Pairing: Minho & Felix
Genre: Fantasy AU
!!TW!! : slavery (kind of), implied conflict, racism, angst, disease
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"Minho! My, my, didn't you luck out with your little pet? Really, you've found yourself such a pretty one. Of course, nothing less expected from a demonic mutt, uh?"
Felix didn't even react at the backhanded insult, as if unresponsive to the entire world, but he definitely noticed how tensed Minho had grown the second his cousin had called out to him – and that tension had now grown tenfold thanks to this little comment.
"Daewon," he greeted, stiff. He plastered on the fakest smile he could muster. "Yes, I'm very lucky indeed. Was there something I could do for you on this fine evening?"
"I figured we could take the time to catch up, considering we haven't seen each other in almost half-a-century now." He wasn't even looking at Minho, though, his eyes hungrily racking up the smaller, almost frail frame of the freckled Demon standing just behind the black-haired Angel. "And, while we're at it, I figured you could do me a favor."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Yes! You see, I've found myself quite lonely lately. Surely you wouldn't mind lending me your little pet for the evening?" Minho became as rigid as a statue, but his cousin either didn't notice or didn't care as he stepped forward. "We're family, aren't we? Family is supposed to help each other out. Won't you help me cure my loneliness?"
Just as his fingers were about to brush against the Demon's almost doll-like face, however, Minho suddenly grabbed his wrist in a vice-like grip. Daewon startled, but the blood completely drained from his face when he noticed the now thunderous expression on his fellow Angel's face.
"Do not touch what is mine, Daewon," he warned between his teeth, his eyes flashing dangerously as the air around them became colder.
Daewon's lips twisted at that. "Ah, yes, it would seem you haven't changed at all since our childhood. You were never one for sharing your toys, so I suppose this one wouldn't be any different." His eyes then narrowed. "Unless there's another reason you are reacting so strongly...? I've never seen you quite this smitten with someone before."
This was dangerous territory. Felix and Minho had always played the parts they were given to the letter, but the Demon knew how difficult it sometimes got for his Keeper to keep on acting. Felix didn't mind, having grown used to the insults and the cold stares, and also the constant objectification, but Minho was a lot more passionate than he let on, and his emotions sometimes got the best of him.
(They'd been together for many centuries, now. As per the tradition of the Power Exchange demanded, the youngest child of each of the most powerful Demon Clans was forced to become "Kept" by the most powerful Angels around. While they proclaimed it was to keep a balance of power, it really was nothing more than the Demon Clans being forced to hand-over hostages so the Angel Clans could keep them weak and on a not-so-literal leash.
Minho had become Felix's Keeper about three centuries ago, now. They'd both gone a long way from barely tolerating each other to actually falling in love with one another – though that last part was kept a secret from almost everyone, for obvious reasons.)
After a few more seconds, however, Minho laughed sharply, and the tension broke.
"Someone? You're giving him too much credit, Daewon." He released his cousin, sparing a disdainful look for the petit Demon behind him. "He's nothing more than a pet, as you oh-so-wisely pointed out earlier. Why would you want to sully yourself with the dirt and grim rotting him to the very core? If you're so lonely, you should find yourself an actual person worth more than the ground we walk on."
At that, Daewon's grin returned, and he laughed, patting Minho's shoulder. "Ah, always so talented with words, dear cousin. I suppose you're right. Maybe I was too enticed by this unexpected encounter – you know how Demons are, always fooling around and breathing lies." His eyes then glinted with a dark mischief completely unbefitting of an Angel. "I think the magic in his collar isn't strong enough, if his demonic allure was enough to affect me so."
Felix couldn't help but stiffen at that. How could Daewon have noticed? Minho had effectively reduced the quantity of magic in the collar Felix was forced to wear, but certainly not enough for anyone to notice – just enough that Felix wouldn't collapse on the spot because of the intense draining on his magical core.
"I don't know what you're talking about," replied tersely Minho, his fake smile dropping the slightest bit. "I regulate the collar myself. Are you saying I am incapable of Keeping him properly?"
"No, of course not," replied his fellow Angel, his voice dripping with honey. "All I'm saying is that maybe you've been too distracted by your duties in the Royal Court lately to pay proper attention to the security measures. Plus, after a full century with that pet by your side, your senses have surely become blunted by familiarity. It's only natural that you wouldn't notice a little glamour slipping through the cracks."
"This isn't—"
"Here, let me help you regulate it properly," Daewon insisted, moving forward again, and Felix had to fight back the urge to step back as he suddenly loomed over him. "As a heartfelt apology for the unpleasant jests from earlier."
Minho visibly wanted to protest, but that would definitely cause a scene. The nearest guests were already shooting them side-eyed glances, and causing a commotion in the middle of the ballroom wouldn't help their situation in the least. So, Felix straightened his back and shot a look at Minho, imperceptibly shaking his head.
Let him do what he wants. I'll be fine, he tried to convey.
Minho bit his lower lip so hard it was almost enough to make it bleed, and he let out a somewhat shaky exhale, forcing himself to relax the fists he had unconsciously tightened.
"Do as you please."
Daewon didn't need to be told twice. The smug grin on his face merely widened as he suddenly gripped the metal collar around Felix's neck and harshly pulled down to force him into a somewhat humiliating bow. Keeping Felix in this uncomfortably position, he then started letting his own magic flow into the collar.
The collar was a system put in place to ensure Demons wouldn't be able to use their powers as they pleased, or at all. However, Felix, while the youngest son of one of the most powerful Demon Clans, was not like the rest of his family – his magical core was small and frail, and his powers were weak. He had a rare disease that atrophied his core as a child, which rendered him incapable of actively using magic as an adult.
The collar, however, was not adapted for his disability. It was made to drain over three-quarters of the magic of the creature wearing it, usually leaving just enough for said creature to stay alive and go on with a normal, if slightly handicapped life. However, Felix already had a hard enough time living with what little magic he possessed – his body was weak, he got sick often, and he couldn't accomplish tasks that were too physically demanding.
The first time the collar was attached to his neck, Felix almost died. The shock was too strong, the drain too sudden, and his heart did stop beating altogether. It's only because Minho had almost instantly realized what was wrong that he was alive today – the Angel had promptly taken off the collar and, later on, had started regulating the magic in the item so that it wouldn't actually affect Felix's magic core.
And now, either Daewon had noticed, either he just wanted to make Felix suffer for Minho's refusal – and Felix was ready to bet it was the latter. As the magic in the collar suddenly increased, he instantly felt an undescriptible pain shoot through his entire body, and he would have collapsed had the jerk of an Angel not been holding him so tightly.
Lava was flowing through Felix's veins, his core already dry and empty because of the sudden drain, and his heart was beating too fast, trying to compensate for the lack of magic flow with a faster, harmful blood flow. Felix easily felt when he reached the appropriate limit of magic, but Daewon didn't stop. Breathing was becoming a difficult task, and dark spots were now dancing before Felix's eyes. Just as he thought he was about to pass out, his bodily functions shutting down one after the other, Minho finally stepped in.
"Enough," he warned, placing a warning hand on his cousin's arm. "If you keep that up, you'll suck him dry. You weren't a Vampire, last I checked."
"Ah! Good one."
But Daewon did release Felix, and he would have probably collapsed had it not been for Minho's arm not-so-subtly sliding around his waist to keep him upright. Before Daewon could comment on it, however, a familiar voice called out to them.
"Minho! I finally found you!" It was Hyunjin, a fellow Angel, and also a Keeper. He practically threw himself over his friend, grinning. "I've been looking for you everywhere. Come on, the King wants to talk to you about some important stuff!"
"Well, duty calls." Minho plastered another smile for Daewon. "We can catch up another time. A pleasure seeing you again, cousin."
"Likewise."
Hyunjin was already dragging Minho away like an excited child, which gave an excuse for the older Angel not to expand on formalities. Hyunjin also grabbed Felix's arm and, to anyone watching, it would have mostly looked like someone dragging an unruly child along, but for Felix it was the only thing keeping him on his feet.
They left the ballroom, entering a small hallway, and finally finding a small office filled with books, couches, and even a fireplace in the back. As soon as the door closed behind them, though, what little strength Felix had left vanished, and he collapsed, his heart beating in his ears and his blood flowing so fast it buzzed under his skin.
"Felix!"
"Quick, take the collar off!"
"Shit, what happened?"
"Daewon happened."
The collar was taken off at some point, but the damage had already been done. Felix's core was pulsating weakly, trying to create more magic than his body was naturally capable of, which only hurt even more. Soft whimpers escaped him as Minho carefully cradled his body, murmuring encouragements and apologies that Felix couldn't really hear or focus on at the moment.
And then, something soft and warm was pressed against Felix's lips, and his body went limp as magic suddenly surged through his conducts. It stung, but it helped soothe the burning sensation, and the pressure on his chest finally vanished. Felix inhaled sharply before coughing a little as he bent over, bile rising in his throat.
"That's it, kitten, just breathe, you're okay now."
A warm hand was rubbing Felix's back as the voice he had come to love so much kept on murmuring soft words and promises of safety the Demon knew he could trust. Eventually, Felix managed to open his eyes again, his body still spasming and aching a little, but no longer in pain. He sagged into Minho's arms, breathing shakily as his familiar scent enveloped him and clouded his senses a bit. Minho's hold around him simply tightened, and Felix finally found the strength to look up at him and offer him a wobbly smile.
"Hey," he croaked out.
Minho returned the smile, though he was visibly fighting the urge to cry. "Hi."
"Here, Felix. You should drink some water."
Felix knew that voice. Looking away from Minho, he found the familiar face of one of the few Angels he'd come to respect and care about, Chan's expression soft and full of sorrow as he handed Felix a glass of water. Minho took it, since Felix couldn't even lift a hand at the moment, and the Angel carefully helped him drink.
"Thank you," Felix sighed, already feeling a little better. He then offered a grin that probably looked more like a grimace at the man beside her. "Hi, Chan. I'd bow, but I don't think I can move right now."
"You needn't bow when it's only us, Lix, you know that," the Angel replied softly, though his eyes crinkled a bit at the joking tone.
"Hyunjin told us what happened," added Changbin, a little further away. The Demon was also from a powerful Demon Clan, hence why Chan had become his Keeper. "I'm sorry this happened, Lix."
"Not your fault," he replied, lightly shaking his head. "He was just an ass."
A snort echoed from the couch, and Jeongin stretched his arms. "That's an understatement. It's one thing to regulate the collar of another's Kept, it's another entirely to go over the magic limit."
"And it's even worse for Felix, considering his condition," sighed Seungmin, an Angel and Keeper of the younger Demon beside him. "This could have killed him – hell, it could have seriously hurt any of us at that point, and Daewon knew that."
"Is there truly nothing we can do?" asked Jisung, Felix's best friend and fellow Demon – Hyunjin was his Keeper.
"Actually..." Chan rose back to his feet, seemingly hesitant, but he steeled his resolve upon meeting Felix's eyes. "Now that I've become King, I've already gotten started on a project – one meant to change the laws of the Power Exchange."
Minho instantly looked up, eyes wide. "You are?"
"It's only some brainstorming right now. It'll take a serious while to dismantle a system's that's been in place for over a millennia," Chan reasoned, serious. "But I want to make this work. The priority would be getting rid of the collars, obviously. I can't go into the details right away, but the gist of it would be that Demons and Angels have the same rights."
"If this actually happened... then we would be equals...?" asked hesitantly Jisung.
Chan smiled at him. "That's the plan. Of course, there will still be the Kept, but I want to return to the old laws – the ones where the Kept were actually treated as people, not just as hostages turned into glorified pets."
"That sounds wonderful," assured Seungmin, wrapping his arms around Jeongin.
Hyunjin's eyes were twinkling. "I know a lot of minor Light Clans who'd side with you, Chan. If you want, I can already get started on rallying allies – you'll need a lot if you actually want to make this happen."
"Me too," instantly volunteered Minho. "Angels won't be as easily convinced, you know how prideful our kind is, but I do know a few people in higher places that would share your views. We can make this work."
"And we know minor Dark Clans never cared much for the rules anyway, so swaying them to our side wouldn't be too complicated," pointed out Jeongin.
"If we could actually make this happen..." Felix slowly reached out to grab Minho's hand, intertwining their fingers together, and he smiled softly. "It sounds wonderful. I- I don't know if I can do much, but... I'll definitely try to help, too."
"We're all with you, my King," murmured Changbin, pressing a kiss on the King's throat.
Chan's smile simply widened at that and, suddenly, the future appeared a whole lot brighter for everyone present in the room.
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Minho and Felix retired early, Chan immediately lending them some quarters and assuring that they could stay for as long as they wanted to. And, considering Chan's palace was the only place where Felix could actually be kept safe, Minho certainly wasn't about to reject his offer. So long as Felix didn't leave their room, the Demon wouldn't have to put on the collar, and Minho had no intention of letting him do anything but rest for at least a week.
"Do you think it can actually happen?" Felix was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression. "That Demons and Angels can become equals?"
"I think so," nodded Minho, grooming his wings before the vanity. "Chan is a good person, and he's already done a lot as King. I don't see why this project wouldn't work."
"It's a lot of change, though. Will the Angel Clans truly be willing to support him knowing they'll lose their absolute control over the Demon Clans?"
Minho sighed, putting down the brush and rising back to his feet. He walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, and Felix rolled over on his stomach to look up at him, obviously awaiting an answer. Minho smiled softly, carding his fingers through Felix's hair as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the younger's forehead.
"You shouldn't worry too much over this. I'm sure it'll work, even if it takes some time."
"But what if it doesn't?"
At that, Minho pecked his nose. "Then I'll take you away somewhere neither of us have to play a part – where you won't have to wear this dreadful collar, and where I'll be able to hold you and love you as much as I want to."
"Be serious," Felix protested, laughing a little.
His laughter died down as Minho leveled him with a serious stare. "I am."
"I..." The idea was enticing, of course – to leave to some faraway place where neither had a role to play, and where they could just be free. "Where would we even go? The Angel Clans wouldn't let you disappear so easily. They'd search all of the realms until they found us, and then they'd probably... probably kill me, for having corrupted you or some shitty excuse like that."
Minho completely laid down next to him, one arm sliding around Felix's waist to bring their bodies closer. Their faces were now only inches apart, Minho's wing carefully draped over them like a warm, protective blanket, and gently caressing Felix's own – while dreadfully atrophied to the point where Felix couldn't even unfold them, the freckled Demon couldn't help but love them when Minho so blatantly cared for them so gently.
"We could go to the Human Realm."
Felix startled a that, his eyes going wide. "Wha—are you serious?"
"They'd never look for us there."
"And for good reason! There's no coming back from the Human Realm, everyone knows that! The portals have all been shut down, and the only way to get there is if a creature entirely gives up their magic – and a creature without magic can't survive in any other realm, Light or Dark! It's..." Felix trailed off, noticing his persisting stare. "You already know all that, though. Why even bring this up?"
"Because what if I don't care about being unable to come back? What if I don't care about giving up my magic?"
"You- you can't be serious," Felix insisted, though he was starting to think Minho actually was. "You have a family that loves you, Minho. And what about your powers? It's not just about your magic – you'd be giving up your wings. And- and we have friends here, too!"
"I'd give up everything and more if it meant I could be with you."
Felix's heart swelled at the seriousness and passion in Minho's voice, and he closed his eyes, feeling the tears build up. One managed to slip through and rolled down his freckled cheek, but Minho simply leaned in and kissed it away.
"My family loves me because I'm the perfect heir. As soon as they find out I've fallen for a Demon, they'll disown me and pass the torch on to Daewon. I don't use my powers all that much to begin with, either. And, while I would miss my wings, they mean nothing compared to the love I hold for you. As for our friends, I'm sure they would understand. In fact, I'm ready to bet they would support us, and help us with the transition. Saying goodbye would hurt, of course, but it's you whom I want to spend my life with."
Felix was definitely crying, now. He wrapped his aching arms around Minho, burying his face into his chest as the Angel held him just as tight.
"I love you too, Minho," he murmured, his voice breaking a bit. "I love you so much... But- but if we go to the Human Realm, doesn't it mean giving up on our longevity? I- I mean, it's magic that allows our kinds to live for so long..."
"I'd rather have a short life where I'm free to love you as I please then an eternity without being able to do so."
Felix finally pulled away, reaching out to gently stroke Minho's cheek in wonder. "You... You really are serious about this, aren't you?"
"I've been thinking about it for a long while, now," Minho admitted, pressing a kiss into Felix's palm. "You mean everything to me, Lix. And what happened today... Watching you get insulted without being able to defend you, and then insulting you myself just to save appearances... I wanted to punch myself as soon as those atrocious words left my mouth. And when Daewon hurt you like he did... I wanted to kill him, Lix, I really did."
He leaned into Felix's touch, almost like a cat, and the sight made Felix smile a bit. After a few more seconds, he let out a tired sigh.
"I can't stand this anymore. I can't stand sticking to the sidelines as you get hurt. I can't stand not being able to hold you in front of everyone else. I can't stand having to hide constantly when all I want to do is tell everyone how much I love you."
"It's not your fault, Minho," Felix assured, now running his fingers through his hair. "I'm fine, and it's thanks to you. You know something worse would have happened if you had jumped to my defense, and I'm grateful for everything you've already done for me, and I love you more than anything and anyone else in the world. It's not your fault."
They stayed like this for a while after that, basking in the silence, and the comfort of their closeness. They could act as they pleased behind closed doors, but it was becoming harder by the day to hide the real nature of their relationship, and Felix knew it was putting a serious strain on Minho's heart.
So, eventually, he reached a decision.
"Okay." Minho startled a bit, looking up at him, and Felix smiled. "I'm in."
"You- you mean it?"
"I do. But first... First, let's wait. If Chan's plan works, then there'd be no point in running away, would it?" Felix leaned in, kissing Minho's lips softly. "So, let's wait. It'll probably take another century, two at worst, but change is coming – good change. And I want- I want to stick around and see it happen. And, if it doesn't work... then we can go."
"Sounds like the perfect plan," Minho finally smiled, joy bubbling in his heart. "Waiting... It won't be easy, but I can wait. Just a little more, see if we can actually make this dream come true."
"No matter what, we'll be together," Felix assured. "That's what matters."
For only answer, Minho leaned in and kissed him again.
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I'm really a sucker for MinLix ah ah. This one's also been sitting in my drafts for a while, and part 2 will be out tomorrow!