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Silas was looking at himself in the mirror.
In fact, he had been for the last two hours or so.
He was supposed to be doing his make-up. Everyone in the house was ready for the ball, but he was really not feeling it.
He had done his makeup in a thousand ways and re-done in a thousand other ways, but nothing felt right.
Raphael and Minseok were talking in the kitchen. Or, Raphael was talking to Minseok. Minseok was silent, though. As he always was.
Except when he was with Jiwon. When he, sometimes by accident, heard the two together, he was continually shocked at how lively, kind and wholesome his normally silent, mean and cold hyung was.
He could hear rapid soft excited feet nearing the bathroom, obviously, they could only belong to one of the three other men in the house.
"Silas, can I come in?" Jiwon asks as he knocks on the bathroom door. With a sigh, Silas gets up and opens the door.
"So," Jiwon begins after scanning his best friend, "You have been in here, for two hours, to do...no make-up?"
Silas can't help but smile at this, "Gee, thanks for noticing. I have been doing and re-doing my make-up countless times, Jiwon, don't worry."
"I'm not worried, Si, I just found it funny."
Jiwon pulls himself up the sink to sit there cross-legged. "Need help with it? Even though you and I both know you're better at it."
Silas sighs once again and lets the brush in his hand fall.
"What's up, mate?"
"It just...doesn't feel right."
"The make-up? You've chosen a lot of blue colours, maybe that's why? A light pink or light red would fi-"
"It's not the make-up, Jiwon," Silas interrupts Jiwon, and with a groan he lets his head rest in his palms.
"Oh no, is it your suit? Doesn't it feel right? Hyung brought us to an excellent shop, I can't believe the suit doesn't feel good."
"Jiwon. It's not the suit?!"
Jiwon crooks an eyebrow at Silas, "Then what is it?"
"It's...it's everything. This whole happening."
"Gosh. Not again," Jiwon rolls his eyes as he jumps off of the sink.
"Listen, mate, I get it. Going to the Blood Ball is against everything you've learned as a kid. But whatever? Let that be. Your mate is a vampire, do you have many choices?"
"I'm sorry not all of us have had an awesome kickstart with the one we're destined to spend the rest of our fucking lives with."
"Don't act like that."
"Act like what?" Silas spits.
"Act all childish," Jiwon rubs the bridge of his nose, "Listen. I get it. It sucks."
After saying this, he picks up the brush which fell out of Silas's hand, "But isn't this what you wanted? We have been looking for your mate for eternity, man! It was infuriating, sorry not sorry. Now they're here, owned up to it and even want you to come to a ball! Want to make things official and stuff, and it's still not good for you?"
"It's not good, because obviously, he's not genuine."
Jiwon halts in his actions, "What do you mean he's not genuine?"
"Come on, Ji. Out of nowhere he shows up and goes all-in. There must be something to this."
"Why would he not be genuine? What would it change for him? He can't not be genuine, y'all are literal soulmates, Si."
"I don't know. He's head of a den, maybe he does it for them. I don't know, but something is going on with him, I feel it."
"Okay," Jiwon tries, "But that doesn't change anything about the fact he wants you at the ball?"
"Jiwon, I-"
"And above that, you're partially vampire too now. Own up to it. You're probably more powerful than at least half of the people there. Not only a pure-blood alpha but also one who turned hybrid. Isn't that like...extra extra? Not only combined power and abilities but they're also heightened and stronger. You're pretty much a god, Si!"
Silas laughs at this, "Am I really, though?"
"Definitely! And who wouldn't loooove to be mated to a God? Big flex. You know what, I want to switch mates. Raphael hyung can get Minnie and I can get the God!"
As Jiwon sees Silas smiles he relaxes, "Just go with it, Si, I'm sure it'll be a fun ball and that you were worrying for nothing. Let's just enjoy it."
They both look at the make-up Jiwon had done for Silas in the meanwhile. It was pretty minimalistic if you neglected the little white diamonds beneath his eyes.
"Perfect."
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Raphael has been trying to keep a conversation going for about two hours at least and it was irritating Minseok even more than it did normally.
"Ah, come on, man."
"What?" Minseok asks, not looking up from his phone.
"I've been trynna talk to you!"
"Oh."
"OH?!" Raphael throws his hands in the air in defeat, "Never mind then. I'll just leave you to your phone."
"Thanks." Finally, he gave up.
"MINHO!"
"What?" Ah, come on! Minseok looks up with reluctance.
"Can you stop acting like that?"
"Act like what?"
"Act all childish," Raphael rubs the bridge of his nose, "Listen. I get it. I suck."
He sits down in front of Minseok after saying this, "I know I shouldn't have acted like that and let the boy go through all the pain he went through, okay? I'm not ignorant. And I won't do it again."
"Yeah? Obviously, you can't hide from your mate anymore. Mans will tear you in pieces while going through heat. If he won't, his best friend will.
Or I will."
"I...I needed some time to sort shit out, Min. It felt wrong from my side too! Do you think I felt nothing? I was hurting too! I just had to sort some business out."
"What business could be worth letting your mate go through hell, Raphael?" Minseok asks with a lifted eyebrow.
"Well, I fucked up, you know that. And I had to keep some shit lowkey and stable. So no one we care about will hurt.
I don't want it to happen again."
Minseok dropped his eyebrow and silence fell upon the duo.
"Fair enough." Minseok gave in in the end.
"Minnie?" Minseok and Raphael turn to the two boys standing at the door opening, "We're ready."
Minseok couldn't help but smile upon seeing his boyfriend.
The boy was smiling from ear to ear and tapping his feet on the floor impatiently.
Standing up he makes his way to the boy, just in front of him he comes to a halt.
"May I?" he extends his arm for Jiwon to hook his arm through.
"Please, do."
And the two slowly exit the door.
Raphael looks at Silas. The boy was looking down, standing awkwardly.
Finally, he looks up. He looked astonishing. Raphael points towards the door with his arm, signalling Silas to exit. After a nod, they too leave the apartment.