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It’s not often Seungmin allows himself to slip like this. Usually he can keep himself in a decent mood through sheer force of will. If he doesn’t dwell on it, doesn’t let the worries eat at his guts until he’s hollow, Seungmin is fine . But today, today he allows himself to be swallowed by it. He lays in his bed, the scratchy hay-stuffed mattress poking into his skin like dull needles, and lets the tears fall. He knows there’s a piece of paper waiting for him on the desk. It’s opened, read, and read all over again. And he’s supposed to reply to this letter. He needs to pour the same care and love and happiness into a response. But it seems like an impossible task to peel himself up off his pity party bed to do what he needs to do.
It’s been exactly one year since he’s seen Minho. Three-hundred and sixty five days (thank god it’s not a leap year) since Seungmin had watched Minho climb on the back of his dragon and fly off with the other warriors to the frontline. Minho had left with a promise to return, a promise to keep in touch. And after a year he’s at least fulfilled the second. But the earth has traveled the path around the sun and still Minho has not returned.
Seungmin lets himself ache.
When the sadness washes over him in cold waves until he’s numb, that’s when Seungmin can finally drag himself to his feet. He shuffles with grief-shackled feet over to his desk and sits. His candle flickers brightly, heavy wax dripping fat down the side. Minho’s most recent letter greets him. Even though Seungmin has it practically memorized at this point, he reads it again just to torture himself.
To The Insufferable Kim Seungmin,
What a way with words you have. Are you sure you want to continue your duties as a courier? I think you would do well if you left the service to go live in the woods as a decrepit hermit to fill journal after journal waxing poetics about nature. Really, how do you even have the time to notice all you pass over? Unless your lady has gotten slow with age, it should all be a blur of green below you when you fly. Or are you being lazy with your work, Kim Seungmin? Taking the scenic route to deliver highly important military correspondents? I’m disappointed in you, darling. Here we are risking our lives fighting the enemy hundreds of feet in the sky and you’re floating lazily across the land admiring the mountains and trees.
If you really want to do something useful with that big, brilliant mind of yours, you should wax poetics about your lover instead. You know, the most attractive, quick-witted, romantic man you’ve ever met in your pitiful life? It’s me, Kim Seungmin, you should write about me. How can rocks be so interesting when you have the privilege of calling yourself mine? If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like if you could spare a wistful thought for me once in a while. I’m starting to think you’re going to leave me and run away with a voluptuous fir tree or something.
Regardless, your dear beloved boyfriend has been amazing, as usual. The enemy likes to think themselves clever, but really their tactics are as transparent as glass. It feels like each battle is a quicker and quicker victory. We haven’t had any losses on our side in months. Jisung’s partner is grounded with a torn wing, but she should be battle ready within a week or so, but Jisung has been whining insufferably about the temporary dragon he’s been assigned. Hopefully by the time his girl has recovered, the war will be winding down. I truly believe we will be home within the end of the year. The borders can be turned over back to the local defenses.
How will you greet me when you see me, darling? The thought is all that keeps me amused these days. I imagine I surprise you, wait for you in the dining hall without a word. I picture you throwing open the wooden doors surrounded by our courier friends, and your eyes meet mine. Sometimes I imagine you burst into tears like the embarrassing boy you are, and other times I imagine you coming to punch me for springing my presence on you so suddenly. No matter how I picture it, I know it won’t compare to when I see you for real. I’m anticipating the day impatiently.
Stay healthy and remember to eat ALL three meals a day!
Your favorite person,
Minho
It’s such a typical letter from Minho, but it hurts Seungmin to read. Because it gives him hope, a finicky, blurry thing blooming in his chest. A promise that Minho will be back in his arms soon, that this stupid war will be ending in victory and they’ll never have to be separated like this again. But war is fickle, unpredictable. This isn’t the first time Minho has promised to be home soon. Only a few months into being sent to the frontlines Minho had promised he’d be back soon. Then again a few months later.
Maybe third time’s the charm, but Seungmin’s miserable state won’t allow him to think positively on the promise. They’re pretty words from his pretty love, but there’s no weight to them. Minho has about as much control over the war as Seungmin does. There’s no telling when he’ll come home until he’s loaded on his dragon and flying away. Seungmin can’t hope.
What he does is pull out a fresh sheet of paper and his pen. He breathes, a deep, calming inhale, then brings his hand down.
To The Unbearable Lee Minho,
I didn’t realize the details of my days were so boring to you. What more do I have than new scenery? I’ve seen more of our country in the past year than I have in my previous decades of life. It truly is a gorgeous place to live, not that you care about trivial things like the majesty of nature. If you can’t stab it, what use does it have to you? I thought the tale of the volcano would have particularly interested you, but I’ll keep it to myself next time. If you’re so easily made jealous that my descriptions of forests and mountains has you so worked up, it’s a good thing I never detail my adventures with the other couriers here. Jeongin is looking lovely, by the way. He’s grown another inch taller, and his jawline is probably sharper than your sword. He’s almost as unbearable as you.
But if you so wish, honey, I can try to spare a romantic thought for you. I don’t know if you’re worth putting to paper like this, but I can try. Forgive me if it’s disgustingly fond, it’s the only way I can remember you. Through embarrassing, rose-colored glasses. I can’t wait to see you again and be disappointed by the utter mediocrity you are in person, rather than my mind’s eye. But I’ll paint you a picture of yourself so beautiful that your mirror will weep.
Seungmin’s pen hovers over the page. He tries to gather Minho’s image in his mind. But all he can get is fleeting glimpses of memories. Millisecond long flashes that pass too quickly to grasp. Of when Seungmin had first met a young Minho, looking so strong and confident compared to the dorky other recruits. Of Minho sitting tall on a dragon’s back, shoulders squared and bodyline graceful. Of Minho soft with sleep and skin glowing honey-warm in the candlelight. Of Minho’s hands laced with his, small and strong. Of Minho laughing bright and bold in the lake by their training camp, splashing a cold wave of water in Seungmin’s direction.
They’re all memories that Seungmin treasures dearly, but they’re slipping too fast from his fingers like loose sand. It’s a scary thought, so Seungmin swallows around the fear and brings his pen back to the paper.
You are the kind of beautiful that’s impossible not to notice. It’s the first thing people note about you when they meet you. And it’s not just your looks, even though those are exquisite. It’s the way you hold yourself that’s so attractive. When I first saw you at the training camp, I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. The rest of us were all nobody kids ready to throw our measly lives into the war, but you were already a warrior before you ever sat on a dragon’s back. It’s your eyes I look to first. They’re so large and dark, shining so alive with light. They sit above sharp cheekbones, with a narrow, strong nose strong down the middle. I fell in love with your lips. It’s so charming how the top is thicker than the bottom, and they’re always slightly parted when you’re staring off. I can see your sweet little rabbit teeth peeking through. Your hair is so thick and artfully styled, you look exactly like the rich boy you are.
And your body, it’s textbook for a dragon rider. You’re compact, sure, but you’re toned all around. Your wide shoulders and muscled arms and god, your legs. So impossibly strong and thick it’s like you were born to be a rider. You look like the hero of children’s stories, so charming and devastating. But that’s only a small fraction of what makes you beautiful. It’s your laugh, and the heavenly tenor of your voice, and the sure way your fingers card through my hair, how you turn dragon riding into something artful. Is that enough sentimentality for you, Lee Minho? Have I proven I adore you more than any natural thing on this earth?
Suddenly there’s a drop splashing down on the paper, and Seungmin blinks. He quickly sits up and wipes at his cheeks. He doesn’t want to ruin his words with any evidence of his sadness. There’s nothing Minho can do to heal Seungmin, so Seungmin would never want to burden him. No, it’s better to seem happy as always.
So he dips his pinky into the well of hot wax bubbling in his candle. He lifts it over the water droplet, letting the wax slowly drip down into a splash that perfectly covers the tear stain. With the evidence concealed, Seungmin goes back to writing.
I can’t write anymore, because I fear I’ll make your already enormous ego too heavy for you to carry around. I’d break your poor dragon’s spine, and then who would protect us from the enemy? I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. Or amazing, as you say. Is it selfish to say I’m glad that it is Jisung’s dragon laid up in the infirmary, and not our friend himself? I worry about you all every day and night. It soothes my poor heart to hear how overwhelming your victories have been. You are all incredibly brave and strong, so I trust in your abilities. But I will admit, honey, when you see me next it will be with a head full of grey hair. I believe I’ve aged a few decades over this past year. Will you still love me, even in my old age? I think I’d make a very handsome grandfather.
I don’t know how I’ll react when I next see you, I’ll be honest, but I’ll be counting the days until it happens. You’ve spent too long away from my side, Lee Minho. It will take a lot of making up on your end to recover from this slight. Return to me soon, honey. I miss you terribly.
Your eternally loyal love,
Seungmin
There, that should be enough. Even as it tore his chest into bloody gore to write, he’s glad it’s finally finished. He carefully seals the letter into an envelope and seals it with wax. Felix is set to head to the borders for a delivery this afternoon, so Seungmin will have to hunt him down before then.
The sun is now high and shining through the narrow window of Seungmin’s room, so Seungmin knows his time of moping is over. Sad or not, he has a duty to fulfill just like the rest of them. Now he needs to put on his pleasant mask and force down some food before going off on today’s deliveries.
***
It’s a pleasant distraction to be riding on the back of a dragon. His steady girl, Sunshine, isn’t the fastest in the arsenal, but she and Seungmin have a near telepathic communication. She’s the most patient and sympathetic dragon Seungmin has ever met, and she has a strong sense of direction. Her lack of aggression makes her perfect for the job of a courier dragon, and she and Seungmin have been together ever since he graduated the training program and got placed into the courier program himself.
The steady thump of her lazily flapping wings, the wind blowing sharp against his cheeks, the clouds rolling slow and lazy above them, it all helps distract Seungmin from the terrible mood he’s been in ever since he woke up.
His delivery today is at a military base in the complete opposite direction of all of the fighting. It’s deep within their own country, locked in by a large mountain range. It’s only lightly stocked right now with relief soldiers in case the border gets dicey again, so there aren’t many letters for Seungmin to bring from the main base. His parcel bag is light where it’s tightly strapped to his back.
Being this high in the air helps make Seungmin’s worries seem so trivial. Why should he whine so much about missing his boyfriend when they’re fighting for something so much larger than themselves? They get to work with the most magical beasts that roam this earth. They soar through the sky as often as they walk the earth. They’re fighting for the good and safety of their nation. As much as he misses Minho, so much it feels like a physical punch to the chest, he knows Minho is making him proud fighting this war. Seungmin is doing his own part as a cog in the giant wheel that is their Dragon Rider Corps. As Seungmin looks down at ancient trees the size of toothpicks and a long river that winds like a thin spill, how can he get lost in his own selfish grief?
As he stares down at the landscape, there’s a shadow that passes over Seungmin. A rolling cloud, but how small is it? It doesn’t stretch over the treetops down below like the others. It just darkens the air around Seungmin.
As Seungmin glances up, puzzled, he catches a glimpse of red. The color alone is enough to have Seungmin’s heart rate picking up. The red gets larger and larger, and then Seungmin sees.
It’s a dragon.
How did the enemies get so far into their borders? Where is this dragon heading? All Seungmin knows now is he’s in the dragon’s sights, and he is completely unarmed.
With a thumping chest Seungmin leans down flat against the saddle, fingers gripping tight at the horn. He nudges his heel carefully into Sunshine’s side, but from the tension of her neck and wings, Seungmin can tell she knows the danger they’re in. Seungmin can feel the deep breath the dragon takes as her ribs expand between his thighs, and then with a gusting flap of her wings, she’s rocketing them forward.
There’s a rumble from above and that shadow grows even darker. Seungmin can feel the powerful wind generated from the enemy dragon’s wings. It’s big, bigger even than Chan’s massive dragon Phobia. That’s both terrifying and a weakness, however. Sunshine isn’t the smallest of the courier dragons, or the fastest, but she’s certainly more compact than this beast. All Seungmin can hope is that he can outride this enemy to get close enough to the base for backup to arrive.
All the sudden there’s a burst of heat, and the sky grows bright with flame. Oh, Seungmin is doomed. Not only is there a dragon attacking, but this dragon is a firebreather. Seungmin thought those were a thing of myth.
Sunshine immediately folds her wings and dips into a drop. Seungmin’s stomach bottoms out at how fast they fall, but it keeps them out of range of the flames. Her wings jerk out, and she catches an updraft to send them rocketing up. They shoot past the dragon, and now they’re the ones hovering above. From this vantage Seungmin can fully see their enemy.
It’s a hulking mass of rocky red scales, its wings like battle sails. But there’s another thing that catches Seungmin’s eyes. There’s no harnesses adorning the beast’s body. No saddle. No rider.
This is a rogue dragon. Another myth that Seungmin never believed in. Dragons had either been domesticated or exterminated, there shouldn’t be any left to harm whoever on their own free will. It’s too dangerous.
But here Seungmin is facing two impossibilities all lumped into one very real danger. It’s ironic, really, Seungmin thinks as he clings tight to the saddle and feels Sunshine dodging and weaving the best she can. Every day he wakes up fearing that this will be the day he loses Minho to the war, to another dragon, while he’s safely behind the country’s borders delivering letters. And yet here he is, about to die to the hands of some wild dragon. He can’t do this to Minho.
Gravity shifts once again as Sunshine banks hard, and there’s another burst of heat. All of the sudden Seungmin feels licking hot pain painting the back and top of his shoulder. He gasps, watching the leather of the reigns singe black where the flames touch. Sunshine roars and drops again. All Seungmin can feel is the ever increasing throbbing pain in his shoulder. It licks down his spine and arm, making him gasp and grit his teeth.
Sunshine’s wings shoot open again and she flips. Seungmin dangles helplessly where he’s strapped into the shelter. His arm hurts too much to fight against gravity. Sunshine swipes a long taloned foot at the diving rogue dragon, and Seungmin watches dizzily as it catches the rogue in the eye.
Immediately the beast shrieks, a puff of smoke spilling out of its mouth. It flaps its wings wildly, shoving itself as far away from Sunshine as it can. And Seungmin’s dragon doesn’t waste the opportunity. She turns and jets right towards their destination. Seungmin has never seen her fly so fast. The landscape below truly does blur into a dark mess of colors. But maybe that’s the pain making his eyes unfocus. Either way, he can’t sense the other dragon behind them, so somehow he’s escaped with his life. Probably.
“I’m okay,” he pants out, patting Sunshine’s neck. He slumps over tiredly in the saddle, letting his cheek rest against the hard sheen of her scales. “Thank you, you’re the best. God, I love you so much.”
Sunshine doesn’t respond, but Seungmin can see her love in the way she pushes the limits to rocket towards the military base. All of Seungmin’s trust lies in this beast, so he lets his eyes fall shut as the wind rushes around him.
***
Seungmin wakes up in the base's infirmary with a gnarly hand-sized burn streaking along his shoulder blade and up near his neck. They’ve slathered so many different creams and ointments on it that it barely even hurts, even wrapped up so tightly in bandages. After giving his story Seungmin is lauded for his bravery (honestly undeserved, his dragon had done all of the work but he’s not in a place to protest) and loaded back up on Sunshine to fly back to the home base. At least this time he has a military escort, and they go the long way to avoid the area Seungmin had met the rogue dragon.
When he lands he’s met by his courier friends. Felix looks heartbroken as his hands flurry around Seungmin’s body, and Jeongin hovers back nervously. At least Hyunjin is put together enough to step forward and ruffle Seungmin’s hair, proud of him for surviving.
The leadership of the base then quickly usher Seungmin into the general’s office and interrogate him again about his experience. It’s difficult business, dealing with a rogue. Dragons are notoriously difficult to kill, and one that so boldly attacks the military of this land is too dangerous to leave alive. It’ll take a special force to take it down, and Seungmin knows what that means. They’ll bring back their best soldiers from the front lines to deal with this home territory danger. And Seungmin knows exactly who their best team is.
He can’t help but bounce excitedly out of the office to find the others. They task him to fetch Felix, of course, so the courier can bring word to the battlefield.
Minho is coming home. And all it takes is Seungmin almost dying. Not the best way to do it, honestly, but Seungmin doesn’t care. He’s too elated at the thought of seeing Minho again.
It takes exactly a week for the soldiers to arrive. A week of Seungmin slowly recovering, going to the infirmary and having his burn fussed over and prodded. It’s not the most pleasant recovery, but Seungmin doesn’t dwell on that. He does wonder how he’s going to explain the incident to Minho. He honestly can’t imagine his boyfriend having the most… calm reaction to hearing about the danger he’d been in. Felix had returned ahead of the soldiers by a few days, and had promised Seungmin that he didn’t mention who the courier is that had been attacked.
“It’s your business Seungmin, he deserves to hear it from you,” Felix had rationalized.
Seungmin appreciates it, but he also doesn’t have the faintest idea on how to approach the subject. All he can think about is just seeing Minho again. Of being able to touch him, to hold him. It makes Seungmin feel like a child, the giddiness welling inside of him.
It takes a week, and when it’s announced that the soldiers are approaching, Seungmin is already waiting in the landing field. He sees them as they fly closer. Chan in the lead, seated upon Phobia’s massive form. Changbin to his right with the nimble Victory Song. Hyunjin glides just to the left of him on God’s Menu, an inky streak in the sky.
And then there’s Minho. Flying lower than his three companions. Seungmin can’t make out any details, but he’d be able to spot Minho’s dragon Boxer anywhere. His dragon is just as graceful and powerful as his rider, with thick corded muscles and an eye-catching jade sheen. Seungmin stands in the middle of the field and waves his arm over his head. Boxer glides forward as normal until he reaches almost the edge of the field. Then he dives, rocketing down to the ground. The landing is a running one, the dirt flying up in clumps behind him as he scrambles towards Seungmin.
This close, Seungmin can see Minho. His wild grin, his hair a windswept tangle above his head. He watches as Minho unclips his harnesses and slides down Boxer’s side even as he’s still coming to a stop. Minho lands with the grace of a cat and lets the momentum carry him forward.
“Kim Seungmin!” He calls, his voice so lovely and bright that Seungmin immediately bursts into embarrassing sobs. Minho laughs, delighted, and when he reaches Seungmin he loops his arms around Seungmin’s waist and lifts him off the ground.
“Hi, baby,” Minho greets breathlessly, eyes full of wonder as he stares up at Seungmin. And oh god, he’s so beautiful. Even more beautiful than Seungmin remembers. It’s like all of the emotions of the past year crash over Seungmin at once, and he just sobs loudly, flinging his arms around Minho’s shoulders and hiding his face in his neck. Minho chuckles, so clearly amused and sappy, and swings Seungmin back and forth gently, the tips of Seungmin’s boots catching on the dirt with every movement.
“I missed you so much,” Seungmin hiccups, squeezing him close. There’s the ghost of a throb in Seungmin’s injured shoulder, but he doesn’t care. Minho is here, finally here, and Seungmin is never letting him go again.
“Oh, did you? I couldn’t tell,” Minho giggles. “Stop crying and look at me darling, I want to see your face.”
It takes a moment, Seungmin sniffling quietly, and then he pulls back. He knows he must look like a mess. His face is sticky and red, his eyes swollen from the sudden outpouring of emotions. But Minho grins at him like it’s their wedding day.
“You look ridiculous,” Minho whispers. “God, look at you.”
He drops Seungmin back to his feet so his hands are free to cup Seungmin’s face. He doesn’t ask, doesn’t need to, because they lean together at the same time to kiss for the first time in over a year.
It’s stupid how magical it is. How foolish being in love makes Seungmin feel. He’s never met anyone who gets under his skin the way Minho does, the one who can claw down all of his weak defenses and make Seungmin feel in technicolor. Seungmin grips Minho’s riding shirt in tight fists and tries to calm down his hiccupping sobs as he kisses the life out of his boyfriend.
And Minho feels just as hungry. He’s been put together so far, but now that he has his hands on Seungmin, the younger can feel that restraint starting to crack. Minho kisses him like it’s painful, wrapping his arms around the small of Seungmin’s back and pulling him tight against his body. It’s all tongue and open lips and heavy panting and Seungmin is dizzy.
“Oi! Hands off the kid, we miss him too!”
It’s only because it’s Chan who chastises them that they reluctantly pull apart. The rest of the team is on solid ground now, their dragons milling around aimlessly in the field. Seeing that they’re no longer furiously kissing, Chan unceremoniously tugs Seungmin out of Minho’s arms and crushes him in a tight hug.
“Hey Minnie, missed you,” he breathes, and Seungmin relaxes into the hold even as he groans in protest.
“Missed you too,” he grumbles, and Chan laughs. A brotherly kiss is pressed against his temple and then he’s being shoved into Jisung’s arms.
“Do I get a kiss too?” Jisung teases, pouting his lips towards Seungmin’s cheeks. Seungmin shoves at his chest and tries to wriggle out of his hold, but all that time at the border has made Jisung strong. He plants a smacking peck against the plushness of Seungmin’s cheek then steps away.
Changbin, at least, isn’t so dramatic with his greeting. He hugs Seungmin roughly, patting his back with a firm palm.
“You look good Seungminnie, even when you’re crying like a baby.”
With that, their warriors are officially home. The other couriers are waiting in the base to greet them, so the three currently not dating Seungmin decide it’s time to head inside. Minho’s sneaky little hands wrap around Seungmin’s waist again as his compatriots gather their things.
“Sneak off with me?” Minho murmurs against the shell of Seungmin’s ear. Seungmin nods, and Minho links their hands together. With the sound of four large beasts puttering around the field and the laughter of their friends, Seungmin lets Minho lead him off alone.
They stumble to the visitor’s stables. Of course it’s completely empty now, with their party just arriving. The dragons like some time to cooldown and wander after a long day’s journey, so they probably wouldn’t find refuge in the stable’s until the sun is down. So it’s a quiet, empty building. Minho ducks into the nearest stable and leans back against the wooden wall. He smirks up at Seungmin and tugs him close, until they’re chest to chest.
“Sorry I haven’t replied to your last letter,” Minho murmurs, moving his hand to run his fingers through Seungmin’s hair, nails scratching pleasantly at his neck. “It was very well-written, ten stars. Though I’m a bit disappointed your hair isn’t actually all grey. I think it would look pretty on you.”
Seungmin snorts and wraps his arms around Minho’s shoulders. When did his boyfriend get so broad? His face looks more mature than he remembers, some of that plumpness clinging to his face having melted away. Minho is so devastatingly beautiful.
“I’ll see what I can do. Maybe you should have a near death experience and it will shock my hair white,” Seungmin jokes.
“Hmm, too much work. I’d rather just kiss you.”
With that, Minho tugs Seungmin down by his hair to kiss him deeply. Even though they’re in private and they have all the time in the world, there’s still something desperate about it. Maybe it’s just been too long, and they need to catch up on a year’s worth of affection in this very moment.
Seungmin feels his control, his sanity slowly trickling away with Minho’s hypnotizing touch. A hand tugs at Seungmin’s hips, and Minho’s thigh shoves between Seungmin’s legs. Minho holds him against the hard mass of his muscle as the natural roll of their bodies presses it firmly against Seungmin’s crotch.
Seungmin gasps, hips stuttering, and Minho takes the opportunity to lick into Seungmin’s mouth.
“That’s it puppy, you gonna hump my leg? Too desperate to even get your cock out?”
Seungmin keens in embarrassment and hides his face in the crook of Minho’s neck. Minho just chuckles and pets over his hair again.
“It’s okay darling, I get it. I missed you too, it’s unbearable.”
Minho’s legs spread more, and Seungmin can feel Minho’s own hard bulge pressing against Seungmin’s pelvis. It makes Seungmin’s mouth water to feel it, drool pooling on his tongue. Minho’s thigh is such a solid, warm weight against him that Seungmin is helpless but to rock against it.
It makes him feel shy, even though this is the man he loves and trusts above anyone else in the world. Humiliating in a delicious way to be so desperate that he’s rutting himself against Minho’s leg after being worked up by a simple kiss. Minho’s hand tugs periodically at his hair, his own hips working in tight circles against Seungmin. The movement sends his thigh rocking up to meet Seungmin as he humps down. They fall into each other seamlessly.
“I missed you,” Seungmin whimpers again, right against the skin of Minho’s sweaty neck.
“Prove it,” Minho challenges, tilting his head back against the wall. Seungmin is happy to comply.
His teeth sink into the hard muscle of Minho’s straining neck, his lips forming a tight ‘o’. He kisses the skin roughly, sharp and wet. Leaving his mark on his brave warrior. He paints bruises up and down the column of Minho’s neck, the salty taste of his skin making Seungmin dizzy. His hands clutch desperately, his mouth works Minho up like a teething ring. Minho lets out pleased grunts above him, his throat vibrating with it.
Minho is his , he’s here and so real and alive under Seungmin’s touch. He’s so solid and warm pressed up against him, underneath him. Holding him close and making him feel so loved. How is Seungmin supposed to last?
Leaving his assault on Minho’s neck, Seungmin recaptures Minho’s lips. It’s slick and messy, wet all the way down Seungmin’s chin, but he doesn’t care. His stomach is already tight with need, and the friction of his pants dragging along his cock and Minho’s thigh is driving him crazy.
“You’re so sloppy, baby,” Minho coos against Seungmin’s mouth.
“I’ll give you a more romantic welcome later, I need you now. Like this,” Seungmin grunts back. Minho doesn’t seem to mind either, how feral they’re going at each other. His hips work just as frantically against Seungmin.
“Then have me,” Minho mutters, and that’s all it takes. Seungmin rocks against Minho’s thighs like he’s riding him, the pressure so delicious that it tilts Seungmin over the edge. He chokes out a sound, feeling the front of his pants grow hot and sticky as he cums. Minho tilts Seungmin’s chin up so his sharp, feline eyes can drink in the sight of Seungmin coming undone.
Seungmin’s entire body trembles as his orgasm washes away, but it doesn’t stop him from dropping to his knees. In a matter of moments, he has the front of Minho’s riding pants tugged down and his hard cock out. Seungmin swallows it down with practiced ease. His mind is cum-fuzzy, so he sucks down his boyfriend without a hint of shame. It’s noisy, wet with how his throat chokes around the head and pleased little hums are trapped around the dick in his mouth.
It doesn’t take Minho long after that to finish. He grips Seungmin’s hair so hard it stings and lets out a high moan as he releases into Seungmin’s mouth. Whatever they’re feeding the soldiers on the border clearly aren’t thinking of times like this, so Seungmin’s nose wrinkles as he swallows the cum shooting onto his tongue. The things he does for love.
When Seungmin finally pulls off Minho sinks to his knees as well and pulls Seungmin into a loose-limbed hug.
“Your mouth is obscene,” Minho chuckles, nuzzling his nose into Seungmin’s hair.
“Well, so are your thighs, so we’re even,” Seungmin sniffs. Minho hums in agreement and just hugs Seungmin closer as they catch their breath.
Once it's clear that their legs will support their weight, they stumble to their feet. They’ve had all the time alone they can possibly allow, but duty calls. They’re lucky they haven’t been walked in on, regardless of how quickly their passion came and went.
Luckily Seungmin’s shirt is oversized, as it drapes to his thighs and hides the increasingly uncomfortable wet patch in the front of his pants. Minho’s neck is a mess of red marks, but it’s not exactly like they’re hiding what they had snuck off to do. Minho takes his hand again and they leave the stable to head towards the base, hopefully for a bath.
“Ranger Lee!”
One of the majors jogs over to the two of them. He has a friendly look on his face, so it seems like it’s not a business call.
“Good afternoon Major,” Minho returns politely. The major smiles good naturedly and his eyes cut over to Seungmin.
“Ah, I was just coming to grab you to introduce you to the courier you’ll be working with to track down the rogue dragon, but it looks like you’ve found him first! It’s good to see you on your feet, Courier Kim.”
Minho’s hand tightened imperceptibly in Seungmin’s, and Seungmin swallow’s thickly. Oh boy, he’s in trouble.
“I don’t think you could keep me away from Courier Kim for more than a moment. You think I’d let a rogue dragon take that away from me?”
They all laugh lightly, though Minho has that tight look in his eyes that Seungmin knows means his lovely boyfriend is annoyed.
“Well, I’m no rogue dragon so I know better than to hold you up for too long. We have a meeting tomorrow morning in the general’s office to discuss the plans of how to track down this sucker and take him out. I’ll see you both there then.”
They all give polite solutes, and then they’re on their way again. Minho tugs Seungmin closer to his side and wraps an arm around his waist.
“How interesting,” Minho says breezily. “Since when are you tangling with danger, Kim Seungmin?”
“It’s not like I purposefully sought it out,” Seungmin huffs. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“I thought you were smarter than that,” Minho sighs. Seungmin rolls his eyes and lets Minho lead him through the base.
The visiting soldiers, predictably, are staying in the nicest wing of the base. Each room has its own bathroom, and so Minho wastes no time ushering Seungmin into his own quarters and towards the bathroom. A bath has already been prepared for Minho, most likely to soothe him from his long ride.
“Get your clothes off, I want to see what damage this dragon did to you.”
Seungmin huffs but complies. His shoes are kicked off, and then his shirt is shucked. Minho’s eyes zero in on where the bandages wrap around his shoulder and torso. Next are Seungmin’s pants, and the younger’s nose wrinkles as he has to peel the damp fabric off. He kicks his underwear off with it, and he still feels gross from his sweat and cum sticking to his thighs.
Finally, he starts unwinding the bandages. A week out and it doesn’t hurt as much as it used to. The skin still protests as his shoulder shifts to help with unwrapping, but it’s not too unbearable. Finally the bandage is free and he turns his back to Minho, stepping into the bath without a word. Whatever, if his boyfriend wants to pout about things outside of Seungmin’s control, he’ll let him. But not without enjoying the hot water steaming pleasantly in front of him.
As Seungmin closes his eyes and leans back against the edge of the tub, his ears pick up the sound of Minho’s own clothes hitting the ground softly. Then there’s a hand on Seungmin’s shoulder, careful fingers dancing around the shape of the burn. Minho’s cool fingers make Seungmin shiver, but Minho must misinterpret the movement as pain because his touch flinches away.
“A firebreather, huh?”
Minho steps into the tub too and leans against the opposite wall. Their legs tangle under the water, Seungmin’s knees poking up awkwardly out of the surface.
“It’s now a one-eyed firebreather thanks to Sunshine, but yeah. It's massive too. I was luckily I got out of there with only a little flesh wound.”
Minho’s eyes are dark as he looks over Seungmin. But Seungmin knows from this angle he looks completely unharmed. Same unmarred tan skin, same wide smile, same shaggy hair. Even from the back it’s only a few inches of damaged skin. He’s fine , but he knows the news is still troubling. So he shifts forward to seat himself right in Minho’s lap. He feels weightless, especially when Minho’s hands find Seungmin’s waist.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m okay. Neither of us will ever be completely safe with the jobs we do. I’ve had a year to deal with the thought of you dying, but this is new for you. I get it. But I’m here, with you, just like I promised I always will be.”
Seungmin’s words do little to lessen the complicated feelings playing out on Minho’s beautiful face. Eventually the older sighs, and thumps his forehead into the middle of Seungmin’s chest.
“You’re supposed to be safe here,” Minho mutters. “You’re not supposed to be getting hurt.”
“Minho, that’s just how life is sometimes. It could be a rogue dragon, or it could be my harnesses failing mid flight. It could be falling down the stone steps of the base. Accidents happen, all I can do is try to be careful. Just like how you fight your hardest to make sure you come home to me, no matter what enemy you face.”
“If a bunch of stairs took you out I don’t know how I’d feel. I’d probably pretend I didn’t know you.”
“Good luck with that honey, I’m getting buried with your letters. Everyone would know you loved a fool who bashed his brains out after tripping,” Seungmin laughs.
“God, you’re so morbid. Shut up.”
With that, Minho kisses Seungmin softly, just to shut him up. Seungmin giggles, but melts into it. Finally, it’s less hurried. Just enjoying the slow minutes as the dance by. It’s a different kind of dizzying, like this. The hot water caressing their skin, the scent of oils in the water, Minho so soft against him.
It’s the kind of moment Seungmin wants to trap in a bubble and live in forever.
“I love you,” Seungmin sings, unburdened. Minho hums, eyes crinkling.
“I guess I love you too.” He brushes their mouths together, featherlight. “I loved you in my arms and I loved you through your words. And I’ll love you in death, yours or mine or both.”
“Not the best thing to hear when we’re going off to fight a rogue dragon tomorrow, but I’ll take it.”
“You started it,” Minho laughs, splashing water at Seungmin’s chest.
Really, Seungmin doesn’t know what tomorrow holds, or any of the days after that. They could lose their lives to the rogue, or Minho could be sent back to the border and become a martyr. Seungmin could be captured by enemies and tortured for whatever information he knows. Their lives are so unpredictable, but there’s only one constant.
The two of them, stupidly fond and promising forever.