Royal
Chapter One: At first sight, I could recognize you as if we were calling out to each other.
Jungkook walked down the walls of the castle, bored, angry, and a little sad. Angry because he'd just had to listen to his mother drone on and on about the sins of loving the same gender, how gross and wrong it was. Angry and a little sad because she'd only brought this up because a servant was caught kissing another woman, and they were both ordered to be hung. Bored, because he had nothing to do, no princely duties, no classes or women to meet, just nothing. Which was a rare occurrence, especially seeing as he's the crown prince, where duties, women to meet, and classes to take are always in abundance.
It's a shame, really, he could cut back on all that if his mother just found out he was gay, stopped pressuring him into marrying a woman, and disown him so he could frolic about in the flower fields, holding hands with a bunch of men skipping about to their orgy of immoral, inappropriate, sinful and downright disgusting gay fun.
He snorts, rolling his eyes as he counts the number of steps it takes to find another painting of his mother. One, two. He starts up again. One. Two.
Oh, look, it's his cousin, Jimin. One, two, three. A new record.
It really would be something if his mother were to walk in on him fucking himself back on some big, burly man and sucking the cock of another. He thinks himself more of a top, but hey, bottoming is just as fun once in a while. Yes, he can picture a thousand different scenarios now; him riding someone's dick, maybe Namjoon, he gives off big dick vibe. Or perhaps with one of the guards, they're sure to have muscles strong enough to hold him up and fuck him against the wall.
His favorite fantasy, however, is getting bent over his mother's chair in the throne room, taking it up the ass diligently while he sucks the cock of another. She comes in, sees them, and positively dies of a heart attack.
He thinks if he were to top when she sees him in these deliciously offensive, and kind of gross, fantasies of his mother catching him with men and dying, that it would lessen the blow a bit. She'd tell him, what's so different about a vagina than an ass? You're just confused, my boy. Or something.
So he has to be the bottom, be the bitch in her eyes.
In all honesty, he doesn't wish for his mother to see him having vigorous sex with various men, he'd probably die of mortification, but it's nice to think about when he's in a really foul mood.
He and his mother have never been close, he decides. She's been distant ever since he was born, which was a mistake, really (one she never fails to remind him of). She'd tried everything to keep from getting pregnant, or so he's told. Special herbs and potions even considered doing something he's only heard rumors about, so grotesque and morbid he dare not utter them.
But his father had wanted another child, and when Jungkook was born, a beautiful baby boy, he was even more thrilled. She, not so much. She made his life a living hell. Jungkook's never had friends besides his personal advisor, Namjoon, and maybe that stable boy he'd kissed once or twice before he was hung for stealing.
The amount of work he does is insane, even for a crown prince, and it's all his mother's doing. She pushes extra classes, more work, more meetings, and more studying. Fills his days with work, work, work, study, study, study, work, work, work, repeat, so that he doesn't have time to do anything else. No playing with the friends he never made, no relaxing in the hot springs nor the gardens. Nothing. He can't even eat what he likes, she has him on some bullshit bland diet that eliminates sweets, diaries, and alcohol unless stated otherwise by herself.
He hasn't had something other than rice, boiled spinach, and fish in nearly a month.
Shoving the fantasies of his mother croaking, and any other pleasant (or unpleasant) thoughts to the back of his mind, for now, he continues this horribly dull game of counting as he wanders the castle.
The amount of paintings portraying his mother is frightening, so he chooses something else. Painting without his mother.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Oh! Look, how cute, a portrait of his younger brother, still in his diapers, and the hounds as puppies. Don't you just wanna squish their little vicious, flesh-eating faces~
He loves the hounds, actually. They're meant to guard the castle, keep outsiders out, eat the faces off of intruders smart enough to bypass guards and the daunting mote beneath them. And boy, do they take their jobs seriously. The amount of times he'd heard an overzealous maid try and pet them when they're sleeping, only to have their hand bitten off, is surprisingly high. You'd think that one time would let everyone know, don't touch them. They're vicious little beings with a taste for blood, but apparently not.
The hounds make an exception for him and Junghyun, though. They were practically raised by them, aside from the handlers that taught them to be so aggressive and guard-dog worthy.
They're about as harmless as a geriatric person without their teeth in cloth diapers when they're around the two boys. They roll over, begging to be pet, lick and cuddle with them. They sometimes like to play fetch with things, admittedly their favorite being dead ferrets and squirrels. And when it's not too cold out and in the summertime they like to play in the pounds outside, chasing after the koi and turtles.
They're great fun and he loves to snatch a few from their room, dubbed "Hellhound layer" by castle staff, and cuddle up with them at night.
He was so lost in thought that he slipped down a staircase he never noticed before, and all the way down. The stairs were wet, and when he opened his eyes again he finds himself face to face with a startled maid and a pale of soapy water. Well, that explains the wet stairs, he supposes.
"Um, sorry," He hesitantly starts and the woman positively screams. She jumps up and away from him, dripping sponge in hand and clutched to her chest. She nearly knocked over her pale in her haste to get away.
"P-prince Jungkook! I-I'm- please forgive me! I should have taken more care to ensure your safety, but I didn't and you've fallen because of it! It won't happen again, I promise, just please don't hang me!" The maid scrambles, bowing down so low his own back hurts just looking at it. She's got her eyes squeezed tightly and her hands quiver.
Jungkook rushes to assure her she did nothing wrong, that he was the one who wasn't paying attention, and that she can have the rest of the day off if she pleases. She scurries off, thanking him tearfully and spewing more apologies and promises to take better care next time, before disappearing behind a door he assumes is the maids' shared quarters.
Jungkook's never been down here before, he realizes with mild interest. Why would he, these are clearly the lower levels meant for servants and the like, someplace he clearly does not belong and, until just a few seconds ago, had no need to come down here.
He decides he has nothing better to do, Junghyun is away with his tutors on some trip meant to help him learn about nature and his mother is spending a suspicious amount of time behind closed doors.
He doesn't wish to think of what she may be up to. Probably figuring out ways to make his life worse, possibly picking up voodoo.
He strolls through the halls leisurely, smiling stiffly and waving to the servants that stop and gawk at him, and trying his best not to look too disgusted by the... Aroma. The servants quarters are underground, not as deep as the dungeons but only a tiny bit above them, thus meaning there aren't any windows.
And no windows means no way to air the rooms out. Which means this place has a stale, dusty, dirty aroma, kind of ironic with a bunch of maids living down here, he thinks as he tries to breathe through his mouth.
Oh god, that's even worse. Ew, I think I can taste the stench of dirty undergarments, oh gods this is too much- abort, abort!
Curiously satisfied, he scurries up the next flight of stares he can find and breathes a sigh of relief when he finds open windows and fresh, spring air. He slips out of his jacket which had gotten soaked from his little fall and lays it on the windowsill to dry. A servant will probably find it and return it, cleaned and dried, later.
Sniffing deeply, he finds something else, something even more pleasant than the smell of rain and wildflowers.
Jungkook follows the sweet aroma, his mouth salivating the closer he gets, and somehow finds himself in the kitchens; another place he hasn't been to since he was a young boy.
Servants and cooks ran around getting dinner prepared along with random jobs here and there. The room smelled delicious, filled with all the good, delicious foods he wasn't allowed to have, but there was one that stood out from the rest. That sweet, mouth-watering scent he'd followed here. It was his favorite dessert, he'd recognize that smell anywhere. He licks his lips before ultimately deciding to follow the sweet aroma.
No one seemed to notice the young prince as he slipped inside, walking along the walls as if it helped hide him, and made his way around the room stopping only to swipe a sweet roll or two.
How do they not notice their prince? How do they not notice their future king as he walks around with the commoners?
He thinks as he chews the delicious, and most importantly not vegan and very much sugar-filled, bread slowly. It doesn't bother him, though, they're all in a frenzy to get dinner ready in time for the queen and her sons. His father was away on business, but if he were here, they'd have to cook twice as much and prepare even more meals for Suransang. He hopes they like the small break.
A baker was especially busy making thousands of deserts; cakes, loaves of sweet bread, rolls, and various other treats such as songpyeon, yakshik, and bakkumi, trying to get them all finished for dinner in the next three hours. Jungkook watched him run around, grabbing this and that and bringing it back to the table where he was decorating a giant chocolate cake with delicate roses.
He had his brown hair falling into his eyes beneath his cute little baker's hat as he began piping flowers onto the cake with various colored frostings, his tongue poking out as he concentrated.
Jungkook studied his, rather handsome, face. Soft to the touch looking skin, a healthy golden glow to it reminiscent of honey. Plush, red lips like rose petals and a cute little collection of moles; like his very own constellation. He can see one on his nose, his bottom lip and left cheek. From this angle, he can also see one on his right eye, right in there by his waterline and curled lashes. One mono and one double lid, and sparkling brown eyes.
Jungkook never knew he could be so poetic, nor so descriptive, but damn does this man belong in the world of art and gods. He's like that Greek goddess he'd read about, Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. There was more, but he's too enthralled to recall just what the goddess was capable of at the moment.
It'll come to him later at night when he's trying to sleep, he bets.
Jungkook watched as the baker sighed, finally satisfied with his work, and stepped back to appreciate it better. Gently sucking his fingertips clean, not leaving a drop of the icing on them, he then carefully carries the cake and set it on a different counter, one filled with other completed treats, and Jungkook watched as he got more flour, yeast, and other things to make bread.
He passed the rolls that Jungkook had stolen two from and sighed loudly. "Alright! Who ate two of my rolls? Huh? I'm looking at you, Hyungsik." He states boldly pointing a spatula towards a heavy-set, and frankly scary looking, man that was stirring something in a pot. The man, Hyungsik, glared at Baker Boy, clearly not amused. "Are you sure? I mean come oooonnnn. It wouldn't be the first time judging by your looks, amiright big guy?" Hyungsik practically growls at Baker Boy, who puts his hands up in surrender, laughing.
"Alright, Alright, I believe you... But if not Hyungsik, then who?" Baker Boy looks around, tapping his fingers against his chin as he looks at everyone with scrutinizing eyes.
"Um, I was the one who took some of the rolls," Jungkook pipes up, voice quiet over the bustle of the kitchen but he must have heard because the next thing he knows, Baker Boy whirls around to meet Jungkook's gaze.
Baker Boy whistles, looking him up and down. He disregards the comment about the rolls, the little fiasco all forgotten at the moment. "You're far too fancy to be a kitchen worker, or any worker really, so you have to be... Maybe... Noblemen? Perhaps a Duke?" He asks, leaning casually against the countertop and giving Jungkook a smile. It was warm, bright, and beautiful, much like the man himself, despite being a bit odd. It was like a rectangle, his smile, but it seemed to fit him perfectly.
How does he not know what his own Prince looks like? How does he not know how his future king. And a duke? DUKE? Would a duke be able to afford clothing as fine as mine? I think not! I ought to slap him for speaking so casually to me, AND for assuming my rank be as low as a duke-
But then something washes over him, and he glances down at his clothes. He's dressed in only a white shirt, the sleeves long and billowing, cinched at the wrists with ties normally hidden beneath his finer layers. The bottom was tucked into a pair of black pants and a golden sash that shows off his waist. He can see now, without his crown or royal colors to help, that he could be mistaken for someone below him.
Besides, he hadn't been serious about punishing this beauty before him, that's more his mother's style (that vile creature, he thinks in the very deepest, the darkest crevice of his mind.).
Jungkook smiles and shakes his head, ready to correct him when Baker Boy (it's tiring to refer to him as 'baker boy', so he's concluded 'BB' will suffice for now. At least until he can get this gem's name) interrupts him easily, looking Jungkook up and down as he speaks, "I mean your clothes are very fine,"
Yes, he supposes they are, "And you do look rather proper," well, I'd certainly hope so, I am the prince, after all, he thinks as he watches the baker tap his chin in thought.
"So you'd have to be either a duke or something higher," higher, yes. Much, much higher, "But we all know our prince is far too busy with god knows what to be down in here. And even if he wasn't busy with, I don't know, looking in the mirror and admiring his face or something, he would never come down here and talk with us commoners." BB says that last part with bitter malice, surprising Jungkook slightly. But, that was beside the point, BB had basically said Jungkook was a spoiled, narcissistic, and basically useless prince. It wasn't said directly, but it was heavily implied, Jungkook can feel it. Jungkook shouldn't let him get away with this, no matter how forgiving and lenient he is with servants. Jungkook-
Jungkook wasn't particularly upset by this, and he is rather bored, so he decided to let it slide this once. That and he wanted to see how long it took BB to find out who he was. His face was plastered around the halls, not nearly as much as his mother, but he definitely had an impressive number of portraits.
"Yeah, I'm a Duke or something higher..." Jungkook finally spoke up again, and BB nodded, squinting at him. Assessing him.
The prince felt oddly warm beneath his gaze, a pleasant feeling that made his fingers tingle and his heart rate quicken. "Hmm... Are you a prince, perhaps?" Jungkook smirked, maybe he finally caught on. "OH! I know who you are!" About time, "You're the prince-" Yes, Yes I am-
"-s cousin!." yes, that's right! I am- wait, I'm-I'm who's cousin?
"Yeah! You're Prince Jungkook's cousin! Prince of wherever you're from! What on earth are you doing down here?" BB asks, suddenly excited.
He truly thought he'd figured out who Jungkook was. Swallowing, Jungkook contemplated telling him just who he really was, but then he thought back to the malice in the boy's voice when he spoke of the crown prince earlier, and decided against it. Baker Boy would surely turn sour once he knew just whom he was truly talking to, and Jungkook really didn't want that. He wanted to keep this man's attention on him as long as he'll give it, wanted to get closer and get to know him better.
He can't do that as Jeon Jungkook, crown Prince of Jusan. He had to be Park Jimin, prince of Pageu.
So, he played along, even if he got a sick feeling at lying to this man... But surely it wouldn't hurt anyone, right? He'll tell him at the end of the day, he assures himself.
"I was bored," Jungkook said simply and BB nods, boxy smile coming to form on his face.
"Well, I'm almost finished here if you'd like to wait, I could show you around. I know some great places and I know how to have a good time." Baker Boy says, and Jungkook makes a face.
"I'm not so sure-"
"Aw come on! It'll be good for you! You and all your princely duties, I'm sure you don't get much time to just relax and have fun! I promise I don't bite," Baker Boy says, winking at Jungkook, who swears he heard him mutter something along the lines of "Unless you want me to," under his breath, but when he asked the baker denied saying anything, so he could've imagined it.
Jungkook hesitated for a moment before he shrugged again saying, "I mean I guess I don't really have anything else to do at the moment,"
Turns out Jungkook didn't really have anything else to do at the moment, for four more days.
He hadn't meant to let it go this far, he really hadn't, but Baker Boy treated him differently than everyone else, and the prince was having so much fun and his mother was still ignoring him as she... Did whatever it was she does with whomever she wishes so Jungkook was still on break from his duties, classes, and forced blind dates.
Because of this, he would spend practically every spare second with Baker Boy, who he learned was called Taehyung. He would hang out in the kitchens while Taehyung worked, getting to eat the delicious treat that brought him to the angel in the first place, Yakgwa, leaving his fingers sticky with honey and a sweet after taste. He would play and do dumb, normal stuff with him when the baker wasn't working, either.
The weird thing is, Taehyung still hadn't noticed Jungkook was the Prince, and if any of the servants or kitchen staff did, Jungkook would put a finger to his lips, the universal gesture to shut up, so they couldn't tell the clueless boy. He liked the freedom he had with Taehyung and knew if he found out about who Jungkook truly is, a lot of that freedom would be gone.
He knew he needed to tell him eventually, that it wasn't right to keep this from him, but every day it seemed harder and harder to tell him. The smiles, the teasing remarks, and lingering touches, would he still give them once he found out Jungkook isn't who he thought he is? Jungkook wasn't sure, and he was feeling a bit cowardly when he admitted he was afraid to find out himself.
Taehyung and Jungkook were sitting on the ledge of a window, legs dangling over the edge and if they were to slip, or fall, they would most definitely break some bones. It should scare him, a least a little, to be so close to possible death but he finds himself relishing in the feeling instead. He can kick his feet and feel like he's floating and the spring breeze is warm and comforting, just like the body pressed close to his own.
Taehyung passed him more yakgwa, and he bites into the golden flaky, sticky sweetness with a hum. The subtle ginger and the crunch pine nuts on top just tie it all together so wonderfully, he decides as he devours the whole thing. He's passed two more with a soft chuckle, too soft as if it were filled with adoration.
"Do you think we'll ever be able to go into space?" Taehyung asked and Jungkook wanted to snort because really, What an absurd question.
"No. How would we manage? Use a giant catapult and chuck people out of the stratosphere? I doubt they'd survive long enough to even appreciate the view..." There a second of silence, Taehyung chewing the sticky treat slowly, looking out at the grounds below. There was a family of swans on the lake, he notes lazily. "Why? Do you think we will?" Jungkook asked, picking up his yakgwa from the pile on his lap and plopping it into his mouth, letting out an appreciative moan.
They were just so good, why were they so good?
"I don't know. Maybe. I mean It would be cool. Imagine it, flying up into space, exploring the unknown, maybe even walking on a planet! It all sounds so amazing..." Taehyung replied, snatching candy from Jungkook's pile and stuffing it in his mouth before Jungkook could protest. Jungkook playfully shoved him with his shoulder, smiling.
His chest was filled with this warm, happy feeling that he hasn't felt before, but every time he reaches out to it, it's like it's gone. Hiding from him. Dancing just out of reach and taunting him until he can figure out what it is himself.
"Tae, don't you think that's a little unrealistic? I mean how on earth is someone going to manage to fly to space? Much less walk on a planet?" Jungkook asked, and BB shrugged.
"Yew neva know, wha cof hawpennnn!" Taehyung chirped happily around his mouthful of candy, and Jungkook makes a face. He ignores Jungkook's scolding for being so rude ("It's not only rude," Jungkook cried, watching in horror as Taehyung smeared the sticky honey all over his face. "it's kind of gross, too!" Taehyung just raises an eyebrow, teasing and speaks around his mouthful once again, "mhat's groff?").
Taehyung thankfully ceases his teasing and swallows before continuing,
"I mean imagine it.. Walking on, say, the moon! I know it's most likely never going to happen, but come on, you can't say it doesn't sound cool!"
When Jungkook looks over at him, the way Taehyung stared up at the moon, visible even during the afternoon today, with those sparkling chocolate eyes, he feels that tingling, warm sensation in his chest again. This time, he doesn't try to search for it, try and understand it, he just relishes in the feeling.
When Taehyung feels his gaze and turns towards him, a questioning smile on his beautiful, tanned face and the feeling intensifies, Jungkook has a sneaking sensation he just might know what that feeling is.
But that's for another day, he thinks and shoots the baker a smile in return before forcibly shoving a big handful of the candy into his mouth, cheeks puffing up like a bunny, and feels proud when he causes laughter to bubble up from Taehyung's throat.
Yeah, he can ponder on this new feeling some other time, he decides. For now, he'll just let it be.
8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
It's been about a week and a half since his blooming friendship with Taehyung, and he's feeling guilty and guiltier as the days go by and he doesn't tell Taehyung his secret.
Right now, they're in the gardens and the sun is bound to set soon, but they could care less. Taehyung pulls Jungkook, pulls Jimin, by the hand through the winding maze with a giggle.
God, Jungkook loves that giggle, loves everything about Taehyung. Probably likes Taehyung himself, a bit too much. He doesn't think on that particular insight for too long, not ready to face it. Too afraid to.
"Come on, Jiminie!" He squeals as he turns a corner, letting out a laugh when it's a dead end. Jungkook pretends his heart doesn't plummet to the ground at the name, pretends to, but it still does.
Biting back a bitter sigh, he drags Taehyung around a different corner, coming up to a fork in the bushes. He tugs the baker to the right side and lets out a weak chuckle when they come to another dead end, but this time there's a bench to sit on and a little alcove with hanging lavender. It's pretty, like Taehyung, and he drags them over to it.
"Wah, it's so beautiful," Taehyung comments quietly as he reaches up to touch one of the hanging purple flowers, delicate, slender fingers touching equally delicate petals.
Jungkook's heart rate spikes when Taehyung turns his eyes towards him, his usual blinding smile has gotten softer now, and that makes the tingling and butterflies to come back full-force.
Shit, he really has it bad, huh? He thinks, finally accepting that he may be, possibly, perhaps living with a tiny (big) crush on the baker.
"Oh look, 'minie! The sun is setting!" He drags Jungkook away from the alcove, and his tiny (big) epiphany, and over towards the bench. He plops down on the bench, pulling Jungkook down with him, and cranes his neck to look up at the sunset over the hedges in front of them.
The sky is melting into a painting of pinks, oranges, reds and at the top blues and purples. It's beautiful, and he decides this is his chance to tell Taehyung.
"Listen, um, Taehyung, I have to tell you something,"
"Hey, Jimin, can I ask you something silly?"
They both pause surprised the other spoke at the same time as them, and then chuckle.
"You go first," Jungkook urges, palms sweaty and heart rate quickening. He licks his lips nervously as Taehyung asks him something silly, absurd, like if he believes there are rabbits on the moon like the stories say, and if plants can feel things like we do. But then, he asks in a softer voice, less sure of himself, "When are you going back, Jimin?"
"Back? Back where?" Jungkook asks, brows drawn in as he looks over at the baker who's stubbornly staring at the darkening sky.
"Back to Paseu, of course. You can't stay here forever, surely... Can you?" Taehyung's eyes are sparkling, and the sunset basks him in a pink glow. it's beautiful. He's beautiful.
And he's going to hate him. Hate him for lying to him for so long, for lying to him at all.
Jungkook doesn't blame him, he sort of hates himself too, right now. Because this is going to be so, so hard to say.
"About that, Taehyung, I haven't been entirely truthful with you," Jungkook says with a wince, and now it's his turn to stubbornly stare at the sky. The sun has set completely now, and the sky seems to thrum as it darkens. He keeps his eyes peeled for a star so that he can wish on it.
He really needs a wish right now.
"Wha-what do you mean? Jimin?"
That fucking name, Jungkook curses in his brain.
"That's just it, Taehyung... I, I'm not Jimin." He begins and pretends not to notice Taehyung stiffen beside him, not to notice the subtle way he shifts a bit farther down the bench.
Pretends, pretends, pretends. He's been doing a lot of that recently.
"I've wanted to tell you, and I hadn't meant to lie to you for so long, but I just. I was worried you'd hate me and leave and you're my only friend and I was just-" He takes a deep breath, eyes catching the first star he sees tonight. He chants "starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight, wish I may wish I might get this wish, I wish tonight." In his head before silently wishing for everything to be alright. "I was scared and cowardly." He finishes, and he knows he's dancing around the topic, beating around the bush as they say, but he can't help it. He rambles when he's nervous, and he's so nervous right now.
"Who-who are you?" Taehyung's soft, quiet voice startles him and he closes his eyes, tight.
"I'm Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook," He whispers just as quietly and his voice shakes but neither comment on it.
Taehyung sucks in a sharp breath and stands up. He's pacing around the bench when Jungkook opens his eyes, and he cringes when he sees tears form in the baker's chocolate irises.
"You- the whole time I-" Taehyung's voice is as shaky and broken as Jungkook feels, and it prompts the prince to speak-
"I'm so sorry, it's just the first day I thought it was funny you didn't recognize me so I played along but then your hatred for me became less funny and more daunting as the day went on and I didn't want you to hate me, so I kept pretending to be Jimin but then one day turned into four and four into a week and I was in too deep and I cared for you too much and I was just-" Jungkook looks away when those beautiful, haunting eyes snap up to glare at him. He doesn't want to see the pain and hurt he's caused, the hatred. "I'm sorry." He finishes weakly, kicking at a pebble on the ground.
It's quiet for many moments, the sky now completely dark, the crickets chirping the only sound. Taehyung takes a shuddering breath, before walking over and hitting Jungkook over the head.
The prince was so shocked, he nearly fell over but managed to just barely catch himself on the concrete bench. "I deserved that," He says with wide eyes as Taehyung steps around the bench and closer to him.
He doesn't try to stop the baker when he hits his chest repeatedly, nor does he fight back. He deserves this, he thinks.
"You stupid, stupid boy." Taehyung sniffles, tears falling like diamonds from those pretty, pretty eyes. "You stupid, idiotic boy. You made me feel things for you. Made me think you were going to leave me behind, with all stupid, foolish fantasies and wants."
Wait, what?
"Taehyung, what?" Jungkook whispers, hands grabbing the other's wrists, ceasing the hitting just for a moment. He's so confused, it almost sounds as if,
"I care for you, you big, lying, blundering idiot!" Taehyung whispers hoarsely, hands slipping out of Jungkook's hold to wrap around his neck. Hesitant, unsure, searching. Jungkook places his own hands on his hips, relief flooding his system and the fear washed away by a giddy, warm feeling.
Like. His brain supports, like him so much.
"I like you, so much, Taehyung... But, aren't you mad at me?"
"A little, but I'm mostly relieved I can do this without worry of you leaving me behind," Taehyung whispers and leans in to brush his lips against Jungkook's. The prince has only done this a grand total of, maybe six times with that stable boy, back when he was teen and questioning his sexuality.
Taehyung doesn't kiss him, just brushes his lips carefully, like a whisper, and looks up into his eyes.
Jusan is one of the only kingdoms known to have fireflies around here, and tonight is no exception. The little bugs flicker all around them, illuminating the bushes alongside the moonlight.
It's like something out of those silly fairy tales Taehyung loves so much, picture perfect, really. "Can I kiss you?" Taehyung asks and Jungkook gulps. He should say no, he needs to, but he doesn't think he can. He tries his best.
"We shouldn't," He croaks, fingers gripping Taehyung's slender waist tighter.
"Why not?" The baker whispers lashes fluttering cutely and fuck, he has cute little freckles, too. God have mercy on him.
"I'm the prince, Taehyung. I can't be with you." He pleads, trying to be the voice of reason but it's just so hard when Taehyung wets his rose petal lips, making them shiny and prettier. If that's even possible.
"Can't or don't want to?" His voice has taken a defensive tone, one Jungkook knows all too well.
"Can't, Taehyung. You're a man, I'm a man. They won't understand, they'll try and hurt us. And, to add fuel to that enormous fire, you're a commoner. A baker, Taehyung, I'm a royal. Even if they accepted us for being gay, they'd never accept us being together." Jungkook's words ring harsh and true, but neither seems to care too much. Liking someone does strange things to you.
"We'll be careful. Even if we have to hide, I want to be with you, Jungkook. I like you, so, so much. You like me too, right?" Taehyung's eyes are wide and searching, and how could Jungkook ever even pretend he didn't feel some sort of way for this boy. He's not going to lie or pretend, anymore. Not with Taehyung, he decides.
"Of course." He says with such confidence Taehyung feels giddy and shy, "So, so much. More than I've ever liked anyone or anything, I think," He mutters the last bit and it's frightening just how true the words are. Taehyung's eyes go soft at the confession, and he smiles a little bit, relieved and touched.
"So, can I kiss you?" Taehyung asks quietly and his voice sounds so good right now, all low, quiet and deep. It sends chills of anticipation down his spine and he can't deny it again. The prince nods, doe eyes blinking nervously.
When those plush, rose tinted lips touch his, Jungkook's sure he blacks out for just a moment. It's like the world slows down around him and all there is, is Taehyung and himself. Just the two of them, no one else, no labels or rules, no 'commoner' or 'royal', just, them.
Jungkook thinks he likes this, likes being just them, together. He pulls Taehyung closer and smiles against his lips.
Yeah, this is nice.
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Taehyung and Jungkook get much closer over the next few weeks. It's filled with stolen glances in hallways, chaste kisses behind curtains and in alcoves. They go back to that place in the maze, drawing a map from the window of Jungkook's room, the only room with a clear a view of the maze, and at night they sneak out to kiss, talk, and sometimes eat treats Taehyung's made.
Tonight they're in Jungkook's room, though, Taehyung snuck in late at night during guard shift. They're snuggled up on the prince's floor Jungkook's fur blanket wrapped around them as they sit before the fire. Despite being early spring, it still gets cold outside, bone-chilling lose a toe kind of cold, but Taehyung insisted on having the window open for some reason.
Taehyung's laid down between the prince's legs, back pressed to his chest and their hands intertwined on his thigh. The baker uses his other hand to mess with Jungkook's fingers as if they're something precious and special.
"What's going to happen?" Taehyung prompts, breaking the silence, and Jungkook peers down at his head. His hair is fluffy and has some flour in it, chuckling, the prince moves to shake it out. He absently rakes his fingers through the silky locks as he ponders what Taehyung means.
Taehyung hums when the fingers scratch at his scalp, leaning into the touch and whining when he pulls away, only stopping when Jungkook starts scratching and petting again.
"What do you mean?" Jungkook whispers, the quiet of the room almost suffocating (but in a nice way) and forcing him to be quiet, as well.
"To us. The world. The war," The baker responds in a breath, eyes staring straight into the fire and unblinking. Jungkook nibbles on his lip nervously, almost tempted to turn the boy around in his hold but he hadn't wanted to break the comfortable atmosphere.
"What war? There's no war, Tae," Jungkook responds instead, eyes tracing the plethora of moles on the honey skin he can see peeking out from beneath his shirt and blanket.
"Maybe not yet, but soon. You've heard the whispers, the rumors. Your own father is away because of them, Jungkook. Surely you can't pretend something isn't going on..." Taehyung reasons and Jungkook doesn't deny it.
Something is going on, with his mother, with them, with his father and with the whispers and rumors. Something's going on with the whole country.
But Jungkook's being kept in the dark. Deliberately. By everyone around him, and it's frustrating to no end because isn't he meant to rule this damned country when he's older?! Why is it that they're sheltering him from this, hiding and lying and giving him breaks?! He hasn't had a break since he was maybe seven!
But he doesn't say any of that, instead, he responds with "We're going to be fine," he says jumping back to the first question. Taehyung doesn't comment on how he avoided his last one, and he's thankful for that. "We're going to cuddle, and kiss, and hold hands. Eat candy and play until I have to go back to my duties, but then we'll just have to get crafty with meeting up." He shrugs, ceasing Taehyung's nervous fiddling with his fingertips to instead interlock their hands together.
"And the world, who knows, but you're in it so it can't be too bad. I mean, if you're here then that must mean angels are walkin' among men, no? Seems pretty ideal to me," Taehyung giggles weakly, turning around in his hold but he doesn't meet his eyes. Instead, the baker stares at his chest instead. "Hey, talk to me, what's wrong? Why the sudden concern, love?" He whispers as his fingers curl under his chin, gently lifting the baker's head up to look at him.
Taehyung nibbles on his bottom lip and Jungkook gently thumbs at it until he stops. The baker ends up breaking eye contact to look at his fur blanket now discarded on the ground. His fingers mess with it.
A shrug. "I 'unno... I guess I'm just worried, you know? Like what if there really is going to be a war, and then you'll have to leave, and you'll get hurt and I'll be all alone and die of heartbreak or something." He's talking casually, but the prince can see just how much this upsets and worried him. It's written in the way his eyebrows furrowed, the way his lip looks red and bloodied from all his nervous nibbling. His eyes are downcast but they're ridden with anxiety and uncertainty.
"I would never leave you, Taehyung. Even if I did have to go, I'd force myself to survive and endure just so I can come back to you." Jungkook promises, but he can see it does little to ease the worry. "I love you, and those are all hypothetical, let's not worry for something we aren't sure is certain. Let's worry, for now, this very moment."
"I love you too," Taehyung mutters, finally looking back up at him with a tiny flush. "Can we worry for now on the bed? I'm cold and feeling needy," He chuckles weakly but Jungkook just nods and lifts the boy up. The baker lets out a startled yelp, hands scurrying to find leverage on his shoulders and he wraps his legs around his waist.
Jungkook's suddenly glad for all his hard training sessions, all the weight they had him pull and lift because he can now carry a full-grown, albeit thin and tiny, man with ease. Jungkook doesn't miss the way Taehyung's pupils dilate, the way he wets his lips and shifts his hips a little.
He stores that little tidbit of information in his brain for later, promising to come back to it when he's alone or, even better, with the boy intimately, but right now he wants to just cuddle and snuggle the sweetest boy he knows.
He leans in to peck the baker's lips sweetly before laying him on the silk sheets. Taehyung rolls around on them, marveling at how soft they are, and he walks back to grab the heavy, thick fur blanket. The fire is dying down but he'd asked his maids, and Namjoon, to leave him be for the rest of the night. He didn't want any interruptions or unwanted eyes prying into his lo- like-like life (God, he feels like he's fourteen again and asking if that stable boy, like-liked him enough to try kissing).
When he turns back around Taehyung has inched himself, much like a worm, around the bed and struggled underneath the covers until only a tiny tuft of hair can be seen. With a soft smile, he throws the blanket over the lump and slips in beside the boy he like-likes very much.
He snuggles down deep until he's underneath the covers with him, and he can't really see Taehyung very well, but he can make out his lips and eyes, which is enough.
"Want to stay the night?" He whispers to Taehyung's hair, the baker had smiled cutely at him and all but thrown himself on the prince, legs intertwining his own and head tucked beneath his chin. The brunette played with the drawstring on his nightshirt, looking very shy.
"Can I?" He whispers back, breath fanning against the royal's clavicle and it's so warm and he's so warm and god, he like-like-likes this boy very, very, very much.
"Of course," He smiles into those soft locks that smell like strawberries and candies. He loves the way Taehyung smells, he smells like home to him, which is surprising because he has never felt at home here.
Maybe with his six-year-old brother, Junghyun, but this is different, he thinks. A different home, one he can feel safe and let his guard down around.
"You'll have to leave early, though, during guard shift if you want to be unseen." He continues, and Taehyung hums tiredly. He pushes back just enough to look up at him and kiss him long, deep, and sweetly.
They separate only when Taehyung has to let out a particularly impressive yawn. "I think it's time to sleep, Tae," He murmurs softly around a smile, one that only widens when the baker looks up sleepily and pouts. "Don't wanna, I wanna kiss," He sluggishly, and adorable, might Jungkook add, pushes his lips out and goes into kissing him.
Only to miss and plant a big, kind of sloppy, kiss to Jungkook's chin. The prince bursts out into quiet giggles and so does the baker, who apologizes and relents that he was indeed sleepy. Jungkook presses a chaste but sweet peck to his lips and tugs him into a tight embrace.
There, they fall asleep curled around one another and being lulled by their combined heartbeats.
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Jungkook's woken up by a loud bang on the door, and then someone barging in. He rubs at his sleep-filled eyes, blinking up at Kim Namjoon, his personal adviser, the makeshift butler of sorts, and probably the closest thing to a friend he has. He's very confused because normally, and by normally he means always, you have to knock and wait to be let in any royal chambers. He doesn't quite get why the man would just burst in like that unannounced, but he's too tired and drowsy to really question it fully.
"Hyung? What are you doing, what time is it?" He looks up and over at the windows and is shocked to see the sun hasn't even properly risen yet. "Why are you here so early?" He asks and turns back to the elder but Namjoon was just gawking at his bed. Confused, he turns and lets out a startled yelp when he sees Taehyung's still asleep beside him. Of course, he would be, guard shift isn't until six-am, he still had around two hours of good sleep before he had to leave.
At his squawk of surprise, the baker stirs before slowly blinking an eye open. Once he wakes up enough he gives Jungkook a soft, happy smile. "Hey," He croaks and god, his voice is even deeper, huskier and sexier in the mornings, Lord have mercy on my dick a prince can only take so much sexual attraction to one being my god.
His sleep shirt, one he borrowed from Jungkook because his other was covered in chocolate and flour, has slipped off one shoulder to reveal his collarbones, and god they're such pretty collarbones, he's so pretty.
Jungkook forces himself out of the never-ending, winding hole that's called 'Taehyung appreciation' and licks his lips. He nervously gestures towards his adviser, who was still slack-jawed and rooted to the floor. He'd dropped a scroll or two in his shock and they rolled around until hitting a chair leg and just lay there.
"What? What is it?" Taehyung mutters groggily as he blinks sleepily and turns in the direction of Jungkook's outstretched finger. "Oh shit!" The baker curses and scrambled to cover himself up.
"J-Jungkook, what is the meaning of this?" Namjoon whispers, but when he looks at Jungkook there isn't any disgust or rage like he'd expected, instead, there was just genuine confusion. Why, was there a man in his bed? Why was there anyone in his bed?
"Um, this is Taehyung, my um," He flounders, not sure what to call the boy but Taehyung pipes up beneath the covers softly, "Boyfriend."
"Y-yeah, my boyfriend." Jungkook swallows the giddy feeling he gets at calling Taehyung his boyfriend and covertly grabs said boyfriend's hand underneath the covers and squeezes.
Taehyung squeezes back gently, eyes blinking up at Namjoon.
I'm holding my boyfriend's hand oh my god, I have a boyfriend oh my god-
"R-right. Okay, we'll need to discuss this later, right now there's no time. You have to get up and get dressed, there's been an emergency council meeting, my prince."
"Emergency council meeting? Whatever for?" He questions as he tumbles from his sheets in his haste. He scrambles towards his wardrobe and throws on the first things he can get a hold of.
"Um, I'm not allowed to speak of said matters around... Bakers, my lord," He says eyeing the ruined baker apron, hat, and shirt that Taehyung had stripped and traded out for the loose fitting briefs and shirt.
Jungkook glares at Namjoon, who shrugs as if to say, "well, am I lying?" and turns around. He hands Jungkook his crown, and the prince begrudgingly takes it. Heavy, gaudy thing. He hates it but he has to wear it to official settings such as council meetings and balls, things such as that.
Taehyung blushes but nods in understanding. "Go on, I'll leave here at guard shift and we'll see each other later, okay?"
Jungkook, still not convinced, rushes over and pecks his lips despite Namjoon being right there. The elder shuffles a bit before he kindly looks the other way, only clearing his throat after they've kissed for longer than strictly necessary.
"Right, I'll see you later," He promises and leaves with Namjoon, still fixing the sash around his waist and his crown nearly toppling off his head.
"Namjoon, what's this really about?" Jungkook whispered as he caught the falling crown before it could land, still racing through the halls with his adviser.
A deep, tired, heaving sigh.
"War, Jungkook."
A pin drop in the distance so loud his ears rang.
"This is about war."
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Chapter one, fin.
Glossary:
Yakgwa (약과)-
(Honey Pastry)
This sweet pastry is made into layers, deep-fried and soaked in a rich ginger and honey syrup
(I like to think of it as Korean Baklava hehe)
Songpyeon (송편)
Songpyeon is a traditional Korean food made of rice powder. It is a type of tteok, small rice cakes, traditionally eaten during the Korean autumn harvest festival, Chuseok. It became a popular symbol of traditional Korean culture.
Bukkumi (Pan-fried Rice Cake Dumplings with Sweet Red Beans)-
These rice cake dumplings are stuffed with sweet red bean paste and then lightly pan-fried in oil to create a crispy crust with a soft, chewy inside. For a more festive look, they used to decorate them with fresh edible flowers or leaves.
Surasang (royal table)-
Surasang was what they referred to the King's table as. Surasang, or royal table, should be served with three tables and a hotpot. The largest round table at the right upper corner is the main table which contains the main bowl, soups, and stews, dishes, side dishes, and fermented stored dishes. The small round table at the left upper corner contains red Sura, Gomtang or thick meat broth, dessert, tea, empty dishes, and bowls. This table is also used to store the covers of bowls and dishes used in the main table. The rectangular table in the right lower corner contains eggs, sesame oil, various raw vegetables, and several sauces. The hotpot at the left lower corner is heated with charcoal, and usually contains Jeongol such as Sinseollo. This also includes the twelve different side dishes always prepared with each meal.
Kings generally ate five meals a day as well here's a snippet from my research-
("How many meals did the Korean kings have a day? Records indicate that they had five meals a day which was called Surasang, or Royal Table. Early in the morning, they had a small bowl of Juk (gruel), regular breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snack or meal (related story on page 11).
Early in the morning the kings also had herb medicinal meal or Mieum (thin rice gruel) instead of Juk, breakfast at around 10 o'clock in the morning, dinner at around 5 in the afternoon and lunch between breakfast and dinner. For the late-night snack, the kings had Yaksik (flavored glutinous rice), Sikhye ('rice punch' or sweet drink made from fermented rice or) and/or milk gruel.")
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A/N:
Hello! Very happy to be back! So Sorry I went all MIA and stuff, but I'm back for now and I've got more content to share so yaaaayyy~
Chapter 2 will be posted sometime either later tonight or definitely by tomorrow, it's already all written out I just need to edit it here on FF to fit the site's style of formatting a bit better, add in all the italics and what not. Chapter three later this week if all goes to plan, and chapter four the next.
I'm thinking this will be around six chapters, ten at the most (unless I get really inspired, so nothing is certain that's just my main idea/thoughts).
Thank you for stopping by and giving this a read. :)
Comments and favorites breathe life into me. Literally.
Thank you to everyone who stuck by this story for this long and PMed, commented and all that good stuff asking for more content, you're the ones who really kicked me in the butt to get going again! Love you all, purple hearts all around!
Hugs, MC.
This is an unrelated kind of p.s thing- Boy with Luv is such a great song, the whole album is amazing I loved it, but the mv was just so cute I died. Especially at the end where they all yelled "BOY WITH LUV" and smiled I melted right then and there. Also, super excited for SNL tonight and everything that comes with the comeback. Comeback and Award show seasons are my favorites I swear...
That's all~ Bye.