Work Text:
Over the years, Xu Minghao learned that becoming flightless meant that you can’t have a normal life. All his life, he was said to be frail, expected to be dependent because his wings had not fluttered enough for him to fly. It became a sensitive topic that was always there whenever anyone would look at his wings, no one would point it out since it’s been years, but he feels how much they’ve looked down on him for it.
As much as he believed that living with flightless wings was difficult, he knew that the only way he could thrive is to persevere. He had lived to fend for his own needs, worked hard just like everyone did when they do tasks and handled his emotions and insecurities alone.
Minghao had a hard time with his home, like finding his own resources to cover up the holes of his indefinite home when it rains in the forest or whenever he needs to rush down towards his assigned job. Their land is difficult without flight as it is composed of tall trees, branches as walkways paved with rough wood that ruins his homemade shoes.
He was treated like an outcast, never acknowledged for a conversation when not needed but is “respectfully” given a place for work to make him not feel different. It was confusing as it was difficult but he can’t do anything about it. He was left to work with his own hobbies, producing his own art if he wasn’t needed in his garden duty.
As much as he was treated like an outcast, one person stood out and had become a friend he was surprised to have: Junhui.
Junhui had greeted him a few years back, he helped Minghao carry a sack of heavy weeds for construction while chattering about his near death experience with a frog. It was an odd encounter, but he surprisingly welcomed his company. Their meeting was the first time Minghao laughed with someone who isn’t an inanimate object, and well, as expected, the rest was history.
His only friend became a part of his life since then. Junhui would accompany him wherever his feet would bring him, even if it required a longer path. The fairy would even fold his wings and walk with him, not caring if anyone would fly past them. He was like a tree sap; sticking by his side no matter how grumpy Minghao would get.
Ever since Junhui had stuck by his side, he was influenced to pursue his love for art and creation itself. Minghao started drawing his own plans, such as: different appliances for his home, rough outlines of hard soles for his shoes and tools he uses for gardening. He even drew a rope contraction to pull him up when it comes to high places. Junhui would take his sketches and build with the things he could, he even promised Minghao he’ll make his rope contraction when he gets the right things.
Junhui would encourage him to make more sketches. Minghao would feel like a bother when Jun would waste his time on his drawings but his friend reasons it out that it enhances his tinkering abilities more, but he isn’t a fool, he knows that Junhui just wanted him to live comfier.
Minghao doesn’t know why Junhui would do these things for him. Perhaps he just wasn’t used to this kind of treatment? Ever since he was conjured by nature in a realm with the land of towering trees he was alone. He walks with his feet, looks at his fragile wings in every pond that he passes by, he wasn’t someone worthy of such a gift like his friend who goes beyond his job just to make things a little easier for him.
Being flightless made him feel inferior to others, but Junhui helps him keep his insecurities at bay.
—
Sometimes, they put their abilities for fun and not just for the things they need. As of the moment, the word “fun” can only be used for Minghao, who was laughing at Junhui.
Junhui was still scared of frogs after getting chased by one, or in other words: his near-death experience. But he still accompanied Minghao as he had claimed that he’d protect the young fairy from getting eaten by one. From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed like Junhui was the one being protected, as he was cowering in fear when the frog in front of them croaked.
Unfortunately for Junhui, Minghao loved frogs and had decided to draw a plan for a saddle in hopes of riding a hopping animal. Junhui had told him to pick a rabbit instead but he was too stubborn with his desire. Junhui frowned but couldn’t resist the smile on Minghao’s face, resulting in helping him make the saddle made with straw ropes and silk. And in return, Minghao promised they’ll do whatever Junhui wanted for the afternoon.
Junhui’s wings flailed and closed, failing to hide his fear when he hid behind Minghao. “I think he’s planning to eat us, Hao.”
“If you keep showing your sparkly wings, then yes, I guess he will,” Minghao mutters.
Minghao slowly approached the frog, the saddle hidden on his back. Junhui followed him, now holding a random twig. The frog stood still as Minghao quickly pounced on the frog’s back and successfully tied the saddle together as the frog hops on the tall grass. He lets out a shout, he hears Junhui’s loud shout calling him.
Minghao grips the saddle as tight as he could, his body swaying up and down. The frog hops towards the bushes causing him to feel the leaves hit his face. His eyes widen as the frog comes nearer to the river, towards the stone pathways with the harsh flow.
He couldn’t do anything, letting go would only cause him to fall on the rocks and ruin his wings completely. He tried to think of a way but they were coming close. As the frog leaps towards the stone, Junhui pulls him and carries his body to safety.
Minghao looks down and sees that they were flying, if it weren’t for Junhui he would have been swept by water or bonked his head on a rock. It led him to frown as he remembered that this wouldn’t have happened if he could fly with his wings. He wouldn’t have bothered Junhui to carry him every time his plans fail.
Junhui sees his friend’s face and places his chin on Minghao’s head, “You know, maybe we should have put the frog in a trap before attaching a saddle.”
Minghao smiles slightly, “Or we should have picked a rabbit instead.”
“Another experiment for another time,” Junhui said as they passed by the bushes.
Junhui carries him tighter for him not to slip off of his hold, causing him to feel Junhui’s hands on his waist and legs. Minghao suddenly feels too conscious of his friend’s hold, his ears becoming unbearably hot and red.
“I think you should let me go,” Minghao moves his head to look at Junhui.
Junhui laughs, motioning him to look down, “You want me to let you go?”
Minghao looks down to see that they were high up, causing him to hold on to his friend. Junhui presses his chin on Minghao once again, obviously enjoying carrying Minghao. “You’ve told me you wanted to see a few feet up while flying, right?”
“Yeah, why?” Minghao nods and outstretches his hand to feel the wind.
“Then you’ve fulfilled it in the arms of your good-looking companion, Wen Junhui!” Junhui shouts proudly, causing other fairies nearby to look at them.
“Nope.” Minghao pinches Junhui’s cheeks, “Still not close to the kind of flying I wish to see.”
—
As Minghao promised, he arrived at the place Junhui had told him to be in the afternoon. He was a little tired after a day's work and the fiasco that had happened with the frog. The place that Junhui had instructed him to go didn't help as it is at the highest tree branch in their land. His feet were burning and each step made him feel tired.
If he had wings then perhaps it would only take a minute, but with his feet it felt like hours. He couldn’t help but wish his wings would flutter magically and fly him there.
When he arrives at the top, he finds Junhui holding a string tied down, a large balloon-like contraption floating as the string secures it in place serving as its anchor. Junhui flies towards him, he offers his hand which Minghao accepts. He stiffens when Junhui whisks him and places him in the basket.
“What are we doing?” Minghao asks, his hands clenching on the side of the basket to see that they were indeed floating.
“You said you wanted to fly, right? This is the best I could think of,” Junhui enters the basket and loosens the rope, to let them fly higher. “It’s my version of what I’ve read from stolen human books about hot air balloons, but made out of whatever I could find here.”
Minghao looked around, the sky had begun to turn into a warm orange as the sun slowly disappeared for the night to come. Small dots of supposedly light fairies had started releasing fireflies to work as their source of light.
Everything looked beautiful with this type of view. He could see things he had never seen before. Their realm felt a little more peaceful than the lonesomeness he feels every day. The feeling of intimidation was not there to worsen his insecurity as a flightless fairy.
Minghao smiles as he finds himself floating or perhaps flying.
“I think you’ve fulfilled my wish, Jun.” He says with softness evident in his voice.
“You think so?” Junhui asks meekly.
Minghao scoots closer to Junhui, he takes the fairy’s arm and loops it around his waist away from his wings, “Maybe even fulfilling it in the arms of Wen Junhui.”
Minghao finds himself smiling wider at the sight of Junhui’s shy face. He looks at his beautiful friend with the most beautiful heart, who had been there to make his creations and wishes come true.
Perhaps being flightless isn’t the worst thing when someone like Junhui is around to give him the most genuine care anyone could offer.
As the minutes pass by, they float steadily with the wind carrying their bodies. Minghao pecks Junhui’s cheeks just as how the wind kisses their bodies; soft and tender.
For once, Minghao feels like he is flying.