"All cruelty springs from weakness."

-Lucuius Annaeus Seneca

"Come on, Jiminie." Taehyung groaned as he rubbed his now sore head.

"I don't see the point in this." Jimin pouted. "I'll never be able to get it right."

Taehyung's eyes softened on the older boy. He could tell that he was easily frustrated by his disability.

"Sure you will. You just have to practice. Let's try this again."

Jimin nodded reluctantly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Let's say that you are in the temple and you need to get to the throne room," The young prince started. "Which way would you go?"

Jimin furrowed his brows in concentration as his mind searched for the correct answer.

Taehyung always had to lead him anywhere he wanted to go. He was constantly calling out for the young boy to help guide him in the right direction. The two would always play together, they were inseparable, so Taehyung never minded helping the blind child get wherever he needed to go. Jimin had come to admire that about him, even if he was younger than him.

But lately, Taehyung's father has been more demanding, pulling him away from playtime with the temple helper, leaving Jimin to wander around blindly until Taehyung would come and find him and help him back to the temple.

Everyone Jimin had met was always cruel to him, and even though he was blind, he could feel the hateful, disgusted stares of those around him, their unforgiving glares boring holes into him as they took in the odd color of his dysfunctional eyes.

But Taehyung was never like that. From the first day he had met Jimin, he was only interested in helping him and being his friend. The prince was not cruel or selfish like his father. He was
kind-hearted and caring, constantly bringing Jimin new toys to play with and reading stories to him.

"I-I would go to the right and walk four paces before taking another right turn and then walk for sixteen paces until I reach the door to the throne room."

A large smile formed on Taehyung's face as he clapped his hands happily.

"That's right, Jiminie! You got it!"

Jimin's lips turned upward slightly as the young prince hugged him tightly.

"Do not get too excited, my prince." Jimin chuckled. "I only know the way to the throne room, that is hardly useful."

Taehyung shook his head.

"It is extremely useful!" He stated. "If you know your way to the throne room, then you know your way to me, and if you can find your way to me, then I can lead you anywhere you want to go!"

The temple boy smiled widely at the young royal, extending his pinky.

"Brothers together." He started.

Taehyung chuckled, intertwining his pinky with Jimin's.

"Now and forever." He finished.

"TAEHYUNG!"

The two boys jumped back at the loud roar that echoed off the walls of the empty corridor.

Taehyung moved his chocolate eyes to his father's figure, watching as he stormed down the hallway, anger written all over his features. A few councilmen walked alongside him, struggling to match his quick pace.

The young prince swallowed hard at his father's angry expression.

He was unforgiving when he was angry.

"P-Papa." Taehyung greeted shakily.

His father stopped in front of him, his eyes glaring down at his son.

"What have I told you about being around the temple trash?!" He yelled.

Taehyung frowned, lowering his head.

"That I should not allow myself to keep such worthless company."

Jimin hung his head in shame.

"That is right." His father stated as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You know these rules, Taehyung. So why do you constantly disgrace me by your disobedience?"

The young royal twiddled his thumbs nervously.

"I am sorry papa."

The king shook his head fervently, looking at one of his councilmen.

"Fetch me, my whip."

The two boys' eyes widened at his words, Jimin biting his lip in fear as the councilman nodded, and walked away. This was not the first time he had been beaten by the king, but he had still failed to get used to it. It seemed to hurt worse after every strike of the whip.

Taehyung stood up, his brows furrowing.

"You cannot do that to him!" He shouted.

The Pharaoh raised an eyebrow at his defiance.

"Excuse me?" He said, daring his son to repeat the words.

Taehyung hesitated for a moment, his stance faltering for only a moment before he spoke again.

"Y-You cannot beat him again. H-He is not a slave."

His father sent him a hard glare.

"You would be wise to remember who you are addressing, boy." He spat.

The young prince, bent down, helping Jimin to stand.

The blind boy gripped the cloth of his shirt tightly.

"What are you doing?" He whispered to Taehyung. "You will only make him angrier."

Taehyung shrugged his friend off.

"W-We were just playing. Why should he be beaten for that?"

The Pharaoh gripped his sons arm tightly.

"It is not his punishment." He spat. "It is yours. The only reason I have not beaten you is because you are my son and the prince of Egypt. He is just a temple rat."

The prince jerked his arm away from his father.

"He is my friend!"

His eyes fell on the councilman as he came back, holding the whip on his arms. Taehyung stared at it for a moment, his heart speeding up as he noticed the size of the whip. It was far bigger than the one his father usually used...this one was for beating the adult slaves.

The Pharaoh gripped his arm again.

"He is defective! Look at him! He cannot even see! What if you catch his disease?!What if he steals your sight from you!?"

Taehyung sent his father a hard glare.

"I would gladly give him my sight if it meant he could be free from your cruelty."

That seemed to be the last straw for the angry king, something in his eyes snapping as he stared at his son.

"Very well," He started in a monotone voice, turning to his councilmen. "Grab him."

Taehyung's eyes widened as the two men grabbed him by his forearms, his small body not being strong enough to fend them off.

"Wh-What are you doing?!" He yelled.

The king grabbed the whip from the older man, watching as the two councilmen tore Taehyung's shirt from his back.

"If you wish to behave as trash, then you shall be treated accordingly."

Jimin's eyes widened as he was torn from Taehyung by one of the men, his hands reaching out for him blindly as he screamed his name.

"Taehyung!"

The young prince's eyes filled with tears as he watched his friend be dragged away.

"I-It's okay, Jiminie." He sniffed. "Just cover your ears."

"But-"

"Cover your ears Jimin."

The older boy nodded his head slowly, covering his ears right as the first blow came.

Taehyung screamed in pain, the metal tips of the whip scraping the skin of his back mercilessly.

His father raised his hand again, sending another strike to his eight year old's back.

The young prince cried out again. He could feel the hot, sticky blood beginning to pour from the open wound on his back as he was hit with yet another blow. His knees weakened beneath him and his eyes slowly rose to Jimin, watching as he stood still, his hands over his ears.

It gave him some solace that his friend did not see how much pain he was in. He could not bare to think of how heartbroken and guilty Jimin would feel.

When the thrashing was finally over, the councilmen released Taehyung, causing him to fall limply onto the polished floor, his blood staining the clean marble.

The Pharaoh bent down to his level, grabbing his hair roughly and putting his mouth beside his ear.

"Listen to me, boy." He spat. "People like the temple rat only seek to use you for your power, your position. Do you think he really cares that you took the lashing instead of him? No. He doesn't. He is just glad that he is not the one who was beaten. Listen well, Taehyung. If you ever show weakness, or regret for your actions, people like that boy will walk all over you, and one day you may find yourself on the floor, bleeding once again, but next time I will not be the one holding the whip."

The kind paused, grabbing Taehyung's jaw and forcing him to look at Jimin.

"He will."

Taehyung shot up in his bed, his chest heaving as h gasped for air, his brown eyes searching around the room for any source of light.

Another nightmare.

Taehyung ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself down.

They weren't really nightmares, though. They were more like flashbacks, always the same moment in his childhood. The moment when he lost his best friend and his humanity.

The young Pharaoh pulled the covers off of his legs, throwing them off the side of the bed and resting his hands on his knees, the silk material of his pants pressing along his finger tips.

He could never sleep after a nightmare. He would stay awake the rest of the night...alone.

He would never call for one of his whores after a nightmare, none of them provided him with the comfort he needed to get away from the cold memories.

Taehyung shook his head, standing up and rushing out of his door.

He needed you.

He didn't care about the stupid rule, he didn't care what time it was, he didn't even care if he would lose his throne. He couldn't spend another night alone with nothing but his thoughts. He was sure that he would go crazy.

His walk slowly accelerated to a jog, his heart pounding in his chest at the though of seeing you, of holding you.

He moved faster, his long legs beginning to run to your chambers.

He knew you were staying with Namjoon. One of the servants told him.

His chest heaved with heavy breaths as he stopped outside of your door, pushing it open and rushing in.

You jumped awake as the door slammed against the wall, your wide, blue eyes moving around until they finally landed on his shirtless form.

"Taehyung?"

He released a sigh at your soft, soothing voice, his shoulders relaxing as he walked to your bed, allowing himself to fall limply beside you.

You stared at him wide-eyed.

"Wh-What are you doing?" You asked. "You can't be here!"

He remained silent and cuddled into your pillow, breathing in your scent.

"Taehyung!"

Hearing his name fall from your lips made him feel a sense of euphoric bliss, even if you were scolding him for being in your bed.

You began to grow frustrated with his lack of response, attempting to shove him out of your bed.

"You have to leave right now. If they find you, they'll-"

He cut you off. His arm, moving up and pulling you down to the bed, causing you to lay beside him.

Your blue eyes stared into his teary, chocolate ones.

Neither of you spoke.

His eyes were different.

They weren't angry or annoyed like usual. They were deep, filled with unspeakable sadness and adoration as he stared at you.

His right hand slowly moved to cup your cheek, his thumb stroking your soft skin.

"I know I don't deserve it," He whispered. "But I need you to hold me. Just this once."

You could only nod your head, you arms slowly wrapping around him as he laid his head on your chest, soft cries falling from his mouth as you began to stroke his dirty blond hair. He wrapped his arms around your waist, clinging to you desperately.

You didn't know why you were just allowing him to old you so intimately. Maybe it was the way he looked at you or maybe you just felt sorry for him....

or maybe it's because you saw the deep scars that covered his back.

A/N,

I realize that this is not okay, and I apologize.

At least we got some Taehyung backstory......*insert nervous laughter*.

Thank you all for your love in my absence.

You guys are the best. <3

-Max