Chapter Text
Cheonhee opened his eyes to the pale morning light filtering through the thin paper windows. As bought his arms overhead in a stretch, a familiar shadow cast from outside his room greeted him. He swung his legs over the edge of the oak bed frame and groggily made his way to the door.
For the past week, this ritual had become a part of his morning routine: waking up, open the door, and finding three gifts neatly placed on his doorstep. Today was no different, except for a distinct faint metallic scent that tinged the air.
He slid the door open, and sure enough, he was greeted by the sight of three gifts lying neatly on the doorstep. However, the scene bore traces of an unseen struggle. Shallow scratches marred the wooden floorboards, and a faint smear of blood trailed along the doorframe. Cheonhee raised an eyebrow.
“Again?” he muttered, shaking his head with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
He bent down to inspect the gifts. The first was a small, elegantly wrapped box with a crimson ribbon, the second a simple brown crate, and the third a seemingly handmade bamboo-woven basket. Cheonhee picked them up, noting the scuff marks and small divots left along the edges of the wooden crate which seemed only further indicative of a conflict of sorts.
A he bought the gifts inside, Cheonhee couldn’t help but chuckle as he imagined the altercation that must have played out in the hallway the night before.
~
Out in the hallway, under the dull luster of moonlight Halyun and Hyeon stared at each other, each carrying their respective carefully wrapped gifts. They exchanged quick glances which quickly turned into narrowed eyes and clenched fists.
“You’re here early,” Hyeon remarked, his voice deceptively friendly.
“Tch, give up- my gift will surely outdo anything you can get your hands on,” Halyun replied, his grip tightening on the wooden crate.
"What? A wooden box?" Hyeon shot back, tilting his head to the side with feigned innocence.
Without another word, they both sprang into action. Halyun wasted no time. He spun on his heel, his leg sweeping low in a vicious arc. Hyeon’s feet were yanked from beneath him, his balance lost. As he toppled, Halyun lunged, his fist a blur as it shot towards Hyeon’s ribs. A thin trail of blood lined the wall.
Halyun's hand darted forward like lightning, aiming for Hyeon’s shoulder. But Hyeon was faster, dropping low just in time. He launched a fierce kick, the force of which could have shattered bone, but Halyun twisted out of reach. The kick whistled past, grazing Halyun’s sleeve before slamming into the ground with a thunderous crack, sending shards of stone flying.
"Tsk..."
"Hmpf."
Just as the tension peaked, a faint rustling from beyond the doors froze them in their tracks. The room, heavy with the scent of sweat and blood, suddenly felt still. Without breaking eye contact, they straightened, brushing off the dust and smoothing their robes. Silently, they placed their gifts side by side, each nodding with a curt acknowledgment before stepping back, the air still crackling with the remnants of their clash.
~
Moments later silent footstep made their way to the front of the gifts. After a moment's silence Cheonwoo smirked, stacking his own present on of the other two.
"Hmm, looks just about right. No matter how I see it, you should see mine first." Cheonwoo left with a petty smirk and stifled hum. A playful bounce in his step.
~
Back in his room, Cheonhee's eyes widened as he carefully unwrapped the first gift. It was basket filled with of rare medicinal roots, incredibly difficult given the recent climates up north- even as the young master of the White Dragon Clinic.
The second gift was a winding patterned bracelet and matching earrings, however given the nature of the gifts thus far, Cheonhee had no doubts their abilities far outshone their impressive design.
He opened the third gift, revealing a sleek new set of acupuncture needles, intricately carved and assuredly worth a fortune. Cheonhee sighed.
“They really have too much time on their hands,” he muttered, despite himself, a small smile played on his lips.
As he admired the gifts, he couldn’t help but feel a little grateful for the chaos outside his door. It wasn’t every day that one woke up to find not only valuable presents but also evidence of martial arts expertise right outside their door. Unknowingly a proud smile found it's way to his face.
Cheonhee let out a light laugh, setting the gifts aside. He should really organise an offical meet up with the three of them soon- although, he noted, they already seemed plenty close.