— dandelion hanok.

@✽ changmin j. minho wags his finger and shakes his head simultaneously, syncing the left-right movement of his finger and head. "no, no, that's where you're wrong, my dear changmin," he says before he leans in closer to his friend, his eyes sparkling. "midnight is when this town comes alive."

usually, by that statement, people would mean the lesser known nightlife of dandelion — the dive bars and nightclubs that would silently open their doors to mostly dandelion's young. and while minho was aware of that, he was mainly referring to the quieter life of dandelion at night. the kind where the night owls roam the empty streets and appreciate the scenes that one can't see in the day.

minho used to be one of these night owls, particularly back when he first moved to dandelion, but with a job that required him to wake up early, minho had less opportunities to wander around at night. now that he had the time, he wanted to extend an invite to changmin, whom minho believed could use one of these midnight strolls.

though, as expected, convinving ji changmin was proving to be difficult. guess minho would have to switch up his strategy. "well, we could save this for daytime... i can just go get it myself and pass it to you tomorrow," he says as he looks at the floor, kicking his feet around absent-mindedly. "go to the mountain, by myself, alone at midnight."

minho hadn't wanted to resort to guilt-tripping his friend. changmin was a good friend, and minho didn't want to force him into things. but it was precisely that changmin was his friend, minho wanted the boy to live a little. in his heart, minho promised that if changmin didn't want to do this anymore after the first time, he would stop. but he wanted changmin to explore a little, at least once.

"i just wanted to do something special with my friend," minho delivers what he hoped would be the killing point, looking up from the floor at his friend with pleading eyes.

@✽ minho l. “you are ridiculous!” changmin hisses, eyes narrowed and shoulders up in high defense. “also you know my mom is asleep by now! like everyone else should be!!”

of course changmin can see minho’s small smile that creeps up the side of his face, like a motion he isn’t fully aware of doing. changmin is, likewise, very suspicious. to be called out at midnight is already a huge warning sign, but there’s a certain degree of loyalty he has for minho after their years together. it’s not as though changmin owes minho anything, but he does know that minho has been a very wonderful friend, and changmin will always repay kindness tenfold.

still, going to a Mountain of all places at Midnight… did minho get replaced with someone else?

“what’s with you?” changmin jabs at minho’s shoulder with his index finger. “are you really lee minho?? why are you making all these strange requests today.”

he narrows his eyes, pulling his coat tighter around himself. “also, why can’t we see this wonderful thing in the daytime?? when there’s light?? how are we gonna see anything when it’s pitch black outside…”

he’s vaguely aware that he’s starting to sound like he’s whining, but also, if he Is whining (which he isn’t) then he’s perfectly justified in doing so. after all, he’s standing outside at midnight in the cold with his friend who suddenly wants to embark on some sort of adventure… changmin is not sure where things are going, but he’s slightly concerned… to put it lightly.

@✽ minghao x. he decides he likes listening to minghao talk. prior to this, he had only ever heard the usual “delivery!” at the entrance of the hanok, the slightly muffled responses to all of the usual questions asked. a warmth seeps into changmin as he realizes that this is the first time he’s heard minghao speak freely and of his own will, no script to follow or dry small talk from changmin prompting him. minghao’s voice feels like putting your hand into the square of sun that comes through your window, the warmth gradually reaching to all parts of changmin’s body the more he’s exposed to.

“it must be tough to be alone…” changmin mumbles, tucking his chin down into his arms that rest on top of his knees. “to be away from your family for so long is really painful…”

minghao’s thoughts are somber. they scratch at changmin’s hard like a small thorn, tearing into the tender parts and leaving a sting. the idea of being away from family for as long as minghao has, to be into a new culture and country and a new Language to reach a dream… well, changmin hasn’t even gone to another town in his own country, much less a different country entirely.

“you’re really strong, minghao,” changmin’s brows knit together, thoughts swirling in his brain that he tries to filter through. “you’re doing all this to achieve a bigger goal… and even that goal is something that helps others!! you’re a really good person.

“i feel that if you’re lonely, the hanok is the worst place to go… it’s quiet and isolated and nobody really wants to talk to anyone else. everyone here is wanting an escape of some sort… but i’m here? so i’m not sure if i fit in or if i’m, like, the odd one out.”

changmin shrugs. “recently i’ve been wondering if this is where i belong… but i think i do belong here. especially if i can talk to people with stories like yours.”

he raises his head when minghao extends a pastry out to him, he scent drifting over to him and replacing the sting with that gentle warmth once more. he smiles up at minghao, eyes scrunching up as he reaches out to grab the pastry. his fingers briefly touch minghao’s cold palm, changmin’s own fingers warm from being tucked away.

“hey, are you sure you’re warm enough?” changmin tosses the pastry back and forth between his hands, relishing in the little bit of warmth remaining. “you can always go inside if you’re really cold! you’re always welcome here.”

he pauses to unwrap the pastry, the sweet scent becoming even stronger.

“also, i know we started with more serious things,” changmin takes a bite, closing his eyes to savor the textures and flavors. “but how about things you like? my favorite color is yellow… and you?”

changmin’s eyes open once more and he stares at minghao, who is both in focus and not. the nighttime has him enveloped in a way that he seems like he’s some sort of hazy figment of his imagination… a little bit here, a little bit not.

“it’s a basic question, but,” changmin shrugs. “sometimes you have to start at the basics!”

@✽ changmin j. minho sees changmin approaching and whatever facade he was trying to keep up for the past few minutes falls apart instantly, in its place a wide grin showing off all of minho's pearly whites. if life was a computer game, on the screen right now would be a big pop up celebrating minho's achievement of getting changmin out of the house at midnight. minho thinks he deserves a plaque for completing such a feat.

minho nods his head eagerly, trying to be as convincing as he could, as he says, "of course it's legendary!" clasping his hands together and batting his eyelashes, with mock excitement in his voice, he drags out the next few words as he continues, "only the best for my 'bestest friend ever'!"

hoping that his very emphasised words appeased his friend, minho quickly does away with the act and returns to his neutral face. "also, would like to clarify that i did not make you choose me over your mother," he says, crossing his arms just like his friend. "i'm sure if you asked, she would have let you come out, and then you can get the best of both worlds."

now, minho has to move on to the next step of his plan. the grin returns to his face as minho leans in slightly. "but the thing i wanted to pass to you? well, unfortunately, it's near the little mountain nearby." the story's a little farfetched and changmin probably wouldn't fall for it, but he was already out of the house, so minho is hoping his friend will just agree to the next part. minho does a little pout and a small shrug before adding, "if you want to get it, we have no choice but to head there."

@✽ changmin j. Minghao offers the other man a smile, lips curling very briefly that it might have been a trick of the light. He shakes his head, thinking, ‘it’s futile. It seems as if this man won’t leave me alone.’ And in all honesty, he isn’t even sure if he wants to be. Left alone, that is.

“What do you wanna know?” he probes, his eyes ever watchful for any discrepancy that might appear on Changmin’s smooth features. The other man remains smiling, a grin that Minghao has had memorized even through the blindness of his closed lids (he would be able to remember it each time if he wanted to and thought hard enough).

Ah, this is what attraction must be, Minghao silently echoes to himself; he feels helpless against it. And yet, he still fails to recognize the one thing that might even be more important than that mere attraction.

Darting his tongue out as if in thought, and ultimately already tasting the coldness that has seeped beyond his thermal jacket, into his skin, Minghao starts, “I have no family here. Really. I’m just alone. But I’m taking medicine though, so I guess that’s okay: I can make up for all the lost time once I become a doctor.”

He pauses just for good measure and trains his eyes to the man across him. And seeing that Changmin is also closely watching him, he continues, eyes transfixed, “Although I swear, I can feel really lonely at times. After all, this is a foreign country and I went here when I was young —”(breaks eye contact, and heaving a heavy sigh, continues) “there are times that my mother asks me whether I’m doing okay, and as their son, I don’t want them to worry despite how hard it could be. There is also the topic of cultural barrier, and of course, I miss it. I miss my hometown, and I just wanna go home at times. More often than not.”

His voice trails off, the darkness of the night has reached for him, shrouding his figure as if he’s become one with the night, the slope of his shoulders rising and falling. But if Minghao looks, he wouldn’t be able to tell where they are.

He stretches out his arms, dispersing the solemn spell that has unexpectedly taken hold of them, and offers Changmin a wrapped pastry. Still warm despite the cold weather.

“You look hungry, you can get that if you want it. I’d charge it on me,” he says with the glint of a smile.

@✽ minho l. ji changmin should really be awarded the “Best Friend in the Entire Universe” award for his tremendous compassion toward lee minho. heart beating a mile a second as he attempts to throw his coat on over his sleep clothes without rustling too much in his room. his mom is the world’s lightest sleeper and the hanok’s walls are not exactly the most soundproof. gritting his teeth to keep from wheezing through his mouth, he shuffles out and slides his feet out of his house slippers and shoves them into his old sneakers. his countless years quietly entering and exiting guests rooms to change out sheets has gifted him the ability to sneak out undetected–an otherwise untapped skill of his.

the moment he shuts the door to their living space, he finally releases the breath he’d been holding all that time. the warm relief of a successful escape fills him, before the cold air quickly sobers him once more. pivoting on his foot with an exasperated sigh, he exits the courtyard and shuffles out on the main road outside their hanok. he can see minho standing nonchalantly outside, hardly moving even as he waits. squinting, changmin tries to see if he can make out whatever “Amazing Thing” minho brought, but he can’t see anything particularly interesting.

“it better be legendary if you’re making me come out at midnight!” changmin hisses as he approaches, arms crossed tightly across his chest. “also i wanna hear you say i’m the best friend ever because tonight i chose you over my mom!! that’s True Devotion!”

@✽ changmin j. minho giggled at the texts he had just received from changmin, but it only took him five seconds before he forced the corners of his mouth to stay put as he put his game face on. changmin could be coming out any minute now, and minho wanted, no, needed, to be prepared. convincing his friend to even leave his house at this hour was half the battle won, but the remaining half definitely wouldn't be easy. in fact, the thing that minho said he wanted to pass to changmin was all just a bait, and minho needed to keep up the act if he wanted the next part of his plan to work.

standing under a streetlight in the otherwise dark road, minho fiddled with his phone, waiting for updates from changmin. knowing his goody-two-shoes of a friend, any update would probably be of changmin deciding not to break the rules and instead, choosing to stay at home, again. minho couldn't have that happening; he wanted changmin to live life a little for once. hence, minho prayed that his phone remained quiet for the next few minutes, at least.

so, with his face as neutral as he could possibly make it to be, minho waited outside dandelion hanok, willing his friend to show up soon.

@✽ minghao x. “aww your body’s been aching?” changmin frowns, tucking his hands under his arms as he speaks. “that’s no good… have they been overworking you at the bakery??”

minghao’s question in response is perfectly reasonable and expected, but it still just slightly catches changmin off guard. he suddenly feels a little trickle of embarrassment, something akin to discomfort for being idle. it’s not as though changmin has never had a moment’s rest, but he’s usually in the midst of work when at the hanok and minghao has rarely seen him Not scurrying around wildly.

“the guests aren’t too lively tonight…” changmin scrunches his nose, trying to not say too much for fear of offending. “well, i’m usually up talking or planning out tours for them, but they just wanted to turn in early. since i’m not needed, i thought i’d stretch my legs a bit!”

he punctuates the end of his sentence by bouncing a little, feeling the burn in his legs at the sudden movement. he barely notices minghao’s small movement, eyes attempting to find what shifted but ultimately coming up with nothing.

changmin still somewhat feels like he’s being a little too loud in the quiet of night, the puffs of fog gradually dissolving the higher they get into the air. the wafting scent from the trolley is stronger now that he’s in front of minghao, sweetening the air around them. he can hear the gentle glub-glub-glub of the courtyard fountain, and if he Really strains his ears he can pick up the faint melody of his mom preparing tomorrow’s meal ingredients.

“it’s nice to see you off duty, though!” he rambles on. “i feel we don’t have a lot of time to just talk like this! it still kinda feels like we’re kinda strangers in a way! but not really strangers… like two ships passing in night, maybe?”

he winces. “er, well, that doesn’t really sound right, but… i don’t know you very well, i think?”

ruminating on this, he purses his lips before dissolving into a wide smile. “and i’d like to! get to know you better, that is.”

@✽ changmin j. Minghao’s hand falters, stops midway, then he turns to face Changmin. Again, with that infuriating smile, the other man’s voice resounding into the dead of the night.

The temperature has dropped two degrees lower, and their breaths are coming out in thick, puffs of white. Minghao watches the steam coming out from Changmin’s mouth.

It’s only the two of them: There’s no one else other than the soft silence of the leaves rustling in the night and the steady stream of the water gushing in at the courtyard. It’s a delicate sound, the water, but Minghao feels as if it’s playing along to the stillness of the night.

“Taking a break for a while, just relieving some aches,” he answers timidly, voice barely above the hushed whispers of the leaves. And it’s true, Minghao has recently been feeling phantom aches on certain parts of his body.

Pausing in between shifts of hauling the trolley carts, to him, is reasonable enough.

“What about you?” he asks, “Why are you here?”

But Minghao supposes that the tranquility offered by the deep twilit sky is a temptation that Changmin (and even Minghao himself) cannot ignore. It weighs heavily on him, the deepness of the evening and the even deeper indigo sky, and it weighs more heavily against his limbs.

The packet of cigarettes remains idle in his hands, lying accusingly under the mild echoes of the light. Minghao makes it a point to hide it from Changmin’s eyes; he pushes the pack deeper into his jacket pocket.

@✽ minghao x. it’s a slower night at the hanok: only three rooms are occupied and many of the guests have turned in early. while feeling a tinge of disappointment at the lack of exuberance in tonight’s tourists, changmin is also slightly grateful for a moment to himself.

freed from his post at the front desk, he’s trekking around the hanok grounds, taking any opportunity to stretch his legs that he can. it’s a nice night with a clear sky and just a faint breeze to disrupt the otherwise still haze that lingers over everything.

while plodding around, he sees a familiar figure seated beside an equally familiar trolley cart. though the face isn’t clear through the nighttime haze, there’s a prickly aura that surrounds them, like a barrier that proclaims “do not disturb!!” in bold red font… although, the calm that envelopes them and their cart produces a special kind of softness. coupled with the faint scent of pastries wafting from the cart..

it’s unmistakably minghao. and though minghao always seems like he wants to be left alone, changmin has never been one to let someone be lonely.

he strides over to him, waving an arm in hopes of catching attention through the dark.

“hey!! minghao!!!” he calls out, before awkwardly realizing how loud he is in the quiet, dropping his volume just a bit as he continues. “it’s not time for a delivery, right?”

he plants himself in front of minghao, squatting down in front of him but still leaving space between them. “you must be on break, too!! what a coincidence!”

@✽ changmin j. The first time Minghao ever saw Changmin, he could distinctly remember Changmin’s figure outlined against the soft fluorescence of the hanok. Somewhere, somewhat, the other man was always only in his periphery almost as if they were two parallel lines that never quite meet.

Aware of the other’s existence but never quite touching.

And so, there sits Minghao, taking his break in between intervals of pushing and pulling along the tall trolley carts holding the pastries, hand idly clutching a lone cigarette stick in the gentle haze of the night. Idle hand, his idle thoughts.

Only that these idle thoughts have been going to and fro Changmin’s stupid smiling face, and how Minghao is seemingly unable to take Changmin’s stupid smile off of his mind.

It’s only infuriating from this point onwards.

But he has no one to share these thoughts with, because there he is. And there Changmin is.

Minghao is alone, wrapped in the gentle haze of the night, the soft fluorescence sending across undulating shadows with ghastly glares on his skin.

He pushes the lone cigarette back into its packet.