A/N: Repost from Wishful Daydreamings on my other blog.
You lay quietly in bed, listening to the soft music playing from your phone. His head lay on your stomach, his fingers feathering lightly over your hip just beneath your shirt. Hongbin hummed along to the music sometimes, fighting his sleepy state in favor of spending quiet time with you.
You gently raked your fingers through his hair, making it straighter or messier as you saw fit. “Your hair is soft,” you mumbled. “It’s fluffy.” Hongbin chuckled, enjoying the soothing feeling of you combing through the delicate strands. “I like it when you play with my hair,” he said.
You glanced down at him, noticing his eyes were closed. “It makes you fall asleep, apparently,” you mused. He snuggled against your belly, muttering into your shirt. “It feels good.”
You continued playing with it, swiping his hair over to cover his forehead, and then swiping it back again. Eventually you opted for running your hand up and down his back. Hongbin reached behind him, taking your hand and putting it back on his head. You laughed, “You’re such a child.”
This is kind of a crack fic with some cute seriousness stuff thrown in.
Prompt Used and Credit: “I just want them to talk about me. The way they talk about everyone else.”
“You don’t think they talk about you?”
Credit: @dialouge-prompts
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Everything was irritating. He was pretty sure the people surrounding him could feel his anger and jealousy radiating off him like the Korean god Mireuk. He tipped back the shot glass and slammed the glass down for the bartender to fill his glass again. The laughter was like poison to his ears and he squeezed the glass in his hand. “I’m going to kill him.” His friends were embarrassing him and chatting to his crush about events that should NEVER be spoken of in public.
They laughed together again and Hongbin quickly stood from his stool and was about to march over until Y/n stepped in front of him with a smile. “Binnie. You’re a little drunk.” They grabbed his face to snap him back to reality and bless him to dismiss the wrath of Mireuk. (Not really but a drunk thought is fun to imagine right?) He took in a deep breath and took the look of defeat. “Let’s get you home.”
The next day was a splitting headache and hardly any memories of last night. But he knew his friend was cooking because the smell was amazing! “Hey Hongbin. How did you sleep?”
“Terribly.”
“Figures. Hey, sorry about last night. Y/n told me that you looked like you could beat me to death. I was also a bit drunk and was spilling anything and everything.” The roommate plated the food and sat across from Hongbin. “If it makes you feel any better, they were too. So, they probably won’t remember anything about the conversations.”
Hongbin felt relieved but tensed up when he noticed that he was wearing different clothes. “Wait. I wasn’t wearing this last night.”
“Oh yeah. I saw Y/n take you home, so they probably changed your top for comfortability purposes. You were in a suit after all.”
Hongbin cringed at the thought of sleeping in something like that again. “I’ll have to thank them…again.”
His roommate eyed him from the rim of the glass he drank from and calmly placed the glass down. “You know, Y/n has been hanging around you a lot more now.”
“I never noticed. I mean, I did…but I thought nothing of it. Why bring it up?”
His roommate glared at him. He’s stupid isn’t he. “I do remember one thing from the conversation last night with that one girl you like.”
Hongbin felt a small warmth take over his cheeks. “Yeah?”
“She mentioned about liking someone.”
His stomach twisted with butterflies. Maybe…
“It’s a girl. She’s a lesbian.”
Hongbin deflated but was happy that she could be happy with someone she likes. He only liked her for a short while. Not enough to fall hard. “That’s why she’s always criticizing other women and their looks and whether or not she would date them. I thought she was bi.”
“You seem to be taking this rather well.”
“It’s very rare to meet people part of the LGBTQ community here.” His roommate agreed and finished up their meal together before heading off for the day.
Hongbin massaged his neck as he exited the office to head home. “I should probably call Y/n.” He waited as the ringer started…and started…and started…
‘Hello! You have reached Y/n! Please leave a message with your name and number and I’ll try my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.’
Hongbin hung up after leaving a short message about wanting to meet up again soon and went about his business.
He finally arrived home for the day and was met by his roommate panicking at a drunk Y/n on their couch. This was the first time Y/n ever got drunk…
“Help me man. They just showed up at the door like this and started yelling about how stupid they are and grabbed another can from our fridge. They’re such a mess right now. Fix this or I’ll up your half of the rent.”
Hongbin shuddered at that and cautiously walked up to Y/n. “H-hey Y/n. You should probably put the drink down and take a shower.”
“Huh? Binnie? What are you doing at my house?”
“This is my house.”
“No wander everything looks different. You have crappy decorating skills.” They flopped onto their back on the couch and took another sloppy swig of the drink. They placed the can on the coffee table and covered their eyes.
“You okay?”
They sighed and rolled over onto their sides to stare at the television show. “Say. How is it going with that crush of yours?”
“Oh. She’s a lesbian. I don’t have a chance.”
“Hm. Disappointing. Unless you go for a sex change.”
“Y/n!”
They giggled and Hongbin nearly doubled over at the tickling feeling in his gut. “I’m joking. You’re fine just the way you are. I feel sleepy.”
“You can sleep here if you want.”
He watched as they slid their eyes closed and he laid the throw onto of them to keep them away from the night chill.
“About time.”
Hongbin sighed and went to recycle the can. “Yeah. This is the first time I’ve ever seen them this drunk. I wander what happened for them to resort to that much drinking.”
The roommate chuckled and grabbed them a water. “Not for me. They’ve been here a couple of times while you’ve been away on business trips or just out.”
“Say…why is it that when they laugh, my stomach twists and I feel like I could pass out?”
The roommate just stared at him. “Is this the first time you felt this way?”
“No. I feel this way every time they laugh. It’s been going on for quite a while.” Hongbin laughed. “It’s not like I fell for them, right?”
“Hongbin. Do you like Y/n?”
Hongbin knew he was blushing like crazy. “Is it that obvious?”
“No. If I didn’t know, that means no one knew. You’ve always been good about hiding your feelings from everyone.”
“What? I thought you knew?”
“I thought you liked that girl!”
“Well, I kind of did…but I was just trying to get Y/n out of my mind.”
“Why? Why the hell would you do that?”
“Well, I just thought- “
“You’re so oblivious.”
“I just want them to talk about me.”
“They do talk about you.” His roommate was about to go insane.
“No. I want them to talk about me like they do everyone else. With a spark in their eye.”
“You don’t think they talk about you? Okay. I guess I’ll tell you. All those times they came here drunk off their ass, you were the one they were always talking about. In fact, they were so jealous of you liking that one chick that Y/n kept you from talking to them last night.”
“Ummm What?”
“They like you, you idiot!” The roommate quickly covered their mouth when Y/n groaned and sat up.
“Why are you so loud?” Y/n stretched their arms and reached for their temples to rub them. “I should probably go before Hongbin sees me like this. It would be embarrassing to would definitely tarnish my reputation with the man I love.”
They froze up when they saw Hongbin sitting across from his roommate with a shocked expression. “L-Love?”
“Um. Uh. N-No? You were here?”
“I thought you just liked him. But you LOVE HIM???”
Y/n glared daggers and the roommate quickly shut their mouth up. “Right. I’ll be in my room. Goodnight!”
“Ugh. Listen Binnie.”
“I do too.” Y/n knew they were blushing a tomato red now as Hongbin continued. “I have been for a while now. Since Graduating high school actually.”
“THAT LONG?!” They quickly ducked and grabbed their aching temples.
“Yeah. I was just waiting for the right moment.”
“It’s been far too long for that right moment Binnie. You had PLENTY of moments actually.”
Okay…they’re mad at me for taking so long. “S-sorry? Listen, I just didn’t think you liked me that way. You always treated me like a best friend.”
“You idiot. You were the only one I was treating that way to. I’m just not that good with romance stuff. So, it’s very hard for me to convey feelings through actions and words.”
Hongbin smiled and approached them and grabbed their shoulder. “That’s what I love about you Y/n. You’re you with flaws that make you the perfect you.” He leaned down and kissed their forehead. “Now, how about we actually get you into a nice warm bed for you to sleep comfortably on with some painkillers and water for you to wake up to? I’ll sleep on the couch for tonight because you’re still a little drunk.”
They laughed nervously. “This is embarrassing. I never thought you would see me drunk.”
“Yeah? My roommate told me all about the times you came here when I wasn’t. Drunk on your ass and ranting about your feelings for me.”
“THEY TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT?” They watched Hongbin nod. “I’ll kill him! Ugh. Never mind. I’ll do that tomorrow after I get rid of this damn headache”
Hongbin chuckled and picked them up to take them to his bedroom. “Goodnight Y/n.”
KDA In Excelsis: Ch19
(The King’s Avatar AU, CEO!Hakyeon, Gamer!Hongbin, VIXX x OCs )
Character Charts [x]
Hana entered the tent bar and gaped at the sight of Choi Sooyeon and Kim Minah, each clinging to one of Hongbin’s arms.
Before she could say anything, he cried: “This isn’t what it looks like!”
“No?” she raised an eyebrow.
“No!”
“Really... because it looks like they’re being annoying drunks and won’t let you leave.”
“Oh...” Hongbin nodded. “Then it’s exactly what it looks like.”
Sooyeon giggled, waving a fist to punch his chest, but ended up smacking him in the throat instead. “Uh-oh, you’re in trouble.”
Hongbin coughed, glaring at Sooyeon, then turned back to Hana, frowning. “You know what, I don’t have to explain anything to you.”
“I didn’t say you had to,” Hana sighed, walking to the tent bar lady to place an order. Suddenly, she heard him call from behind.
“Wait!--I don’t have to but I want to.”
Hana looked over her shoulder and met his gaze, both of them not saying anything.
Sooyeon broke the silence: “O-M-G, could you two like--fix your issues in private?!”
“We could have, if the two of you would stop clinging to me!” Hongbin shouted.
Hana walked over to the group, but before she could do anything, two dashing, well-dressed men burst into the tent bar at the same time. Hakyeon and Taekwoon attempted to elbow each other out of the way as they rushed to the table.
“What are you doing to Sooyeon?” Hakyeon screamed in an accusatory tone.
“What are you doing to Minah?” Taekwoon yelled at the same time.
“It’s obvious that they’re the ones who are doing something to him!” Hana cried, standing before the two men, her hands planted on her hips.
The two CEOs glanced at Sooyeon and Minah clinging to Hongbin, then bowed their heads sheepishly. “Oh, right...” Hakyeon murmured.
“Get your women off of me!” Hongbin demanded.
Hakyeon gulped, before launching into a rapid spiel: “Umm, well, she’s not really my woman, that is--I’m here in my capacity as a CEO who’s concerned for an employee...”
Pale skin flushed, Taekwoon stammered: “P-P-Preposterous, that’s so improper, didn’t you learn any manners--”
“These sempais are so useless sometimes...” Hana rolled her eyes, then spun around to stare down Sooyeon and Minah. “Are you two really not going to let him go??”
Sooyeon immediately released Hongbin and latched unto Hakyeon, nuzzling against his shoulder. “Hakyeonie!!”
Hakyeon gulped again. “Hakyeon...ie?”
Hana tapped her foot as she returned Minah’s scowl, without blinking. Finally, Minah wobbled away from Hongbin. “Pft, you deserve to sweat a little more for what you’ve been doing.”
Hana rolled her eyes again. “And what exactly is it that I’ve been doing?!”
Taekwoon had been hovering close to Minah, and stabilized her with a hand on her elbow. She looked at him, then her eyes closed and she fell against him.
He caught her, murmuring softly: “Kim Minah, are you... awake?”
“No.”
He blinked. “No?”
Her eyes still shut and her body limp in his arms, she said: “My friends told me to pretend to sleep when something like this happens.”
“Something like... what?”
“She means when a man she’s interested in helps her when she’s drunk, duh!” Sooyeon cackled, thumping at Hakyeon’s chest lightly with catpawed fists. Then she shook her head, swinging a catpaw at Taekwoon who was becoming redder by the second. “Aww, it’s really obvious that you’re a rich boy who inherited being CEO and didn’t earn it. You don’t seem very smart--eek!” She nearly fell when Minah pounced on her.
Minah yanked at the ends of Sooyeon’s scarf. “You take that back!”
Sooyeon managed to push the other woman away and hid behind Hakyeon, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Hakyeonie! I’m scared!”
Hana found herself stumbling a little when Hongbin shoved her behind him as Minah tried to lunge for Sooyeon again. “Weren’t you supposed to be asleep?” he snapped.
Minah paused, the wheels in her head almost visibly turning, and then she fell into Taekwoon’s arms again, making him turn so red he looked ready to burst.
“Princess, here you go! I cooked fresh tteokbokki for your order.” The tent bar lady arrived with three containers of tteokbokki.
Hongbin snatched it, up and away of Hana’s reach, and paid for it with his free hand. Taking the old order of tteokbokki, he dumped it on Hakyeon. “You dispose of this, because this was your woman’s waste.”
Leaving Hakyeon to blubber his protests, Hana and Hongbin walked out of the stall and were met by Mingyu, BamBam, and Yugyeom, all pouting at Hongbin.
“You ditched Mom and us so you can hang out with two other women?!” Mingyu shrieked.
Leaving Hongbin to complain on his own, Hana took one of the tteokbokki boxes and shared it with Yugyeom and BamBam, walking away.
Behind them, Mingyu was howling: “Explain!”
“I don’t have to explain to you and I don’t want to explain to you.” Hongbin retorted, following them.
There was a scuffle and a choked rebuke from Hongbin when Mingyu caught him in a headlock and dragged him on the way. “Explain!”
“He’s like a violent puppy!” Hongbin groaned.
“Yeah,” Hana agreed. “I think he takes after you in that regard.”
Hongbin scoffed and Mingyu shoved him away, both of them yelling: “No way!”
BamBam looked them up and down, before declaring: “Yes way.”
You closed your eyes in pure delight, melding into Hongbin’s body further as his arms encased you. Your own slipped around his waist, linking your hands together as you rested your head on his chest.
You felt warm and very safe.
“You always seem your happiest when I hug you,” he mentioned with a chuckle, his hand rubbing lightly at your back.
You sighed contentedly. “I’ve never met someone like you.”
“How so?”
“Handsome, witty, caring, I love it all. Your hugs though…” you trailed off; burying yourself further into him, if that was at all possible.
Hongbin scoffed. “My hugs are the only reason I’ve kept you interested this long, Y/N?”
“Mm,” you replied, smiling and pecking at his clothed chest. You then rubbed your cheek up and down gently on him. It was a heaven and you were certain that Hongbin’s hugs could cure any stress, and possibly the common cold too. You wondered, slightly deliriously, if you should attempt to find this out when you were next unwell.
Your irrational thoughts were interrupted when he pulled his arms away, gently prying you back. You whined childishly, clinging onto him more tightly. “Don’t let me go!”
ooooof CAN I HAVE A HONGBIN where reader isnt feeling too good bc of stress and the reader is being comforted by hb? just pure flufffff 🥳🥳🥳😘
Here you go my lovely!!! I hope it’s okay!!! Thank you so much for your request!! -Mimi
You were focused on the paper in front of you, staring blankly as your mind was in overdrive. You didn’t noticed Hongbin come into the room, despite him knocking and calling your name. His gaze softened as he stood at your side, noting that you’d still not noticed him, seeing that you were trembling slightly and the faint hint of perspiration on your forehead. He placed his hand gently on your head, petting your hair softly. It took a few moments but when you finally noticed him you let out a small noise in surprise.
“Ah, Binnie.” you looked up at him from your seat, brows furrowed in a sad frown.
“What’s up? You seem unwell.” he asked, still petting your head, his other hand brushing against your cheek briefly as he tilted his head. You let out a long sigh, rolling your shoulders.
“I’m just stressed.” you admitted after a dramatic pause. Hongbin shook his head and grabbed your arms, leading you out of your chair. “Binnie? What are you doing?” a small smile graced your lips as he beamed at you, cheeks dimpling.
“You need to chill out, Y/N.” he started, pulling you into his chest as he wrapped his arms around you. “So let’s have fun, okay?” He pulled away from you to look at your face as he asked, a sincere and gently smile stealing your breath away. You nod as he pulls you out of your study and into the living room. “What’s your favourite thing to do when you don’t have any work to do?” he asked his hand falling from your arm, only to lace his fingers with yours. You looked mildly surprised, he was really going all out to help you destress.
“Hey! How are you getting perfects when I’m doing exactly the same and only getting goods!!” Hongbin complained, a laugh in his voice as he tried his best to beat you at Just Dance. You loved playing this game and it showed, he didn’t win a single song. “Wow, you’re so amazing at this!” he praised, breathing heavily as he grabbed a bottle of water. “You really enjoy that game huh?” he asked after a few gulps of water, grinning happily at you. You nodded, a shy smile forming on your face. “You want some water?” he offered you a bottle before you could answer. One of the little ways he made sure you were drinking enough was just handing you a bottle or glass, or leaving it by your side on your desk. He probably didn’t think you’d noticed, but you did. And every time it warms your heart. Your smile grows wider as you beam at him, eyes full of adoration as you gratefully take the bottle.
“Thank you, Hongbin.” his face twitched, not that you noticed as you relieved your dry throat, his cheeks tinged with pink at the pure sincerity in your voice as you thanked him, using his actual name to show just how much you truly meant it. You let out a sigh as the water quenched your thirst, startling Hongbin from his stupor.
“Um, what do you want to do know, Y/N?” he asked turning so you wouldn’t notice his flustered expression. You hummed in thought, as Hongbin set about turning the game off and putting everything back in its place.
“Maybe we could go get cake?” you posed, turning to face him.
“Ah, from that one dessert place you always go to?” you nodded,
“Ah! W-wait how do you know I always go there!?” you squeaked upon realising what he’d said. You often went there even though you tried to not eat too many sweet things too often. But you were sure you hid the evidence. Hongbin laughed,
“When you come back smelling like sweets, have ice cream on your top or taste like cake when I give you a kiss it’s pretty obvious.” he pulled you to him again, kissing your lips softly, “Besides you said the other day when we walked past that they had great cake.” he winked before heading towards the door to grab his jacket. Your face was red as a tomato as he handed you your jacket, chuckling all the while.
“Binnie, don’t laugh it’s not funny!” you huff in frustration, pouting as he simply pulled you to him and kissed your forehead.
“You’re too cute Y/N. You’re so fun to wind up.” he added as he locked the door behind him.
“Meanie.”
“And would you like to try our couple’s shake? It’s on the house, just pick your flavour!” the cheery waitress chirped, having taken down their orders already. Hongbin nodded, and turned his attention to you,
“Sure, Y/N you like (fave flavour) the best right?” you grinned nodding happily, you knew Hongbin wasn’t a massive fan of things like a shared milkshake with silly straws for couples to sip from at the same time, but you also kind of hoped he’d indulge you this once. As you waited for the waitress to come back, Hongbin made sure your mind didn’t wander to the things that had been piling up the stress at home. He took your hands in his, your attention snapping to his face, smiling cheekily at your shocked face.
“B-Binnie?” you asked trying to will the blush away from your face.
“Y/N I had a funny dream last night.” he began, just holding your hands like it was something he always did, “We were just walking down the street when suddenly you turned into a cat!” you giggled at the randomness of the topic, “But it was normal for that to happen? Because we both seemed unfazed by it and continued walking.” he laughed too, struggling to tell the rest, “And then suddenly we were in the arcade from the Hanamura map from Overwatch and you were human again,” he paused to try to stop laughing, while you were crying with laughter,”A-and we started playing DDR but then you got into and argument with Genji.” he let go of your hand so you could cover your face, you were laughing so much, “And then Hanzo randomly appeared and started doing his dance emote and then I woke up.” he concluded shaking his head as he attempted to regain his composure. You were still hiding your face as you continued to cry with laughter.
“B-Binnie what the heck?!” you managed between bouts of laughter, “That’s so random, oh my gosh.” you continued, wiping your face and fanning yourself as the waitress arrived with your stuff.
“Enjoy!”
“Thank you.” Hongbin replied, you were still recovering from laughing so much. He just watched with an amused look until you were ready to dig into your delicious treat.
“Ahhh, Hongbinnie I can’t believe you just randomly told me that. What did you eat before going to bed?” you asked with a laugh, he didn’t reply though. He just moved the milkshake with the two straws in it in front of you, leaning over the table slightly to be able to actually drink from the straw facing him. You stared wide eyed at him, he was really going to do it?! “Eh? Really?!” you squealed, half expecting him to say he was kidding.
“Do you not want to?” he teased.
“Y-yeah I do!” you object, embarrassed but happy. You shyly take the other straw and with your noses almost close enough to touch, you look at each other. The close quarters and direct eye contact made your heart skip and you cheeks warmed, but even more than that, the pinkish tinged to Hongbin’s cheeks really made your heart beat faster as you both took that first sip on the milkshake. A loud click stirred you both from the intimate moment,
“Congratulations! You’re the first couple to do that today with the free shake, so your desserts are on the house!” the waitress beamed, handing Hongbin the polaroid she’d taken of you as you shared the milkshake. “Thanks for making my day! The others didn’t think anyone would do it today, but when you two came in I knew for sure that such a cute couple would do it! Bye, and enjoy!” she skipped off, presumably to rub her victory in her colleague's faces. Your face felt like it was on fire as some of the other people dining there cheered. Hongbin’s face was also very much heated, but he was smiling fondly at the developing polaroid in his hand and you felt your heart melt.
“I hate to admit it, but this is pretty cute.” he admitted, showing you the picture with a genuinely happy smile. When you woke up that morning you thought the day was going to suck, but Hongbin made sure it was one of the best days you’d had recently and now you had a picture to always remind you. You smiled so happily you thought you’d never smiled such bright smile in your life.
“Thank you Hongbin, seriously you’ve made today so wonderful!” he guffawed bashfully, but touched your cheek gently,
“You deserve a treat Y/N, you’ve been working so hard.” he leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on your mouth, “I love you.”
Genre: fluff, slight angst, fantasy, wizard + studioghibli!au
Pairing: Hongbin x Reader
Summary: “And if you dive deep enough into the sea, you will find, among bubbles and fish, a submerged castle where a prince lives without a kingdom.”
Word count: 14k this is… huge
Request: (Please mention me as @heart-baek-bleed so that I won't get lost because I want to make sure that is really me) Since you love Ghibi movies, how about a Howls Moving Castle AU with Hongbin? ~ Queennie
A/N: i'm inactive for a while, sorry, but I'm doing my best! and i'll be putting all the requests in order… so this one in particular has yielded a lot, i hope it is not very massive, because i really enjoyed writing this plot (and omg!!!!, Hongbin in this plot fit so well, jesus have mercy on me)... and: some of Reader's lines will be in italics, well, enjoy!
The City of Lanterns is always shrouded in half darkness, since the gray clouds are always covering the sky completely, be it at night or in the mornings, while the birds sing happily.
And for this reason, the lanterns float on the water, following the flow of rivers that cut the streets, which are presented and joined by small bridges. At one time or another, during the day, the sky perhaps opens a little, letting a few sunbeams pass.
But even with the gray sky, it is rare to rain. And the citizens of the City of Lanterns often believe that when the sky finally cries, it's because something incredible will happen: a miracle! Some say.
Or a terrible disaster... and a few others say, on the other hand.
But it does not matter, does it matter? Because on this day, very early in the morning, the gray clouds that completely cover the sky, are crying. Well, just the day you got so many deliveries to make.
Through the streets, cats seek shelter, and you hurry, holding a small umbrella that does not seem to solve much. Your dress is soaking wet! As you fight and grumble to try to keep the warm breads intact from the rain.
"Mr. Biggam!" You exclaim as you knock on the third door of the day, climbing the only steps that separate the small house from the almost flooded street, the lanterns just behind illuminate the gray day as they float and float.
"Well, young lady..." The gentleman who answers the door scrubs his hands. "My belly was already snoring!"
You smile kindly, kindly in part, because you do not deliver the breads.
"You still owe us the loaves of two days, Mr. Biggam." Because, well, you have a tremendous sharp tongue.
The man open his eyes, and raise the eyebrows.
"But, miss Y/n." He hesitates over lips, still rubbing his hands, his mustache stirring as he tries to find the words. "Money is difficult, and God knows that war has taken all from us..."
"And the same goes for us, sir." You nod, still keeping the loaves away from the old man's hands. "War is cold, so it requires us to be equally cold."
Well, everyone says, what an insolent girl is the daughter of the baker of merchants' alley!
"You can not let a poor lord die of hunger." He rebukes, and you go down both steps, untouched by the words, much less by the desolate expression: you are already accustomed.
"So as soon as you pay for your loaves, you'll have a full belly and a silly smile on your mouth. Mr Biggam? Have a good time."
And that's how you walk away. Because yes, you're a tremendous one of an insolent girl with a sharp tongue.
And from the nearest alley a little black kitten purrs to you as you hurry your feets. You look at the little animal, going back a few steps, but that's all, a simple street cat...
"I'm sorry, kitten, but these breads are not for you," you says when hears a tearful meow, sticking the tongue out for the little animal.
Soon, you're back in the rush through town. Knocking from door to door, of the customers from the bakery shop, which is just at the end of the fishermen's alley. Charging those who owe, and handing over the loaves to the good customers.
After all, if it is to live of goodwill, you and your parents will starve to death! As you say to yourself, to the aunt and to the mother who are always complaining about your sharp tongue and cheeky personality.
The rain thickens in the morning, when you have almost passed the great bulletin board and advertisements of the city, which is right in the center of the square, you almost passed by; because you hurry back. There is a great warning nailed right in the center of the picture, the edges woven in gold, as well as the letters; the great Royal Prom was closer to happening than you imagined!
A radiant smile takes over your face. You want and wait for this night so much: because you imagine the beautiful dress that will wear, the beautiful mask that will order from the best jeweler in the city, and the shoes, oh yes, the shoes!
So, your face is taken by a flyer that drift through the rain, completely soaked.
"Oh!" You exclaimed, pulling the wet paper from your face, now equally soaked.
What you see, written in the flying pamphlet, is nothing more than written in ill-made letters: "Frogs in your tubs? Pest of singers-mosquitoes on your plantations? Or something else... I will solve all your problems!" You recite, with eyes half closed, the letters are terrible.
"Meet me at the singing alley, in the City at the Cradle of the Sea.
The Great Blue Wizard. "
The breath blows out of your lungs, because there is an unconvincing drawing at the end of the words, of a large, rough crown, and this is what you repeat when you let the panflet take its turn in the strong wind of the rain:
"Extremely suspicious."
After all, who could entrust their bathtubs or plantations to a wizard?! And you already heard about the guy, who does not have a name, who does not have a face, actually has several of them but nobody knows for sure which one is the real one.
A man or a woman? Old or young? Where did he or she come from? Do she or he take the name Sebastian, Margo, Estephan or...?
Nobody knows.
But for you it does not matter, there are no coaching frogs in your tub, and you do not even have a plantation of aquatic tomatoes —and thanks to the skies they're scarce this summer because you hate them—what you have is a pile of breads to be delivered on a rainy morning in the City of Lanterns, an umbrella that looks like it will dismount any minute and a dream of finding your prince at the royal ball that will happen within a month.
And oh, of course, you also have the beautiful view of the sea, which plunges the horizon straight ahead into serene turquoise and navy blue colors.
But what happens, minutes after you try to continue your deliveries, is simply that your umbrella really comes undone: and as the people of the City of the Lanterns already said, a weeping sky can mean a day of disasters.
The door bell sings as you enter, the dress completely soaked as well as the remaining breads in your basket, the umbrella is completely crushed, bursting and dead.
"What are these leftovers?" Your mother asked as she placed her eyes on the basket that was placed on the counter.
"Mr. Biggam refuses to pay, Mama." You answer, walking up the stairs, the smell of sweetbreads with cranberry jelly filling your nose as your father finds himself exiting the kitchen, rubbing his hands. "Good morning, papa."
"Good morning, my dear," he replied, not having time to say much more, for you climbed the stairs with a leap worthy of the most agile cat; you get rid of the clothes with extreme rapidity, in the room the birds sing at the foot of your window, seeking shelter from the rain, and your clean clothes are warm.
You descend with the same rapidity that has risen, but there is, still, your mother with the expression in concern.
"Leave the loaves in the door of Mr. Biggam's house, my dear." She says, new loaves replacing those once soaked.
Freezing right there, you close the expression, already knowing where your sweet and innocent mother wants to reach.
"He will not pay if we continues to leave the buns at his door, mama!" The voice came out loud and well expressed from your mouth, hitting a few light slaps on your newly fitted dress to remove the dust.
The house is in a precarious state of cleanliness, there is no money to pay a maid, much less disposition and energy to clean everything with the required attention, the bakery is almost in the same deplorable state.
The money is short. He had always been.
"Money is the least concern, daughter." Your mother still insists, and then you could not be more dazed: she was about to start with this story of empathy for others again.
"Mama, but I need the money!" You twist the words, the discussion begins like this, it always begins. "The ball will soon happen!"
"And who told you that you're going to this... Thing?" But it's your father, who comes out of the kitchen again with a fresh ream of breads with jelly marmalade, who puts everything to lose on your head. "We need people up early to deliver the loaves."
"You are two tremendous stupid!" That's what you scream, opening your mouth wide, expecting your parents to listen well, extremely well when you hit your feet hard on the floor, the bell at the door tinkles and, rain out, you walk away.
"Cheeky girl!" That's what you hear, already outside, but too late, your father can not reach you.
The drops of water fell one by one from the rooftops, the last tears of rain, and you shrank from behind a few barrels, the alley was cold, but still covered enough by the rest of the roofs to keep you out of the rain that already passed.
It was foolishness, of course, since your dress was soaked again. You would quietly mutter all sorts of complaints against the projected images of your parents. Ah, yes, you would not go to the ball that you expected so much just because of the damn deliveries that in the end would not even yield enough money if your mother were still so foolish.
A selfish tear ran down your left cheek, and as you took a breath of icy air, you heard the noise echoing down the darker side of the alley. A dark stranger took the farthest walls, a dark that was not commonplace even in the city where it was always cloudy.
You get up with a spasm, but see, it's just a cat that emerge from the dark, with black fur and a sharp meow, it's the same little friend from early in the morning, the paws echo in the alley and you sigh relieved, again shrinking against the corner of the wall.
When then, you come across with this figure that came out of nowhere, the smoke engulfs the alley, running down the floors, between the parallelepipedos, and you want to get up: but can not, and there is a tall womam covered in a huge black cloak in feathers, approaching. And you are still sitting on the floor.
"Look, little girl, why are you crying?" The voice is babbling, and the cat is curling up between the feathers of the huge cloak that falls to the ground, like black mud of some swamp.
"Nothing of much interest, ma'am." You press your back against the wall; there is no fear, but there is the surprise.
And the mysterious woman approaches, lowering herself with difficulty, there is too much height for a normal human being, the hand that comes out of the dense mantle is wrinkled, flaccid. And you realize, as you see the hand approaching your forehead.
"That you learn to be who you ought to be, and that you unlearn what you should never have been."
This is a witch! And when the finger touches your forehead with a coarse, pointed nail, the waves take your body. You try to scream. It's like having your soul swallowed and crushed, cut in half, because something is taken from you, and it's something that's now in the Witch's hand in black feathers.
"Now, go child, seek what must be undone."
With a simple step, a crack, she disappears, the smoke, the rain, but not the cat. The cat is there, facing you, with a long meow and seems to smile, audaciously smiling as soon as your eyes widen. You look at your own hands, feel the wave revert in the body, what is hot becomes so cold and your throat...
God, your throat...
It's choking, no, no...
The clothes are enlarging, no, no, it's the hands! Your hands, by the Gods! Are decreasing...
You're shrinking, your clothes getting loose and... You want to scream, and nothing comes out, when you run away, the shoes are left behind, the cat releases a meow; it sounds like a muffled laugh, a laugh from one who had one last chance early in the morning.
You run and want to scream, nothing ever comes out of your throat, and with each passing in your rush, it becomes more scrubby, shorter, your dress too big on the body and your hands too small to lift it, to pull it from the path of bare feet.
God, what the bloody witch did to you?!
The doorbell tinkles with force, and into the bakery you run. "Mama!" You call but the words stay in your head only, they stay in the air, because as soon as you enter, you face your mother's huge eye .
"Who are you?!" she exclaims, as loud and audible as the breaking of your chest sounds in your heart.
She can not recognize you. She can not recognize her own daughter! And you wanna talk: this is the witchcraft of a damn witch, Mama, do not let her fool you! But it's the cold of the street what you find, "Get out of here, filthy child, you're messing everything up!" And the one who should be called your father throws you out the door.
And blam! the door closes.
The birds sing, and the lanterns continues flowing down the river. There is no more rain, but there is a huge puddle of water right on your left side, just as you can see your face perfectly, or what your twelve-year-old face should look like.
Ah yes, as they say, rainy days in the City of Lanterns can very much mean a day of complete disaster.
You did not shrink, you were a child again.
And the worst of the worst cases. You can not scream. For what the witch took from you was nothing more than your voice.
A twelve-year-old child with no voice! What cruel fate for an insolent girl...
But see, for all problems there is a solution, because the wind bring this pamphlet straight to your face, as if the fate laughs of your cruel—or not so much—acts. Pulling the paper still soaked from your face, with mild nostalgia, you again see the letters now even more crooked because of the water.
"Meet me at the singing alley, in the City at the Cradle of the Sea.
The Great Blue Wizard."
Now, you really have frogs in your tub. And so begins your adventure...
The winds coming from the north comb the hair strands, and you hold tight the hat—which silently you stole from the neighbor's clothesline, after all, you have your reasons, right? The ribbon that should have been holding the strands of hair in place is holding the dress tied with a huge, clumsy knot.
It had been all you could do through the rest of the day.
And the smell of the sea comes in through your nose as you breathe deeply, throwing a few coins into the sailor's hands.
Right in front, when you finally stop to observe, you hold your breath with your lips opening unnoticed: the view of the city of Altha—the city on the edge of the blue sea—is stupendous, there is no gray cloud in the sky, that opens in the liveliest blue, houses are innumerable, streets fill in life, merchants, children wandering with smiles, even ladies with their huge baskets. And still from the harbor, where the song of the gulls is incessant, it is already possible to see the great and exuberant figure of the royal castle, standing right in the center of the city.
It looks like a dream…
"Get out of the way, you little brat!" A man passes by in all speed, which results in a direct push to the ground...
At least it would seem like a beautiful dream if you were not in a twelve-year-old child's body, a mute child. And all you can do is stare deathly silently at the brute who had just pushed you: with the desire for him to be swallowed by a whale on a brief trip.
The singing alley is just a few streets down and, of course, you know this because it's one of the most famous spots in the city of Altha, everyone talks about it, everyone delights as they pass through the arches that delimit the alley, ears plunge into the sweet songs that echo.
The voices are human, and are human who listen—along with a few animals, who sleep enjoying the shade of the roofs—but they are not human who sing them. You've heard of where the yellowish-colored roses came from, some magical forest out there, but that's not why you crossed the sea; of the small island from where you were born to the continent.
You came looking for a wizard, the Great Blue Wizard, by whom you hope to solve your "little" problem. But, stopping in the middle of the alley, watching people passing dressed in colorful clothes, with beautiful smiles on their faces, you realize that you do not know which door you have to hit.
Great, because the damn poster did not even have an address... and what could you do?
Knock from door to door, after all, in the same way you're used to? Of course you are not yet accustomed to being kicked out, cursed and kicked, and when that's not happening, it's impossible for you to say anything for the simple reason that you no longer have any voice coming out of your mouth.
It is on the farthest street of the alley, where you can still hear the whispers of the singing roses, that you lean against the wall, with a despairing sigh. Fate seems to be conspiring against you, by heaven, what have you done to the Gods to be so furious? Plenty indeed.
"They're looking for you!" The words leaked through the alley just beside him, your body freeze, and slyly you lean over the corner of the wall, just tilting your head to peer through the alley.
It is empty and cold, extremely cold and a dense silence is made. You swallow when you realize that you are already entering the alley, damn curiosity that makes you go foward, only to hear the second burst of words echoing too loud.
"Do you have any idea how much they are offering for your head? Prince George, at least, is offering much more than you owe me. "
When you turn the first corner of the alley you face two men, and instinctively you throw yourself back against the wall; luckily they did not notice your presence. Too bad, because it seems that something extremely wrong is going on there and you're listening to everything.
"And not only him, Rhosalia is after you too."
"What I owe is already promised to be paid, Joseph." The other man, taller, and with clothes of peculiar taste, says, with a tongue snapping: as you realize when again tilt your head, fingers holding firmly to the wall.
His hair strands is blue, you notice with eyes popping in a half shock, what kind of human being would have hair strands blue like ocean water.
"That's what you always claim, Hong-" Words echoed louder and louder through the dark stinking alley.
"Do not you dare speak my name aloud." And the blue haired man growls, interrupting, placing his hand firmly on the other's shoulder.
"Then you pay me what you owe..."
And in the blink of an eye, a snap of fingers like the heavy coat, placed over the shoulders, floats, the little bag comes out of practically nothing, landing in the hand, not much bigger than the palm.
"Here," he says, as he throws the bag against the chest of the alleged Joseph, who is nothing but a ragged, bearded, wrinkly man. "But in return, keep that mouth well sewn. My name is much more precious than any other life, Joseph, keep that in mind. "
The face of the blue haired, in turn, you can not see. Since you holds your breath in shock from what you has just seen; something had just come up in his hands with a snap of his fingers.
"How much do we have here?" The smaller man laughs, completely ignoring the threatening tone in the voice of the blue-haired, opening the sack, and surely they are rhubis in there, the brightest and most red. "Oh, much more than Rhosalia would dream of paying!"
"Keep me out of her eyes and have a lot more-"
And you choke, a hiccup escapes from your throat, just as a shiver takes your whole body because the blue-haired man's eyes head very quickly straight at you.
With a step back, listening to:
"Well, I did not know you brought company, Joseph."
You run, almost tripping over your own feet. Turning the corners of the narrow alley, passing over puddles, diverting from one street cat or other, but it seems to have no end, the alleys shuffle, and when you think you're seeing the light of day, you're not... In fact, there is no end as you turn one more corner that you swear you have already passed at least a four times when; a wall comes out of the air and that's when you stick your face in.
"Who sent you?" The voice slips into the air to you.
And you could stay forever with your face pressed against the wall, but you turn around, pushing your body defensively against the stones.
Now you can see perfectly the face of the man attired with what might be worth your soul and two other souls together, he has his arms folded, with a cold twinge of hostility in his eyes.
You swallow dry, imagining that it will be this way that your life will come to an end.
"Are they that bad?" He asks through his teeth. "What are they thinking? Sending a child after me? "
In turn, you can not move, there is too much fear in your new little body—if you were with your body from a day ago, you definitely would have put a shoe in his face—then, you close your eyes tightly, hands in front of the body, as if it were possible to stop a wizard so easily.
"Now tell me..." The blue-haired man, like the high seas, is approaching, the steps echoing heavy. Your eyes close with more force, already waiting for your fate; death, because if he made a priceless bag come up from the air, just like a solid wall, then what else could he do?
"Who sent you here? Prince George, the Duke of Halminthon or... " He continues, reaching near enough, leaning against his right knee, kneeling in front of you, who is still shrinking.
But his voice pauses, his eyes widen slightly, but you're praying so hard you do not realize: I do not even know who these are! I only looking for the Blue Wizard! You want to talk, but it's useless as your defensive hands.
However, the laughter echoes, low, but audible enough, as noticeable as the air easing against your body. The wall just behind disappears as he snaps his fingers, causing your body to lose balance by stuffing your ass into a puddle, finishing soaking your already battered dress.
What is going on? Your head asks as soon you look up. Finding the radiant expression through the blue strands, saying with a big smile:
"I'm afraid I know very well where to find what you are looking for, little one." You blink quickly, not understanding what is happening, still not understanding how the wall had simply disappeared with a magic spell. "And, well," he reaches out, helping you to get up. "Call me Hongbin."
"And this is where I live!" The door creaks when it opens, and could almost fall apart, because that's what it sums up; a door in pieces, giving entrance to a house also in pieces. What am I doing? You still ask yourself the same question since you agreed to go down the singing alleyway with the blue-haired man.
Hongbin, that's his name, you repeat as you look at him one more time; he looks so suspicious, but he says he knows where the blue wizard is...
As he opens the door, taking steps in, you stop right there taking one last sip in the dry, standing in the doorway of the house in pieces you look around, is a complete silence and there is no one around.
Very suspicious.
"Kindly," Hongbin draws his attention, finally making you enter, following him. The door closes with a sharp creak just behind you. "Do not notice the state of the walls, furniture..."
Foolish request, because it is impossible not to notice, as you enters further, you may feel a slight breeze pass through the house, whistling through the dusty furniture, falling to pieces; a stab of fear still accumulates at the foot of your belly.
Extremely suspicious.
"It's not easy for me to keep the house clean before I get customers like you, little lady."
Customers? Your head exclaims, finally following him, before being completely left behind.
"You know, the number of good customers has become scarcer..." And he continues to speak, his voice muffling every now and again as he covers his nose to a cloud of dust that hangs from one corner to the other.
And you're not listening, too busy trying to not set foot on a loose wood or an open hole in the floor. When then, you bump into Hongbin's body.
"Hold on tight," he says, as his eyes turn to your face, an arrogant smile taking over his lips.
Instinctively, with a little voice telling you to listen for what the blue-hair says, you hold tight in his heavy violet coat. And by all means, you made that choice...
Are three touches of the knuckles against the ladder that barely existed. The house creaks so loudly that you are tempted to let it go to cover your ears.
"You'd better hold firm if you want to keep whole at place, little lady." Hongbin exclaims, and who are you not to listen to him?
The creaking increases until literally, everything is breaking, melting, breaking and then... A huge hole opens on the floor. The dive is quick and painless, but your eyes close by instinct.
What a beautiful way to die...
But you do not die, in place, you hear a tinkle, a mute thud and then, it's the third time on the day you've got your butt in the ground, because this time your legs can not stand it.
There is a velvet purple ceiling, and a great chandelier. Your eyes blink a total of seven times before looking around, while Hongbin disappears from sight. The house falling apart has disappeared, and in place, there remained only this perfectly ornate setting, a winding staircase that rose so high, large shelves with missing books, books that were thrown to the floor.
"I beg again, pardon for the mess," says Hongbin, who is actually making his way through a bunch of books with some difficulty. The place is huge, the wooden walls suggest that a giant could live there, and on the ceiling, when looking better, there are stars gliding, as if the night sky was within reach of anyone.
A tinkling sound, of a fish-shaped bell, is set above a large door just below the stairs. And you stand up from the floor, hands banging against the fabric, taking out the dust that should be present but not there.
"You're back so early, maeester." The voice comes to you in a whisper, softly, and looking at the, now, opened door, you almost utter a scream.
Almost…
"Oh! You brought people with you, maeester." The subject says, his eyes almost closed, mustaches cheer and his tail swing. "It seems like I was guessing, I made lots of cups of tea."
"Oh?!" A small exclamation is what comes out of your mouth, noticing the cat's eyes, incredibly something comes out of his mouth, with the strangeness that passes through your body as you notices a talking cat walking on its two hind legs while the front ones balance a huge tray with two teapots and five cups.
"We have clients, Leo, please serve her a cup of tea." Hongbin nods as the white-coated feline walks over to you with what could be a gentle smile: if it were not a cat with long whiskers and hairy ears.
"Sit down, sit down," and the voice is so low that you can hardly hear it. You sit at the nearest table in which he shows the way, placing the huge tray on the rustic wood. "We have, leaves of sin," say the animal, which would easily have the same height as you, pointing with the fluffy paw to the cup with the pink liquid. "Of amaranth with beetles of the desert..." The transparent liquid with subtle red touches does not look anything pleasant... "And mint with pineapple." And the cup with a leaf floating in the middle is the one you choose, for sure.
And as you watch the fluffy paws easily put sugar in your tea, watching it all with shining eyes, completely amazed at the talking cat named Leo, Hongbin is literally rummaging through the books on the highest shelves, balanced at the top of a ladder.
"You know my preference, Leo." He says, before his servant of low, gentle words like a spring breeze, even ask. Surprisingly, the taste of Hongbin is by the tea of reddish color.
"It's not really made from beetles," Leo says softly, seeing your expression in horror. "Desert beetles are little sweet stones, buried in the sand." And you're relieved to know.
The small leaf continues to float in your tea, as eyes are sliding from wall to wall, there are small pots of plants scattered all over the place in unusual places, and there is a huge fireplace.
"It must be here by some corner..." Hongbin mutters between his lips, throwing another book up, with no sign of concern about the mess shown a few minutes ago.
And your tea is great...
The windows are covered by long curtains, the ones Leo rushes to open, with his paws that seem to handle everything with the same skill as a human with five fingers in perfect condition.
"What our young client owes to the torment of seeking my master?" The cat asks, softly, without any pretension.
"She looks for me because I'm the best, Leo." And Hongbin replys, still higher, searching for the book, a book you can not even guess at nature, since you prefers to sit perfectly, watching everything while drinking your tea.
It's too much for a simple human to sue. And see, you haven't connected the dots yet...
Until the first curtain is open and through the window you see the full and deep blue. You watch for seconds, as Leo opens the next curtain, and imagine with yourself how beautiful the sky is until...
A fish passes.
"What do we have for dinner?" Hongbin asks, scrolling through the pages of some book, eyes half closed, completely focused.
"Roasted fish with onions, my lord," Leo responds, the second curtain opens, revealing yet another large shoal of fish swimming. You scream internally, your eyes widen and then, you realize where you are.
"Again?"
"If you gave me my hat back I could go out and buy ostrich meat at the market, my lord, since it is your favorite."
"You know damn well that it's too dangerous to get out with the hat."
"Oh, what a terrible and cruel maester I have." Leo emphasizes in a sigh, dramatically.
"I can hear you, Leo." And Hongbin smiles, glancing down at the cat that walks toward the third window, stopping to watch the fish swimming. And this is indeed what you are thinking; you are in a castle, under the sea.
"You do not have anything to fear," the smile reaches out to you, who has huge eyes facing the window, where some more fish pass, "we can see the fish but it does not mean the same to our little friends."
Swallowing, the tea is still warm in the cup, and Leo, the talking cat, stares at you for a few seconds, then comes to get the teapot and pour more tea for you.
"Not a lady of many words, right?" He asks, finishing of filling your cup again. You look at him suspiciously, anyway, how could you respond? So, you twist your lips. "What happened to the girl, my lord, some nasty cat ate her tongue?"
You choke on the tea that barely entered your mouth: you're a cat too, smarthead! the exclamation fills your head, but nothing is able to leave.
"It's nothing more than the reason she's here," Hongbin laughs loudly, rolling his eyes at the servant, then glancing at you. "Leo is not a cat, young lady, he's a Familiar..."
Your eyes might fall out of their sockets if possible, and Hongbin let out another loud laugh, the book still open and well propped on his hand. How can he hear you? You wonder, much more frightened than intrigued, because his eyes penetrate deep into your eyes.
Hongbin shrugs, with a faint arrogant smile. As if he could actually read your mind, just as he read the open book in the palm of his hand. With one step forward, in the air, he jumps off the ladder at a height that could easily match the height of four men.
Landing with extreme ease, like a feather hitting the ground.
Who is he?! You finally exclaim to yourself, finally connecting each of the points, getting up from the chair with a leap...
"The pleasure is all mine, young lady!" The voice rumbles through the corners, and Hongbin has a huge luster on his lips, which is nothing but a big smile, raising his arms, his coat floats and he bows, "here you have, the honor of meeting the Great Blue Wizard. "
And a drumbeat sounds, it's like fireworks are rising above your head; and it really has, exploding into little bright ones, close to the ceiling, as feasts are fired.
"I know you have many questions, and oh, how amazing to know the So Famous, beautiful, and Splendid Blue Wizard..." And he continues, as he raises his torso, an extreme glow taking his face, speaking too fast, while you did not even sue the fact of being mute and in the body of a child... "But we can leave the thanks for later, right? I do not like being flattered or anything-"
"Sir?" Leo cleared his throat.
"Oh heavens, Leo, not again." Hongbin's hands go straight to the face, rubbing his face. "Can't you see that you're disturbing my magical moment with the young lady?"
"Ah, yes, my lord, pardon..."
"So where did I stop?" And he nods, turning his eyes to you, who is completely static, watching the whole show unfold. "Oh! Yes…"
"But I think you're frightening her, my lord." And this is what happens, right after Hongbin turns his face with a nice straight smile to the servant; you fall hard on the floor. "I said, sir... No one likes fireworks," Leo growled, already knowing that it would be a task for him to take you to the floors above.
The tick-tack fills the bedroom, the sheets are thick, full and fluffy, there are so many pillows of so many colors, and the bed is too big, so large that it could fit a sleeper elephant. And there are large round windows, next to a large clock embedded in the wall, in place of the numbers there are suns, stars and moons; a weekly watch, because the hours are already so stressful to be in a guest room. And just below the great pendulum, there is a fireplace that crackles silently.
You wake up with a grunt, your fingers sinking and smoothing the sheets, which are so soft to the touch, but still, so strange.
"Changed the sheets, mama?" You grunt, half smile, poking your face into the pillow, which is actually innumerable. "It smells so good..." you grumble again.
"I had a dream so strange and..." you keep talking... but the point is, that you do not listen to your own voice. Your eyes open at once, just as you give your cat leap that just got a shower of ice water, because the memories of the last day hit you right in.
Meanwhile, downstairs...
"Why do I have a bad feeling, Leo?" Hongbin grunts, the blue threads are a little messy, and his eyes get lost for a few seconds, again well supported at the top of the stairs, is already the fiftieth book he takes to leaf through; about breaking a spell of dumbness.
"Because this are beyond your abilities, maester." Leo responds from below, sipping tea, eyes slightly closed in pleasure after filling his belly, mustaches lifting up so does not touch the cup.
"There!" Hongbin throws the book to the top, which lands with a crash on the floor. "Very funny, Leo, is this why I signed you and not your brother?"
"Can we not remember the mistakes of my past, in which I greatly regret it, my lord?" There is a mixture of anguish and much, but much rancor in the voice of the cat that actually; It's not a cat.
"What was his name again?" His fingers go up to his chin.
"Hakyeon, my lord."
"That's it," he waved his finger in the air, the cup, which was positioned on top of the tray, rises, floating toward him, "and being a great and incredible master, I will not put you on the street, much less hire your brother in the your place."
Leo let out a faint sigh, his fluffy paws returning to the cup. And Hongbin soon mumbled again, flipping through the next book he reached and the shelf was already almost empty. It seemed useless. He sighs heavily, throwing the fifty-first book on the huge pile that formed below.
"I am afraid to know who could help you in this service, sir." Leo's voice echoes low, and Hongbin looks over his shoulder, half already predicting what would come.
"Oh, no..." He sighs a second time.
"Rhosalia is one of the most learned sorceresses of ancient magic, my lord." And there goes the fifty-second book, thrown at Leo's feet, only because of his quick reflexes, which made him deflect.
"Was that to hit me?"
"Oh, no, Leo, I'm just testing the reflexes of my noble servant."
"Rethink about asking Rhosalia for help."
"Not in a million years will I beg for help for that evil woman, Leo." Hongbin grunts under his breath, if not for the bruised pride, that it was for the tightness in his chest.
"Oh, well, then spend these thousand years trying to unravel this mystery," he sighed, clapping his paws at each other.
"A mystery that has barely begun is not a mystery, my dear!" And he exclaims, completely refusing to give up.
When then, the thuds echo heavy through the winding ladder. You're coming down at full speed.
"And oh, well, I believe our client has awakened, my lord."
The book closes, as Hongbin open a huge smile on his face.
"Great!" He exclaims, something going through his head as the neurons re-start at full speed.
And when you place your feet on the bottom steps, you are screaming inside, Leo can not hear, no one can hear how much you want to throw everything up and declare that you are completely out of your senses.
"Calm down, little lady," but Hongbin seems to listen perfectly, or at least, can read the words stuck deep in your eyes. "Calm down, because we have so much to do."
We have?! your head exclaims.
"Well," he says, coming down the ladder of books so easily that it makes a certain shame appear on your face, all because you are a complete mess. "It is clear to me that you can not afford for my services..."
You bite the tongue, after all, had never thought of the detail that you have to pay! And Hongbin opens a beautiful smile as he approaches, a smile that completely paints your cheeks in red.
"Then you must give me a hand."
A little hand... A little-tiny help... That was what Hongbin, the blue wizard, the incredible unnamed magician, faceless, and blue-haired, bright smile and arrogant voice, said. And it had been a full week since you had listened to such words, and you just could not imagine that the help would be summed up in the most diverse works, from the most risky ones like; to sneak into burrows of hypogriffes to steal their feathers, even the simplest—or not so much—as; put all the books back on the shelves in alphabetical order.
And in a week, you were getting used to it, especially with the days you simply stayed in the castle, taking care of the cleaning, taking care of the meals, while Hongbin disappeared for God knows where.
Until, on a beautiful sunny morning, you hardly knew how you had stopped in that situation. Although, walking with a Wizard and his Familiar would never yield to the most usual situations. But there you were, in an unknown continent, in the great capital of Bersin, in which you had only heard about.
That's how your story with Hongbin really began.
"Well," and straight ahead was none other than Prince George, mortal enemy of the great capital of Altha, "it is astonishing that you has such devices in your power, sir..."
"Leo." And right in front of you, wearing a large top hat with a purple ribbon, was none other than Leo, in his true for—theoretically—with his white hair and legs just so long, wearing a nice suit.
"I've never heard of a magician named Leo," the Prince, who was not even young, scratched his beard, deeply examining Leo's static eyes, who was holding a large suitcase in his hands.
"He is new to the business, my lord." On the left, the man in a handsome but normal suit, muttered, his voice artificially coarse, running his fingers through his huge black beard: it was false, as false as the mustache that covered most of the nose, as false as the black wig.
Within a week you've had too much of Hongbin's disguises.
"I see," the Prince nodded, half-closing his eyes. "Do I know you from somewhere, sir?"
Leo, you and Hongbin swallowed at the same time and could not be sweating more colder, in perfect sync, because a single thing could happen if Prince George found out; heads would roll, yours too, for sure.
"Ah, my lord, I do a lot of business in the world." It was the best excuse he had found, and luckily it had been good enough to free them from suspicion.
No better disguise? You exclaimed without a voice, rolling your eyes at Hongbin.
"What are you talking about?" Hongbin whispered, leaning slightly, scratching his beard. "This is my best."
"For a moment, it reminded me of a dirty magician with whom I had the misfortune to do business!" George exclaimed. Making Hongbin readily put himself back in place.
"I believe he was a very blatant mage, sir," Leo commented, grinning nervously. And you swallowed hard. Hongbin bit his tongue.
"A tremendous of a cheeky! I'll be glad to have his head in the top of the flag of my castle..."
Great, Hongbin! You exclaim to yourself.
"What?!" And Hongbin grunted back, mumbling in the struggle to keep a smile.
We're going to die!
"It's all under control," he returned, with a smile that you could be sure of conveying everything, less reassurance. But all was to unfold quietly, when the Prince pulled out a fat sack, handing it to Leo.
Hongbin's eyes lit instantly, and you took a deep breath, both relief and revolt at being in such a risky state.
"I said that everything would go well," Hongbin whispered, apparently still incredulous in his own words, and when both three were headed for the door, it was heard:
"Mr. Leo?" And the three froze a few inches from the grand door. "Why do you have a tail?"
A thousand and one excuses went through Hongbin's head, and of his also, indeed, a thousand and one possibilities of getting dead passed in his head in the second seconds, because when Hongbin turned with a handsome one of a cheeky smile...
The fake beard fell.
"You!" And the scream echoed throughout the castle. "Hongbin!!" The first instinct of both three summed up simply to run: the top hat was pulled from Leo's head, returning to be a cat in a magic pass. But not even so magically, Hongbin pulled the wig and the fake mustache, catching you in the arms.
And you might be more worried about the more than a hundred guards chasing you, you might be worried about your life, but you're not, because, in the minutes that took until Hongbin did something, opening a huge door in a mirror, you shrank holding on to his neck, much more worried about the reason to why your heart was beating so fast... And no, it was not the fear of having a head rolling down your neck. And yes, maybe it was because you was suddenly pulled so hard into Hongbin's arms.
And in the morning, during a normal day, without these crazy adventures, you would pick up your basket and open the fifth door of the hallway, which led to the street of the merchants of the city of Altha, since you were now responsible for buying the freshest vegetables.
As you turned away from the path of the most hasty people, you heard: "... Blue Wizard..." a voice whispered, and inevitably your feet stopped, ears sharpened.
"Are you talking about the charlatan wizard?" The girl next to the sir laughed, against the fingers of her raised hand in front of face.
That's right, a charlatan wizard. And that's what you had to force yourself to remember, after three full weeks, it was something you had to keep in mind; in how much Hongbin was a tremendous of a filthy soul...
Yes.
Oh, but how hard it really was to believe it, in the countless new rumors you listened to. Even when in the dead of night, it was not uncommon for you to wake up with the noises echoing down below, and on your toes you would descend, step by step.
To find Hongbin returning so late in the morning, completely out of his senses, chattering like a parrot about absurd things in which you had even doubted to believe or not, and well, after so much you witnessed, it is hard not to come to believe in something.
"Are you still awake?" But his tone, as he saw you coming down the last few steps, his hand closed to his chest, made it clear that it was not one of those nights, but rather the quietest, of which Hongbin looked extremely quiet, without even giving you a whole word.
Where have you been? Yours eyes flashed, frowning.
The truth is that Hongbin was not even sure how he could hear the voice expressed through the glitter of your eyes, as if he could so easily hear the voice of your soul.
"I brought this for you, little lady." He smiled, head down. And the bags appeared over the huge sofa. You did not care about the gifts, maybe they were clothes, or ribbons for your hair, but that was not what you cared about. "Please rest." And without another word, he passed you, going up two steps in the stairs.
It was these times, when no words came out of his lips, no bright smile, not even a pompous phrase in arrogance, that you felt your chest tightening with extreme cruelty; it was so hard to believe the rumors.
"What have you been worried about, girl?" Leo asked one afternoon as you furiously sliced an enormous radish in preparation for dinner.
The castle kitchen was so large that it would be easy to get lost if it were not for Leo to guide you. And you snorted in response, looking at the cat with huge mustaches. Obviously Leo did not understand the words stuck in your head like Hongbin understood, but he could see the frown on your face that was so apparent.
"Whatever it is..." And then he quietly dictated, paws balancing the big board where a fish of red scales was perfectly sliced. "Get out of your head."
Well, how silly, you frown, putting your hands on waist, how can you not bother with...?
"Not everything is within your reach to be solved," he whispered, the board laid heavy on the sink, picking up the newly purchased carrots in the basket. "And if something is not within your reach, it's not up to you to worry."
The words sounded low, but you twist your lips, your eyes drop, and your chest tightens by inches. Hongbin worries you so much...
With eyes slightly drowning in tears you do not understand, you take the knife to continue slicing the radish.
"Since you arrived we have more happiness in the castle." And the words escaped through Leo's mustache, and your, now, not-so-small fingers stop again. "Before, it was so quiet, and my master was always gone." He sighs, slicing the carrots, and in the large pot the thick broth bubbled.
Your eyes widen slightly, not expecting to hear such kind words from Leo.
"I worried so much when it happened." And he continues to speak, as if there was no one listening to his grunts as he sliced the carrots, pouring everything into the pan. "I thought Hongbin would never recover, and it's been years."
You kept listening, slicing the radishes again, after all, everything would have to be ready soon.
"It is not easy for a young prince to be deceived like this..." But your throat choked, and the knife lost the way. A mute exclamation filled your mouth, for there was suddenly so much blood in your hand.
The bandage was neatly tied in your left hand and did not hurt any more as you hastened your steps, clutching the heavy dress, struggling to not trip over your own feet.
All that you wanted, as the music echoed along the walls beside your steps with his—or her, in that case—was to slap the face of Hongbin, who was just ahead of you, with equally hurried steps, and by the way he walked, was already used to dressing as a woman; and to take potions to become one as well.
He stopped suddenly, causing you to face his gaudy dress.
"How's my make-up?" She asked, turning to you.
Choking, you frowned: that's a bad plan!
"It's the tenth time you tell me the same thing, young lady, are you getting deaf too?"
Of course you wished you had enough height to slap him in the face. And Hongbin smiled as he saw your longing expressed in your face.
"Believe me, I'll be fine this time."
You cross your arms, still not believing that Hongbin actually took a transmuting potion: I can not believe your words, Hongbin.
And without you waiting, he opened his smile even more, his fingers going to your strands of hair, smoothing delicately; and luckily, you just blushed no more because you saw only a woman who briefly remembered the face of the blue-haired wizard.
"I promise, young lady, I will not disobey my words."
And maybe it was just one of his trickery, the play on words, to finally enter the hall, opening the doors with a crash. Of course pretending to be a young duchess from the north to seduce Prince Hyuk was a bad plan, but you can not stop him.
Then, hours later, snooping around the castle with a change of clothes under your arm, you slipped past the guards, waiting for Hongbin in the tenth corridor leading to the lake, as well as combined: idea that you also refused to accept...
But there you were, taking advantage of the silence of the night to try to forget the gentle touch of Hongbin's fingers in your hair when...
Boom!!
You jumped with the explosion, the smoke took over in a matter of seconds and through your head only one thing happened: of course that's the part of the plan that he forgot to tell me!
"Quick!" And there was the said wizard, coming out of the curtain of dust, the dress barely fitting in the body because the potion had ceased to effect. "Give me the clothes!"
You did it, throwing the change of clothes against Hongbin's face, but no time for any quarrels or grunts, you heard the shouting of the guards and, already knew how much you two would have to run.
Well, you two ran like never before this time. But it was not the first time that Hongbin disguised himself as a woman to deceive a high-ranking youth. Much less the last...
Just like it was not even the last time he got you into such trouble, it actually became natural that you were always with him; at least to make sure he would not kill himself with some stupidity.
The waves dance on the sand, as the wind smelled salty, striking against your face, as if he wiped it away and took away any worry; it is the ability of the ocean to drown the shadows in pursuit. You look at the horizon, where the sea is confused with the sky that was so blue, with few clouds gliding.
Your dress of the day is yellowish, because it resembles the spring sun: as Hongbin would say with a beautiful smile. He is walking a few steps forward, conversing with his faithful servant, who is, miraculously, wearing his beloved hat that gives him the real shape.
You sigh, holding the hat with a large red ribbon in place, the smile on your face is kind and deeply sweet. Sounds like a dream, does not it? When everything is quiet, when you can see the steps sinking in the wet sand.
"And how is our friend Howl?" As Leo grunts about things you do not know for sure what it might be.
"A wedding. Can you believe that?" Hongbin smiled back.
The small smile on Leo's face is purely a slight disgust.
"Should be thinking of yours too, my lord, you can not live forever as a bachelor."
The words cause Hongbin to bite his own tongue, the hair strands clutter with the wind, the hair is blue as the sea itself. And drawing your attention completely, you bend down to get a shell, completely oblivious to the conversation.
"I'm not a bachelor." Hongbin mumbles.
"It is not what Madame Hein Heart speaks, my lord."
The spots were orange and light brown in color across the shell, which fit into the palm of your hand. Meanwhile, further on, Hongbin was about to fight back, his tongue between his teeth, when his whole body hissed, a small alarm went off in his head.
And from the shell countless little paws came out through the crevice, you drop the shell down, watching the crab dive in the sand, listening at last, through the sea breeze:
"We have customers in Liör." Hongbin says, with a half face of surprise.
You have never heard of the city in question, not until this day, when you headed toward the fourth door of the great hallway that was just below the stairs, was the door that had a great symbol of a moon carved in the wood, was the door that you had never seen opened: not for Leo, much less for Hongbin.
But this day, still in your spring-sun dress and with Leo pulling out his top hat, fur reappearing with a snap of fingers, you finally understood why the door was never opened.
At least, partly...
The house is small, there is only a first floor, and no sign of a kitchen, so little space that you need to blink twice, making sure it is not a simple optical illusion. You were aware of the fact that Hongbin owns several stores spread out across cities, but you never imagined that there would be such a tiny one.
But still, nice, you thought as you sat, looking around, with Leo already rushing through the preparations, putting everything in place, putting the water on fire to make his customary teas.
And with his fingers running through the strands of hair, Hongbin takes one last look around to make sure everything is in place, he looks at you, especially deep in his eyes, saying quietly,
"Here my name is Estephan," in a whisper, the strands of hair turning blond with a simple touch, eyes heavy. "Understood?"
You nod, swallowing; a shiver of tension going through the body, you fear for those who are just behind the door painted in moss green, fear for what may happen as soon as Hongbin opens the door...
Because after all, you always fear for his life.
And at once, putting his hand firmly on the doorknob, the door wood groans for so long without moving, and you swallow dry for the last time when you see the door opening.
But the fear stayed there, caught in the middle of the road.
"Oh, dear Estephan!" Because the only thing that happens is a young lady jumping around to tie her arms around Hongbin's neck. Then, you understood why Hongbin never visited Liör, at least you thought you understood completely...
"Three days ago I stumbled falsely while walking with my dear mother..." And the woman, wearing expensive clothes, hair in curls, and a handkerchief that never left her left hand, said with a dramatic voice; it was only a swollen ankle!
And you watched everything, sitting not too many inches away, Jacqueline is the name of the girl who must surely possess many riches, and with yourself, you wonder how Hongbin got to know her: well, you can imagine as well the young woman throws herself at him.
"It still hurts, hurting so much." She continues to whimper, while Hongbin's hands examine her ankle; it's just a bloat! you grunt to yourself.
Leo puts the tray of teas on the table, and you pick the one of pink color without even thinking.
"Y/n, I do not think it's a good idea to take the leaf of sin one..." The cat whispers, slightly concerned by the deadly looks you give Hongbin and to the young lady. "The leaf is known to leave the nerves sensitive and..."
Hongbin's fingers approach her ankle, and in seconds, he puts his lips against her skin. You swallow all the tea at once.
"How do you feel now, Jacqueline?" He asks, genuinely believing the woman's words.
IT'S JUST A DAMN SWOLLEN ANKLE! You yell at yourself, practically exploding inside, but Hongbin can not look into your eyes at the moment, and soon goes away Jacqueline, with a huge smile on her face, waving goodbye to Hongbin who is much more interested in the fat tip he received.
"So Liör seems to have improved the clientele," he says, counting the coins.
And as soon as the words end, the bell rings again.
"Well, we can see the reason for the improvement in the clientele, my lord," says Leo, shortly before the door is opened, and what awaits on the other side is nothing but several versions of Miss Jacqueline, except with faces and names different, but all there, with their respective twisted ankles.
You hold yourself, still seated in the chair, enjoying the third cup of tea while watching with tedious and especially deadly eyes all happening just in front of the eyes and the wheezing sometimes happens through the body.
"My lady, I do not think it's a good idea to mix mulberry leaf tea..." Leo comments, but you ignore it by turning the fourth cup of tea.
"And then, use this blue-tinted vial every night..." And Hongbin is so focused, watching customer by customer, billing much more than in a full year, who does not notice when you bite your own lips, already too tired to notice that…
"Ah! Estephan! So much I missed you that I got sick!" Shouted the most reckless.
"Where are you, my dear Estephan? I felt such nostalgia on my loneliest nights. "And even more boldly they spoke.
After all, Hongbin is not just a charlatan, but a great womanizer.
"Uff..." he ran his fingers over his forehead, finally closing the door, passing the key, finally answering all the euphoric ladies, who at heart only wanted to get their hands back on the wizard, but then, with his eyes traversing the small room, unable to find who was looking, "where is Y/n, Leo?"
"Up there, my lord, she came up more than an hour ago."
The sight of the city of Liör caught your breath, night fell and the lights formed a sea drifting across the horizon, like lanterns floating, like the lanterns of your city, which should now be so many miles away.
You miss it, and when you realize the truth, how much you miss the mornings, the hot breads, and even the knock on Mr. Biggam's door, you lean back against the window.
"Young lady," the voice resounds behind you, and makes you turn suddenly. There's a mix of confusion on Hongbin's face. "Leo demands your presence down there..." He smiled at the corners of his lips, dimples becoming slightly apparent.
You pick up a few details on the face of Hongbin that you had not noticed before, with the half-light coming in through the window.
"Why are you up here?" He asks.
You grind your teeth, with sudden anger taking over the chest. Because you remember the reason for being there in the first place.
It's been four weeks, Hongbin! Your head shoots, eyes weighing with the frowning brow. You said you would solve all my problems! But here I am; dumb! While you care for crooked ankles!
Hongbin does not know how to react at first, looking deeply into your eyes as his eyes widen. He smiled at the corner of his mouth, lifting one of his fingers just in front of his face.
"The solution to all your problems is not quite what you think," he says with extreme confidence.
Of course, he is the great, incredible and infallible blue wizard!
It's not what it says on the poster! And you tread on the ground, beating. Looking at Hongbin's cynical face.
"And there's no line in the poster saying I'd solve all your problems," he countered, with so much confidence that it makes you open your lips in surprise, you definitely want to hit something on his face. "Only one of them..." And he softens his voice, seeing what goes deep in your eyes.
You go around the first floor thinking about so many things at once, especially in this, that you do not even know why you did not think of it before; to leave.
"But look," and Hongbin steps forward, raising his arms slightly, with a small crooked smile but still too bright for your taste, "I solved one!"
You to your feet, looking at you with huge eyes:
Resolved? One?
Approaching the blue-haired magician, who still has a smile on his face, now even greater as he sees your expression shift from the homicidal revolt to the anxious curiosity.
How and when? You ask, only with the voice deep in your eyes, and heavens, Hongbin realizes with a snap of how much he loves how your voice echoes in his head in this way; as if it were so natural.
Then he opens an even bigger smile.
"A house! And a job... Theoretically speaking" corrected, looking for the best words. "And that adds to two problems in one solution!"
Your eyebrows rose, with even more confusion and curiosity.
And which house? What job?
Hongbin's smile should have already said it all, you should be able to guess only by how many times you've seen that same smile.
"You are my assistant as of today, young lady."
And words do not even come out, neither of your throat, neither of your soul.
It sounds like a joke worthy of Hongbin. But it is not.
"You're welcome," he says at last, still with a smile on his face. And he expects some reaction from you, the one that does not come, instead, you close your expression, even more. "What? Didn't you like it? "
Would not that be the words, right? Because you take the first thing you find on the way, and a rough book flies through the air, straight into Hongbin's face, and just does not hit him right away because he swerves.
"This is the most peculiar way of thanking-"
I'm not a child, Hongbin! And your eyes are so furious that makes the words bitter in Hongbin's tongue; he feels anguish for the first time in so many years. Do not you dare treat me like a child like that!
"I do not see you as a child, Y/n, I never saw." And he walks a few steps. "I can see in your soul, in your manner, and I'm working to bring you to..."
And all you want is that he does not come any closer, so another book flies, the one that hits Hongbin's face in full.
I miss my home! My true body! You scream, at least that's what your eyes express as your mouth does not move, as more books fly through the air. And all you do is play around?! I thought I could trust you!
"Please understand, it's not as easy as-"
But you're just a charlatan...
"Y/n!" Hongbin exclaims, the wood shudders, but another book flies, and it flickers, still interrupting any word.
Just a womanizer! And the silence comes without any delay. Hongbin's lips linger, and your eyes are flooded, flooded without you even noticing.
Just leave me alone, Hongbin.
Hongbin stares at you, for minutes, you can see the pride parted in half on his face, the way the strands are misaligned, and the way he looks away, turning his back on you, saying,
"If that's what you want, young lady, that's what I'll do. Because, who am I but a charlatan to say to the contrary." And as if plunged into a trance, you only realize everything that escaped your lips when you hear the door closing.
It's almost like every night that Hongbin disappears before ten o'clock at night, but still, so different...
The night is especially cold in the town of Liör, especially busy at Madame Rorschiel's ladies' house, located on the farthest streets of the center, where the girls whispered excitedly, where smiles on red lips are especially thought to return gold coins.
It was so quiet in the night, there were not many visitors, and they all kept in this warm tedium, at least until the moment the front door opened, and when the bright eyes saw who it was. The chaos was done.
Hongbin did not like this mess that somehow always accompanied him when he was in Liör, because there were so many things there that he wanted to leave behind, as if a shadow hung forever in his head, in his pursuit.
Especially when he was standing there.
"How long, Master Estephan ..."
"You here?…"
It had been so long since he'd stepped foot in there, and in the midst of the bustle of girls crowding around him, Hongbin wrinkles his lips, is not there for this or that, then he pushes his way through the tumult.
"Excuse me, girls, but I'm not here to have fun." And with measured education, both in words and hands as he pulled them out of the way, Hongbin smiled awkwardly.
"Well, then, for what you came?" Asked one of the girls, the youngest. Hongbin had his own motive to be there, but the truth was that he was already deeply regretting. But it was so late, when he heard the voice, serenely sliding through the air:
"He's here to see me, girls." From the top of the stairs, her tongue sliding like a snake, there she was.
Hongbin's eyes shone, deep, a cold, melancholically hostile gleam, whispering between his lips:
"Rhosalia." This was her name, for which she answered with a slender smile.
"Shall I know what brings you here?" The tongue danced once more, fingers running through the wood as it descended the steps.
And Hongbin swallowed, with a heavy sigh. He looks deep into her green eyes, between strands of golden hair. How long have he not been doing this? How long had he not looked into her eyes without feeling his heart ignite in anger?
"I came looking for help." Feeling the touch of the icy hand close to his torso. So much sacrifice, for what? Why?
"Well," she smiles, becoming the true serpent she is. "And why does young Estephan want my help?" Hissing, she purrs.
"A spell," Hongbin looks away. "A spell placed by the Witch of the North."
Her eyes shine, intensely, tilting her head, searching Hongbin's eyes again.
"Then we'll talk about what you can pay me back, Prince Estephan..."
Late at night, there were small tears rolling down your cheeks, and you sobbed intensely as the bubbles and fish floated out your window, the bed was too big for your body, just like the pillow you clung to. The fire in the fireplace did not seem to be enough to heat you.
It's a deaf thump echoing down there that makes you jump out of bed. There is a crash of glass shattering and a faint buzz of voices mingling. You go to the bedroom door in a hurry, past the reflecting mirror to reveal your not-so-young image—something you do not notice, longer legs, less childish features—opening the door, all noises rises, and you go down the stairs with more haste still.
"My lord," Leo is whimpering. "What kind of trouble has you gotten into now?"
Hongbin is lying on the couch, eyes wandering and a more than foolish smile on his face, cheeks are flushed and you feel the anger start to burn in your chest.
"Quick, girl. Help me, Master Hongbin is under the influence of a spell... "
The tick-tack of watches fill your ears, the fire is already lit, and there is so much gold, purple and red that your eyes hurt, there are jewels studded in the corners of the ceiling, between the glass that lets the deep blue reflections come in.
And after much trouble, you and Leo succeed to throw Hongbin's body on the bed with the face sinking into the huge pillow.
"I'll be back in a second," Leo whispers, now, more breathless than ever, his paws caressing his back, "I'll bring hot tea."
And you, seeing Leo leaving the room, think of going to help him just when your hears the grumble coming from the almost unconscious blue-haired hill, still sunk on the pillow.
You come closer, to listen better.
"Stay," he says, almost inaudibly.
And between the bluish reflections of bubbles floating just above your head, you stay, sitting in the huge armchair right next to the bed where Hongbin fidgets one hour or another. He is plunged into a deep trance, which makes him smile like a fool between babbling sentences, meaningless.
And your feet are swaying, it is impossible to reach the ground. Watches are numerous on the walls and you wonder if you ask why so many, when...
"Do you hate me?" The words escape, you startle, your feet stop rocking above the floor, and your eyes go directly to Hongbin's face, still sunk against the pillow with the messy strands.
He is looking directly at you, with a painful tip in the back of his eyes.
You shake your head, hardly.
"That's good," he mutters, smiling again silly, "that's very good, Margó."
The slap directly hits the top of Hongbin's head that even complains of the pain. And you can leave the room, go away and go back to sleep, but you stay there, listening to the nonsense grunts of a magician with blue hair.
Blue hair as the sea.
Why is there a castle hidden deep in the sea, and what evil would it have to stay there? In a magician's room trapped under a spell even more foolish than himself?
You sigh. Your feet are swaying again, and Leo is taking so long. Fish swim carefree but you worry. It is impossible to take your eyes off Hongbin's blue strands, or forget Leo's words.
Without any warning, your fingers are already on Hongbin's hair, and his expression seems to ease. And then it closes, weighing with a dense shadow, Hongbin tightens the pillow, with extreme force.
"Rhosalia," and grunts between his teeth, your fingers stop, retracting. "It is my promise, Rhosalia, it is my promise that I will take revenge on this..."
And there is no more babbling word, but there is a thread of pain in his chest, as if you could feel all the pain of the blue-haired wizard who lives in a castle submerged in the sea.
The fuss of the birds singing, the chats thrown in the wind, and the smell of fresh apples are all that fills the street, while you hold your basket, the clothes tightly tightened, as well as the shoes.
You're in a hurry to get the best vegetables from the market, with a few coins in your pockets. But as soon as you see the window, crossing the second corner, still listening to the conversations in the background, you stop right there.
How can you forget the big prom? Your throat grips when your lips open in surprise, it's the most beautiful dress you've ever laid eyes on in all your life, the fabric in pink lines, the white silk and...
You do not delay in entering the store, the heart consumed by the glitter in the eyes. The price is high, but that's not what makes you twist your lips. How could a child's body fit into a dress made for a lady? You sigh heavily, apparently you will miss your long-awaited dance.
"Well, well, my young lady," you jump to a fright as you listen, and especially as you notice the gray-haired lady at your side, with a huge, ungainly smile. "Why so much sadness in the eyes? Is not it a day of happiness for a young women today? "
The lady analyzes you with her eyes, opening the expression in understanding for your depressed state.
"But look, my dear," and her wrinkled hands weave themselves through the cloth, taking the heavy dress and she almost fell back, barely balancing herself.
You help her, with as much as you can, almost falling together. And when everything seems in order, the lady is still smiling at you.
"See," she spins, the dress spins too and shines, literally shines. "Even the younger ones deserve to have fun, do not you think?"
You twist your nose, at the same time agreeing and, you do not understand anything of what she say; she seems to have one less screw.
"It's a magic dress! Wear it and he will listen to your heart. Do not want to try?"
And on the cold night. The balloons lit up the skies and the streets were deserted, everyone was in the Great Ball, and there was only this lady running, holding tight her dress, her hair caught in a bun.
The dress had done its work, there you were with your body, with your true body, but of course, without any voice. But that was not what you were worried about, not even, the voice was the least if compared to how much your heart was racing.
All because, minutes ago, you were in the great hall of the castle...
That's it. You bought the dress and escaped late in the afternoon through the back door, which led to the street of the vegetable fair. The fantastic thing was that you did not need to mislead Hongbin, but only Leo—namely, it was enough to throw the ball of wool far away. And even more fantastic was that the dress was really magical.
Partly.
For remembering; your voice is still stuck. But it does not matter so much, what you want is to be at the ball, to listen to good music and to dance and that's what you get, without great difficulties.
Music fills your ears with the most beautiful notes and you must hold your satisfied laughter in view of such a beauty of the great hall, such is the beauty of the whole ball, the jewels ornamenting the necks, the beauty of the footsteps...
It's your night away from more trouble, so you do not refuse when a handsome young man invites you to a dance, and without any word—you know—you accept with a subtle smile, being led by the gentleman to the middle of the great hall.
"What do you think of the ball?" The boy, who has a bright aura, asks subtly next to your ear.
You nod, without a word, looking into the eyes of the young man dressed in white robes, his blond hair combed back, and a beautiful smile formed between his lips.
"I am very glad to know that such a beautiful lady is enjoying my dance."
You nod again, and it turns out that the words are only processed in your head with a few seconds of delay. Then your smile kind of petrifies: it is none other than Prince Jaehwan!
And there you are, dancing with a prince. But it does not look so magical, at least, not the way you imagined it. And then, the prince realizing your lack of disposition, or more specifically; lack of speech.
"If it's not too much of an invasion." He asks, "What name should I call you?"
You freeze from head to toe, music stops and dance couples scatter to make way for new couples. Prince Jaehwan is waiting for an answer and you are almost fainting with the pressure.
"Excuse me?" The sharp and gently voice rose high over his shoulder. "Prince, this is your night but, you're scaring the young lady here."
It is not too long that you feel the hand holding yours, pulling you away from the prince and the eminent danger that made your belly still cold.
"Princes are a very difficult species to deal with, miss." But the relief lasts so little, because when you turn to know your savior's identity, what you find is a half-mask, and the eyes are bright and sharp. "But..." What you find are the black wires, which can barely disguise, lowering slightly to kiss your hand. "May I have this dance?"
What makes you scream inside your head is not the fact of having danced with Prince Jaehwan, but the fact that the second ball dance is being spent with Hongbin; in his incredibly terrible disguise.
You are so accustomed that Hongbin could drink a potion and turn into a cat, a dog, or any other creature in the world: you would still recognize him.
How?
By the glint in the eyes, this glow that you can not escape; is something you notice in silence as you follow his footsteps while his hand is holding your hand up, the other hand placed behind your back.
There is a silence, a deep silence, but not uncomfortable, because it is like being floating well above the clouds, is this the feeling that dance with Hongbin brings. There might be no music, but it would simply be in your head.
But it does not last long, in fact, it lasts almost nothing. And then Hongbin walks away, with that smile on lips that you know so well.
He holds in your hand, depositing a kiss, but before he leaves, you unconsciously hold onto the sleeve fabric.
His eyes turn to your face, seeing your lips parted, the truth is that Hongbin knows what's happening.
Then he smiled, approaching a step and a half. You could expect everything, except what happens soon after, when your eyes open, huge, when Hongbin lowers only slightly, the face so close to yours.
He leaves a subtle touch to the corner of your lips, a soft and gently kiss, saying with a sigh, "Do not fear, we'll be more likely to share a dance soon, young lady."
Your chest breaks, all at once.
And you finally realize.
The real spell in which you have been throwed.
"For now, our time is over," he sighs, letting the cold night swallow you.
Letting your chest inflamate.
The real spell is that; you are in love with the wizard with hair as blue as the sea.
That's how, with this clash of reality of finally understand what is happening in this small but daring heart, you escape the ball, feeling the magic vanish from the skin, feeling that the body will soon return to its infantile size.
Leo knocks, altogether, eight times at the door and no answer.
"Ms? We're late for breakfast... " He sighs and on the other side of the door it sounds more like a whine too low but still audible to you, who has not slept at all night.
You swing legs in the air, the dress is tossed under the bed and your pajamas are now so loose, or it's just your head again getting accustomed to the senses of such a strangely smaller body.
Digging your face deeper into the pillows, completely curled under the sheets: it seems the restlessness never goes away from the chest, not for a second.
And you're hungry, the belly hoarse, but at the same time you aren't hungry at all. You hear a ninth knock on the door, but pretend not to listen, after all, Leo is too educated to simply enter.
And believing in that, that you will starve this morning, when blam! echoes room inside.
You jump out of bed.
Like scared cat, pulling the sheets out of the way.
"M-my lord..." says Leo.
"Wake up, young lady!" And your face is made of tomatoes at the exact same hour as you puts eyes on Hongbin's face, who have a huge smile on his lips.
He walks without hesitation to your closet, opening the doors determined to keep that tone of voice that is strange to you; but only because seconds ago there was so much calmness.
"We're leaving today!"
So you really wake up—not that you've slept anything at all—really jumping out of bed this time. Hongbin understands your exclamation even without looking on your face.
"To the mountains of Swonhill!" And there's so much excitement in his voice, exclaiming loudly, maybe even the fish are listening and standing by the window to watch what it's all about. "Choose your warmer clothes, it will be cold and for sure, the nights will be longer!"
But in your head only two things occur:
The first, of course, is the relief of realizing Hongbin not even suspect about last night.
And the second, this you only realize as soon as you see Hongbin by himself tossing his clothes out of his wardrobe, is the purest desperation.
We can not go like this! I can not-
"Of course you can." And he says. "I'm giving you permission to take a vacation, assistant."
Of course you'd slap his face. But you does not. Because he opens one of those mouth-corner smiles, showing the best angle of his dimples.
"The rumors are that there we'll have clues on how to get you and your voice back, young lady."
And you stop right there, staring at him with a sigh in your throat, you can only pull the air in and nothing else.
You love him so much...
"Of course... that's where the women are going too."
And that's where you really hit a slap on Hongbin's face. And yes, you still love the wizard with blue hair like the sea on the horizon who meets the sky, because it is there that; there is a castle where a prince lives without a kingdom, a castle on the sea.
Summary: Hongbin helps you calm down when you stress about being pregnant on your wedding day
So this was requested a few months ago, I lost who sent in the request but I know it was: “Can I get a Hongbin fluff when you will get married and you are worried if you will fit in your wedding dress because you are 7 months pregnant with twin boys, and he helps to get your worries away”
It makes me super happy to write this because Hongbin is essentially my bias and this made me so :))))) because he’ll be such a great dad in the future i love hongbin so much. My soft little baby boy aw
I was actually considering doing a second part of this. maybe set several months later !!! I think this turned out a lot more successful than my Wonsik fluff oops (I’ll try to edit that to actually make it bearable), but I hope you enjoy this. Originally I wasn’t going to write anything on this blog if it didn’t have smut in but I’m glad I went against that :)
So this is just a little post to fill the gap between when I post more smut :) I hope you enjoy and I hope it was actually fluffy and gave you some feels??? idk
You had the tendency to become anxious over situations that weren’t as bad as they seemed. Now was one of those times.
You’d just arrived home from the doctors after finding out that you were 3 months pregnant, with twins no less. For you that was not some of the best news you could get, since you were getting married to Hongbin in 4 months time.
It wasn’t his reaction about the pregnancy that worried you, no. You and Hongbin had been talking about kids for a long while now and obviously since you were due to get married, you’d planned to spend the rest of your life with him and to one day have children. You just didn’t understand why it had to be right now of all times. By the time your wedding date reached you’d be a good 7 months pregnant and bulging out of your dress. Oh god not your dress. It was going to cost thousands to be altered. You let out a load groan and threaded your fingers through your hair, tugging at it. At this point you didn’t care about the fact that you’d probably be a bald bride too.
Hongbin was in such a daze right now, over the moon that the two of you were having your own babies. Fair enough the two of you were planning on having them a few years down the line, agreeing for you to keep the use of the pill to keep unplanned parenthood at bay. Despite this factor, he couldn’t hide the excitement that buzzed through his veins. He was like a little boy who’d just got a puppy for Christmas.
You weren’t sure why you weren’t feeling very well the past few weeks, so Hongbin suggested going to see your doctor about this unusual sickness. The last thing you were expecting was the news that you were pregnant…especially with twins.
Your first initial reaction was to turn towards Hongbin, anxious for what his reaction would be. He was staring at the doctor in disbelief, almost too amazed at her words. He was sure he’d heard her write and stuttered asking for her to repeat what she’d said. After hearing it for a second time where this time he knew he’d heard it right, his face broke out into a gigantic smile, brighter than the sun. He was ecstatic, running over to you then dropping onto his knees and placing multiple kisses across the small bump that sat under your t-shirt. For him there would never be any news greater than finding out you were carrying his child.
Each passing second made you more nervous and you couldn’t understand why you were over-thinking so much, but Hongbin’s chirpy mood was making it worse. Somehow you just couldn’t understand how he could be optimistic about this? Didn’t he do the maths and work out that it’d be your wedding soon?
He was beside himself, “Y/n, can you believe this? We’re…we’re having a baby..two babies,”
“Yes Hongbin I am well fucking aware that I’m pregnant, now could you do me a favour and shut up about it?” You snapped sharply, then let out a sigh sliding down the wall and sitting with your knees up and your arms crossed, hiding your face from your fiancé who was looking over at you with a distressed expression on his face. You didn’t look up when you heard him walk over, but instead mumbled an incoherent apology into your arms.
“I’m sorry Binnie, I didn’t mean to snap and get angry at you, you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just my hormones are so whack right now. I’m sorry to be such a troublesome fiancée.” You sighed again, the tears rolling down your cheeks with no end. You weren’t entirely sure why you were crying, but you decided not to question it.
He silently rested his head on your shoulder, quiet for a moment. “You’re not a troublesome fiancée, you’re the best damn fiancée in the world. I think you’re so beautiful and incredible and strong and I couldn’t be happier with any other person in the world. I know you feel stressed right now, but I promise our wedding will be great.” He nudged you then, sitting up to move opposite you. “Hey, at least our kids will be in the wedding photo with us.” You let out a soft giggle at his dumb jokes and he pulled you into his embrace.
Even feeling his arms around you helped to ground you, the situation felt so much more bearable with Hongbin here with you and you wondered why you were even stressing about it anyway. Of course it was inevitable that you’d have to deal with a bump since you were going to be pregnant, but there was no point in stressing about how you’d look because you knew Hongbin would find you beautiful no matter what.
There was an unspoken silence for several minutes, just trying to be in the moment with your future husband. Hongbin spoke again in a soft voice, “Us four will all be okay. Me and the boys will always be here to look after you.”
“Hongbin… you don’t know if they’re going to be boys or not.”
He just grinned at you knowingly, “Of course they will! They’ll both be boys just as handsome and charming as I am!” he joked and you snorted, poking at his dimple as you snuggled in tightly to his chest.
As a part of my Birthday Prompt Party, Out of this world is dedicated to @dat-town who has requested #31 “You know, no one bothered me this much when I was dead.” in a mythological setting with a VIXX member. Hope you like it, dear! <3
Words: 2934
Genre: fluff, angst, drama, tragedy
Main Characters: Lee Hongbin x Kim Yuna (OC); Lee Taekwoon
Setting: Greek mythology AU
Warning: death
“Does that mean that I’m fired?” the young man gasped with a slightly offended expression, signs of confusion clearly written all over his face. It was as if he didn’t want to believe what he had just heard or assumed that it was all part of a big joke.
“Just look at you! You already talk like those humans!” the older man snickered with obvious pity in his voice. “I’m sure there won’t be a problem. As soon as you earn back my trust, you can come back and claim back your immortality,” the bearded man announced, his voice firm and confident. He made it very clear that he was the only one who had a say in the matter.
After all, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He was Zeus, the god above all while the young man was only at the bottom, if not the last one. No one thought that he had a difficult job but who were they to belittle something that they had never truly experienced – to be precise, they may have experienced but not whole-heartedly. Who were they to make fun of the most complicated and twisted part of a human’s life that he tried to protect as much as possible?
He may be the face of the most cringe-worthy day of the year but he wasn’t completely useless. He was Eros (more commonly called as Cupid, although it was only his Latin name) and if he didn’t exist, the world would turn into a constant battlefield because of hatred and rage.
However, after what Zeus had said, he wasn’t Cupid anymore, only hypothetically. He was forced to leave the Olympus and live as a human as a punishment for his crime – neglecting his duties for the sake of his appearance. It was funny enough how he always tried his best to help the heart-broken and now he was one of them and no one could be there to mend his heart. He was alone and helpless just like a forsaken ex-god should be.
How can an ex-god earn back Zeus’ trust without all his powers – seduction, manipulation and the ability of creating little things such as flowers and bouquets of chocolate? That was a bloody good question.
Eros had no idea in the beginning, so instead of coming up with one, he moped and cried for an entire week, using up more than 15 boxes of super soft tissues. All he got from his superior was a well-furnished flat, some money and a list of reminders about what he should and shouldn’t do as a suspended god living in human form. He was partly glad because he finally had the opportunity to breathe, feel his heart beating, smell the fragrance of sweet dandelions, taste the creamy caramel in a piece of cake, in other words he was now able to touch, feel and live. There was only one thing that he forgot: gods were invisible to the human eye.
Small wonder why he was so dumbfounded when he first moved out of his flat and one of his neighbours came up to him to say hi. He needed to remind himself that he was no longer a god, therefore he could be seen by everyone.
“So what’s your name, sweetheart?” the elderly woman asked with a genuine smile, her eyes filled with curiosity.
“I’m E−“ he started casually and almost facepalmed when he realised that he wasn’t allowed to use his real name. It was one of the beloved reminders of Zeus. He said that if he exposed himself and his name was mentioned more than 3 times in his presence, he would be fired for real. He wouldn’t even have the chance to go back. Eros was quite taken aback at first but when he realised that he had other names too, he wasn’t so terrified anymore. People would most likely call him Amor or Cupid, right? No one knew about Eros nowadays, only that so-called Cupid from commercials and toe-curling couple product names.
“I’m−“ his eyes frantically searched for a proper name and when he caught sight of the newspaper in the woman’s hand, he read out the first name that he happened to lay his eyes on. “I’m Lee Hongbin?” he averted his eyes back to the granny, plastering a friendly smile on his face. “Yeah, I’m Lee Hongbin. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kim! You have such a lovely haircut,” he complimented right away, his generous comments not leaving him even as a human being.
From that day on, he was Lee Hongbin who turned his flat into an office since he found the perfect way to regain his position – he became a dating coach. He helped wandering souls who were constantly thinking about that sought-after love of their life yet they didn’t have any luck in love.
He was there to help them with his generous tips and thanks to his long years of playing the matchmaker, his business was quite fruitful. Even worried parents and friends came to him who wanted to put an end to the lonely days of their loved ones and their request usually led to a beautifully blooming relationship involving that said acquaintance.
Truth to be told, Hongbin was enjoying his job to the fullest. He could still do what he used to do as a god but he was closer to the humans, so he had the chance to see what the couples became after their first confessions. As Eros, he did nothing but be present at the time when they fell in love but as a dating couch, his clients sometimes came back to say thank you. Frankly, he couldn’t have been happier. He loved the smile on their faces, the way they gazed at each other and the little sparkles that accompanied them.
He was doing so well but as expected, his job didn’t come without obstacles. There was only one female whom he couldn’t help, no matter how hard he tried. He did everything he could, even though she wasn’t his client.
Kim Yuna was working at the café where he always bought his morning vanilla latte and there was a frequent customer who couldn’t look away when the pretty barista was around. It was obvious to Hongbin that the guy had a crush on her but she seemed ignorant to his obvious stares and nervous half-smiles. After several failed attempts and a conversation with the said guy – Jung Taekwoon −, Hongbin finally blurted out that Taekwoon was in love with her but he was also too shy to admit his feelings.
Yuna’s jaw dropped upon hearing his words but her bewilderment soon turned into something totally different – guilt.
“I’m sorry about your friend, Hongbin, but I don’t like him. We had talked a couple of times before but I don’t feel anything when I’m with him,” she admitted as she ran a hand through her obsidian-black curls.
Hongbin didn’t want to tell her that he didn’t even know Taekwoon, let alone being friends with him, because there was no use of correcting her. Instead, he wanted to convince her because there was nothing more heart-breaking than an unrequired love.
“Just give him a chance! He needs time to open up but I can guarantee that he’s a kind-hearted, gentle and caring human being,” he pleaded almost frantically, giving her the puppy eyes look. Yuna furrowed her eyebrows for a moment but her features softened a bit after that.
“Fine,” she let out a sigh, her eyes already searching for the tall guy at the table beside the window.
“Believe me! You won’t regret that you gave him a chance,” Hongbin clapped his hands enthusiastically while a sudden pang invaded his heart. He was so taken aback by the subtle pain that was suddenly rushing through him that he didn’t even see when Yuna sat down at Taekwoon’s table.
It turned out that Yuna and Taekwoon were a wrong pair from the start. She was bold, sassy, cheeky and playful while the guy was introverted, quiet, sensitive and easily hurt by jokes. Hongbin couldn’t mind her behaviour, he was actually attracted to her in a way that he had never experienced before.
On the other hand, for her and her biggest fan, things didn’t seem to work out well despite all the tricks and gifts that Hongbin gave them, showering them with date ideas and couple activities. The fact that Yuna wanted to give up from the very start pissed him off and he couldn’t help but reprimand her when he couldn’t take it anymore.
“You know, no one bothered me this much when I was dead,” he remarked not so gently and not until Yuna’s eyes widened, did he realise what he had just said.
“What?”
“Oh nothing, nothing! It was just a joke,” he tried to shrug it off and scamper away as soon as possible but she didn’t seem to be convinced. She took a step closer to him, squinting at him with suspicion-filled orbs.
“You were always acting particularly weird. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were a god or something,” Yuna stared at him for long seconds that seemed like hours for him.
He was always sure that he would be exposed in the future because he had blurted out something that he shouldn’t have. He was always blabbing after all. That’s also something that he could use to convince humans to believe him. He talked a lot and talked fast, so instead of trying to puzzle up his words, they gave in.
But what if he said something this time that could indicate that he was a god? What if she found out who he was? Would she think of him differently? Would it even matter?
Yuna gave him a final stare and took a step back, giving him some personal space. As soon as she turned around to head back to the counter, Hongbin let out a weary sigh.
“I always knew that she was smart,” he muttered under his breath as he wiped some sweat off his face. She was so close, he was almost caught. Almost.
“What?” Yuna turned around immediately, her head tilted in confusion. “So you are really a god?” she exclaimed not caring about the astonished and judging gazes she earned from the customers around her.
Hongbin was trying to find the right words to say but he froze on the spot, not knowing what to do. He had only a little experience with humans, so he never had to lie to anyone.
As a forsaken god, he couldn’t know that his silence was a bigger indication of his identity than any lie could ever be.
“Gosh! I can’t believe it! I’ve been hanging out with a god,” she giggled whole-heartedly without a hint of fear or judgement in her eyes. She shook her head in disbelief as she walked towards a customer who wanted to order, an amused smile never leaving her attractive lips.
Hongbin stood there like a statue, except the fact that he awkwardly blinked like he didn’t want to believe that the scene in front of his eyes was actually happening and it wasn’t just a part of his dream. Kim Yuna had really figured out who he was and didn’t make fun of him? Laugh at him, take pictures of him and tell silly god-related jokes? Did she really just… smile? Show that gorgeous smile of hers that was as rare as snow in August?
He couldn’t help but feel proud. There was an oddly unfamiliar sensation pumping in his veins, motioning his heart to beat faster and his lips to raise higher and higher until he was also smiling. He showed a smile of his that neither of them knew existed – the loving one filled with childish excitement and innocence.
He loved people in general, he really did. Otherwise, how could he be so eager to help them to find their other half? But this kind of affection was different because he received it and not just gave it away. It was different because he experienced it with her. With his other half.
Yuna was pretty cool about the god thing. She really believed him, stating that she was suspicious from the moment Hongbin read the menu upside-down or when he had no idea about how a vanilla latte tasted. Not to mention the time when he started laughing when her hand accidentally brushed his when she placed his order on the table. He had even blurted out once that he never touched a human before. It was a sentence that he didn’t even remember. Maybe he was too pumped up to care about the words he said out loud.
After he managed to stop her from calling him by his real name, he was no longer in danger. He knew she would keep his secret, and the fact that they both shared this knowledge actually brought them closer.
They were both sassy, so there was no way either of them got furious since they knew their words didn’t carry an air of seriousness. They teased each other a lot – almost like young lovers −, played various silly games and hang out a lot. Yuna was always amused when he tried something for the first time, let it be karaoke, going by train or trying sushi. As he was falling in love with the world around him, finding beauty in everything new and special, he was slowly falling in love with her, too.
He could never imagine that being in love was such a magical feeling. It was as if love was something out of this world. His whole body was reacting to the way she smiled, to the sound of her airy laugh and to the touch of her roughish skin. Getting to know her was like peeling an onion (new favourite food of his!).Whenever he thought there was nothing else left, there was always a new layer underneath.
She was sometimes as fragile as a glass sculpture while other times she stood still like a mountain. She could get emotional too easily or not feel any sympathy at all. She could play the little kid who wanted to have popcorn at the cinema or the responsible adult who showed Hongbin where to stand to not get hit by the train. She could lazily lay on the couch, whining about the fact that boys could never understand the pain of a cramp or jump up and down in excitement when she got a pay rise. She was a mixture of everything and he loved all of her colours.
Truth to be told, he didn’t neglect his job but he spent less time with his clients than with Yuna. They haven’t confessed yet and he wasn’t sure they would. He wasn’t even sure that it was how love was meant to feel or if Yuna felt it too because she didn’t say anything obvious.
Meanwhile, the fact that Zeus hadn’t even contacted him bothered Hongbin a lot, he didn’t even know what he was doing wrong. Because he was doing something wrong if his superior didn’t want to see him, right? On the other hand, he wasn’t even sure that he wanted to go back. At least, not until it was the matter of life and death.
It started as a usual day for him – counselling in the morning and spending time with Yuna in the afternoon. However, as he was about to get to the café where she was working, he was so immersed into smelling the rose bouquet that he had bought her that he didn’t care about anything else around him. That was a fatal mistake on his part.
Everything happened so fast. It was now only a blur to him. The stretching tyres of the bus, the pain in his chest, the warmth of his blood, the sirens of the ambulance and Zeus’ words.
“Choose, Eros! You’ve proved that you are still worthy of your title, so you can come back to the Olympus to fulfil your duties as the god of Love. Or you can choose to die as a human. You have no other choice. You can’t go back to her, no matter how much you would like to.”
Hongbin was selfish. He wanted to beg Zeus to let him live as a human because he didn’t want to die. He wanted to see her, to tell her how she made him feel, to tell her that he loved her, even though he had no idea if that was how love was supposed to feel. He wanted to caress her cheeks for one last time, he wanted to hear her laugh and gosh, how much he wanted to kiss her!
Hongbin was selfish. It may destroy him to see her again while she can’t see him but he wanted to do it. No matter the pain, he wanted to be around her. Even if he was invisible to her, the time they had spent together was not enough for him. He wanted more.
“I’ll go back to the Olympus,” he whispered with his last breathe as his heart stopped beating forever.
Now he knew. Eros, the god of love, finally knew why humans loved the feeling of being loved. Now he knew that love was something precious, something inexplicable and something out of this world.
