cw/tw: reference to self harm, underaged drinking

Mingi doesn't know how it happens, but in two weeks it's like Yunho had never once been a new student at his dreary and ancient soul-sucking high school.

Not a single day goes by that Yunho doesn't almost always get a text from someone in between classes, and get greeted in the hallways, and get cheered on whenever he does so much as show up in class.

Heck, even the teachers are fond of him, always calling on him to answer their questions with smiles on their faces whenever they hand Yunho's test results back to him.

"Yunho's really freaking liked," San comments on Tuesday during biology class, the aforementioned male currently at the front labelling the different organs of human circulatory system down to its last detail.

Shin Mina, the senior year queen bee is at his side, chatting up a storm while copying down the notes the teacher allocated to her. Her thick dark hair flips over her shoulder as she bats her lashes Yunho's way, and the elf just grins, his smile easygoing and free. He's chuckling when Mina lightly punches his arm.

Mingi's insides boil with fury at the sight.

"Yeah, no kidding," he answers, sounding harsher than he'd like. He clears his throat and fiddles with his black pen, wanting Yunho and Mina to just go back to their seats already.

San's looking at him now, eyes inquisitive and curious. They get like this whenever he's on to him, about to figure something out that Mingi definitely won't like. "Mingi..."

"Don't look at me like that." Mingi taps San's head with his pen for good measure, which causes San to overdramatically wince.

"I think I just got a concussion," San frowns, acting like he's seconds away from fainting. "You're always so rough."

Mingi's more than glad San seems to be distracted from his odd behaviour earlier. "That sounds so wrong though."

"You're so fucking dirty minded. Get your head outta the gutter," San says with a frown, pretending like he's gonna hurl.

Mingi laughs, only for his eyes to lock with Yunho's right then. The elf appears taken aback, gaze alarmed as if he'd been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to.

Shit, had he been staring at me? Mingi's thoughts are in complete and utter disarray.

Yunho quickly looks away, and Mingi has no idea why it makes his mood fucking deflate. Of course, Mingi figures Yunho didn't want to be caught staring at their class's resident freak for a little too long. He won't want his sparkling clean reputation to get tainted, now would he?

Now that Mingi thinks about it, Yunho has been spending less and less time with him and San at school lately, all too eager to run off to Jongho and his lackeys whenever the chance presents himself.

Why are you even bothered by this? The voice in Mingi's head questions, and in all honesty Mingi has no idea. He doesn't care what this so-called elf prince does in his spare time, and he especially doesn't care that Yunho has an easier time belonging than Mingi's ever had in his eighteen years of living.

"Mingi." A hand shakes him, snapping him out of the downward spiral that are his thoughts. It's San, the guy incredibly bothered judging by how firm his grip is. "What's going on?"

Mingi looks down at the pen tightly clutched in his hand, and notices the huge inky dent it's made on his open notebook. "Fuck," he mutters.

"Mingi, you gotta tell me what's up," San says. "You've been off since morning, and now here you are, tearing holes into your notebook."

"That also sounds wrong." Mingi doesn't know why he's so insistent on downplaying and making a joke out of everything, and he knows he's made the wrong choice when San frowns right then, jaw clenched.

"If you want to keep brushing me off, then fine. Do whatever the fuck you want," San snaps, flipping open his books.

Mingi's heart sinks, each inhale like little pinpricks of poison. The lump in his throat grows. "...I'm sorry."

San doesn't answer, and Mingi says nothing else until the bell rings, its shrill sound bouncing off the walls of the classroom.

San's packing up his things before long and Mingi follows suit, wanting to say something but not knowing what exactly.

The orange sun's at its peak in the peach sky, its rays unpleasant against Mingi's tan skin. It feels even more unpleasant with San's silence, a bit like walking on eggshells, and then Mingi can't take it anymore.

"San, I'm really sorry about how I acted earlier," he apologizes again just as they head out of the gates. "I was being fucking dumb by joking around instead of being truthful to you."

San halts in his step, his gaze as dark as his oversized sweater when he stares at Mingi. But most of his anger is gone. "Then be truthful. Tell me why you acted the way you did."

Mingi gets quiet, the lump in his throat feeling even larger. It's hard to voice out his thoughts at that very moment, especially when they concern the very confusing feelings he has towards the elf currently living with them. And he's always been terrible at dealing with his feelings.

"Mingi," San says his name, and Mingi exhales a terse breath.

"Actually, it's about Yunho."

"Yunho?" San furrows his brows, seeming baffled as to why the elf is tied in with his strange behaviour. And that's part of the problem: no one ever finds any fault in Yunho, the guy so cookie-cutter perfect that it makes Mingi want to rip all his hair out.

"Yeah."

"Did he do something wrong?"

No, and that's what's so infuriating about him, Mingi thinks. "He didn't. I just... Don't you think he's getting a bit too popular?"

San seems even more puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"What if he gets too careless and they all find out that he isn't actually human?" Mingi questions, spilling the thought that has been heavily weighing on his mind for the longest time.

At this, San's confusion dwindles, making way for understanding. He nods. "I mean, him being in this world is a risk in itself. But I think he's careless like that. He won't risk getting you and your aunt in trouble."

How are you so sure? Mingi wants to ask, but wisely keeps his mouth shut.

"And you gotta give him some credit, Mingi. He's been a student here for nearly a month now and no one else has put the pieces together yet," San adds.

"Put what pieces together?"

Mingi's shoulders turn rigid while San startles where he stands. Yunho's stepping past the gates with a small smile on his face, none the wiser.

"Why do you guys look so scared?" Yunho asks. It's then that Mingi notes how his bag is nowhere in sight.

"N-Nothing," San slightly stammers, then loudly clears his throat. "Ready to go take the bus?"

"Actually, I'm staying in the school for a bit."

San looks stunned. "Really? Why?"

"Jongho said some guy on his team injured his knee, and asked if I wanted to practice some basketball with him later this afternoon."

"You have no clue how basketball is played," Mingi says, crossing his arms. He has no idea what's going on, and he doesn't like it.

"Well I'm about to find out," Yunho responds, looking fully sure of himself.

Mingi scoffs. "Sure."

Yunho's eyes narrow, and while his features are composed and collected a majority of the time, he looks pretty pissed right now. "What are you trying to say?"

"You tell me. You're the one that's assuming shit."

"I wouldn't have to assume shit if you didn't keep giving me reasons to do so."

"Guys, let's not do this right now," San interrupts, wanting nothing more than an uncomplicated afternoon. "Please."

"Come on, San. Let's just go," Mingi says, his grip on his bag's strap tightening. He's getting really angry, and if he has to stay here any longer he's going to legit punch something.

"Talk to you later, Yunho," San says, to which Yunho simply nods at. The atmosphere's drastically soured and it's nothing but Mingi's fault, but of course he's gonna get mad when Yunho continues to risk blowing his cover.

"He's doing a little too much," Mingi states once they enter the bus to go home. "Stretching himself too far. One wrong move, and his ears are gonna be exposed to the entire world."

San, for once, looks concerned as well. He chews his bottom lip in contemplation. "Maybe he's doing this as a distraction."

Mingi stops looking through the window and glances at his friend. "What?"

"I mean, Yunho's basically been seperated from his family for a month now," San continues, smoothening his hair. "From his home. Don't you think he's involving himself in all these activities so he won't have to think about everything that he's gone through?"

Mingi tenses up, San's words worming their way into his head and making him think. And he dislikes it because it's something that he can evidently relate to. He's trying to stay mad at Yunho, goddammit.

"...I guess you may be right," he reluctantly admits.

"I know I probably am. I'm betting he must miss his parents a lot."

"Parent." At San's raised brows, Mingi wishes he'd just kept his mouth fucking shut.

"What?"

"It's...it's just his dad, I think. He's never talked about his mother." Mingi says nothing else, knowing that San must be so curious about how he knows this.

"Oh," San hums.

Mingi is more than glad the shorter doesn't ask any other questions on the subject, and when San gets dropped off at his stop, he keeps thinking about his and San's conversation. Keeps thinking about what San said.

Mingi then remembers the very moment his life took a turn for the worst; how lost and confused he'd felt for a long while afterwards. He remembers how he'd skip school and distract himself with video games to numb the pain, or hurt himself so bad that his aunt got extremely worried and San cried.

Mingi halts his trail of thoughts right then before they get the best of him.

• • •

Mingi can barely chew his pasta that night at the dining table, the texture like rubber in his mouth.

Yunho's around, and so is his aunt, which is something that doesn't usually happen at this time. In fact, she'd taken her time to make dinner tonight, making sure they all sit together like some sort of family.

"So, tell me about your day you guys," Gia beckons. Her hair's in a half ponytail (it's usual style after she's just showered), her pink pyjama set stark against her sun-kissed skin.

Mingi doesn't answer, which isn't surprising, but he does listen in as Yunho excitedly recounts his day from start to finish, his aunt looking genuinely interested in what he has to say.

"I played some basketball with Jongho this afternoon. He's a friend of mine, and the game was rather complicated."

"Not really," Gia laughs. "But then again, I was on my school's girls' basketball team back in the day, so."

At this, Yunho breaks out into a grin. "Really? Then would you kindly give me some pointers? Jongho keeps wanting me to join the team for some reason. He said I was really good."

"I bet you really were, so I doubt you'd need some help. You do know you've got to be careful about your ears, though," Gia answers.

"Of course," Yunho nods.

Mingi stiffens when his aunt's eyes fall on him.

"Mingi?" She begins. "How was your day?"

Wouldn't you like to know? Mingi swallows down his pasta, not in the mood to talk tonight. "Fine."

He doesn't talk for the remainder of dinner, ignoring his aunt's worried glances the entire time. Yunho also stares at him from time to time, but Mingi doesn't give him the satisfaction of staring back. He stays silent as Yunho gushes on about some party this weekend that he's apparently been invited to, the icy cold feeling in his chest suffocating.

Mingi only realizes what that feeling is when he enters the living room again later that night, Yunho nowhere to be seen.

Bitterness.

• • •

San is perched on Mingi's bed, nose deep in his fantasy book that Saturday evening. It's currently past seven, the starry sky an intense indigo. The moon is so bright, shining down on the countless others out and about on this Halloween night.

Mingi is lying on his back as he faces the ceiling, restless as heck. His aunt isn't home (she's working), and Yunho isn't there as well because he decided he did want to go to that party.

"You're shaking way too much, Mingi," San complains, adjusting his specs as he flips over a new page.

"I know." But Mingi doesn't stop his incessant leg shaking. He can't either, not when his thoughts are all about that elf and how he's possibly putting his identity in jeopardy.

"Mingi," San warns.

"I can't help it," Mingi confesses, unable to take it anymore. "I can't fucking believe Yunho went to that party."

San lowers his book. "I don't think there's anything to be worried about, though. I mean -- it's Halloween. No one's gonna suspect anything even if they see his ears."

"I'm not worried." Mingi knows how dumb and overly absurd he's being, but he can't help it. "I just have a bad feeling about tonight."

"What bad feeling?"

"Like -- like something's going to go horribly wrong if I don't do something."

San sighs. "Like going to that party yourself?"

Mingi's pulse quickens. "I never said anything about doing that."

"I'm pretty confident Yunho can take care of himself," San says, placing his book and glasses on the nightstand. "If he couldn't, your aunt wouldn't have let him go out tonight. Or go to our school in the first place."

"You're right," Mingi forces himself to nod. "You're totally right."

"I know I am."

"Confident much?" Mingi jokes.

San laughs, and rests next to the taller. "Learnt it from the best."

"Hopefully that person's me."

"Confident much?" San repeats, and Mingi gently pushes him, his smile a lot more natural this time around.

Mingi doesn't know how it happens, but after a while San falls asleep where he's curled on the bed, soft snores leaving his lips.

Mingi covers him with the blankets, careful not to disturb him as he grabs his phone. 9:13PM.

Just mind your business and go to sleep, the voice in Mingi's head yells, but he pays it no mind. Like he's under a trance, he pulls on a red hoodie and shoves his feet into his running sneakers, snatching the house keys before long.

He had the party's address memorized the second he saw one of the many posters littering the school all week, and as he keeps walking past dressed up kids and countless 'spooky' decorations, he continues to ignore the part of him telling him to turn back.

The party's location stands before him in no time, looking more like a mansion than a house. People spill from the doors and congregate the spacious lawn, and music vibrates from the house's interior, a low bass that Mingi can feel in his core.

What are you even gonna do if you see Yunho? Tell him to come home? Mingi thinks, but he's never been particularly good at acting with logic. So, he plunges his hands into his pockets and barrels into the lawn, stepping past and dodging drunk and high teenagers as if he's on a freaking minefield.

The music assaults his eardrums a thousand times more the second Mingi enters through the doors, immediately overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people present.

What did you think would happen? That Yunho would magically show up in your arms?

Mingi grits his teeth at the stupid voice in his head. Shut up. God, he might actually need a drink if this continues.

He treks onward, cringing when a guy bumps into him and passes him a can of beer.

"Looks like you need it," he slurs, slinking off somewhere.

Mingi contemplates just throwing the liquor away, but then realizes that if he's gonna have to look for Yunho in this place littered with sloppy, inebriated teens and some horrid ass music, he's gonna need just a smidgen of liquid courage.

With that, Mingi flicks the can open and takes a sip. It's fucking disgusting like he'd expected, but he quickly drinks some more.

He pushes past students grinding on each other to head up the stairs, downing more of the beer along the way.

There are even more people upstairs, and while a crowd like that is usually enough to trigger Mingi's anxiety, the alcohol his veins shield him from that tonight. Before long he finds another beer can on a table, and begins drinking it too.

He finishes that quickly and chugs down a cup of whatever alcoholic concoction he spots amongst a tray of others, even when he just knows it'll kick his ass later. It tastes absolutely vile, but whatever.

There are a bunch of doors leading every which way, and when Mingi tries opening some to no luck, he clumsily pulls out his phone, intending on calling Yunho.

Before he can do that, however, somebody slams into him which causes him to stumble and drop the now near-empty cup. What the fuck.

Mingi's feeling confrontational, and when he steps in to give the guy a piece of his mind, a hand grips his arm right then.

"...ingi?"

Mingi can't hear a thing over the thumping music so he turns, then pauses at seeing Yunho right in front of him. The taller's all dressed in leather, looking like a biker from the 90's. It unexpectedly suits him, and Mingi finds himself staring a little longer than necessary.

"Mingi," Yunho starts again, voice all muffled and eyes almost black under the blue and purple strobe lights. "What are you doing here?"

"San guessed wrong. Your ears are still hidden," Mingi says, fearing he isn't even making sense anymore. But it doesn't bother him as much.

"...What?"

Mingi spots the can of beer in Yunho's hand, and then he's grabbing it, swallowing what's left in seconds without breaking eye contact once with the elf. Once he's done, he wipes his lips dry. "You can't be drinking here, or else you'll get drunk and... and expose yourself."

Yunho gulps while observing Mingi's Adam's apple, but then his lips quickly press into a thin line. "Is that why you showed up? Because you thought I'd 'expose myself'?"

Mingi frowns, not liking the taller's tone at all. "You can't just go to a party like this and not expect me to come after you. I don't know if you've realized this, but I don't wanna be blamed for your carelessness."

"I never asked you to show up!" Yunho snaps. "You don't get to come here and tell me what I can and cannot do."

At this, Mingi scoffs, folding his arms across his chest. He pretends he doesn't notice how Yunho's eyes linger on his biceps. "Listen, Yunho. You're not like us and you will never be. I'm just trying to save you from further embarrassing yourself."

Yunho's jaw clenches, anger scorching through his eyes. "You're envious of me, aren't you?"

"What?"

"That's why you've treated me like shit ever since I showed up here. That's why you try to downplay my achievements, and that's why you decided to show up to this party you weren't invited to just to ruin my night," Yunho continues, tone sharp and harsh. Mingi's never heard him sound like this before, and he doesn't know why it stings like nothing else. "It's because you're jealous you're not like me and can't ever be me, and you hate me because of that."

"Fuck you," Mingi spits, shoving past a bunch of people while he rushes down the stairs. Several of them curse at him due to his roughness, but he doesn't give a damn.

His heart's pounding like crazy as he locates the kitchen and grabs another beer on the sparkly counter, preparing to drink it.

It's snatched from him before it can even touch his lips, Yunho's unamused face appearing in his line of sight.

"Fuck off!" Mingi hollers.

Yunho seizes him by the wrist and pulls him away from the kitchen.

"Let go," Mingi hisses.

"I will when you stop acting like a gigantic brat." Asshole.

Yunho doesn't stop moving until they leave the premises, and it's then that Mingi has had enough and yanks his arm off.

"What the hell is up with you?!" He questions, hating how pristine and perfect the taller looks and how he's the one already tipsy, being an overall mess.

Yunho exhales in disbelief. "I should be asking you that, Mingi."

Mingi rubs his arms due to the cold, goosebumps spreading all over his skin. "Don't fucking call me that."

"What? Mingi?"

"Don't call me by my fucking name!" Mingi snaps, marching down the lawn and into the dim sidewalk.

Yunho instantly chases after him, but Mingi only increases his pace and starts to run. Even when he's a little over six feet, Yunho's longer legs catch up to him in no time.

"Mingi!"

"Get lost!"

Yunho holds his hand, his touch gentler this time around. Mingi could easily pull away but he doesn't.

"Let go," he mumbles.

The streetlamps make Yunho's hair glow, the strands appearing white. The moon shines through the clouds, and then something dazzles on Yunho's wrist. It's the crescent.

Mingi doesn't say a word when Yunho places a warm palm on his cheek, fingers shifting through his hair.

"You came because...because you cared, didn't you?" Yunho asks, voice hushed. "Because you cared about me."

Mingi wants to push Yunho away but then changes his mind last minute, causing his hands to awkwardly linger on the taller's chest. The taller's very broad, very firm chest. "I don't care."

"You do..."

Mingi thinks he's imagining it, but Yunho's eyes are hooded now as they briefly study his mouth, the green in them sparkling through. He looks way too fucking good right now, jaw hard and lips pink and soft.

Mingi feels himself drawing closer, but then his legs give way and he stumbles, immediately collapsing all over Yunho's frame.

"Shit," Yunho mumbles, his low voice rumbling against Mingi's flushed skin. His touch is firm around the shorter's hips as he props him up. He turns and then kneels, carefully drapes Mingi's arms around his shoulders, and grips his legs.

"Let's get you home safe, okay?" Yunho whispers as he stands, Mingi now basically like deadweight on his back.

Mingi doesn't know what's happening, but his head's now buried into the crook of Yunho's neck, a sweet, warm scent invading his nostrils. He feels weightless and oddly free of worries as Yunho starts to move, hands tight around his thighs so he won't fall.

Mingi doesn't know how it happens, but he's out like a light before long.

• • •

a/n: oof, what did u think about yungi's 'fight' n all?