Check my original work on my AO3 with username "eseckiya" ;)

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Yejun was a renowned collector, known as the "Master Butterfly Hunter." He was famous for seeking out the most unique butterflies in the world, creating an unparalleled collection, and was a rare insect conservationist. However, this search left Yejun in a state of profound uncertainty.

Amid the vast, sprawling forest, he discovered a being with porcelain-warm skin and large, butterfly-like wings that shimmered with iridescent hues of purple and blue, cascading down to the ground. The figure leaned against an oak tree, seemingly lost in a deep slumber.

Yejun carefully approached, but the figure quickly sensed his presence. The being's eyes opened wide, and its wings enveloped its body like a cocoon. Yejun stepped back in surprise, raising his hands to show he meant no harm.

Then, Yejun noticed one of the figure's wings was tattered, the delicate threads trembling. Just by looking, he could feel the excruciating pain.

"I- I can help," Yejun said gently, kneeling to examine the wound closely.

Part of the figure's wing opened, revealing beautiful cerulean-blue eyes framed by long lashes like an angel's, golden hair flowed like a holy stream. Yejun couldn't help but let out a small gasp at the sight.

The figure trembled and spoke, its voice filled with bitterness. "You humans have hurt me."

"I promise I won't hurt you. I'm a collector, I know how to protect... creatures like you," Yejun replied, though the words felt strange as if he were objectifying the being. But it was the only way to earn its trust.

"I don't believe you," the figure quivered, its wings wrapping tighter around itself. "If you intend to take my wings, you might as well kill me now."

Yejun backed away in a panic, his eyes darting around for a solution. He spotted a butterfly caught in a spider's web and devised an idea.

"Watch me," he said.

The figure cautiously opened its wings a bit more, watching Yejun's every move. He carefully freed the butterfly from the web, applying a specialized adhesive to mend its fragile wings until the tiny creature calmed and allowed Yejun to care for it.

The figure's eyes widened, its blue pupils glistening with hope. Yejun turned to it, extending a hand in a gesture of peace.

"Trust me."

A silence settled between them before the figure nodded, extending a wing towards Yejun. He gently cradled the large wing in his hands, using his supplies to treat it.

"It's just a slight scratch, not a tear. You should be able to... fly normally," Yejun explained awkwardly, still tending to the wing. The figure, amused by his clumsy earnestness, chuckled softly, causing Yejun to look up. The being's face seemed to radiate a gentle light.

"I'm Yejun. Nam Yejun," he said, scratching his head, and trying to introduce himself.

"Noah."

"Your name is Noah?"

"Yes."

After the treatment, Noah tried to spread his wings but collapsed weakly by the tree. Yejun maintained a respectful distance, wanting to continue the conversation.

"Do you need to fly somewhere?"

"No."

Of course, butterflies have no home. They wander, chasing the sun until they die. Yejun shivered at the harsh reality, sitting down on the grass, and fiddling with the leaves.

"You said humans, um, like me, hurt you?"

"Yes. Those bastards."

Yejun was startled, not expecting such harsh words from Noah. But it made sense—trying to take Noah's wings was akin to killing him.

"How long will you stay here?"

"I don't know."

Yejun fell into contemplation again, his gaze drifting back to Noah's striking beauty. Such a gorgeous and graceful being.

"You are really beautiful."

"My wings?"

"Partly. Your face, Noah, it's very beautiful."

"I'm a boy, you know, a male," Noah pouted.

"So what? Beautiful is beautiful," Yejun chuckled. "Do you want me to call you handsome?"

"..." Noah turned away, wrapping his wings tightly around himself again.

"But the night is approaching, and you have nowhere else to go in this condition. I can help," Yejun promised, placing a hand on his chest to emphasize his sincerity.

The two sat in silence for a while before Noah stood up, completely unclothed. Yejun was startled and quickly turned away, his cheeks already flushed.

"What are you looking away for?" Noah asked nonchalantly.

Yejun didn't respond, swiftly pulling a spare shirt from his bag and tossing it to Noah. "Put this on. I can't take you back without you wearing it."

Noah took the shirt, fumbling with it. Yejun kept stealing glances to see if Noah was done, sensing his clumsiness. He stood up abruptly, his gaze fixed on Noah's face, took the long-sleeved shirt, wrapped the sleeves around Noah's waist, and tied it securely.

Noah looked at Yejun with wide, cautious eyes. Yejun took off his coat, draped it over Noah's shoulders, gently covering his large wings, and carefully guided him through the forest toward the path leading to where the car was parked.

Noah sat silently in the back seat, his eyes glued to the window, watching the people and the fleeting headlights of passing cars.

Upon returning, Yejun guided Noah to the greenhouse behind his house, an artificial forest he had built himself, teeming with butterflies.

"Can you stay here for the night?" Yejun asked carefully. Noah simply nodded.

Yejun turned on all the surrounding lights, illuminating the garden before leaving, allowing Noah to explore freely. Noah wandered around, feeling a sense of safety as butterflies landed on his skin as if welcoming him.

From that day on, Yejun harbored a treasure in his home. He gradually learned about the "human" side of Noah, tending to him with the same care as he would a delicate being. Noah also gradually opened up to Yejun, realizing he was a more humane collector than he had initially thought. Yejun didn't kill the rare butterflies upon finding them; instead, he brought them back to the garden to care for them until they naturally passed away, preserving their beauty.

Noah got to know many other lives in the greenhouse, becoming one with the life there. He wondered about Yejun's work, why he loved it so much, and more importantly, why he took such good care of him.

"I love beauty. Any beauty created by nature is worth preserving and cherishing," Yejun replied gently, his hands never stopping as he sewed a new outfit for Noah. "You said you wanted to go out there, to see the world?"

"Yes."

"Alright." Yejun nodded, not asking any further. Noah sat next to him, his face full of curiosity, lips pouting slightly. Yejun glanced over, startled, his heart pounding as he stopped pedaling the sewing machine.

"Noah ya..."

"Hm?"

"Is your life... like that of a butterfly? Flying aimlessly until death... comes?" Yejun asked calmly, though his heart was racing with anxiety.

"My family was killed by humans like you," Noah replied bitterly, his jaw tightening, hands clenched into fists. Yejun gently took his hand, soothing him. The rough skin of Yejun's calloused hands brought an oddly comforting sensation to Noah's smooth skin. Noah sighed, calming down, and rested his head on Yejun's shoulder.

"You won't do the same, will you? Can I trust you?"

Without hesitation, Yejun intertwined his fingers with Noah's, bringing them to his lips for a tender kiss.

"Please trust me."

Yet that promise could never be fulfilled, never remain eternal.

Nam Yejun's first mistake: exposing Noah to the outside world.

That day, the sky was clear, and Yejun cautiously held Noah by the waist, guiding him to take in the scent of the earth after rain, the smell of gasoline, and the bustling sounds of society, never leaving his side for a moment. Noah's large wings were now neatly tucked under a jet-black silk cloak, his long hair trimmed to shoulder length. His pupils dilated as he took in the unfamiliar world.

"Do you like it?" Yejun whispered, staying close by his side.

"It's alright," Noah replied with a smile, raising his hand towards the sky as if trying to touch the clouds.

Yejun led Noah to Namsan Tower, carefully instructing him, "Wait for me here," before disappearing to buy coffee.

In just five minutes, Noah instinctively unfurled his wings, bursting free from the black silk fabric. His primal desire to soar from the heights to the mountains below thrust them into trouble. Yejun hurriedly wrapped Noah in his thick trench coat and quickly drove home, while Noah, realizing he had put himself in a life-threatening situation, remained silent and tense.

As Yejun gently led Noah into the garden, Noah's lips parted, and a faint whisper escaped, barely audible.

"I'm sorry."

Yejun startled, gazing at the person in his arms, then softly pressed a kiss onto the golden strands of his beautiful hair.

"It's not your fault."

From that day on, driven by a fierce desire to blend in with human society, Noah stealthily slipped out of the greenhouse at night on several occasions. Like a moth to a flame, he brought danger upon himself, fully aware of what humans could do to someone of his unique duality. Yet, he was undeterred, eager to savor the beauty of the artificial world.

Yejun knew this, and he didn't try to stop Noah. This was his second mistake.

He deliberately sewed several exquisite outfits for Noah, quietly hanging them in the closet as a way to cherish the one he loved. Yejun wanted Noah to be free; he didn't want to "cage" him in the greenhouse-like he had with the butterflies all this time. For Nam Yejun, Noah was perhaps the only exception.

One night, just before Noah slipped out of the greenhouse through the back door, he noticed Yejun already waiting in the car, the engine running. He walked over gently and tapped on the window, the long cardigan wrapped around him providing a warm embrace.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I wanted to take Noah out for a drive," Yejun replied faintly, opening the door for Noah to sit beside him. "You've learned how to hide your magnificent wings, right? Is it uncomfortable?"

"Not really."

"Are you getting used to it? You know... hiding a part of yourself."

Noah shook his head, that thought never troubling him, unaware that it was society itself that made him lose a special part of his identity.

That night was truly enchanting for both of them. Yejun led Noah to a hill, where they lay stretched out on the grass, embraced by the fragrant scent of the earth. Noah nestled into his arms, his eyes wide with wonder as bursts of fireworks shot into the serene sky, painting a grand masterpiece. He giggled, burying his face in the scarf Yejun had knitted for him.

"So beautiful."

Yejun gazed dreamily at Noah in his embrace, a smile unconsciously lighting up his face, his thoughts drifting only to sweet words of love. "Yes, very beautiful."

He leaned down to kiss Noah, allowing Noah to unfurl his iridescent purple wings, enveloping them both in a discreet yet passionate embrace, their hands intertwined in a tender connection.

Nam Yejun's third mistake, one not entirely his own - stemmed from the prying eyes, the scrutinizing gazes, and the serpentine pupils of reporters and stalkers who had discovered Yejun's treasure hidden in the paradise behind his home.

They whispered among themselves about a mythical creature that truly existed within the cage known as Nam Yejun's greenhouse. Its wings stretched wide, enveloping a patch of the garden in vibrant hues of purple, shimmering beneath the transparent glass and the sunlight—a butterfly-shaped like a beautiful man.

That night, Nam Yejun had to leave home for two days—just a brief trip for a conference on insect preservation, attending as an honored guest. Before stepping away from Noah's embrace, Noah covered Yejun's face with tender kisses, and slowly, the car disappeared behind the grove of trees.

Noah's screams—desperate, pained—tore through the night. His body felt like it was aflame, shattering into pieces like a radiant pile of ash, burning to its end. Sobbing in utter terror, he spread his wings one final time before folding them tightly around himself, as if trying to crush his own being from the very core of his soul.

"Yejun, I love you - for eternity."

The news reached Nam Yejun in a state of panic. He abandoned everything, even the flight that was about to take off. He rushed home, breaking down the door despite the physical agony, only to find the ashes of the paradise he had so carefully built. Noah had vanished into the void; the remnants of his once brilliant wings now lay in charred gray, with dry streaks of blood stretching toơard unknown places. Stunned in horror, Nam Yejun collapsed, unable to even sob, letting himself sink into the ruins of what had once been his entire world.

Noah was gone. His treasure, truly gone.

Now, Nam Yejun stood before the grandest collection on Earth. Giant wings of shimmering violet, touched with ethereal blue, gleamed under the light, each delicate thread vibrating faintly with the footsteps of onlookers. A painting captured the bare back of a beautiful and fragile man—his slender waist, his long hair gently caressing a refined face—so vivid, so lifelike. Humanity marveled at nature's creation, at the beauty bestowed upon them by the heavens.

But was it truly so?

Nam Yejun had become a man consumed by hatred and resentment. He longed for Noah with a madness so fierce that he would rather die to reunite with his beloved—his treasure, Noah. No one had the right to gaze upon Noah's beauty like this—not after they had so proudly destroyed him in the most brutal way imaginable.

With fury burning in his heart, a flame as intense as his love for Noah erupted. It spread wildly, while the crowd scattered in terror.

Every door was sealed tight, smoke and fire tearing through flesh, as the crowd hurriedly trampled over one another to escape. The screams for help made Nam Yejun burst into a loud, unsettling laugh, his eyes gleaming with streaks of satisfied blood.

Let them all die, those detestable beings.

Burn like brilliant ash, just as Noah had to endure his wretched fate. Shatter into bones and flesh, skin stripped bare from the body in the most primal way.

The screams of fear and panic were a thrilling stimulation for Nam Yejun. The once exquisite paintings and the glass cases filled with rare collections now lingered only with the stench of blood, all reduced to the same level.

Nam Yejun melted into the sea of fire and blood, merging with the wings of Noah, a smile still firmly plastered on his lips.

The sole exception in Nam Yejun's world, he knows their fates will entwine once more.

He prays to the heavens, to every god above, pleading for Noah to be granted a life of gentle simplicity, and that Yejun may be the one to watch over him, always.

From this moment onward, they vow to find happiness; across every universe, in every realm, they will always belong to one another.

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