Mine's hair slowly turned into a faint red, then pink with dust of the usual ashy green—like a chameleon. His heartbeat was stompy like a dancer without a rhythm, causing his body to stiffen. Addai was inches close, enough to feel his hot breath coming through his nostrils.

For a split second, Mine felt Addai’s body warm up, causing his own to react the same way. Maybe not only Mine’s mind was a mess.

Addai dropped his head on Mine’s shoulder and sighed. He was way too close, and his hair tickled Mine’s neck. Mine could feel his heat and crazy heartbeat as well as his whispers.

“In two seconds, I’ll kiss your cheek,” Addai whispered.

Mine blushed so hard his hair turned the same hue as his pink eyes. “What?! Wa-wait I–”

He was about to set himself free from the embrace, but Addai had already pressed his soft lips to his cold cheek.

As if struck by a sudden electric shock, they rolled in opposite directions—Mine to one side, and Addai to the other, landing on the floor.

Their faces burned as they hid them away.

They remained silent.

What was that?!! Mine screamed inside, his face burning.

While Addai was boiling with embarrassment, he heard Mine’s phone ring. It was the time for Mine’s antibiotics and painkillers. He didn’t want to stand up or move a muscle. If he could, he would dig a hole and bury his remains in it.

Mine also heard the alarm, but he also wanted to dig a hole and bury himself in it. However, his sore body reminded him he must take his medicines. His back ached from the wounds and the bandages were slightly wet and smelled blood. Yeah, maybe he really needed his meds.

“H-hey… c-can you take my medicines, please?” Mine asked, unable to move not only because he was embarrassed, but his sore body now ached horribly.

Addai, moving like a rusty robot, took the small pouch the nurse gave them and opened it. While he scrambled through the receipts and bottles of pills, he felt a shadow approaching him from his side. It was Mine, clinging to his shirt while his body was arched a little, maybe from pain.

“It’s cold,” Mine said.

Addai took the right antibiotic and painkiller. “It’ll soon be warmer,” he said, taking Mine back to the couch. He gave him a glass of water and Mine swallowed both pills in a go.

Mine then faced Addai. His cheeks were tired of blushing and so was his whole body, which seemed to be as hot as a scorching iron, but it was, in fact, cold as ice. The strands of his hair changed from ashy green to pink – almost as his eyes' shade of rose pink. Trying to not let his vision blur from embarrassment, Mine made a sign for Addai to come closer.

“Hm?” Addai leaned in, confused.

When he least expected, Mine touched Addai’s shoulders and slowly embraced him.

Their mind was a mess.

Mine didn’t want to think about all the complicated stuff, he truly didn’t, not now. Later he could ponder about the things and even feel ashamed or uncomfortable, but now… he wanted to feel it a little more.

Even if Addai pushed him away or broke their fragile friendship. Even if his own fears swallowed him before he could glimpse the light one last time. He allowed himself to do such a reckless thing.

Only for a while, he wanted to feel warm. He was tired of feeling cold. He could be cold later, but now he wanted warmth. Selfishness. He wanted to be selfish.

“You’re, indeed, cold,” Addai said, reciprocating the embrace.

Closing his eyes, Mine faintly smiled while nuzzling on Addai's shoulders. The other boy caressed Mine's hair, head, and neck, embracing him as if the world was about to end and that embrace went missing. It's been a while since he didn't do that, or maybe he had never done it and felt that way.

It was… addictive.

Mine had seen and felt countless chests, warmth, and heartbeats, but that one… that one was different. It was…safe.

Addai slowly ran his fingers through Mine’s ashy green hair, combing through a few strands and feeling the contrast between the dry surface and the dampness underneath. With his other hand, he reached for Mine's neck, gently caressing it as his fingers traced down to his back. He paused slightly when his hand brushed against it. The bandages on Mine’s back were a bit moist, but it seemed like a sin to make him go through pain at that moment. Addai decided to wait and change the bandages later.

As he continued stroking Mine’s back, Addai realized just how small Mine was—not just in height, but in the quiet, vulnerable way he folded into himself.

Mine buried his face in Addai’s embrace, letting the warmth wrap around him like a blanket. Then, he felt a flutter in his stomach.

And as his head rested against that comforting hold, he began to hear stumpings and rumblings coming from Addai. The heartbeat sounded like a messy dancer dancing fast tunes and rhythms.

A heartbeat without control, just like his own.

“Are you nervous?” Mine asked, holding a nervous chuckle.

“Don’t know. Don’t ask,” Addai grumbled.

“Alright,” Mine chuckled.

The room was quiet. The wind drifted in through the window, carrying the mixed scents of soap and food within. Outside, the clouds rumbled louder and louder. The first drops of rain tapped against the ground and leaves, the earthy smell of rain wafting in through the open window.

And then—Mine let out a soft sigh of relief against Addai’s shoulder… followed by a faint snore.

"Hey," Addai called, and Mine came back from that quick travel. "Let me help you change the bandages before I go," he explained, loosening the embrace.

Mine was still dazing from sleep. Maybe the medicine called Addai was way more effective than the analgesics and sleep pills.

“Already?” Mine rubbed his eyes.

“Yes,” Addai stood up.

“Hmm…” Mine hummed, recovering his brain's basic functions. “But I think it’ll rain–”

RUMBLE. The lights went out, leaving only a flash of lightning to illuminate the room, followed by its loud, cracking sound.

“Ah, perfect,” both grumbled.

Mine lit a mana candle with his hands, but it soon extinguished. “What…?” he looked at his own hand, puzzled.

He tried once again, and a high blue flame lit, hitting the ceiling. Addai had to absorb it before Mine burnt his own house down.

“What was that?!” Addai asked, startled and with the tips of his bangs slightly burnt.

"I don't know," Mine shuddered, hands trembling. A small Chronos pattern formed on the back of it. I'm unstable yet… he recalled, and the pattern faded.

“That’s fine,” Addai lit himself a mana candle. “Do you have candles anywhere?”

"Yes, they're in the kitchen. Lemme show you,” Mine held Addai’s arm, careful to not strain his hurt back too much.

As they walked through the dark corridors, lighting candles in strategic spots, the rain outside softened into a pleasant drizzle—perfect weather for reading books or taking naps. The breeze was refreshing, carrying the earthy scent of rain through the air.

And yet, Addai still tried to leave after changing Mine’s curatives. He quietly plotted his escape with the borrowed umbrella, even though the stormy sky practically guaranteed the first gust of wind would tear it apart. It was perfectly fine earlier, but now it seemed that destiny didn’t want him to leave Mine’s house.

However, Addai was bold, but the storm was bolder.

"Spend the night here. I'll lend you Pjs," Mine voiced, slurping from a half-eaten bowl of reheated soup. "You'll catch a cold being this reckless."

Addai grumbled and stepped outside, determined to test his luck—only to be immediately defeated. The umbrella twisted violently in the wind, and he slipped on the wet grass.

He quickly retreated inside.

Mine handed him a soft, warm towel to dry himself off and barely managed to stifle his laughter.

The candles swayed as the wind blew a cold breeze inside the warm home. Mine smiled, feeling refreshed by the cold and humid wind, plus the fresh bandages over his torso. His gaze wandered, drawn to the soft, warm hues of orange and yellow cast by the candlelight dancing across his living room and skin. Sometimes, Mine allowed himself to change his hair's color to orange or yellow, following the flames' colors until he got tired.

“This setting is perfect for a dancing session,” Mine pondered out loud.

Addai pretended to not hear it. He was a bad dancer after all and didn’t want to show off his obnoxious talent.

But Mine made sure Addai heard it, and “Come! Give me your hand!” He beamed wide.

Addai crossed his arms, avoiding Mine grabbing them. “How about your back? You’re in no conditions to do it.”

“If we do it slowly, it’ll be fine,” Mine kept smiling, trying to dig Addai’s hands from their closure.

Addai, defeated, sighed, “Even if I don’t do what you say, you’ll surely grab me, right?”

Mine’s smile turned into a shameless grin, as bright as the sun. “Yup!” he chuckled.

So, Addai stood up and organized the living room for a dancing session. He moved the furniture aside and smoothed out the corners of the rug. Then he carefully repositioned the candles, making sure the floor was well-lit.

Meanwhile, Mine tested how far his body could move without hurting too much. He stretched and made a twirl, only to feel Addai’s hand avoiding him proceeding while he held him by the waist. Mine sighed and nodded.

Once the room was ready, Mine stepped into the center with a spark of energy that made Addai smile without even realizing it.

Mine extended his hand and made the first adjustments to Addai's posture—awful, as always. Then, he guided one of Addai’s hands to his waist and took the other in his own.

“Is it like… the same way we did last time?” Addai asked, confused.

"Yes and no," Mine chuckled, making Addai even more confused. "It's a posture my mother taught me to slow dance, and I found it very comfortable," he smiled, "it's only steps, and once my back is hurt, we won't do twirls so… we'll only step-step.”

"Step-step,” Addai echoed, trying to reproduce what he thought it could be.

“Not that stiff…” Mine explained. “Let your back, hips, and shoulders loose, but not that loose. It's not a contest, so… relax~" he guided Addai on the first small steps.

Slow steps to the side, only two. Then, slow two steps to the other side. A quick release and bend, but not too much to not hurt Mine’s back. Come together.

“Understood?” Mine asked, placing his arms around Addai’s shoulders.

“Y-Yes,” Addai nodded, a bit flustered.

“Good! Now we’ll be moving as if we were spinning, but remember the two steps,” Mine grinned.

“And… your arms will be like this from now on? Or am I using the wrong posing?” Addai asked.

“I’m only resting them on my personal holder,” Mine teased and received a huff back. “Hahaha! Ok, let’s do it with music,” he quickly took his cell phone to play the chosen music and selection.

Fragile. This word crossed Addai’s mind while he swayed and let Mine guide him in that slow and calm dance.

Mine was fragile. Fragile like glass but strong like a tempered one.

He surely knew Mine was tired, but that boy still gathered strength to dance with him anyway. He knew Mine's back was destroyed and very hurt, so hurt they gave him many painkillers before they stepped outside the hospital. He knew Mine was scared of being alone, and yet he was ready to let him leave freely.

The soft candles glowed, and the music was played in slow tunes.

Mine was at ease, even though his forehead was starting to be warmer than usual, flagging an upcoming fever episode. He was resting his head on Addai's chest as they took the small and slow steps. His hair was glowing pink again, and orange hues dusted some other locks of hair.

A strange and foreign phenomenon Addai found intriguingly beautiful.

Mine’s long lashes were resting at ease, hiding his two pink gems under the lids, and he knew that soon those eyes would be damp with tears when the effects of analgesics and anti-inflammatories wore off. At least, he would be there to wipe them and give him a cup of warm tea and spells to ease the pain before giving him some more medicine.

Addai brushed his lips on Mine’s hair and stayed like that, enjoying the soft tunes and the small warmth on him – inside and outside.

Far from the dancing duo, Addai’s phone vibrated. A notification popped up—then glitched, distorting the entire screen.

[𝚞𝚗𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 – 10 p.m.] I ƒօմղժ վօմ... ꝈìӀìէհ'ʂ հҽìɾ.

The message flashed once more before the screen flickered and everything vanished as if nothing had ever happened.