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He saw him from a distance, and it felt like the fabric of time and space had somehow shifted, like hours had ticked down, minute by minute, second by second, to this very moment. Never before had Changbin seen someone quite so breath-taking in all of his life.
It was him, the same pollener from before, the one with the light blonde hair. He had a little lap apron on, dusting around the place, sprinkling the sweet scents around the room with his index fingers and thumbs. Some elements of his uniform were removed, leaving him in a fluttery purple shirt, cut to the stomach, and a small bundle of material covering his hips like a makeshift skirt.
The man swirled across the floor, graceful and fluid as a droplet of water cascading down the petal of a crisp, white lily. Every moment was perfected yet unrehearsed, dainty footsteps and twirls that he manoeuvred in and out of without a hitch, with perfect balance.
Changbin recognised his familiar six step footwork as he shimmied around. A step forward, a step to the left, and a step to close the feet together then repeat. A typical waltz. His wings were tucked in neatly behind him, sparkling their pearlescent pink and blue hues as they caught the light.
He had rose-tinted cheeks that shimmered in the lighting of the flickering candles, a natural type of glow that accentuated all of his features. Hypnotic, feline-like eyes juxtaposing his soft, delicate skin. His smile was so sweet, that little lines appeared at the creases of his eyes, and Changbin wanted nothing more than to gently trace the pads of his fingers across them.
He shook his head, feeling his heart start to thump against the windowpane. He shouldn’t be here, not after the ceremony had finished, and definitely not to spy on someone he didn’t know with his best friend.
He sighed to himself, wondering how many others had felt the same infatuation when they’d seen him too, and how utterly unremarkable Changbin felt in comparison to the royalty he’d see on a daily basis. Changbin was nothing to him, to anyone, just a night shift trap cleaner. Being even this close to him felt like he was doing him a disservice.
“We should go, Jisung,” Changbin sighed, pulling himself down from the wooden pane, nearly stumbling on the bushes below.
“Nuh-uh, not until I see Prince Minho.”
“You’re amazing Jisung. You really think you’re in with a shot at the prince?”
“Well, he can’t fall in love with me if I don’t make myself seen! Same goes for you! You’ve had a crush on that same pretty pollener for months!” Jisung said, slapping him on the back.
“He doesn’t know I exist, Jisung. It’s just a pipe dream. He works for the royal family, and I’m just a trap clean—“
“And I’m a roach born, you think you have bigger problems, huh?” Jisung responded, cocking an eyebrow
“I didn’t mean that…”
“You’re only as attractive as you make yourself, Changbin. C’mon, let’s sneak inside.”
Jisung hopped down from the trellis, patting himself down with a beaming smile across his face as he gestured Changbin to follow suit.
“Are you crazy?!” Changbin stage whispered, “you’re going to get us exiled!”
“Ah! But Sir Changbin! My heart is surely exiled without Prince Minho!” he shouted dramatically, holding the back of his hand up to his forehead, stumbling over his own feet until he leant across the wall.
Changbin glanced back in the window, just to ensure that nobody had heard Jisung’s obnoxious displays, and when he looked back, the beautiful pollener from before, was gone.
`•.¸¸.•´´¯`••._.•
The only window that was opened was a third story quarters, the curtains twisting and billowing in the wind as Jisung tried to shimmy himself up a precariously placed branch.
“Jisung, this is crazy!” Changbin said, looking around, trying to scout out any potential guards.
“Crazy in love,” Jisung responded, reaching his leg over to tap the bottom of his shoe against the windowsill, to check its stability. “You’d think they’d guard the windows.”
“There is no way I’m going to get over there!”
“You can!”
“Easy for you to say, you have back up wings…” Changbin tutted, taking hold of the rickety branch.
Jisung dramatically rolled his eyes, giving him his hand for purchase. He counted to three in his head before heaving himself over, across onto the windowsill. His foot nearly slipped, but Jisung essentially pulled him through into his arms like a damsel in distress.
“Didn’t realise I’d already found my princess!” Jisung beamed, laughing at him, his bangs hanging messily across his face.
Changbin shimmied out of his grip, wiping himself down before looking around. It was quiet, almost eerily quiet, but it only made the castle look even more beautiful.
The walls were a brilliant pearlescent peach and purple, sparkling in the light of the stars. The hallway had portraits of the Kings and Queens down the side, plenty of doors all around for them to get lost in.
“So, what’s your plan?” Changbin asked, “tell me you’re not gonna sneak into his room like some weirdo! You’d be slaughtered—“
“Of course not! At this time, Prince Minho likes to eat rum raisin ice cream in the second kitchen,” Jisung responded, nodding confidently to himself.
“And how exactly do you know that?”
“Just trust me, Changbin. I’m all about leftovers. Anyway, your fairy is down to the lower floor, then across the hall to the left in the west wing function and ballroom, good luck!”
He heartily patted down on both of Changbin’s shoulders, placing an aggravating peck to his forehead, Changbin wiping the residue away with the back of his hand as Jisung merrily scuttled down the hall, leaving him totally alone.
Changbin looked around. Although it was empty, he could definitely hear the boots of armed guards below him. Perhaps they monitored the lower levels more closely. He gathered himself, pruning the little flicks at the back of his hair in the reflection of a large, hanging mirror, sticking them back down with his spit. He puckered his lips to moisten them before straightening up.
Regardless of what happened, he was still dressed in his uniform for a work stint. His rust-orange boiler suit and utility belt. Jisung had sought him out before his shift, so he was already dressed for work. His shift started at 3am and it was already midnight, the ball of earlier in the day wrapped at around eleven, and it seems the pollener fairy he’d been crushing on had stayed to help clean the place up and re-freshen it.
He made his way down the hall and tiptoed down the spiral staircase, trying to be as quiet as he could despite wearing some hefty, steel-capped boots. Luckily, mantis were able to scout out predators using quick head movements, and were surprisingly nimble.
Changbin had no problem being inconspicuous. In fact, he’d preferred to remain that way for most of his adult life, living his nocturnal life free from the pains and troubles of others.
It was a lonely life, but it was a secure one. He didn’t often go against the grain.
He saw the large, barely open, double ball-room door, glittering in the near distance, the gentle swell of piano and jazz flute still playing. He reached for it and peered his head in, looking around for signs of life.
No one was here, and he felt a strange relief, like he knew he shouldn’t be there anyway. Why had he even humoured Jisung’s chaotic plan? Breaking into the castle was a felony, and he’d surely suffer if anyone should find him.
He saw the same window he’d been looking through before and contemplated making a dash for it and heaving himself out. He could wait for Jisung where they had been before. That was, until his senses started tingling at the sweet scent of the pollen. He could see the sparkle of it, twinkling in the light.
It smelt like hyacinth and vanilla pods, and sparkled an orangey type of hue. He wandered closer, taking in its scent, totally captivated by its magical allure.
Pollening was such a sought-after job, Changbin thought it was perfect for the beautiful dragonfly-born from before. Prince Minho was a dragonfly-born too, most of them sworn into royalty by birth right alone. They were the most attractive beings in their world, and Changbin could only dream of seeing one up close.
He turned around suddenly, clambering into one of the newly set tables, re-organised for the morning breakfast. All of the cutlery clattered around him, some of it falling to the floor. He hurried to pick it up, but in the distance, he could hear footsteps, someone coming to investigate the sudden commotion.
He panicked, looking around before throwing himself behind one of the curtains, long enough to mask his entire body behind it. He could hear his own heartbeat inside of his chest, before suddenly he heard something else.
“Hello? Is there anyone there? I’ll call the royal guard if you’re trespassing!” Someone shouted from the entrance, his voice soft yet firm, whimsical yet serious, and as wondrous as Changbin had imagined.
He knew it was him, the pollener from before. He just knew. He’d heard him hum, heard him sing in soft falsetto as he waltzed. It was definitely him.
There was no point in hiding, his utility belt was clinking, and the sound of his steel capped boots could be heard still echoing in the room. He peered out and stumbled forward, into the light, nearly sliding on the pearlescent, polished flooring. He bowed instinctively, knowing the dragonfly-born was of higher standings than he was.
“I’m sorry! I’m leaving, I swear!” he said, holding his hands up defensively from his bow.
“A night cleaner?” the pollener said, tilting his head off to the side and pointing at his attire. “Are you new? I don’t recognise you and I’m on pollen shift.”
“I… Uh.” He twiddled his fingers, trying to come up with some kind of alibi. He considered simply telling the truth, but then he remembered what Jisung had said, as he stared at the pollener’s face, even more beautiful up close.
His nerves were getting the better of him, sweat starting to form across his forehead under his bangs. He remembered what Jisung had said to him before when they snuck in, his mantra. ‘You’re only as attractive as you make yourself!’
It seemed to work for Jisung, who despite being roach born managed to weasel his way into the heart of many others. He had a natural charm, something that Changbin didn’t think he himself possessed, but he was willing to fake it if it meant he could get out of the castle without risk of prosecution…
He looked back at the pollener, now staring at him with crossed arms and a slight pout.
“Yes, I’m new,” he said, straightening up and coughing to clear his throat. “The royal institute reached out to my company and I’m here to tidy up the gardens, that’s all. I’ll be l-leaving now.” He immediately took a step forward, before the man stepped in front of him.
“Which area?” he asked, his eyebrow raising as he pulled his arms crossed.
“I—The—The Lantern. I was told it was easy to find but I’ve found myself lost, that’s all.” He recalled seeing the lantern in the distance as he and Jisung had snuck in, and he remembered hearing about it during his royal studies. He tried to draw information about it, thinking it could embellish his story.
“Hmm… You were watching me. Back there, weren’t you? Through the window,” he responded firmly.
“I—I’m…” Changbin stuttered and trembled, rubbing at his nape. He could feel his ears and antennae prickling red, having had no idea the fairy had even noticed him.
“I’m so embarrassed!” the man suddenly bellowed, letting his body relax as he threw his hand against his forehead. “Geez, I must’ve looked so ridiculous and unprofessional flouncing and dancing around! I’m not usually like that when I pollen, I promise!”
“Not at all! I thought it was nice, actually! You’re very light on your feet!” Changbin replied in a hushed tone, shimmying closer to him with hand outstretched to try and settle him.
“You don’t mean that. You’re humouring me!”
“I would never!” he placed his hands against the man’s shoulders, trying to shift them further towards the entrance of the room, easier to make a swift exit if they were found. “I think it’s a testimony to how much you enjoy your job, it’s—it’s nice to see someone enjoying themselves in the castle at night. I don’t get to see many people, being a night shift worker.”
“That’s so sad, Mister. I wish I could offer some kind of condolence,” the fairy said, tugging himself free near the door.
“It’s fine, I’m used to it! Anyway—“
“—Well! Be that as it may! I will take you to the lantern, myself. It’s a little walk down the larger community garden but it’s beautiful, nonetheless!”
“Thank you, that’s kind of you but I’m sure I can manage,” he said, trying to weasel his way out of the situation.
“But I insist! I’m Hyunjin, Hwang Hyunjin, by the way.”
“Changbin, nice to meet you.”
“Changbin! I knew a beetle-born with that name.”
“That’s gr—“
“—Come on, I‘ll be your tour guide. I never get guests on this shift. I can't believe you don’t know where the lantern is!” Hyunjin slipped his arm through the opening in Changbin’s, tugging him across the floor and out of the ballroom. “It’s one of the most beautiful features in the king’s garden.”
They shimmied through the barren hallways, Hyunjin pointing out things of note on his way out, like the Honeycomb room, the great armoury and the ‘entanglement web’, less affectionately known as the ‘spinners dungeons’, where the ‘bad bugs’ go.
He pointed to light fixtures, paintings, even talking about the different holographic patterns and textures on the walls. He seemed to know everything about the palace, more than anyone would ever need to.
When they finally made it to the large veranda, there were four armed guards standing outside, all large cricket-horns, great wetas to be exact. Changbin gulped, trying to focus on what Hyunjin was talking about. It was something about the history of the stonework across the pillars at each corner of the exit, or something, but the nerves were starting to set in.
“Uh, I think I can take it from here,” he said. He tried to think of some excuse, focused on the muscle strength and hard exteriors on the parole team that could easily subdue him as soon as they realised he wasn’t a palace official.
“Oh? It’s okay, I like the fresh air. C’mon!” Hyunjin insisted, tugging at his arm again.
“I— I uh, I’ve just had… Bad experiences with cricket-borne, that’s all—“
“Oh, goodness. How so?”
He swallowed, trying to think of something on the spot before the guards noticed him, something that Hyunjin could believe.
Suddenly, he remembered Jisung’s mantra again. Hyunjin was right in front of him, insisting that they spend at least the rest of this walk together. He’d lose his shot at knowing the pollener if he didn’t at least try.
“Um, well. I saved a larva from a rogue cricket once. Saved his life, actually.”
“You did?!” Hyunjin said, eyes sparkling. He turned to face him, clasping his hands together in front of him. “What happened?”
“Yeah… It was… It was on a night shift. I was walking home from the Royal Botanical house when I saw one of the law enforcement crickets shedding and shifting. He was crazy, and he tried to hurt this little tiny larva and his mom and I had to step in and save him from near death!” Changbin nodded at his own story, hoping it was at least tangible.
“Wow! That’s amazing, Changbin!”
“Yeah, it was— Gruesome. He was crazy.”
“You must be so brave to do that.”
“It’s my duty!” he said, subconsciously tensing his muscles under his boiler suit, then cracking his neck to the side.
“It’s your duty to save people as a castle cleaner?” Hyunjin giggled, swatting at his chest.
“Just as a members of society! Saving people is just in our nature, right?”
“Of course! Well, I don’t want to awaken any bad thoughts! We’ll take passage through the lavender trees.”
Changbin’s arm was abruptly yanked and their course diverted to the left, heading towards the plumage of large white and purple speckles lowering over a short walk down some kind of stone path.
The aisle was decorated with a number of springtime flowers, all calm and still in the days’ slumber. There were a few small spotlights just outlining the path, the soft lavender fragrance sifting past them in the wind.
“Down on the right is the Hollow, then across to the left is the youngest Prince Lee’s rose garden, and across the way near that fountain down there is the succulent nursery. The lantern is a way down,” Hyunjin reeled off, and Changbin was so entranced by the other man that he hadn’t even registered what he’d said.
“Wait… Down?”
“Yeah, it’s down a little dip. Nothing we can’t handle, Changbin!” Hyunjin said triumphantly, bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet until they came to the dip.
“I don’t fly!”
“No, but I do!” Hyunjin said, gripping both of his hands suddenly until they were facing each other. Hyunjin had such a pretty, enthusiastic expression, his eyes creased and cheeks puffed out making him look even sweeter than before.
“You couldn’t possibly carry me?!” Changbin said, blinking back at him dumbly.
“It’s a small dip! Ten seconds at most! I’m happy to help! It’s my duty as a royal worker!” He winked at Changbin, squeezing down at both hands with a firm grip.
Without another word, his wings spread out across the clearing, nearly as wide as the width of the path itself. The sheer size caused a large gust to push Changbin’s bangs and his ears to hurt a little, filled with the buzzing sound. His wings flittered so fast, Changbin could only see the shape of a gentle pearlescent haze where they were.
He didn’t get a chance to protest, his body suddenly hoisted off of the ground, boots stumbling around for purchase.
“I—I’m not good with height!” he shouted, suddenly suspended in the air, gripping on to Hyunjin’s hands for dear life.
His stomach churned as Hyunjin found some decent height, and then immediately barrelled downwards, hurtling them down the small canyon, Changbin’s little legs wriggling in the air. He was sure he’d nearly lost a boot at one point, as Hyunjin giggled to himself and did a few slaloms.
“No loop-de-loops, please!” Changbin shouted towards him, and Hyunjin only laughed in response.
“I would, but your palms are a little sweaty, you might slide right out of my grasp!”
“That is not comforting!”
Hyunjin chuckled as he slowly brought them back down towards the lantern. Changbin could see it, illuminated orange by a large candle. Surrounded by darkness, it flickered an amber colour as his feet found the ground, Hyunjin gently placing him down on the floor before he suddenly swooped back up again.
He did a little loop-de-loop in the sky, scattering an orange iridescent glitter pollen in his travels, the flecks flying around them like a finely-milled powder. Some landed on Changbin’s nose, making it tickle a little before he let out a giant sneeze.
Hyunjin landed back down, delicate as ever on his feet, making sure to give a little bow followed by a curtsy as he smiled.
“Your wings must be so strong,” Changbin scoffed, shaking his head, rearranging the dishevelled hair across his face.
“Nonsense, you’re just teeny. Come on!” he said, gripping Changbin’s hand again and leading them down another path, this time it was totally dark, with nothing to guide them.
“I am not ‘teeny’!”
Despite the blanket of night, Hyunjin knew the exact path. The lantern was surrounded by overgrown moss and weeds, the odd spider web here and there. It looked dilapidated and dingy compared to the colourful beauty of the previous gardens.
The lantern itself had been suspended, a small flight up. It was likely tall enough to stand in, a copperish, metallic frame with glass panes within it, embellished with tiny patterns along the border. The moonlight was shining down on it, casting a shadow below but adding to the illumination of the flickering candle.
“I’m glad they finally hired someone to clean this place up! It’s been barren for so long, and it’s one of my favourite places.”
“It’s barren? Why is the light shining if no one comes here?”
“The king lights the candle every night, making sure it’s always lit. Isn’t it magical?!” Hyunjin said, looking up at the simmering candle. “It’s scary for a lot of us, because of the flame, but the glass keeps us safe. Sometimes I like to actually go inside the lantern. It’s—a bit of a rush!”
“A daredevil pollen fairy, I never thought I’d hear it!” Changbin joked, causing the other man to swat at his arm.
“Oh, ‘fairy’! I hear that too much, I’m a dragonfly born! The term fairy is ridiculous. We’re still strong, you know!”
“When I found you, you apologised for ‘flouncing’…”
The man stared at him before blinking a few times, a frustrated pout starting to form that Changbin shouldn’t have found as endearing as it was.
“Touché…” he grumbled. “Well! Come on inside then!”
“Near the flame?!” Changbin stuttered. “That’s so dangerous!”
“Who’s the fairy now?! C’mon.”
Hyunjin reached for his hand once again, this time interlocking their fingers to give him more stability. Changbin blushed, hoping that his nerves had settled enough for his hands to be less clammy than before. He was yanked up again without warning, Hyunjin’s wings buzzing loudly throughout the desolate clearing as he hopped upwards, flying directly into the sky.
The flicker of the flame was so enticing, but Changbin knew it was a common cause of death for their kind. He had always been wary around flames; he’d known too many light-drawn creatures to lose their minds the beautiful illusion of the fire dancing around.
Working where he worked, danger often surrounded him, and actively seeking out a flame seemed like a terrible idea. The closer they got, the more he struggled away from it, but Hyunjin insisted it was fine.
He placed Changbin down on the ledge of the lantern, the suspended metal trinket swinging just gently with their combined body weight.
“This is— It's so warm?!” Changbin said, placing his hand against the glass. It was hot to the touch, making him whip his hand back almost immediately.
“I know! Isn’t it so lovely?”
“It smells strange, the fire thing,” Changbin said, shimmying around the lantern away from the flame.
“Wax, it’s what keeps the fire lit,” Hyunjin said, “here, come sit.”
“Beeswax?” Changbin asked, trundling across to him, at the furthest part of the lantern that jutted out, pulling them slightly further away from the flame. Changbin felt rejuvenated just being around it, his kind always flourished in the heat and he’d never quite seen anything like it before.
“Not beeswax! It’s a man-made wax. It’s called Paraffin wax.” He smiled proudly, tucking a small section of his hair behind his ear. It only exaggerated how beautiful his jawline was, Changbin having to make sure that he wasn’t staring too overtly as Hyunjin waved at him to come and sit beside him.
“You know about the outside. You’re smart, huh?” Changbin anxiously settled next to him, their knees gently brushing against one another’s.
“You don’t become a pollener by luck, you know! I had to study, pass exams. I could tell you anything about each of the fauna in this garden!”
He gestured across the landscape, their suspended surroundings high enough to present them with a perfect view of the other gardens in front of them.
“That’s impressive. It’s so hot in here, it would be amazing for the Marigolds, Petunias and Geraniums...” Changbin said, looking around, trying to act nonchalant. He knew a thing or two, and he thought perhaps the beautiful pollener might be impressed if he exhibited some prowess.
“Hmm… You know flowers?” Hyunjin said, cocking an eyebrow. A tiny grin tugged at his lip as he leant closer, bashing Changbin’s shoulder with his own.
“I’m pretty clued up, too. I guess— I kind of, always wanted to be a pollener, when I was a little younger.”
“Oh, really? What is your birth right? I couldn’t really tell through the whole boiler suit get up—“
“Praying Mantis,” he said, awkwardly. “We’re usually in the heavy-duty jobs...” Changbin sighed. “Tough exterior, and all that.”
“Sure, it’s a little unorthodox but not unheard of!” Hyunjin said reassuringly, his energy infectious as he consoled Changbin with a hand to the kneecap. “What stopped you?”
“Uh, I guess... Money, family… Finding a placement is tricky. I didn’t grow up in the best place.”
“I’m sorry to hear that…” he said sympathetically, rubbing little circles over his knee with his hand. “Do you… Do you want some clementine?”
“Clementine? What’s that?
“It’s fruit! Like a little orange but sweeter! It’s delicious. I carry some with me if I work later. It’s just a segment, in my bag.”
He reached under some material near his hip, revealing a small pollener satchel and another even smaller utensil bag next to it. He reached inside, taking out a lump of something orange and sticky in a clear wrapping, the scent immediately overwhelming and making his nose itch. Changbin leaned forward to inspect it, sniffing and prodding at it with his finger.
“It smells sweet, like… Peach?”
“Kind of, but this is a little more sour! Trust me, it’s tasty!” Hyunjin said, nodding at him.
“Trust you?”
“Like I trusted you when you told me that you were hired to work by the Royal Institute…?”
Changbin gasped, his face falling at the realisation as Hyunjin cocked his brow at him. He stuttered, trying to look for another tangible excuse, but the words simply weren’t forming inside of his brain. Hyunjin stared at him, although it was a face he couldn’t read. He wasn’t calling for the guards, he wasn’t panicking, he simply shook his head in disappointment.
“Was I… Was I that obvious?” Changbin asked, his head lowering to his chest as he exhaled.
“Well, firstly, the Institute is in charge of education and tourism, not cleaning duty… And secondly, I know this place, this lantern. The king doesn’t let outsiders here, he’s never asked anyone to clear this area of the gardens up for good reason.”
Hyunjin pulled off a little clementine, offering it to him, Changbin taking the sticky orange clump in between his index and thumb.
“Why not?” he said, taking a small bite of the fleshy fruit.
“He lights the flame every night for his wife, the late Queen Lee. He lost her a few years ago, you must remember?” Hyunjin looked at him, and Changbin nodded, struggling to keep eye contact through his shame. “She used to come here for peace and quiet when she was sick. Since she passed, he vowed to keep the flame alight and leave her sanctuary alone, untouched. Nature thrives here, it’s perfect for a dragonfly born.”
“You knew I’d lied this entire time…? Why did you let me—“
“You intrigued me, I guess. What do you really do, Changbin?” he looked at Changbin’s name tag, placed on the leftmost side of his suit, running the tip of his index finger across it.
“I’m… I don’t want to say.”
“You don’t have to be embarrassed.”
“Easy for a royal pollener to say…” he sighed. “I’m a night shift cleaner but… I’m… I work on Venus, the fly traps.”
“Oh. Wow, that’s scary. I heard those traps are huge.” Hyunjin clutched his hand against his chest, face visibly showing more concern than before.
“Yep. I have to be around them all night, in the dark.”
“You must see some horrific things in those traps...”
“You get used to it, I guess. I’d rather not but… It pays the bills, and I haven’t lost a finger yet.”
He shrugged, pulling his knees in until he was crossed over himself, wrapped in a self embrace. He looked to the side, resting his head against his shoulder, trying to hold back his emotions.
Hyunjin had known he was a fraud all this time. He couldn’t play the game the way Jisung did. He’d totally blown it, and he couldn’t even escape or get down from this lantern without Hyunjin’s help.
What if he left him here near the flame? Or he’d already called in reinforcements? They could be biding their time until the guards came.
Worst of all, Hyunjin would likely never give a fly trap cleaner his time of day, let alone one that so brazenly lied to his face. Hyunjin was the epitome of all that was good and beautiful in the world, and he was just a lying crook that broke into his castle.
“Do you have children?” Hyunjin suddenly asked, nudging him to continue eating.
“Children?! No way, not at all.”
“A partner?”
“N-no, I don’t.”
“I guess… In a way that’s good, right? If my partner was a fly trap cleaner, I’d be terrified that they'd get themselves hurt, or they might not come back… That must be really scary.” Hyunjin mirrored him, bringing his knees closer to his body to wrap his arms around them.
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bring the mood down… I just, I did want to know about you, really. The real you.”
Changbin looked at him in surprise. He’d been the one to sour the conversation with his silly little fabrications and lies. Hyunjin had nothing to apologise for. His head tilted to the side to watch the curve of Hyunjin’s lips as he sighed.
“It’s okay. I’m glad your partner isn’t a trap cleaner,” Changbin laughed.
“I’d need to have one, first! I’m far too busy for romance,” Hyunjin responded, taking a little bite of the clementine before wrapping it back in a see-through bag. Seeing his blushy cheeks and the tiny smile that tugged at the corner of his lips, set Changbin’s heart racing again.
“No one’s too busy for romance. I saw you dancing. You can waltz! Don’t tell me you’re not romantic,” Changbin said.
“Don’t embarrass me!” Hyunjin slapped at his arm again, falling against him. It was an endearing gesture that he’d noticed Hyunjin would do whenever he found something funny.
“I can waltz, too. My mother taught me at a young age. I recognise a waltz when I see one!”
“You’re crazy!”
He was, really. Totally encapsulated by the pollener, even more so now that he’d accepted Changbin as he was. He summoned all of his courage, drawing a large breath into his lungs, whipping back to look at him again.
“Care to…?”
“What? Waltz, with you? Near the flame?”
“Why not?” Changbin abruptly stood up, patting his behind free from dust and stretching his neck from side to side. “You have a natural rhythm, I’m sure we’re not going to trip.”
Hyunjin giggled, the sounds of his bashful noises like music to his ears. Changbin took a step forward, holding his hand out for the man to take, and Hyunjin obliged, delicately placing his hand overtop.
“You’re shorter, should I lead?” he asked, taking a step toward him.
“I prefer to lead!” Changbin said, gripping down on his hand. He tugged him forward, pulling him closer to his chest. He lifted his arm into a waltz position, and then placed his other against Hyunjin’s waist.
“There’s no music?” he laughed.
“We can make believe.”
Hyunjin puffed out, a breathy kind of laugh, hot air tickling Changbin’s nose. He felt winded just looking at Hyunjin up close, his features sparkling, reflections of the flame within his eyes.
Changbin took the initial step forward, and Hyunjin followed suit, before he was giggling again.
“Our hands are sticky from the clementine.”
“Better than my clammy hands from before,” Changbin scoffed, “you made me nervous.”
“My apologies, I didn’t mean to,” Hyunjin said, carefully following his movements. “Flying can be scary if you don’t do it, I guess.”
Changbin simply nodded as they finessed around the flame.
He wouldn’t tell Hyunjin the reason he was really nervous back there. He wouldn’t tell him that seeing how gentle and delicate Hyunjin was with him didn’t give him butterflies. He wouldn’t tell him that being so close to him and holding his hand felt like a warm rush of endorphins, so strong that it made him feel like he could fly on his own accord.
They danced around, movements becoming more fluid and gentler, Changbin’s hand holding his little waist, and both of their arms moving from their tense positions to more relaxed ones. They were dancing slowly, hands still respectful and polite.
Hyunjin sighed and then yawned in contentment, the warmth of the candle making him a little sleepy. His hand pulled away from Changbin’s and slid overtop of his shoulders until both hands were laying loosely around his neck.
They were slow dancing, quietly, just barely even moving. Changbin wished so badly that he wasn’t in his uniform, and that instead he was dressed in his finest, like Hyunjin deserved.
He was impossibly close, too close for Changbin to concentrate on his feet, as Hyunjin’s face started coming closer, and closer, his eyes fluttering shut as he smiled contently. After a while, Hyunjin’s head rested against the space of his shoulder and chest, pressed against him.
He smelt a bit like the clementine, and a soft vanilla, mixed into a sweet, citrus infused tarte smell. Like a golden cinnamon bun with a drizzle of lemon. The sweetness radiated off of him, Changbin’s heartstrings pulled so taut he felt like he could burst. He could feel Hyunjin’s heart too, and the slow and constant rhythm of his breathing.
Changbin pulled back for a moment, the dozy fairy lifting his head with a little ‘hmm?’
“It’s— It’s getting late. I should get to my shift. I’m already gonna be late and I don’t want to get you in trouble or anything,” Changbin said, holding on to each of Hyunjin’s hands.
“Y-yeah,” Hyunjin muttered, his eyes flickering open and closed. “That’s a good idea. The sun is starting to rise. I should probably get back.”
“It was so… It was really nice to meet you… Like, incredibly, overwhelmingly nice.”
Hyunjin giggled, squeezing down on his hands in affirmation.
"Likewise. C’mon, let’s get back.” He allowed Changbin to prepare himself for take-off this time, before the beat of his wings filled the airspace for the final time that night.
`•.¸¸.•´´¯`••._.•
Hyunjin guided Changbin back through the garden, both of them walking in relative silence, perhaps even a sprinkling of awkwardness. He wanted to reach out and hold Hyunjin’s soft hand again, but he knew that their encounter had been a spur of the moment type situation.
The entire journey back he’d wondered if Hyunjin might realise the absurdity of dancing with someone you didn’t really know, especially someone as lowly as he was. He’d expected Hyunjin to dismiss him after his lies, but he was true to his word. He really did want to know the real him, if even for one magical night.
Changbin just didn’t know why. There was nothing special about him, not like Hyunjin was special.
They came to the end of the lavender trees again, making passage through the side as to not rouse any of the guards, although Hyunjin had assured him they were probably finished for the night.
They made their way through a black wired gate, one that didn’t look to be too disturbed, and it led them behind the external wall of the gardens. It exited down near some marshy fields, a few puddles of rainwater spilling into a small ravine.
Hyunjin breathed in the boggy air, the water a perfect place for a dragonfly born.
“If you keep to the side of the path, you’ll see a few signposts out to the Coccinellidales.”
“Thank you, Hyunjin. This has been… It’s been nice.” Changbin felt the same awkward air surrounding him again, making him feel a little hot. He could always blame it on the humidity of the warm rainwater ravine, but he figured he’d finished with lying. He was never good at it.
He turned back to see the dragonfly-born fluttering his wings, with a smile on his face.
“Like, incredibly, overwhelmingly nice?”
They both laughed in unison, heads falling down to their chests before Hyunjin wiped a little droplet from his cheek. It was starting to rain now, the droplets feeling refreshing after the heat of the lantern.
“Be safe, okay, Changbin?” he finally said, his hand lingering at the side of his face.
“I will.”
“We need to meet again, and I can’t make that happen if you’re lost to a fly trap.”
“M-meet again?”
“Of course. For our weekly lantern date?”
“Date?”
“Well… I considered it a bit of a ‘date’… Do you waltz with every creature you meet?!” he cried out, in feigned offense as he turned heel, looking back over his shoulder to see Changbin’s response.
“Not at all, you’re definitely a… Special exception,” he laughed, shaking his head from side to side.
Hyunjin swiftly turned back around and bridged the distance. He leant forward, placing a small, plush peck to Changbin’s cheek, the world suddenly feeling like it was filled with colour again, despite the darkness of the early morning. His lips sparkled a slight orange hue, tickling his skin.
“Nice to meet you, Changbin the trap cleaner. I’ll make sure to let Minho know that his funny, little boyfriend brought a friend for me.” He winked in Changbin's direction, rendering him totally speechless.
Changbin watched him exit from a distance, and it felt like the fabric of time and space had somehow shifted, like hours had ticked down, minute by minute, second by second, to this very moment. Never before had Changbin seen someone quite so breath-taking in all of his life.