the ring in the Elf’s palm.
Wooyoung stared at the shimmering emerald for a few moments, recalling the promise he made during their previous goodbye, and suddenly everything aligned for his plan. “Wait. We’re making another promise now, a promise to meet again in the Spring.” Jongho awaited what Wooyoung would say next with bated breath. “I think you should keep it until then. As a promise.” Wooyoung placed the gold ring onto Jongho’s finger, the same one it had previously adorned. “We will meet again in Spring, and don’t you forget it!” Wooyoung said sternly, though he smiled sweetly at the Human.
Jongho laughed. “Looks like you did get me a Wintrice Day present after all.”
Wooyoung winked. “And you thought I didn’t get you anything!” he reprimanded playfully, tsking.
“You have something to remember me by,” Jongho’s eyes fell to the velvet cloak draping down Wooyoung’s body, “and now, I have something to remember you by.”
Wooyoung scoffed. “As if you could forget!”
Jongho chuckled. “You’re right. Not many forget an encounter with the Prince Wooyoung of Namaria.”
Wooyoung swelled with pride at that. “A future king should be memorable,” he stated. The town’s clock tower sounded, the bells signifying the eighth hour of the day. “And also probably punctual,” he added sheepishly. He wrapped his arms around Jongho’s neck and held him close, the Human doing the same. “Only a temporary goodbye.” Wooyoung was not sure who he was reminding, himself or Jongho.
Checking that the horse was obscuring them from view, Jongho met Wooyoung’s lips in a brief but passionate kiss. At Wooyoung’s knowing, teasing grin, Jongho explained, “There’s enough rumours because of you already.”
“Just the way I like it,” Wooyoung hummed. When they parted, Wooyoung mounted his horse and met Jongho’s longing gaze.
“Spring,” the Human assured, the ring snug on his finger.
“Spring,” Wooyoung promised, before taking off on his mount.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Yeosang and San ate dessert in a better mood than they had started dinner with, and it seemed that the same was true for Yeosang’s mother. She kept her snide comments to herself nor did she glare daggers at San. However, one peculiar thing did happen. As the pair were preparing to leave, their carriage waiting outside, Yeosang’s mother stopped them before they could head out the door. “Before you go off to Alari,” she began, “I think you should know that this night did not go as planned. San, I did not mean to disrespect you, I just,” she struggled to find the right words. “I need more time to get used to this, and I was hoping that tonight would be the time to do that. In that regard, I would like to apologize.” She bowed her head in shame, before straightening and clearing her throat. “I am wishing for your safe return to the palace. And, if at all possible, perhaps we can try this again.” She did not await a reply from either of them, turning away and exiting the hall. San and Yeosang were left standing there for a moment, stunned in place as they watched her depart, before the front door opened, and the driver led them to the carriage.
“She should have apologized to you,” San muttered from beside Yeosang on the soft velvet seats of the carriage.
“I’m surprised she even apologized at all. Who’s to say she won’t apologize to me in the future?” Yeosang figured, allowing San to drape himself over the Elf.
“That’s all we can hope for,” San replied, his eyes fluttering closed as he succumbed to sleep with Yeosang’s warmth.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Seonghwa found himself quite intrigued when Mingi claimed he knew the perfect spot to watch the fireworks show from. So, he followed him to the edge of the city and into the woods, where Mingi instructed Seonghwa to climb on his back and keep his eyes closed, and shifted into his wolf form. Seonghwa climbed onto the large wolf, clenching his eyes shut and tightly grasping his auburn fur when Mingi began to sprint further into the woods. Seonghwa kept his eyes closed, even as he heard the creaking of a wooden door as they entered a building of some kind, and even when felt himself become dizzy with the stairs Mingi climbed. They passed through another door, and Mingi crouched down for Seonghwa to dismount, which he did with the utmost caution, his eyes still closed. When Mingi had changed back into his Human-like form, and gave the go ahead for Seonghwa to open his eyes, the Undine was met with a galaxy of stars above and around him, twinkling radiantly though the enormous windows in the dark of the forest. In the distance he saw the city, an illuminating square of white marble and snow-kissed gardens.
“Yeosang said this was the best place to see the fireworks,” Mingi confessed, admiring the view alongside Seonghwa.
“I think he was right.” Seonghwa let out a breathless laugh in awe of the view before them.
“Here,” Mingi motioned for the Undine to sit in the armchair beside him, facing the windows and the vast sky above. Seonghwa obliged and sank into the chair. Only a few quiet moments later and the first explosion erupted, blue and white fireworks reaching the stars above. Seonghwa and Mingi both grinned at the sight. Another wave of fireworks, and then another, until the blue was replaced with more white, and a myriad of snowflakes rained down upon the city. Seonghwa chanced a glance over at Mingi. His eyes glittered with the light of the fireworks, eyes glued onto the spectacle, but all Seonghwa wished to stare at was the boy before him. It occurred to him suddenly that if there was a time to tell Mingi of his feelings it was now, as the fireworks boomed before them, and the stars watched on, awaiting yet another love story. But Seonghwa couldn’t give it to them, not tonight. Not while everything was so perfect, while the warmth of Mingi’s fur lingered on his skin, and the fireworks casted a spell on those who watched, enchanting even the sky itself. No, not tonight. But someday. Someday, when he had the confidence to look Mingi in the eyes and tell him all of the things he kept locked in his heart. For now, though, in this perfect moment, the stars had aligned, and everything was the way it should have been. With newfound determination in his heart, Seonghwa turned back towards the window, as the last of the snowflakes flittered down.
.｡❅*⋆⍋*∞*｡*∞*⍋⋆*❅｡.
Hongjoong leaned onto the balcony railing, observing the celebrating Elves from one of the palace’s many terraces. Any minute now, their carefully devised fireworks would be set alight for all of Alari to see. Beside him, Yunho’s blue silk cloak fluttered in the icy breeze. “So, you leave in spring?” the mage asked, and Hongjoong assumed he was just trying to pass the time.
“A little before, yeah,” he affirmed, eyes following an Elven family purchasing warm drinks from a vendor, the two children bouncing excitedly.
After some hesitance, Yunho posed another question. “And what will you do after that?”
“Return here until my next assignment.” Hongjoong watched as the children abandoned their drinks in favor of chasing one another as some kind of game. “You know,” he began again, gaining Yunho’s attention once more, “I kind of missed everyone. It was fun, our little journey together.” Hongjoong thought back to their adventures, from Shaeras, to the Fairy village, to sailing to Alari.
“You’ll have other adventures,” Yunho assured with a wave of his hand.
“What about another adventure together?” At Yunho’s puzzled expression, Hongjoong elaborated enthusiastically. “Me, you, everyone, all eight of us!”
Yunho smiled and shrugged. “Who knows?”
“If there’s anyone who can see the future in our midsts, it's you! What do you think?”
“It does sound exciting.” Yunho envisioned a grander adventure, all seven of them by his side, and sighed dreamily. “But I’m happy to settle down here for a few months.”
“We’ve got to get you away from that royal library,” Hongjoong murmured and Yunho erupted into laughter.
Recovering, the mage cleared his throat. “For what it's worth,” he added, his expression solemn now as he turned to Hongjoong, “I’m glad you’re here, too.”
Hongjoong smiled sincerely, no jokes or teasing behind it, only genuine emotion. “That makes two of us.” In the comfortable silence of those few seconds after he had said it, Yunho and Hongjoong staring back into each other's eyes, fireworks began to erupt behind them. They whipped their heads around at the thundering sound, watching with pride as their fireworks mesmerized the entire city.
Thousands of miles away, Wooyoung rode his way back to the portal, and Jongho played with his sisters, both believing in their promise of spring.
Seonghwa ended the night with the hope that one day, he would be someone who had the courage to bear his heart on the line and tell the one he so longed for, his savior, Mingi his true feelings.
Yeosang and San slept within the carriage, dreaming that San could be accepted by Yeosang’s family, that Yeosang could someday know his parents’ pride in him.
And here, at the heart of Alari, Yunho and Hongjoong watched on as fireworks blazed in the night sky, knowing that they were not as different or alone as they once thought.