Work Text:
There were two boys, two children so inseparable that their mothers would joke they were two halves of one whole, and maybe they truly were. Where one went, the other always followed closely behind, whether it was to run off into the sprawling grassy fields filled with wildflowers and shimmering butterfly wings or crawling into the attic to uncover hidden tales of the past; they did everything together. Until they didn't, until a strange man draped in layers of brown robes appeared claiming Yunho had special powers . Mingi didn't understand why he felt the need to tell Yunho's parents their son was different; surely they knew that already. Everyone was well aware that his Yunho was extraordinary. The man's visit shouldn't have changed anything about their lives, yet it did. Suddenly Yunho was gone, whisked away to begin his Jedi training, and Mingi was left behind, without his other half to lean on.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
The hallway was eerily quiet compared to the usual buzz that always seemed to encompass the Senate office building; unfortunately for Yunho, it meant there wasn't anything to distract him from falling victim to his own thoughts. He quietly cursed under his breath as he wiped his sweaty palms on his tunic. What in the galaxy was he thinking when he volunteered to be Senator Song's escort? Did he do so out of a sense of duty to the republic or because, upon hearing the name Song Mingi, his mind filled with images of the boy who would chase after butterflies, the bright-eyed boy who cried every time he scraped up his knees, the boy Yunho had once so desperately yearned to protect with all his might? Deep down he knew it was the latter, that some selfish, greedy part of him just wanted to see Mingi once again, even if he wasn't his Mingi anymore.
He took a few moments to pull himself together before rapping his knuckles against the durasteel doors to the senator's office. The door opened with a quiet hiss, revealing a spacious, dimly lit room and, with it, the man who has been plaguing Yunho's mind for the past week.
“Ah, welcome, did you come to brief me on tomorrow's departure?” Mingi inclined his head. His tone was cheerful yet distant and polite; it made Yunho's heart sink. He berated himself for being such a fool that he dared to hope; it has been twenty years since they’ve seen each other; of course Mingi did not remember him.
“I did.” He bowed to silently greet the man sitting behind the large hardwood desk. “I know I could’ve sent you a holo message, but considering the time we will be spending together, it felt too impersonal,” he explained. “My sincere apologies if that’s overstepping your boundaries, Senator Song.”
“Ah, don’t be silly.” Mingi waved his hand dismissively, the deep purples of his blouse shimmering under the artificial light. “I’ve never had such a considerate bodyguard before; I’m actually quite flattered.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Yunho smirked. “However, I’m travelling with you as a representative of the Jedi Order and a diplomat first and foremost.”
“Oh, I’m sure the separatists present at the gala will see you for the peacemaker you are, General Jeong.” Mingi snorted without any of the grace and poise of Senator Song; it was as if his carefully crafted mask had slipped. Yunho was so preoccupied with analysing Mingi’s body language that he hadn’t realised Mingi called him general, not only to point out the hypocrisy of the peacekeepers serving on the front lines of a galaxy-wide scale war but also to make fun of Yunho's self-assured manner of speaking.
“You’re making fun of me,” he grumbled and watched Mingi cross the distance between them with swift measured steps, his cape trailing behind him.
“I wouldn’t dare.” Mingi grinned; Yunho suddenly became flustered without the room separating them, his ears turning crimson.
“What are you doing?” Yunho asked when he saw Mingi pull out a small droid from his pocket.
“Taking your measurements.” Mingi shrugged as if it explained everything.
“What would you need my measurements for?” Yunho furrowed his brows and blinked a few times, not understanding the man’s intentions in the slightest.
“For your evening attire, we don’t have nearly enough time to create you a new one, but we’re roughly the same height, so a few slight alterations should be enough.” He tapped a finger against his lips with a thoughtful expression, and Yunho couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on Mingi’s pillowy lips for a few seconds.
“I’m grateful for your thoughtfulness, but I have more than enough sets of Jedi robes to take with me –”
“Oh, I’m not doing it out of the goodness of my heart.” Mingi interrupted him, “My pride and integrity are on the line, so I’m not about to let you accompany me wearing that appalling shade of brown.” He scrunched his nose and jabbed a finger into Yunho's chest, which was covered with robes in the shade he clearly considered distasteful.
“It’s not that bad,” Yunho pouted, “and besides, I also own cream-coloured ones.”
“That doesn’t make them look much better,” Mingi rolled his eyes. “A pretty face like yours deserves pretty clothes to complement it,” he said matter-of-factly.
Yunho's thoughts came to a screeching halt, and a dumbfounded expression formed on his face. Mingi called him pretty. Yunho never cared much for his appearance, but the fact that the compliment came from Mingi made his heart beat a little faster than usual. “Right, uhm, I suppose if you consider it necessary,” he sputtered awkwardly.
“Excellent, we have a deal then.” Mingi flashed him a smile so dazzling it made Yunho melt; he desperately needed to work on keeping his composure around the senator, otherwise he was going to end up in an early grave.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
Even after Yunho left the senatorial office building far in the distance, his ears still felt as though they might fall off any second, and his rosy cheeks weren’t helping hide just how flustered he was either. Yunho has never been one to shy away from physical contact, yet when it came to Mingi, a simple graze of the other man’s fingers against his arm and he was behaving like a lovesick fool. Yunho supposed he should’ve expected it; after all, Mingi has affected him in ways others could not, even when they were children.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
The flight to Alderaan was, contrary to what Yunho feared, quite uneventful; Mingi barely even talked to him apart from greetings and questions concerning the standard procedure. He spent the entire time chattering away to his aide, leaving Yunho to focus on piloting the ship. Although their tranquil arrangement ended as soon as they set their foot onto the landing platform, Mingi didn’t bother wasting time admiring the picturesque scenery of the lush green forests and snow-capped mountains around them; instead, he promptly dragged Yunho into the room which had been assigned to him.
Yunho awkwardly shuffled his feet as he watched Mingi rummage around in his various luggage, no doubt searching for the evening gowns, jewellery and makeup he was going to apply. “Senator, I believe you don’t need me to stand around and watch you prepare for the evening; I wouldn’t want to invade your privacy.” Yunho said, his traitorous brain completely blanking at the mere thought of seeing Mingi shirtless.
“This is not for me.” Mingi gestured to the pile of evening gowns thrown over the small sofa. “I'll dress later.”
“For your aide then?” Yunho asked and glanced at the young man, who raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Did you already forget?” Mingi snorted. “I promised you I’d bring you something to wear for the occasion.”
“Of course I didn’t forget,” Yunho protested, his tone slightly defensive. “I just thought you were joking,” he mumbled.
“Joking!?” Mingi gaped at him. “I’d never joke about matters as serious as this.” He dramatically clutched at his chest for emphasis.
“I still don’t think it’s necessary,” Yunho pouted.
“Of course you don't.” Mingi waved his hand dismissively. “Now go try this one on.” He shoved a pile of clothes into Yunho's arms and shooed him off behind a changing screen.
The outfit was simple, with flowy light grey pants and an asymmetrical shirt in a slightly darker shade. Yunho found he liked it, but Mingi didn’t seem to share the sentiment if the frown on his face was anything to go by.
“No, that won’t do.” Mingi shook his head.
“Why not?” Yunho frowned. “I like it.”
“It doesn’t accentuate your legs nearly enough.” Mingi huffed, “They're so long and gorgeous it would be a crime not to show them off.”
Yunho was so taken aback by the comment he couldn’t even muster a response before Mingi gave him yet another set of clothes, this time more ornamental with silver embroidery on a deep blue fabric.
The pants clung to his narrow hips, flaring out just below, drawing attention to how long his legs truly were; he couldn’t help but feel mesmerised at the way the soft fabric shifted with his every move. The top, however, didn’t thrill Yunho nearly as much as the pants did. It was in the exact same shade of deep blue with matching silver embroidering, but the fabric was translucent, not to mention the neckline, which had long lost the right to be called a neckline because it ended just above his belly button. It was gorgeous with its careful hand stitching and a cut which complemented the pants, but it made Yunho feel so naked; the Jedi robes he was accustomed to wearing were made of several layers of linen fabric with a high neckline; he'd never worn flimsy or revealing clothes.
Yunho carefully stepped from behind the changing screen, only barely resisting the impulse to cover his torso with his hands. “Listen, I don’t think this –” he gestured towards the fabric or lack thereof while pointedly staring at his own shoes, “is appropriate for a gala full of politicians.” He glanced at Mingi, expecting him to have an exasperated or annoyed expression, instead the senator's mouth was hanging slightly open as he was blatantly ogling Yunho's exposed chest.
“Oh wow,” he muttered, eyes now drifting towards the lean muscles on Yunho's stomach.
Yunho awkwardly cleared his throat; he wasn’t used to receiving attention. People typically looked straight through Jeong Yunho and at the Jedi knight they wanted to see, but not Mingi; Mingi was staring at him. “Should I – should I change into something else?” he stuttered.
Mingi’s gasp sounded so offended that if someone heard it, they’d think Yunho just cursed his entire bloodline. “Don’t you dare; it’s perfect,” he narrowed his eyes. “Now come; come. I’ll give you the cape and do your makeup.”
Yunho blinked. “Isn’t a cape a bit too excessive?”
“You think so?” Mingi pouted, his expression turning so sulky. Yunho genuinely felt a pang of guilt course through him.
He sighed in defeat. “I’ll wear it with the cape.” Upon hearing that, Mingi’s face immediately lit up with excitement, he started tugging him towards the cushioned loveseat next to the large window. To Yunho's shock, instead of beckoning him to sit next to Mingi, the senator patted his lap. “Senator, I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I’m the one suggesting it, aren’t I? Besides, I’ll get the best view of your face this way.” He shrugged, sounding completely unaffected by the reality of a Jedi knight sitting in his lap. However, his body language betrayed him; this up close, Yunho could feel how taut his muscles were, he could almost feel the heat radiating off of the senator's crimson cheeks and nape.
“You’re trembling; is something wrong?” Yunho asked, concern lacing his words.
“Just-” Mingi placed both of his hands on Yunho's hips. “Stop wriggling around so much.”
“Ah, uhm, I’m sorry,” he apologised hastily.
After that it was Yunho's turn to wait until Mingi got dressed, but instead of lounging about the room like Mingi suggested, Yunho spent the entire time pacing the hallway like a caged animal. Being this close in Mingi’s proximity was already enough, but to have the man unabashedly flirting with him at any given opportunity was making his brain melt away, and if he was going to do his job properly as the senator’s escort, he needed to be alert. His resolve to pay attention to things and people other than Mingi crumbled the very second he saw the man step out of his room. His silver hair, which perfectly accentuated his sharp features, was falling onto his forehead and brushing against the neckline of an evening gown. It looked deceptively simple at first glance, a long white dress with a matching snow-white pair of pants, but when the senator turned around, Yunho was taken aback by the open back, which was lined with delicate lace and pearl details.
“ Gorgeous, ” Yunho breathed out in awe.
“The dress or me?” The senator tilted his head with a sly grin.
“Why not both?” Yunho flashed him a sweet smile, which caused Mingi to giggle.
“Oh, so you do know how to flirt,” Mingi teased, and Yunho rolled his eyes in response.
“Maybe I do; maybe you just bring it out in me, senator.” He mused, “Now let’s go; we wouldn’t want to be the last guests to arrive.”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
Senators, monarchs and governors from every corner of the republic and even a few separatist planets came to discuss various concerns during a week-long string of conferences. The welcome gala which was hosted in the Aldera Royal Palace was already in full swing, with politicians gathered around the tables decorated with jewel-toned flower arrangements. Yunho steered clear of the crowd, opting to stand in front of the window overlooking the palace gardens below and the mountain-scape on the horizon; that way he could keep his eyes on Mingi without having to mingle with the politicians. He was grateful for the outfit Mingi made him wear because unless someone noticed the lightsaber hilt hanging from his belt or recognised his face, they wouldn’t come to ask him any questions about the Jedi order nor try to sweet-talk him into revealing secrets about the inner workings of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Watching Mingi blend into the crowd and socialise with the other senators made his heart swell and sink simultaneously. He was proud of the career and the connections Mingi managed to build, but it also made him realise that he truly no longer had a place in Mingi's life. Deep down he was already aware yet unprepared to face the truth. Suddenly the room felt all too stuffy, his head started spinning, so he swiftly made his way towards the staircase leading into the royal gardens. He didn’t feel any imminent danger, and if something were to threaten Mingi, he could rush back in time to protect him.
With a heavy sigh he slumped against the pristine white wall near the churning fountain, reaching into his pocket for the small handmade pendant he always kept with him. Despite the rule that Jedi weren’t allowed to have possessions, it wasn’t uncommon for members of the order to have their own little trinkets, memorabilia from the planets they visited, beads and headdresses symbolic of their culture or even colourful ribbons; yet this pendant was something he kept secret from everyone. The pendant symbolised attachment; it symbolised his bond to the crying boy who gave it to him, the boy who clung to Yunho, promising they’d reunite one day. And reunite they did, although not as the two small boys wished; he wasn’t Mingi’s other half anymore; he was just a mere stranger passing through his life, which made his chest tighten painfully.
“You still have it,” a quiet voice heavy with emotions said behind him.
“Of course I have it,” he scoffed, offended that someone dared to even doubt his loyalty, soon irritation shifting into disbelief when he finally realised who was talking to him. He turned to face Mingi, who was no longer wearing the confident mask of Senator Song; Yunho had never seen him resemble the small boy who clung to him more.
“I saw how surprised you were when we first saw each other in the office, and I thought that maybe you do remember, but then you were so formal…” Mingi drifted off without finishing his sentence.
“Why didn’t you ask then?” Yunho furrowed his brows.
“I was scared,” Mingi admitted. “I was so scared you’d say you don’t remember me.”
Yunho put his hands on Mingi's shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. “I could never forget you, not even after millennia apart, not even if someone ground me into stardust,” he said with conviction.
“What holo-novel did you get this line from?” Mingi teased, but his smile was so bright and relieved it made Yunho's heart melt.
“The deepest pits of my heart.” Yunho grinned at him.
“Let’s take a stroll around the gardens, shall we?” Mingi outstretched his hand, and Yunho wasted no time in interlocking their hands together as if they’d done this a million times before.
They walked until they reached a quiet nook in the gardens, far away from the constant chatter, only the magnificent rose bushes and the star-lit sky keeping them company.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Mingi spoke up. “I’ve dreamt of this so many times in the past twenty years,” he admitted.
“I had no idea you were such a fan of the Alderaanian palace gardens.” Yunho raised his eyebrow.
“You know I’m talking about our reunion.” Mingi rolled his eyes. “I missed you like I was missing a piece of myself; I needed to see you again at least once in my life –”
“I’m sensing a ‘but’ incoming,” Yunho frowned.
Mingi sighed and squeezed his hand so hard. Yunho almost flinched. “But I’d hate to ruin your future as a Jedi for me. I would never forgive myself for taking away something so important from you.”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Yunho said, pressing his forehead to Mingi’s. “I’ve never been able to let go of my attachment to you. Even if you decide to walk away, my feelings won’t change; you’ll always be my other half, Mingi.” Yunho sounded so desperate, so pathetic, but this might be his last chance to tell Mingi how he felt about him. “I won’t hold a grudge if you leave, Mingi, but I need you to know –” His words were interrupted by the feeling of a pair of soft lips against his own; Mingi was kissing him .
“You’ve always had your way with words,” Mingi panted before leaning in for yet another kiss, this time slower and more deliberate. Yunho felt the myriad of emotions pouring from Mingi; each and every one of them was making their force bond stronger, connecting them in such a way that they really might be two parts of one whole after all.