Park Seonghwa's Home for Displaced Downworlders - Chapter 10 Excerpt
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Mingi sighed, rolling his eyes and settling further into the chair. His limbs were a little too long and shoulders too broad to fit comfortably but he made do. Or, tried to. It took less than ten minutes before he was wriggling.
“Hyung, if Seonghwa went to the trouble of giving us a feather in the first place, remind me why we have to sit on a stuffy train for two hours when we could be back already?” He whined.
Hongjoong bristled, remembering the exchange as he’d been getting ready to leave. Seonghwa had run up to the two looking as close to dishevelled as someone afflicted with chronic perfection could get, insisting on joining them on their mission. They had received a number of reports of Sihyuk sending scouts out to the various places Wooyoung was alleged to be escaping the country from – Busan being one of them. It made the trip all the more dangerous, if they were to run into any of Sihyuk’s goons, both Hongjoong and Mingi would be recognised instantly. Hongjoong had retorted that they could take care of themselves, that they didn’t need Seonghwa’s help. The warlock’s expression had crumpled and Hongjoong’s internal tug of war had festered on. Guilt. Anger. Guilt. Anger. Guilt. Anger. Quickly, though, Mingi had placated the warlock, distracting him with warm jokes and reassurances. When he had pulled Seonghwa into a goodbye hug, the latter melting easily into the familiar embrace, Hongjoong had felt a different kind of anger begin to bubble. Finally, Seonghwa accepted that they would go alone, but not without shoving the feather into Hongjoong’s hands.
Take it, please. He had implored, eyes round and wide. I just want you to be safe.
Hongjoong had mumbled a reluctant agreement and trudged out, not allowing himself a single look backwards as he had tucked the feather, soft as silk, carefully into his pocket.
“It’s for emergency use only, Mingi. Besides, you know how much energy he uses up producing these, if we went around using them for every little trip he’d have no magic left!” He griped.
Mingi’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Thought you didn’t care about him anymore?”
Shit. Walked face-first into that one.
“I don’t.” Hongjoong stared resolutely out of the window.
“You’re a terrible liar hyung.”
A long pause filled the air before Hongjoong sighed, resigned. “I know.”
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