Crystal Clear (An Elwin Fanfic)

## **Intro**

**Elwin set the stuffed animal on his bed, sighing heavily.**

**A stuffed animal. Out of all the things... He had to admit, the little fluffy stegosaurus was pretty cute. He held it for a moment, thinking about the person who'd given it to him. He smiled. Stinky the Stegosaurus. It had furry, peach-coloured feathers, and it was smiling. He laughed to himself, squinting at its sparkly eyes with admiration.**

**He yawned, looking down at his T-Rex pajamas. "Goodnight, Stinky."**

**Somehow, even as Elwin thought about how ridiculous it was, he knew that there were many more stuffies to come. Maybe the next one would be an Apatosaurus.**

## **Part One**

**Elwin woke up the next morning to the smell of food. He sniffed a few times. His eyes suddenly popped open as he realized that the presence of that smell also meant that there had to be someone in his house making the food, and, as far as he was concerned, he hadn't invited anyone for breakfast.**

**He quickly flew out of his bed and down the stairs, not giving his body enough time to fully wake up and almost falling down the steps, and raced into the kitchen. A person was standing there. A man. He swept his cape back as he pulled something from the oven and set it on the counter to cool. Elwin smiled a little when he realized who it was.**

**The man turned around. A huge grin spread on his face. "Elwin! How's the Good Doctor doing?" The man had similar crazy, dark hair, and smallish mouth, but his eyes were a little lighter and he wasn't wearing the thick-rimmed glasses that Elwin was.**

**"Conwin, what are you doing here?"**

**"I just came by to visit my favourite brother in the world!"**

**"You made me... blitzenberry muffins?"**

**"Yeah! I know how much you like them!"**

**Elwin, however, wasn't too fond of blitzenberry muffins... He shook his head, smiling. "It's... good to see you."**

**Conwin picked at one of the lop-sided muffins in the pan, smiling. "So, you're a physician now?"**

**"Yep."**

**"And... you wear T-Rex pajamas?"**

**"Yeah..." His face reddened slightly.**

**"Who got them for you? You're girlfriend?"**

**"I... don't have a girlfriend."**

**Conwin sighed. "Ya can't be single forever."**

**"Sure I can. What's so wrong with that?"**

**Conwin laughed. "You're crazy, ya know that? I came to ask you to join my wife and I to dinner. She apparently has some exciting announcement to make, and she wants her brother-in-law to be there. She also wants your girlfriend to be there, so... you better find one in a week."**

**"What? No, I'm not... I don't need a girlfriend, Conwin," Elwin managed to say, blushing. He tugged on the sleeve of his pajamas, and once again thought about the person who'd given him the stuffed Stegosaurus.**

**"Maybe get rid of those glasses, too." Conwin nudged his arm, smiling.**

**Elwin pushed his glasses up his nose. "Hm. Well, you can tell Katylyn I'll be there, but I'm not bringing a girl."**

**Conwin saluted. "Will do, good doctor."**

**Elwin smirked. "See you in a week."**

**Conwin pulled out a light-leaping crystal, glancing around the house. "You need a bigger house."**

**"No, I don't. I don't like houses that are too big, I'm only one person."**

**Conwin snorted. "Yeah, I know." He gave a smile that looked kind of sad as he leapt away.**

**Elwin sighed. Siblings...**

## **Part Two**

**Elwin spent the rest of the day making elixirs. Kesler had given him a few recipes, and he was willing to try a few of them out. He was just adding a drop of some terrible-smelling blue sludge to one of the vials when his impartner blinked. He sighed, setting the stuff down, but smiled when he saw the name on the screen.**

**Min.**

**Elwin's entire face brightened as he answered it. "Min!"**

**Min's face appeared on the screen. He had dark skin and deep blue eyes, and short black hair. "Hey, Elwin!"**

**"My brother came by this morning."**

**"Oh, really? What did he do?"**

**"He was just dropping by to say hi, I guess. But he invited me to dinner with his wife. He said he wants me to bring my girlfriend..."**

**Min laughed. "So..."**

**"Min, I can't do that."**

**"Why not? And how do you know what I'm thinking, you're not a telepath."**

**"You want me to take you to the dinner with my brother."**

**"You'd make a really good telepath."**

**"I can't do that. My brother would... be disappointed."**

**"Well, that's his problem."**

**"I know, but--"**

**"No buts. Come on, it would be fun! I wanna see the looks on their faces when I walk in."**

**"They would think I was joking. Or they'd just be confused. I think you're forgetting that there aren't a lot of elves like us."**

**"I know that. We get to be the first! I mean, the first to show it publicly."**

**"I... don't know how I feel about that."**

**Min sighed. "Well... are you enjoying the stuffed stegosaurus I gave you?"**

**"Of course. He's adorable. I wish you'd given him a different name, though."**

**Min laughed. Elwin smiled. "I'll rename him Elwin Jr."**

**"No, his name is Stinky. I know it's weird, but that's just his name."**

**"You're weird."**

**"I know. That's why you love me."**

**Elwin blushed slightly. "Yeah, I guess I do love you," he agreed bashfully.**

**"Of course you do. I'm amazing."**

**Elwin smiled. "You are pretty amazing..."**

## **Part Three**

**"You sleep with stuffed animals, Elwin."**

**He blushed. "It's just one..."**

**Katylyn, Conwin's wife, smiled. "That's adorable!"**

**Conwin shook his head. "So. Did you bring a girl?"**

**"No... but I did bring someone."**

**"Oh, good, you have friends."**

**"I--"**

**Katylyn nudges Conwin disapprovingly.**

**"I'm just teasing! Come on, Elwin, I know you have lots of friends. You're a really fun guy. Who... sleeps with stuffed toys."**

**"It's not a toy."**

**"You named him Stinky the Stegosaurus."**

**He blushed. "I wasn't the one who named him."**

**"Then who--?"**

**He was cut off by a handsome, dark-skinned elf sitting down at their table. Elwin smiled. "Hey, Min."**

**Min smiles back. "Elwin! Elwin's brother! I hope I'm not late."**

**"You're just in time," Elwin promises. "This is my brother, Conwin. And this is my friend, Min."**

**"Ah, yes, Conwin. Your names rhyme! That's so cute. I've heard a lot about you, Conwin."**

**Conwin looked surprised. "You have?"**

**"Yep! Your little brother here really looks up to you."**

**Elwin's face burned.**

**"He... looks up to me?" asked Conwin in disbelief, looking at his brother. "Aw, Elwin. I'm not much to look up to..."**

**"Of course you are!" Elwin blurts. "You're a member of nobility, and you have a wife, and you just... seem to have your life all figured out. I'm almost two hundred, and I still have no idea what I'm doing!"**

**"Um, you're the most talented physician and flasher I know," Conwin tells him, smiling.**

**"And not to mention your fun personality. Not a lot of people have that. My husband here is all work, no play," Ketylyn pipes up.**

**Min nudges Elwin. "He's right, you know you're amazing, Elwin."**

**Elwin smiles a little. "Thanks."**

**Min leans over and kisses his cheek.**

**Katylyn and Conwin both gasp. Elwin blushes.**

**Min makes a face. "They... didn't know yet, did they?"**

**Elwin shakes his head.**

**Conwin looks baffled. "Wh... Elwin, how come you never told us about this?"**

**Elwin can't seem to find the right words. He finally manages a half-hearted shrug and awkward smile. "Um. This is my boyfriend."**

**Katylyn is the first one to snap out of it. "Well, it's wonderful to meet you!" she exclaims.**

**Conwin slowly shakes his head, smiling. "Well no wonder you don't have a girlfriend! I'm so sorry I acted like that. It's great to finally see my brother has found someone."**

**Elwin's eyes brighten. He looks at Min, who gives him an I-told-you-so look.**

**"Well, Katylyn dragged us all here to give us a big announcement, which she still hasn't told me, so... I'm dying of curiosity."**

**Katylyn's smile widened. "Brace yourself."**

**"Brace myself? It's not bad, is it?"**

**"No," Katylyn assured. "You're just... going to be very surprised."**

**Conwin smiled nervously. "Okay, now I'm scared..."**

**She laughed. "Don't be scared."**

**Conwin and Elwin looked at her expectantly. Min was casually taking a bite of his food.**

**"I'm pregnant!" Katylyn announced excitedly.**

**Elwin's jaw fell. Min dropped his fork. Conwin stared at her.**

**Katylyn giggled. "You seem shocked."**

**Conwin started to tear up. "I... I-I... I'm gonna be a dad," he managed to squeak out.**

**Katylyn wrapped her arms around him. "Yep!"**

**Conwin continued to be shocked.**

**Elwin laughed. "Congratulations, guys!"**

**Conwin smiled. "I... wh... really?"**

**She nods, her eyes bright.**

**Conwin smiled excitedly. "I'm a dad!"**

## **Part Four**

**When Elwin got home from the dinner with Min and his brother, he found something on the front steps of his house. Elwin picks up the stuffed Apatosaurus, smiling. "Looks like Min gave me another stuffed dinosaur..." It had a little bow on it's head, and a tag that said, "Elwin Jr."**

**"Do you like it?" a voice says behind him.**

**Elwin whirls around, then smiles when he sees Min. "Hey! What... are you doing here?"**

**Min shrugs, smiling back. "I wanted to see how much you appreciated the Apatosaurus. And his name is Elwin Jr."**

**Elwin smiled. "He's adorable."**

**"Conwin told me you slept with Stinky the Stegosaurus."**

**He blushed. "I did."**

**Min giggled.**

**Elwin blushed harder. "So..."**

**"So...?"**

**"Do you... wanna come inside?"**

**"Oh, sure."**

**Elwin opened the door and lead him inside. He took Elwin's hand. "Wow. It's nicer than I expected."**

**"Um, thanks?"**

**Min laughed. "That was a compliment, I swear." He took Elwin Jr and let go of his hand, racing up the stairs. "Where's your room?"**

**"Uh, second door on the left."**

**Min dashed into Elwin's room.**

**Elwin followed, smiling. He found Min sitting on his bed, holding the two stuffed dinosaurs. Min looked up, then made a silly face. "Look how cute they are!"**

**Elwin bit back a smile. "They are, aren't they?"**

**He hugged both of them. "They're so fluffy. I kinda want one, too, now."**

**"You can always take one back if you want."**

**"No way! I got these for you. They're special." Min gave an innocent smile, patting the Apatosaurus on the head.**

**Elwin's heart melted a little bit. He was so cute...**

**Min looked up at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"**

**He blushed again. "No reason..."**

**He stood, placing the dinosaurs next to each other. "Aw, it looks like they're hugging! Look, Elwin."**

**Oh, Lord, he's cute... Elwin smiles softly. "Yeah, it does look like they're hugging..."**

**Min looks at him, then giggles. "Why do you keep staring at me like that?"**

**"You're just... really cute," Elwin whispers.**

**Min smiles. "Aw, Elwin..."**

**He smiles back.**

## **Part Five**

**Elwin had left the room to take a shower, and when he came back, wearing T-Rex pajamas, Min was snoring, holding Elwin Jr the Apatosaurus. Elwin smiled, and, not wanting to wake him up, kissed his forehead and decided to sleep downstairs.**

**In the morning, Elwin made breakfast, crepes, with Min's favourite fruit sauce, proud of himself for remembering that his favourite fruit was fluffles.**

**After he made the crepes, he went back upstairs to check on Min, who was still asleep. He sat by the bed, sweeping the hair off of Min's forehead gently.**

**Min started to stir a bit.**

**Elwin scootched back. "Good morning," he said softly, smiling.**

**Min stretched, prying his eyes open. He rubbed his eyes. "E-Elwin? Oh my god, did I fall asleep?"**

**Elwin chuckled. "You were here all night."**

**"I... I was?"**

**"Yeah."**

**Min sniffed the air. "It smells good..."**

**"I made breakfast downstairs."**

**"Aw, you made me breakfast? You're so sweet!" He leaned forward and kissed Elwin's cheek, throwing the covers off and hopping out of bed.**

**Elwin smiled bashfully. "I made your favourite."**

**"With fluffles?" asked Min hopefully.**

**Elwin nodded.**

**Min squealed and hugged him happily. "Oh my gosh! You're the best boyfriend ever!"**

**"Thanks--"**

**Min raced out of the room and down the stairs.**

**Elwin laughed lightly and followed him. "Well, someone's excited."**

**Min sat at the table, taking a bite of one of the crepes. "Mmm, oh my gosh, this is so good..."**

**Elwin sat down next to him.**

**For a moment, they sat in silence, eating the crepes, until Min suddenly giggled. "Wow. Look at us. Sitting together, eating breakfast like a married couple."**

**Elwin looked up from his plate. "A married couple?"**

**"Yeah!"**

**Elwin paused for a moment. "Hey, Min, do you think we'll ever get married?"**

**"I dunno. But I think you'd be a great husband."**

**"Really?"**

**"Well, of course! I mean, we'd technically be a bad match, but I... don't care about that stuff."**

**"Me, neither."**

**"I mean, we haven't even had our first kiss yet, but, you know..."**

**Elwin blushed. He'd never kissed anyone before, and the thought made his stomach do strange things that no elixir could fix. But then, yet, whenever he looked at Min...**

**Min giggled. "You're staring at me again."**

**His face went red and he quickly dropped his eyes back to his plate, smiling.**

**"I don't mind if you stare." Min made a silly face.**

**Elwin chuckled softly. "I love you."**

**"I love you, too!"**

**"Well, I got a call from Sophie. You know what that means. I might be gone for a while--"**

**"Can I come with you?" Min asked.**

**Elwin bit his lip. "Well... I mean..." People have to find out eventually, he told himself. "S-sure."**

**"Really? Yay! I get to meet this Miss Foster you always talk about. You're always saying how much you care about her. You're such a softy, ya know that?"**

**Elwin blushed. "Thanks...?"**

**"So, what are we waiting for? To the Leapmaster!"**

## **Part Six**

**Sophie looked up at Min. "Who's this?"**

**"This is my boyfriend," Min proudly answered for him.**

**"Boyfriend!?" Sophie exclaimed, thoroughly surprised.**

**Elwin smiled bashfully. "Yeah." He casually pulled another vial out of his case, handing it to her. "Drink this."**

**"Wait a minute! I had no idea you were in a relationship! That's so sweet, oh my gosh!" Sophie was smiling at him.**

**Elwin looked at Min, blushing.**

**Min winked. "They have to find out eventually, right?"**

**"Well, y-yes... I know."**

**Sophie continued to smile. "I'm so happy for you!"**

**Elwin smiled, blushing. "You're not getting out of drinking this, Sophie," he said, holdin up the elixir again.**

**She sighed. "I know."**

**Later that day, Min heard Elwin talking to someone on the phone. It was a woman, someone he didn't recognize. The woman sighs heavily. She has short hair and is noticeably wearing a tunic and pants instead of a dress. She smiles at Elwin shakily. "Are you sure he's right for you, Elwin?"**

***They're talking about me*, Min thought. He froze in the doorway, eavesdropping.**

**"Of course he is," Elwin replied defensively.**

**"Elwin, he's..."**

**"What?"**

**"He's not very good-looking."**

**Elwin blinked slowly. "Do you think that kind of stuff matters to me? He's beautiful, Shae, and I love him!"**

**Shae shrugs. "No need to get defensive, I'm just saying..." She sweeps a loose strand of dark hair off her forehead.**

**"There is a need to get defensive. He's my boyfriend. I love everything about him. I love his dark skin, and his greenish eyes, and the way he teases me, and how he likes to wear makeup. I love him. More than anything."**

**She smiled. "I know you do. I'm just worried about your... reputation."**

**"My reputation? I don't care if the Councillors themselves tell me not to be with him."**

**She laughed lightly. "Elwin, do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?"**

**Elwin's face burned. "I-it's not ridiculous..."**

**"Yes, it is. You're ridiculous. That's what I like about you."**

**He sighed. "I gotta go, Shae."**

**"Because you're annoyed with me?"**

**"Yes." Elwin pushes his glasses up his nose.**

**She laughs again. "Talk to you later, Elwin."**

**"Sure." Elwin gives a small smile before the screen goes blank.**

**Min quietly clears his throat.**

**Elwin whirls around. "Hey, Min!"**

**Min comes over and sits by him, not saying anything.**

**"Min?" Elwin says softly.**

**"Elwin... do you think I'm... ugly?"**

**Elwin flinches. "What!? No! Min, you're beautiful! You're anything but ugly!"**

**"Compared to other elves I am," he mumbles.**

**Elwin grabs his hand. "Min, listen to me... I would love you even if you were ugly. And you're not, alright? You're amazing. Sometimes, I still can't believe you said yes when I asked you on our first date! I mean, look at me! I sleep with stuffed animals!"**

**Min giggled. "Yeah, you do..."**

**"And how many other elves do you know who wear glasses? It seems like everyone in the world has perfect vision except me."**

**"Well, that's because you're flashing lights all day."**

**"And it's not like I'm winning any prizes for Most Good-Looking Elf."**

**"Elwin, what are you talking about? You're really handsome."**

**He smiled. "And you're beautiful."**

**Min blushed, leaning against him. "Fine."**

**Elwin ran a hand through his hair. "And you have really soft hair," he whispered.**

**"Thanks," Min said softly. He reached up, took Elwin's glasses off, and placed them on his own face. He blinked a few times, giggling. "I can't see anything..."**

**"Neither can I," Elwin chuckled.**

**"I have to lean reeeeeeally close to see you," Min teased, leaning closer. There was a beat of silence.**

**Elwin blushed. Their noses were almost touching. For a moment, Elwin thought they were going to have their first kiss, but the moment ended when Min blinked, smiled bashfully, and kissed his cheek.**

**Elwin smiled as Min snuggled up against him, still wearing his glasses.**

## **Part Seven**

**Elwin froze.**

**He there was a piece of paper sitting on the counter. He smiled a little, thinking it was from Min. He probably wrote him some silly little love note. Elwin picked it up, and his smile immediately faded. It wasn't Min's handwriting. Which meant someone else had come *into his house and left it there.***

**He blinked.**

**"*The Good Doctor...*"**

**That's what was written at the top. A name his brother and boyfriend had teasingly called him many times.**

**He read the note.**

**"The Good Doctor,**

**"It's nice to know you have someone who cares about you. If you want him back, you'll be meeting us in Atlantis."**

**There was nothing else there. No specification on where exactly in Atlantis he was going to go. No "Sincerely, the Neverseen."**

**Elwin started to tremble a little. He dropped the note on the counter and ran up the stairs to the Leapmaster as fast as he possibly could.**

**Min. They took Min. Elwin had to get him back, and he didn't care what he had to do to do it. He tried not to imagine the kinds of horrible things they were doing to him... Why did they even take him anyways? What did they want with an innocent guy like Min? Or, more importantly, what did they want with Elwin?**

**Min sobbed quietly. "Don't hurt him, please... I never meant for this to happen!"**

**"Yeah, right," a deep voice scoffed. "We should've sent someone else. You *fell in love with him*. That wasn't supposed to happen!"**

**"I-I know... but please, just leave him alone--"**

**The voice laughed. "Leave him alone!? You should've done that months ago."**

**Min looks down as the person circles him a few takes, shaking their head. "It's too late, now. I really thought I could trust you. It just goes to show, you can never trust people around here."**

**"The only person around here that can't be trusted is you," Min said through clenched teeth.**

**The person pulled out a melder and aimed it at his head. "Say that again, I dare you."**

**"I said, you're the one who can't be trusted. You're a traitor--!" Min stopped mid-sentence and screamed in pain.**

**The person laughed. "You never learn, do you?"**

**Min was completely incapable of replying.**

**"No... elves never learn..." the person whispers, shaking their head in disappointment.**

## **Part Eight**

**Elwin sat by the fountain in Atlantis, waiting. He was terrified. More terrified than he'd been in his life.**

**"E-Elwin?" a voice said behind him. Min's voice.**

**He whirled around. "Min! What did they do to you!? Are you okay--"**

**"Elwin, please, keep your voice down."**

**"You're bleeding," he whispered.**

**"I'm okay," Min promised quietly, wiping the blood off of his lip.**

**"You don't look fine..."**

**Min had tears in his eyes. He buried himself in Elwin's arms. "I'm sorry... Elwin, I'm so sorry..."**

**"Sorry for what? Min, what happened?"**

**"It's all my fault this is happening. I should've never risked dragging you into this."**

**Elwin furrowed his eyebrows. "Dragging me into what? You have to tell me what's going on..." He trailed off. "Wait. You... y-you work for them, don't you? The Neverseen." He let goof Min and took a step back.**

**Min shook his head. "No! Not the Neverseen. That's not-- The Neverseen and the Black Swan aren't the only... I-I'm not supposed to tell you."**

**"What!? Min, they hurt you! You have to tell me who did this! If it wasn't the Neverseen, that's means there's more rebels and secret organizations we have to worry about..."**

**"And I'm part of it! It's... it's an Underground Human Assistance Program."**

**Elwin blinked. "But... why did they take you?"**

**"It's a long story. We can't talk about it here. Let's... let's go to my house."**

**Elwin blinked. He had a feeling there was a reason he'd never been to Min's house before. He shook his head in disbelief. How did someone like Min get mixed up in something so complicated? Min reached for his hand, but he took another step back. "I'm just... confused. I thought... I-I don't know what I thought, actually, but it was very far from this," he mumbled.**

**"We have to leave! He's going to find me again if we don't leave *right now*." Min pulled out a light-leaping crystal.**

**"But... leaping crystals don't work in Atlantis. The light doesn't--" He cut himself off when he saw that the crystal was bright red. He'd never seen a leaping crystal that colour before. "Where are we going?"**

**"The Forgotten Cities."**

**Elwin gasped, letting go of Min's hand. They were in a city. A huge one. It looked human, but without the loud noises of cars, and the air was just as crisp as the air in the Lost Cities. The structure of the buildings and the modern houses looked so... strange. All different shapes and sizes, different textures and heights and materials.**

**Elwin watched an elf with pointy ears and a human with white hair and wrinkles cross the street together. A human. Another human. A boy with green eyes: that was a human, too! Humans and elves all living in the same city. Together. And a goblin. No, three goblins.**

**And--**

**And a troll. And a couple of ogres. And a bunch of gnomes. All of the intelligent species in one place. Thriving together. Elwin had never seen anything like it in his entire life.**

**"The Council has no idea this place exists," Min whispered, snapping Elwin out of the daze he was in.**

**"This place is incredible."**

**"I know! I grew up here. My father was the one who built this place."**

**"Wow... this... well, it's totally illegal, but it's amazing!" Elwin adjusted his glasses.**

**He saw a woman walk by, who was also wearing glasses. He wasn't the only one anymore! The entire city was so diverse, it was almost hard to take it all in. So many different people. So many different backgrounds. Everyone looked, and acted different, and lived in different houses, yet they all seemed to get along perfectly well.**

**"So, do you have, like, a king? Or a Council?"**

**"Nope. I mean, kind of... my dad makes a lot of important decisions, but he certainly doesn't rule over any of us. Everyone follows whatever laws they believe in, and does pretty much whatever they want."**

**"Doesn't it get... chaotic?"**

**"Nope."**

**"That's... insane."**

**"I know! Elwin, I... I hope you understand that I'm breaking so many rules by bringing you here."**

**"I do. But I'm glad you took me here anyways."**

**Min smiled, taking his hand. "Come on. I'll take you to my house."**

## **Part Nine**

**"This is your house?" Elwin gaped at the structure in front of him.**

**"Wow, don't sound so unimpressed," Min teased.**

**"I'm not," Elwin said quickly. "It's just very... human."**

**"I know! I love human things."**

**"I'll... keep that in mind."**

**Min grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the front door. "Come on! I'll show you around! You can meet my cat."**

**"You have a cat?"**

**"Yeah!"**

**Elwin blushed and let Min pull him inside.**

**"This is the living room-- Look! This is a TV! Isn't it cool? And..." Min pulled him into the kitchen. "I have a coffee maker! And..." He pulled Elwin down the hall and through a door. "This is my office! Look, Elwin, this chair spins, and it has wheels!"**

**Min sat down in the chair and spun around, giggling.**

**Elwin tried to take it all in. He'd never seen so many human objects in his entire life. He watched Min spin around in the chair a few times. "Min, you.. still have to tell me what happened. What did those people do to you?"**

**"I... we can talk about it later, I promise. Just try to relax. Here, you try!" He stood so Elwin could sit in the spinny chair.**

**Elwin slowly sat down, sighing. Min spun him around. Elwin let a laugh slip out as the chair whirled around.**

**Min giggled, spinning him faster. He hopped up in Elwin's lap as the chair continued to spin.**

**The chair slowly spun to a stop, both of them laughing.**

**"I want one of these," Elwin tells him.**

**Min leans back against him. "Then, I'll have to get you one. For our anniversary."**

**Elwin blushed.**

**They sat there for a few more seconds before there moment was ruined. A person burst into the room. "MIN! Min, we need you're help-- Oh my gosh, is that your boyfriend!?"**

**Min and Elwin both quickly stood up. "Astrin, what are you doing here?" Min asked.**

**"The front door was unlocked," they said, smiling innocently.**

**He sighed. "Yes, this is my boyfriend."**

**"Oh my gosh! It's so nice to meet you! I'm Astrin! Min talks about you all the time. He's like, 'Oh, Elwin, he's the most amazing person ever, and he's so handsome and smart, and we kiss, like, all the time'," Astrin said, making their voice lower to mimic Min's.**

**Min and Elwin both blushed.**

**Astrin bit back a laugh. "Aw, y'all are so cute."**

**Min blushed harder. "Astrin, what are you doing here?"**

**"OH! We need your help in the lobby. And... um, bring Elwin. We might need him."**

**"Why?" Elwin asked slowly.**

**"Because we might need a physician."**

**Elwin gasped. "Min, what is happening?"**

**"A protest," Min said under his breath, watching, his eyes wide.**

**There was a huge intersection, with four roads going different ways. On one side of the intersection was a group of humans, and on the other side was a group of elves. The only thing between them was a grey sidewalk, and a lot of tension.**

**"You elves have no decency!" a human woman shouted angrily. She and her small group of humans were all holding signs, saying how elves took their abilities for granted, and how the Underground Human Assistance Program needed to expand to more countries. "There are more people in the world who need your help!"**

**A male elf on the other side was glaring at her, his arms crossed. "There's only so many people we can tell in a certain amount of time!"**

**"Elves need to be more willing to join our cause, then!"**

**"I'm sorry, but not everyone in the Lost Cities is going to drop their entire life for a bunch of humans!"**

**The woman scoffed.**

**Elwin watched as the argument progressed. The two groups shouted insults back and forth. Min and Astrin desperately tried to break up the fighting, telling them that they needed to get along since everyone in the Forgotten Cities was on the same side. Eventually, the crowds dwindled away.**

**Min sighed heavily, coming back over to Elwin. "Well, at least no one got hurt."**

**"Do people usually get hurt during these protests?"**

**"Um. Sometimes."**

**"That's terrible!"**

**Min sighed. "You... get used to it."**

**There was a short silence.**

**"You've never gotten hurt in one of these protests, have you?"**

**"No," Min said quickly.**

**Elwin gave him a look.**

**"I promise. I'm okay."**

**Elwin bit his lip doubtfully. "Alright..."**

**Min hugged him tightly. "So..."**

**"So...?"**

**"Do you want to meet my cat? You never got to, because we got distracted by my spinny chair, and then Astrin came, and they warned us about the protest."**

**Astrin smiled, who was indeed still there, and our little lover birds kind of forgot about them. "Can I come see your cat, too?"**

**"You get to see her all the time."**

**"I love her! She's the cutest little thing in the world!"**

**Min smiled, rolling his eyes. "Alright."**

## **Part Ten**

TW: Mention of sl/rs and body shaming

**Astrin picked up Min’s orange tabby cat. “Hey, Jeraldine!"**

**Elwin smiled. "Your cat's name is Jeraldine?"**

**"Yep. Isn't she adorable?"**

**Elwin smiled. "Yeah..."**

**Min took Jeraldine out of Astrin's arms and handed her to Elwin. "Aw," Astrin whined, "I want to hold her!"**

**"You hold her all the time!"**

**Elwin gasped. "She's so soft..."**

**Min giggled. "Yeah, she is."**

**Jeraldine purred. Elwin smiled, petting her. "She's *adorable*..."**

**There was a short silence. "Min?" Elwin said quietly. Min looked up at him. "We still need to talk..."**

**"I know..."**

**Astrin made a face. "Uh, should I leave?"**

**"No!" Min quickly exclaimed. "You don't have to go, yet!"**

**Astrin looked at Elwin, who frowned. "Um, Min, I think you two need to talk."**

**Min bit his lip. "We... we will talk. Soon."**

**Elwin sighed. "Alright... just... soon."**

**Min nodded, looking away.**

**Elwin quietly began petting Jeraldine again. Astrin awkwardly stepped back. "Uh, I'm gonna go."**

**Min grimaced. "Alright... bye, Astrin."**

**They gave him a look before stepping out of the room and light-leaping away.**

**Elwin stared at Min. "So, are you going to tell me what's going on?"**

**"Well... this is my house. I grew up here. In the Forgotten Cities... I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner..."**

**"Min, the Forgotten Cities are amazing. I'm worried about the people that *kidnapped* you."**

**"Oh... that... well... that's actually a long story, but those people work for my dad."**

**"Why would your dad want to hurt you!?"**

**"Oh, no, Elwin, he doesn't want to hurt me! Just, the guys that work for him don't like me very much. It happens."**

**"So, you frequently get kidnapped?"**

**Min shrugged, petting Jeraldine. "It happens," he said, softer this time. "They wouldn't kill me, though."**

**Elwin gave him a look of disbelief. "I-I don't want them hurting you at all! I *love* you!"**

**"I love you, too, Elwin, but I've been dealing with this all my life. I'm okay."**

**He snorted. "That's stupid."**

**"Wh-what?"**

**Elwin pinched the bridge of his nose. "You shouldn't have to deal with this."**

**"But I do! You don't understand, Elwin-"**

**"Really? What am I not understanding? Why don't you just tell your dad?"**

**"Nononono, that's the last thing I want to do. He'll set me up with ten bodyguards and never let me leave his sight. He's over-protective."**

**Elwin stared at him.**

**Min sighed. "I'm fine."**

**"What exactly do they do to you?"**

**"I-... I don't... it's not important."**

**Elwin's eyes widened slightly. "Min, what do they do?"**

**"Nothing! Just, you know, shove me around for a little while, call me names, that kind of thing."**

**Elwin frowned. "What kinds of names?"**

**"That's... not... I'm *fine*."**

**He scanned the tears in Min's eyes, knowing that this wasn't fine. "Min, please tell me what's going on. If you don't want your dad to help you, maybe I can."**

**Min sniffled. "It's... ugh, fine. They... they call me sl/rs sometimes."**

**"WHAT!"**

**"It's no big deal-"**

**"It is *too* a big deal! I'll smack them if you want."**

**Min snort-sobbed. "E-Elwin, you don't have to-"**

**"Yes, I do! That's unacceptable!"**

**"Elwin, that's not even really the part that hurts me-"**

**"What else are they saying that's hurting you?"**

**"I..." His face reddened and more tears filled his eyes. "Don't get mad."**

**"I already am mad. We've passed that point. But I'm not mad at you."**

**"I-I know you're not mad at me... I... they say things about... my..." Min wrung his hands so hard it looked like it hurt before quietly continuing, "My weight."**

**Elwin's eyes darkened. "Your..." He fumed. "I can't believe... I just..." He made a strangled screaming sound.**

**Min was trembling a little now, tears streaming down his face, wringing his hands.**

**Elwin quickly scooped him into a hug.**

**Min hiccuped, leaning against him. "I'm ugly," he whispered, choking back more tears.**

**"No! No, you are not. You're beautiful. Don't... you're perfect, Min. You're absolutely perfect just the way you are. I don't care what those creeps say."**

**"I don't feel beautiful," Min croaked.**

**"Well, you are."**

**Min looked up and saw that Elwin was tearing up, too. Elwin looked at him and wiped the tears off his face gently. "I promise, you're gorgeous."**

## **Part Eleven**

**Min sighed heavily.**

**Elwin looked over at him. "Hey, are you alright?"**

**"Yeah," he mumbled.**

**It was morning. Min and Elwin were sitting across from each other in the dining room, eating breakfast.**

**Min offered a small smile, taking a bite of his food. "Long day yesterday."**

**"Yeah... it was pretty... terrible."**

**Min snorted.**

**Elwin squeezed his hand under the table. "So, what are we gonna do today?"**

**"I could show you around the Forgotten Cities?"**

**"Sure! What kinds of stuff will we be seeing?"**

**"Um, buildings, I guess. I was gonna show you this really nice restaurant-"**

**"You mean like a date?"**

**Min blushed slightly. "Yeah..."**

**Elwin smiled. "Alright!"**

**Min stood up from the table, placing his dishes in the sink. "It's really nice. I think you'll like it."**

**Elwin tilted his head. "Min?"**

**"Hm?"**

**"You're... acting kind of off. Are you sure you're okay? We can always tour the Forgotten Cities tomorrow."**

**"No, no, it's fine."**

**Elwin bit his lip. "Alright..."**

**Min gave a shaky smile and stood up. "When do you want to leave?"**

**"As soon as possible."**

**"Now?"**

**"Yeah, sure!" Elwin exclaimed, taking Min's hand.**

**He smiled wider. "I love you."**

**"I love you, too."**

~~~~~

**Min and Elwin had barely stepped out the door when they saw Astrin talking to a boy, who was crying deliriously. Min's eyes went wide. The bot looked up at him and darted away from Astrin. "H-hello? Are you Min?"**

**"Yes, I am... what's wrong?"**

**The boy was a human. He had pale brown eyes and long dark hair thrown in a messy bun. He looked to be either sixteen or seventeen. "Please... m-my boyfriend... there's something wrong with him... h-he's an elf, and I don't know what to do! His eyes got all dark, and he collapsed, a-and I don't know if he was breathing..."**

**Min squeezed Elwin's hand. "Elwin, do you think you can help?"**

**"Of course."**

**Min put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "He can help your boyfriend. He's a physician."**

**The boy sniffled. "O-okay... he's at my house. I can take you there."**

**"What's your name?" Min asked softly.**

**"Colson... but just Cole is fine..."**

**Min nodded. "Alright, Cole, take us to your boyfriend."**

**Cole nodded and led them down the road. A few blocks later, they appeared near the woods. He started to head down the path into the woods, and Elwin shared a look with Min, but continued following the Cole. He stopped walking when they got to the front door of a cozy log cabin. Cole wrapped his arms around himself, trembling. "I-I don't think I can go back in there... he's... th-there's something seriously wrong..."**

**Elwin bit his lip and opened the door. He gasped.**

**A thin teenage boy with messy blonde hair was laying on the ground, twitching violently and groaning. The shadows in the room were stretching and snapping, and there seemed to be a strange buzzing sound coming from them, like radio static. Elwin knelt by him. The closer Elwin moved, the more intense the static got, and Elwin started to feel dizzy. He inhaled sharply and moved back. "Wh-what... Min! Come here."**

**Min hurried into the cabin. "Oh... jesus..."**

**The blonde boy twitched and mumbled something about his leg.**

**Min sat on the ground next to Elwin. "Do you know what's wrong?"**

**Elwin bit his lip. He looked like he was trying hard not to cry. "I think I might know what's wrong, but I have no idea how to fix it..."**

**Min furrowed his eyebrows. "Elwin?"**

**Elwin scooted a little closer to the blonde boy, wincing. "Min," he whispered. "Meet Keefe. Keefe Sencen."**

**Min's eyes went wide. "Keefe Sencen? Isn't he that boy who ran away to the Forbidden Cities?"**

**"Yes..." Elwin wiped his eyes.**

**"Why aren't you... getting closer to him?"**

**"I don't know, I just... can't..."**

**Min blinked. "What do you mean?" He scooted over to Keefe's twitching body.**

**Elwin blinked. He tried to move closer, but he started hearing the buzzing sound again. This time his vision became blurry, and he stumbled to the floor, wincing.**

**Min helped him up and moved him away. "What- E-Elwin, are you okay?"**

**Elwin blinked and his vision came back. He took a deep breath. "I-I don't know what's wrong with me... you seriously don't hear that?"**

**Min looked worried. "Hear what?"**

**"The buzzing sound? The... static?"**

**"No..."**

**Elwin wrapped his arms around his self, trembling. "I can't... I want to help him, but I c-can't..."**

**He tried to step toward Keefe again, but Min grabbed his arm. "Elwin, don't."**

**"What do you mean, "don't"? I haven't seen Keefe in... m-months... I... he ran away from me! I did something wrong, and I have to fix it, I have to help him-"**

**"What are you talking about?"**

**Of course. He'd never told Min about Keefe. Elwin winced. "I... kind of adopted him for a while. His dad isn't the best person in the world... and after he ran away, I... I thought maybe I did something wrong..."**

**Min's eyes softened. "Oh... Elwin..."**

**"I have to help him."**

**"But it's hurting you! I don't know how... but it's hurting you."**

**"I don't care!"**

**"I can help him," Min tried to assure him.**

**He stammered in protest.**

**"Elwin, just stop! I'm going to help him."**

**Elwin burst into tears.**

**Min panicked and hugged him. "Elwin... I-I'm sorry..."**

**Elwin kept crying. He couldn't believe it... the only thing he wanted to do in this world was help people, and now he couldn't even help the boy that he thought of as a son?**

**He pulled away from Min and reached for Keefe's arm. Min shouted something, but his voice faded. Right as Elwin touched Keefe's arm, he immediately went unconscious.**