!A/N: Important, please read!~

!Brief dubious consent later on. Nothing too scary, but just be warned.!

If you wish to skip this, as well as the dash of smuttiness, please stop at: "It's no one's fault when he leads Jungkook by the hand out of the bathroom and towards the bed." And pick up again at: "It feels amazing, unlike anything he's ever experienced before, and it's something straight out of a wet dream, but…"

For sake of convenience, I've also added little dashes at the start and finish of the 'smut'. !

Chapter Six: Never leave me alone

8-8-8-8-8

The news of King Jeon's passing was not taken lightly in the castle. The servants were in disarray, his mother looked to be stressed and nearing her breaking point but otherwise fine, Jisoo and Seokjin kept out of the way with awkward postures and sympathetic looks (they probably felt weird being in a castle suddenly struck with grief during their supposed happy visit).

Namjoon was wild as he prepared things for Jungkook's coronation (his father's cousin had even offered to pay for some of the festivities in honor of his cousin), and Jackson was on Jungkook's ass all-day training and preparing him for war, pushing him further and harsher as each day progressed.

He was to leave within the week. His coronation was postponed until after he returned. If he returned, that is. Don't think like that, of course, you're going to come back. You have to. For Junghyun, for Taehyung. But above all, for your people.

The point is, he's been very busy and stressed and he still hasn't seen Taehyung in days and he's going crazy.

His brother mourns their father, crying on end for hours at the news and not calming even for Jungkook himself. He has nightmares and can't sleep without either Jungkook or their mother. Jungkook hasn't even shed a tear.

Jisoo has been giving him space as of late, always walking on eggshells around him when they're together. It's a little irritating to him, how sweet and understanding she's been. She had been so brash and sneaky before but now she's all reserved and silent which is almost worse.

She tries to joke to lighten the mood, but they meet silence. She tries to drag him for a walk in the gardens, let's visit the maze again! It was ever so interesting the one time we went, she had said kindly, reaching out and hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder. I'm sure we haven't discovered all its secrets! It was meant to be encouraging, kind. All it did was piss him off for some reason.

She even brought him some yakgwa, which was beyond thoughtful and sweet of her. She'd had to ask around to find out his favorite treat, but the gesture didn't bring him happiness. It reminded him of the boy he loved and hadn't even spoken to in well over a week.

He missed Taehyung. He missed sneaking kisses behind statues, missed cuddling by his fire and playing cards with a bottle of whiskey late into the night. Most of all he just missed the boy. Missed listening to him ramble about his thoughts and dreams, of his passions and ambitions. He missed looking at him freely, as close up as he wished or as far away as he needed.

Missed expressing his feelings for the boy without worrying about unwanted eyes and ears sneaking around from a certain nosy sibling duo that started in "K" and ended in "im".

It's Kim. The Kim Siblings. Jisoo and Seokjin, if that was not already blatantly clear enough.

With a heaving sigh, Jungkook opened the door to his room, shutting it harshly behind him and dismissing the servants currently cleaning up.

They're startled, and understandably so, he's usually out of his rooms at this hour, training with Jackson or taking lessons from an old war hero on good strategic moves in a war. Or spending time with Tae. He thinks and lets out a rather pitiful whimper at the thought.

He flops down on his bed face first, letting out a groan. He hasn't been sleeping well, either. Although, while nightmares are what plague his little brother's sleep, for him it's just his thoughts.

He's not too prideful to admit that he's scared. The thought of running headfirst into a war while he's been more or less sheltered his whole life from anything beyond stable boy scuffles- it's, well, it's not a particularly pleasant one.

He's heard horror stories about what happens to people in the war, seen scars and lost limbs and missing eyes. He's seen people lost (his father, now as well) to the wrath of war.

It's all unsettling and worrisome, and he's not sure he wants that. That's his vain and petty side speaking, but you've got to admit- it must have hurt quite a bit to get those battle scars. He doesn't want to experience just how painful it is.

Turning over with a full-body shudder, Jungkook peers up at the silk curtains of his bed, at the ceiling painted with flowers and birds above him. His mother had wanted him to be a daughter. She'd had the servants paint the ceilings with "feminine and girly" things, had cribs with pink silks and fine dresses sent in.

When he was born a son, she had kept it all in stubborn defiance. There are a couple of portraits painted depicting a baby Jungkook in frilly dresses that the prince has hidden away never to be seen again.

Jokes on her, though, because he quite likes the mural on his ceiling, it's soothing and very pretty, and the pink bed curtains are in good taste, so all is well.

The prince grunts and throws an arm over his eyes, feeling drained and it's only ten after three in the afternoon. Today has been rather uneventful as he thinks about it. His brother has had four meltdowns and had to be taken to his rooms by a nanny where he currently resides. His mother who seems mostly unaffected by the news of her late husband had left to soak and "think on things" in the hot springs. If she's alone, he can only assume (and hope).

Namjoon had bumped into him and dumped a plethora of scrolls and books into his arms looking very frazzled and tired. "You need to read through these before your departure. If you have time, please also read them during the trip to the battlegrounds… In fact, I'd recommend looking through those during the free time up there, as well." He said and scurried off mumbling about coronations, battle strategies, and cheese before Jungkook could even get a word in.

He hasn't touched the stack, they lay in a big pile on one of his end tables. He had thought of throwing them in the fire as kindling, but he knew Namjoon was just looking out for him in the end.

Taehyung, Taehyung he hasn't seen or heard from once. No condolences, no reassuring words, no kisses, touches, stares or even well wishes from the boy. It's like he's become a ghost and disappeared.

Jungkook was a little hurt by this, even though he assumes the other boy didn't avoid him with malicious intent, he was probably busy as preparations for his father's funeral picked up pace.

He would miss that, which he feels awful for and he knows he'll regret it for the rest of his life, but the funeral isn't set until after he's gone.

The undertakers were working hard to clean and sew up the late king for his funeral, taking care to detail as asked for by the Queen. She didn't wish for Junghyung to see his father maimed by arrow wounds and deep cuts.

Jungkook sucks his bottom lip in between his teeth and chews at it, deciding to stop laying around thinking and wallowing. He hoists himself up and plants his feet on the ground.

He decides perhaps a good soak in the bath would help soothe his nerves, so he leaves to call for a servant to fill the tub, asking for a bottle (or two) of wine as well.

The bathroom smelled of lavender and honey when he went in a while later, the tub filled to the brim with soapy water that had steam wafting up in swirls like smoke.

Candles had been lit, providing the room with a warm white-orange glow as the afternoon got darker, the sun making its way lower into the sky.

His servants respectfully lowered their gazes as he stripped himself of his robe. When he turns around to ask for something, he sees a couple of the women (and a young teenage boy, a new recruit to their castle) peeking up through their bangs at his naked backside, but he makes no comment on it. Their blushes and panicked eyes snapping back down to the cobblestone flooring was satisfactory enough.

Jungkook stepped into the hot water, his skin prickling and stinging from the heat at first. The pain subsides soon enough after he gets the courage to sink down all the way, and he can soon enough the delicious warmth.

His muscles that have been crying for help all week long, never getting a moment to rest, seem to all relax instantly with the hot water. If they could talk, they would be singing praises and Hallelujahs.

"Can you please let our guests and Namjoon know that I will not be attending dinner tonight." He asked a servant as he handed him a pre-filled glass of wine, leaving the bottles beside the tub with a low bow.

"Of course, my prince." He says, head lowered as he waited for any more requests or tasks.

"And please have someone send my dinner up to my rooms later… Have them knock and if I don't answer, leave it outside and I'll fetch it myself when I feel like it." He says after taking a sip of the alcoholic drink. It slid down his throat nice and smooth, tasting sweet and bitter at the same time.

"Yes, of course, my prince." He murmurs, bowing deep and low again.

"That will be all, thank you. I wish to be alone tonight, so there is no need to come back to help me dress… Thank you, have a pleasant evening." He adds the last part as an afterthought, not wanting to be too rude or demanding. (You're a prince! They're expectant of rude and demanding behavior! It's part of yours and their job!) He ignores his thoughts and pushes a small half-smile and nod at the leaving servants.

Once he's alone in the bathroom, his expression drops and he downs his glass of wine, eyes hard and jaw locked tight.

He's leaving within the week. It's already Thursday. The week ends on Friday.

Looking down, Jungkook trails his fingers across the surface of the water, the ripples disrupt the almost glass-like appearance of it. His reflection becomes blurred and it's like the ripples wash him away.

He pretends it works, pretends he isn't Prince Jungkook. King Jungkook.

He suddenly feels very sick, and he pours himself another glass of wine before he can ponder on his feelings for too long.

The drinks muddle his brain in a very welcome way, numbs him so when he thinks back on memories of his father it doesn't hurt as bad as when he's sober.

"Jungkook, my boy, come here. I want to show you something," his father calls softly, dragging the six-year-old boy by the wrist gently. "This is a pigeon. Go on, touch it," he encourages the small boy who-with the assurance of his father- tentatively reaches a small, chubby finger out to stroke the snow-white creature.

The bird lets out a coo and ruffles its feathers, startling the young boy who soon lets out a giggle. The bird was cute! "'S cute, father!" He giggles out, reaching out more confidently to stroke the head of it. "Why do we have so many?"

"These can carry messages, my boy. To far away places!" His father says proudly, and Jungkook looks up at the man with an awestruck expression.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"How do they know where to go?"

"They're trained very well, and part of it is instinct, I'd assume." His father explains, curling a hand around the bird to hold it. He gently deposits the fat little thing into his son's hands after carefully instructing him how to do so. Jungkook wets his lips and cradles the bird to his chest, eyes impossibly wide and sparkling.

"Can I keep it?"

The king visibly paled, eyes wide and jaw slack. He nervously wiped at his brow. "A-ah, um, well, son-"

"Please, daddy? Pleaaasssee?" Jungkook pleaded, pulling out the "Daddy" just to be extra safe. His father visibly melts and the fight has left him. He nods, not looking the least bit happy about this. "Yaay! You're going to stay with me, and we're going to be best friends! I've never had a friend before! You can sleep in my room and we can share cookies and I'll name you Piggy because you're so fat!" He chatters excitedly.

His father just drags a hand down his face slowly, looking more and more worried as the boy rambles on. The boy's mother was going to kill him.

Jungkook shakes his head, shoving the memories away. Why on earth did a memory like that have to pop up right now anyway? What prompted it?

Nibbling on his bottom lip, the prince sucks in a deep breath and pushes off the concrete sitting area he as perched on, diving down into the deep bathtub until he's fully submerged and can stare up at the surface from below.

It's soothing, being in the water like this. Even if the oils and soaps in the water do make his eyes burn some, it's still soothing. He startles a bit when the door to his bathroom opens, a distorted figure peeking in.

Jungkook pops out from beneath the water, mouth open and ready to shout at whoever tried to cop a look out of him.

But he falls short when he catches sight of who had really interrupted him.

"Taehyung?" He chokes out, face slackening.

No thoughts, head empty.

"Jungkook!" The elder squeaks, covering his eyes instantly. "You're naked!"

The prince, rather dumbly, looks down at himself at the statement. He looks back up and raises an eyebrow at the baker. "Well, what did you expect? I'm in the bathroom… Taking a bath." He teases, watching in mild amusement as the elder's cheeks darken.

"Don't tease me! I just didn't know where you were…" Taehyung mumbles behind his hands and Jungkook feels his chest tighten and his body melt. He's missed Taehyung.

"If you'd toss that robe, we can talk in here if you'd like." He offers, getting a faceful of silk robe when Taehyung all but hurtles it at him with his eyes closed.

And that's how Jungkook finds himself sitting on the edge of the tub, legs dangling in the warm water. Taehyung is next to him, and they share the wine bottle back and forth as they chat.

"I missed you," Jungkook blurts out as Taehyung takes a breath after laughing long and hard at a story he'd been telling him.

This sobers Taehyung up some, leaning over to bump his shoulder against Jungkook's playfully. Their legs intertwine underneath the water, fingers locking together. "I missed you too. How could I not?"

"I am going to miss you," Jungkook adds on sadly, looking down at their hands. His hands, rough and cut, paler than Taehyung's honey gold and soft ones.

The elder frowns, hands squeezing. "Don't talk about that right now. I don't want to think of that now. I just want to be with you."

He takes a long swig of the wine, wiping at his mouth and passing the bottle to Jungkook. "Can't we just forget, for now, Jungkook? Just… Pretend?"

Could he forget? Could he pretend, just for tonight that he wasn't leaving? That he wasn't a prince with war and duties and a looming arranged marriage over his head?

No. But the wine certainly helps.

"Okay. Just for tonight, we'll pretend." Jungkook whispers, leaning in to kiss him. Taehyung tastes like wine and sweets, no doubt tasting his own work earlier, and his mouth is warm when he opens up to Jungkook. He's always warm. Warm hands, warm eyes, warm heart, warm everything. Just. Warm.

They have to keep breaking apart because they're smiling too hard, happiness surging between them at finally being together again. It's been a long couple of weeks without his boyfriend.

Jungkook's hands roam up to Taehyung's chest, fingers fisting the white cotton of his shirt and pulling him in closer. The baker lets out a pleased hum, turning his face to the side to deepen the kiss, his own hands coming to rest on Jungkook's shoulders.

They kiss and kiss, smiling against each other's lips and licking teasingly into their mouths. By the time the water gets cold around their legs, they pull apart for good.

The wine is all gone, both bottles, and they're a bit inebriated (okay, a lot). They'd found another bottle conveniently placed outside the bathroom, left by a servant earlier "just in case".

So, really, it's no one's fault when Taehyung whispers into Jungkook's ear, hands drawing circles on the man's chest. It's no one's fault when he leads Jungkook by the hand out of the bathroom and towards the bed.

They fall on top of the sheets together, kissing heatedly and letting out breathy moans. They share the bottle of wine between them, passing it and kissing between swallows. They taste like mulled wine and lust. When Taehyung's hand wanders down a bit too far, though, Jungkook is the one to pull away. They've never gone farther than that time in the kitchen...

"Taehyung, what are you doing?" He asks, eyes widening at the elder's desperation. He tugs him back down, lips kissing anywhere he can reach. Jungkook cranes his face away from Taehyung's lips, trying to back up so they can talk and act rationally, but he just takes this as an invitation to suck at Jungkook's neck, instead.

Jungkook's face burns from embarrassment when Taehyung begins to palm him with more force than before, the prince's cock already hardening under the elder's hands.

"Taehyung, stop," he groans out, eyes squeezing shut in bliss.

Taehyung doesn't say anything to his protests, the man continuing to fondle Jungkook's noticeable bulge through the silk robe, the younger weakly bucking up into his touch.

"Taehyungie, listen…" He groans, shuddering the second Taehyung's lips wander up from his neck to his earlobe, pulling at it teasingly with his teeth.

His left-hand wanders down from where he'd been tugging at Jungkook's hair to slip beneath his robe, fingers trailing around his chest tantalizingly slow. Goosebumps break out across his body, shivers racking his spine.

He feels Taehyung smile into his skin. He smells like wine. This is wrong, his brain whispers.

"Tae-Baby, hold… hold on…" Jungkook chokes out, desperately trying to be the responsible one, but being cut short yet again, a strangled moan escaping his lips. "Fuck."

Taehyung's twisting, teasing his nipples while his other sinful hand is practically stroking him through the light material of his robe. Jungkook can feel his sanity slipping with each touch.

His mouth falls open in a silent moan the second Taehyung slips off his lap to bury his face directly into his thighs, the elder nuzzling into his hardness rather obscenely. He mouths over his clothed erection, his long, tan fingers still teasing his nipples from underneath his clothes.

It feels amazing, unlike anything he's ever experienced before, and it's something straight out of a wet dream, but…

Jungkook takes a deep breath, his hands finding their way to Taehyung's honey hair. He tugs gently on the silken strands to catch the attention of his boyfriend.

Taehyung looks up at him, eyes unfocused with lust and alcohol, confusion in the furrow of his brows.

"I want to do this properly, Tae," Jungkook admits breathlessly, the prince meeting his lover's eyes. "I don't want… I don't want our first time to be in a drunken haze. Memories lost and forgotten in the morning."

Jungkook sees the way Taehyung visibly shatters at his words. The elder quickly sits back up, pulling himself back and recollecting himself from earlier.

Taehyung's eyes are brimming with tears, his teeth gnawing into his bottom lip.

"O-oh, okay…" Taehyung pulls the sleeves of his shirt down-making sweater paws and looking adorable, Jungkook notes- hastily wiping at his eyes. "That's okay, I… I'm sorry for t-trying, and, um, for assuming you'd want to…"

Jungkook's heart shatters at the broken, insecure voice.

"Baby, listen to me." He takes Taehyung's hands into his own, firmly squeezing them. "Believe me, I want you. I-I want to… To make love to you. Shit, I want that, want you, so badly. You're the only person I want to be with, Taehyungie." Jungkook reassures his boyfriend, praying that Taehyung believed him.

Because fuck, Jungkook honestly meant every single word.

The baker doesn't say anything in response, his chocolate eyes downcast to their joined hands. Jungkook follows his gaze, watching as Taehyung begins to mindlessly play with the rings he has on.

Jungkook's always loved Taehyung's hands. Warm, soft and tan. How delicate and dainty, while still big and strong they felt, how right it felt to hold them in his own.

"I want to do that," he gestures around in the air, too embarrassed to say making love again. "When I get back. We can do anything, everything, you want." Jungkook leans forward, pressing his forehead against Taehyung's, the elder still not meeting his eye. "But it just doesn't feel right for me to do this here. Right now. I want you to have the best of the best, Taehyung. Not- not this,"

He gestures to the empty wine bottles, discarded on the bed. The flour in Taehyung's hair from earlier. Jungkooks bed, now wet from their legs.

Taehyung sniffles, wiping at his nose with a sleeve. He looks honestly disappointed, but Jungkook knows Taehyung sees reason in his words.

"But I want you, Kookie." He hiccups, the prince quickly rubbing up and down his back soothingly. "I want you to b-be mine, and I d-don't want you to g-go away!"

And that, that right there, was the sound of Jungkook's heartbreaking for the third time that night.

"Oh, baby," He whispers, pulling the elder into his arms and hugging him tightly. "It'll be alright," he promises, rocking them back and forth slightly.

Taehyung has his face buried in his chest, his tears dampening the silk robe but Jungkook doesn't mind. The sobs wrack his body harshly, the younger wincing in pain for his boyfriend.

"Shh, shh, it's okay." He rubs Taehyung's back in hopes of soothing the elder, and it seems to work slightly.

"B-but what if it isn't'? W-what if something happens…" He brokenly cries out, Jungkook looking up at his door quickly. He really hopes the walls are thick enough that no one can hear the elder.

"Nothing will. I promise, baby. Nothing will stop me from coming back to you." Jungkook promises, both of the boys knowing he can't actually promise such things that are out of his control. Taehyung sniffles in response.

"I promise I'll come back for you, Taehyung. I'll come back, all sweaty and hot and dirty from war. Riding on my horse with my hair all long and tangly because I haven't brushed, bathed, or cut it in forever. I might have new battle scars, but you'll find them sexy," He teases, puffing his chest out. Taehyung snorts wetly, pulling back to look at him.

His face is red and blotchy from crying, cheeks flushed from the wine and embarrassment of earlier. His lashes are clumped together and his lips wet and swollen. He looks beautiful, Jungkook thinks, winded.

"You're right, you would be hot like that," Taehyung says, voice slightly hoarse. There's a sparkle in his eyes again. "Someone, probably Namjoon, will have to hold me back so I don't jump your bones the second you come in the gates."

Jungkook lets out a laugh, pulling the elder up and positioning them so they're laying in the bed, Taehyung's head pillowed on his chest.

"Someone will have to hold me back from letting you," he jokes back, snuggling into the warmth of his bed. Taehyung entangles his legs with Jungkook, both politely ignoring Jungkook's lack of undergarments for the sake of not ruining the moment.

A beat of comfortable silence passes by before Taehyung breaks it in his soft, sleepy voice.

"Okay," Taehyung whispered, nuzzling deeper into his chest, the arms encircled around his waist tightening. "Okay, I'll wait for you. Forever, if I have to."

Jungkook opens his mouth to reply, happiness bubbling over inside.

"But. But, you have to come back to me. Promise me you'll come back." He adds as the younger pulls the blankets up to cover them, blowing out the candle next to him.

"I promise," Jungkook assured.

And damn it if he didn't intend to keep it.

8-8-8-8-8-8-8

The goodbyes were equal parts hard and easy. He breezed past his mother and all the courtmen with simple "goodbye, look after the castle"s and not even a second glance in their direction. He bowed to the Kims and nodded to Hoseok (only to be pulled into a tight hug as the jester cried real tears) who's hat seemed to droop low in accordance with his mood.

Namjoon grabbed him tight and let out a deep, long and stuttering exhale. "Please be careful." He whispered into his ear, pulling back to look at him with a worried furrow in his brow and concern swimming in his eyes.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were worried and care about me." Jungkook teased wetly. Namjoon shoved him away with a weak laugh. "Nah, more like I'm worried about losing my job." He played along but Jungkook could see it in his eyes. They seemed to scream I do worry, I do care.

Jungkook nodded with a soft smile, and Namjoon seemed to relax like he knew that Jungkook knew, and he was relieved. He gave a small smile in return and Jungkook moved on.

He stiffly said goodbye to his father's personal advisor (a man who should have been gone by now. His employer was dead, as awful as that sounds.)

He'd said goodbye to Taehyung the morning before he had to go to breakfast, with many tears and kisses and simply heartbreaking sobs coming from the baker.

"I love you, Kookie." Taehyung had wept, clinging to the prince tightly. He had snot and tears all over his face and he wouldn't let go, not even to see Jungkook.

The prince let out a soft gasp not expecting the confession. They had been dating for a couple of months now, but neither had said it. It felt like he'd had the wind knocked out of him and he clutched Taehyung even tighter to him.

"I love you too, so much, Tae." He said wetly, leaning to press a kiss to the top of the elder's head. He smelled like vanilla and oranges. "And I vow to you that I'll come back. No matter what, I'll come back to you."

Taehyung's body was wracked with more heaving sobs, Jungkook's shirt soaked with tears. In the early morning, Jungkook watched the darkness melt to a murky blue as the sun rose. He held his boyfriend close and pet his hair as the early birds began to wake.

The only sounds were Taehyung's sniffles and sobs, the birds chirping, and the soft tune Jungkook hummed as he stroked Taehyung's head.

The silken sheets on his bed had felt cold and foreign, but Taehyung was warm, his lips against his, familiar.

"I won't ever forgive you if you break that promise," Taehyung mumbled into his chest, his cries subsiding slightly.

"Neither would I," Jungkook murmured back, closing his eyes as a single tear slipped past.

Jungkook sighed deeply as he approached his brother slowly, leaning down on one knee to see him better. Junghyun was a wreck, his hair was messy and his eyes were red and swollen. He was sobbing into the knees of his nanny, a stuffed doll in his hands.

"D-don't leave me, hyungie!" He wept, reaching his little hands up, begging to be picked up. Jungkook swept the boy into his arms, holding him close as his heart broke for the second time that day.

"Hyunni, you know I'd stay here with you if I could. But I have to go."

The small boy was distraught, crying so hard he could hardly breathe, all stuttering breaths and hiccups. He got snot on Jungkook's shoulder, but he didn't mind.

"Puh-pleaseee! You c-an't guh-go to the bad place!" He wailed out, particularly loud in Jungkook's ear.

"The bad place? What do you mean?" Jungkook whispered, rubbing circles on his back as he walked them away a bit from the crowd, trying to calm him down some.

"Where daddy went! He went to the bad place and nuh-never came back! You c-can't go there! I'll never s-see you againnn!"

Jungkook's heart broke all over again and he had to take a deep breath to will his misty eyes to dry. "Oh, Junghyunni… I'll come back- hey, look at me," His little brother pulls away from his neck but he refused to meet his eyes. "I will. Just for you, okay? We can play with your dolls or do puzzles all you want, I promise, but- no hey, shh, it's okay." Jungkook tugs the crying boy back into his neck, rocking them gently.

"But, I need to go and fight to protect those things. I need to fight to ensure you can still play with dolls and eat stolen cookies." He explains.

Junghyun doesn't respond beyond a wet nod, sniffling and crying harshly into his shoulder. Jungkook himself wants to bawl if he's being honest.

"I have to go now, okay?" He whispers, making his way back to the crowd of people. Junghyun's nanny awaits with open arms.

"I love you, please never forget that." He presses a kiss to the top of his head, inhaling the scent of his shampoo one last time.

"I love you too, hyungie." With that, he passes the crying child to his nanny. Taking a step back feels like a tiny war of its own, his legs not wishing to move and feeling as if they were glued to the floor.

He nods one last time to Jisoo, Namjoon, and Seokjin before he scoops up a rucksack, one filled with food for the journey and some battle scrolls to look over, and leaves the castle.

To his dismay, his mother follows him out. "You coddle him too much," She says in lieu of greeting (or farewell, in this case).

"I thought I'd said goodbye to you already, why are you here?"

Jungkook asks with a grunt as he pets his personal horse, Cooky, on the nose. He's the one pulling Jungkook's carriage, alongside Koya. He gives the second horse a pat as well before turning to toss his bag inside.

"You enable him, indulge him, too much." She continues on, idly looking at her nails.

"Loving him is different than coddling, but you'd never know that. I don't think you've ever loved anyone before." He spits at her, and she stares, shell-shocked as he clambers into his carriage. "Except maybe father's advisor, of course." He glares at her, watches in satisfaction as she colors a bit.

He gives the signal to leave, the carriage beginning to roll away. He pulls down the curtains, encasing the small area in a deep red hue, as he resisted the urge to flip the woman off.

8-8-8-8

The trip was long and dull, Jungkook eating his sandwich Taehyung had prepared with a heavy heart. Said heart fluttered some when he saw the elder had baked yakgwa and packaged it up as well, with a sweet little note;

I love you more than you know and I miss you more than you'd imagine. You haven't even gone yet, but I feel as if a part of me was ripped away. Please enjoy your meal. Promise to eat well and take good care of your condition out there. I don't know what I'd do if you came home looking like a corpse, all skinny and sick…

I love you. Please do come home, I need you.

Jungkook sighs, tucking the note (which Taehyung had decorated cutely with little doodles of hearts with faces and, oddly enough, penguins). Securely into his shirt pocket.

He looked out his window, pulling the curtain back. It was all flat plains, grassy and dry. The ocean had disappeared from view a long time ago, the smell of salt still strong but the crash of waves non-existent. Almost like they'd never been there at all.

With a grumble, he pulls away and lets the curtain drop. He'd finished the book he'd brought along. It had been awfully dull, but it was better than nothing, and he felt a bit better knowing he'd refreshed his knowledge on war affairs.

Doesn't matter that's all he's been learning for the past two months. You can always learn more, and when not only his life but his people, his country, is at stake, you can never be too prepared.

He signs a few documents and re-reads some particularly useful or confusing parts of his books before giving up and deciding to nap the rest of his rip away.

8-8

When Jungkook awakens, it isn't to the morning sun nor to his men telling him he had arrived. In fact, Jungkook doesn't know why he's awake at all.

It's silent, his carriage basked in pitch-darkness. The only light coming from the torches his guards carried outside.

Disoriented, the prince wipes at his eyes. His vision is still blurry and his mind a bit hazy when he peeks out of his window. Jungkook sits up a bit straighter, blinking rapidly as he notices something odd…

They weren't moving.

A/N: The title is from Lost.

Hello! Sorry that this is so late, I've been terribly busy these past few months, which isn't an excuse, I know. This chapter is a bit longer than usual, and I actually had to break it up into two parts because it got so long. (This is why the start of the war scenes aren't actually in this chapter like I'd intended)

The next chapter is nearly finished, so I hope to get that out soon as well. I'm also sorry if I haven't replied to your comments, I didn't have time to reply, but I always, always, always(!) read them! They breathe life into me and motivate me to write more, so thank you to those who review and comment! I used my free time to write as much as possible (Which wasn't much). I'll try to respond soon! Thank you for your support, it means a lot!

Talk you lovelies soon~!

Hugs,

-MC