Chapter Text
“Hyung. Hyung. I could've helped too!” Jeongin pouted when he saw Felix's hair the following morning. When the siren got home, Felix was already asleep and he knew how rare a full night’s sleep was for the faerie.
“I promised Jisung a long time ago, Innie. You'll help next….”
Next time. But there won't be a next time.
Jeongin seemed to realize that, too, as he gulped very loudly and changed the subject quickly. “Well, pink really suits you. I thought that if you dyed your hair, you would've gone for a more vibrant colour! Why did you choose such a light shade?”
“Maybe pastel purple or pink? I think that would look great.”
Hyunjin's voice comes to mind.
“No reason, I was just curious if it would suit me. Plus I thought it would be easy to redye if something went wrong.” Felix shrugs, moving further into the apartment. “Anyway, how was your day? Except for that coffee spilling tragedy you messaged me about.”
Jeongin lit up at that, only a little bit, but it was enough. Felix listened to his story intently as long as he could've, but he had to make a call. It couldn't wait.
“And that's all, I think.” The siren grinned. “Do you need help in the store today? I'm free, so I could.”
“Thank you, Innie. Could you open it today, please? I need to call Dr. Song to ask about something. I promise it's nothing bad, I only need to move the date of my appointment, right now it's on the same day as the…what was it again…right, the cake tasting Jisung wants to go to. As if he'd choose anything over cheesecake…”
When had he gotten so good at lying?
“I see! Okay, so, you make the call and I'll go down. Remind me which flowers I'm supposed to water first?”
“The ones farthest from the window. I'll be there in a bit, thank you really.”
As soon as he was alone, Felix went to the living room and dropped onto the couch. He fished out his phone from his pocket, finding Dr. Song’s number right away. With his finger right above the “call” button, he hesitated. Should he ask for stronger pills? Wouldn't it look like he developed an addiction? No, surely if he explained what was happening properly she'd help…
Chasing these thoughts away, he pressed the button and put the phone to his ear. It rang once, twice, three times. Dr. Song picked up on the sixth ring.
“Hello, this is Dr. Song speaking. How may I help?”
“Yes, hello, uh…this is Lee Felix.” He ignored how shaky his voice was. “I'm calling because I…I think I need to reschedule my appointment to an earlier date. Stage four is yet to make an appearance, but something strange is going on and it's freaking me out, if I'm being honest.”
“Hm, alright. Which date do you want to move it to?” She said after a minute of silence.
“I was thinking just a week earlier?”
“I'll check my schedule, just to be sure that I'm free. Could you explain your concerns to me while I do that?”
Felix swallowed, trying his best to pay no attention to the lump that formed in his throat. Or was it a flower? “I've been throwing up more blood than usual for the past…three days, I think. The number of petals is still the same, I don't think it's stage four but it's still…weird.”
Dr. Song hummed and Felix could hear the clicking sounds from a keyboard in the background. “That does sound unusual…anything else that you've noticed? Frequent nausea, more dizziness for example?”
“No, nothing like that. However…I had a dream not so long ago. And I know this might sound like I went crazy, but I met the curse. It's sentient.”
Silence.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I even knew I was dreaming by the time it showed itself, and…it said a few things that…it was creepy. I think that I could describe it better in person?”
“Absolutely. There's a free spot next Wednesday, come see me then. Anything else?”
The pills. He should ask about the pills. Why won't his lips move?
“No, nothing else.” He whispers in the end. Maybe it'll be better to ask for them in person, so that Dr. Song can see how desperately he needs them…or maybe not?
“Alright then. See you soon, Mr. Lee.” She hangs up.
Felix stares at the floor for a bit. Jisung's and Minho's wedding is only three weeks away now, which is a lot of time but, at the same time, very little. For him at least. If it gets worse sooner than anticipated, then the tower of secrets he's built will collapse. His friends will postpone any and all events to take care of him. He doesn't want that. He doesn't want to be a burden to them.
He let himself wallow for a moment longer before getting up (slowly so that he wouldn't get dizzy) and made his way to the door. And his shop. The beautiful, colourful, terrifying flower shop.
Maybe the feeling of being watched by all the flowers won't make itself known today.
•·—🏵️—·•
“I'm really sorry, but we're all out of carnations today. There are many flowers with a similar look or meaning, though, if you'd be interested–”
“No! I told my daughter in law I'd bring carnations, so I'll bring them! I saw someone coming out of here with them, do not lie to me young man.” The witch huffed, anger rolling off of her in waves.
“Miss, the man you've seen had them reserved, and those were the last bouquet we had. I'm really, really sorry. There are no–”
“You're lying! I'm sure you have plenty in the back and just refuse to serve witches because you're biased!”
Felix resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He didn't even say anything like that!
“I assure you, I am not. I truly don't have any left.” He said with the kindest, softest voice he could muster, even with his growing irritation. He wished he didn't send Jeongin for something to eat. Dealing alone with someone so dense hasn't happened in a long time. “I can give you a discount for some of the peonies and–”
“Ugh, are you stupid!? I don't want peonies, I want carnations! You're a faerie, aren't you? Can't you just make them grow with that earth magic of yours!?” She put her hands on her hips, huffing in anger.
You can't punch customers, Felix, you can't punch customers.
“No, I cannot, it doesn't work that way. I can only quicken their growth, not make them grow out of nowhere. I do not have their seeds, nor do I have the flowers themselves.”
She clicked her tongue, face reddening in anger. “You call this a flower shop? When you don't even have the thing you claim to sell!? You liar!”
“Ma’am, I have plenty of other flowers. If you look around, you could see that. I don't have carnations because the world doesn't revolve around you and other people also wanted them today and I don't have more. I am now asking you to leave my shop and look elsewhere.”
“Wha– this is discrimination!” She screamed, eyes wide with rage. “You can't talk to customers like that! Who do you think you are!?”
“This shop’s owner.” Felix narrowed his eyes, voice dropping to the lowest tone it could. “And I am telling you to leave. You've been rude to me the whole time you've been here. I do not have the patience for this, so I am asking you to just leave and look for carnations elsewhere.”
She seemed like she wanted to argue more, but in the end she gave up, huffed some more and stormed out.
“Unbelievable,” Felix dragged a hand down his face, trying to breathe. He hasn't talked to anyone in a threatening way in a while.
“Wow, didn't think you could get angry.” A voice suddenly comments and Felix jumps, getting ready to tackle the person, only to blink in surprise.
“Hyunjin, when did you get here?”
“Somewhere between “you refuse to serve witches” and “I don't want peonies.” The elf shrugged with a grin and came closer to the counter. “Honestly, I wanted to interfere for a moment there, but you're…you're scary when you get mad. I'm not joking, I got chills.”
Felix smiles, the rest of his anger dissipating into nothing. “I'm sorry you had to see that. I just…hate when older people refuse to pay attention to what you're saying and end up completely twisting your words.” He sighs, completely leaning on the counter. The argument exhausted him. At least Hyunjin brought out some of the cheerfulness he's been lacking lately. It was great, to not feel like shit for once.
“I totally get that.” Hyunjin looks away, suddenly looking…sad. “Some of the elders from my clan– they didn't….particularly like me.”
“How can someone not like you? You're so…you're so nice! Don't tell me you were one of those kids that had to be on a leash when they were outside?” Shocked would be an understatement. Why, of all people, would they dislike Hyunjin?
The comment made the elf chuckle. “No! I mean, at least I don't remember being like that. Sometimes people just don't like you and you have to simply live with it.” He seems like he doesn't want to talk about it anymore, so Felix quickly changes the subject.
“Anyway, all this about the lady and not a single comment about my hair?” He raises an eyebrow, fighting a smile as Hyunjin blinks and, for the first time since they started talking, notices Felix's pink hair.
“Oh. Oh, I didn't notice! Woah. That colour really suits you.” He smiles, wide. “When did you have the time to…?”
“Didn't open yesterday and went to Jisung's instead. He helped and then we had lunch together. Minho cooked.”
Hyunjin freezes before pulling out his phone and trying not to laugh – and failing, because the breathy sounds he makes are very obvious.
“So that's why he was whining to me about not cuddling Jisung.” He shows Felix a group chat.
[Chaos incarnate, dad and ferret]
Weirdo Minho:
I can't cuddle Ji :((
He's busy :((
And I'm cooking
But I have to wait now
Entertain me peasants
Wolf Guy:
Minho
Why do you always message us only when Jisung's busy or when you need something
How about replying to us making plans for once?
Weirdo Minho:
No.
Me:
Well
Just focus on cooking?
Weirdo Minho:
But Jiisuuungggg
Felix gives the phone back, now laughing as well. “Weirdo Minho? Really? Does he know?”
“Nope. Please don't tell him, I've been threatened by him more times than I can count and told him I changed it in…May.”
“I'm not going to tell him,” Felix grins, “but you better watch out when he's around. Especially if he's without Jisung, he turns crazily perceptive.” He glances at the phone again. “Never thought that he could be this whiny though.”
Hyunjin solemnly nods his head. “It happens more often than you think, Lix.” He then jumps to a whole new topic. “Are you ready for the suit fitting? Jisung's been blowing up my phone so I can't imagine how it must be for you.”
“Oh, yeah, I get up to a thousand messages a day. Well, I do tell him to not text me while I'm at work and he tries keeping his promise, but…yeah, he does do it now. I think it's getting to his brain again.” Felix drums the counter with his fingers. “Only a bit of time is left, I know, but he's just being…”
“...he's being Jisung.” Hyunjin cracks a smile – one softer than the mischievous ones he had just a moment ago. “I think we should schedule another hangout without any wedding talk. It could help.”
“Yup. I fully agree.” Felix checked his phone to see that Jeongin was on his way back. Finally, he was feeling a bit hungry. “Do you have anywhere to be or can you stay for a while? Innie’s bringing food so I'll have a break.”
“Oh.” Hyunjin blinked – a few times, in quick succession. “Sure. I have time.”
Which is how he and Hyunjin ended up in the back while Jeongin watched the shop and took care of the customers. The elf was just telling Felix of what he did yesterday.
“And then the whole canvas fell down and I made a huge black streak in the middle. And, I mean, I don't have any ideas on how I should fix it. At least nothing that would fit with the painting’s theme.” Hyunjin pouted, looking like an insulted child.
“I'm sure it's not that bad? Did you take a photo? Maybe you could show me.” Felix took another bite of the fried chicken Jeongin brought – not exactly what he had in mind when he sent the siren out, but who could turn down fried chicken?
“No, I didn't.” Hyunjin sighed, looking at the ground. “And it is that bad. I'll probably have to start over…the only good thing is the fact that it didn't happen when I was almost finished. If it did I'd hide in my room and cry. And eat a lot of chocolate. And never come out again.”
“Really? I wouldn't take you for the type to sulk.”
“Oh. Well…I know I don't look it, but I get very emotional very easily. If something bad happened, like…I can't think of anything, but if something world shattering – or something that would feel that way to me – happened I'd probably pack my stuff and move to the countryside with fourteen cats and a herd of sheep.” He nodded, as if he agreed with himself.
Felix would've started laughing if he didn't inhale his food and started choking. Oh no. His eyes started watering and he felt the familiar movement in his lungs. Please, please not now.
“Oh shit– Lix are you okay?” Hyunjin jumped up, hitting Felix's back to help him cough out the piece of food he's choked on. It was nice of him, of course, but didn't help at all. Because a few petals wanted to come up now, too.
“Wa–ter–” he managed to somehow get out, trying to get his lungs to calm down, praying that the flowers would calm down and go back. Hyunjin reached into his back, pulling out a bottle of water and passing it to the faerie, who gladly took it. It wouldn't help as much as his tea would, but it could soothe his throat for at least a little bit.
“Is it better now?” Hyunjin's hands twitched at his sides, as if he wanted to reach out and help, but something in Felix's body language stopped him from doing so.
Felix wiped his mouth, alarmed to see a smear of red. He gulped before regaining – most of – his composure. “Yeah. Can't believe I almost got killed by a piece of fried chicken.” He tried to joke to get the attention away from the blood, but…no such luck.
“Lix are…are you okay? There's…there's a bit of blood on your chin.”
“It's sweet that you worry, Hyunjin, but I just bit my tongue. I'm fine, really.” Felix smiles reassuringly – or he tries to, at least. “I'm serious, it's nothing. I'm fine, see?” He gently takes Hyunjin's hand, placing it over his heart.
“Yeah. Yeah, sorry, I– I probably overreacted.”
But he doesn't move away. Felix doesn't, either. The hand touching his chest feels warm, even through the clothes he had on. Hyunjin slowly relaxes, the tension in his shoulders bleeding away as they just…stand there and look at each other. And for a moment, there was nothing else.
No disease, no curse, no fear of flowers, nothing. Only the two of them, Hyunjin's hand on Felix's chest, feeling the way his heart was beating. Just as the faerie opened his mouth to say something – anything – Jeongin calls out.
“Hyung, there's someone asking for some flower but they only know the latin name for it, please come here and sort it out! I have no idea what they're talking about!”
It breaks the impossibly soft atmosphere around them. Hyunjin's arm drops back to his side and Felix clears his throat before responding. “I'll be right there!”
He ignores the way his voice cracks.
“Sorry, Jin, I have to go back to the front. It was nice talking to you, as always. See you again soon?” He smiles, hoping it's at least a bit apologetic – he feels kind of bad, because today was one of their shortest “hangouts” so far.
Hyunjin nods, but his face looks…strange. Taut. As if there was something he didn't want Felix to see. “Yeah. Yeah, of course. I'll, uh, I'll go now, I think I might try to fix the painting, y'know.”
“Riiight. Good luck with that, I hope I'll get to see the painting soon!” Felix is already on the way, his back turned to Hyunjin.
Which is how he misses how the elf stares at his hand, looking absolutely horrified.
•·—🏵️—·•