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His life had always been this way. Cloudy sky, dilapidated houses with as many patches as his clothes, fights in the streets, and even more violence behind closed doors. He had carried a knife on him since he was seven, but he was used to this. He was used to being in the rough part of town. Changbin had known nothing else.
It didn’t bother him that the guards were always weary of him and the others around him. They were seen as less than. They were the scum of the slums. It was a way of life, breaking bread and drinking beer with anyone from criminals, cultists, prostitutes, thieves, and con artists, and of course, never asking questions.
He fell right into his father’s footsteps, there wasn’t really another path for him. His father had run the seedy tavern in town for as long as he could remember, and now he did the same. He served drinks to whoever dared to walk through their doors and he broke up bar fights almost daily. He was used to the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the tavern; there was never much sunshine on this side of the city.
Which is probably why the guy had looked so out of place. He was a wood elf and he smiled, white teeth bright enough to blind as he skipped into the tavern, going right up to an orc sitting against the wall. Changbin knew the orc had a history of violence, a long list of deaths under his name.
“Hello!” The smiley elf said. “You look like a nice guy.” The wild fangs, blood stained shirt, and huge eye scar begged to differ, but the elf just continued. His long, waist length white hair shifted over his shoulder as he leaned in closer. “My friends and I are trying to solve the murders of those teenagers that died by the docks and a possible tiefling that might have something to do with it. Do you know anything about that by chance?”
His friends looked like the sort to end up in this tavern. A big minotaur, muscular guy with a pet vulture, a warforged that was downright strange to see, a woman with a dog that looked well trained and a bow on her back he was certain she could do some major damage with. Then there was the immediate trouble maker of the group. Another bulky guy, a human like himself who looked like he was once a soldier, but now he was marching up to his bar, pulling out a gun and aiming it right for Changbin’s chest.
“You seen a tiefling around here lately?” The guy started, cocking his gun as he spoke.
It was hardly the first time someone tried to intimidate him with a weapon. He huffed out a breath of air and shrugged. “Seen plenty of tieflings roaming around this side of town, you’re going to have to be a little more specific.”
The woman came up beside the man, pulling at his arm. “What are you doing?”
“Asking questions, getting answers, hopefully.” The man said when the minotaur started coming up beside him as well.
“We didn’t need to ask like this!”
Changbin was good at watching more than one thing at a time. He was practiced at it, always needing to be aware of his surroundings. The wood elf was being glared at with the intensity of fifty volcanoes by the orc. He hadn’t actually said anything to the wood elf though, apparently thinking the other would figure it out and leave him alone.
“Oh, you don’t know anything? That’s okay!” He was smiling again. “Thank you anyway! I’m sure you’re a great guy and would help if you could! Appreciate you!” He giggled and turned back around, gasping as he saw his bulky friend pointing a gun at Changbin. “Jeongin, what are you doing?”
“Why do you all have to question me?” Jeongin, the bulky man grumbled, but Changbin was grateful for the distraction. There was only one other person who worked at the bar with him, Seungmin, a halfling that made some questionably fresh food in the back. He also doubled as backup, since no one usually knew he was around. Seungmin must have heard the commotion because he had snuck out from the back, his bow aimed and ready with an arrow. The first shot whizzed past Jeongin’s head.
“That was your warning, the next one won’t miss!” Seungmin yelled and the gun was moved from Changbin’s chest, pointing down to Seungmin now instead.
“Did you just fire at me?” Jeongin yelled.
“Enough of this!” The minotaur grabbed at Jeongin, pulling his arms back and starting to drag him out the door.
Changbin had to resist rolling his eyes as the guy kicked and tried to break free. “Let me go! I still have questions for him!”
“Oh, I’m so sorry about him!” The wood elf was suddenly in front of him. “Are you okay?”
He blinked, not knowing what to really make of this entire scene. “Fine.” He answered blankly.
“Thank goodness... Sorry about him, he’s a little shoot first, ask second.” The wood elf laughed.
“Felix, come on!” The woman yelled into the building as they kept pulling Jeongin from the bar. The other wasn’t going down easy, grabbing at the door frame and ripping chunks of it off.
The wood elf, who must’ve been named Felix, looked back, grimacing as he saw the damage being inflicted to the building. “Sorry about this...” He looked back, golden eyes sparkling. “I know! Let me make it up to you.” The wood elf leaned over the bar and before he knew what happened, their lips were connected. Changbin was flustered for the first time in a long time as Felix pulled back with a grin. “See you!” He giggled and turned, skipping back out of the place. “And sorry about the door!”
Changbin blinked and watched the wood elf disappear from view.
“What a bunch of idiots.” Seungmin said, grumbling as he made his way back to the kitchen. He couldn’t say he didn’t agree with the halfling, but he also couldn’t help touching his lips, feeling himself get red in the cheeks before shaking his head. He needed to get back to work.
***************
The second time they arrived was more violent than the first time. Jeongin was hell bent on questioning him this time. He grabbed Changbin by the shirt, heaving him up over the bar. Changbin still didn’t flinch as he yelled his questions about murders, cultists, and thieves. He didn’t give them much, honestly he didn’t know much. Part of his job was to not ask questions. Anyone could come to his tavern, he didn’t discriminate or worry about who they were. As long as they paid and nobody died, he didn’t much care.
It only got worse when his friends showed up again. They started fighting amongst themselves, Seungmin sending out some more arrows as the minotaur tried to wrestle Jeongin out of the building once more. Jeongin wasn’t having it though, firing off shots that had Changbin dodging. He ducked behind the bar and his eyes went wide as Felix came crawling around the corner of the bar, trying to get behind it. Instantly his guard was up, ready for an attack, but instead the wood elf held out an empty hand.
“Come on! Sneak out with me. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He said and Changbin blinked at him, confusion sinking into every part of him.
“What?”
“You’re too cute to get messed up in this stupid fight. Plus, I already kissed you, I can’t have you getting killed by my overzealous friend.” Felix said and he couldn’t hold back the smile that spread on his face.
“You’re adorable, but I’ll be alright. I’ve lived to tell the tale of a million bar fights. This one won’t be any different.” Changbin said, peeking up over the bar to see they had gotten Jeongin mostly out of the building again. He could see guards coming up by the door too. Great . He hated guards. “Looks like it’s over anyway.”
The two of them stood up and the damage was much worse this time, the door handing off the hinges, two tables smashed on the floor along with some chairs.
“What happened here?” One of the guards walked in, coming up to Changbin.
“These idiots were fighting. It’s nothing.” He said, not wanting to involve the law as much as possible. “Just tell them to pay for the damages and it’s fine. Tell them they’re never welcome back here either!”
“Alright.” The guard said, clearly not caring much and going back out to the group outside.
“Can I come back here?” Felix’s voice was soft from beside him. The corner of Changbin’s mouth turned up as he glanced over to the admittedly gorgeous elf. His pale skin and freckled cheeks were as charming as he was. In his own strange way.
“You can, but don’t friend your big friend.”
Felix grinned. “Thank you, thank you!” He leaned over, lips pressing to Changbin’s cheek before he ran off again. “See you later!”
****************
Weeks went by with no sign or words from Felix after that. He wasn’t really surprised. The wood elf hadn’t exactly known him for long and it seemed like he was busy, trying to solve murders or find a cult or something. At least that’s what he got from the questions Jeongin attempted to ask him. He found himself hoping that the elf was okay though. It was a bit odd for him, he had never cared much about anyone’s well being, but Felix had been like pristine snow laying across the land before anything had touched it. He seemed pure, sweet in a way Changbin hoped he could stay. Something in this world should remain untainted. Just one thing.
The notion was convicted in him even more when he came back to the tavern and found a letter waiting for him.
“That wood elf guy dropped it off while you were out.” Seungmin said. “Didn’t bring his troublesome friend though, so I let him in.”
Changbin nodded. “Thanks.” He said, taking the letter and a candle to his bedroom behind the main tavern room.
Dear my cute bartender,
I’m sad I missed you. There’s been a lot going on lately. We found some thieves and this merchant lady. There’s some crazy demon mask we are supposed to get. We still can’t figure out what is going on with the murder of those kids. So many things, it’s almost hard to keep up with it all. Haha. I’m trying though. I want to help. I know it might sound silly, but I’m really happy I’m getting stronger. I spent so many years just... standing aside. Do you know what I mean? Maybe you don’t. That’s okay too. I just... I liked you as soon as I saw you. I hope you don’t mind me leaving you this letter and telling you about so many things. You were just on my mind. I hope there haven't been too many fights at the bar. You have to stay safe! I’m making sure I stay safe too. I have to keep me and Jynnie safe. That’s my cat. I found her in an alleyway, but we’re best friends now. I wonder if you have any pets? Hm, so many things to find out about you. Well, I’m running out of paper, even though I could say so much more. I’ll say the most important things and then go. Stay safe, be well, and see you soon, I hope.
-The adorable Felix.
Changbin couldn’t help the smile that went from ear to ear.
****************
It was another few weeks when Felix appeared in front of him again. “Hi honey!” He grinned as he skipped into the bar. He had a golden retriever at his side, a scraggly gray cat on his shoulder, a white kitten in the big pocket of his shirt and a black cat at his heels who jumped up onto the bar stool in front of the wood elf as soon as he made it up to the bar. “I got more pets.” He laughed. “Did you get my letter before?”
“I did.” He smiled. There was no one at the tavern yet. It was too early and the two of them were alone in this place that was far too dinghy for Felix’s beautiful smile.
“Oh good! Well, this is Jynnie. I told you about her in the letter.” He pointed at the black cat. “Then we went to a pet shop and the guy was selling these guys, so I bought them. This is Louis.” Felix pointed to the gray cat on his shoulder. “Then this is Shiro.” The white kitten popped its fluffy head up from the pocket. “And this is Yongbokkie.” The golden retriever wagged her tail as soon as her name was said. “Aren’t they all so adorable?”
“Just like their master.” Changbin said, unabashedly flirting just because he could.
Felix’s cheeks turned red, only making him cuter. “Thank you... I came to show you them, but also because I’m going to be gone for a bit.”
“Oh?”
The elf nodded. “We met with a wizard and he needs some help. We’re going to take a boat to these forests where some magic mushrooms or something grow.” He laughed. “I’m not exactly sure, but we are going to try to get this magic sword and bring it back to the wizard. He’s going to pay us a lot of money if we get it. There’s still the mask somewhere too. We can’t find it. It’s been possessing people... please be careful, okay? I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I should be saying that to you. You’re chasing this thing and the sword adventure doesn’t sound much safer.” Changbin said.
Felix tilted his head back and forth. “I suppose neither are very safe, but I’ll be careful. I’ve gotten a lot stronger. I even killed our last enemy! She was trying to escape but I got her with my dagger right before she could. Unfortunately that set the mask free again though...” He laughed nervously. “I didn’t know that would happen though!”
Changbin reached out and took one of Felix’s hands. “I don’t think blood should ever touch these hands.” He said. “But if it must, just don’t let it touch your heart, okay?” The line was more sentimental than anything that had ever come out of him, but this elf was special. He had captivated him even if he didn’t know why.
The elf smiled at him, nodding gently. “I only did it because she hurt my friends. I... once I wasn’t strong enough to protect someone I cared about. I don’t ever want to have that happen again. So, even if I’m not the strongest. I’ll try my best. I've been learning new spells and I’m going to keep getting stronger.”
Changbin nodded. As he stared at the wood elf he understood that want to protect like he never had before. “Just be careful.”
He grinned. “I haven’t gotten hurt all that much. I did get stabbed, but it was my own fault protecting this guy, and I fell down a trapdoor in a stage. That hurt.”
“Who stabbed you?” Changbin asked, eyebrows furrowing.
“My friend.” The elf only laughed louder. “He was going for an enemy, but I didn’t think the guy deserved it, so I jumped in front and got stabbed instead.”
“Don’t do things like that!” Changbin scolded. “Some enemy idiot isn’t worth that!”
Felix just giggled and shrugged. “He didn’t deserve it though.”
“Neither did you!” Changbin sighed. “I hate your friends.”
More laughter hit his ears. “They’re a bit wild, but they're good people once you get to know them more. Don’t worry. I won’t get stabbed again.”
“You better not.” Changbin said, shaking his head.
“I have to go though. We are going to search the city for the mask one more time before we look for a boat to get on.” Felix said. “Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone.”
He just hummed, unable to fully admit that he would miss the elf. It was strange how much his thoughts went to the other these days. “Come back safe. Visit me once you return.”
“I will.” Those freckled cheeks lifted as he got to the door and waved. “Bye bye!”
****************
Changbin expected weeks to go by without seeing the wood elf after that. A boat journey would take quite some time, but instead the other was stumbling into his tavern later that same day in the middle of the night. He was about to close up, the last customer teetering on his way out. He had the keys in hand, ready to lock up, when a bloodied hand grabbed onto the door handle. He looked up, a waterfall of long white hair draped over Felix’s face, obscuring it from view. The elf’s shoulders were trembling and just a second later, his legs gave out. Changbin caught up, pulling him in close.
“Felix? Felix?” He asked, fear shooting up his spine. The elf’s cats and his dog followed inside as Changbin carried him into the tavern, picking him up and laying him right across the bar. As his hair fell away it revealed the state of him, clothes torn, blood splatters littering various places across his body. There were scorch marks on his sleeves and the bottom of his pants had been burned. The worst of it was the blood soaked circles, one on his thigh and one on his shoulder. “What the hell happened?”
“The mask.” He muttered out. “When we went to search the city after I left here, we found people in a warehouse. They all had a limb cut off, different ones. The mask had possessed this halfling and taken them. Then we chased it, going around the city. We found a guy headless, then we caught up. The one it possessed was trying to cut more parts off of its next victim.” Felix coughed and Changbin scrambled to get him a glass of water. He sat up enough to drink it, thanking him softly for it. “We fought the one possessed. They were really strong... We did win though.” He smiled.
“At what cost?” Changbin said, sighing as he was pulling back the elf’s clothing enough to see his wounds. Thankfully, they weren’t that deep.
“If that mask is free, so many more people will die.” He said. “Now we gave it to the wizard. It’ll be kept safe and no one else will get hurt.”
“But you got hurt.” Changbin said.
Felix nodded. “That’s alright. I’ll live.” He looked over to Changbin. “I have a cute bartender to get back to.”
“Yes, you do.” Changbin said. “We should take you to a cleric for healing.”
“I can heal myself once I rest.” The elf said. “I can’t do any more spells until I’ve rested. My energy is too low.”
Changbin didn’t love that answer, but he nodded. Realistically trying to move him and find a cleric at this hour would probably put him in more pain. “You should’ve gone to where you’re staying to sleep then. Why spend the energy to come all the way here?”
“I just... really wanted to see you.” The words were a soft whisper. “Can I sleep here?”
Changbin softened instantly and nodded. “Come on.” He picked the elf back up, carrying him gently to his bedroom and laying him down on his bed. The other moaned in relief as soon as he was resting on the soft furs Changbin had on his bed.
“So much comfier than the bar.”
He chuckled softly. “Get some rest, I’ll watch out over you.”
Felix shook his head, reaching back and tugging Changbin’s hand. “No, come lay down with me. There’s no one going to bother us now. The criminals are busy and the drunks are already asleep.”
Changbin hesitated before giving in. He gently curled up behind the elf, placing a protective arm carefully over him. “Goodnight.” He whispered as he wondered how he had ended up here. Not that he was complaining, no, he was happier than he thought he had ever been.
When morning came, his bed was completely crowded. Felix’s dog had curled up against the elf’s tummy. The white kitten was asleep in the crook of his neck, the black cat tucked itself into a ball behind Changbin’s legs and the scraggly gray cat was directly on top of them, cradled between their pressed together thighs. He laughed even as he sneezed. He figured he could never admit his cat allergy to Felix, but a lifetime of sneezing seemed worth it if it meant he got to wake up to this.
The wood elf looked so peaceful, relaxed face gracing him with beauty he didn’t know if he was worthy of seeing. He didn’t know how long went by as he watched the other sleep, but eventually those eyelids fluttered open to reveal the other’s captivating golden irises.
“Good morning.” He whispered and Felix smiled.
“Morning.” He said before moving, making his face contort as he groaned loudly. “Healing spells. Ugh. It’s time for healing spells.”
“Yes.” Changbin agreed easily.
A few spells later, the wood elf was moving freely once more. He smiled, skipping around the tavern and hopping onto a bar stool. “Thank you for everything.” He said.
“I didn’t do much.” Changbin countered.
The elf hummed softly. “You did more than you know.”
“Would you like some breakfast?” Changbin asked, changing the subject because he wasn’t really the best at accepting gratitude or compliments.
“Yes please!”
They ate together, talking more, bonding more. It seemed like with every sentence Changbin fell for him harder. Which is why he hated it when the elf finally looked at the door.
“I should get going. My friends are expecting me.”
“Must you?” He found himself asking, unable to help it.
Felix looked back, smiling softly. “I must. There’s things and people that need my help.” He stood up and leaned over the bar, just like he did that first day they met. “But I promise, I’ll always come back to you.” Another kiss was pressed to his lips, but he didn’t freeze this time. He reached up and laced his fingers into the long and silky white hair. Their kiss lingered, taking in the moment and savoring it as they molded their lips to one another’s.
“You better. You’ve promised.” Changbin said, looking into those golden eyes, trying to memorize every detail of them.
“I will.” He said.
*****************
Felix was gone for over a month after that. Apparently deciding to still go on his journey by boat. So much time flitted by after that. Sometimes days between his visits, sometimes weeks, or months, but he always came back, just as he promised. He tried not to worry, often succeeding, but when six months went by with not even a trace of the wood elf, Changbin couldn’t stop the fear that crept up his throat. He couldn’t help the nightmares or his urge to ask patrons at his bar if they heard anything about an odd group with a minotaur, soldier, warforged, rangers, and a wood elf, his wood elf.
He would get pieces, tales of a great battle between the thieves guild and a cult, but nothing more. He started to hear whispers of the warforged and minotaur being seen in another city. He started trying to save money, wanting to take a boat and go try to find them for himself. The overhead of the tavern was more than one would expect though. Enough money was hard to come by because he couldn't afford to close down without a chunk of money saved up.
He started to consider selling the tavern when nine months had gone by. Maybe it was time to leave this all behind. He committed to the idea by the ten month, unable to resist the call to find his wood elf any longer.
So with nothing but a backpack, his sword and his shortbow, he got on a boat and left the only place he’d ever known. The oceans were beautiful, the sights of the shorelines and cities amazing, but none of them could compare to the golden eyed elf that had stolen his heart. He docked with the rest of the passengers on the boat in the city he had been told to go. It was huge, but he was grateful when people knew of the Minotaur and Warforged he was looking for. It took him a while, but he made his way through the maze of streets and arrived at an inn he was told Felix’s friends were staying in.
He stepped inside and the Minotaur saw him, recognizing him right away. “You’re the bartender from before, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’ve been looking for you. Well, for Felix.” Changbin said, praying the next words from the Minotaur weren’t his worst fears.
“Felix... he—.”
Changbin’s stomach turned. “Don’t tell me...”
“No!” The other insisted. “He isn’t dead. He just... isn’t exactly living either.”
His brows furrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Come with me.” He said. “I’ll show you.”
Changbin swallowed the lump in his throat and followed the other up the stairs of the inn. He opened a door and lying in the bed was Felix. He was on his back, pristine, almost like a painting he was so still. His footsteps were cautious as he approached the other. When they touched, his skin was cool and unnatural. His chest didn’t move, but he didn’t look like a corpse. “I don’t understand.”
“He’s been cursed. He is frozen in that state, neither dead nor alive.”
Pain clenched through his chest. He grabbed onto the other’s hand and pulled it to his cheek as emotions he had never truly felt before bubbled up in him. “What can we do? How is the curse undone?”
“We don’t know.” The minotaur answered. “We’ve tried many things, but none have worked.”
“We have to keep trying.” Changbin said.
The minotaur hummed. “Do you love him?” He asked and Changbin nodded.
“I do. It's strange and I don’t know why, but I’ve fallen for him completely. I sold the tavern, I left the world I’ve always known behind and came here just hoping to find him. I don’t want to be without him.” Changbin admitted.
“Then we have to keep trying.” The other said. “A curse always has a way to break it. We just have to find it.”
****************
Time didn’t stop. Months turned into another year of his life gone as he worked tirelessly to break the curse upon his elf. He had settled his issues with Jeongin and gotten to know all of Felix’s friends. They had picked up another along the way. A group of six now. Jihyo, the ranger woman, Minho the human with the vulture, the minotaur was Chan, the warforged was Minhyuk, and their new friend was a bard named Jisung. The elf had been right, they were good people once he got to know them. They worked beside him just as hard. All of them studying and doing all they could to find the way to bring the wood elf back to them.
He was deep in the forest now, looking for the kingdom of the wood elves. He had decided finding more of Felix’s kind might give him more answers. They would know the most about their own biology, afterall. The trap net that sprung around him shouldn’t have been a surprise, really. He was hoisted in the net up into the air, hanging from a tree and finding six wood elves with arrows aimed at him just seconds later.
“State your business!” One of them yelled.
He sighed. “I come in peace.” He answered. “I come seeking knowledge for one of your own kind. He’s been cursed and I am trying to break that curse to free him. I’m hoping you might be able to help me save him.”
“Drop your weapons down here in a show of good faith.” One of the elves said and he followed the command easily. His own safety had become even less of a priority over the last year. Whatever risk or danger he faced didn’t matter. He would do anything to find the way to break this curse and if he died trying, well, there wasn’t much he could do about that.
He was lowered shortly after and freed from the net. “Thank you.”
“Come. You can meet our healer. He would know the most about these matters.” The head elf said and he nodded, following their lead into the elven kingdom of the forest.
The healer looked young, but Changbin knew enough about elves to know that looks could be deceiving. “Hello, I’m Hyunjin.” He said.
“I’m Changbin. I hope you can help me.”
“Yes, I’ve heard some of your troubles. Tell me of this curse.”
He detailed all that he knew. How the elf had been cursed by a cultist wizard they fought and all the things they had tried to break it. The healer took in all of the information, listening intently to everything before speaking.
“If all of those things have not worked, then it is a curse of emotion.” Hyunjin said.
“What is that?” Changbin asked.
The elf leaned back in his chair. “You said the wizard was a wood elf as well, yes?”
“Yes.”
“There is an ancient curse only known to a small number of wood elves by this point. Most have lost sight of the knowledge about it. In general our kind is peaceful and the interest in such things as curses is low. However, in our history there were once elves of our kind that mastered powerful and very strong curses. One was this kind, a curse of emotions.” The healer said.
“How do they work?” Changbin asked.
“The caster of the spell channels their own emotion, the stronger the emotion, the stronger the curse. Whatever emotion was used to fuel the curse, often angry or hate, must be outmatched by the opposite emotion, such as love or joy.” Hyunjin said. “If hate was used to cast it, you have to break it by channeling love stronger than that hate into the one who’s been cursed.”
“So my love has to outweigh their hate?” He asked and the elf agreed with a hum.
“Exactly. As you are human, you will need something to channel your emotions into him.” The healer stood up, gracefully walking across his room and digging around through his shelves until he found what he was looking for. The elf came back with a light pink crystal in his hand. “Take this, channel your love into his chest and if it is enough, his heart will beat and the curse will break.”
“What if it’s not enough?” He whispered, fear seeping into him. “We don’t know each other that deeply... we haven’t had that much time together. There’s been so many things in between us.”
“You have come this far.” Hyunjin said. “Haven’t you? You said you left your life, you’ve looked for answers for over a year. Is that not the actions of love? The amount of time or information, the things between you both, those things don’t determine how deeply one can feel.”
“You’re right.”
“Emotions don’t need reason, information, or time when they’re pure. They will do the impossible, even with very little.” The elf smiled. “Give it your all and I believe you can break the curse on him.”
He prayed the other was right. He held the crystal close to his chest and put all of his hope and love into it. This had to work. Their options were wearing as thin as their hope. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
******************
Every day of his trip back to Felix was spent focusing his love into the crystal. He remembered every moment, no matter how big or small between the two of them. He put his all into it, focusing without wavering on his journey. The city came into view and he tried to keep his doubts and worries out of his mind. The path to the inn was routine now, his feet finding it without problem. Felix’s friends were there and he told them of what he learned from the other wood elves.
“Are you going to try it now?” Chan asked.
“Yes.” He answered, looking up the stairs where he knew his elf laid still. He steeled himself, ascending to the second floor and making his way to Felix’s room. He opened it with the key he kept around his neck. So much of his money had gone to keeping this room for the elf, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered more than putting life back into his love. The three cats, all full grown now, were laying with their master. His dog between his feet, using the elf’s ankle as a pillow. He smiled and remembered the morning when they woke up together. He wanted his mornings to look like that for the rest of his life.
So he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The animals peeked their eyes open to see who was there, but calmed right away. They were totally familiar with him by now. He had become their master as much as Felix. Plenty of his money went to them as well, feeding them, cleaning them, keeping them happy and healthy for when their owner came back to them. He prayed it would be today.
Changbin sat beside the elf and looked at the crystal, kissing it gently. “Please, bring him back to me. He promised he’d always come back to me.” He took a shuddering breath and placed his hand on his love, the crystal cupped between his palm and the elf’s chest. “I love you, Felix.” He said. “I loved you the moment you walked into my tavern. When you smiled at that orc, when you kissed me and apologized for your friends, when you left me that letter, when you came to me battered and bloodied from battle. I loved you more every time you waltz through my door and reminded me that there’s sunshine in the world. So, please.” He whispered. “Please come back to me.” Tears came to his eyes and they fell down his face, dripping onto his hand and he was getting scared, the moment hanging for what felt like too long. Would it not work? “Felix, please...”
The inhale was loud, rivaled by the thumping of a heartbeat. He gasped, relief flooding him. The animals stirred as the body they snuggled twitched and moved for the first time in two years. Eyes flutter open, revealing gold more valuable than all the coins in the world. Felix blinked, shaking his head a bit, trying to acclimate when their eyes met. “My cute bartender.”
The words were gravelly, choking the elf slightly, but the smile was smooth, easy, and even more beautiful than he remembered. “Felix.”
The elf laughed softly, joy clear on his face. “Where are we? Why are you here?”
“You’ve been under a curse for two years.” He explained.
“What?” He gasped, trying to sit up. Changbin grabbed him, carefully helping him up.
“Easy. You haven’t moved in a long time.” He said and the elf nodded. “We’re in the western city. I came after a year had gone by and you hadn’t returned to me.”
“What about the tavern?” He asked.
Changbin waved his hand. “Sold it. I needed the money to come and find you.”
Suddenly there were tears brimming at the elf’s eyes. “Why... why would you do that?”
“Because I love you.” He said. “I fell in love with you faster than I know what to do with, but here we are. It’s how I broke the curse.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was a curse of emotion. The one who cursed you was full of hate and used that to fuel it. I had to beat it with the love I have for you.”
Felix smiled wide, cheeks going red. “I knew you were my soulmate the moment I saw you. I didn’t know why, but I just knew it.” He said, looking down at his hands. “Maybe that’s why I never even asked. I didn’t need to know when your soul spoke to mine so loudly.”
“Never asked what?” He was confused.
“Well, my cute bartender, I still don’t even know your name.” He answered, face glowing red and he shyly covered his mouth.
Changbin let out a laugh loud enough to shake the whole inn. The healer had been right. It didn’t matter how much information you had, how much time you had shared, or what things were in between you. If it was pure and true love and emotion, well, it would shine through anything. “It’s Changbin.” He said. “My name is Changbin.”
“My cute bartender Changbin.” Felix said, grinning widely. “My soulmate, Changbin.” He said, sitting up and their arms pulled them in, wrapping each other up close.
“My silly sunshine boy, Felix.” He said, nuzzling into the elf. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He giggled. “Forever.”
“Forever.” He answered, knowing nothing less would do. He needed a lifetime to study his favorite subject, Felix, the sunny and silly wood elf who skipped into his seedy tavern and brightened up his gloomy heart.
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