final chapter

• • •

'Hey, Yunho. Sorry if this might seem awkward. Okay -- who am I kidding, you probably find this totally insane.

You already know how much I suck at writing, how terrible I am with emotions and shit. I also know I'm not supposed to cuss in a letter that's supposed to be all sentimental, but I'm kinda too lazy right now to cross anything out. So accept it.

Okay.

So letters are supposed to have an introduction, body and conclusion, right? I mean -- you can't reply and all, but I know you just tried to. Trust me, I know.

So, how do I begin?'

Mingi has the worst idea ever in the history of worst ideas. Okay -- maybe it's not that bad of an idea in the grand scheme of fucked up things that he calls life -- but it's still something that he didn't put nearly as much thought in, and something he knows he'd probably regret doing later on.

So, early that Sunday morning, he knocks on his aunt's door and asks her for one of her box hair dyes.

"Shit," Gia's eyes are wide in shock and unbridled excitement. "You really wanna dye your hair. You really mean it, huh."

"Today's the day I have to do this," Mingi tells her, although his heart's skipping with nerves and his hands are sweaty as fuck. He knows after he's done he's gonna get a lot of stares, specifically at school tomorrow, but he figures he's never gonna fit in anyways. And at this point, who fucking cares? He's just going to be himself, and only himself.

Gia's excitement makes way for something more subdued, and Mingi kinda hates the look in her eyes. "...It's because he's leaving tomorrow, isn't it?"

"It's not because of it." But Mingi knows it's a lie, because while he's more than overdue for a change, his impulsiveness was catalysed by the fact that Yunho was going to go soon, and Mingi wanted to do something so he could feel some semblance of control. So he wouldn't feel like his world was slipping right through his fingertips.

Gia's features mirror sympathy, but determination soon shines through, that perseverance that got her through the worst of situations and the one thing that Mingi admired the most about her. "Okay, I'm gonna help as I'm quite a conoisseur with it, as you can see. Do you want to eat first, or should we get started?"

"Let's just get started," Mingi replies, then puts on a smile that he hopes conveys his sincerity enough. "And thank you."

"No problems, Mingles," his aunt replies, the nick name one that she used to call him a lot when he was younger. As he'd grown, she stopped using it, thinking Mingi found it cheesey. And Mingi does, but at that very moment he really doesn't mind it all that much. In fact, it gets his chest all warm and fuzzy because he knows that while he doesn't have a mother anymore, he has this woman right here  that loves him twice as much as his actual mother ever could.

Once Mingi chooses the colour he wants (his aunt has a lot of hair dyes, he realizes), he sits in the basement/'makeup lair' and thinks about the crazy series of events that took place in the past two days.

San had gone to the Sol kingdom on Friday and went with Wooyoung to the merchant ports like he said he would. Mingi had bitten his nails to the nub due to the sheer anxiety he felt over his best friend's wellbeing, and couldn't fall asleep well into the early hours of Saturday morning until Yunho had to coax him into a restless sleep beside him on his bed, cuddling him tight.

He'd woken up to a bright sky and an even brighter grin on San's face as he relayed that everything had gone well, and that what they suspected had been correct: people had been sneaking Gonjl flowers off the ports, even though it was forbidden. San told them all that his mother the queen would deal with it accordingly, and it was later that Saturday evening that Gia got a call from work, revealing something that everyone, especially Yunho took hard.

Yunho's father's advisor had been the culprit, the man purposefully hoarding these chained pixies illegally that went out to do his work for him. He'd made a deal with a southern merchant who made a lot of money by trading the poisonous flowers over to the northern kingdom, and mixed them into the commoners' drinks and foods to get them sick.

The advisor wanted Yunho out of the kingdom so it would be easier for one of his pixies could get him there -- one of them being the girl Mingi and San saw at school as they could transform  -- and figured that if Yunho's exposure to the flowers got him sick or worse, killed, he'd be able to get back at the king as revenge for whatever grudge they had in the past.

The man had tried to escape but the king soon had him captured, and now that new potions were being made to combat the toxins of the Gonjl flowers since that they now knew what they dealing with, the king ordered that Yunho had to be back at once because there was no need for him to stay here any longer.

And Mingi despised that. He still does as he sits in the spinning chair Gia provided for him, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. He really doesn't want Yunho to leave tomorrow, and even then his aunt had to come to an agreement to let Yunho stay an extra day (which is today) so he could be 'well rested' for the next day.

Which Mingi finds utter bullshit by the way, because the so called king had ignored his son's existence the majority of the time, only to now act as though he misses him so terribly and wants him home as soon as possible.

Home. Mingi's pretty sure Yunho think otherwise, a part of him hopes that Yunho thinks of this place as a home too.

"Stop frowning so much. The wind from the window is gonna blow the wrong way and your face is gonna get stuck like that forever," Gia gently chastises right then, fingers expertly wrapping the foils over Mingi's hair.

Mingi sticks out his tongue at her, not giving a fuck about how childish he looks right now. "That's just superstition."

"That isn't what the demons say."

Mingi's brows raise, his interest piqued. "You've met demons?"

"Nope. Just you." Gia quickly dodges the hit Mingi throws her way straight away, a broad grin on her face. "You're quite bold doing this to someone who's quite literally bleaching your hair. I could freaking fry it up."

"You wouldn't." Mingi doesn't attempt another nudge, however.

Mingi thinks about everything that has happened in his life thus far as Gia continues working on his hair, Yunho at the epicenter of it. He thinks of how shitty he was to him in the beginning, of how hard he tried not to let the elf in because he was afraid of getting hurt and envied how easily he was able to fit in despite not being human. Even with all the walls Mingi had covered himself with and how much he'd pushed Yunho away, Yunho still managed to get through to him. Yunho still managed to capture his heart and never let it go since.

The elf is nothing short of beautiful, inside and out and Mingi would be lying if he says he doesn't love that about him. Mingi adores that about him in fact, adores the way the taller has a heart of gold and doesn't hesitate to do what is right. Mingi adores the way he always goes out of his way to comfort him, to help him out whenever he gets a little anxious and a little angry at the world that refuses to accept him the way he is.

Mingi adores Yunho, and he's never been more sure of anything else in his life.

Gia beams as soon as Mingi returns after washing his hair, and after she's done blowdrying it, Mingi almost doesn't recognize himself at first. His roots are bright now, blond and luscious and curling around his face like a halo, and the tips are an intense orange, reminiscent of flames. Mingi had a vision, and what he sees at that very moment surpasses all of his expectations.

'I can still remember our first meeting like it was yesterday. You were drinking tea and I came in shirtless. I just realized that we already skipped first base when we didn't even talk yet. LOL.

Ignore the fact that I'm writing this as if I'm texting you; you already know I'm terrible at being professional and shit.

Anyway, where was I? Yeah, I remember the first time we met and I was gobsmacked by how long, shiny and blond your hair was. I couldn't admit it to myself then, but I thought it looked pretty. I guess that was one of the things that motivated me to finally get my hair dyed a bright colour, even when I knew it'd get too many stares.

I could say you made me bolder, gave me more confidence in myself.'

"You look so good! And as an orange enthusiast, I am so proud," Gia cheers, acting as if she's wiping away tears from her eyes.

"You're being overdramatic," Mingi replies, but he can't keep his eyes off his two toned hair no matter how hard he tries.

"Seriously, this fits you so well," Gia encourages, softly shifting her hands through his hair. Her touch is soothing, taking Mingi back to the times where she'd brush his hair and tell him how handsome he was when he sobbed because he hated seeing how feminine he appeared in the mirror. She stroked his hair the same way when he came home after his top surgery two years ago, holding him close and letting him know things were going to be okay.

"Instead of us making s'mores on the campfire tonight, we could just roast the marshmallows on your head instead," his aunt continues, a teasing glint in her brown eyes.

"Ha ha, very funny." Mingi can't stop smiling though, this awfully goofy grin that further broadens when he sees Yunho and San in the living room, the two of them doing a double take at the exact same time. If Mingi had his phone, he would've definitely snapped a picture.

"Woah," San gasps, expression totally awed. "What -- when the hell did you do this?"

"This morning," Gia answers behind Mingi, looking extremely proud of herself. "I've always had ginger hair, but even I didn't think of doing this kind of style honestly."

"No copying, it's trademarked by moi," Mingi says, eyes finding Yunho's in the process. It's like second nature at this point. The blond elf stares at him in a way that has Mingi's stomach flipping, like he's heaven on earth. He's got this dopey smile on his face too, making him look an overgrown puppy in love.

Mingi feels himself blush, something that one hundred percent notices because his eyes dart between him and Yunho right then, as if he's trying to solve a complicated math problem.

"You've never been to the beach before, right Yunho?" Gia asks, which distracts San enough that Mingi can deal with his furiously red cheeks in peace.

"No, the biggest body of water I have ever seen is Aurora lake, and that is not something I would like to dip my feet in," Yunho replies, his pretty emerald eyes still drifting over to Mingi's form like they can't stand to part away from him for long.

'You remember that time you showered in hot water and your hair got all puffy like it wanted to fly away from your scalp? It was pretty funny, and I think about it from time to time when I miss you too much.

I know it might seem like I'm making fun of you and all, but trust me, I'm not. I'm just listing all the ways you make me laugh and make me happy.

I think I'm already at the 'body' now, the chunk of this letter that's probably going to get very lengthy and boring and shit, because I'm feeling a little too emotional right now and I need to write it all out. So even if you hate it, it doesn't matter because you're not here so you can't tell me anything, hah.

Anyway, I think about you a lot. I always have, now that I think about it, and now that you're gone I realized that I should have treasured our moments together a lot more.

But I got scared because I knew it wouldn't last, so I didn't tell you enough about how much I adore you.

I didn't tell you enough about how much you mean to me.'

"The sky's so fucking blue and cute, which is a shame because I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get a migraine if the sun keeps beating down on my ass like this," Mingi utters as he squints at the brightness of the beach they're in right now.

Gia had insisted they come to this beach that had been prepared just for them in the afternoon so she'd be able to get Wooyoung here on time. Yes, Jung Wooyoung, the southern kingdom's prince who just so happens to also be San's boyfriend.

Alright, San didn't call him that, but judging by the way he sulks after Gia told him he couldn't tag along to the Sol kingdom, he made it quite obvious that something's going on between them. The very same thing that's going on between Mingi and Yunho right now.

"Did you bring shades? Should I get them from you?" Yunho asks beside him, and Mingi looks up from the lounge chair he's splayed out on. The elf's dressed in a thin, short-sleeved white shirt and dark shorts, his bare arms lathered in sunscreen to prevent him from turning as red as a ripe tomato. And Mingi's never seen someone so excited to be at the beach before, with the way Yunho's heels are digging impatiently into the grainy white sand. It makes Mingi really happy.

"It's alright." Mingi can't help the smile that takes over his face right then. He takes out a floppy hat from beside him that he's definitely sure belonged to his aunt at one point, and pulls it over his head. "I have this. Gives me some adequate protection, if I might add."

"You lovebirds done with your conversation yet?" San asks at that moment, the guy donning a similar get up to Yunho: a sleeveless shirt and shorts that exposes more leg than not. "Or am I gonna have to swim in the water all by myself?"

Mingi doesn't know if this is because of that mysterious Wooyoung guy or not, but San's gotten a lot bolder with his words and actions these past few days, almost as if he did something that finally unraveled his much braver side.

Mingi arches a brow in questioning at his friend, and San quickly falters, a bashful smile stretching across his lips instead. Oh, something definitely happened between him and Wooyoung. "I'm just gonna chill here for now, thanks."

At this, Yunho looks unsure, his incredibly tall frame casting a gigantic shadow across the sand. "You don't want to come along with us?"

"You guys can swim without me," Mingi tells him, displaying a grin he hopes is convincing. "I'm fine just watching you guys."

Still, Yunho seems hesitant, handsome features tinged with worry. His blond hair is platinum under the glaring sunlight, strands dancing with the breeze. Mingi wants to take a photograph so he can remember this moment forever.

Instead, he holds the taller's hand, definitely hearing his sharp intake of breath when he does. Yunho's fingers are long, thin and still terribly soft, and when Mingi tilts his head and shoots him a little smirk, crimson drowns the tips of Yunho's ears. "Go, Yunho. I'm okay. I'm happy."

Unable to resist the urge any longer, as soon as San and Yunho sprint into the shimmery sea, big and bright smiles on both their faces, Mingi pulls out his phone and proceeds to start recording them.

San's swimming the water, all confident strokes as his clothes are soaked in no time. Yunho's more timid, but when Mingi cheers him on right then, he follows after San and picks up on his technique straight away.

And Mingi isn't even mad that Yunho is just good at everything, because when he rises from the water at that moment, hand in his hair with his white shirt sticking to his torso and basically now see-through, Mingi forgets he's holding a phone and nearly drops it. It's more embarrassing when San waves from the sea, doing these corny, exaggerated poses that make Mingi want to bash his head against the wall.

Mingi makes the mistake of going through his phone to make sure the videos are saved, because straight away there's someone grabbing his arms and another holding his legs, and in shock he drops the device on the chair.

"What are you guys doing?" Mingi hollers, frazzled beyond compare. His floppy hat is confiscated by San, that bastard.

He and Yunho have matching devilish smiles on their faces, and Mingi's heart sinks.

"Cannon ball!" San yells like a cave man, and then he and Yunho are dragging Mingi into the sea, his shouts so loud it scares a few seagulls away.

Water engulfs Mingi's form in no time, wetting his grey shirt and dampening his colourful hair.

"Hey!" Mingi barks, gaze hard and angry as he glares at San and Yunho, who both look a little too smug for his liking. "What was that for?"

"You were doing too much recording and too little swimming," Yunho retorts, his blond curls framing his delicate features so nicely. It makes it infinitely harder for Mingi to stay mad at him.

'It's in those small moments that I find myself falling a lot deeper for you, even though it may sound cringey. I fell deeper whenever you came out during breakfast wearing whatever you felt fit, because you looked so amazing everytime. I fell deeper when you'd put your homework aside so you'd help me with mine, even though sometimes you'd have to explain things over and over because I didn't get it at first. I fell deeper when in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep, you'd hold me close and tell me about whatever you found interesting at that time so I would calm down and feel better.

I fell deeper when we were at that beach and you grinned at me, the intense blue sky behind you while your eyes sparkled, staring at me like I meant the entire world and even a million more to you.'

Despite this, Mingi races after the two of them at that second, the cold water sloshing about him and causing him to stumble. You know what, fuck this.

He immediately dives into the minty sea, propelling himself towards a set of pale legs and painted glittery toes that he's pretty sure belongs to San. He grabs and tugs at them, satisfaction filling his veins when San yelps very much like a seal almost instantly.

"Yunho, help!" San screeches, thrashing about in Mingi's hold. He's also laughing, loud and brilliant like chimes.

Mingi breaks out into one of his own as soon as he's being man-handled out of the water, a squeal he didn't know he was capable off squawking out his lips when Yunho flips him over his shoulder. "Yunho! What the fuck."

"I'm sorry, Minnie," Yunho giggles, his grip firm around his wet waist. Mingi's fucking cold, his clothes sticking to him like second skin, but the fuzzy kind of heat that Yunho's body gives him is one he doesn't want to lose in the slightest. "But you were being mean to Sannie."

"Put me down," Mingi commands -- even though he wants Yunho to keep holding him with those strong arms of his. "Now. And do not smack my butt."

"Smack his butt!" San yells, cackling crazily when Mingi tries to strangle him but fails. "What? I know you want him to."

What the fuck? "No I don't!"

A black car parks into the vicinity, and then San is doing breath strokes even a national athlete would be jealous of to get to the shore. Mingi's currently upside down, but even then he can just see the immense happiness rolling off of San in waves when he pulls the person stepping out the door into a tight ass hug.

And he's tall. Not as tall as him and Yunho, but tall nonetheless. His palms cover San's lithe waist easily, his inky black hair super silky under the gradually retreating sunlight as he holds San close and whispers something into his hair.

"Isn't that the guy that was supposed to be your husband?" Mingi blurts, still upside down.

"Yep, but he isn't going to be anymore," Yunho answers, gently lowering Mingi back into the water. "Do you want to know why?"

Mingi can't control the quick beating of his heart at how intently Yunho's watching him now. "Why?"

"Because I already have the person I want to spend forever with right here," Yunho answers, and Mingi doubts his heart is even beating anymore.

Shit. Mingi's speechless as Yunho pushes his orange hair into his ear, giggling at him in the process. "Oh."

'I couldn't tell you this then, but you mean the entire world and a million more to me, too.'

"...Hello," a new voice greets, soft with a similar accent to Yunho's.

Mingi turns to meet the elf San's so obsessed with, his deep blue eyes the first thing that catches his attention. God, why do elves have to have the prettiest eyes ever? His skin's also tan in comparison to Yunho's, features all sculpted and brooding but betraying a certain boyish charm that Mingi quickly finds intriguing.

"Hi. You're Wooyoung, right?" Mingi asks, noting the way San's already glued to his side. He smirks, ready for some revenge. "You're San's boyfriend."

San's entire face reddens while Wooyoung clears his throat, fingers playing with his ponytail.

"Yes, I guess you could say I am his man," Wooyoung replies, and the look of utter horror that crosses San's face right then has Mingi barking out in laughter.

"It appears Gia has brought some refreshments," Yunho announces immediately, pointing at the shore where Mingi's aunt his currently searching her car for something. "We should go help her."

Before Mingi can say anything Yunho runs off to the shore, and he eventually follows after him to leave San and Wooyoung to be all lovey dovey by themselves.

'I remember how confused I was that Wooyoung was allowed to come to the beach in our world, but you won't believe what I'm about to say next.

San went to the Sol kingdom two weeks ago to celebrate Wooyoung's birthday with him. And if that isn't crazy enough, his mum was in on it too. Apparently, the reason San was able to communicate with Wooyoung through dreams was because something like that had happened before, and you being an elf triggered the start of those dreams. Wooyoung said his mum told him that centuries ago, a fated elf and a gifted human were able to see each other through dreams and prevent a war from happening between the northern and southern kingdoms. And get this, the elf was a royal 'Jung' as well, and the human a 'Choi'. Wooyoung even said his birth star had another distant one in its orbit, because San was already waiting for him.

I find it really, really sappy but it's also kind of adorable, don't you think?

God, I really wish you were here with me right now, Yunho.'

Mingi snorts over a s'more after Wooyoung burns his marshmallow over the crackling flames for the nth time. He then howls in pain when San smacks his thigh, the latter glaring at him.

"Mingi! Don't be mean," he says. Don't be mean to my boyfriend because he's so freakin' cute and I worship the ground he walks upon, is what he means.

"Here, take this." Yunho passes a pouting Wooyoung his own nicely toasted marshmallows, and as soon as he does Wooyoung lights up like a little kid. The more Mingi interacts with the dark haired elf, the younger he seems, reminding him of a little brother that'll undoubtedly annoy him greatly, but he'd absolutely love a lot all the same.

'I've also been hanging out with Jongho lately, even got his number so I could check up on him. I don't know why, but I have a feeling you told him you were an elf. You did, didn't you? He misses you too, you know? And spending time with him makes me realize it's not just assholes roaming our schools, you know? Maybe that was why you became his friend so quickly.

But then again, you're a good person, so you recognize good people easily.'

Mingi catches Yunho's stare across the flames as Gia proceeds to pass a few drinks around ("it's a special occasion, and I'm a responsible adult that is watching over responsible kids"). The taller's eyes are sparkling with fascination, his features lit up in a lovely amber that gives him an ethereal glow. His hair's still a little damp, framing his face in loose waves, and good god, everything hurts a hell of lot more because Yunho is going to leave tomorrow.

He's going to leave tomorrow.

Yunho knows this too, because he then stands and pulls Mingi to his feet. "Come with me," he says, and Mingi obeys, feet forming indents on the sand as they near the darkened expanse of the sea. The moon reflects off its surface, and the crescent on Yunho's wrist shines through the night.

Once they're far enough from the others, they sit by the sea, its lackluster waves frothing the sand in front of their feet.

Mingi doesn't hesitate to cup Yunho's face and kiss him right then, hoping his actions convey what his words aften fail to do. Yunho kisses back, like always, hands on his hip grounding Mingi in reality. Grounding him in his touch.

"I don't want to leave," Yunho whispers when they part, foreheads pressed against each other. His voice is laced with desperation. "I like it here. I like it here with you."

Yunho's watery green eyes are begging, pleading for Mingi to say something -- anything. But Mingi doesn't know what to say, because he's so fucking sad and heartbroken that Yunho isn't going to be there anymore.

In fact, he cries when Yunho hugs him tight and rests his head on his chest, gripping onto the taller's shirt for dear life. It's ugly and it's messy, exposing just how hard he's tried to keep it together these past few days. But Yunho doesn't let his arms around him drop and doesn't let go.

He just holds on.

'I made a stupid mistake that night, Yunho. I didn't actually tell you that I didn't want you to leave too. And the thought of it plagues me every single day.

So, now I'm going to say it. I didn't want you to leave. I wanted you to stay, I wanted you to be here with me. I still want you here with me Yunho. I still want you.

I'm not gonna say that I love you -- because that's a little too cliche and overused. I'm gonna say that you make me happy, Yunho, because that is what I believe is the greatest gift you could ever give to someone: The ability to make them happy.

The ability to make them smile, to light up the room they're in as soon as you enter because now all they can see, hear and breathe is you. The ability to brighten up their day with joy, and make them feel like their life is worth it because they're going to see you at the end of the day.

That is how you make me feel, Yunho.

I'm sorry that I was too much of a coward to not say it earlier when we were actually together.

But, at least I have this letter, even though you probably think it's the shittiest thing ever. I know you do, and I won't get mad.

So, to conclude or whatever,

I.

Really.

Fucking.

Miss.

You.

It's been over a month since you've gone, and Christmas is coming soon. I doubt you know what that is, but there's a lot of snow, gifts, cheesey songs and colourful lights. I don't like it, but I know I'd hate it less if you were there.

Hope to hear from you soon, if ever.

Yours truly, Mingi.

P. S. My aunt said I could add a picture, and at first I was like, 'no the fuck not', but then I figured I've already exposed all of my feelings to you, so why not?

P. S. S. Don't mind my hair. The colour's all faded now.'

• • •

"Smileee, guys. You're on camera!" Gia gushes excitedly behind her camera, and Mingi purposefully makes sure to frown so she can see how much he absolutely hates this.

"I still don't know why we're doing this," Mingi tells her as he crosses his arms.

"It's for memory's sake, duh," Gia answers. "See, San has on a pretty smile just for the camera so why can't you?"

At this, San just widens his smile as he throws a peace sign in the air, dressed in this absolutely hideous green sweater that he'd somehow convinced Mingi to wear too.

Mingi sighs. "Because, I don't want to."

"Let's put the edgy teenager attitude at the backseat, Mingi. It's Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!"

Mingi's aunt had the tendency to go overboard for the winter holiday, and now that she's finally on vacation, she grabbed the chance to make their house as Christmassy as possible.

Shiny baubles and flickering fairy lights are strung over the enormous fir tree at the corner, three wrapped gifts sitting under it, and wreaths hang from the dark windows. The strong smell of freshly baked gingerbread cookies wafts from the kitchen, unfathomably tantalizing. Gia herself is dressed like Santa -- minus the mustache and grey hair, her crinkles eyes ecstatic as she snaps several pictures of her nephew and his best friend in a matter of seconds.

"Please stop," Mingi complains while San engages his aunt with a multitude of goofy, crazy poses.

"Gifts! We need to open the gifts," Gia exclaims, letting the camera hang from her neck.

"Yes, gifts!" San cheers, all childlike and enthusiastic. And why wouldn't he be? He loves Christmas, especially when he gets to spend it with the people he loves the most. And he has a hot elf prince as a boyfriend who he regularly contacts through his dreams, and whose mum happens to really be fond of him.

Yunho hasn't contacted Mingi even after wrote him that letter. Mingi tried not to get affected by it, but it's definitely put him in the worst of moods these past few days.

"Take a seat, you guys," Gia coaxes, her excitement so palpable that she looks like she's about to explode from it. "I need to hand out these gifts when you're seated."

With a roll of the eyes, Mingi sits along with San on the couch, glaring at his hands the entire time. His scars are still there -- and they'll always be -- and seeing them worsens his already tuebulent mood.

"Mingi, here you go." Gia passes him a large box with shiny red wrapping paper, and then San a green one that reminds Mingi way too much of Yunho's eyes.

"You guys can open them now," his aunt says, her camera clutched in her grip once more.

Mingi unties his gift without a word, hating that he's doing this without Yunho by his side. Once the wrapper's been removed, a dark box is all that remains, which he hesitantly opens up.

A smaller dark box greets him.

"Really?" Mingi says.

"Go on," Gia beckons. Even San is pressed to his side as he watches on, his own gift all forgotten about on his lap.

Mingi opens the smaller box, then halts at the tiny beige envelope shut with this royal blue seal that looks...familiar.

He takes it and carefully flips it open, a piece of paper folded within it. What...

Acutely aware of both San and Gia's eyes boring into his skull, Mingi unfolds the paper to read what is inside.

'It is with great pleasure to inform you that I, Jeong Yunho, will be coming back to you, Mingi.

And I will be staying with you this Christmas, and possibly forever.'

Mingi's eyes are blown wide in shock as he reads the words over and over again, not knowing whether they're real or not.

"Mingi read it! He read it!" San yells right then, leaping off his seat.

"You can come in now Yunho!" Gia follows up with, her grin so wide it could split her face in half.

Someone new steps in from the front door right then, and Mingi startles at the confetti San shoots into the air and the loud thump of his heartbeat.

It's Yunho, the elf donned in a long dark grey coat, his emerald green eyes sparkling with relief and longing as they settle right on Mingi's face. His hair is longer now too, stopping just above his shoulders, and he looks so fucking good that Mingi wants to fucking cry.

But he doesn't have the time to do that right now. He just runs straight into Yunho's arms, squeezing him so tight in so there isn't a chance the elf disappears from him again.

Yunho hugs him just as passionately, head buried into the crook of Mingi's neck. I missed you so much, is what his actions convey, and Mingi understands because he feels the exact same way.

"W-What -- how did this happen?" He asks once they part, and even then Mingi doesn't stop touching him.

"My boyfriend helped with it. Yunho stayed in his car out front, and left as soon as he heard our voices," Gia explains, the woman looking absolutely pleased with herself. Mingi just knows she'd taken countless pictures of his and Yunho's embrace.

"Had to wait for like, an hour. He's gone now, so," Yunho adds. Mingi doesn't stop himself from picking off the bits of snow in his blond hair.

"That's cause Mingi didn't cooperate fast enough," San says, before sprinkling more confetti in the air. Mingi can't be mad at the mess it makes, because he's just so happy now.

"How -- " he inhales, having to catch his breath once he meets Yunho's gaze again. "How did you get your family to let you stay?"

Yunho's eyes are extraordinarily fond. "Simple: I renounced my title as the crown prince."

Mingi's jaw drops. "What?"

"Staying there after I had to leave you was absolute torture," Yunho says, stroking Mingi's hair. "In the beginning, I'd always wanted to return because that is where my mother spent most of her life, and I wanted to be close to her. But these past weeks without you by my side made me realize that her spirit will always be with me wherever I go. Her spirit wanted me to be back to you. I could just feel it."

"Yunho..." Yeah, Mingi wanted Yunho back and is so happy he's here now, but he didn't want the elf having to lose his ties to his family to do so.

"Yunho will still be a part of the royal family," Gia tells him, fingers positioned on her camera again. "He just won't be the future king anymore."

"I never wanted to be one anyway," Yunho confesses, a coy smile taking over his features. "Besides, I realized I quite like having to brighten up every room Mingi's in as soon as I enter, because now all he can see, hear and breathe is me."

"Did I miss something?" San asks just as Mingi blushes deeply, wishing a whole would just form in the ground and gobble him whole.

"No you didn't," Mingi says, before dragging Yunho out the door with him.

Outside's mostly dark save for the faint streetlamps and the fairy lights strung on every corner. Yunho looks ravishing where he stands, his hair looking silky soft and his lips even softer.

Mingi's pulse races when Yunho points upward at the thing stuck at the top of the door. A mistletoe. Mingi is positive Gia had something to do with its appearance.

"Aren't humans supposed to kiss under this?" Yunho questions, eyes bright and crinkled when he grins at Mingi. God, he has a gorgeous smile.

"I guess," Mingi says. "But you aren't human, so I dunno if that could work."

Yunho hums, then cocks his head to the side and smirks, inching closer to Mingi's stiff form. His hands are warm as he gently tugs Mingi up close by his sweater collar. "I guess we'll have to try it out to see if it works then, sweetheart."

Mingi can't breathe when Yunho's lips connect with his, his erratic heart the only thing he hears at first. But, as he's done this many times before that it's second nature at this point, he rests his arms on Yunho's shoulders and lets the elf take the lead, melting into his touch in no time.

His chest blooms with a plethora of sensations, all pleasant when Yunho tilts his head to deepen the kiss. His heart feels way too big and full for his chest, love and passion oozing out of every movement. Fuck, he feels so happy.

"Do you want to be my boyfriend?" Mingi asks as soon as they seperate to get some air. He's way too breathless right now, but he needs to get this off his chest, needs to know Yunho's answer once and for all.

"Yes," Yunho doesn't waste any time. "I want to be your boyfriend, Mingi."

"Good." Then Mingi's bringing him in for yet another heated kiss, hands roaming all over the taller's body. Yunho is just as bold because he pushes Mingi against the door right then, eager to feel more of him.

"Can't believe they're making out on the porch right now," San says, which startles Yunho and Mingi to bits.

"Just let it be, San. Do not question it," Gia responds.

"Stop talking about us," Mingi says. "And I hope you two are not staring at us through the windows right now."

A couple camera clicks are heard. "No we aren't."

Mingi watches Yunho, a determined look crossing over both their features.

"Let's go get them?" Yunho asks.

"Let's go get them."

And then they're off into the house, commencing a wild goose chase that ends in heaps of laughter and incredibly merry hearts, as well as a very satisfied elven mother that beams down at her son from above.

fin.

• • •

a/n: thank you so much reading and sticking with this fic all throughout. final thoughts?