𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2,850 words

𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠

Stirring in his sleep, the prince's senses slowly awakened from his deep slumber. Feeling the urge to stretch, Wooyoung nudged the duvet around him but as he did, his limbs rather quickly kicked into another body which made him very quickly freeze on the spot. Wooyoung opened his eyes and turned his head to the side. Rather quickly, he found his eyes on the werewolf prince stirring in his sleep much like he himself just had done. As Yunho then somnolently opened his eyes, Wooyoung stared at him, scared of even inhaling the air. Fleetly, his eyes flickered onto his surroundings - where he never had been before.

Why the fuck was he laying in a bed with Yunho?

Before his mind could even think of a physical reaction, the other prince was smiling at him and reached out to gently press his hand that lay above the cover.

"Hi Wooyoung. Good morning."

Yunho was sweet, smelling so sweetly as his simple caress tingled Wooyoung's instincts to have him hie closer into Yunho's cosy embrace. The cheer on his face was soft and gentle and all too suddenly he could feel the rumble of his insides. The dragon pulled his hand out of Yunho's hand, rushing himself around to lie on his back as he moved his palm flush against his mouth. His face paled as the muscles of his stomach contracted.

Wooyoung slowly breathed.

"W-what's happening?" Yunho stuttered, voice alarming and Wooyoung could hear the shuffle of the duvets, not daring to turn his head around to look for himself.

The dragon pinched his brows when he felt his head spin, "Just.. feeling nauseatic."

Inhaling deeply, he finally moved his head to look at Yunho's worried gaze, his eyes were a golden colour. But then he made a sudden retch before telling him: "I think I have to throw up."

Wooyoung threw himself from the bed, wobbly feet landing on the cool floor as his body folded. He couldn't wait, he couldn't wait- he had to find a bathroom now!

A hand against his mouth and the other clamped at his shirt above his flexing stomach, he hurried off to the first door he could see, brain not thinking of anything else but the sharp taste of acid in his mouth that he just wanted to wash away.

The dragon bumped his shoulder into the door, pushing it open before he hurled around the toilet and emptied his stomach entirely. He gagged, feeling so bad.

Gently, he felt a press to his shoulder and Wooyoung could only imagine the werewolf prince's disgusted gaze on him that made him internally whimper. The hands would flinch away as soon as he would realise the repellent sight of Wooyoung. He just knew.

He was startled when a piece of folded paper dabbed to his mouth, wiping off the spit clinging to his lips. Wooyoung stared down into the flushing water with wide eyes.

"Y-you shouldn't have.." the dragon whispered when the water quieted down.

But the wolf just caressed down his arms, comfortingly and so damn sweet. His bottom lip trembled when emotions pressed tears to his eyes and Wooyoung couldn't find any fucking reason for him to be so stupidly emotional. Yunho was just so kindhearted and responsible for someone he should definitely not be helping. At all.

"I've tended to sick pups before, don't worry. This is nothing," Yunho simply answered, softly.

Pups? Oh..

"Are you okay? Are you sick?"

No, not in the way he thought anyway. Although, Wooyoung would be if Yunho continued being so affectionate with him.

Woyoung let go of the ceramic, sitting down on the cold floor and breathing slowly. Then his eyes flickered shyly up at Yunho, "Thanks.. yeah, I'm not feeling that well. Or, maybe I'm a bit better now. It'll pass in a bit. I'm fine."

Which fairly was true. This was no different than the other days..

Regarding the look on Yunho's face, it didn't seem like he would leave him like that.

"Wooyoung," he said, "You're definitely not okay, let me-"

"I'm fine," the dragon cut him off and pulled himself out of the werewolf prince's reach.

His voice cracked, painfully, as tears finally trickled from his eyes in the form of little gemstones. Wooyoung's body quivered and the clatter and clinking from his tears was the only sound echoing in the bathroom. Gosh, why in the world was he overreacting like this.

Yunho was clearly startled, the dragon figured from how he did not make any sound of movement. He had probably never heard of a dragon's tears before. He must not have, since Wooyoung could feel how he stared so intensely at the way the gemstones formed in his eyes.

After a moment of silence, the tips of Yunho's fingers suddenly graced Wooyoung's which made the dragon lift his gaze to the other prince's concerned yet pleading eyes, "I sincerely ask your permission for me to bring you to the sorceress, I really don't like this."

And what could Wooyoung possibly say, tell him no? For it was more than obvious in those now golden-glowing eyes that Yunho would have someone run a checkup on him no matter what he told him.

Wooyoung swallowed, debating his chances to successfully run off and hide where no one would ever again find him. He couldn't let anyone know about his secret. But he couldn't run from Yunho either. He was sure the werewolf was stupidly fast.

"What if it's some sort of poison again?" Yunho said, fingers gently tapping at the dragon's as he impatiently awaited an answer.

This would be the end of Wooyoung.

"Alright."

_____

𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐨

The prince lifted the other prince up from the floor, arms cradling him into his body as he left his chamber in a hurry. Wooyoung's arms clung around his neck, his head resting on his shoulder, and his legs wrapped around Yunho's hips. Yunho could feel a warm breath against his neck and the rapidly thumping heart seeming as if it wanted to escape the other's ribcage. Inhaling deeply, Wooyoung's sweet scent embraced him and the wolf nearly lost himself in all the senses being so insanely close to his body at this moment.

It didn't take long before they came across a servant, nearly running off again when she realised that Yunho was walking straight in her direction.

"Do you by any chance know where we can find the Sorceress?" he asked, hoping she could help them as quickly as possible. Wooyoung could be in danger.

"S-sure I do, please follow me your highnesses."

The maid waved them her way, quickly picking up on her pace as they descended the broad staircase at the end of the corridor. Yunho followed her as he couldn't stop wondering what possibly could be the reason for the dragon prince's sudden illness. He knew that the prince didn't have any alcoholic beverages the prior night as Wooyoung had fallen asleep on his shoulder almost right away he had sat down on the couch. After witnessing some..shocking yet baffling acts, Yunho had left his drink at the table and decided to bring Wooyoung somewhere more suitable for sleeping. And since Yunho had absolutely no idea of where Wooyoung's chamber might be in this enormous castle, the only option left would be to bring him to his own chamber. So he did.

The doors the maid stopped in front of were huge to say it at least, which fairly should not have surprised Yunho this much considering it was the Great Sorceress he wanted to find.

The maid's eyes shyly glanced up at Yunho, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ears as she asked: "What shall I tell her?"

"Tell her that Prince Wooyoung needs a health check as he has fallen ill, I believe she can help," he told her.

She nodded at him and quietly slipped in between the doors and closed them behind her.

The werewolf prince exhaled deeply, a hand silently patting Wooyoung's thigh, "You good?"

Wooyoung hummed in return, nuzzling his face further into the crook of the wolf's neck and Yunho believed he stopped breathing right in that second he could smell Wooyoung's scent blending with his, rubbing into his skin as he fucking scented him.

His knees wobbled and his wolf was shrieking in his head, because what the fuck was just happening?! Yunho panicked, his hands not knowing what to do or if he wanted him to stop or if Wooyoung knew what he was doing or-

Right then the doors were opened again and the maid told them they were allowed to enter.

The dragon turned his head and Yunho quickly let him down on the floor, his heart giddily skipping a beat or two or three-

"Aw, dearest little Wooyoung, come on in both of you."

Yunho eyed the room they entered with caution. His lips slowly parted when it seemed they walked right into whirling fabrics from curtains and soft rugs, decorating mirrors reflecting the blend of deep blues and gold. Expensive and antique little objects ornated cabinets and shelves that were beautifully cut in walnut and oak tree. The room was dim, yet little balls of pure light floated timelessly around between the curtains like little fireflies. Before the werewolf barely had finished taking in his new surroundings, his eyes fell on the Sorceress taking Wooyoung's hands and pulling him with her in between the blowing curtains. The sudden move jolted him, and quickly he forced his legs to follow them before they would disappear in the thick mist of magic.

The dragon prince sat down on a cushioned furniture, suddenly looking as if he was swallowed by the soft silk pajamas that he still wore.

"Please have a seat," the sorceress pointed to the chair behind him before telling Wooyoung to lie down. Yunho wasn't sure if his limbs rested enough to let him stay seated, but nevertheless, he forced himself to do it, not wanting to possibly anger the witch.

With the blink of an eye, the sorceress was already surging with magic, her hands hovering above Wooyoung's head as her eyes stared into the air, concentrating. The magic coursing through her arms and spreading around her palms embraces the dragon's body, pulling and pushing and searching for what could be wrong with him. Steadily she works her way from his head to his chest and further to his stomach. Suddenly she stops in track, and Yunho notices the way her brows pinch before she flicked her eyes right down at Wooyoung's already winching self. Yunho tensed, feeling ready to step in at any moment because Wooyoung frankly looked scared of what would come.

"When?" the woman pressed, removing her hands and magic again and Yunho couldn't be more confused about the seemingly shared understanding that existed between them both.

Wooyoung shied away, lifting himself to sit as he looked away from them both. Yunho's heart thumped the rushing adrenaline around in his body as he could hear the other prince's breath quicken with desperation to get away from this situation. His body language revealed everything.

"Please don't make me say it.."

But the woman only held her stern gaze at him, making him gulp and forcing him to spill everything.

"I.. the night when we were poisoned, Prince San he.. we.."

All too suddenly the sorceress shook her head, crossing her arms, "There is no possible chance that this is the fruit from a night three weeks ago - dragons' pregnancies last for at least one decade!"

The dragon lifted his hands to hide his face and Yunho stared at them both in disbelief, feeling as if he shouldn't be here, "What is going on?"

"Wooyoung is with child," the sorceress simply answered.

Yunho's jaw dropped, eyes widening as he gapingly tried to understand. He really tried. It didn't work. Not at all. Probably wouldn't. At any point. Because what the fuck. Something odd pinched within his chest and it didn't help that his wolf decided to point it out over and over again. Prince Wooyoung had a lover?

"Now, tell me who the father is, or I'll find another way to figure it out.." Wooyoung gasped, looking up at the sorceress as if already knowing what foul methods she had in mind to use on him.

The dragon prince gulped and Yunho could smell the flaring emotions in the air. Wooyoung looked as if was traveling back in time, eyes forming into reptile's pupils, "I..I met San a year and three months back... I-I have never been with others like this, I'm positive!"

"Prince San's the father?" Yunho squeaked.

Wooyoung didn't look at him when he nodded and Yunho couldn't figure out if he was happy about that.

"Oh dear moon, are you aware of how bad this is if he finds out?" the werewolf voiced, a hand pressed to his mouth in so much shock upon the very sudden revelation.

And everything Wooyoung could do was nod at him before biting his lip, hard, "I'll hide the child, he'll never have to find out.

A beat later the sorceress tells him not to, "No, Wooyoung, you have to tell him."

Desperately, the dragon stared at her, liquid shimmering in his eyes, "I can't - you of all people would know how strict the merpeople are when it comes to mixed races; they find pride in their pure blood. If San's father finds out that he has been with-with someone like me.. a prince of another lost kingdom, a man at that... I don't want to think of what would then happen to San. He wouldn't deserve that. This is not his fault, after all, I was reckless and naive, believing nothing would happen because of the low chances. And, look at where I am now!"

The sorceress grabbed Wooyoung's face and had him look right into her glimmering dark eyes. She smiled lightly, "No dear, you must tell him, make him face the truth."

Wooyoung rapidly shook his head, but her fingers only dug into his skin to tell him wrong, to force him wrong by putting him in pain. A sharp cry and Yunho saw red.

Yunho wanted to.. wanted to protect, his wolf growling before he jumped into action and pulled Wooyoung out of her hurtful grasp and hiding him behind his tall self, glaring at her with fury.

How dared she!

She just brushed him off, chuckling at the act as she dusted off her hands as if nothing had happened or.. if she just had accomplished something.

"Calm down, pup, nothing happened," nonchalantly, she said, "Now that we've sorted out the cause of illness do you have any other requests? I believe you will be a man and take good care of poor little Wooyoungie so he doesn't have to deal with everything on his own."

Biting his tongue, Yunho held himself from growling at her, forcing the intensity of the sound out through his glare that still drilled into her.

"Yes actually," he sneered, "Do you have anything to soothe his morning sickness? I believe he will be living with that for a long time yet."

At that, the woman smiled smugly, "Sure I have.. wait here," she said before disappearing behind one of the curtains, quietly coming back with a bottle of purple liquid. "Wait a few days and I will have another potion done, but this is what I have right now. He will only have to take a couple of mouthfuls for it to start soothing his body when he feels nauseatic. Take care of your little miracle there, dearest Wooyoung," the woman winked.

Yunho frowned but took the bottle anyway, only briefly thanking her.

_____

"Come on, drink, Wooyoung."

The other prince turned his head as far away from Yunho, "No thank you I would rather not try to kill myself like that."

They were both situated in the bathroom connected with Wooyoung's chamber.

"It'll help you," Yunho continued, reaching the bottle out to the other prince.

But the dragon was stubborn and refused it with all his might, "How can you be so sure? She's a witch, Yunho! Haven't you ever learned never to trust those?"

"She patched up a demon, she can't be that evil-"

Whipping his head around, Wooyoung was suddenly staring right into his eyes, "And Hongjoong is a hellspawn; of course, she would save him - she's probably good friends with his parents or something like that." He sighed deeply, retreating into his shell again after his outburst, "Please just leave it on a table, I'll be fine without it."

Yunho debated whether he should leave him like this or not, not liking how hurt Wooyoung sounded.

"Thank you.." he whispered quietly, "For the help and all. I didn't mean to involve you in this.. brainless mess I'm caught in.."

Leaning on the balls of his heels, the werewolf prince nearly couldn't breathe, the air so dense and sour that he suddenly felt unwelcome. His fingers had to pinch the bridge of his nose as he forced his answer out: "Hey, it's okay. As I have told you before, you can talk to me about literally anything. I don't judge you for anything."

From the way Wooyoung's face was turned away from him, he still knowledged the slight smile on his lips before he decided to leave the chamber and give Wooyoung some space.

Oh, what had he just learned today...

♛