hanabi / 花火 ❦ 🎆 #투민 & #2MIN 🎆 3.4k words 🎆 strangers to lovers, fluff 🎆 minho rescues a japanese boy from a bunch of bullies at the fireworks festival and the boy turns out to be taemin’s son. illustration by @mushpotaeto, my forever beloved! ♡ links below!

not knowing that his helpless attempt at hiding his blushing face is futile because minho can see it. minho sees him all, always, even when he thinks he’s invisible to the world. minho is truly the only one who does. 💌

“really? then why do you still come here everyday?” “to meet you.” taemin stalls and blinks, already halfway holding the flower by its petal before he huffs and whips his head in the opposite direction. “liar,” he mumbles and plays with the petal on his lap,

“yeah?” “mmhm,” taemin peers at him closer and beams. “and you? are you still sad, minho?” “nope,” he answers instantly with the mirrored smile, soon passing a small flower he randomly plucked off the ground to the other. “i’ve stopped being sad since i talked to you that day.”

taemin hums to ponder. “if you had asked me that the first time we met, i’d say yes in a heartbeat. it’s not easy being cheated on after so many years. but now…” he squints at minho then smiles slowly. “not anymore.”

“now, why do you ask?” minho chuckles. “i don’t know. there are reasons why this place is called the breakup dumps. we throw all of their things here then mourn like losers.” “….but are we mourning, really?” he asks tactfully after a pause. “are we?”

until he realises that there’s a shift somewhere. “minho,” - the name of the guy. he calls more casually now while swinging his legs back and forth as he watches the waves. “are you still sad?”

instead, they sit together, shoulder-to-shoulder, basking in the comfort that only this particular place could provide in lieu of odd silence and dimming fear. it takes taemin a couple of visits more, all accompanied by the same lad,

he’s got questions. who is this guy, why is he there, why is he talking to him - why is it not his first time. taemin has been there long enough to know that, other than him, nobody ever comes to this place for leisure. still, he doesn’t want to ask.

and he’s close to indulge in the terrifying serenity of the crashing waves again when that somebody joins him there, effectively invading both his space and privacy. “i know,” the latter says. his voice is deep with a soothing roughness to it. “not my first time here either.”

“it’s dangerous to sit there.” taemin peers his eyes open at the interruption and hums absently. “i’ll be safe,” he answers, his voice soft and quiet as he tilts his head to enjoy the breeze some more. he doesn’t need to know who’s asking. doesn’t care. “not my first time.”

AU in which they both long for something lost to the depth of the sea - something that will never return. yet in that silent ache of longing, they drift toward each other, bound by what was lost and kept together for what the future holds.

and, really. it’s the beautiful, softened gaze that looks at him from underneath long eyelashes that weakens his stance, breaks his walls, and convinces him to go for this—whatever tincture that is given to him. to hell with work. he needs some restorative sleep with his fairy.

“so, you made me this to make me sleep?” “mhm.” “even if i have not finished my work?” taemin nods ardently then shoves the mug to the other. “no matter.”

then he scrunches his nose and whips his head to shift his gaze, decidedly staring into space instead. “you humans work so much, seriously.… the lack of restful sleep will only hurt you.” minho purses his lips as he watches the fairy intently.

“it’s a sleeping tincture… no side effects! no, just herbal remedies with your favourite tea… with a touch of care and magic…. and fondness….” he murmurs. “….maybe two petals of my favourite edible flower, too… they shall not harm you! that one is for sure.”

smiling bashfully, taemin shakes his head and peers down at the tea again. his wings hesitantly flap together. they’re a little too expressive when it comes to his emotions. “this is different,” he starts, toes curling nervously as he tries to articulate his thoughts clearly.

and that’s when taemin turns in his embrace, finally clocking eyes with him as he lifts the small mug. it’s the one with cat ears, too. tea—minho has expected it that much. “for me?” he asks while blinking confusedly. “i just had one earlier. you made it for me, no?”

but if he has to be a tad bit more honest, other than the fairy’s presence, it’s the soothing smell of herbal extracts that lure him towards the kitchen. also the tea. the aroma is unmistakable. “come on,” minho coaxes him. “let’s get in.”

“hush,” he says thru his pout while stirring the liquid idly. “do not turn me from my task, please.” minho snorts. “i’m merely asking,” he replies while nuzzling his face against the soft skin of taemin’s neck. “since you’re not in my home office.”

“whatever are you doing in the kitchen this late?” the fairy only hums, not intending to break his focus from his errand even when he feels a pair of strong arms wrapping themselves around his slim waist.