At this point this really is a passion project but I don't even care this story is STILL my happy place.

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Li Jie's POV

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"And you wanted me along because?" Hojun smirked, fixing his attention out the window instead of on me. I'd admit, when he approached me and asked me to accompany him into town, I thought he was joking. So I laughed in his face. But he simply stared, unamused. Amd I realized he wasn't. But he didn't actually explain WHY I was along. Just that he needed help with someone.

"As you know." I flinched as he spoke. An unexpected noise after the silence. "The prince's birthday is a mere few days away. And while it pains ms to say this, I do not know him as well as you do. I don't think anyone does, actually." That was certainly unexpected. I never once thought I'd get that kind of confession out of Hojun. "Though my goal is to get to know him even better. But you know exactly what he'd like." Did I though? I wasn't as positive anymore. "You've known him longer than just about anybody. You have to know."

"I certainly would like to think so." Still, I was unsure of this mission. Finding something the prince would like felt like a daunting task anymore. I still knew his favorite foods and drinks. What temperature he liked his bath. Which clothing items and jewelry he prefered. I even knew which brands he favored. But those were all material items, amd while he liked them fine they weren't what he sought. "You want my honest opinion on the whole thing?" Hojun slowly turned. "You should just spend some time with him. His two biggest love languages are physical touch and quality time. Plan out something sweet for him."

"Yeah but I do that all the time," he mumbled, fiddling with something in his sweater pocket. "And I know that he'd like whatever but I just... I need it to be special. This is DaeHyun we're talking about. If I could pull the planets down for him, I would." He crashed to a halt, looking lost. If I didn't harbor resentment for him I might have felt sorry in this instance. "Plus it's his birthday and we're a couple now. I feel obligated to do something grand for him.  Even though I know it's stupid." Another few minutes of awkward silence ensued. I let him collect his thoughts. He didn't push me either. "I wouldn't ask if I wasn't serious about this. I know you don't like me."

"It's not..." But a sharp glare stopped that protest real quick. "I don't dislike you Hojun. If you make the prince happy, then I can't possibly dislike you." I was just beginning to dislike the idea of him. Which was absurd because I didn't even think of DaeHyun like that so why the hell was I so jealous in the first place. "What I'm failing to understand is why you wanted me along so bad when it's clear you already know exactly what he likes." Hojun pulled a face. I wasn't sure what exactly the expression was. "You're his boyfriend Hojun. And there's a damn good reason for it."

"Huh." This time the expression morphed into one of confusion and disbelief. "Never actually thought I'd hear you say that out loud. Any time my name is mentioned you act like you just bit a lemon." I made a mental note to control my facial expressions better. Especially in social settings, where that would not look good. "I'd just feel better if you accompanied me is all. We don't have to make a big deal out of it. Besides it's for DaeHyun. And whether you'd admit it or not you'd still do just about anything for him too."

"Well yeah, that's my job." We treaded in dangerous waters now. "Of course I would. It is my duty." Hojun scoffed. I arched an eyebrow. "Do you not believe me?"

"I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. I always thought your feelings for the prince ran deeper than simple duty." I balked, but Hojun held up his hand. "You fawn over him above just about anyone else. Even ChaoXing doesn't get quite the same treatment he does. And this girlfriend of yours..." At that I glared, but he held up his hands once again. "I just don't see her much. Ever, really. And I'm around quite a bit these days, so you think I'd notice."

"If your only goal was to pick my brain for a false confession to quell your own anxieties... you should have just left me at home." Hojun tilted his head to the side, studying me like an interesting art piece hung on display. "With all due respect, sir." For that I gritted my teeth. But pop's voice echoed in the back of my mind, reminding me to be civil to DaeHyun's guests. "What DaeHyun and I have is nothing more than platonic."

"I saw him kiss you." And suddenly my blood turned ice cold. "At the party. He thinks he's more subtle than he is. He isn't." That part had an extra layer of tenderness added to it. "At any rate, I know what I saw. Even if it was dark. And for whatever reason you didn't push him away." I expected him to be angry. Jealous. But instead he sounded quizzical. "So if you truly don't feel anything for him outside of normal duty, why do you let him get away with things like that? Aren't personsl boundaries in place?"

"Yes," I answered carefully. "Of course they are. And he wasn't doing anything harmful. He's done that a handful of times. It's just always how it's been." Not quite, but Hojun didn't need to know that. "He's an affectionate guy. You of all people should know that." The corners of his mouth quirked up into a smirk. "And my job is to give him anything I think he may need. Affection, to a certain extent, falls into that category." Hojun hummed, though I could tell it wasn't a satisfactory answer, but it was all I could provide him with. "I have a girlfriend. I don't understand what's so difficult to grasp about that concept."

"The fact it happened." I promptly turned, ending this conversation. I gazed out the window and watched the buildings crawl by. Hojun stopped prodding me. I hoped he realized he'd crossed a line with that comment. I sat and seethed, because doing it to myself was still better than lashing out at him and potentially hurting DaeHyun in the process. That was the last thing I wanted.

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DaeHyun's POV

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"You and Lie Jie went out?" I questioned Hojun as we laid in my bed together, cuddled up watching a movie on my TV. Hojun squirmed and made an affirmative noise. "May I ask what for?"

"No." I frowned, releasing my hold on his waist. "I mean Dae that what I was out doing is a secret. But I'm not sneaking around with your assistant. I promise you that." He paused the movie and shimmied up so we were face to face. His eyes met mine. I tilted forward until our foreheads met. "I'd be foolish for deceiving you like that. You'll see what I'm planning in due time." Secrets were another thing I handled not the greatest, but I gulped down the growing feeling in my stomach. "I didn't mean to make you worry Dae. I'm sorry." His lips brushed mine. Feather light as always. He treated me so delicately, and up until now I hadn't really noticed. But the thought made me furious. I didn't want to be viewed as being made of glass. I pushed him away. Not hard by any means. But enough that he got the point. "DaeHyun?"

"Quit fucking treating me like I'll break if you breathe wrong," I growled. His eyes widened slightly and his mouth opened. "I'm not my father. I can handle my feelings." Once again Hojun stared, stunned. And I knew, deep down, that I was being a dick to my dad, who actually had a very firm grip on reality. But all my life I'd grown up hearing things like "as sensitive as your dad" or "a lot like your dad in that regard." And I was tired of it. So tired. "Just... kiss me." And I grabbed his shirt front next, pulling him close so quickly he yelped. But that faded as our lips crashed together messily. He reacted with surprise at first, but after a few seconds that melted away into what I assumed was the closest feeling to lust I could describe off the top of my head. His hands traveled up my body, threading through my hair and tugging, none too gently. I hissed out a breath, and pur rhythm faltered.

"Sorry," he mumbled briefly as he attacked me once again. Slowly we rotated from side to side to him on top of me, anchoring himself up with his elbows so he didn't squash me. My fingers developed a mind of their own as I worked apart the first few buttons on his shirt (he always insisted on dressing nice in my presence even after repeatedly telling him I didn't care either way). I could feel him smirk between kisses. "Who knew THIS beast lay just beneth the surface. Certainly not I. Damn you're faster than my last."

"Your last?" And suddenly time stood still. We halted, simply staring at each other. "Oh, right, your last boyfriend." I'd heard a brief retelling, of course. But it still wounded me to hear it spoken out loud. Hojun knew that too. He groaned, finally collapsing on top of me. I winced when his weight added to mine. "I didn't mean..."

"Oh forget it, the mood is ruined anyway." He rolled off and once again we were side by side. I gazed up to the ceiling. The same mural I'd seen a thousand, a million, times over the course of my life and had forgotten to get rid of when I redid it. "I should have never told you that story." I glanced hos way. But he wasn't looking at me. Actually, I wasn't sure he was looking at anything. "Now all you're going to do is worry about it. It happened last year. I don't even talk to them anymore."

"I know." He paused. He wouldn't look at me, but I knew I had his attention regardless. "I trust you Hojun. You've never given me a reason not to, even when we weren't together. You've been devoted from day one." It wasn't a lie. He had been. "It was just jarring to actually hear it when were in the middle of...whatever that was."

"Yeah that was stupid if me to bring it up in the first place, wasn't it?" We both lapsed into silence. Though his hand sought mine on the covers, twining our fingers together. This time I let him instead of pushing him away. It felt like I always had him at arm's length. And I knew exactly why. But I was also sick of that portion of my life ruining a lot of other parts of it. I deserved happiness too. Just like him. And it was so unfair of me to keep comparing the two like they were battling it out for top prize.

"Sire, are?" I peeked up to see Li Jie a few steps into my room, frozen as a statue, a funny look on his face. "Oh, sorry sire." He dropped into a quick bow. "I didn't realize you had company. You've been quiet so I came to check on you." I felt myself smiling. Even as Li Jie straightened and glanced back and forth. Hojun moved his head to my chest, studying him back. I absentmindedly toyed with his hair. "Well if you need anything you know where I am." He turned and made a move towards my door.

"Wait, Jie." He stumbled to a halt and spun around, tilting his head to the side. "Stay." I patted the spot beside me, opposite Hojun. "Come and watch the movie with us."

"Sire, I..." he began. But I was ready for it. More than ready, actually. I knew exactly how to counter that.

"That's an order, Li Jie." He snapped his mouth shut, drawing his lips into a thin line. He trudged over to the bed and sat upon it, as far away from Hojun and I as possible. I focused on the TV once again. Maybe I should have felt guilty for that, but if he wanted to be just my servant  so be it. That meant no matter what I said, he had to do. No slacking.

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Okay I'm hiding to finish this so here ya go enjoy!