Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Minho weaved between trees and darted through the brush that scraped against his bare arms. He barely felt the sting but he knew the two behind him would. Minho didn’t have to turn around to know they weren’t far behind him, and he knew these woods well enough to know which paths would slow down a human.

There was a chill in the air; autumn was fast approaching. Minho used to love that feeling -- when the breeze nipped at his cheeks as summer announced its departure and the leaves started to bleed red and orange. And although he could still tell there was a change in temperature now, he was far removed from the discomfort of such things. 

He peeked behind him for the first time since he sensed he was being followed, and saw the two men still on his trail. They were persistent, he’d give them that. One of them, the smaller, more muscular one, managed to unsheath a dagger from his thigh and throw it in Minho’s direction. He heard it coming though and smoothly avoided it. The blade dug its sharp edge into the bark of a tree as Minho took a quick left. With the small amount of time he’d managed to allot himself, Minho lifted himself up into the cover of the trees surrounding them and watched the sight unravel below him.

The two hunters came to a halt not far away from his hiding place and upon seeing Minho was nowhere in sight, the shorter one kicked a fallen limb in his anger. 

“Woah, Bin, it's fine, we’ll find him.”

“Will we? It’s been months and we haven’t gotten close enough to even know what the fucker’s face looks like!”

Ooh, a temper , Minho noted with a smirk. 

“Come on, harming innocent flora isn’t going to make him magically appear, besides breaking another bone by punching a tree is only going to prolong the hunt.”

Minho held back a snort as he listened to the whines of the one they called “Bin” as he tried to defend himself saying it was “only one time, Chan!” and that he should “let it go” as they headed back in the direction in which they came.

Minho made himself comfortable in his tree for a little while longer, just to be safe, and watched the sun slowly fall beneath the horizon. No matter how many times he saw the same scene, he thought he would never cease to find it beautiful. He loved the way the sun painted the landscape gold and made the earth look like it was glowing. 

After a while of allowing himself to indulge in the sight, Minho jumped down and paused, listening intently for any suspicious noises, before he made off in the direction of his current residence. 

When he was about halfway home, he began to hear voices again and he was immediately on edge. He paused and crouched, looking around for the source. After a few scans of the area, he eventually spotted a garden several feet in front of him along with a boy crouched over a lavender bush. It took Minho a moment to see a second boy bathing in the last sunlight of the day on the ground beside him.

He moved closer, now curious about the pair for some reason he couldn’t explain to himself, and listened in to their conversation. 

“...for Channie-hyung because he never sleeps.”

“So… you’re going to trick him into taking a sleeping draught by offering him tea?”

“Precisely,” the first boy said, smiling brightly. Minho couldn’t help but notice how adorable his smile was, it was gummy, lifting his lips into a vague heart shape and his eyes into little crescent moons. 

Cute, he thought with a small smile of his own.

“He doesn’t even drink tea though,” the other boy was saying, turning onto his stomach so he could watch what the first boy was doing. Now that he was facing Minho’s general direction, he could see that the boy had freckles sprinkling his cheeks.

“He will if I ask nicely,” the one collecting lavender insisted.

“You mean pout until he says yes?” the freckled boy asked, rolling his eyes.

“It’s never failed me before.”

“Well, whatever works.”

The one with the cute smile stood when he decided he had enough of the lavender, and held out his hand for the freckled boy to take. Instead of helping him up though, he ended up being tugged down to the ground. He landed on top of the freckled boy with a huff. He giggled, rolling over to have the smiley boy pinned on the ground below him. 

“Felix,” he whined through another heart-shaped smile. “We have to get back. I don't want my place to burn to the ground if we’re gone too long.”

“It won’t,” Felix said, kissing his forehead. “Seungmin is there, remember?”

“When is he not?” 

The two continued their conversation as they eventually got up off the ground and walked down a well-worn path that Minho noticed led to a small cottage. The small home was nearly completely concealed by the forest around it; he might have missed it entirely if those two hadn’t brought it to his attention.

Impressive, Minho thought. The cutie with the pretty smile must be a pretty powerful witch after all. He wondered if both of them were supernatural or just the smiley one. He supposed he could always find out for himself.

On that note he stood from his hiding spot, brushed off his clothes, and continued on his way with a new plan for the day ahead.

｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆｡ 

Felix kicked his feet mindlessly as he sat on the counter with Jisung’s familiar seated on his lap, purring happily. Jisung was busy drawing out the oil of the lavender he’d picked that evening. The water was boiling over the fire and he knew that the oil would begin to separate from the plant soon enough, so he turned his attention to finding a vial to put the ingredient in once the substance did wander towards the surface of the water. 

Felix watched as he shuffled around his place in search of a proper vessel for the ingredient. He wasn’t a spellcaster like Jisung, actually he ran a bakery down in the village. In Jisung’s opinion, it was the best in the entire country. Felix had taken a liking to him after Jisung became a regular customer at his shop, and he and his roommate, Seungmin, became quick friends of his. Now Jisung traded the occasional charm or elixir in exchange for sweets -- it was harmless really. If Felix baked the elixir into his food, the person who ate it would feel a warmth inside them -- something like thinking about a good memory. Felix deserved the extra business anyway.

Jisung liked having Felix’s company at his place, and he knew, even with how much Jeongin complained, he enjoyed Seungmin’s company too. Having them around made their cottage feel even more like a home. 

It was a decent abode as it was. Jisung was proud of it, at least. He spent 90% of his time there, as it was both his place of residence and his place of work, so it was very homey. He had filled the place to the brim with shelves that were stuffed with vials and jars of all sorts of things from dried herbs to gems to various horns and bones for especially rare spells. In the main room, there were plants of all varieties spilling from every crevice and corner they could possibly fit in, there was a large fireplace near his back door, and big windows that let in lots of light at every time of day -- whether that be sunlight or moonlight. There was a long bench in front of the windows perpetually covered in candle wax and crystals. He had stone floors too, but you’d never know because of how many rugs he had thrown over the floor. 

There were two doors to the left and one to the right of the main entrance. The two on the left were bedrooms, one for Jisung, of course, and the other was for Jeongin, his apprentice. Jeongin was young, well, young for a spellcaster. Jisung had lived in the village for years before Jeongin came along and was  swept under Jisung’s wing. He enjoyed having someone to teach and Jeongin’s personality made every day fun. He was always in a good mood and completely unafraid to share his opinions on anything. He was good company for Jisung who often got in his own head.

The last door opened to stairs that lead to a basement. Jisung used it for mixing brews, tonics, elixirs, and other concoctions because it was dark and sometimes he needed absolutely no interruptions to complete a spell -- especially if it was person-specific. Jisung could only ask for those types of items once after all; if he messed up that sort of spell, he couldn’t try it again.

Besides that, there was a wide hallway that led to the more homely side of the cottage that contained the kitchen and library nook. There was also another smaller room on that side that nearly mirrored this room, except it had hardwood floors and housed most of the already completed spells, charms, elixirs, etc, that residents of the town ask for semi-often. That way, they don’t need to make them on the spot every time. Jeongin spent a lot of his time on that side.

Jisung was shoulder deep in one of his cabinets when he heard loud voices outside his door. He identified the individuals as two of his best friends before they burst through his front door. Felix, however, had not been paying close enough attention to the ruckus outside the door and nearly fell off the counter from shock at their intrusion. 

“Why hello Chan, Changbin, so nice of you to drop by without notice,” Jisung said, pulling out the container he’d been searching for. It was about the height of his hand and all clear crystal, absolutely no color to it, so when he put the lavender oil in the moonlight later that night, nothing would obstruct it from working its magic. 

As he turned around he watched Changbin throw his body onto his couch and he raised an eyebrow at Chan who shook his head with a sigh. 

“I was going to ask how it went… but,” Jisung said, moving towards the fireplace once again to see the oils had floated to the surface. 

As he began collecting the lavender essence, he listened to the two retell the events of their night. How someone had come to them saying that their son had bite marks on his arm and looked a little pale, then sent them in the direction of the person she thought was responsible. How they chased the culprit for nearly 2 hours before he straight up vanished.

“No, Jisung, you don’t understand,” Changbin was saying, leaning forward on his knees as he spoke. “It’s so frustrating. We’ve known about this bloodsucker for nearly a year and we don’t even know anything about him.”

“Isn’t that normal, though?” Felix asked as he watched Jisung shake a jar of dried magnolia bark into a small bowl. “Like I feel like you never know everything you want to know about your vampires.”

“This is different,” Chan said. “Yes, a lot of the time we don’t know things like their names or how long they’ve been undead , but with this one? We don’t even know what he looks like . He’s super quick and strong, I’ve never seen one like him. We’ve never gotten a glimpse of his face, and no one that’s interacted with him seems to know anything about him at all.”

“All they ever tell us is that he’s ‘the most beautiful man they’ve ever seen,’” Changbin mocked with a roll of his eyes. “Yeah, like that’s helpful. You can say that about any of them. That’s kinda the whole point? That’s their whole charm! That’s how they get you!” He finished practically yelling at this point. 

“Hyung, why are you yelling?” Jeongin asked, appearing from the hallway.

“Excuse me for being passionate about my work!” Changbin defended.

“Hyung it’s loud,” Seungmin echoed, following close behind his friend, lowering his hands gently to try to calm Changbin.

Changin’s face softened. “Minnie! I’m sorry, did I hurt your ears, come here,” he said, moving quickly to scoop the younger one into his arms and jump back onto the couch. 

Seungmin hardly protested as he was manhandled by Changbin into skinship. Jisung sometimes thought that he secretly liked it.

When he finished gathering the magnolia bark and grinding it into smaller more manageable pieces, Jisung turned around to rummage through his fruit bowl for a lemon. He was going to need lemon zest too for this sleeping draught. He’d add it the next morning after letting it sit overnight to dry slightly. 

But when he turned he caught the eye of Chan who looked like he was lost in thought, chewing on the inside of his lip, his eyes far away from this room.

“Channie?” Jisung called. “You okay? What’s on your mind? Is there anything else?”

“It’s just…” he added, the attention of the room suddenly shifting to him, “actually the one thing we have gathered about this particular vampire is that he hasn’t directly killed anyone. Usually we come across dead bodies, or people left for dead that don’t end up making it from the blood-loss, but this one? It seems like he just takes what he needs and leaves. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Chan said thoughtfully. 

Jisung hummed and grabbed a lemon that was buried at the bottom of his fruit bowl, then he began to shave some of the rind into a different, even smaller bowl than the magnolia. 

Felix finally hopped off the counter letting Jisung’s familiar, Soonie, down on the floor gently, patting his head before going to join the others in the main seating area, and Jisung finished preparing his sleeping draught the best he could for the following morning. 

He made sure to tightly secure the cork inside the crystal container he’d stored his lavender oil in and placed it right in front of his window to bathe in the moonlight overnight. He also had the vial flanked by two crystals unique to Chan & the spell. The first crystal was aquamarine because Channie was Libra and aquamarine, in Jisung’s experience, helps Libras make decisions with less stress and leaves them feeling lighter. So, having one for this spell would infuse the lavender oil with the ability to wash away unhelpful thoughts and that same sensation of feeling lighter. On the other side, Jisung placed blue lace agate which is known for having a softer energy and helps rebalance heart chakras. 

Once he was satisfied with the placement and choice of crystals, Jisung turned to join the others. There was one more thing he needed for the spell to work the way he wanted it to, and it was getting late, so he might just be able to get it tonight. 

When he sat down, he was immediately thrown into a debate between Seungmin and Fellix vs. the others. Knowing those two, though, Jisung suspected they might have started it just to push some buttons and lighten the mood. 

“All I’m saying is less people would get hurt by supernatural creatures if the general public knew about their existence,” Seungmin shrugged. 

“Well, they do, to a point,” Chan said, attempting to find a middle ground.

“Yeah, but knowing that witches like Jisung and Jeongin exist but not the ones who use dark magic and tamper with people’s souls feels a little wrong, don’t you think? Not to mention keeping things like vampires a secret, I mean don’t you think people should know what they’re up against?”

“No,” Changbin said simply. “If the committee thought it would be safe for the general public to know, they would have made it public knowledge years ago. If everyone knew about vampires, there would be no trust and people would be a lot more hostile. Besides that, the vampires would be more aggressive because they wouldn’t be able to be as stealthy. It would just be a mess,” Changbin said with a scowl.

“But charming baked goods falls under a gray area?” Seungmin challenged.

“Hey hey hey,” Felix said with a playful smile, shoving Seungmin. “Don’t make them change their minds, business has been great since we started bartering with the witches. Leave it be.”

Seungmin rolled his eyes. “Business was great even before that, Lix.”

“Yeah, but I like the idea of people reliving the feeling of their greatest memory when they eat our food, you know? Just knowing that makes me happy, Seungmin!”

Seungmin ruffled his hair fondly and shook his head, dropping the subject.

Jeongin yawned and blinked a few times before rubbing his fists in his eyes, and Jisung perked up. Sure enough, it created a small ripple effect with Felix then Chan. Jisung waited until the oldest of the group was about to exhale from his yawn before he spread his fingers and closed them quickly, drawing his hand back in a sort of grabbing motion, drawing the breath from Chan’s mouth. 

He smiled as he swirled the yawn around his finger and began the process of enclosing it with his magic. 

There was no way to do it subtly, so he got a giggle from Felix, who, of course, knew of his plans for Chan’s special sleeping draught, and a small shake of his head from Jeongin who recognized what Jisung needed from Chan.

Chan, however…

“Hey!” Chan said with wide eyes and a suspicious look. “What do you need that for?” When Jisung didn’t respond and simply finished confining the yawn within the innocent looking charm hanging around his neck. Chan frowned. “Han Jisung!” 

“What? Who said I needed it for anything?” he asked innocently. “Maybe it’s just for safekeeping. Maybe I just want to keep you close.”

That made Seungmin snort a laugh and Chan frowned again, but he dropped it after Jisung smiled brightly in his direction.

Jisung continued smiling softly to himself and fiddled with the charm. It was, in fact, a special device he’d enchanted himself. It could entrap any intangible object he may need to complete a spell. Breaths, fears, laughter, voices, reflections, dreams, etc. He’d tried to explain exactly how it worked to Felix one time, but he looked like his head was going to explode from trying to logically wrap his mind around how that would work, so Jisung gave up.

When the four of them got up to head back to the village, Jisung and Jeongin wished them a good night. Jeongin made sure they had their spell jars he’d made specifically to ensure their protection before he felt safe enough to let them walk back in the dark. This made Chan laugh a little because of his, and Changbin’s, profession, but he let Jeongin check anyway for his peace of mind. 

When the others left, the witches tidied up their home for the night and Jisung’s eye caught on the lavender oil basking in the moonlight and found himself smiling all over again about his spell. All he needed to do now was combine everything in a very specific order in the morning after everything had proper time to rest and he would be able to make the draught-turned-tea for Chan. 

As Jisung settled into bed, Soonie tucked into his side, he realized how tired he was. He hadn’t realized how late it had gotten so quickly. It was usually that way when all six of them were together. Time seemed to just fly right by without their notice. He hoped the others got back alright and that they would rest well that night. 

Jisung pet Soonie’s head gently and hoped his draught worked the way he wanted it to. Chan deserved a good night's sleep too. He knew that Chan was plagued with too many terrible thoughts and memories due to his occupation, so it was the least he could do for him. But he also knew Chan was as selfless as it comes and he wouldn’t accept it if he told him outright that was what he was doing because he wouldn’t want Jisung to “waste resources on him.” But he was more than happy to do this small thing for his friend. 

The following morning, Jisung hummed a melody he no longer remembered the lyrics to as he sorted through the steps in his head. First he released the yawn he collected from Chan and diffused it into the crushed magnolia bark. That in itself was difficult because working with any kind of breath whether it be a yawn, a laugh, or a sigh, is hard to contain once released, so it took a lot of concentration to make sure none of it slipped out of Jisung’s control. After that, he needed to add in the lemon zest he allowed to rest overnight and chamomile flowers before adding three drops of the infused lavender oil. 

Jisung pulled the bowl of lemon zest over but realized then that he’d forgotten to collect any chamomile flowers from his garden when he was out there with Felix the day before. It wasn’t too late, though, and he was in no real rush, he hadn’t added the lemon zest to the magnolia bark yet so as long as he finished the tea within the hour he should be fine.

He slipped on a pair of shoes and grabbed the gloves he had by the backdoor before he ventured back into the garden. He loved his garden. It was a great place for him to think and, because everything he planted there was for magical use, the energy there was positive and refreshing. 

Actually the garden itself was enchanted. Only Jisung or Jeongin could enter it and anyone they were in direct contact with while they entered. He’d charmed it that way so that he didn’t have to worry about anything being stolen, eaten, or tampered with. Not even the weather affected what grew within.

It didn’t take Jisung long to gather a few chamomile flowers. The plant was in one of the center rows near the corner of the garden by some of his other tea or tea-like plants. He didn’t need many or them, but he grabbed a few extra just for presentation purposes, then began to head back. 

The weather was getting cooler, it usually did a few weeks after his birthday. He enjoyed the consistency, it was nostalgic of all the other years he’d watched the leaves fall just after his birthday passed. The winding path he took from his garden to his cottage would turn from lush and green to a patchwork of reds, oranges, and yellows as the leaves dropped from the branches overhead.

He’d barely recognized how far he’d walked when he realized he was only a few feet from his back door. He took a few more steps and reached out for the doorknob only to still when he heard a voice he didn’t recognize. He paused and listened a little closer. It sounded like it was coming from the front of his home. Then, after a moment, he was able to pick out that the voice was talking to someone -- no not someone, a cat, his cat. 

His face contorted into confusion and he changed directions to walk around front. And, sure enough, when he rounded the corner, there was a person sitting underneath the shade of a tree scratching his normally very timid familiar under the chin. 

He seemed to sense Jisung’s presence because he looked up quickly upon Jisung’s arrival and his hand stilled. 

“Sorry,” the stranger said sheepishly, “is he yours?” 

His voice sounded like a spring breeze. Light, airy, sweet.

“Y..yeah,” Jisung said finally, watching Soonie roll over and butt his head against the stranger’s knee. “It's just that he doesn't usually interact with anyone but me and my apprentice.”

“Oh, well he’s a sweet cat,” the stranger said, smiling down at Soonie. 

His smile was pretty. He was pretty. His features were honestly stunning like he’d been carved from marble by skilled, careful hands. Jisung had never been in such awe of another person. Even the way his hair fell away from his face was near perfect.

He blinked and tried to stop staring, though the stranger wasn’t even looking in his direction anymore, too occupied running his fingers through his familiar’s soft orange fur.

“Probably ‘cuz he’s not just a cat,” Jisung managed to mumble with a smile, not even sure if the man could hear him. “Come here, love,” he called towards the creature. 

When Soonie darted across the small distance between them and curled around Jisung’s leg, something seemed to click in the other’s head. Jisung could see it on his face. 

Jisung reached down to scratch Soonie’s head, but when his familiar didn’t speak back to him, he raised an eyebrow. 

That was especially interesting. What was so special about this guy? Why did Soonie take interest in him, then have nothing to report about it? 

Now he's officially sparked Jisung’s interest. 

He looked back towards the stranger with a tilted head. “Well now that you’re acquainted with Soonie, I feel that introductions are in order?”

The other simply looked at Jisung and blinked a few times in rapid succession before saying rather timidly, “Minho.”

“Minho? Is that all,” Jisung asked.

Suddenly Minho’s mouth curled up and he leaned back on his palms. “Why?” He challenged, looking Jisung up and down. “Names are a powerful tool in this world… especially in the hands of a witch.”

Jisung raised an eyebrow. Clever.

“Jisung. Han Jisung,” He said, smirking at his apathy for giving this essential stranger his full name.

Minho hummed at his boldness. 

He was clearly observant and quickly adapted Jisung’s playful banter and there was a lot hiding below the surface. Jisung decided he wanted to know more about Minho, but he did have a spell to finish, so...

“Would you like some tea?” he asked suddenly.

Minho blinked again, taken aback at the invitation. Then he replied: “No thank you, but if that’s your way of asking for my prolonged company, then I’ll accept.”

Jisung waved him over as he turned towards his front door and didn’t bother looking back until he had the door open. He watched Soonie hop inside then:

“After you,” he said politely to Minho who laughed through his nose, but followed the cat inside. 

Minho spent a while standing in what was essentially the doorway while Jisung moved back towards his half-finished draught and placed the flowers down. He began removing the stems as he watched Minho slowly taking everything in.

“Never been in a witch’s cottage?” Jisung guessed with a smile.

Minho shook his head, eyes wide like a child. 

“Where I’m from witches were… let’s say frowned upon. So, if we had any they were in hiding,” Minho explained.

Jisung raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t heard of such treatment in decades, before he was born. Unless you were known for using dark magic or black magic, witches were relatively well-accepted. 

Minho looked over to him and his eyes widened. “Sorry, no, I didn’t mean it that way. I never--”

“No, that’s not what I was thinking,” Jisung assured him, turning back around after plucking the last stem from the chamomile. 

He placed a few of the blooms over the magnolia bark and then added the lemon overtop of them. The last step was the three drops of lavender essence. He popped the cork off of the vial and let the three drops fall over the mixture. It looked right to him, but Soonie could tell for sure. 

He placed it on the ground and Soonie padded up to it. He watched the cat's nose twitch a few times, then he walked away like nothing happened. 

Jisung smiled. Success!

He leaned down to pick up the bowl and that’s when he saw that Minho had moved and was now inches from his face. 

“Holy--” Jisung cursed, nearly dropping the spell. Minho apparently has superhuman reflexes, though,  because he caught it without a single drop of it spilling and placed it gently on the counter. 

“Sorry,” he said, bowing his head slightly.

“No, it’s… you’re fine,” Jisung insisted, his heart still pounding. “You just… I didn’t feel your presence.”

Minho laughed. “I get that a lot.”

Jisung nodded and transferred the spell into a jar so he could easily pour water over it later and the draught would be complete. 

“So,” Jisung said, sitting down on one of the many, many cushions spread across the floor. Minho mirrored him and looked at him expectantly. “Where are you from originally?”

Minho shrugged. “Honestly I doubt you’ve ever heard of it, but I moved here about a year ago.”

“I’ve never seen you around,” Jisung said.

“I don’t live in the village.”

Jisung hummed.

“What were you making?”

“Why? You wanna try it and find out?” Jisung teased.

“Hmm I doubt you’d let me. It looked like it was meant for one person, you wouldn’t waste any of it on me, would you?”

“Caught me. You’re pretty observant,” Jisung commented. “It’s a sleeping draught. My friend has a hard time falling asleep so I made this so he could drink it as tea.”

Minho hummed and nodded his head. He pulled at the threads on his cushion. 

“You said you had an apprentice?”

Jisung nodded. “He’s in the village right now. I sent him to pick something up for me, but now he’s probably at the local bakery tormenting the staff.”

“Oh? Is that a side hustle for the resident witches here?”

“It might as well be,” Jisung joked. “Barely a day passes that we don’t see each other. We’re actually good friends with the owners.”

“Maybe I’ll have to try it sometime,” Minho mentioned. 

Jisung sat up straighter. “You’ve never been?”

Minho shook his head. “Don’t really have a sweet tooth, if you get me.”

Jisung’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s a crime. I can’t allow this in my home.”

Minho laughed. Then after a moment, he looked around nervously and asked:“I’m not actually keeping you from anything, though, am I? I don’t actually need anything so I don’t want to distract you from your work.”

“No,” Jisung waved him off. “I finished my personal project as you already saw, and I don’t have a ton on my agenda that I want to do while Jeongin isn’t here -- ah, my apprentice,” he clarified.

“I see,” Minho smiled.

“Besides, my friend should be here soon. He’s the one I made the spell for anyway.” Jisung glanced at the clock. “Oh, actually any minute now.”

“I’ll get out of your hair then, thanks for the nice company and conversation. Your… cat is very cute,” he said with a smirk. 

Jisung laughed and showed him out. When they reached the porch, he saw Chan walking up the road and he perked up. “Oh, hey there he is now,” he said to Minho. Then he cupped his hands over his mouth to call out to him, and waved. 

When he looked back towards Minho, he looked pale, and if Jisung didn’t know better, unnerved. 

“Um, thank you again Jisung,” he said before quickly moving off the porch and nearly disappearing into the forest behind his cottage. 

Jisung didn't have much time to process it before Chan approached. 

“Hey, Sungie! Who was that? New customer?”

“No, just a guest,” he replied a little distantly, still looking in the direction Minho had retreated to.

After Chan turned to see what he was looking at, Jisung came back to himself. He smiled, and moved to walk inside, beckoning Chan to follow. 

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The next time Minho saw Jisung it was an accident. 

It was nearing midnight and he’ll admit, he was a bit curious about the village ever since Jisung brought it up, but he was unwilling to go in broad daylight. He was afraid someone might notice his lack of a shadow or that he couldn’t be seen in the reflection in the glass of the storefronts and immediately connect the dots to his identity. So, he went after the sun had set and most of the townsfolk were tucked into bed for the night.

The village was nice. There were lanterns lining the streets, family owned shops and food stalls that had been closed up for the night, and a certain peaceful ambience about the scene. He thought it was somewhere he might have enjoyed settling down if his circumstances were different. Instead he was reduced to this: night strolls on empty streets, residing as far as he could get from other living souls, near starving because he loathed the way he had to feed. It wasn’t much of a life, but, well, he wasn’t really alive anymore anyway, was he?

Minho straightened his arms out in his pockets and turned when he reached what he assumed to be the city limits. He’d only taken a few paces when his eyes locked on something moving in the distance. He froze for a second and narrowed in on what it was. It took a moment, but he realized that the person staring back at him had a very familiar figure.

He, against his better judgment, decided to walk in their direction based only on a hunch, and to his surprise, the figure did the same. 

When they got close enough, Minho smiled. 

Han Jisung.

He waited until they got within human eyesight range to nod in greeting.

“Minho, hi!” Jisung said, smiling so bright he lit up the entire walkway. “You know, I almost didn’t believe my eyes for a second because you’re kind of the last person I expected to see out here.”

“Well, I wasn’t expecting to see anyone,” Minho replied truthfully, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his pants again. 

“Yeah? Why are you sneaking around at night, huh?”

“Why are you? ” Minho grinned.

Jisung laughed. “I stayed a little too late over at Seungmin and Felix’s flat. I guess I lost track of time and I couldn’t spend the night. I have too much that I have to do in the morning.”

Minho hummed and looked down at Jisung’s hands that were clutching what looked like a picnic basket. Jisung must have seen him looking because he lifted one of the flaps and a white and orange nose poked out with a chirp and Minho’s eyes widened.

“You brought your cat?”

“I brought Soonie , yes.”

“Ah,” Minho said, reaching to scratch the soft fur behind his ears fondly. “You’re a familiar . That’s a very important job.”

The cat only blinked in response but something behind his eyes told Minho a different story. He’d never interacted with a familiar before and, truthfully, didn’t know how it would go considering his own supernatural status. But Soonie didn’t seem to mind him. 

Actually Minho assumed he was a little more than just a cat after putting together that Jisung was the witch he’d seen in the garden and the cat he was petting was his cat. It all added up too perfectly to not be true. 

Minho wasn’t sure when he decided he’d walk Jisung all the way home, but they’d turned in that direction not too far back and Minho had nowhere to be, no one waiting on him, and nothing to look forward to. He’d stay by Jisung’s side as long as he’d let him. 

He wasn’t sure why but there was something about the smiley boy that just felt right. There was some sort of pull towards him that almost scared Minho but simultaneously thrilled him in a way he hadn’t felt in… well… longer than anyone should really be alive.

“That seems like it’s bothering you,” Jisung observed after they were both quiet for a while. 

“Oh,” Minho said, glancing down at his fingers that were mindlessly twisting the ring necklace he had around his neck. He let the ring go and it bounced against his chest. “Yeah, I don't really like having things around my neck.” 

“Then,” Jisung started, tilting his head. “Why wear it?” 

Minho pulls the ring so Jisung can see it a little clearer. “It’s my mother’s wedding ring.”

Jisung mouths oh and Minho smiles somewhat sadly and tucks the necklace back under his shirt.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Jisung said after a while.

Minho smiled and shook his head. “It happened a long time ago.”

“Sure, but I don’t know if that’s ever really something you’d get used to, is it?” Jisung asked. His eyes shone in the moonlight. They looked like galaxies could lie within them. “I never grew up with parents, so I’m not totally sure, but that kind of loss seems like it would run deep.”

Minho laughed half-heartedly through his nose. “I suppose you’re right. But this helps me remember,” he mentioned, slowing to a stop in front of Jisung’s cottage. 

There were no lights on within the small home, but Jisung didn’t seem to need any to find his way to the door. When he stepped onto the porch, Soonie hopped out of the basket and padded towards where Minho stood. He swirled his tail around Minho’s leg, then made his way around the side of the house. Jisung watched him for a second, then turned back to Minho. 

Minho had already taken a step back from the cottage and nodded towards him with a small smile. He was about to turn away entirely to head back to the place he was currently calling “home” when he heard a small voice call out his name.

He turned around and saw Jisung standing hesitantly on the bottom step of his porch.

“Yes?”

Jisung paused. Minho waited patiently as he seemed to sort through some decision in his mind. Then he continued:

“I… Tomorrow I have to restock a few of my spell jars. We ran out today.” Minho blinked. “Um… would you like to help-- or uh just keep me company?”

Minho raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t you have an apprentice for that?”

“Well…” Jisung said, biting his lip. “Yeah… I do. Nevermind, I… sorry. I assumed you didn’t have anything better to do. I’ll--”

“Jisung.”

“Hm?”

“I’d love to come back tomorrow.”

Minho found himself soaked to the bone the following afternoon as he followed the path to the local witch’s cottage. The sky opened up about 3 minutes into his journey and quickly drenched his clothes and stuck his hair to his forehead. 

Minho didn’t really mind though. Other than the inconvenience of getting Jisung’s dry home wet, it wasn’t like Minho really felt the discomfort, so it didn't affect his walk much.

When he reached the front door, it opened without him even needing to knock, but the person on the other side wasn’t Jisung. This boy was taller, his gaze was sharper. He reminded Minho of a fox in more ways than one. 

“Hello,” Minho bowed politely. “Is Jisung around?”

The boy returned the gesture and raised an eyebrow at Minho. “Why? Is his apprentice not good enough for you? Why are you here anyway? Did you need something specific or did you just want to dampen my front porch?”

Apprentice… Then this must be Jeongin, Minho reasoned. 

Before Minho could answer, a cat showed its face in the doorway between the boy’s legs and meowed loudly. At first glance, Minho thought it was Soonie, but quickly realized that, although he also had orange and white fur, he wasn’t Jisung’s familiar after all. This cat had far more white on him and an orange nose. Minho wondered if he was also a familiar . 

The boy, Jeongin, looked down at the cat wrapped around his leg and seemed to consider something. It wasn’t until the cat meowed again, almost seeming impatient this time, that Jeongin sighed and opened the door wider.

“Come in.”

Minho stepped inside and Jeongin looked him up and down as he dripped rainwater onto the floor. Then he sighed and gestured for Minho to stay put. He walked over to one of the overstuffed drawers and pried it open. After shuffling around in it for a moment, he pulled out a piece of white chalk and crossed the room back to Minho. 

“Stay still, I’ll be quick,” Jeongin said with a smile. It was probably meant to be reassuring and he did have a cute smile, complete with dimples and extremely straight teeth, but the last thing Minho wanted was for someone he didn’t know, or fully trust, to use magic on him. In any way, shape, or form.

“Um… no thank you. I… I only came because Jisung asked for me,” Minho said, stepping back from Jeongin. 

He raised an eyebrow and studied Minho for a moment before backing away a few steps. “Alright, I’ll be right back then.”

Jeongin placed the chalk on a side table and patted his cat on the head gently, earning a meow in return before he disappeared through a door to the right of the entrance and Minho listened to him descend into what he guessed was a basement. 

And the thing was, even as much as Minho absolutely hated to admit it, he wasn’t human. He may look human sometimes, he might be able to play the part on occasion, but he was no longer mortal. He was now, quite literally, an undead creature built for the hunt. So, whether he really meant to or not, he could see way farther than a human ever could, hear much better, and move much faster. 

 So even though Jeongin was far out of sight and down an entire story, Minho could still make out the two voices conversing below him.

“Hey Hyung, some pretty-boy is here to see you. He seems scared of spell-casters, though. What did you do to him?”

“Minho’s here?! Already?”

“Yeah, I left Doongie with him so he won’t get up to any trouble, but he seems jumpy. Is he trustworthy?”

Minho thought for a second and looked over at the cat who was curled up on one of the many cushions spread around the floor. Doongie… that must be his name. He must be Jeongin’s familiar like Minho guessed earlier.

“He… Well, he seems harmless. Soonie took a liking to him. That’s actually how we met. He was petting Soonie by the willow tree.”

“Really? Your Soonie? That seems strange. Should I keep an eye on him?”

“He’s a guest right now. I invited him. I just didn’t realize he’d be here now or I would have waited to do this until later. Take over for me, okay? I’ll get started on the spell jars.”

“Dry him off, he’s dripping water everywhere,” Jeongin shouted.

With that, Minho heard who he assumed to be Jisung begin to ascend the staircase. And sure enough, Jisung’s bright smile met his eyes as he came through the basement door. He clicked his tongue and Doongie perked up to run back to Jeongin before Jisung closed the door. 

“Sorry about that. I was working on a new kind of tonic in the cellar because I assumed you’d come around later. But I’m happy you’re here! We can get started on the spell jars!” Jisung said happily. “But first I’m gonna help dry you off, is that okay?”

Minho hesitated and Jisung smiled softly. 

“It’s a casting circle,” he started to explain, grabbing the chalk where Jeongin had placed it earlier. “I’m going to draw a specific pattern here on the floor with this chalk and you’re going to stand in it. As soon as the rainwater drips into the circle, the spell will activate and warm wind will gush up and dry you near instantly.” Jisung finished, gesturing with his hands. “Does that sound okay? If not, we can always go the old fashion way.”

Minho began to nod, then paused again. “Would… this kind of spell work on you as well?”

“Sure,” Jisung shrugged. “It works on anyone. Even animals. It’s very basic stuff, don’t worry.”

Minho stepped forward gingerly and Jisung beamed. He crouched to the floor and started to draw out his casting circle. Minho watched intently.

Jisung looked up at him with kind eyes when he was about halfway finished and said, “You know, it’s okay to be wary of magic, Minho. I know you have no real reason to trust me yet, but I’ll still tell you this: I’m not here to hurt you. I have no intentions to harm you and I do not wish to use my abilities in any sort of negative way. And I’m never going to say no to explaining a spell. If it would make you more comfortable with the process, or even if it’s just pure curiosity, I’ll never mind doing that for you.”

Minho didn’t have time to respond before Jisung stood back up and said, “Alright! All done! Step inside so you’ll dry off, please! I don’t enjoy guests of mine feeling any sort of discomfort while they’re in my home.”

Minho did as he was told and almost immediately the spell activated just like Jisung said it would and he squeezed his eyes shut as the sudden enchanted wind swept through him, drying him instantly. 

He blinked a few times and looked at Jisung with wide eyes. Then he looked down and saw that he really was fully dry. 

Wow.

“Come on,” Jisung said, beckoning Minho to the side of his cottage he’d never been to before. “Spell jars are kind of tedious, so I like to have company while I do them. They’re easy enough, almost mindless once you get them down -- and I’ve been doing them for years -- so I like to have something else to concentrate on while I do them.”

Minho hummed as he took in the new scenery. Jisung had a pretty substantial library nook on this side, a kitchen complete with a second fireplace, and an entire wall dedicated to completed spells of every type. There was a large round table near the kitchen where Jisung had spread out an assortment of ingredients for the spell jars. 

Jisung sank into the chair in front of the kitchen table and sighed deeply. “Okay so today I’m working on spell jars for good luck and productivity. For the good luck ones I need…” Jisung started, scanning the table. “Salt, bay leaves, white rice, rope, and… oh!” he paused and looked up at Minho. “I forgot my candles to seal.”

“I can get them,” Minho offered.

“Really?”

Minho nodded.

“Alright, they’re in a cabinet in the main room underneath the shelf that has dragonfly wings and rose thorns in it. I need the green candles for the lucky jars and the yellow ones for the productivity ones. Thank you Minho.” He cooed happily.

Minho felt a smile tug at his lips as he wandered back towards Jisung’s main room. Soonie was at his heels with his tail straight up towards the ceiling as he bound after him happily. 

Minho scanned the excessive amount of shelves -- filled so that there was not a single unused space within them -- and felt a little intimidated. It took him a few tries, but he eventually laid eyes on the shelf with the dragonfly wings, delicately placed in a jar with a clasp lid. Their iridescent wings shimmered even in the dull light that the overcast weather brought in through the windows. Next to those, just like Jisung said, were open mason jars nearly filled to the brim with rose thorns. There were 4 or 5 jars of them in the shelf tucked all the way to the back, so Minho reasoned he must use them pretty frequently.

Minho opened the drawer below and saw the multicolored candles that Jisung needed. He grabbed a few of both the green and yellow candles and headed back towards him. 

Jisung ended up doing most of the talking as he filled each spell jar. And Minho watched and kept him company for hours and even got the pattern down.

For the good luck spell jars Jisung would layer salt, then white rice, followed by the rope and bay leaves, then he would cork it and seal the jar with the green candle wax while he whispered some incantation Minho couldn’t quite understand. 

For the productivity spell jars Jisung layered cinnamon, vanilla essence, citrine (Jisung told him, Minho didn’t know what exactly the golden crystal was called beforehand), then he placed 3 sprigs of rosemary, a layer of sage leaves, then topped it off with a pinch of cloves before sealing it the same way as the good luck jars -- except with the yellow candle wax this time.

Minho would ask questions here and there and Jisung would carry the conversation for the most part. Something Minho learned was that Jisung could talk forever if he felt comfortable. And he must have, Minho could assume from his body language alone. 

He learned that the good luck jars worked best if you kept them by your bed, and the productivity ones needed to be somewhere visible that you frequented, like the kitchen, or you could carry it with you if you preferred. 

Minho found himself thinking he could listen to Jisung talk all day. He thought he should be cautious of that feeling, he’d never gotten close to a human like this since he’d been turned -- and for good reason. But there was something about Jisung that put him at ease. 

Coming to see Jisung became something of a routine after that day. Minho didn’t know why, but he trusted him. Jisung would end the day asking him to come back for some other task and Minho would always oblige. But eventually, it became unspoken, and Jisung seemed to build his schedule around Minho’s visits. So, instead of Minho keeping Jisung company while he worked, his attention was solely on Minho and spending time with him. 

This shift in their relationship was welcome, but difficult for Minho. It became increasingly difficult to hide his… differences from Jisung. He was afraid of seeming rude by constantly declining food and drink from Jisung when he spent nearly the entire day with him, so he eventually gave in and would sip on tea while Jisung ate his meals. Minho didn’t really mind, human food had little to no effect on him. It was like a human putting something technically “inedible” in their body. It wouldn’t outright harm them, but their body wouldn’t gain anything from it either. 

He was wary about spending time outside as well, worried that Jisung would notice the certain complications that came with no longer having a mortal soul. If the sun was especially bright, Minho would insist on staying inside with a creative excuse, when really he was afraid Jisung would notice he didn’t have a shadow. If it rained, he worried Jisung would see he didn’t have a reflection in a puddle or something similar. 

But the most difficult thing to keep from Jisung was his body temperature. Over the past month, Minho had observed how affectionate Jisung could be with the people he loved and felt a pang in his chest when he realized he couldn’t reciprocate that for him without revealing his deepest secret. 

Jisung didn’t seem to mind Minho’s quirks, though. He was actually incredibly patient. When he realized that Minho was averse to physical touch, he adjusted and they had a sort of system. If Minho needed something from Jisung he would tug on the fabric of his shirt and Jisung would turn with warmth swirling in his brown eyes and a kind smile on his lips. If Minho was alive, he would have been a blushing mess, melting straight into the floor below. Jisung just had that sort of effect on him, and, well…. 

Maybe Minho was a little afraid of that feeling. 

｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆｡ 

“What?” Minho asked through the fabric of the scarf Jisung wrapped around his neck. All Jisung could see were his nose and eyes that blinked innocently over at him.

Jisung giggled again. Minho was so cute. He had no idea how someone that looked like Minho could be so cute. 

“Nothing,” Jisung smiled, handing him a pair of fuzzy gloves that Felix knitted at some point. 

Minho looked down at them with huge eyes and Jisung wondered what exactly he was thinking. He slipped them on his hands and wiggled his fingers then smiled at him with his bunny smile. Jisung had never told him that, but sometimes he really did look like a curious bunny. 

Jisung was really fond of him. He’d become fond of him very quickly. Jeongin was wary of him for a while but even he was happier when Minho was around now, their humor was similar and they bounced off of each other well.

Jisung opened his mouth to ask him if he was ready to go when Minho took him by surprise and took his hand in his own. Jisung froze and looked down at their now conjoined hands. 

Minho never initiated physical contact, actually he didn’t do physical contact at all. He always shied away from it, barely letting Jisung touch him at all. It never bothered Jisung, the opposite actually, it made him worry for Minho. He wondered why he was so hesitant to allow someone to be that close. But Jisung didn’t mind, he respected the boundaries that Minho set for them. He enjoyed his company too much to care about such things. 

Plus, they found ways around Minho’s discomfort. Sometimes if they were both all wrapped up in blankets, Minho would let him lay on his chest. Minho didn’t mind if Jisung tugged on his shirt to get his attention or vice versa.

And, Jisung supposed, these gloves were another exception for Minho.

He must have looked too long at their hands, though, because Minho faltered.

“Sorry,” Minho said softly, starting to pull away, but Jisung squeezed his hand tighter and smiled wide, letting his eyes close.

“No! I just wasn’t expecting it.” 

“Oh,” Minho said, trying to hide a smile under the scarf.

“Come on! I’ve wanted to show you my garden forever , Min!” Jisung exclaimed, pulling Minho out the door.

They bound down Jisung’s twisted, beaten path to his garden, worn down with damp leaves that softened their footsteps as they trudged through. 

When they approached the garden Jisung paused and looked over at Minho before he realized he didn’t need to ask him for anything because Minho never let go of his hand. He kept his nose tucked into his scarf the whole time, which Jisung suspected he was using to hide his smile. 

“What’s wrong?” Minho asked, noticing Jisung’s hesitation.

“Nothing,” Jisung reassured him with a giggle, walking through the barrier that only he could see surrounding the area. He glanced over at Minho and watched as Minho’s face shifted into something unsure. Jisung squeezed his hand, trying to ease his nerves as he pulled him deeper into his garden. 

“Really, it’s nothing, Minho-yah,” he assured him again. “I just have to be touching someone in order for them to enter and, well…” he trailed off, pulling their joined hands up a little to draw Minho’s eyes there.

Minho nodded slowly in realization and his lips turned up in a tiny smile, half hidden by his scarf.

They walked farther through Jisung’s garden, and Minho’s head was on a swivel, taking everything in slowly, cautiously. Every once and a while, he would glance at Jisung curiously, and Jisung knew he had a question on his tongue but he wouldn’t ask it, he knew from experience now, so Jisung indulged him.

“You told me one time you don’t live in the village, right?”

Minho nodded.

“So, that means you probably live pretty far out with not alot of other people around you. It’s probably lonely when you’re not here with me. So… I thought that if I brought you here, gave you a piece of me, a piece of my garden, you wouldn’t feel so alone when you went home at night.”

Minho blinked with wide eyes and his mouth opened slightly. He looked like he was at a loss for words so Jisung continued talking so he didn’t have to.

“Of course, we don’t have to do that, I can just show you around, I’m just happy you agreed to come! It’s just… the flowers here, they wilt at quarter-speed so you can enjoy them for much longer and I just thought--”

“Jisung,” Minho said, a wide smile on his face now. “I love it. I’d love to have them. Did you have anything specific in mind for me?”

Jisung lit up again. “Yes!”

He released Minho’s hand and bounced over to a section of long purple and blue flowers and pointed happily as he sat in front of them, looking up at Minho eagerly.

“These are called Larkspur. When I finally convinced you to come here with me, they were the first flower I had in mind for your bouquet.”

Minho watched him carefully as he snipped a handful of blooms with his shears. He inspected them as he placed each one in Jisung’s basket and then, finally, asked:

“Why this one?”

Jisung smiled.

“Well first of all, Larkspur is purple, which I think is a lovely color for you, by the way,” Minho looked away at the subtle compliment when Jisung turned around to wink at him. “But purple often represents dignity, mystery, and independence, all of which I associate with you, Min,” He continued, gathering the flowers as he considered his next thought. “It can also symbolize peace, which is something I sense you struggle with and… I hope you’re able to find it someday soon,” Jisung smiled softly, shifting to a more serious tone. “But besides its color, in flower language, it’s often associated with having an open heart.”

“You think I have…”

“I do,” Jisung interrupted, standing up fully to look Minho in the eye. He didn’t bother letting him finish his thought. There was no doubt in his mind that Minho was a genuine person with a huge heart. “Actually, I know it. You’re not as subtle about how much you care as you think you are,” Jisung teased, brushing the dirt off his hands.

“Thank you, Jisung-ah. Really,” Minho said softly, looking down at his hands. Then he looked up quickly and said, “Lee.”

Jisung tilted his head. “Sorry?”

“Lee Minho,” He said, his eyes open and vulnerable. “That’s my name. You asked when we met. And I refused. I didn’t want you to have power over me. But now I… I trust you with my name, Jisung.”

Jisung looked away and flushed. He mouthed his name and he decided he loved the way it felt as it rolled off his tongue.

When he looked back, cheeks still pink, smile on full display, he said shyly, “Let's… Let’s finish your bouquet, yeah? Do you see any other flowers you like?”

｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆｡ 

Minho was curled up in Jisung’s library nook with Soonie fast asleep against his chest when he heard Jisung gasp like he was seconds away from dying. 

He scrambled to his feet and nearly fell from the raised platform, scaring Jisung’s familiar half to death as he rushed to Jisung’s side. 

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” he asked, eyes wide, voice desperate as he searched his friend for any signs of injury.

“Yes!” Jisung exclaimed, pure joy filling his brown eyes. 

Minho opened his mouth to ask what happened to warrant that reaction, when Jisung grabbed his shirt and pulled him to the window. When Minho looked outside, he saw gentle snowflakes fluttering in the wind, a stark contrast to the dark sky around them. They were only just beginning to stick to the ground and pile on top of eachother, a vague promise of a white morning for the day ahead of them. 

Minho turned back to Jisung, whose eyes were sparkling brighter than the snow outside.

“Min, it’s the first snow of the year!”

“Yeah,” Minho said, trying to be supportive, despite his confusion.

Jisung laughed and rolled his eyes. “It’s special!” He explained, moving to the door to pull on his work boots, stumbling a bit as he hopped on one foot. Then he paused and said, “Well, the first snow is always good to keep around if you can catch it, but this one came before winter began so it holds more power!” When he had both of his shoes on he spun around quickly as he looked for something to hold his new, special ingredient. Then he shouted through the cottage. “Jeongin! It’s snowing!”

Jeongin’s voice carried from the other side of the home that he was busy, but Jisung didn’t seem to care.

“Ah,” Minho vocalized, moving to put on his own shoes. “It’s for a spell.”

Jisung hummed happily. “The first snow of the season,” he sang as he rummaged around for a container. Surprisingly, he found what he was looking for quickly, which was rare in Minho’s experience with the witch, then he swung open the door and hurried outside.

Minho chuckled and followed him, grabbing his coat off the rack and pulling the door closed behind them. When he caught up with Jisung, he had his jar in both hands, eyes closed, whispering into it. Minho stopped in his tracks, not wanting to distract him. Only when Jisung looked up, did Minho continue on his way towards him.

Minho draped the jacket around his shoulders, earning a gummy smile from Jisung that made even his heart, frozen in time, warm with affection.

Jisung placed his jar on the ground and they both watched as the snow seemed to gravitate towards it, as if pulled by a magnet. After a moment, Jisung laughed through his nose and said:

“I can feel you wondering how it’s going to stay frozen.”

“I wasn’t.” Minho lied.

“No?”

Minho didn’t answer and a smile pulled at Jisung’s lips.

“Well, then I guess I have nothing to explain to my non-magical friend.”

“I guess not,” Minho said.

There was a minute of Minho staring at the jar, wondering if Jisung had already tampered with it to keep the snow inside the same temperature, if the incantation he’d breathed into it earlier had done it, or if he had to do it after the snow was inside that Jisung turned towards him with a knowing look.

“Okay, fine,” Minho admitted. “I did want to know how you’re going to keep the snow frozen.”

“Thought so,” Jisung said through a smile. “I already had that jar enchanted to keep whatever I put in it in its original state. So it didn’t necessarily have to be snow. It could have been anything that would have changed naturally at room temperature, but it works perfectly for this.”

“Ooh,” Minho said, looking back in the direction of the jar with obvious interest in Jisung’s magic.

Jisung smiled, unable to keep the affection off his face as he looked at his friend. Then he moved to the nearly full jar and screwed the lid closed with the lid in his pocket and beamed at the contents. 

When they returned inside, Jisung continued whatever it was he’d been working on before it started snowing, but this time Minho sat at the table and kept him company instead of reading through his entire library, as he’d been doing for the past week or so. 

Usually Minho would be asking questions about Jisung’s process or keeping track of his steps, but he was a bit distracted by the way Jisung kept sniffling and trying to hide his sneezes, as if Minho wasn’t occupying the same room as him. 

It was clear he was coming down with some sort of cold, but for whatever reason, was too stubborn to take a break to take care of himself. 

Minho propped his head up on his hand and waited until Jisung looked up at him warily.

“What?” he asked slowly.

“Do you have to finish that tonight? Is it time sensitive?”

Jisung looked around at his work space. “...Not necessarily. Why?”

“Because I was reading earlier and I came across something I didn’t really understand and I was hoping you would explain it to me before I left for the night,” he replied. 

It was a half-truth. He had been reading one of Jisung’s books on astral-projecting and it was vague about whether or not it was a skill anyone could do, or only witches with familiars. From what Minho could understand from the text, it seemed anyone, magical or otherwise, could attempt the skill, some even do it accidentally, but it’s incredibly dangerous. Unless you have something keeping you bound to your physical body, like a familiar, it’s frowned upon. 

But if it could get Jisung to rest…

“Oh,” Jisung said, sniffling again as he glanced at his progress. “I guess I can stop for tonight. Show me?”

Minho smiled and gestured for him to follow. When they got to the library nook, Jisung climbed up first and Minho threw a small pile of blankets at him. He made a small sound of surprise before peeking over the blankets.

“I’ll be right back, I wanted to get something from the kitchen before we get started, is that okay?”

“Course,” Jisung replied, settling in and picking up Minho’s discarded book from earlier. Soonie chirped and curled up on Jisung’s lap. Minho smirked at his little accomplice.

Minho hurried back over to the kitchen and peeked into Jisung’s stash of teas. He made them all himself from the ingredients from his garden and they were all infused with his magical touch. Nothing extreme, not like the draught he watched Jisung make the first time he’d stepped foot in the cottage, but they certainly had a helping hand to play if needed.

Minho sorted through them until he came across a lemon-chamomile tea and a peppermint tea. He racked his brain for Jisung’s words on these teas. If he remembered correctly, either of them would aid sleep, he drank both, but he was pretty sure the peppermint one had healing properties too, so peppermint it was.

As he waited for the tea to steep in the hot water that, thankfully, was already ready in the kettle by the fireplace, he peeked back over at Jisung, who had his nose buried in the book and Soonie still purring loudly on his lap.

When he had the tea ready, he walked back over to Jisung and carefully climbed up to his side and presented the drink to him. Jisung looked up and his eyes widened.

“Peppermint… Minho, you remembered which teas were which?” He asked in a soft, almost disbelieving voice. 

“Of course I did,” Minho assured. “I even put honey in it because you’re coming down with a cold and it’ll help soothe your throat.”

Jisung tried to blink away the tears that were collecting in his eyes and Minho leaned forward on instinct but had to bring his hands back when he realized he couldn’t brush them away like he wanted to. Jisung quickly brought the hem of his shirt up to dab them away and he sniffled again, bringing the tea to his lips.

“Thank you, Minho. This means so much to me.” He said, his eyelids already beginning to droop. 

To Minho’s surprise, Jisung managed to keep himself conscious until he finished his drink but barely a second longer, which he found to be one of the most adorable things that Jisung had ever done.

Minho took the cup and set it gently away from them where it was out of range to be hit and/or broken. And when he leaned back, Jisung’s body dropped onto his. His head resting comfortably on Minho’s chest and his body heat radiating against Minho’s own frigid one. 

And Minho thought that maybe this once, he could indulge in the comfort he so craved from Jisung and hesitantly threaded his fingers in Jisung’s hair. It was impossibly soft and Jisung sighed at the feeling through his sleepy, even breaths.

He stayed like that for some unknown amount of them, just letting their bodies lay together in the lovely, forbidden way he knew he couldn’t let happen again. He would have to be gone before Jisung woke up, but until then, he could have this. 

He could have this.

｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆｡ 

Jisung mindlessly threaded a witches knot symbol into the inner pocket of a jacket. It was for a customer whose son is set to move soon and she wanted to ensure his safe travels. It was the last step in the process which was good because Jisung’s mind was elsewhere. 

He couldn’t stop thinking about Minho. He’d acted strange the entire day he’d been with Jisung the day before, fidgety, distracted, distant. And then, out of nowhere, he stood up and announced he had to leave before basically darting out of the back door and disappearing into the woods behind Jisung’s cottage.

But the really strange thing was that his eyes were completely black. 

And here’s the thing, Jisung spent a lot of his time looking at Minho. He knew things like how his hair was a beautiful, deep shade of umber brown; that he had a freckle on the very tip of his nose, he had huge cat-like eyes, and his mouth set in a slight pout when his face settled into something neutral. So, he also happened to know that Minho’s eyes were usually a distinct dark brown. The color of freshly brewed coffee turned cinnamon in the rare moments Minho found himself in direct sunlight. 

But yesterday they’d been so dark, Jisung could hardly tell where his iris stopped and his pupil began. It was like staring into an inky abyss. Something had been very off. But when he tried to bring it up, casually, Minho only said: “Jisung, I’m Korean. My eyes are just dark. If they look different today, it’s probably just the lighting.” And for a while, Jisung just rolled his eyes and nodded along, but the more he thought about it, the less he really believed that he hadn’t noticed a distinct difference in Minho that day. 

He didn’t have much time to ponder it though because he heard a soft knock on his front door accompanied by a greeting in low register.

“Jisung! Felix is here!” Jeongin shouted.

Shortly after that, Felix’s smiling face greeted him along with a basket filled with baked goods.

“Hey Ji! How’s it going?”

“Hey,” Jisung replied, trying not to let any emotion seep into his voice. “Whatcha got there?” he asked, gesturing to the basket. 

“I brought you…” Felix said, pulling out the sweets as he spoke. “two slices of chocolate cheesecake, a batch of brownies, and a few other things I’ve been workshopping for the menu. I wanted your opinion on them.”

Jisung lit up and grabbed a brownie, “Thanks Lix!” he beamed and then his eyes went wide. “Wait, no, shit!”

Felix tilted his head.

“I forgot to make your elixir! I’m sorry, I’ll do it right now,” Jisung started to scramble to see if he had everything he needed. “And you came all the way up here...” Jisung trailed off with a frown. 

Felix waved his hand. “Hey don’t stress, okay? I have to get going soon anyway, you can bring it to me later or even tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“Okay,” Jisung said, sticking his bottom lip out. Then after popping the rest of the brownie in his mouth he asked, “Well, do you have to go right away? I’ve missed you.” 

Felix giggled. “Aw, really?”

“Really! What’s been going on in the village?”

Felix sat in one of the tall stools as Jisung leaned over the counter. “Chan and Changbin stopped by yesterday.” 

“Oh really?” Jisung frowned. “They didn’t come up here.” 

“Yeah they seemed exhausted,” Felix remembered. “Apparently they had to go three cities over, basically entirely on foot, to complete their ‘Assigned Vampire Elimination’ in Bin’s words,” Felix said in a playful mocking tone, complete with air quotes. “But Channie did something to his machete,” Felix looked up towards the ceiling like he was trying to remember something before he shrugged. “He… broke it? Wore it down? I’m not sure exactly, but he said he couldn’t completely behead the vampire and she almost sunk her teeth into him. Binnie was able to finish the job though before she could get her hands on Channie. And they only had one match left to burn the body, Jisung!” Felix exclaimed, leaning forward dramatically. “Honestly it could have been a disaster, but I guess it worked out.”

Jisung hummed in acknowledgment. “Well, if Chan needs a new weapon, tell him to go into another witch’s territory for it.”

“Why?” Felix asked.

“Because” Jisung whines, “I don’t like enchanting them. I have to use bat bones for the enchantment and, truth be told, I hate using animal parts to begin with, but I hate this spell especially because I have to carve runes into the scapula and,” He paused to shudder. “I just don't enjoy it and, to be frank, my negative emotions make the enchantment weaker anyway. So, he should just find someone else.”

“What about Jeongin?” Felix asked after thinking for a moment.

“What about Jeongin?” Jisung’s apprentice asked, waltzing into the room.

“Speak of the devil…” Jisung muttered.

“Chan needs a new weapon and Jisung said he wouldn’t enchant it.” 

Jeongin seemed to perk up at that information. “Oh, did he,” Jeongin asked, his eyes twinkling like he knew something Jisung didn’t.

“What?” Jisung asked, furrowing his brows.

Jeongin shrugged, then turned back to Felix.

“So I asked if you would do it instead,” Felix finished casually.

Jeongin shook his head with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, but if Jisung said no, I’ll have to pass too. I like it when he oversees any of the magic I haven’t mastered yet, and I’ve never even attempted to enchant a hunter's weapon before, so I wouldn’t be a good choice either.”

Felix shrugged. “I’ll relay the message if I see him again before you guys do,” He said, standing up. “But I do have to get going. I promised Seungmin that I would go with him to an art gallery that recently opened up in town. He’s really excited,” Felix said with a small smile. 

“Have fun!” Jisung called out as Felix headed towards the door.

“Tell Seungmin art is overrated!” Jeongin said at the same time.

Felix chuckled as he waved goodbye. 

Jisung tilted his head curiously at his apprentice once the door closed. “You love art galleries, though?”

“I love teasing Seungmin more,” he grinned.

Jisung shook his head and put the jacket he’d been working on to the side. He’d finish it later, that customer wouldn’t be back until Wednesday anyway. 

He hummed as he worked on getting Felix’s elixir finished, occasionally singing out the parts that he remembered the words to, completely immersed in his own world until a voice made him jump out of skin and his soul ascend. 

“Good Morning, Jisungie!”

Jisung whipped around, hand clutching his rapidly beating heart. Minho’s eyes flicked down to it, then back up to Jisung’s shocked expression with humor painting his face.

“How’d you get in here?” Jisung demanded as Minho leaned against the doorway.

“Front door?”

“I didn’t hear you knock.”

“Jeongin did,” he replied with a small laugh. 

Jisung scoffed and let his hands drop back to his sides as Minho entered the room fully. His eyes were gleaming with delight and, Jisung noted, were back to their coffee-brown color.

“What are you working on today?” He asked, peeking over Jisung’s shoulder after he rounded the counter to hover at Jisung’s side.

“A comfort elixir for Felix,” Jisung answered, moving away from the kitchen. “He brought me some things from his bakery today but I didn’t have the spell ready, so I have to make it now. Actually I’m almost done, but I have to go to my garden for one more thing. Luckily it’s the last ingredient, otherwise I’d have to start over,” Jisung sighed. “Wanna come with?”

“I’d love to,” Minho said.

Jisung nodded and headed out the door. Minho followed wordlessly and stole glances when he thought Jisung wasn’t looking as they walked down the familiar path to Jisung’s garden. Jisung stared at his shoes and ignored the bite of the wind as it passed easily through the fabric of his shirt and numbed his skin. 

They were halfway to the garden and still no words were spoken between them until Minho finally broke the silence. 

“What do you need today?”

“Dew drops from a sunflower petal,” Jisung answered easily, not looking up from his shoes.

He wasn’t upset with Minho, not really, he just wished Minho wouldn’t keep something so clearly distressing a secret from him. Maybe Jisung could have helped, or made whatever it was easier at the very least. 

Minho must have felt Jisung’s disappointment because he stopped walking, causing Jisung to look over at him.

“Jisung, is this about yesterday?”

“Is what?”

“Your mood,” he replied simply. “You seem dispirited today.”

“I… maybe,” Jisung replied truthfully. “I was just worried about you. You scared me after you ran off.”

“I’m sorry, Jisung,” Minho said, visibly deflating. His eyes looked sad. Like they were weighed down by something too heavy for one man. The depth scared Jisung. 

“I’m not upset with you,” he said in a near-whisper.

“Even so, you still deserve an explanation,” Minho said, sighing. He looked away to gather his thoughts before he dove in. “Truthfully, I didn’t feel well. I should have stayed home yesterday but I thought if I didn’t come see you, you would have worried about me. So, I came despite how I felt, but I ended up having to leave really suddenly and that worried you anyway.” Minho confessed.

Jisung studied him. He could tell Minho was holding something back, not giving him the full truth, but there was something in his eyes that begged him, pleaded with him not to push it. 

“Okay, it’s okay, Minho, really,” Jisung said, and he meant it. 

He nodded once and continued walking. Jisung followed after him and shivered as the wind rushed through him, chilling his very bones which immediately caught Minho’s attention. 

Jisung may or may not have forgotten his jacket. Minho frowned. 

“We could always cuddle for warmth,” Jisung joked, shivering again.

Something sad washed over Minho’s face before it settled neutral again and he chuckled. “I’m cold too, not sure if it would help any.”

Jisung reached for Minho and he pulled his sleeve over his hand to allow Jisung to hold it so they could enter the garden together. Minho wandered somewhere off to the left while Jisung made a bee-line to his sunflowers, hoping it was still early enough in the day for them to have dew.

He silently cheered when he saw they did still have dew on their petals and tried to collect as many droplets as he could with his red, shaking hands. He was so cold, how could he forget a jacket or gloves or anything ? It was so close to winter he had no idea how it could have slipped his mind.

When he decided he had enough, he wandered around the garden to find where Minho could have gone. Eventually he found him crouched in front of a bunch of bright blue flowers in full bloom, his eyes wide, like he wanted to take in every inch of them.

Jisung thought he was adorable. Minho truly enjoyed every part of life he could possibly soak in. It was as if he’d been so closed off from anything he might enjoy for years and now, here was Jisung, willing to show him everything there was to his daily life and Minho couldn't get enough. Sometimes that made Jisung sad, and other times Jisung was just happy he had the opportunity to make Minho happy. 

Jisung wanted to give him the world.

When Minho looked up and saw Jisung watching him, he pointed at the flowers. 

“I’ve never seen these before.”

Jisung shook his head. “You wouldn’t have. Those are morning glories, a special kind, they’re called ‘heavenly blue morning glories.’ They only bloom in the morning until mid afternoon, then they close up again until the next day. Every time you’ve been here, they’ve already closed for the day.”

“I really like them,” Minho breathed. “They’re beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful,” Jisung echoed before realizing what he was saying. Then his eyes widened and he closed his mouth quickly.

Minho looked back at him and for an excruciating moment, they were silent, then Minho stood up and smiled. 

“Thank you, Jisung-ah. Though, if we’re sharing secrets, I’ve thought you were beautiful since the day I first laid eyes on you.”

Jisung felt as if he’d been frozen into the ground, his heart stuttering in his chest as if it couldn’t remember its own rhythm any longer. 

“Should we head back? You look like you’re freezing, we should really put on a fire,” Minho continued, beginning to move past him.

Before he could walk all the way past, Jisung managed to grab his sleeve and breathe out somewhat desperately, “Minho!”

He paused and looked over at him, their faces mere inches apart now.

Jisung swallowed. He knew what he wanted from him. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. But he also knew that with the boundaries Minho set, there was no way he could consciously move forward with it, no matter how badly he wanted to close the little space that separated them.

Minho’s eyes lowered from Jisung’s eyes to his lips, then back up. Then he shifted his body so he was fully facing him. Everything was painfully slow, but maybe it was just the cold, maybe it was that Jisung could barely feel his fingers or his nose. But when Minho slipped his fingers in between Jisung’s, there was suddenly a burning fire where his heart used to be. His chest burned from the anticipation. Minho’s hand was soft, so soft, and Jisung wished he’d been more responsible. He wished he could have had any sort of feeling in his fingers so he could register anything other than that. 

Then Minho’s eyes widened, as if he was shocked he was allowed to get this close to Jisung. Then he pulled him closer with another hand on his back and with their lips mere centimeters apart, Minho smiled and said. 

“Jisung, I need to know if it would be okay if I--”

“Yes,” he breathed. “It’s okay, it’s always okay.”

And with that, Minho’s lips were on his, and once again, Jisung was cursing his past self for his lack of foresight because he was so damn cold . But Minho didn’t seem to mind, actually he was about the same temperature as Jisung, if not even colder. Jisung thought that he needed to force him to sit by the fire when they got back to warm up. But it was a fleeting thought because soon his mind was clouded with Minho and only Minho.

The only thing happening in his head now was the feeling of Minho’s hands sliding up his back and through his hair, how his tongue felt as it mapped his mouth, how gently he managed to nip at his lips and how easily he was able to pull a whine from Jisung, the way his smile felt pressed against his lips, how he never wanted it to end. 

Jisung sighed as Minho pulled at his hair to nip at his neck and collar bones. It was so cold from the near-winter air, but Jisung had never felt better. He hoped he would see the evidence later that night. 

“Jisung,” Minho breathed against his lips.

“Hmm?” 

“You need to get warm.”

“I’d rather die,” Jisung said seriously as Minho leaned away from him, smiling fondly.

“Not an option,” he replied, bending down slightly to wrap his hands around Jisung’s thighs and pick him up easily. Jisung wrapped his legs around Minho’s waist and Minho left a few stray kisses against his shoulders as he carried him back to his cottage.

｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆｡ 

Minho walked up the steps to his front door with his head still a little clouded from everything that was Han Jisung. He truly couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact he’d actually been able to kiss him that morning. He thanked all the stars in the universe that they aligned so perfectly for him today and he was able to do what his heart had been yearning for for over a month. 

He’d been a lovesick mess since then, smile stuck on his face, head in the clouds, Jisung on the mind. 

He was still in a daze when he entered his rather dark home and maybe that was why he missed the shifted energy in the room, that the door had been unlocked, and his things weren’t where he left them. Maybe that’s why he didn’t notice the presence lurking in the rather dark corner of his under-furnished living-room space or the lazy movements that allowed something to get so close to him.

“Wow,” a sultry voice echoed through the room. “You haven't done this in a while.” A lean figure appeared and draped against the couch to Minho’s left. He smiled, letting his fangs shine in the light and his long hair tease his shoulders. “And the cute little bestie of the hunter duo who’s already on your trail no less? You’re playing a dangerous game.”

Minho sighed and moved towards the stairs that crawled up the edge of the room. He didn’t want to deal with this today. Couldn’t he have stayed away a few more weeks?

“It's not what you think, Hyunjin.”

“Who was the last one?” He continued, following after him. “God he was cute, you really had him head over heels for you before you finally went for the throat.”

“Shut up Hwang,” Minho growled, turning to pin him against the wall, halfway up the steps. “I told you, it’s not like that this time.” 

Maybe Hyunjin hit a nerve — he was good at that. He liked to do that. If the smirk that crossed his pretty face was anything to go by. 

Minho knew what Hyunjin was doing, and what he wanted from him. He wouldn’t get it this time, though, Minho was no longer interested in the game they used to play.

And maybe… maybe Hyunjin was right… to a point. Minho did pursue Jisung with those intentions at the beginning but that was a long time ago, way before his heart got involved. He had no intentions to harm him now or allow anyone else to get close enough to do so either.

“No?” Hyunjin challenged. “What is it then? Getting lonely?”

“Maybe,” Minho said, pushing off the wall. “You know your company for eternity is starting to make me wish I could die one day just to be free from your constant presence.”

“You don’t mean it,” Hyunjin said, a smile evident in his voice as he came up behind Minho and nipped at his earlobe and kissed at his neck.  

Minho shrugged him off. “Where have you been anyway? Haven’t seen you in months.” 

“Awh were you worried about me?”

Minho hummed in disinterest as he continued down the hallway to the room he claimed. Despite living for centuries, he didn’t own anything of value really, so his room was relatively bare. He was sure if he went into Hyunjin’s though, it would be filled with things from all the years he’d walked the Earth.

“More like wondering if one of those hunters you're always torturing finally burned you alive. It would have been a pity, I always wanted to watch,” Minho said, smirking.

“I’d like to see them try, letting them all in close gives me a thrill you’ll never understand, Min,” he smiled. Then he finally answered Minho’s original question. “But if you must know,” Hyunjin exhaled, flopping onto Minho’s bed. “I was in France. There are so many interesting people in France, and the fashion world seems to have only grown since we were there last. You should come back with me next time.”

Minho ignored most of his statements. He’d only asked where not why. 

“So why are you back in Korea if you were having such a lovely time overseas?”

Hyunjin shrugged and watched Minho walk around his room. “Same reason I always do, home soil always draws me back. There's something comforting about being back so close to home. I can never stay away for good.”

Minho hummed with raised eyebrows as he crossed his room. He’d grown to almost despise coming back here at the end of the day. Jisung’s home was colorful and comfortable and so alive . It was a beautiful organized mess with everything he could ever need in it. 

Minho’s home was dark, dim, void of color or emotion. He hadn’t bothered to decorate it because he wasn’t planning to stick around when he moved in. He hadn’t bought anything for himself in ages because he didn’t see the point in indulging in anything that would make his life feel worthwhile when at the end of the day he was still a monster whose existence relied on harming others. 

But then he met Jisung. Jisung, who he’d only accepted into his life thinking it would be temporary, with nothing but bad intentions until he had a single conversation with him. After that first day, Jisung was like a drug that Minho never wanted to give up. He wanted to be around him all the time, he felt alive for the first time since he’d been turned and he never wanted to let it go. He made everything feel worth it and sometimes Minho wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Because Jisung only allowed him to feel so good because he was in the dark about what Minho really was.

It was conflicting. 

“You’re no fun today,” Hyunjin pouted, falling back on Minho’s bed to stare at the ceiling.

“Actually I was in a great mood before you showed up,” he replied, browsing the bookshelf he had in his room, one of his very few personal items.

“Why? You used to love when I came back around,” Hyunjin winked.

“Yeah well, times change.”

“Clearly,” Hyunjin said, switching to lie on his stomach so he could look at Minho. “I never thought I’d see you romancing a human.”

“I’m not,” Minho said shakily.

“Right, ‘cuz you kiss with that kind of passion on the regular? Be real with yourself, Minho.”

“I am. I’d never damn him to this life,” he said, grabbing a book from the shelf in his room and making a swift exit. 

“So, what? You love him and he lives in a lie until he either dies or finds out the truth?” Hyunjin asked, following Minho down the stairs.

“Yep,” Minho said, only half listening to Hyunjin as he moved towards the fireplace.

“What if someone else tells him? What if he already knows?”

Minho freezes and turns to look at Hyunjin before swiping a match from the mantle and lighting the wood in their fireplace. He didn’t need the heat, but he liked the ambiance. 

“He doesn’t know.”

“And if someone tells him?” Hyunjin repeated.

Minho was quiet for a while before he said softly, “Then it’s for the best.”

｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆｡ 

Jisung decided he really loved the winter. He remembered a conversation he had with Jeongin a long time ago about their favorite seasons and Jeongin insisted his was winter, but Jisung didn’t put much thought into it and said he didn’t have a favorite. 

But he’d decided now, and it was winter. He loved the chill, the snow, the warm and cozy feeling when he finally returned home at the end of the day.

And, maybe it reminded him of someone specific.

He was considering this new-found love of winter as he made his way down to the village. He wanted to go to the bookshop there. Minho had been tearing through his library lately, reading anything he could get his hands on. But Jisung managed to get out of him that he actually really enjoyed thriller type stories, which Jisung didn’t have a lot of. He didn’t have a huge selection of books for pleasure-reading. His work kept him pretty busy. So, he wanted to pick up some new reads for Minho and surprise him later when he came to the cottage.

When he entered the heart of the town, Jisung spotted Felix standing by one of the fruit stalls, chatting with someone Jisung couldn’t quite make out. It wasn’t until the stranger moved, laughing at something Felix said, throwing his head back, exposing his face to Jisung that he realized who exactly Felix was talking to. 

Long black hair, full lips, charming smile, tall nose, sharp jawline, and, Jisung couldn’t tell from here, but he was certain if he got close enough he’d be able to see a distinct beauty mark under his eye. 

That was a vampire , Jisung was certain of it. He’d seen him before. Jisung couldn’t remember his name, but he was the same one that loved to torment Changbin. And his friend never shut up about him and how infuriating he was. The hunters knew nearly everything there was to know about him, the only problem was he loved to tease. He’d get close, show his face, parade around in broad daylight, daring anyone to come after him, only to disappear near instantly when they made a move in his direction. 

Except, Changbin said he hadn’t seen him around in months. No one on the committee had.

But here he was now, charming Felix, flirting with him right in front of Jisung in broad daylight, not a care in the world.

Jisung didn’t have time to think, his heart was beating so quickly. He raised his hand high and shouted towards his friend.

“Hey! Felix!”

Felix turned towards him near instantly, and so did the vampire. He seemed to recognize him though, Jisung could tell by the look of uncertainty that flashed his face. 

“Oh, hey Jisung,” Felix greeted as he got closer. “I was just talking to…” He turned but the other man was gone as if he’d never been there in the first place. Felix knitted his brows together. “Oh…”

“Sorry, was that--” 

“Jisung,” Felix whined, pushing him half-heartedly. “I can’t believe you cockblocked me right now! We met at that art gallery yesterday and I thought I’d never see him again. He was so cute! I get this from Seungmin all the time, but you? I thought you'd do right by me, man.”

“Sorry, Lix…” Jisung managed, looking around for the man. He really had simply vanished though, Jisung couldn’t see him anywhere. “Um, I’ll make it up to you, okay?”

Before he could hear a response, though, Jisung was gone, rushing back the same way he’d come. Every reason for being in the village was out of his mind. He needed to get back home. 

The troublesome vampire was back. Did that mean people were in danger? Should he contact Chan and Changbin? Did they already know? Should he put up extra protections around his cottage? 

There were so many thoughts crowding his head he could hardly think, could hardly breathe. He could feel the anxiety rising from his chest to his throat, choking him, depriving him of air. 

He stumbled through the front door to his cottage and barely took in anything that was happening in front of him. He vaguely recognized Minho standing in the doorway. Why was he there already? He was saying something. Jisung only heard waiting, outside, and Jeongin . Then a distinct Are you okay?

Jisung felt hot tears burn lines down his cheeks and he registered himself shaking his head. Then he was wrapped in a blanket and hugged tight until his breathing slowed. 

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, he was aware of his surroundings again. His breathing came easy again and he blinked up to see Minho’s wide, concerned eyes looking back at him. He tucked his knees up into his chest and buried his face there to hide his flushed cheeks. He still felt the distinct feeling of panic in his chest but he had it under control now.

“Jisung? What... What happened? Are you okay? Really?”

He nodded. “I…” he started, then looked back at Minho seriously. He decided, fuck it. Minho was smart and he always seemed to know more than he let on. Jisung could trust him with this. 

“Minho? You know about the existence of supernatural creatures besides witches like me, right?”

Minho seemed taken aback by the question, but after a moment, he nodded slowly.

Jisung nodded in confirmation. “Alright, well. There’s this vampire that lives around here. I haven't actually seen him in months but let's just say… he’s well known. And when I was down in the village earlier, I saw him with Felix and I got scared. Because knowing they’re out there and seeing my friend…” he trailed off, his eyes brimming with tears again. “I was worried he might be in danger.” he managed to say. 

“Hey, hey,” Minho said, trying to comfort him. “It’s… it’s okay.”

“How do you know that? What if he’s after Felix? What if it wasn’t just casual, Minho?”

“Because, I…” Minho huffed and sat up straighter. “I know he won’t hurt him.”

Jisung huffed an annoyed laugh and said again, a little more aggressively, “How do you know? He could--”

Minho interrupted him by standing up quickly and crossing his arms. Jisung watched him, frozen in pure curiosity before he heard Minho say a little louder: “Hyunjin. Show yourself.”

Suddenly as if he melted straight from the shadows themselves, the beautiful, slender vampire Jisung saw earlier in the village appeared in his home.

“Hiya hyung,” he practically purred. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Leave, Hyunjin,” Minho said in a flat, menacing tone Jisung had never heard from him before. 

“Awww you can have fun but I can't?” he asked with a pout, clearly having a blast testing Minho’s limits. 

Minho didn’t look amused. “Do you want me to give you over to the hunters?”

“You would never!” Hyunjin said, feigning hurt. “You love me too much.”

Minho only glared at the vampire until he sighed and walked towards him, letting his hand slide against Minho's shoulders.

“Fine, I’m on my way.” 

As he passed Jisung, he paused to wink at him with a dazzling smile before disappearing through the doorway.

Jisung took a moment, and stayed turned away from Minho to breathe and wrap his head around what he’d just witnessed. He let himself fall slowly onto all fours as he realized that Minho knew that vampire. He listened to Minho. Minho… no… he couldn’t…

“Jisung,” Minho started and Jisung whipped around, tears dripping from his eyes like traitors.

“You… you’re…” 

Minho just looked sad, resigned to Jisung’s anger and fear. 

He couldn’t find it in him to consider Minho’s emotions or motivations right now. He stormed forward and grabbed Minho’s wrist, waiting with bated breath for a pulse that never came, for warmth that was absent from his body. 

He threw down his hand and stared up at him in disbelief. Jisung shook his head and stepped away until his back hit a wall. He could feel his expression go stoney. He felt his jaw set and his eyes harden when he said, “Get. Out.”

Minho didn’t protest, he didn’t explain, he didn’t do anything. That only angered Jisung more for some reason he couldn’t explain. He felt betrayed. He wanted him gone. If he wasn’t going to say anything, he didn’t need to be here at all. Jisung didn’t want to look at him. 

“Lee Minho,” He said, his voice shaking from emotion. “Get. Out. Of my home.”

It was only after Minho studied him for a second longer, lowering his head in respect for Jisung’s decision, that he turned and walked out the door, same as Hyunjin had done mere minutes earlier. Jisung slammed the door shut behind him. And it was only once Minho was gone, and Jisung’s house was quiet and empty, that he slid down the very door he’d used to separate himself from Minho and let his sobs wrack his body. 

And for the first time since their souls had been bound, Soonie didn’t come to his side.