Chapter four: At least I can smile when I see you.
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Slight NSFW near the end of the chapter. Just some kissing, but just for the sake of it, I thought I'd add it in case. ;)
We've all been there, sitting in public trying to hide our phones when a particularly heated scene comes up.
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Prince Seokjin took a deep breath and stepped out of the carriage. The smell of sea salt and wet sand is what first hits him. The cliffs behind the enormous castle and being battered by the harsh waters of Jusan. The courtyard he was standing in was pleasant enough, the man thinks as he straightens his suit and cloak that had become rumpled and disheveled with the long travel from Seocheon all the way to Jusan. It was surprisingly cold here for being spring, but he supposes the climates are different, perhaps winter lasts longer here by the cold waters than in the comfortable wine fields of his home.
"It's cold," A voice behind him comments quietly, in that almost silent murmur his sister always possessed. Seokjin has had years of practice to hear her, but the rest of the world had not. He can only hope she'll think to raise her voice when speaking with Prince Jeon… Or anyone else here, really.
Seokjin hums and turns back around, offering his arm for Jisoo to hold onto whilst exiting the carriage. "Ah, but it's refreshing, no?" He comments as her dainty fingers clutch his forearm, watching the way she ducks her hooded head down so not to hit it. Her heels almost slipped on mud and puddle slicked steps. Seokjin's reflexes made him shoot his other hand out to grab her shoulder to steady her. "Be careful." He scolds lightly as he cranes his neck to peek under her hood and isn't surprised to find her cheeks tinted pink in embarrassment.
"Shut up, idiot." She murmurs and he chuckles a bit as she finally puts both feet on the floor and releases her hold on him. "Are you sure they'll be okay with us coming early?" Jisoo asks softly as the driver pulls their carriage towards the stables, their bags probably already being sent up to their rooms.
"Mmm… Probably not, but we are guests. Very important guests and to add to that, we are political friends and allies. They have to at least act like they're okay with us coming here so early." The elder states as they head towards where the royal family of Jusan was scurrying out to welcome them properly.
Seokjin's eyes scanned the rows of people lining the walkway, staff and royal family alike, and found his gaze hesitating on a single form. The man had his head bowed respectfully, despite the siblings nowhere near him, and Seokjin noted the way his fists were tightened around his cloak.
Then his eyes left the man and instead landed on the last Jeon to come out. Jeon Jungkook was walking towards them, his head raised high but his eyes were trained on the line of servants. Seokjin watched the way Jungkook subtly craned his neck back for all of a millisecond towards the kitchen staff before he snapped his head back forward and took his place by his brother and mother. It was so quick Seokjin wasn't sure if he'd really seen it or if he'd imagined it.
"Kim Seokjin, Kim Jisoo, what a pleasant surprise. We weren't expecting you for some time yet," Queen Leana croons kindly, smile not quite reaching her eyes. "If we had known you'd be here, we would have prepared better."
"It was a surprise for us as well. Our father sent us out so soon because I will be needed back home a lot sooner than we had anticipated, therefore we needed to come a lot sooner as well." Seokjin murmured once close enough to the family. They bowed to each other in greeting but Seokjin was looking at the crown prince.
Jungkook was politely bowing towards them, but his eyes were trained on the hooded figure of his sister. His gaze was filled with interest and wonder.
"I trust you had a pleasant trip?" The younger questions kindly, eyes never leaving Jisoo's form.
Seokjin's sister hums from in the folds of her fabric, and he can tell she is eyeing her betrothed in mild interest as well. Her form had stiffened and her hands were clutching her cloak tightly. "Yes, thank you, your highness." She says and does a curtsey. "I hope we haven't troubled you or your family with our early arrival."
"No, no! We were eagerly awaiting your presence anyway, so it is actually quite well that you've come here earlier than intended. Puts our minds at ease knowing you've made it here without trouble or accident." Jungkook comments with a half-smile, and the queen nods her head in approval at him.
Seokjin laughs and they all greet each other for a bit longer before eventually they are led inside. They're offered dinner to which they politely decline, asking instead to be led to their chambers. Seokjin is on the opposite wing from his sister who was almost right across the hall from prince Jungkook's chambers. Not by coincidence, he's sure.
"If he tries anything with you, just holler and I'll come running across the wings to kick his little royal ass," He whispers out of the corner of his mouth to Jisoo, warily watching Jungkook as he politely opens the door to her chambers and waits for her to go inside.
If Jisoo snorts rather unlady-like, no one but Seokjin is the wiser.
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Seokjin had just made it back to his rooms, having stopped by the library to pick up some light reading (he was surprised, pleasantly, but still very much shocked to find some homo-erotica hidden behind some rather boring arachnid study books) for his stay here when he bumped into someone in the halls.
"Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't looking where I was going," The person rushes out in a familiar tone. Seokjin's eyes were closed for he bumped his tailbone pretty hard on the cobblestone floors and it stung quite a bit.
"No, no. I am the one who should be sorry, I had my nose stuck in a book and wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. I should have been more careful, especially since these halls are still so foreign and new to me." Seokjin assures, opening his eyes to an offered hand, one he takes greatly.
The feeling of the other's hand in his own was oddly right. There was no other way to explain it, his fingers slid in perfectly with the others as if they were two puzzle pieces. The other person's hand was a bit rough but not unpleasant compared to Seokjin's soft, smooth, manicured hands. His palm was warm but it sent shivers down his spine all the same.
It was a rather intense hand-holding session if you asked the prince.
Seokjin blinks rapidly before looking up into the face of the stranger, only to find out they weren't a stranger at all. Heart racing and palms beginning to sweat he pulls his hand out of the hold rather abruptly and almost trips over himself in his haste to step away.
Kim Namjoon looked thinner than he'd last seen him, baby fat melted off to reveal his sharp edges. His eyes had bags under them, so deep and dark the prince almost winced at the sight of them. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked dazed, his robes rumpled but they were still finer than anything he used to wear. His hair once sun-bleached and soft now looked so dark Seokjin wondered if he ever went outside, falling into his eyes when he looked down. His usual healthy honey skin was also dull and pale, beyond anything Seokjin ever thought was possible.
"N-Namjoon," Seokjin breathes out in a stutter, the advisor before him paling rapidly as the realization sinks in. He looked so sickly, it worried him.
"Your Highness," Namjoon breathes out and it sounds so pained, so vulnerable it makes his heartache. He did that, he made this man like this. Or was it Namjoon who broke him? Time has blurred the lines, perhaps they're both to blame. "Please excuse me, I did not realize it was you whom I ran into. I would not have acted the way I did had I realized." He bows in apology.
It's so stiff, so impersonal and it all just feels so wrong. "It's quite alright, Namjoon-"
"Mr. Kim, or Advisor Kim is quite alright, your highness." Namjoon interrupts, his head still lowered in respect, and Seokjin's jaw drops for all of six seconds before he snaps it shut and looks off toward the windows. The sun has settled behind the mountains and the sound of the waves seems unusually annoying as of now.
"Ah. Right. Of course, please excuse me, Advisor Kim. I'm still a bit tired from my long travels and must have forgotten myself." Namjoon's hands, hidden beneath his long robe sleeves, tighten on the scrolls he was carrying. The paper crumples and threatens to tear. "Speaking of which, I really should be heading to bead. I hope you have a pleasant evening, Mr. Kim." Seokjin inclines his head in a small bow, not a full bow which would be improper for someone of his status to do for someone of lower class such as Namjoon, but just a slight nod to be polite. Namjoon returns his own, although he bows much further down before he's gone in a swirl of robes.
"Advisor Kim, wait!" Seokjin calls out and Namjoon falters in his steps, turning to look over his shoulder in question. He looked so tired and- and so lifeless it was jarring.
Seokjin opens his mouth and the words are right there on his tongue, just waiting to spill off; He wants to ask how the man was if he's been eating and sleeping well. How he's been during all these years away. If he still thinks about them, reminiscing on their childhood. If he misses it, or if he wishes he'd never met Seokjin at all.
He wants to tell him that he does think about them all the time, that he misses them and dreams about what they used to be. That Seokjin's just barely been hanging on since he left, forcing himself to eat and sleep and be responsible enough to be king. That Seokjin's grown and learned so much these past years that he thinks he'd be proud.
The prince closes his mouth and looks down. His shoes shine bright in the moonlight, the jewels on his wrist catching the light and sparkle. He wrings his hands and peeks at Namjoon's attire. Dark Jade robes and black shoes. Nice, but not as nice as Seokjin's royal red robes with gold detailing.
Pursed lips open up once more to give a hesitant smile, one that doesn't match how he feels inside. Seokjin wishes, wishes, wishes, but instead all he says is,
"Namjoon, I-" A pause, two brown eyes meeting in the middle. Seokjin loses his nerve when Namjoon lets out a small sigh, clearly not wanting to be here anymore. "I just wanted… Nevermind. I hope you have a good night, Advisor Kim."
Namjoon's brows furrow and he looks like he wishes to say more but instead purses his lips and gives a stiff nod before turning back around.
This time, Seokjin doesn't call out for him.
This time, Namjoon doesn't look back, either.
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Jungkook's pacing outside of a ballroom, hands behind his back as he keeps his eyes trained on his feet. The cobblestones of the halls disappear to a delicate marble floor made for parties and dancing. Jungkook spreads his legs outward so he can place one foot on the cobblestone and one in the marble. He's sliding down slowly into a sideways split and internally panicking because he can't do a split but his shoes are too slippery on the marble and the red rug on the cobblestone in moving and holy shit his pants are going to rip-
"Prince Jungkook!" A cry from behind him. Peering over his shoulder to see who was calling for him, he feels a blush threaten to spread on his cheeks when he finds it's Princess Jisoo. "Prince Jungkook, do you need help?" She questions as she scrunches up her dress so not to trip as she scurries over to him.
"Ah, Princess Jisoo! I'm so sorry I was just-" He pauses, not sure how to explain what he was doing without sounding like a total idiot. "Well, promise not to laugh,"
Jisoo sends him a small, unsure smile as she reaches out to let him grasp her arms, gently tugging him forward. "Promise."
"Well, I was trying to put one foot in the marble and one foot in the cobblestone." He says, glancing away. Jisoo hums like it's the most normal thing to do, and when he looks up she has a smile on her face but… But it didn't appear mocking or cruel. It looked pleasant and amused.
"I've done that before. Slipped in my heels and fell right down on my knees in front of everyone. It was rather humiliating at the time but Oppa made it better." She smiles at him wider now, stepping away once she sees he's upright and not going to slide down to his testicular doom.
"He saw how close to tears I was and faked tripping into the dessert table. He had pie all down his suit and father was furious at him, but it made me laugh." She finishes her story, inclining her head up at him.
Kim Jisoo is just as beautiful as her older brother. Supple cheeks and sparkling eyes, pouty lips that were painted a nice rosy color. Her earrings were simple hanging pearls, and when she cocked her head at him, they swung side to side.
Her hair was braided back into a bun of sorts, a golden tiara balanced perfectly on top it. A single, small curl on each side escaped and framed the sides of her face. He let his eyes briefly, and quickly so she didn't get the wrong idea (like he was checking her out or something), roam down to her dress.
It was subtle but elegant, striking but simplistic. He quite liked it, actually.
It was a pretty off the shoulder baby blue ball gown, the bust and torso was filled with elegant embroidered blue flowers, the centers pearls to match her earrings. It had transparent angel sleeves with the embroidered flowers lining the ends of them and some placed here and there as well. The flowers were scattered about on the skirt of her dress, few and far between compared to the half. To split it was a matching tie of sorts in the middle, a small bow tied in the front. The back of it laced up like a corset.
He didn't see her feet, but he could hear the clack of heels when she ran towards him earlier.
All in all, she was a beauty to behold, but all he could think about was I wonder what Taehyung would look like in a dress like that. Would he like it? Or would he find the tightness around his ribcage and waist too much to bear, unable to breathe? Jungkook had no doubts the baker would look good in this dress, look good in anything he put on, really. His slender form and soft curves would look stunning in this gown. Shit. Would it be too odd to ask for the dress later? Probably. Yes, Jeon, that's very weird and borderline creepy, get a hold of yourself-
He snapped his eyes back up at the softest of a cough, Kim Jisoo looking up and away from him, eyes trained on the chandelier in the ballroom beside them. Jungkook felt his cheeks flush again as he hastily stood straighter and took a half step backward.
"Er- you look lovely today, Princess." He said in order to save face. He'd been staring at her for too long.
"Oh, thank you, your highness." She said with a small bow, her ears the only sign she was flustered, seeing as they were tinted pink at the tips. Her face was perfectly schooled into a polite expression, devoid of any imperfections or blushes. Besides the one her handmaidens had dusted on her cheeks earlier, of course.
"Shall I show you around, now?" Jungkook asked as he tried to give a (slightly strained) smile.
Jisoo nodded, brushing off her dress to straighten any rumples. They begin their tour, walking side by side in the hallways. "This is the east wing of the castle…."
Jungkook lost himself in the tour, pretending that it was any other visitor and not his possible wife. It mostly worked, he made showed her around and managed to have some fun, like he was with Jimin or Jackson. But every now and again, he would see Jisoo sending him certain looks, give him certain smiles, blush at certain times. It was all very… Daunting. The possibility of this marriage, that maybe Jisoo actually wants to be wed, that she doesn't have a secret baker boyfriend that she desperately wishes to be with right now-
Because she probably doesn't. She's probably never had a relationship before because she was raised up better than Jungkook. Was raised like a woman who can't have a tainted reputation for dating around or being impure. Men have it much more lenient. In fact, it is almost seen as worse if you have never brought a woman to your chambers before you reach twenty. If you've never had a fling with a lady of the court.
Jungkook wonders what everyone thinks of him, then.
"Er, right. This is the hot springs mother was speaking of earlier," Jungkook says, snapping back into the present as Jisoo makes a noise of interest.
They walked down the long stone hallway, windows around them filled with tree branches and, just recently as spring has begun to creep up on them, leaves. There were even a few cherry blossoms blooming here and there. At the end of the long hallway is a turn that leads out to the hot springs.
A beautiful, natural hot spring was surrounded by trees and a big bamboo wall to hide them from prying eyes. The only open part was a view of the cliff, and below, the sparkling waters. A bamboo fence had been made to hopefully keep people from slipping and falling to their death.
Cherry blossom petals had fallen into the water, steam visibly wafting up and off the surface.
The pool itself had big rocks cut around it, and the bottom was made of rock as well. There was a bucket to pour the water on yourself to one side, but Jungkook preferred to just dunk himself underneath the water.
He loved the springs, it had always been a place of peace for him growing up. Even just being here, standing beside it was calming him down greatly. It smelled of flowers and salt.
"It's beautiful," Jisoo murmured as she carefully crept closer, reaching down to skim her fingers on the surface. "And so warm. I can see why you would love this during the cold months." She says as she stands back up, hand flicking the water off.
"Yes, it's very nice... Only the Royal family and special guests are allowed to use it. If you'd ever want to use it, let one of the guards nearby know and they will keep people out. Just in case," Jungkook lets her know, pointedly looking away from her as realization dawned on herself.
You have to be nude to use the hot springs.
"I see. Thank you," she rushes out as they head to leave. Jungkook grunts a 'mhm', still feeling a bit embarrassed for some reason.
They continued with the tour, stopping by the kitchens (Taehyung was nowhere to be seen, much to his disappointment), the gardens- (Jungkook breezed past the hedge maze, heading to his mother's greenhouse. "There's plenty of flowers in bloom in there, it's heated and humid so they stay alive year round." He explains, opening the door and watching as Jisoo popped her head in. "Wow, it's beautiful…" She turns around and looks at the hedge maze again, pouting her lips in an annoyingly cute way. "Prince Jungkook… Is it possible we could peep inside the maze? Please?"
Jungkook pauses, a strange feeling blooming in his chest. He didn't want Jisoo to see the maze for some reason. It felt too personal, it was his and Taehyung's place, not hers… So, with a selfish shake of his head, he says "It's too cold today, and we could get lost. Besides, it's infested with squirrels right now and they don't want us there until they've cleared it out.") - and the stables ("This is hazel. She's very gentle, but her sister Lizzy is a force to be reckoned with with-No! Don't touch her she's-!" ). He had just shown her the dining room when they reached the HellHounds.
The door was open and Jeoseung promptly barrels right into his chest when he catches sight of him. Jisoo lets out a tiny scream, stumbling away as the giant, vicious looking dog pounced on the man. The prince falls backward with a woosh and groans when the air is knocked out of him. He spends several seconds desperately trying to breathe and avoid the large tongue determined to soak his face.
"Jeosung, off," Jungkook grunts out from beneath the animal, taking a much-needed breath of air when the pressure on his lungs disappears, the dog doing as told.
Jungkook sits up and reaches out to scratch behind his ears, a fond smile slipping into place. "You're always so dramatic, Jeoseung. You could have just said hello, but no, you had to jump on me instead."
"It's- not going to eat you, then?" Jisoo calls, voice filled with uncertainty, from behind him. Her hands were still clutched to her chest and her shoulders were nearly to her ears.
"What? No! Jeoseung would never hurt me, would you?" He directs the last bit to the slobbering hound, getting a bark in response.
"But-his name is literally death!" Jisoo cries out, only lowering her shoulders a bit as the prince continues to love on the animal.
"So? I had a pet bunny as a kid that I named ppang, but was he a loaf of bread? No!" Jungkook asked, raising an eyebrow at her and watching with mild satisfaction as a tint bloomed on her cheeks.
A huff. "I guess you're right."
"Jeoseung! Come back!" A very familiar voice calls from inside the room, and Jungkook turns to watch a very familiar brown mop of hair pop out, and two very familiar eyes. Extremely familiar lips opening in shock.
"Jung- Prince Jungkook!" Taehyung stumbles over the name, hastily remembering to use titles when in front of others. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Jungkook says with a small smirk. Call him a liar, but he swears the sun shone just a little brighter when the baker arrived, the weather just a tad warmer. "Why are you in the hound's room and not the kitchens?"
"I was bringing them some food. The person who normally does it is sick, and no one else was brave enough to." Taehyung shrugs a shoulder, a smile forming on his lips as well. "Besides, I like them. They like me too, it seems, since I've still got both my hands and a face still intact."
"Ah."
"How has your day been?" Taehyung says, clearly trying to carry on this interaction for as long as he can.
"Oh, I was just showing Princess Jisoo around so she could get more accustomed to the palace," Jungkook says and internally cringes at bringing up the woman. Taehyung's smile wavers a bit but doesn't move.
"How lovely, I've been baking most of today, preparing for the big feast in honor of the Kims arriving," Taehyung says, eyes glancing at the princess behind them quickly before snapping back to the floor in front of his feet. "Jeoseung, come," He calls again and the dog leaves with one last long lick to Jungkook's face.
Jungkook and Taehyung stare at each other, not speaking, not saying goodbye. Fuck, he doesn't want to leave.
Jisoo clears her throat, eyeing Taehyung carefully before turning to her betrothed and plastering that odd smile on her face. "Prince Jungkook, if you would, I would very much like to finish the tour so I can rest up before dinner." She says, eyes flicking back to the other male, brows furrowing all of a second before her face smooths out.
"O-oh. Yes, of course. My apologies, Princess, Goodbye, for now, Taehyung." Jungkook waves after getting up from his spot on the floor. He brushes his butt off, not wanting dirt or something on it when he's going to be walking around. "Goodbye, your highnesses," Taehyung calls softly before shutting the door to the dog's room behind him.
The two royals walk back in relative silence, Jungkook's stomach doing rolls as he thinks about how quickly the princess's attitude had changed. It went from demure and kind to closed off and almost cold. The man got don't speak, don't touch coming off in waves from the woman, so he did just that. The unsettled feeling in his stomach only worsened tenfold when the princess curtly thanked him and all but slammed the door to her room in his face.
What had he done? Shit.
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The feast that night was all polite smiles and conversation. Jisoo spoke to Jungkook only when prompted and it was all so polite and professional, it made his skin crawl. She had a calculating look in her gaze that he didn't like, it was like she was analyzing him, gathering information and coming up with a conclusion he wasn't sure he liked.
Kim Seokjin was pleasant to talk to, he certainly held the weight of the conversation between them all, carrying the conversation effortlessly and never letting tension or uncomfortable silence settle on them. He kept sneaking glances to Namjoon, who was sitting at a different table from them, and his smile would waver but he never looked too long. Always just short enough for someone to pass it off as curiosity, and nothing else, but just long enough for someone to take interest in why they were staring.
Long looks to his advisor aside, Jungkook actually quite liked the prince. And as bad as he feels saying this, but he already seems to prefer the elder brother to his sister.
Seokjin's coronation was soon, within the next year or two and he spoke of that a bit, eyes sliding to his sister who was still watching Jungkook like a hawk.
He made jokes and told stories of his childhood, comparing them to Jungkooks and laughing when they could relate to something. He glanced at Jisoo who, still, was only poking at her dinner as she watched how Jungkook interacted with those around him.
The younger prince felt his skin crawl uncomfortably when she seemed to sit up straighter when dessert was being passed around, her eyes leaving him for the first time that night and shifting to-
To Taehyung. Fuck, what had he done, indeed?
The baker, with the help of some servants, passed out plates of cake and cookies and other delectable things. Leana let him eat whatever he pleased, clearly not wanting to cause a scene by ordering him something different or forbidding him from eating cake.
He felt her eyes on him when he stuffed his cheeks with the sugary food and looked up with a cocked eyebrow as if to say 'what are you going to do about it?'. She bristled when he called for another slice of cake, and some yakgwa. He smirked.
Jisoo had at some point stopped watching him-and Taehyung, who left after serving-and began to actually eat her food and engage in storytelling alongside her brother.
Odd. Concerning, but mainly odd, Jungkook decides as he looks at the beautiful girl stuff a whole cupcake in her mouth.
Later that night, Jungkook was walking towards his rooms. Taehyung had said they should hold off on seeing each other for a while, just while Jisoo and her brother were settling in, which meant no kisses or chatting tonight. The moon shone brightly through the windows and Jungkook paused to peer out at the ocean for a moment. He wonders what it would feel like to swim in such unpredictable, strong waves. He wonders what it would take to just grab Junghyun and Taehyung (and maybe a hound or two) and just… Run. Build a raft or buy a boat and run away and never look back.
But in his heart of hearts, he knows he could never truly leave. His people need him, whether he likes it or not, and he has a duty to serve and protect them… When you are of royal blood, you need to put your selfish desires away (to some extent. Taehyung is his exception) and devote yourself to your position. Your duties and your country.
…
That doesn't mean it isn't nice to pretend, he supposes. With a sigh, Jungkook makes to turn a corner when a hand pulled him back into a dark crevice. He lets out a startled woosh of air, ready to yell when another hand covers his mouth.
"Sh. It's just me," Jungkook relaxes in the hold, tension leaving his body instantly at the familiar voice. Jungkook wiggles a bit for them to let him go, and the hands disappear from his body as if they'd never been there at all. "Why'd you grab me?" Jungkook whispers, turning slightly to look at the person.
"You would scare them off," Namjoon responds just as quietly, craning his neck to see over Jungkook's shoulder.
"Scare whom off?" The prince asks, trying to look further out and see just who the elder was talking about but Namjoon pulls him back before he could.
"Stop or they'll see you!" He chides, pressing them both back farther.
"Again, I reiterate, whom?"
"Your mother and your father's advisor."
What?
"Advisor Kwong, I do not think it is wise to do this out here in the open." The queen mumbles, voice impossibly light with happiness. It makes Jungkook sick.
"Do what your highness? Officially, we aren't doing anything," Kwong responds breathily and Jungkook really is sick.
There's the sound of clothes shuffling and quiet giggles when suddenly Queen Leana hisses. "Kwong, not. Here. What if someone were to find us?"
"Let them," Kwong says breezily, but still the two separate from whatever the hell that was and scurry further down the hall, turning left at the first chance.
Jungkook turns and rests his forehead on the cold stone wall behind him. He does not need this. He really doesn't.
Idly he feels Namjoon place a comforting hand on his shoulder. It doesn't ease his nausea, but it still helps some to know he's not alone in this finding.
Jungkook spent the morning listening to the people in court, listened to their pleas. He granted some, turned away others. He'd still tried to smile at the ones he denied as they leave, even though it probably annoyed them more than it comforted them.
His crown felt heavy and was poking at his scalp uncomfortably, he wanted nothing more than to scratch the itch and just toss the gaudy thing on the step beside him.
He sat in his father's throne, acting as king in his absence, and his mother sat on the left of him. Poised and elegant as ever, the 38 years of age almost nonexistent. She aged like a vampire, and it was a little unsettling if you asked Jungkook. He's been looking at the same, unchanging face since he was a baby.
He also found it very hard to sit beside the woman and not throttle her. She was cruel to the townspeople, cutting them off and looking disgusted as if they were nothing but a spot of dirt on her shoe.
But he also wanted to throttle her because she acted as if nothing happened. As if nothing has been happening. She looks, talks, and acts the same as she always has despite what Jungkook heard last night. There was no indication of foul play, of her sneaking around doing something with his father's advisor. What, Jungkook doesn't wish to think about. Hearing it was more than enough, picturing it would traumatize him.
Jungkook let out a breath of relief as the last farmer left with a deep bow to Jungkook, who just allowed him a loan to get more cattle. Jungkook all but jumps up and flees from the room, leaving everyone behind without a second glance. He was a man on a mission, and that mission was to find Taehyung.
After subtly asking around, being careful and acting like he wanted to compliment the baker on his desserts at the feast, and found from a maid that the baker was in the kitchens currently.
Jungkook thanks her sincerely before turning around and all but sprinting down the hall. On his way there, Jungkook passed Seokjin who was speaking to Namjoon about something and both men paused their conversation to stare at the prince. Seokjin tried to smile, and Namjoon just kind of shuffled in place, unsure.
Ignoring whatever that was (He did not need more drama right now, god), he just nods curtly and keeps briskly walking to the kitchens.
He finds Taehyung alone in the kitchens, a rare sight, preparing some dough. "Where is everyone?" Jungkook calls, startling the boy. "Sorry," he adds a bit bashfully.
"It's fine… They're all on break. Hyungsik needed to go to the market to get things for dinner tonight, and told everyone they could relax until he got back. I don't work under him, though, so I still have to bake." The brunette explained as he began shaping the dough.
Jungkook hums and comes to stand behind Taehyung, hesitated a few seconds before curling his arms around his waist and snuggling in. He wasn't having the best day (a continuation of yesterday) and this was just what he needed.
The prince pushes his nose into his neck, breathing in the faint smell of roses and frostings.
The baker leans back slightly in the hold as he works, the kitchen silent beyond the sound of Taehyung's hands molding the dough. They stay like that, not speaking, just basking in the much-needed skinship while Taehyung works to lay out the cookies on a tray to bake. Taehyung lets out an endearing sigh and pats his hands when Jungkook doesn't let go, just holds him tighter and waddles behind him as they move to the oven.
When the cookies are safe inside the oven, Taehyung turns around in Jungkook's hold to face him properly.
"You okay?" The elder asks softly, fingers coming to caress Jungkook's face. They skim over the dark circles and Taehyung frowns subtly.
"Yes, love. Just… A bit stressed is all. I'm sure that once Father returns home, all will be well." Jungkook says, leaning into the hand caressing his cheek. Taehyung looked a bit tired today as well, but nothing compared to Jungkook.
His hair was unkempt but still appeared so soft and clean, falling slightly into his eyes as he cocks his head just so. His pink lips were bitten red, a nervous habit they shared and his eyelashes were so long, so dark and pretty as they frame those gorgeous, kind eyes he's fallen deeper and deeper into as each day passes.
Taehyung's eyes sparkle. They shine and sparkle like stars and when he smiles it lights up the room. And Jungkook is in love with him. He's come to accept this, embraces the warm and giddy feeling wholly.
Jungkook's response only deepens the frown. "Jungkook-"
"I'm okay. I promise. I'd tell you if I wasn't okay." Taehyung doesn't seem relieved by this answer, but he nods despite.
Jungkook leans in to kiss Taehyung, after a quick look around to make sure they really were alone, and they both melt into it easily.
The baker makes a keening noise and pulls Jungkook closer by the front of his suit, soiling it with flower but they pay no mind to that.
He turns his head to deepen the kiss, and Jungkook slips his tongue out to tease his lips. Taehyung lets out a surprised gasp, the prince using this to slip his tongue inside. He was met with the sweet taste of strawberries and sugar.
Jungkook moves them forward until Taehyung's back hits table he'd been working at, and he lays his hands on the wood surface, on either side of Taehyung, caging him in.
The brunette lets out a small moan, they'd never gone this far, this rough before, but he loved it. Craved this new side of Jungkook he's seeing.
He slid his hands up the prince's arms, squeezing at the biceps as he shamelessly felt up the strong, toned muscle there. His hands continued to wander up to his chest and around his neck until they stopped at the raven locks he's come to love so much.
He gives it an experimental tug and rejoices when he gets a drawn-out moan from the prince in return.
Their tongues danced around each other, hot and heavy and while Jungkook tasted the desserts he made, Taehyung tasted the ginger tea the other had earlier, the sweet honey and mint. It was spicy, but he found he quite liked it.
"Jungkook," He breathed, and the younger could only grunt out a noise of agreement.
Jungkook's hands had moved from the table to grasp at Taehyung's trim waist, the shirt he wore riding up beneath his apron. Jungkook slipped his finger inside and rubbed his thumb back and forth on the soft skin. It was rather soothing, actually, and the elder relaxed just a tad under his ministrations.
Taehyung's fingers were still curled in those raven locks, and he tugged a bit harder when Jungkook slid his hands down to grasp his thighs, hoisting him up and onto the table. He wrapped his legs around the prince's midsection and let out a tiny needy noise.
Jungkook pulled back from the kiss, dragging his teeth on Taehyung's bottom lip, pulling on it before releasing it with a wet pop and teasing lick.
"F-fuck," Taehyung whimpered out, eyes blown wide and lips shiny and bright red. There was a dusting of blush across his cheeks and shit if he didn't look ethereal.
Jungkook's lips trailed over the baker's face and down at his neck, pressing hot, open mouth kisses there until he reached those collar bones he loved so much. He nipped at them before finally sucking a deep hickey on the honeyed skin.
Taehyung was letting out little keening whimpers and soft, breathy moans, running his hands all along Jungkook's back and up into his hair. Once satisfied with the deep bruising mark there, Jungkook all but smashed their lips in a burning kiss again.
He could feel Taehyung's arousal, and he pushed into it slightly, smirking when he gets a stuttering moan in return. His own pants were tight, and his heart was beating rapidly because shit, this is definitely more than kissing in the stables, and Oh my god, this is Taehyung and I get to see him, to have him like this? Fuck.
Their hearing was on high alert, as it always is when they're together, and they spring apart at the sound of heels coming down steps.
Eyes wide, they begin desperately fixing themselves after the heated makeout, Taehyung wiping at his split slickened lips and pulling his shirt up to hide a hickey on his collar bone, Jungkook trying to straighten his rumpled suit and smooth his hair. The raven-haired boy helps Taehyung hop down from the table and they flounder around, not sure of what to do now.
Jungkook ends up hiding his… Issue with a strategically placed pot and Taehyung all but races to the oven, pretending to be checking on the cookies. His erection was most likely brushing up against the stone oven, Taehyung was probably biting back a groan because it felt so good to have just a little friction and-
Nope. Not helping, Jeon.
They both tense up when the heels come closer, pausing for a moment before strolling into the kitchens. Kim Jisoo took in the sight before her, one elegantly shaped brow raising in interest.
"Prince Jungkook, I was looking all over for you. Imagine my surprise when a guard told me he saw you heading this direction. After all, what would a prince be doing down here, with the servants?" Her voice was as melodic and beautiful as ever, but at this very moment, it seemed so intimidating and cold. She put a big emphasis on servants and the two men both tensed.
"I came down here for a snack." Jungkook manages, voice surprisingly stable for how nervous he was.
"Seems like you decided to make some, too," She says, eyeing him up and down. "You've got flour on your suit, and even some in your hair. How'd you manage that?"
Jungkook stiffens but forces himself to relax. They were okay, she didn't see anything. "I can certainly be very clumsy, your highness," He says, trying to make up some lame excuse.
"I see." Her eyes slid back and forth between the two men, a too-knowing gleam in her dark eyes. Jungkook, not liking her attention on himself, but even less so on Taehyung, rushes to leave the whole situation. "Well, goodbye, Taehyung. Your Highness, if you'd like, we can take a stroll in the gardens again today." He says, his boner most definitely gone now. Panic and fear are not a turn on, it would appear.
"Hm, yes, that would be lovely. Maybe today we can visit the hedge maze? I heard the…. Squirrel issue has been resolved." She says, something in her voice telling him she knew there was no issue, to begin with.
Jungkook forces a weak laugh and comments on how glad he is about that.
Taehyung never once turned around.
Jungkook left with the princess, thoughts running a mile a minute, but one kept circling back.
Fuck.
-8-8-8-8-8
A.N:
Title is from Run.
Hello! I'm so sorry this took me a bit longer than I'd have liked, but I'm trying to make sure to update at least once a month. I don't want to be that person who never updates, because I have certainly been that kind of author in the past.
Can I just say-
THE CONCERT WAS AMAZING! I died, it was so good. I may or may not have cried a bit and most definitely screamed myself raw. Like, in all of my videos I took, it's just me. Screaming. Making noises of a dying whale... Singing along horribly. You can barely hear the actual music, it's so sick and twisted lol
My concert was on the second day, and it was just raining so. much. Like our seats (I say our because this was actually a mother's day gift for my mom. She loves BTS so much and really wanted to go, so I saved up for like half a year and bought us tickets) were soaked, I was soaked, I couldn't feel my toes by the end of the concert and I did catch a cold (Even though Jimin specified not to, fuck I'm so mean). ANYWAY, my point was Jungkook couldn't do the cool flying around above us thing because it was too wet and dangerous, which I was a bit bummed about, but he was so cute and smiley and happy despite so it was okay :')
ALSO NAMJOON WAS SO CUTE FUCKSMEHEIN GF. They were all cute, but he was teasing us and like being all squishy and I just- fuck. FUCK.
I miss them :'(
OKAY moving on from my frantic raving about the concert, I'd just like to inform you that that kiss scene was three whole pages in google docs. Insane.
Also, including a BlackPink member does not mean that I understand them/dislike them/etc etc.
I feel I shouldn't have to say this, but there was someone who complained about something similar to this in one of my older stories on a different platform. As I am primarily an ARMY, I don't know much about BlackPink, and for that, I am sorry if it offends you. I just needed a cute and pretty girl to use as Seokjin's sister. That being said, I do like some of their music, so please don't come for me.
I hope you enjoyed this update and I'll see you all the next update! Hugs, MC.
(Comments and favorites breathe life into authors, seriously.)