edited this to show how elf yunho looks now (hes so cute)

Yunho believes he's going through various stages of grief this very moment as he sits there on this spinning rubber chair, his ears and back exposed to the air for the first time.

The morning had been a very chaotic one to say the least. He'd been having a rather relaxing sleep when Gia entered his room and then proceeded to shake him awake as gently as she could. Then they were heading down the corridors, further into the house until they entered another room that seemed to exist beneath the floors. It was like Yunho had entered another universe entirely, the area littered with various sparkling supplies and tools that made his heartbeat thrum with both nervousness and excitement.

Then Gia had him sit on a chair, covered him with a wide thin sheet, grabbed conjoined blades that she called a 'pair of scissors', and then she got to work.

Yunho's worry had been felt by Gia the entire time, so the woman distracted him by telling him how she'd spent the entire night contacting her colleagues on her further plans concerning him getting enrolled in school.

And now as Yunho studies his reflection in the mirror, he doesn't know what he's looking at, at first. His face looks so different, the hair at the back of his head fluffy and wavy while the hair in front flops around his forehead, a couple strands hiding the tips of his ears. Like this, he looks almost human -- like Mingi and San, his round emerald eyes the only thing betraying his elven heritage.

"You got a wolf cut! It still needs a few tweaks, but we'll fix that later," Gia says while Yunho wordlessly admires his changed appearance. "Also gotta buy the bands from my friend that'll help keep your ears in place in public. Do you want to change your hair colour?"

"What?" Yunho blinks at this, snapping out of his daze.

Cute, Gia thinks. "Your hair. Do you want to keep it blond, or get it a little darker?"

Yunho doesn't think he's ready for that just yet. Cutting his hair is one thing, but his blond tresses are what connect him to his home, to his mother. "Maybe another time. You said we were going...shopping. What does that entail, if I may ask?"

"We drive into town and get you clothes that you want, and other things you'll need for school."

Yunho nods quickly, unable to quell his excitement about how the rest of the day will go. "Awesome."

"You sound just like Mingi," Gia comments with a smile. She must've seen the bewildered expression on Yunho's face because she then laughs out loud, ruffling his hair. "I mean, I know Mingi hasn't been the easiest person to live with so far, but I swear he's the loveliest person ever once you get to know him."

Yunho has another opinion entirely, but then he thinks about how Mingi looked last night when he'd smiled, his expression all soft and endearing. And while Mingi is almost always scowling around him, Yunho hopes he'll be able to see even more of the boy's smiles moving forward.

• • •

It's a bit of a surreal feeling when Yunho walks into the living room after having freshened up, hands shoved into his pockets and snug in the same hoodie he wore the night he got transferred to this realm.

He bites the inside of his cheek when San and Mingi spot him from where they are at the dining table, the former almost spitting out the water he drank due to his changed appearance.

"Yunho?" San exclaims, shocked beyond compare.

Yunho gives a little wave. "Good morning."

"Good...good morning," San mumbles, at a loss for words. Mingi, on the other hand, hasn't stopped sparing him glances ever since he showed up. It has Yunho on edge, anticipation swirling in his veins with how the guy keeps looking him up and down.

"I'm going out with Gia," Yunho explains, rubbing his neck. It's still so strange being about to touch it without adjusting heaps of hair first. "We're shopping."

San still looks dumbfounded. "For what?"

"We're getting Yunho some new clothes," Gia says behind him, her forest green dress making her red hair even more vibrant.

"Why?" It's Mingi that talks this time around, dark brows raised in questioning. His features are tense, eyes trained on his aunt. Yunho isn't even the one being looked at, yet he still feels like he's treading on thin ice.

Gia gives Mingi an easygoing smile whilst clasping on her watch. "This guy's going to get enrolled in your school soon. Isn't that exciting?"

San's eyes grow absurdly big. "Really?"

Gia nods, giving Yunho a gentle pat on the back. "Yep."

"Are you fucking serious?" Mingi snarls, eyes narrowed in fury.

"More serious than I've ever been, honey," his aunt replies, which only seems to frustrate Mingi more.

At this point, Yunho figures Mingi must really despise him, because after all he's done to remain on friendly terms with the shorter, he still treats him like an unwelcome visitor.

Yunho exhales, meeting Mingi's eyes right then. The human instantly looks away, which only succeeds at confusing Yunho immensely.

"But how? Why?" San questions as Mingi retreats into himself, looking all sorts of curious.

"As I don't know how long I will be staying here, I want to live as a human for the time being," Yunho confesses. "I think it would be a good experience."

San slurps some noodles. "I guess you're right. But...how are you gonna hide your ears and eyes?"

"We have a way to hide them," Gia says. "And that's why Yunho has to go with me to choose some of the things he likes."

Yunho nods, and when San smiles at him he returns it. "I think it's going to be fun."

"Of course it will," Gia confirms, adjusting her handbag. "Now, let's get going, shall we?"

"Have a good day, guys," San wishes, before nudging Mingi's side to get the taller to say something too.

Mingi, in retaliation, just threateningly holds up his chopsticks. His reaction is expected, but that doesn't mean it doesn't bother Yunho more than he'd like.

Mingi always bothers him, and Yunho doesn't like that.

• • •

After years spent having everything that made Yunho a person decided for him, from the food he ate to the clothes he wore (even down to the words he said at times), he's having a little difficulty figuring out what he should do when faced with several options to choose from.

He and Gia are currently inside a colossal sized clothing store filled to the brim with various sorts of apparel and footwear. Gia had guessed his shoe size, which had led to several minutes spent trying on plenty of shoes of the same length, each one having a design of their own.

And now that Yunho had picked three of them, one a simple grey and the two others a variation of black, he has to battle with the very ardous task of choosing outfits for himself.

"See ones that you like?" Gia asks, ever so patient even with how indecisive Yunho's being. It doesn't help how busy the store is, the elf towering over nearly everyone there. Fortunately, he hasn't drawn any negative attention to himself just yet (even though the countless awed stares he received earlier from some humans made him self-conscious), and he hopes it'll stay that way.

"It is quite difficult," Yunho confesses, crossing his arms. "I don't...I don't think I know what I like."

"What's your favourite colour? We can go from there."

Yunho has to think about it for a second. The Starlight kingdom's principal colours are sapphire and gold, and as a member of the royal family he was expected to dress in many fabrics of a similar hue. But he'd never felt that they matched his personality, or spoke to him.

"I...I think I prefer green," Yunho admits, meeting Gia's warm eyes. "And purple. Maybe even white."

"Awesome," Gia grins, not a trace of judgement in her voice as she commences searching through a set of shirts and pants in these colours. And it's nothing short of relieving to have his preferences be respected instead of shunned like they usually are.

"Thank you, Gia," Yunho finds himself saying after trying on some clothing to know how it looks on him. "I really appreciate it."

Although Gia's smiling like always, her eyes are filled with understanding. "Of course, Yunho. It's no problem. I just want you to be comfortable and happy while you're here with us."

Yunho thinks of Mingi that second, thinks of how hostile he's been to him since he moved here. Yunho thinks of the way the shorter had looked at him earlier, his features so infuriatingly unreadable yet so intense at the same time.

Yunho really doesn't know what Mingi's problem with him is, but he's more than willing to stick around long enough to find out.

• • •

a/n: a filler chap, but what did you guys think?