Just gonna keep forging on because ot seems I was struck with inspiration.

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DaeHyun's POV

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"Yes, thank you for coming King Henry." I stood near the double doors to the ballroom, thanking everyone as they retreated to the many guest rooms for the night. Hojun hovered a few yards away, examining my table of gifts like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Thank you for coming."

"Have a good night DaeHyun." This voice I knew. I smiled, embracing Ying Yue as she and her husband, Dingxiang, bid their farewells, Jingyi trailing her parents. The ballroom was nearly empty now, save for a few stragglers, us, and dad and pa, who were busy animating a story to a group of wealthy entrepreneurs from southern Eurpope (where escaped me at the time). They seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Hojun sidled up to me, nestling against my side and resting his head on my shoulder. His pet name ran laps around my brain, but before I could get stuck on that his fingers brushed against my cheek, grounding me to reality. I twisted and kissed his temple, eliciting a hum of satisfaction from him. I slipped an arm around him at last. Anchoring him to me. I felt like I might float away into the night if I didn't. It was almost a perfect night. Almost...

"You still miss Jie, don't you?" Hojun asked lowly. So close to a whisper. I nodded, an action he undoubtedly felt. "I won't pretend to understand why." That sentence annoyed me. Because we were best friends. Because even if Li Jie rejected my romantic feelings I still cared for him. Because he was still intertwined in my life even if those around me didn't like it. I released Hojun, shuffling a few steps away. He gazed back, seeming hurt. I could almost see his mind calcuating his sentences as he tried to piece together what happened and how he could fix it. "I'm sorry," he said at last, hanging his head. "I know I shouldn't be so crass towards Li Jie. It just... I'll always know that once upon a time he held your affections. Hell he might still." Hearing it out loud... It felt different.

I couldn't very well pretend I hadn't thought about that myself. Because I had. How my feelings towards Li Jie lingered even if I was happy with Hojun. How so much of my early teens and even some time at the beginning of the year was dedicated to harboring feelings I shouldn't have even felt. And because of what Li Jie was in the grand scheme of things I couldn't just drop him from my life like he meant nothing. He was going to be there. Whether my partner wanted it or not. So with that in mind I had to choose my next words carefully. I studied Hojun for a moment, waiting for my response and acting like he may flee.

"It is true that Li Jie had a lot of my time," I began. One thing about being the prince; you learned to speak to your subjects. About a variety of things. "However I feel like I've made it abundantly clear that YOU know hold my affections. I am sorry I can not change the past. And I unfortunately can not magically make years kf repressed feelings vanish overnight, much as I wish I could." It would be a whole hell of a lot easier if I could. "I will also be remissed if I didn't mention I also haven't been the most present with you. I will try to do better in that regard." Hojun slowly blinked at me.

"Did you just turn on your prince voice?" he asked. I thought for a moment. Finally I shrugged. Probably. It tended to slip out when I was stressed or very calcuating with what I wanted to say. "God that's hot." And before I could react he'd grabbed me by my jacket and tugged me close, crashing our lips together messily. I sputtered for a moment, aware there were still people crawling around and we could be watched. Or photographed. I didn't really feel like seeing my image popping up on news sites the next morning. But Hojin's hands snuck up and cupped my head. "You taste good baby." And fuck if I didn't go weak in the knees for THAT. I pulled back, but grabbed his hand immediately and hauled him after me, making a beeline for the stairs. He huffed and puffed behind me.

"You can't blindside me like that," I warned. Hojun made a noise. But in this moment I just needed to get us inside my room. Once we were there amd the door was safely shut (and locked) I dragged him to the bed. We fell on top in a messy pile of limbs. He ended up on top, and took advantage of that fact by pinning my arms above my head. I gasped, but he slowly led a trail of kisses down my jawline, and the startled breath soon turned into pants of pleasure. He used one hand to keep my arms above my head. With the other he undid my tie and started going for the buttons of my jacket next. I squirmed, helping him along by shedding the jacket as he got it undone. But when he went for my undershirt next I whimpered.

"You're okay baby," he whispered, instantly switching into a more caring tone. "We'll go slow, okay? Here." He released me. I rolled my wrists around. But soon I got distracted by undressing him to the same level. He straddled my middle, leaning over to leave little kisses along my face. My jaw. My neck. He unfastened two of my undershirt bittons, exposing my chest. He trailed kisses down that too, setting my skin alivht wherever he touched. I was hot in the best way possible. "Not very often you see the prince begging for more," he joked. I groaned and rolled my eyes at him. He chuckled.

"Shut up and kiss me," I replied. And so he did.

...

"What?" I sat up the next morning, the blanket tumbling away and revealing my bare midsection. "What?" I asked again, gazing around, finally landing on a pile of discarded clothes. I ripped the blanket off, relief flooding through me when I realized I still had my boxers on. I'd admit, some of last night got kind of hazy. Mostly whatever happened after the party.

"Mmmm, morning baby." I jolted as a pair of arms slithered around my waist. Hojun buried his face on my thigh. He looked about as undressed as I was. I frowned down to him. "Lay back down Dae. Let's sleep for a little bit longer." But a rough knock on my door killed that idea instantly. I inhaled sharply. Hojun groaned, rolling to a sitting position.

"Kim DaeHyun." Dad. "It is noon. If you do not open this door in thirty seconds I'm going to force it open." No. No no no. I scrambled out of bed, desperately tugging on a pair of pants as I stumbled to the door. I flicked the lock, and dad swung the door open, eyes blazing. Hojun, bless him, had slipped completely back under the covers, hiding his mostly bare body. And a mysterious pillow had appeared over the crumpled pile of clothing. Dad's eyes narrowed to slits. I smiled, waving a hand behind me.

"As you can see I have just woken up." Dad fixed his stare back on me, frowning thoughtfully. It wasn't like me to keep things from him. But I also didn't want to discuss...whatever happened...with my parental figures. "I'll get Hojun up and we'll be down shortly. Is there anything specific you need me to do today?" And of course he softened under my willingness to do whatever he wanted of me. Dad was putty in my hands as it was. He sighed, swiping a hand through his hair.

"You're going to sit along side me for a press conference today," he replied. "The phone's been going off all morning about your little confession last night." My stomach heaved, but dad placed a hand on my shoulder like he knew. "I just want you to tell your side of the story pumpkin. You're pa and I are happy for you. The main thing has been people saying Hojun isn't royalty, even minor."

So my assumptions had been correct.

"He's still in the elite," I protested like dad actually cared one way or another. "I don't get what the big deal is about who I date. It's my life. Not theirs." Dad gave me a rueful smile.

"Well son, it's not so much that they care about you personally, even if some of them may actually do that. They care because you're going to rule the country some day. And they'd like to trust you'll be a good ruler. And that includes making some tough decisions." I deflated. Dad pecked my forehead, giving me a light squeeze. "Pa and I are proud of the man you're becoming DaeHyun. I want you to remember that."

"Thanks dad." He finally held me at arms' length. He brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. Then he moved off. I stood in the doorway for a moment, letting what he said sink in. I turned to Hojun, who studied me through sleepy eyes, blinking as I approached the bed. I leaned over and planted a kiss to his cheek. He smiled up at me. "We better get ready before everyone becomes suspicious," I said at last. "Sounds like I've got some explaining to do besides."

"Fuck the press." But Hojun sat up at last. "Hey." He grabbed my hands and held them between his. "You're amazing. Don't let them make you feel like you're anything less."

"Oh stop," I replied, my face burning up. But of course I also soaked up the praise. Sweet words. My weakness.

...

Li Jie's POV

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"Where were you last night?" I sat down at the little table across from Pop with my tray of breakfast foods, wincing as the immediate questioning. "I didn't see you with DaeHyun once. I thought you were really excited to see him." I shoved a bite in my mouth to stall this process. I heard pop take a few deep breaths, followed by some low murmuring from mom. "Did you at least keep an eye on ChaoXing?"

"No," I admitted, guilt coursing through me. "And I'm sorry for that. She probably could handle her own though." She was definitely the more independent of the royal children. She didn't need me hovering over her. And besides, I'd seen Hojun clinging to DaeHyun for dear life last night. I knew the other royal was in good hands. "I started to feel under the weather so I went to bed." It was almost the truth. As close to the truth as I felt comfortable getting. Pop hummed, looking unconvinced. Mom leaned over and whispered something in his ear. He nodded a couple times.

"DaeHyun has a press conference today," pop said at last. "Would you like to attend with him today, or would you like me to tell the kings that you're still unavailable." I cocked my head to the side. Even just last week pop would have demanded I go with, even if I was sick. What was happening? "You also still have your gift for the prince," pop pointed out.

"Oh shi....poop." I quickly swapped words at a sharp glare from mom. "You're right. I totally forgot to give it to him last night." I thought about it for a few moments in silence, shoving my food around on my plate with my chopsticks. "I guess I better go with him," I decided. "Is it happening at the palace or did uncle Tao manage to sneak them a place in at the station?"

"Station," dad agreed. Uncle Zitao k ww many people, so he could pull a lot of strings, even outside of China. "It's just a lowkey little thing. Not many people will be present, per King Junmyeon's wishes." Of course I knew why. DaeHyun did not do well with an overwhelming number of people, much as they tried to get him comfortable with the idea. So in order to get him to talk, they had to keep things like this to a minimal number. "You'll mostly go for moral support. You'll also help keep the cameras off him as best you can leading up to the actual building." Defending my boy? Now THAT I could do. With ease. Had been doing it since we were both in diapers.

"Sounds easy enough," I agreed. "I feel like there's a catch though. Usually these things don't go that smoothly." Pop and mom exhanged a look. "So there is more." Pop sighed.

"You're going to have to listen to him talk about his relationship with Hojun."

...

Seems like a good place to leave off, right?